Today’s Top Story

Nord has announced the Electro 3, the next-generation version of their Electro series keyboard that is housed in a slimmer and lighter profile. The upgraded model features a new organ section, a new piano section, new effects and also a new exciting feature that allows the Electro 3 to use any samples from the Nord Wave library.

Enhancements:
» Load any sample from the Nord Sample library
Users can add virtually any sound they want to the Nord Electro 3. Sounds can be loaded from the Mellotron Library or any other instrument or sound from the extensive Nord Sample Library, the same as the Nord Wave uses. Users are even able to create their own Sample Instruments using the Nord Wave Manager and then use these in the Nord Electro 3.

» Exquisite new pianos
The Electro 3 will use the same sample format as the acknowledged Nord Stage, to take full advantage of the Nord Piano Library’s multitude of velocity layers, pedal-down samples and extremely high quality samples with unprecedented expressiveness. Any current or future piano that is available for the Stage family will also automatically be available to the Nord Electro 3.

» Increased memory capacity — 8 times the size of the original Electro
The Nord Electro 3 has a memory for pianos and samples of 256 MB and can it can store 126 programs.

» Second generation organ emulation
The organ section is directly descending from the award winning Nord C1 Combo Organ with its fabulous vintage sounds from the B3, Farfisa and Vox-type models. Each and every individual sound creating component and even the artifacts of the original instruments have been faithfully reproduced in the Electro 3.

» Brand new effects section
The Nord Electro 3 is equipped with a great selection of high quality effects including a lush sounding reverb with five different algorithms. There is also a selection of tremolo, panning, wah-wah, phaser, flanger and chorus effects.

» New amps, compressor and EQ
User can sculpt their final sound by choosing from a selection of three amplifier simulations that can add any amount of grit and distortion from gentle to manic levels. A three-band EQ with sweepable mid-range and a compressor can be added to the final stage of the audio path.

» Enhanced Rotary speaker emulator
The rotary speaker emulator also originates from the Nord C1 Combo Organ, with its acclaimed sound quality. This rotary speaker emulator incorporates the acoustic variations that occur when a physical speaker spreads the sound in a room, providing the full experience of when the air is moved around.

» Rotary Stop Mode
The Electro 3’s Rotary Stop Mode allows users to switch between fast and stopped rotation and back again by using either the controls on the panel or with a foot pedal connected to the Rotor Pedal input. This is a crucial functionality that mimics the behavior of early one-speed original rotary speaker units.

» Play along to music with the Monitor Input jack
Just plug in your mp3 or CD player to the Electro 3 to be able to play along, rehearse or jam with previously recorded music without the need of an external mixer or sound system. The signal that is present at this input will be monitored through the Electro 3’s headphone output.

» Free Electro Manager application to manage the memory areas
The content of the pianos, the samples and the program memories in the Nord Electro 3 will be managed by the Nord Electro Manager. This application will be available for free to Electro owners, and compatible with Windows XP, Windows Vista and Mac OSX.

The Nord Electro 3 will be available in two sizes, a 61 and a 73 key version with semi-weighted waterfall keys. No pricing or availability has been announced. More information on the Nord Electro 3 keyboard.

Today’s Top Story:

Berkley Integrated Audio Software, BIAS if you’re nasty, has released Peak Express 6, an upgrade to their entry level Peak audio editing product for the Mac. Peak Express 6 adds significant features, including integration with the newly released BIAS iProRecorder, a high-quality and intuitive general purpose recording application for iPhone and iPod touch.

Bias owns the Mac audio software editing market with their outstanding Peak Pro 6 audio suite, which includes not only a host of “Swiss Army Knife” editing tools, but also solid mastering plug-ins as well. Bias is now shifting their entry level strategy to include a new audio recording application for the Apple iPhone, dubbed iProRecorder, which can work in concert with Express 6.

The combination of features, easy interface, and low introductory price, makes Peak Express an obvious choice for Mac users interested in easily editing audio, improving voice recordings, transferring analog cassettes and vinyl LPs to an iPod, designing sounds for iLife projects, audio file format conversion, and more. Peak Express is also an excellent introduction to the more feature-rich editions of Peak (Peak LE, Peak Pro, and Peak Pro XT).

