New Gear Alert, Post-NAMM Edition: API’s New 3124 Pres, Old School Combo from Chandler, Slate Virtual Recording Studio & More

NAMM 2017 has come and gone, but there’s still plenty of new gear making waves in the pro audio community. Below you’ll find several more new gear announcements that have still got the industry buzzing one week later. For our full new gear photo journal from the show, click here.

API announces the 3124V and 3124MV microphone preamps.

The API 3124V and 3124MV expand upon their predecessors due to popular demand from the pro audio community.

All design aspects of the 3124V match those found in the 3124+ however, it provides two important additional features: Variable Output Level Control, and a switchable 3:1 output transformer selection. These new features are available on all four channels individually and found on the front panel.

Like the 3124MB+, the 3124MV provides an additional audio mixer with a transformer balanced output. Additionally, the 3124MV adds a stereo panner with a level control, and a post fader aux send. The stereo panners and the aux sends are bussed to master output controls and then to the rear panel jacks. A stereo aux return is provided to return effects or cascade additional mixers for more inputs. The stereo aux return control acts to balance the left/right signal, yet staying stereo. It can also be used as a mono return.

MSRP for 3214V is $3,295.
MSRP for 3214MV is $3,795.

Rupert Neve Designs announces R10 ten-space 500-Series rack.

The Rupert Neve Designs R10 500 series rack has power for miles.

Expanding upon the R6 six-space rack introduced in 2015, the R10 500-Series rack sports more than 150% the required current, a rugged build quality and a full complement of XLR and TRS I/O.

The R10 begins shipping at the end of January 2017, with a retail price of $995.

Dynaudio PRO introduces LYD 48 3-Way studio monitor.

The Dynaduio PRO LYD 48’s are the newest addition to the LYD line, and can serve in either nearfield or midfield applications.

The new LYD 48 features a 3-way speaker design, coupling an 8” and a 4” woofer with a 1” tweeter, making them well suited for nearfield as well as midfield monitor applications.

Each of the woofers and the tweeter are powered by a dedicated state-of-the-art Class D amplifier, delivering 80W / 50W / 50W of power per monitor. The amp features a 96kHz/24bit signal path and selectable input sensitivity, as well as the same Standby Mode as the original LYD speakers.

Also, like the other LYD monitors, the new 3-way version features Bass Extension, allowing for a choice between the default setting or pushing towards maximum bass or maximum volume. Changes will affect the low-end response, but importantly the linear frequency response remains intact.

The Sound Balance option is basically a tilt filter that tips the tonal balance gently. In short, it emphasizes one end of the spectrum while decreasing the opposite end by the same amount. This approach is different from typical shelving filters, as it alters the frequency response, but without interfering with the phase. The Sound Balance toggle switch can go for either ‘Bright’ or ‘Dark’.

LYD 48 will be available as white and black, as the original LYD range, but also in a classic all-black version.

The monitors will be available in Q2 of 2017 and are priced at $1,529 / €1,099 (each).

Not long before NAMM, Abbey Road Studios introduced the first new EMI badged microphone in over a half century: The REDD Microphone.

Abbey Road Studios, Chandler Limited and EMI collaborate to form the REDD Microphone — an innovative approach to microphone building, with some serious old school mojo.

The Chandler Limited REDD Microphone is a large diaphragm tube condenser microphone, combining mic and preamp into a single recording device. Featuring the vacuum tube-based REDD.47 Mic Amplifier circuit directly coupled to a custom handmade premium platinum membrane capsule, the REDD Microphone can be used with or without an external preamplifier.

Features available from the microphone body include: REDD.47 Mic Amplifier, providing nine gain selections, from +4 to +33db in the ‘NORM’ position, extended gain and punch in ‘DRIVE’ mode for more tonal and coloration possibilities, switchable Cardioid/Omni patterns, 10db Pad, and Phase reverse. Continuous output and low-contour control are accessible from the high-quality external power supply.

Shockmount, 25’ Mogami microphone cable, PSU, and custom molded flight case, featuring high-density rigid foam, are included.

MSRP for the REDD Microphone is $4,499.

Slate Digital introduces the Virtual Recording Studio.

Slate Digital ventures to bring a seriously expansive palette of the most sough-after sounds in recording history to your fingertips with the Virtual Recording Studio.

The Virtual Recording Studio is a suite of hardware and software products that work together to create an entire audio ecosystem.

The VRS-8 Virtual Analog Interface features eight VMS Ultra Linear microphone preamps, mastering grade A/D and D/A converters, high-end circuit design featuring boutique op-amps, WIMA capacitors and discrete headphone amplifiers, and the lowest latency of any native solution (down to .7 ms at 96k).

In addition to the VRS-8, Slate also introduced the ML-2 small-diaphragm modeling microphone. This mic features the same ultra-flat and linear response as its larger sibling: The ML-1. The ML-2 allows you to recreate the sound of nearly twenty microphones, including both dynamic and condenser emulations.

Pricing for the VRS-8 interface and ML-2 microphone does not appear to be available as of yet.

Ampeg debuts two new ultra-affordable stompboxes.

The Ampeg Classic Analog Bass Preamp and Scrambler Bass Overdrive pedals are a budget-friendly offering to bass players looking to adopt the signature sound of Ampeg.

Ampeg adds to its lineup of pedals with the launch of the Classic Analog Bass Preamp and Scrambler Bass Overdrive pedals.

The Classic Analog Bass Preamp pedal allows the player to dial in a wide range of authentic Ampeg tones with the 3-band tone stack and Ultra-Hi and Ultra-Lo circuits. The Scrambler Bass Overdrive pedal delivers a wide range of overdrive options, from subtle to screaming, while also allowing the user to blend the effected signal with the direct signal for further tonal options. Both pedals feature an all-analog, true bypass design with low signal-to-noise ratio built into durable, all-metal enclosures.

Although described by Ampeg as “ultra-affordable,” pricing for these units does not seem to have been disclosed as of yet.

iZotope announces the release of the Ozone 7 Vintage Bundle.

A peer inside the GUI for iZotope’s Vintage Tape offering for Ozone 7.

The iZotope Ozone 7 Vintage Bundle features the Vintage EQ, Vintage Tape, and Vintage Compressor plug-ins from the critically acclaimed Ozone 7 Advanced mastering suite.

Vintage Tape adds dimension, depth, and color to your instrument and master busses. This plug-in brings you all the frequency coloration, distortion, and phase effects of tape without the unwanted crosstalk, hiss, or wow and flutter.

Vintage EQ helps you shape and enhance your mixes with smooth, pleasant curves that are inspired by the revered Pultec EQP-1A and MEQ-5, but with a modern, intuitive approach to the GUI and controls.

The Vintage Compressor helps glue your instrument busses together with musicality and vibe. The plug-in is a single-band feedback compressor, featuring program-dependent release time that adapts naturally to your music.

These three plug-ins are normally only available in Ozone 7 Advanced, but are offered separately until February 28th, 2017

The Ozone Vintage Bundle is priced at $199 / £159.

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