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Has Behringer managed to create a “premium” 10-input analogue mixer for $129?

Behringer has confirmed the availability of Xenyx 1003B.

Behringer today introduced the Xenyx 1003B, a new 10-input analogue mixer with five mic preamps and a battery power option.

The Xenyx 1003B is described as a “premium” mixer, designed for live work, streaming, podcasting and recording.

Each of the Xenyx preamps has a 48v phantom power option, and there is also a dedicated stereo line input channel. Each channel has a 60mm fader, 3-band EQ, and a post-fader FX send control for utilising external effects.

In addition, there are per-channel pre-EQ monitor send controls that can be used to set up an independent monitoring mix, along with RCA streaming, 1/4-inch main and headphone outputs.

The Xenyx 1003B has a list price of $129/£119.00, and is said to be shipping now. Find out more on the Behringer website.

A new pair of Smart Gloves could be used to help stroke patients who are suffering from limb weakness to relearn how to play the piano, research has indicated.

Machine learning mitts can assist hand movements – Scientists have developed an exoskeleton glove or robo-glove that features machine learning algorithms, fingertip sensors and moving components known as actuators, which mimic hand movements. The theory is that it can ‘teach’ the wearer how to play the piano again by guiding them on where they’re going right and wrong.

Dr Erik Engeberg, a professor at Florida Atlantic University’s department of ocean and mechanical engineering, is quoted as saying: “We found that the glove can learn to distinguish between correct and incorrect piano play.

“This means it could be a valuable tool for personalised rehabilitation of people who wish to relearn to play music.”

The study, which has been published in Frontiers in Robotics and AI, indicates that the gloves are capable of detecting where a player went wrong during their performance, so that they know where they need to improve.

“While wearing the glove, human users have control over the movement of each finger to a significant extent,” says Dr Erik Engeberg.

“The glove is designed to assist and enhance their natural hand movements, allowing them to control the flexion and extension of their fingers.

“The glove supplies hand guidance, providing support and amplifying dexterity.”

Having provided a proof of concept, the researchers say that more work is now needed to make the gloves more accurate and adaptable. But they hope that in future, stroke patients and other people with disabilities could use these gloves to regain arm function, but the glove can easily be adapted to help relearn other daily tasks.

D16 Group has released Lush-2, a major update to the multilayer polyphonic synthesizer for Mac and Windows.

Lush-2 supports up to 8 layers, making it possible to create deep, complex patches. Each layer can be freely assigned to any MIDI channel or keyboard zone, and its audio output can be routed to any of the 11 available stereo busses.

Layers can either be used to create a single massive sound (where all layers respond to a single MIDI channel and a single keyboard zone) or to create several discrete timbres simultaneously (where each layer sounds on a different MIDI channel).

Features:

• Multi-core support for better performance.
• Multilayer architecture with 8 independent Layers (per-layer properties):
  • Up to 32 voices of polyphony.
  • MIDI channel.
  • Keyboard zone.
  • Audio output.
  • Synthesis:
    • Oscillators (Saw, PWM, Noise), with Supersaw and HardSync options.
    • Sub Oscillator (5 waveforms).
    • Self-oscillating, high-quality, multimode filter.
    • Passive high-pass filter.
    • Up to 8 voice unison with Tune, Cutoff and Panorama spread.
    • 2 LFOs with optional tempo synchronization and re-triggering modes (Trig, Gate, Arpe, None).
  • 2 envelopes with re-triggering modes (Trig, Gate, LFO1, LFO2).
    • Insert effects (selectable algorithms) – 2 slots per layer:
    • Chorus
    • String Ensemble.
    • Phaser.
    • Flanger.
    • Distortion.
    • Vowel filter.
    • Decimator.
    • Tremolo.
  • Modulation Matrix (modulation sources):
    • Note velocity.
    • Pitch bend.
    • Modulation wheel.
    • Expression pedal.
    • Sustain pedal.
    • Keyboard’s aftertouch.
    • Note pitch.
    • Arpeggiator’s output.
  • Arpeggiator:
  • Step sequencer (Gate and Tie per step).
  • 6 Run modes (Up, Down, Up and Down, Down and Up, Random, Manual).
  • Chord mode (Gater).
  • 3 Hold modes (Normal, Toggle, Trigger).
  • Shuffer
  • Tempo multiplier (Full notes, Dotted notes, Triplets).
• Mixer:
  • Parametric EQs (1 per channel strip).
  • Compressors (1 per channel strip).
  • Up to 11 freely-assignable stereo output busses per instance.
  • Send FX’s (Reverb, Chorus, Delay with tempo sync).
• Presets:
  • Over 1600 factory presets.
  • 6 preset categories (whole synth, single layer, Arpeggiator, Reverb, Delay, Chorus).
  • Tag-based preset browser.
• Screen fit features
  • Several GUI sizes.
  • HiDPI / Retina screens scaling support.
  • 4 color themes to choose from.
• MIDI-learn functionality.

Lush-2 is available now with introductory price €89 (regular €169). A demo version is also available.