Audio Interfaces

Blackstar Amplification Launches Polar Go, All-in-one Pocket-sized Stereo Recording Studio


Blackstar’s audio interface range just got a lot more portable with the pocket-sized Polar Go.

Blackstar Amplification has launched the Polar Go, an audio interface that is small enough to fit in your pocket and is designed to work seamlessly with your smartphone, tablet or laptop.

The Polar Go is equipped with Blackstar’s proprietary ProCapture Stereo Mics system, and has a combo XLR and 1/4” input, with +48V phantom power so you could hook it up with a condenser mic. There are dual USB-C outputs – one for power, one for data – and a 3.5 mm output for monitoring via studio headphones.

“Polar Go is more than a mobile interface,” says Blackstar. “It’s a complete, pocket-sized studio designed for the modern creator.”

The Polar Go is a simple audio two-knob interface (for Input and Output volume) that is small enough to fit inside your pocket. And it is designed for creators of all stripes, not just guitarists.

Blackstar has made this for singer-songwriters, rappers, spoken word artists, poets, comedians, podcasters and streamers, too. It is compatible with iOS, macOS, Android, and Windows, and with all major recording apps – GarageBand, BandLab, Zoom etc.

As the promo pic below suggests, you could take this down to your local park and track acoustic guitars – the birds and aircraft hum might even add a sort of field music authenticity to your work, open chords in the open air.

Those stereo mics have a lot of range. Blackstar says they’ll “capture anything from ASMR to a grand piano”.


Under the hood, there is a DSP engine that applies the onboard reverb, compression, EQ and noise control. The Polar Go is designed to be used by the novice and expert alike.

The Polar Go’s rechargeable battery will give you up to six hours of on-the-go recording time. The accompanying Polar Go app lets you shape the sounds you are recording.

There is onboard video recording support, so you can synch up your A/V, presets for podcasts, guitars, vocals and more to get you started, and a Magic Wand tool to gussy up your sound in an instant.

“Whether you’re a singer-songwriter, podcaster, livestreamer or filmmaker, Polar Go transforms your audio from phone-quality to studio-ready instantly,” says Blackstar. “Just plug in and create, anywhere, anytime.”

The Polar Go is available now, priced £79/$129. For more information, head over to Blackstar Amplification site.

 

 

Bela Gem Stereo & Multi Audio & Sensor System


The Bela team let us know that they’ve introduced the Bela Gem series, a high-performance audio and sensor system for their PocketBeagle 2 compact single-board computer.

The Bela Gem system is made up of two boards: Bela Gem Stereo and Bela Gem Multi, both designed to transform the PocketBeagle 2 into a powerful platform for real-time audio and sensor processing. The open-source systems are designed to provide the tools needed to create innovative audio projects with minimal setup and configuration.

All Bela Gem systems run on PocketBeagle 2, a 4-core 1.4GHz Linux system, and have:

  • Latency as low as 1ms
  • 8 16-bit analog inputs
  • 16 digital GPIO
  • On-board Qwiik connector
  • USB-A port for wifi/bluetooth
  • Synchronous audio/analog/GPIO
  • Browser-based IDE that launches right in your browser, with even more great tools for learning and building

The Bela Gem Stereo has all Gem features, plus:

  • 2 channels of audio in/out, up to 96kHz and 24 bit
  • On-board TRS jacks
  • 58mm x 45mm x 22mm

It’s priced at $69 (add a PocketBeagle 2 for $28).

The Bela Gem Multi has all Gem features, plus:

  • 10 channels of audio in/out, up to 96kHz and 24 bit
  • Up to 8 are configurable as DC coupled outputs for analog or CV
  • 2 on-board TRS jacks, plus included detachable wings with 8 more (remove the wings for a lower profile)
  • 70mm x 58mm x 32mm (with wings) or 22mm (without wings)

It’s $159 (add a PocketBeagle 2 for $28).

Details are available now at Crowd Supply.

*Note: Crowdfunded projects can involve risk. Visit the project site for details.

 

M-Audio Announces M-Track Duo HD Audio Interface


Today, M-Audio has announced a new  audio interface: M-Track Duo HD. It’s a versatile audio interface that provides value and ease of use without sacrificing the pristine quality.

Aimed at musicians, producers, podcasters and content creators, the 2-in/2-out M-Track Duo HD boasts improved audio – 24-bit/192kHz converters compared to Duo’s 16-bit/48kHz – providing 55dB of gain through M-Audio’s low-noise Crystal preamps, both equipped with +48V phantom power. It also swaps out Duo’s USB-B input for a USB-C.

Compatible with Mac, PC, iOS and Android, Duo HD features dual Combo XLR/TRS inputs that can handle mic, line or instrument signals, along with two 1/4″ TRS outputs and a 1/4″ headphone output with an independent level control. Duo HD’s Direct/USB monitor switch offers zero-latency monitoring of its inputs.

The interface arrives with a software bundle that includes the MPC Beats music production software, along with a selection of virtual instruments and effects plugins from AIR.

M-Track Duo HD is priced at $99. It’s also available as part of a Producer Pack bundle with M-Audio’s HD41 headphones and M100 studio condenser mic, priced at $179.

Find out more on M-Audio website.