AES report: a quick overview - Audio - Audio Engineering Society

Post, Nov, 2002 by Marc Loftus

LOS ANGELES--The LA Convention Center recently played host to this year's Audio Engineering Society convention, and while attendance and exhibit space were down from years past, many manufacturers were on-hand presenting new audio tools.

The Digidesign booth was one of the most active, with attendees anticipating the release of Pro Tools 6.0. The OS X version of 6.0 is expected to ship at the end of the year (with a Windows XP version coming in Q2 of 2003) and offers a new streamlined user interface, dual processor support, enhanced MIDI functionality and new machine control capabilities. Digidesign also had its LE family on display. The Digi 002 is now shipping for both Mac 0S 9 and the PC. The system is 24-bit/96kHz and ships with over $2,200 worth of Digidesign and third-party plug-ins. The Digi 001 now supports the Control 24 work surface. Its $495 Mbox rounds out the LE line and will ship on the XP platform this month.

Sony is now shipping its Oxford plug-ins, which are derived from the company's high-end OXF-R3 console. A forthcoming dynamics processor plug-in was shown as well. On the hardware side, Sony introduced the DMX-P01 portable digital mixer featuring 32-bit processing, four mic inputs, scene recall and 48 or 96 kHz sample rate support.

The company's successful DMX-R100 digital console has been upgraded to V.2.2. allowing users to store and recall settings for two consoles as if they were one. The company also showed the new SIU-100, a system interface I/O expansion rack designed to increase the I/O of the R100.

Sony teamed with Philips to demonstrate the latest in Super Audio CD technology. The format is backward compatible and can not be ripped or file shared.

Cakewalk's Chris Rice says the hit to the economy is actually helping companies like Cakewalk sell low-cost applications. Cakewalk showed upgrades to its Sonar Windows-based digital multitrack software. Now in V.2.1 ($479), Sonar allows users to record, edit and mix unlimited digital audio and MIDI tracks on a PC. The upgrade provides sample-accurate import and export of OMF and Broadcast WAV audio files and sequences directly into Sonar projects without the need to launch separate applications. New Mackie Control hardware support allows users to control Sonar's operations via the Mackie Control mixing interface.

Yamaha displayed its new DM 1000 console, a compact 24-bit/96kHz unit featuring 48 inputs, eight buses, eight auxes, on-board processing, 100mm touch-sensitive faders, 5.1 panning and DAW control. The slimmed down version of its DM2000 is expected to ship in March or April for around $5,000. Yamaha also showed its new MSP 10 Studio powered monitors featuring improved drivers and crossovers. Each monitor houses a 120W/8-inch woofer and 60W/1-inch tweeter.

Euphonix announced a partnership with Steinberg. They had a System 5 in the Steinberg booth demonstrating a protocol that allows users to control Steinberg's audio editor from the Euphonix console's worksurface. Euphonix's Paul deBenedictis says the company hopes to work with other DAW manufacturers in the future.

Group One's Blue Sky was showing off a new line of affordable desktop monitors. The Blue Sky ProDesk package is available in 5.1 and 2.1 configurations. Each sealed monitor features a 5 1/4-inch driver and 3/4-inch tweeter. Skywalker Sound has standardized the monitors, having purchased 42 2.1 systems and five 5.1 packages.

Lexicon, introduced a new member of its 960L family of digital effects systems. The 960LS is a stereo version of the multichannel 960L and brings with it the same reverb algorithms and control capabilities. Zolner says the 960LS is a next-generation product for users that want to replace their Lexicon 480Ls, or for those who are currently doing stereo work and might want to upgrade to the 960L in the future.

AMS Neve continues to develop its SAM-equipped AudioFile SC editing system, maintaining an openness to third-party plugins. Cedar Audio's Declick and Auto Decrackle process is the latest tool to enhance the audio editor. AMS Neve also showed integration between its AudioFile and MMC console.

Studio Network Solutions (SNS) introduced two-gigabit versions of its A/V SAN and A/V SAN Pro storage systems. The two-gigabit versions now provide 400 MB/sec. performance and offer higher levels of storage/backup and redundancy. SNS also introduced the Fiberdrive, a single-user Fibre Channel drive available in 72 GB to 146 GB configurations.

Dolby showed its new Model 585 time scale processor at the show. The $9,900 Model 585 enables realtime pitch correction of frame-rate converted or time-scaled multichannel audio, producing natural sounding results, Audio can be pitch shifted up or down by 15 percent or adjusted to be 15 percent longer or shorter while maintaining the proper pitch.

TASCAM introduced the DS-M7.1 ($ 1,899) surround sound monitor control for consoles with limited output buses. They showed the unit working along side its SX-1 six-channel stem recorder/digital production system. When combined, they create a complete surround production suite.