Features:
» Fast integrated stereo/mono recording, editing & processing
» 24-bit/48 kHz audio recording/playback
» Uses built in Mac I/O & Core Audio compatible audio hardware
» Unlimited Undo/Redo
» High quality real-time and offline sample rate conversion
» Pencil tool sample editing — repair spikes and short clicks
» Sample accurate loop creation
» Trigger live playback of up to 10 documents using Mac keyboard number keys
» CD Import: import all or portions of CD tracks
» DSP toolset includes Fade In/Out, Normalize, Gain Envelope, Reverse, Convert Sample Rate, Mix, Invert
» Read/Write loop & reference markers
» Read/Write MP2, MP3, AAC, AIFF,.WAVE, SDII, QT, JAM, FLAC and more
» Customize audio document size/color

Import, Record, Edit and Process — In addition to direct file transfer support from iProRecorder, Peak Express 6 offers essential audio importing, recording, editing and processing options for both the casual and more serious audiophile. Peak Express 6 opens most popular file formats, including AIFF, .WAV, SDII, MP3, MP2, QuickTime, AAC, and FLAC.

Peak Express 6 can also import entire tracks, or selected portions, directly from CDs, making it easy to create custom mixes or sound collages from existing content. Editing features such as cut, copy, paste and crop, are included, along with processing options such as normalization, sample rate conversion, adjustable gain, and fades. Even an intuitive pencil tool for manual repair of digital clicks is included with Peak Express 6 as well as audio looping, custom location reference markers, and more.

Peak Express 6 supports and includes dozens of Audio Units and VST effects plug-ins — from simple tone control to reverb, delay, and more exotic effects. Whether used to improve a voiceover for a Podcast episode, corporate training video, DV soundtrack, lecture, sermon, or home media project, adding effects is easy with Peak Express, and users can always expand their options as needed. For example, SoundSoap can be added for specific tasks such as noise reduction and auto click & crackle repair Ðessential for vinyl LP restoration or reducing background noise — and other plug-ins from BIAS and third parties are also available.

Peak Express 6 saves audio files in most popular formats, but files can also be sent directly from Peak Express to iTunes for easy transfer to an iPod. Users can select whether to let iTunes handle the encoding, send the file uncompressed, or use different encoders within Peak Express 6 prior to sending. Metadata editing is also supported and ID3 tags featuring artist, album, genre, and more can be added prior to export from Peak Express 6.

Bias’ Peak Express 6 is available now for the special introductory price of $39.95. (A real bargain! –Ed.) More information on Bias Peak Express 6.

Today’s Top Story:

Infrasonic has released the BLOW4D digital/analog monitors. These monitors include onboard D/A conversion with Burr Brown DSD1796 op amps, room compensation controls, and a low frequency response switch.

The BLOW4D monitors support up to a 24-bit/192kHz sample format and have a dynamic range of 123dB. The BLOW4Ds can accept a wide variety of inputs including: SPDIF (RCA), AES/EBU (XLR), Balanced / Unbalanced (XLR, TRS, or TS).

Features:
» 2-way bass-reflex bi-amplified 5 inch near field studio monitor
» Flat frequency response (±1.5 dB, 58 Hz to 20 kHz) and wide pass-band frequency (50Hz ~ 22kHz)
» 90 watt (40 watt HF and 50 watt LF) Full discrete power amplifiers with servo-loop and perfect protections.
» 0.75″ natural silk dome High frequency transducer
» 5.25″ Polymer coated paper fiber cone low frequency transducer
» Full magnetic shielded enclosure and independent amplifier room
» XLR and 1/4″TRS phone jack balanced/unbalanced inputs
» EASC (Enhanced Acoustic System Compensation) Technology
» Input sensitivity control
» High frequency 3-step tilt controls switch
» Acoustic space control switch
» Bass cut-off frequency control switch
» 5th order active crossover network
» Front Illuminant Logo lamp and protection indicator
» High-strength cabinet constructed MDF composite with radius edges
» DA-912 Digital interface module
» XLR for AES/EBU (IEC60958) and RCA for S/PDIF coaxial digital inputs
» RCA thru out port for stereo connection
» IEC60958 EIAJ CP1201 compatible 24-bit digital input with up to 192kHz sample-rate
» High-end 24-bit/192kHz D/A converter with 123dB dynamic range
» XLR/RCA source and Left/Right channel selection switch

In addition to the onboard D/A conversion, the BLOW4Ds feature room compensation controls and a bass response switch. The room compensation controls (accessible via a switch on the back of the unit) allow the user to alter the frequency response of the monitors to better suit any room. The bass reduction switch allows bass frequencies to be reduced to better accommodate the use of a subwoofer or a bass heavy mixing environment.

Infrasonic’s BLOW4D monitors cost $399 and are available now. More information on the Infrasonic BLOW4D monitors.