New Gear Alert: Waves SoundGrid Rack With VENUE, Focusrite & Sound Radix Collaborate, Keys With Ampify Groovebox & More

Waves Audio announces SoundGrid Rack for VENUE.

With SoundGrid Rack for VENUE, live mix engineers can enjoy a more hands-on experience when using Waves plugins within Avid’s VENUE | S6L mixing console.

SoundGrid Rack for VENUE enables live sound engineers to run Waves plugins directly within Avid’s VENUE | S6L mixing console, with tactile control from the console’s surface knobs and integration in the VENUE software. This effectively eliminates the need for a computer host or an external network switch.

SoundGrid Rack is a plugin that runs within the VENUE | S6L environment and can load up to 8 SoundGrid-compatible Waves plugins per instance. All standard VENUE plugin features apply, including “Config” and “Show” modes, delay compensation, snapshot automation, and detailed tactile control of plugin parameters.

To complete the system, you’ll also need the WSG-HD Waves SoundGrid Option Card (purchased separately from Avid), VENUE software version 5.7 or later, a Waves SoundGrid Extreme Server or SoundGrid Server One to process the plugins, and Waves plugin licenses of your choice.

SoundGrid Rack for VENUE is available now for $2,000. Subscription options are available for $750/year and $100/month.

Focusrite welcomes Sound Radix to the Plug-In Collective.

Plugin Alliance and Sound Radix have joined forces to offer Plug-In Collective members an exclusive twist on the SurferEQ 2 plugin.

From now until May 3rd, Focusrite and Sound Radix team up to offer a free SurferEQ 2 Boogie plugin—a version of the SurferEQ 2 plugin—developed exclusively for Focusrite customers.

SurferEQ 2 Boogie features three bands, two of which can be switched to Shelf mode, while the center band can be switched between Surf and Static mode. Surf mode tracks the pitch of a monophonic instrument or a vocal source and can adapt its bands’ frequencies relative to the music in real time, maintaining the natural harmonic balance of the sound source and making it possible to shape the source’s timbre relative to the notes being played.

The free availability of SurferEQ 2 Boogie coincides with a 25% discount off SurferEQ 2, making the cost only $149, down from the original price tag of $199. Registered Focusrite hardware customers can access the offer from their Focusrite accounts.

Ampify introduces Novation Launchkey connectivity for the Groovebox iOS app.

For the first time ever, Ampify offers keyboard connectivity for the Groovebox iOS app, exclusively for Novation Launchkey users.

Ampify Groovebox is a free app that helps music makers of all kinds work from their iPhone or iPad. It’s easy to start building beats and musical ideas on-the-go, however Groovebox has not offered compatibility for external keyboards… until now.

Ampify has partnered with Novation to create seamless support for the Launchkey keyboard range, which offers extended pad support to allow musical scale modes while playing the synths. While playing beats, the color-matched drum pads help you separate your kicks from your snares, and all your other sounds, for that matter. Check out the promo video here.

Groovebox is available to download for free here. Supported hardware includes Launchkey Mini and Launchkey 25, 49, and 61 (RGB only available on Mk2 version).

Abstract Data announces the ADE-33 Event Boss Eurorack module.

In need of some fresh, out-of-the-box rhythmic ideas? Abstract Data’s ADE-33 Event Boss offers a plethora of algorithms to spice up your synth experience.

The Event Boss is designed to work with any clock, gate, trigger, square wave or PWM-type LFO input. It will take regular clocks and generate rhythms, it will take rhythmic patterns and generate new patterns, and it will take irregular and random clocks and generate new, irregular, and probability-based patterns and variations.

There is CV control over every parameter so patterns can be rhythmic, continually evolving, entirely random, or pretty much any combination you choose. The ADE-33 combines 6 sets of algorithms, with 36 in total, covering: Variables, Multiples, Probability, Logic, Phase, and Gates.

The ADE-33 Event Boss is on sale now for £199, and can be bought directly from Abstract Data or their international dealers.

Audio-Technica now shipping the ATH-M50xBB Blue/Black version of their ATH-M50x headphones.

Audio-Technica offers a fresh new take on their popular ATH-M50x headphones with a sleek, new blue and black aesthetic.

The ATH-M50xBB is a limited-edition blue/black version of A-T’s popular ATH-M50x, featuring metallic blue earcups and black accents.

From the 45mm large-aperture drivers to its sound-isolating earcups and robust construction, the ATH-M50xBB provides an unmatched experience for the most critical audio applications, including recording, live sound, broadcast, DJ and personal listening.

The headphones provide exceptional power handling, very high SPL capability, and natural, accurate sound with impactful bass and high-frequency extension. With professional-grade earpad and headband material, and a collapsible design with detachable cable, the ATH-M50xBB headphones remain comfortable throughout long monitoring sessions and transport easily.

The ATH-M50xBB headphones are available now for $169.

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