Hardware vocal processing was once the preserve of live performers. But now the technology is much more advanced, not to mention affordable, and it has become much more widely available. Roland’s latest offering in this field is the VT-4 Voice Transformer, a powerful new effects processor for manipulating the human voice.
Compact and easy to use, the VT-4 allows the user to connect a microphone and quickly craft unique vocal sounds with performance-oriented controls. It puts a wealth of modern and retro vocal effects at the user’s fingertips, eliminating the need to employ a complicated setup with a computer and plug-ins.
Read more about this here: https://ask.audio/articles/rolands-vt4-voice-transformer-is-for-musicians-djs-broadcasters-and-more
Audio Recording
SPL Crescendo 8 Channel Microphone Preamp
There are microphone preamps that we use when we need some color or when we need transparency. The new SPL Crescendo 8 channel mic preamp was intentionally created to be as colorless as possible by using an approach that you won’t see in inexpensive mic pres.
The preamps in the Crescendo achieve the transparency using what SPL calls “120V DC Audio Rail Technology.” SPL uses its own 5th generation SUPRA op-amps that use ±60 volt power to make a 120-volt power rail. The result is more than 10dB more headroom, 3dB less noise, and a preamp that’s really difficult to overload.
Read more about this here: https://bobbyowsinskiblog.com/2018/10/15/spl-crescendo-mic-preamp/
sE Electronics Announces DM1 DYNAMITE Inline Preamp & sE7 Small Diaphragm Condenser Mic
sE Electronics is proud to announce two new products: the DM1 DYNAMITE, a slim, high-performance inline preamp that provides a consistent +28dB of gain for dynamic or passive ribbon microphones; and the sE7, a new affordable small-diaphragm condenser microphone that is also available as a Matched Stereo Pair.
According to sE, “The DM1 DYNAMITE is the perfect way to boost the signal from a passive mic for studio, podcasting, or on-stage use. The sE7 is a high-quality back-electret small-diaphragm condenser microphone intended for a wide range of studio and live applications with acoustic guitars, pianos, drums, and more.
Read more about this here: https://ask.audio/articles/se-electronics-announces-dm1-dynamite-inline-preamp-se7-small-diaphragm-condenser-mic
Level Matching Demystified!
There are a lot of exciting things we can do with audio signals — but level matching usually isn’t on the list. Adjusting the volumes of two or more audio sources so that they have equal volume when comparing them isn’t something that usually gets people’s creative juices flowing.
Level matching usually isn’t as simple as turning up the fader volume at some point in the signal chain of the quieter signal. If two signals have differing peaks, they still won’t sound even. The best way to level match signals starts with having a good metering plug-in that offers accurate RMS metering.
Read more about this here: https://www.sweetwater.com/insync/level-matching-demystified/
Punch In / Punch Out
The concept behind the punch in/punch out recording technique is relatively simple. When you have an almost perfect take but there are a couple of wrong notes here or there, why should you re-record the whole thing again when technology allows you to focus on the “offending” passages by starting and stopping the recording right when you need it.
Back in the days, using this technique was pretty risky because it meant you had to overwrite whatever you had previously tracked. Fortunately, nowadays every DAW worthy of the name comes with a much more simpler punch in/punch out function.
Read more about this here: https://en.audiofanzine.com/recording-mixing/editorial/articles/punch-in-punch-out.html