Product Reviews

by Gary Williams

After my glowing review of the Behringer X32 out of the box, we felt it was time to share our experience with the real-world application of this mixer. After all, it may look pretty sitting on a desk but how does it really perform?

Forget all the features, bells and whistles, and the place for your iPhone, when we really get right down to it, the question we have to ask is 'how does it sound?'

My answer to that is "It sounds like a digital mixer." Shocking, I know.

What I mean by that is that there is...

Read more: Behringer X32 Digital Mixer - take two (literally)

Denon Professional | Pitch Control App
         
The DENON Professional Pitch Control App is a free application (available to download from the App Store) that enables independent Key and Tempo (Pitch) manipulation of your audio tracks in real time. 

Simply playback your chosen tracks using the the iPhone/iPod Touch music files via the app's intuitive layout of choice (artist, title, album and playlist filters) and use the touch screen controls to speed up or slow down the music as you would using a Professional CD player with Pitch control, but with your iTunes library. 

Master Key adjustment is included in the App, allowing the musical key to be maintained while changing the tempo of the music, making this app the perfect accompaniment for music teachers and students, gym, fitness or dance instructors, or anyone that demands additional control over their audio tracks stored on an iPhone or iPod Touch.

Think about that.  With your iPhone or iPod Touch, you'll now have the ability to change pitch and tempo independently.  It used to cost $600 to buy a CD player that would allow you to rehearse songs at a different tempo and in the same key, or to change the pitch while preserving the tempo for an accompaniment track.  And it's free.  Download it here. 

As far as a review, the app just works, and it's free.  I downloaded it today and had it working in about 10 seconds.  It preserved the key while changing tempo and vice-versa.  Use it as a rehearsal tool, an exercise aid, or for live performance. 

Okay: we're a little obsessed with direct boxes. We enjoy inspecting aluminum extrusions for nicks, browsing switch datasheets during lunch, and devising new ruggedness tests for the legendary Type 85, and new Type 10, Type 10S Stereo, and Type 85S Stereo boxes. In our defense, the DI is one of the first elements in your system, and the way it performs can make or break your sound. A lot goes in to a great DI. Find out why Countryman DIs are an essential part of road kits worldwide:
 
1. Tough
 
Every Countryman Direct Box is built unreasonably tough, because we know life on the road and in the studio is rarely reasonable. When it comes to outrageous ruggedness, Countryman DIs crush the competition:

Read more: 5 Reasons to Choose a Countryman DI

We can use words to let you know about how a product works.  Today, we have the benefit of video with audio, so that you can experience it. 

I'd like to introduce you to a friend and client Jared Mahone.  We mixed his CD Release Party just a few weeks ago.  What you'll hear is 16 tracks of audio recorded to a stock Macbook Pro.  Mixed live on the Presonus StudioLive 16.4.2 via iPad.  Look for the bald guy at front-of-house.  I think that you might recognize him.  (The other console was used only by the opening band.)

Presonus StudioLive is a complete recording and mixing (and ear monitoring and music publishing and personal mixing and room tuning) solution.  Priced from $1299.