We’ve known that Native Instruments has been developing their own Traktor controller for some time now, and it looks like they are about to drop the first product, in what could be a whole series of products, before the holiday season. The German company unleashed a teaser video on YouTube recently of Richie Hawtin using what looks like a production quality unit to control effects parameters in Traktor Pro, replacing the Allen & Heath Xone: 1D that he’s been utilizing in his sets.

Hawtin, who has become the poster-child of using cutting edge digital DJ technology, has honed his mobile rig to consist of mostly Native Instruments gear. The relationship, which has blossomed after Hawtin starting using Traktor, has been a savvy move for both parties, but especially for NI who is benefitting from Hawtin’s credibility and clout.

Hawtin also incorporates NI’s new Maschine into rig to trigger samples and manage Ableton Live, which runs on a separate computer. However, it will be interesting if Hawtin goes for broke and replaces Live with Maschine’s software sequencer.

An official press release should be coming from Native in October; we’ll keep you posted.

Audio-Technica has premiered its first-ever ribbon pups, the AT4080 and AT4081 Bidirectional Active Ribbon Microphones. Audio-Technica’s R&D team in Japan engineered and manufactured the AT4080 and AT4081 from the ground up, utilizing a hand-built, proprietary design and rugged, durable construction.

Audio-Technica claims both offer smooth, warm and natural sound with precise, articulate detail to meet the critical requirements of today’s recording, broadcast and sound reinforcement professionals. With 18 patents pending, Audio-Technica’s innovative ribbon transducer advances the evolution of ribbon microphone technology, combining remarkable durability and high SPL capability with smooth, rich audio quality. The AT4080, whose footprint is that of a classic “suspension cradled” side-address condenser, is recommended for vocals, horns, strings, acoustic instruments, drum overheads, orchestras, ensembles and guitar cabinets.

The AT4081, with an appearance more like that of a pencil condenser, is said to be optimized for strings, saxophones and other horns, acoustic instruments, drum overheads, orchestras, ensembles and guitar cabinets; its low-profile stick design maximizes placement options. Both mics excel in recording studios as well as in live-sound settings.

The AT4080 and AT4081 are side-address active ribbon microphones with bidirectional polar patterns. Delivering the versatile performance and warm, natural sound of classic ribbon microphones, the AT4080 and AT4081 each feature a robust build for long-lasting performance and offer active electronics for easy use with microphone preamplifiers. Extremely powerful N50 rare-earth neodymium magnets provide high output levels, and the mics’ innovative dual ribbon construction offers increased sensitivity and SPL handling capability. The bidirectional polar pattern of the mics makes them equally sensitive to sounds originating in front and back of the mic. Both feature extended frequency response for natural audio reproduction, and the AT4080 utilizes an acoustic baffle system and an extra-large output transformer, providing extended low-frequency response and dynamic range.

A significant breakthrough in ribbon cartridge design, Audio-Technica’s patent-pending MicroLinear ribbon imprint minimizes lateral flexing for durable performance and accurate reproduction of the sound source, as well as freedom from ribbon distortion. The AT4080 and AT4081 are enclosed in rugged housings and feature stabilized internal components. Both employ ultra-fine inner mesh to help protect the ribbon elements against damage from wind and plosives. Combined, these engineering features result in a ribbon microphone of unparalleled durability.

While the application of phantom power was prohibited for typical ribbon microphones, the AT4080 and AT4081 in fact require 48V phantom power for operation. The phantom power, however, is used not for the microphones’ dynamic ribbon transducers, but for their active electronics, which bring their output to near condenser microphone level. This high output and stable impedance make the microphones easy to integrate with microphone preamplifiers. The output of each microphone is a 3-pin XLRM-type connector. Output is low impedance (Lo-Z) balanced.

The AT4080’s included AT8449/SV shock mount and the AT4081’s included isolation clamp provide isolation and permit mounting on any microphone stand with 5/8″-27 threads. The AT4080 comes with a dust cover and a protective carrying case, while a windscreen is included with the AT4081. Both mics are fully RoHS compliant, meaning they are free from all substances specified in the EU directive on hazardous substances.

Audio-Technica’s AT4080 and AT4081 Bidirectional Active Ribbon Microphones will be available sometime in November for $1,245 and $895 respectively. More information on the Audio-Technica AT4080 and AT4081.

Groove3, a provider of online DAW training videos, has announced the availability of Producing House Music with Ableton Live: Drums video tutorial collection. This series is presented by remixer Timothy Allan, whose remixes have reached #1 on the UK dance charts and placed high on US Billboard, DMC and Australia ARIA charts.

