Tech Reviews: New products (April 2023)
Kate Rounding
Saturday, April 1, 2023
Kate Rounding reveals what's new this month.
Boss DS-1W Distortion Pedal
Price: £125
Some of the world’s most respected guitarists used the DS-1 distortion pedal, including Joe Satriani, John Frusciante, Steve Vai, and Kurt Cobain. Boss has recently overhauled the pedal and expanded the DS-1 experience with the new ‘Waza Craft’ version, releasing the DS-1W. The Waza has two modes. Standard mode provides the hard-edged sound and long sustain of the original. If you switch to Custom mode, you can create a new and richer sound that is even more responsive. The pedal features tone-control, level and gain adjustment for each mode. The Waza has new analogue circuitry, which overall gives better control of the sound. The Waza Custom mode will suit classic rock and blues, pop, punk and grunge styles. The DS-1W is good value, versatile and built to withstand even the most raucous performances.
Yamaha AG01 Live Streaming USB Microphone
Price: £219
Podcasting is an excellent way for students to be creative, improve their communication skills, and reinforce their learning. The AG01 USB microphone has everything you need to get started. It combines a high-quality condenser microphone with an audio interface, so there’s no need for extra equipment on the desk. Controls are (unusually) on the front of the mic, including headphone level, audio loopback, volume, mute and reverb on/off. The mic gain control is on the rear. You can also download the AG controller app to adjust the settings from your computer (or phone). This sturdy desktop mic has a 3.5mm stereo input, a 3.5mm connection for a smartphone, and a stereo loopback input to take audio from a computer via USB. The microphone and USB input levels can be adjusted to balance the signals, making it easy to combine voice, music and instruments. The AG01 comes with WaveLab Cast (dedicated software for podcasting and vlogging) and Cubase AI (DAW).
http://amahamusiclondon.com/AG01-Live-Streaming-USB-Microphone/pidCAG01WH
FL Studio 21
Price: Producer Edition £164 | Signature Bundle £255 | All Plugins Edition £409
FL Studio is popular among young music producers and is often used for pattern-based composition and beat-making. It can be a good way to start producing; Afrojack, Skrillex and Rhianna have all composed using this software. FL Studio 21, released on FL’s 25th anniversary, has an improved interface and many new features. The addition of a new step sequencer that can transform chords into melodies is a useful composition tool. There are several bundle or versions available, but the Producer Edition is a popular package. It includes two audio editors, a huge range of instruments and effects, MIDI controller support, audio recording and editing. It is free for existing customers and comes with lifetime free updates, available on iOS and Windows.
http://image-line.com/fl-studio
LABS Bell Swarm
Price: Free
This free plugin has everything you need to add some magic to your music. Recorded in the grand hall of a medieval church, you can choose from an ensemble of three glockenspiels, a duet of vibraphones, plus a collection of handbells sourced from the Whitechapel Bell Foundry. You can add layers of bells or single-hit sounds. The user interface is simple to use, with controls for reverb, tremolo and ‘swarm’, and there are several pre-sets for each instrument – all of which sound fantastic. The ‘swarm’ control adds layers of effects and delays. Turning the swarm control to maximum creates a sound that almost writes the music itself. Christmas may be a long way off, but the bell swarms are for life – not just for Christmas!