Tech Reviews: New products (August 2022)
Kate Rounding
Monday, August 1, 2022
Kate Rounding reveals what's new this month
Spitfire Audio – Cello Moods
Price: Free
Spitfire Audio has released Cello Moods, a new software instrument library in its LABS series. These beautifully played short cello pieces are performed by Scottish folk cellist Alice Allen and are curated under four headings or ‘moods’ described as Awe, Melancholy, Tension, and Wistfulness. If you are composing music to create a specific mood or atmosphere, or are just looking for some moody cello inspiration, then you can download these for free. Cello Moods works with the same (free) Spitfire Audio plugin as all other LABS instruments and can be used directly in any DAW.
labs.spitfireaudio.com/cello-moods
Zoom R20 Multi Track Recorder
Price: £332
The Zoom R20 is a portable digital multi-track recorder with a 4.3-inch colour LCD touchscreen interface. You can record up to eight tracks simultaneously and 16 tracks in total. The R20 records directly to SDHC or SDXC cards up to 1TB, and is a good option for recording rehearsals, assemblies, or concerts without the need for a computer. There are six XLR and two XLR/1/4-inch combo inputs, with phantom power on three of the inputs. The channel controls are simple, and the interface resembles a DAW – you can use familiar touchscreen gestures such as drag, drop and swipe to navigate and edit audio. You can also import and playback MIDI files or plug in a MIDI keyboard via USB-C. There is a headphone jack for monitoring and outputs for connecting to monitors or speakers. The Zoom R20 Control App features VoiceOver and VoiceOver Gestures to support visually impaired users. AC adapter and Steinberg Cubase LE Software included.
PreSonus Eris E5 BT
Price: £198
The PreSonus Eris E5 BT studio monitors promise a high-quality listening experience and flexible connectivity. The speakers can be connected to mobile devices by Bluetooth, and you can also connect an audio interface using the balanced stereo 1/4-inch inputs or a set of DJ decks via the RCA inputs. The Eris E5 BT offers an even frequency response for accurate mixing and monitoring in the studio, and with 50 watts of efficient Class-D power for each speaker, they are loud enough for a classroom or common room. If you prefer more bass, there is a 1/4-inch TRS Sub Out for adding a subwoofer. The headphone jack located on the front of the speakers allows for listening in private. The product also includes a mini-jack cable (TRS to TRS), an adapter cable (mini-jack TRS to 2x inch) and a connecting cable from left to right speaker.
www.presonus.com/products/Eris-E5-BT
Akai Professional MPK mini Play MK3
Price: £101
This upgraded mini-USB keyboard controller from Akai is compact, portable, and versatile. It has 25 velocity sensitive keys and eight MPC pressure-sensitive drum pads, and is small enough to fit on a standard single-seat desk. There is a built-in speaker and a headphone output, with a 3.5mm jack. The unit has over 100 internal drum and instrument sounds and comes with a substantial software package, the MPC Beats DAW software, and a selection of software instruments. This tiny powerhouse has over 14 hours of battery life so you can take it anywhere, and you can also run the keyboard via a USB connection.
