New Products
Posted on: Sunday 1st of May 2016
CEDAR DNS 2
CEDAR Audio has developed the new DNS 2 rack mounting 2-channel noise suppressor ‘in response to the many requests for a 2-channel DNS 8 Live, which we began receiving almost from the moment that we announced the DNS 8 Live itself’. The DNS 2 is light and portable and is sure to find a niche for live broadcast, news or other audio applications where there is no time or budget for post production. A new DNS algorithm requires switching on the Learn function, which identifies and adapts to the background noise, and then setting the amount of noise attenuation. Near-zero latency is promised, with obvious applications to eliminate traffic noise, air conditioning, wind, general background noise and excessive ambience from live audio.
The DNS 2 offers analogue line and ultra low-noise microphone inputs (the latter with switchable 48V phantom power), an AES digital input, and both analogue and digital outputs. With its 12V power input and mounting points for use with other equipment, sound engineers can use it in the field just as easily as in the studio or the edit suite.
CALREC BRIO MIXER
Calrec have unveiled Brio, a new affordable 64-channel broadcast console. ‘Brio provides something unique at this price-point – a mixing console completely focused on the needs of broadcasters and broadcast infrastructures,’ said Calrec VP of Sales Dave Letson. ‘This amount of scalable and managed I/O, comprehensive monitoring, surround sound, and high bus quantities provides a degree of dedicated broadcast functionality that has never been available at this level. As the market calls for more and more audio mixes to support online content, smaller consoles that possess pure live-broadcast features are increasingly desirable. Brio’s compact size means it is extremely portable and quick to install, making it ideal as a general-purpose workhorse that users can deploy as and when needed, and its connectivity with other Hydra2-compatible equipment makes it even more versatile.’
A configurable surface gives instant access to audio paths, whilst an intuitive 15.6-inch HD touchscreen provides access to more in-depth control. A bank of illuminating hardware rotary controls give fast and precise control over parameters displayed in the touchscreen UI.
Every channel, group, and main has EQ and dynamics, with a maximum of 4 mains and 8 groups. There are 64 direct or mix-minus outputs, with AutoMinus and Off-Air Conference, plus comprehensive surround and downmixing facilities. Integration with remote control and production automation systems is available via CSCP, SW-P-08, EMBER, and GPIO remote control functionality.
PRISM CALLIA DAC
The CALLIA USB Audiophile DAC and preamplifier has the same no-compromise analogue circuitry as Prism’s professional products, with balanced-throughout architecture and isolation barriers protecting analogue from digital and computer interference.
CALLIA supports linear PCM in 2’s complement binary coding and, using the DSD over PCM (DOP) protocol, DSD at the original bit-rate (DSD64) and also at 2x the original rate (DSD128). DSD Files encoded as DOP may be played with both ASIO and WDM drivers. CALLIA also uses the identical CleverClox hybrid digital phase-locked loop (DPLL) circuitry as Prism Sound professional products.
The headphone output is low impedance, designed for the best possible performance. Settings switches on the rear panel of the unit provide suitable sensitivity settings for most headphone types, to avoid the risk of variations in level among different headphone models with impedances ranging from a few ohms to more than 250 ohms. CALLIA offers automated source selection, with manual override, and outputs are balanced +14dBu XLRs and 2V RCA phono sockets.
UAD-2 SATELLITE USB
Following on from the Windows-only Apollo Twin USB audio interface launched last year, Universal Audio have introduced a range of UAD-2 Satellite powered plug-in processor units that connect via USB 3, compatible only with Windows computers.
The new UAD-2 Satellite USB units are available as Quad and Octo models, packing four and eight SHARC processors respectively. The Satellites run Universal Audio’s range of over 90 plug-ins. The new Satellite USB units are available in five different variants, distinguished by the number of plug-ins bundled with them. The Quad Core ($999) and Octo Core ($1,499) include the Analogue Classics Plus bundle, an eight plug-in collection of greatest hits that includes the LA-2A, 1176 and Fairchild 670 compressor/limiters and the Pultec Pro EQ. The Quad Custom ($1,399) and Octo Custom ($1,899) ship with the same Analogue Classics Plus bundle, plus any three plug-ins of your choice from the online store. Finally, the Octo Ultimate ($1,599) includes all 83 UA-developed plug-ins.
Universal Audio have also announced a partnership with Fender to bring Fender guitar processing plug-ins to the UAD and Apollo platforms. ‘This is an exciting endeavour for Fender, and Universal Audio is the best group to bring the essence of our classic amps to a digital platform’ said Shane Nicholas, Director of Product Development for Fender. ‘We look forward to offering players of all types the opportunity to utilize our products in their musical expression.’
DOLBY AC-4 CODEC
Dolby announced the public release of their ground-breaking Smartphone, streaming and 4K TV AC-4 codec, designed from the ground up to bring Dolby’s lossy codec portfolio up to date. Currently a Dolby Digital 5.1 channel soundtrack can be encoded with AC-3 using 384Kbps, but with AC-4 can be encoded at only 96Kbps with no perceivable loss in quality, Dolby claim.
AC-4 is also designed to improve the viewer’s experience through dialogue enhancement – processing is done on the encoder side with more powerful algorithms available – a feature intended to improve situations where dialogue is difficult to hear, such as sports commentary. Dolby also plan to use AC-4 to provide a premium experience to viewers watching in different languages or with disabilities. Improved encoding means four different language tracks are available. There is a 5.1-channel bed with mono channels for each of the different dialogue tracks (each encoded at 32Kbps). AC-4 can also use advanced processing and psychoacoustics to produce a pseudo-Atmos effect. www.dolby.com