The beat is the backbone and foundation of any great House track, and you’ll see the actual creative process unfold and learn exactly what’s going through Tim’s head when he creates iconic sounding House beats. Watch Tim create a world-class House music drum loop starting from nothing and finishing with a dance floor banger.

Features:
» 19 in-depth video tutorials provide over 1.5 hours of House beat making training
» Presented by producer Timothy Allan
» For all beginner to intermediate Ableton Live users and House beat producers
» Total Runtime: 01h:48m:52s

View all the video tutorials in the “Producing House Music with Ableton Live: Drums” collection online for 30 days for only $9.99 (Regularly $13.99) or download and own the full disc for only $19.99. (Regularly $29.99). This limited time offer will end soon.

More information on Groove3’s Producing House Music with Ableton Live: Drums.

Streetly Electronics has announced initial deliveries of its new M4000 cycling tape replay keyboard instrument. The new instrument improves on the classic Mellotron M400 design of the 1970s to offer as standard a total of 24 individual tape sound sets, plus an additional 16 two-sound combinations, with programmable attack, a much lighter keyboard feel, improved playing height, and an air filtration system and positively-pressurized cabinet.

Streetly Electronics, the U.K. company that originated and manufactured the Mellotron (and later the Novatron) beginning in 1962 for artists such as the Moody Blues, the Beatles, King Crimson, Pink Floyd, Genesis, and many, many others, closed in 1986. John Bradley — son of one of the three brothers who co-founded Streetly Electronics — and Martin Smith revived the company in 1997 in order to maintain and refurbish existing instruments, and are now manufacturing the M4000, the first cycling tape replay keyboard instrument to be manufactured anywhere for nearly 40 years.

The new Streetly Electronics M4000 is the first cycling tape replay keyboard instrument to be manufactured anywhere for nearly 40 years. Unlike the nearly four-decades-old M400 and present day reproductions, which offer only three sets of sounds, the M4000 incorporates an improved tape cycling mechanism based on the original Mellotron Mk. I, Mk. II and M300 design. Eight “stations” that each includes three sets of prerecorded sounds (designated A, B, and C) may be individually selected.

The M4000 is delivered as standard with 24 sound sets selected from Streetly Electronics’ library of instrument and vocal recordings, which includes the backup masters of the original Mellotron tapes as well as more recent additions. Customers may optionally order tapes incorporating their own custom sounds for an additional fee.

Modern day electro-mechanical improvements to the tape replay and cycling mechanisms, which include a new custom motor and non-magnetic, stainless steel capstan, have also allowed the addition of a new “inching” feature to the M4000. This allows the performer to alter the start position – and therefore the attack – of any sound set by inching the tape across the playback heads to their desired location. The start position for any sound set may be selected on the fly or stored as a preset for future use. In addition to inching, sound set selection, and cycling controls, the top panel also offers volume, tone and pitch adjustment.

The height of the keyboard relative to the older M400 has been raised by five inches to provide a comfortable standing playing position. The single manual keyboard most closely replicates the action of the Mk. II, considered to be the best of all Mellotron models. The M4000 keyboard’s light and very playable feel is a revelation.

The signal-to-noise ratio of the M4000 is optimized by the use of the replay amplifier and other electronics from Streetly Electronics’ later model M400 and Novatron instruments. The instrument output automatically mutes when the tapes are cycling between stations.

Smoke and dust could very quickly foul the playback heads and damage the tapes of the old Mellotron and Novatron machines. The new M4000 eliminates these problems through the implementation of its unique Filtron air filtration system and a gently pressurized cabinet, which prevents the ingestion of any unwanted airborne agents such as stage smoke.

Streetly’s standard M4000 costs $8000 / £4,900. A roadcase is available for $750 / £450. Prices for custom tape sounds and non-standard cabinet finishes can be quoted on request. More information on the
Mellotron M4000.

Focusrite has announced the OctoPre MkII, an eight channel pre-amp, and the Saffire 6 USB, a new USB audio interface.

The OctoPre MkII features eight channels of Focusrite pre-amplification and a built-in 24-bit/96kHz ADAT output, providing an affordable input upgrade for your Pro Tools system, or any digital audio workstation.

Combining award-winning Saffire PRO pre-amps with high quality digital conversion and JetPLL jitter elimination technology, OctoPre MkII is the best sounding multi-channel mic-pre in its class. The digital output allows users to make the most of often-neglected ADAT inputs; ideal for expanding the number of mic-pres for interfaces such as the Saffire PRO 24. Connect OctoPre MkII to your audio interface’s ADAT input to create a high quality, multi-channel studio recording solution.

