New Gear Alert: UAD-2 Live Rack Effects Processor, Kush’s Digital REDDI, Debut Product Line from Kali Audio & More

Universal Audio announces the UAD-2 Live Rack MADI effects processor.

With UAD-2 Live Rack, front-of-house engineers can offload tons of processing and take advantage of many other useful features when mixing on MADI-enabled digital consoles.

UAD-2 Live Rack is a 16-channel MADI effects processor for live sound engineers, allowing them to apply realtime UAD processing with MADI-enabled digital consoles. UAD-2 Live Rack provides a hardware and software system for integrating the entire library of UAD powered plugins into a live sound environment—all at near-zero latency.

Users can combine up to four Live Rack units to process up to 64 MADI channels. Each UAD-2 Live Rack hardware unit features four UAD-2 DSP SHARC processors for running UAD plugins at sub-2 milliseconds latency.

With the included Live Rack application, front-of-house engineers can take advantage of intuitive features, such as drag-and-drop, copy and paste, keyboard navigation, plugin zoom, and the ability to store and recall channel strip presets and/or complete setup configuration snapshots.

Live sound engineers can choose between Core and Ultimate plugin bundles for their UAD-2 Live Rack, both of which include the UAD Antares Auto-Tune Realtime plugin, enabling low latency pitch correction during live performance.

UAD-2 Live Rack is scheduled to ship in June 2018 with an estimated street price of $2,999 for the UAD-2 Live Rack Core bundle, and $5,999 for the UAD-2 Live Rack Ultimate bundle.

Meet the REDDI bass DI plugin from A-Designs Digital by Kush.

Kush is back with more analog-inspired mojo, this time in partnership with A-Designs to deliver a digital emulation of the revered REDDI.

Until now, REDDI has been a(n expensive) tone weapon used by professional session bass players worldwide, and is heard on countless records made in the past 12 years. Now, its magic is available to anyone with a DAW.

With an oversized power supply, tube gain circuit, and beefy transformer, the sound of the REDDI hardware is unmistakably “classic”—a very forward, tight and punchy sound that drops bass straight into the pocket of dense mixes with less processing than usual.

The plugin faithfully captures that tight quality, then dramatically expands the tonal possibilities with a deceptively simple “Bass” knob that drives the subs into distortion. This yields a tone that is thicker and heavier without making the bass noticeably louder.

The plugin also adds a “+20dB Headroom” switch, which gives the REDDI an even mellower harmonic signature, and allows for more subtle degrees of saturation. On electric guitar, synths, and rhodes, REDDI adds a lovely shimmer without any EQ—a very useful tone shift accomplished strictly through its gentle and beautifully-crafted harmonic series. Best of all: no iLok dongle is required.

Check out a video of REDDI here.

REDDI is available now for $49, or via subscription with Kush.

Kali Audio announces their debut product line.

Kali Audio’s Project Lone Pine Studio Monitors offer ultra-low distortion and boundary compensation curves that are sure to provide accurate playback in any listening environment.

Kali Audio, a startup company based in southern California, has announced their debut product line, Project Lone Pine Studio Monitors.

The line is made up of two models: the LP-6 6.5″ studio monitor, and the LP-8 8″ studio monitor. Both models feature advanced waveguides, largest-in-class magnets and voice coils, and a unique front-firing, low-noise port tube. An array of boundary compensation EQ settings, XLR, TRS, and RCA inputs, and Class D power amps all make the monitors easy to use in any setup.

The LP-6 will be available in the US August 1st, with the LP-8 following shortly after. Pricing has not yet been disclosed.

Radial announces their new compact mixer, Presenter, is now shipping.

Radial’s small-but-flexible “Presenter” mixing box offers a mic preamp and USB input, and can also function as a unique alternative to a traditional recording interface.

Presenter is a compact mixer that combines a microphone preamp and a USB program input to create the ultimate interface for any presentation, from school lectures to corporate audio.

The USB input on Presenter allows for direct connection to a laptop for high quality audio playback, perfect for presentations that include digital audio files, or for DJ applications. This connection also provides power for Presenter, eliminating the need to carry around a separate power adaptor. A 3.5mm stereo input jack is also included on the front of the unit, and can be adjusted using the program level control. The XLR microphone input is paired with low and high EQ controls to tailor the frequency response, along with a low cut filter that rolls off excessive low end.

Both the microphone and the playback signals are mixed to stereo XLR balanced outputs. A mono switch is provided if only one speaker is needed, and a ground lift ensures that the output signal is clean and free of buzz or hum from ground loops. As an added benefit, Presenter can also be used as a USB recording interface.

Presenter is available now for $299.99.

Sonivox introduces Stratum, a powerful supersaw and FM synth.

Sonivox’s Stratum takes the popular supersaw waveform introduced by Roland in the late 90’s a step further with the addition of several key features.

Stratum is a powerful supersaw and FM synth, ideal for synthwave, vaporwave and retro electro productions. Originally made famous by the Roland JP-8000, the supersaw waveform has made a strong comeback in the trance and hardcore genres due to its edgy sound, particularly in synth leads and synth basses. Stratum expands upon this by combining the supersaw waveform with a 4-operator FM synth, a noise generator, and sub oscillator to produce a virtual instrument perfect for modern productions.

Using the new struQture audio engine from Qubiq Audio, Stratum also features two low-pass filters, a vocal format filter, and a tube distortion circuit to further enhance its sounds. These are all controllable by a simple modulation matrix, featuring four LFO’s with modwheel control, and an 8-step sequencer called the Stepper. For users who need to punish their sounds even further, Stratum includes a unique XY Pad, which can mix in a bit crusher, dirty phaser, wah-wah, and a non-linear delay.

Sonivox Stratum is available now through June 30th at an introductory price of $99.99 (reg. $199.99).

Please note: When you buy products through links on this page, we may earn an affiliate commission.