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.
Bitwig‘s first hardware product introduced at NAMM this year is out now: Bitwig Connect 4/12.
More than an audio interface, Bitwig Connect 4/12 is a class-compliant, 4-in/12-out CV and MIDI-enabled audio interface with monitor- and DAW-control functionalities and a unique Bitwig Mode. As a bridge between software and external gear, Bitwig Connect is the perfect device to mark our debut into hardware.
Key Features: The Ultimate Studio Sidekick. Bitwig Connect is a three-in-one audio/MIDI interface, monitor and DAW controller. Six mode buttons allow its 360-degree, touch-sensitive dial to adjust interface parameters or control software. It can set input gain, regulate the volume levels for two sets of monitors and a pair of headphones, or even move the playhead and control any Bitwig Studio parameter with exceptional resolution.
The front panel gives the user immediate visual feedback, with accurate input and output meters and a ring of 32 RGB LEDs around the dial to visualize parameter values and automation data. Plus, gain settings are accessible and saved within Bitwig Studio, to pick up right where you left off next time you open it.
Bring Bitwig Studio to Life.
Connect’s unique Bitwig Mode puts Bitwig Studio at your fingertips with DAW controller functionalities. Seamless integration makes writing automation, fine-tuning settings, and navigating the timeline in Bitwig Studio with Connect’s main dial intuitive and precise. Get quick access to any control with the high-resolution dial by hovering over it with your cursor, and lock a selected parameter to Bitwig Connect by double-tapping. The LED ring indicates its current task by matching the color of the parameter or track in Bitwig Studio so you’ll never get lost.
CV Connects the Best of Both Worlds.
With two DC-coupled inputs and four outputs easily accessible via 3.5 mm minijacks directly on the front panel, Bitwig Connect is a superior choice for musicians with CV-enabled hardware. That means it goes both ways: To external devices from Bitwig Studio or other programs, and from hardware sequencers and modulation signals into the software realm.
Thanks to factory calibration, Bitwig Connect plays pitch-perfect and without offset with Bitwig Studio right out of the box. And since jacks can also be used for audio signals, they can act as additional ins and outs for line-level signals, making them useful to all types of users.
Audio Quality at the Top of Its Class.
The hardware inside ensures pristine recordings with every take. Bitwig Connect uses balanced connections, a premium mic preamp, and high-quality instrument/line inputs feeding into tried-and-true AKM converters capable of up to 192kHz, 24-bit resolution. That means the user can capture any source with ultra-low noise floors.
Ready To Go.
Connect’s robust steel chassis is built to endure travel and performance. USB-2 bus powering with the USB-C connector means there’s no external power supply needed, so it can accompany you from the studio to the stage. With hardware this tough, you have a companion for life.
The Story Behind Bitwig Connect 4/12.
The concept behind Bitwig Connect was driven by two key goals: to create an audio interface that seamlessly integrates hardware and software, and to offer a way to physically interact with Bitwig Studio.
Bitwig Connect bridges the user’s hardware devices, like synths and modular systems, and Bitwig Studio’s comprehensive Hardware Out tools (CV in/out, Analog Clock, MIDI CC, etc.). Its bidirectional CV capabilities extend Bitwig Studio’s unique modulation system and The Grid to your hardware, and vice versa. Bitwig Connect makes this connectivity seemingly effortless with plug-and-play simplicity and visual feedback.
The second idea is embodied in the high-resolution main dial, which offers precise control over everything in Bitwig Studio. Designed to complement your mouse, keyboard, and other MIDI controllers, this intuitive dial delivers a tactile, haptic experience.
Combined Audio Devices in Bitwig Studio 5.3. Bitwig Studio 5.3 adds major improvements to the program’s audio settings, such as auto-configuration and Combined Audio Devices. The latter option allows macOS and Linux users to integrate Bitwig Connect into their existing audio routing setups by combining multiple interfaces.
Bitwig Connect 4/12 is available starting today for €499/ $599 /£439, via the Bitwig webshop, and from select partners and retailers worldwide. [Please note, the USD price may be adjusted based on changes to international tariffs.] Shipping starts April 28. Check Bitwig’s Buy Local page to find a dealer near you.
No matter how convenient and omnipresent your smartphone may be, and no matter how powerful and clever the apps upon it become, when it comes to the quality and convenience demanded by audio pros, there are times when only a dedicated hardware recorder can hit the spot.
When true performance matters, market leader Tascam know what’s needed. Whether for field recording, interviews and lectures, or complete gigs in glorious like-you-were-there stereo, it’s been delivering the goods for years.
Tascam has announced two new portable stereo recorders. Building upon the strengths of the previous versions, the DR-05XP and DR-07XP are said to be ideal solutions for capturing pro-quality recording for music, audio-for-video, meetings, dictation and more.
Its new DR-05XP and DR-07XP pack pro features for superior audio wherever you need it.
Both come laden with new features especially tuned for audiophiles, alongside the kind of battery life that will outlive even the most tortuous prog-rock career showcase.
Firstly there are built-in pro-quality condenser microphones capable of recording gig-standard sound pressure levels of 125 dB, far beyond the capabilities of any smartphone. The DR-05XP features these mics in omnidirectional form in a fixed stereo formation for easy recording of sound sources coming from any direction.
And, for those requiring further flexibility, the DR-07XP sports unidirectional mics that are movable and posable in either AB or XY orientations, allowing better, wider, more realistic recordings of stereo sound sources.
The DR-05XP & DR-07XP also feature stereo minijack mic inputs with plug-in power or the provision for direct line level sources should additional audio ins be needed.
In addition, both models share a 32-bit float recording mode with an impressive up-to-96 kHz sample rate for low-noise, distortion-free recordings. Tascam claims that the fidelity of the digital recording is now such that ‘too high’ or ‘too low’ audio recording levels are a thing of the past, with the unit able to invisibly handle whatever you throw at it.
Most interestingly, both models now feature a USB-C connection, enabling them to act as a 2-in/2-out USB audio interface for your computer. Perfect for those impromptu live sessions or simply giving your computer direct access to the best mics in the room. There’s even a built-in reverb effect if you want to add a little extra ambience.
And Tascam hasn’t forgotten all the essentials. Both units now offer support for SDXC cards of up to 512GB in size and will record for more than 17 hours on a single charge. Plus, there’s their famous ease of use, fully-featured screen and level meters and the reliable one-button recording and one handed operation that pros love.
Bitwig Connect bridges the user’s hardware devices, like synths and modular systems, and Bitwig Studio’s comprehensive Hardware Out tools (CV in/out, Analog Clock, MIDI CC, etc.). Its bidirectional CV capabilities extend Bitwig Studio’s unique modulation system and The Grid to your hardware, and vice versa. Bitwig Connect makes this connectivity seemingly effortless with plug-and-play simplicity and visual feedback.
