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The NI404 is an open-source sampler and sequencer, based on the Teensy Microcontroller and Audioboard from PJRC, that’s designed to offer an accessible entry point into the world of music creation.

Features:

• Easy to Use – The NI404 lets users create complex sound patterns without any prior knowledge of musical instruments or equipment. It’s perfect for beginners and makers alike.
• Dynamic Control – At the heart of the NI404 is a 16×16 RGB LED panel display, paired with three rotary-push encoders. Navigate a cursor across the grid, where each row signifies a voice and each column a potential note, allowing for up to 16 pitches per note. This feature enables the mixing of up to 8 voices simultaneously.
• Real-Time Interaction. – Adjust samples, instruments, pitches, notes, volume, BPM, velocity, and effects in real-time without pausing.
• Etch-A-Sketch style note drawing
• On-the-fly note deletion and sample muting
• Adjustable volume, BPM (40 – 200), pattern, and note velocity
• Up to 30-second sample length with seamless looping
• Use your own samples on the SD-Card – in a simple file structure
• Load up to 8 voices / samples (Wav format) plus an additional onboard synth voice
• 16-bar patterns across 8 pages, totaling 128 bars per song
• Save and load up to 100 patterns / songs on the SD card
• Autosave and autoload functions
• Access and manage samples while playing, with support for up to 999 samples on the SD card and the ability to predefine multiple voices as a SampleSet.
• Fully Independent – Operates without a computer, generating all sounds on the device itself.
• USB powered (5V) and Arduino code is published under the MIT License.

Find out more on the project website.

Prime For Yound Adults Trial

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Prime For Yound Adults Trial

Korg has unveils its latest and is also one of the most unexpected – a new portable record player, Handytraxx, that takes inspiration from the Vestax Handy Trax, a take-it-anywhere turntable that was doing the rounds in the early noughties.

This has since become popular in the ‘portablism’ space, which is filled with people who DJ using easily transportable gear. And so, sensing an opportunity, Korg enlisted the late former Vestax president, Toshihide Nakama, who sadly died last year before this project could be completed, to advise on a new version of the Handy Trax with additional features.

So, not only is Korg’s Handytraxx turntable a scratch-friendly portable deck, but it also comes with creative filters and a built-in looper with variable playback speed function. A cue function and monitoring mean that you can play the looper while listening to your record in your headphones, creating a unique kind of DJing setup. A crossfader with reverse mode enables you to flip between the two sources.

The new Handytraxx will be able to run on AAA battery or USB-C power and come with built-in speakers. You can also expect it to have a detachable control panel, replaceable crossfader and MM cartridge support.

There’s no word yet on when the Handytraxx will be released, but we do know that a non-playable prototype will be on display at the 2024 NAMM Show.

Prime For Yound Adults Trial

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Prime For Yound Adults Trial

Audient heads into immersive territory with the Oria audio interface and monitor controller. ‘Atmos just got easy’, it can handle everything from everything from stereo to 9.1.6 setups.

You might familiar with Audient via its range of excellent budget and mid-level audio interfaces, but let’s not forget that the company began life as a manufacturer of high-end studio gear, and it’s this market that it appears to be targeting with its new Oria immersive audio interface and monitor controller.

Designed for use with multi-speaker arrays – everything from stereo setups to 9.1.6 setups – Oria isn’t an interface that’s likely to entice the project studio owner, but if you have a larger-scale facility there could be plenty here to grab your attention. As well as being a USB-C audio interface with 16 outputs, it can also integrate into your existing studio setup as a standalone monitor controller via its ADAT Inputs or the Optional Dante Card.

Room calibration is another notable feature; Audient has partnered with Sonarworks to offer support for the latter company’s SoundID Reference profiles. This means that, in theory, you can measure and calibrate your room in under an hour, a task that’s made simple thanks to the inclusion of a Sonarworks Reference Measurement microphone and a 60-day free trial of the SoundID Reference for Multichannel software.

Once the calibration is complete, you can take charge of your stereo, surround or Dolby Atmos setup via the dedicated desktop software and remotely on an iPad. Integration with the Dolby Atmos Renderer is also on the way.

“As immersive audio continues to become more prevalent across music, film, TV, game and VR production, our goal was to design a purpose-driven and affordable solution for those wanting to work in the immersive space,” says Audient’s Andrew Allen.

“Oria is designed to prioritise immersive audio workflows, giving you onboard room and speaker calibration DSP, true immersive monitoring control and professional audio performance, alongside intelligent integrations with Sonarworks and Dolby Atmos.”

Oria will begin shipping in the first quarter of 2024 priced at $2,625/£2,520/€2,885. The optional Dante card will cost $625/£600/$625. Find out more on the Audient website.

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