New Gear Alert: PreSonus Studio-Series Interfaces, UltraTap Plugin by Eventide, Hybrid Reverb/Saturator from Audified & More

PreSonus ships Studio 2|6 and 6|8 interfaces.

Users of the Studio-series interfaces by PreSonus can enjoy a free version of StudioOne® software in addition to the expansive Studio Magic plugin suite.

PreSonus® is now shipping its Studio 2|6 and Studio 6|8 USB 2.0 audio/MIDI interfaces. Both interfaces record at up to 24-bit, 192kHz resolution and feature PreSonus’ XMAX microphone preamps, audiophile-grade digital converters, ultra-low-jitter clocking, and MIDI I/O.

As with all PreSonus recording systems, Studio-series interfaces come with the company’s award-winning Studio One® DAW software and Studio Magic plugin suite for Mac® and Windows®. The Studio Magic bundle includes seven popular plugins in VST, AU, and AAX formats.

The Studio 2|6 2×4 bus-powered audio/MIDI interface features two front-panel combo mic and switchable line/instrument inputs with +48V phantom power for condenser mics. In addition to the L/R main outputs, you get two balanced line outputs for monitor mixing, while LED meters indicate input and output levels.

The Studio 6|8 6-in/6-out audio/MIDI interface sports 2 front-panel combo mic/line/instrument inputs and 2 rear-panel mic/line inputs. In addition to the L/R main outputs, you get two balanced line outputs for monitor mixing or speaker switching plus S/PDIF I/O. A Cue Mix A/B function lets you toggle between two mixes while monitoring through headphones.

Both PreSonus Studio-series audio/MIDI interfaces are available immediately at PreSonus dealers. Expected U.S. MAP/street prices are $199 for Studio 2|6 and $299 for Studio 6|8.

Eventide announces new plugin at Summer NAMM.

Eventide will soon be offering users the ability to create unique time-based effects with the UltraTap plugin, announced this week at Summer NAMM.

Eventide has just announced UltraTap—a new forthcoming plugin based on their H9 Harmonizer®—at this year’s Summer NAMM show.

UltraTap is a multi-tap effect that’s capable of creating rhythmic delays, glitchy reverbs, huge pad-like volume swells, and extraordinary modulation. It’s a great tool for creating drum fills, vocal choruses, swelling guitar chords, and other evolving effects.

UltraTap will be available for purchase on August 1st at an introductory price of $49 ($79 reg).

Audified is proud to announce the upcoming availability of SYNERGY R1.

Audified unveils SYNERGY R1—a unique, analog/digital hybrid 500 Series module capable of creating complex reverbs and rich saturation.

SYNERGY R1 represents Audified’s first foray into hardware with a remote-controlled software/hardware hybrid digital reverb/analogue saturator processing module for the 500 Series format.

The reverb in SYNERGY R1 is digital, providing premium-quality 24-bit A/D and D/A convertors, 32-bit floating point DSP and true bypass functionality. There are seven selectable reverb algorithms, ranging from Room to Tunnel, and users can control four front panel-accessible parameters: Decay, Pre-delay, Color, and Type.

The Saturator section is true analog, and features three switchable saturation circuits with GE (Germanium), OA (OpAmp), and JF (J-FET) types and a Gain control.

SYNERGY R1 is scheduled to start shipping in September 2017 with a projected MSRP of $1,399.

Simmons unveils SD2000 Electronic Drums.

Simmons offers drummers an ultra-nuanced response and wide palette of samples included with the SD2000 Electronic Drum Kit.

The SD2000 is the first Simmons kit to feature advanced, tension-able SimHex® mesh pads with variable attack response technology for expressive performance and nuanced playability. Each SimHex drum is fully adjustable to personal playing positions, thanks to Simmons’ new Spherical Isolation Mounting System™ (SIMS), which helps to eliminate crosstalk.

The SD2000 sound module delivers the Simmons Signature Sound Library, an expansive sound collection that features a plethora of famous, recognizable vintage drum sets from decades past, as well as many contemporary kits. The library was captured with era-specific recording techniques for unsurpassed authenticity throughout.

The sound module includes a large, full-color LCD screen that provides intuitive access to its sounds and settings. A built-in performance mixer allows players to control volume, EQ, and pitch, as well as to shape and apply filters on the fly. A USB port provides playback of WAV and MP3 files from a USB drive, and allows WAV file recording for personal performance evaluation.

The Simmons SD2000 Mesh-Head Electronic Drum Kit is available now at a street price of $1,299.99, and the SD2000 Expansion Pack is available at a street price of $299.99.

Audient announces ARC: A Creative Hub.

Audient customers can now enjoy a wide range of free software with ARC—a creative hub that includes offerings from some of the biggest names in audio software development.

Audient has teamed up with some of the industry’s leading innovators—including Eventide, Steinberg, LANDR and Producertech—to offer a comprehensive selection of free creative software for all Audient customers, available in the new creative hub, ARC which launched just last week.

As a reward for simply registering a product on the Audient website, new and existing customers are given access to a range of free software designed to provide a solution for recording, mixing, mastering, and even education—absolutely free of charge.

As part of the package, Audient offers two free Eventide plugins: UltraChannel and UltraReverb. Between them, these plugins can provide EQ, compression, delay, gates, reverb and more—all the tools you need at the click of a mouse.

Also available are Steinberg’s Cubase LE and Cubasis LE2 (for iOS), which turn a Mac, PC or iPad into a compact Digital Audio Workstation, offering audio recording, editing, MIDI sequencing and mixing tools for musicians, producers and songwriters.

In addition, mastering innovators LANDR are offering 8 free 16-bit WAVs and 2 free 24-bit WAV master credits at no cost to Audient users, whilst the two Producertech courses selected by Audient will give unique insights into compression and vocal production, as well as a voucher to put towards further courses.

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