OctoPre MkII is equally suited to the live environment as a quality mic-pre expansion for any analogue or digital console or hard disk recorder. With line outputs on every channel, each mic-pre can be routed to a separate channel on an analogue mixer with the ADAT output left free to send a copy to a digital recorder.

OctoPre MkII has been optimised for drum recording. Designed not to clip, 10dB pads are provided across each channel, while the gain range of the pre-amps has been tailored to handle extreme levels from sound sources like the kick drum. Equally, Focusrite pre-amps are renowned for the way they handle the dynamic range of vocalists, and these pre-amps are no exception. Finally, OctoPre MkII’s first two channels also feature DI’s, so it can also turn its hand to recording Guitar and Bass.

OctoPre MkII features everything else you’d expect from a multi-channel mic-pre solution; 5-LED input metering on every channel, switchable phantom power and a variety of internal and external clocking solutions.

The Focusrite Saffire 6 USB is the latest in Focusrite’s new generation of audio interfaces, its most affordable to date, and the best-sounding interface in its class…

Twenty-five years of mic-pre excellence form the foundation of this new interface, with two award-winning Focusrite pre-amps. These combine with professional digital conversion to ensure pristine audio quality as your music flows between the analogue and digital domains.

Alongside the two Focusrite pre-amps are two balanced TRS outputs and four RCA phono outputs. Four phono outputs, high-quality digital conversion, a high-level headphone output and flexible monitoring solutions make Saffire 6 USB ideal for digital DJs. The converter performance ensures that the quality of the audio streamed from the computer is sonically superb. An A/B source switch for monitoring either of two stereo output pairs and the high-level headphone output provide all that’s required for Laptop DJ-style cueing in a club environment.

Saffire 6 USB also comes with all the tools needed to start making music straight away. The latest version of the Focusrite Plug-in Suite provides a significant upgrade from your standard sequencer effects, including Compression, Reverb, Gating and EQ VST/AU plug-ins. Focusrite’s established Xcite+ bundle is also included. The bundle features Ableton Live 7 Lite (for all your production, performance and compositional needs), Novation’s Bass Station soft synth and over 1GB of royalty-free samples from Loopmasters and ‘Mike the Drummer’.

Focusrite’s Saffire 6 USB is designed to just work in the background and sound great. It captures and streams every detail of your sound, flowing seamlessly and effortlessly in and out of the digital domain, leaving you free to enjoy a carefree modern music making experience.

Focusrite’s OctoPre MkII and Saffire 6 USB will be available sometime in September 2009. No official pricing has been announced. More information on the Focusrite OctoPre MkII and Saffire 6 USB.

Novation has premiered two new Nocturn keyboard controllers based on their small DJ controller. With the addition of 25 and 49 note keyboards, Nocturn’s controller layout has been adapted to a full control solution for DAW users.

The Nocturn Keyboard displays control information where you really need it: on your computer monitor. The Automap software graphically displays Nocturn Keyboard’s entire control surface, enabling you to assign parameters by simply clicking on them. The controllers themselves also tell you what’s happening: LED rings around the eight encoders show their current settings, while LEDs behind the 25 buttons show if they are on or off.

Nocturn Keyboard has been designed as a musical instrument as well as a control surface. The high-quality Fatar ‘Fast Touch’ keyboard mechanism, with velocity-sensitivity and aftertouch, allows for more expressive playing styles, suiting both stage and studio performance. There are separate pitch bend and modulation wheels, as well as eight velocity sensitive drum pads for sketching drum patterns and triggering samples.

Novation’s Automap control software is now even more powerful and easy to use. It acts as a software interface for the control surface, visually showing you what software parameter is assigned to each control, exactly as it is laid out on the unit.

You can also name each control, turning the GUI into a giant screen where all information is instantly displayed and updated. Automap’s ‘learn’ function enables you to map parameters in your software plug-ins, straight to dials and buttons on the controller by simply clicking on a parameter, then touching the controller. There is no longer any need to sift through long lists of MIDI CC numbers. Automap also now has integrated HUI control, allowing instant hardware mixer control for all HUI compatible DAW’s, such as Logic and Pro Tools.

The Novation Nocturn 25 costs $249 and the Nocturn 49 will hit your wallet for $299 when they hit stores in October. More information on the Novation Nocturn Keyboard Controllers.