PAR Daily E-Reviewsletter featuring Audio-Technica, Fairlight, Neumann, Phoenix Audio & Soundcraft

New Products - October 19, 2012 The 2012 PAR Excellence Awards: Vote Now! » Fairlight xStream Compact Desktop Control Surface for CC-1 Media Engine » Neumann Card Game App for iOS » Phoenix Audio N90-DRC/500 Compressor » Soundcraft Vi Series V4.7 Software Update » Today's Product Review Audio-Technica AT4050ST Stereo Condenser Microphone By Rob Tavaglione "Recording an acoustic Taylor 6-string guitar revealed the AT4050ST sensitive to placement (as to be expected with acoustic guitars in general), but capable in all three modes (M-S, 90- and 127-degree stereo). Neither the pad nor the HPF was required here, with typically hot output levels and no problem with self-noise, even with the ample gain required on a lightly arpeggiated part. I received a sound that was anything but boomy; its very articulated, high-mid forward presentation came with a lean bottom that was slightly strident, even after high-cut EQ. Further testing on drum overheads confirmed the AT4050ST's sonic signature. The application's high SPL was no problem at all (with or without pad); detail was exceptional; and the AT4050ST seemed very quick with transients, although, to my ears, something was missing in the low-mids. Top end wasn't that harsh (although the mic is quite peaky between 8- and 12kHz), and mids were colorful, but overall body was missing, with notably less between 100 and 250 Hz. Some shelf-boosting EQ revealed usable content down there; with that, the problem was mostly solved." More » Today's Blog Epic Frequency Turns Sound Into Art By Kelleigh Welch "At first glance, the metallic yellow waveform displayed on a 48” x 18” gallery wrapped canvas hanging above your friend’s couch gives little evidence towards what the waveform produces. It could be a piece of a song, or a soundbite from a famous speech, but until you ask about the artwork, you wouldn’t know that it displays Neil Armstrong’s famous “One Small Step for Man” quote. When looking at the visual display of their home-produced podcasts in 2008, Nashville residents Bill Seaver and Nathan Moore realized waveforms could easily be transformed into wall art by simply copying their visuals into a design program and playing with the colors. We talked about the waveform design, which led us to talking about how famous sayings and speeches might be iconic enough to put on a wall,” Seaver explained." More »

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