New Gear Alert – NAMM Edition: LUNA by Universal Audio, SSL’s First-Ever Interface, Symphony Desktop from Apogee & More

Universal Audio announces the LUNA Recording System.

Universal Audio aims to reshape your perception of digital recording with the LUNA system.

The LUNA Recording System is a full-featured music creation, recording, and analog-style production system shaped by over 60 years of analog audio exploration. LUNA transforms UA’s industry-standard Apollo interfaces into the most inspiring and fully integrated recording systems available. The LUNA Recording System consists of a UA Thunderbolt-equipped audio interface, the LUNA Application, LUNA Extensions, and LUNA Instruments.

Key LUNA Recording System features include its deep Apollo interface integration, built-in Neve Summing, Multitrack Tape Emulation, and all-new LUNA Instruments—UA’s long-awaited foray into software-based instruments.

Unlike traditional DAW software, LUNA Recording System’s tight hardware-software integration allows quickly routing and recording audio through DSP-powered UAD plugins with no discernible latency via the new Accelerated Realtime Monitoring feature. Accelerated Realtime Monitoring is poised to be a major revelation for those unaccustomed to working on a $10k+ DSP-assisted recording system; music production will instantly seem more robust, dependable, and intuitive, without latency or monitoring hassles.

Check out an introductory video of LUNA here.

LUNA will be available as a free download for Apollo and Arrow Thunderbolt audio interface owners (Mac only) in Spring 2020.

SSL launches their first-ever dedicated audio interfaces.

SSL makes their first foray into the interface market with the SSL 2 and 2+.

Solid State Logic has launched two dedicated audio interfaces as part of their new personal studio range: the SSL 2, and SSL 2+. Both are USB-powered and include class-leading mic preamps, legacy 4K analog enhancement mode inspired by classic SSL consoles, studio-quality monitoring, and an SSL Production Pack software bundle.

Designed to be at the heart of a project or personal recording setup, the SSL 2 personal studio is perfect for individual singers, songwriters, or media producers, while the SSL 2+ collaborative studio provides expanded I/O for musicians working and recording together.

The 2-In/2-Out SSL 2 packs in two classic analog mic preamps together with pristine 24-bit/192kHz conversion to capture and hear every detail, a single high-grade headphone output, easy-to-use monitor mix control for critical low-latency monitoring tasks, and balanced monitor outputs with an impressive dynamic range. In addition, the “Legacy 4K mode—inspired by the studio favorite, hit-making SSL 4000 series consoles—gives you the ability to add extra analogue character and sparkle to your input sources. The included “SSL Production Pack” software bundle, which includes some of SSL’s own studio-grade Native plugins, gives you an incredible arsenal of tools for refining your recordings.

The SSL 2+ feature set builds in a production hub for those wanting to collaborate, with an additional headphone output with independent monitor mix, MIDI I/O, and additional un-balanced outputs for DJ Mixers.

The SSL 2 is priced at $229.99; the SSL 2+ is priced at $279.99.

Apogee unleashes the Symphony Desktop 10×14 audio interface.

The power of Apogee’s Symphony meets the small format of the Duet and Quartet.

Symphony Desktop blends the professional-grade sound quality of Symphony I/O Mk II with the simplicity, elegance, and portability of Apogee’s iconic Duet and Quartet. The result is the ultimate desktop studio audio interface for macOS and Windows at the lowest price ever for an Apogee Symphony product.

Featuring flagship A-D/D-A converters and mic preamps, a dynamic touch-screen with single control knob, plugins that run on hardware DSP and natively in your DAW, along with selectable mic preamp emulation, Symphony Desktop is the quintessential interface for the artist, producer, and engineer looking to give their recordings the Apogee sound quality advantage.

Symphony Desktop will be available in Q1 2020, priced at $1,299. The Symphony Desktop FX Complete (which includes the Pultec EQP-1A, Pultec MEQ-5, ModEQ 6, ModComp and Opto-3A plugins—a $499 value), is priced at $1,399.

Focusrite introduces the ISA 828 MkII, ISA ADN2, and ISA ADN8.

Focusrite brings three powerful new offerings to the ISA range with the 828 MkII, ADN2, and ADN8.

Focusrite announces three new products in the ISA range that bring the classic Focusrite sound to Dante Audio-over-IP networks. The eight-channel ISA 828 MkII features the same transformer-based input stage, complete with the Lundahl LL1538 transformer, as its predecessor. New, however, is compatibility with Dante Audio-over-IP networks, facilitated by the optional ISA ADN8 A-D card. Also new is an updated power supply that allows for more efficient power consumption, a reduction in heat generation, and extremely reliable operation. The front panel remains unchanged, with six-step metering on each channel, and front-panel instrument inputs for channels 1-4.

The Focusrite ISA ADN8 is an optional A-D card for the ISA 828 MkII and ISA 428 MkII. It provides ADAT Optical, AES3, and Dante connectivity at rates up to 24-bit/192kHz. The card offers primary and secondary RJ45 Dante output ports, an AES59-configured DB25 connector for AES3 output, and a pair of TOSLINK connectors for ADAT output. Word Clock I/O on BNC connectors allows synchronization with many external devices.

The ISA ADN2 is an optional two-channel 24-bit/192kHz A-D card that provides high-quality analog-to-digital conversion for the ISA One mic preamp and DI. The card offers primary and secondary RJ45 Dante output ports, an XLR connector for AES3 output, a TOSLINK connector for ADAT output, and RCA connector for S/PDIF output. Word Clock I/O on BNC connectors allows synchronization with many external devices.

The ISA 828 MkII is priced at $2,699.99; the ISA ADN2 is priced at $499.99; the ISA ADN8 is priced at $659.99.

Avid announces the VENUE | S6L-48D and VENUE 6.2 software are now available.

The VENUE | S6L-48D is Avid’s largest-format live sound control surface to date, featuring the newly updated VENUE 6.2 software.

The new Avid VENUE | S6L-48D is the largest control surface of the S6L unified live sound platform, providing the extended control and ease that you need in a large-format control surface. Featuring 48 + 2 faders, 160 assignable knobs, and six integrated touchscreens, S6L-48D offers the most tactile control and visual feedback of any live sound console.

The new surface is ideal for dual-operator workflows to handle live sound productions where quick access is paramount and sounds may be coming from any of thousands of sources, like large broadcast events and theater productions. And because S6L-48D is part of the S6L Unified Platform, the control surface seamlessly translates any show file to accommodate its larger frame size, and can be paired with any engine, and any combination of stage racks.

The latest Avid VENUE software gives you easy and quick access to a host of parameters and views with just a single touch, increasing efficiency. New Avid VENUE software features include: Dual operators, Assignable Encoder, Enhanced event triggers and actions, Network test mode and enhanced diagnostics, and more.

For further information and pricing on the VENUE | S6L-48D, click here.

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