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New Products
Tech new products
Focusrite Clarett+ Interface Range
Aiming to do more than merely refresh its long-running Clarett line of USB interfaces, Focusrite has announced an entirely new range— Clarett+ interfaces— with the debut of three new models: the Clarett+ 2Pre, 4Pre and 8Pre.
The Clarett+ range sports improved A-D and D-A converters and mic preamps, and its all-analog Air with impedance switching and relay control is intended to emulate the ISA 110 mic preamp found in the classic Focusrite studio console. Improved headphone outputs are also onboard. The interfaces come with driver software for PC and Mac, as well as a collection of software that includes mixing plug-ins and virtual instruments.
The Clarett+ 2Pre is a 10-in/4-out bus-powered USB-C interface aimed primarily at musicians. Built with a pair of Clarett+ mic preamps featuring all-analog Air, there’s also JFET instrument inputs, which allow the user to plug straight in, and independent A-D and D-A converters. The Clarett+ 2Pre is expandable using ADAT optical input.
As a step up, the Clarett+ 4Pre is an 18-in/8-out interface presented as more of a “studio-grade” unit. The interface adds two more preamps with Air for a total of four, two analog headphone outputs and a pair of JFET instrument inputs. Lastly, and squarely aimed at pros, the Clarett+ 8Pre is an 18-in/20-out interface sporting a total of eight Clarett+ preamps with Air, two analog headphone outputs and both ADAT optical input and output.
Austrian Audio OC707, OD505 Live Mics
Austrian Audio has introduced its first microphones intended for live use with the U.S. release of its OC707 in December and OD505 this month.
The OC707 vocal microphone features a diecast body and a smalldiaphragm condenser capsule with a frequency response optimized for the human voice. Handmade in Austrian Audio’s facilities in Vienna, the capsule has low self-noise (19 dB SPL) and high sound pressure level (150 dB SPL). Meanwhile, the OD505 is an Active Dynamic microphone that combines the advantages of a dynamic stage mic with the sonic abilities of a condenser microphone. It reportedly achieves nearly the same sensitivity as a condenser mic due to its capsule design where the bottom capsule is phaseinverted and passively switched. Combined with a switchable 2nd order high-pass filter and the Open-Acoustics-technology, noise from handling, bumps and stage rumble are reportedly minimized.
Both microphones utilize Austrian Audio’s Open Acoustics Technology, which allows sound to enter the capsule almost entirely unimpeded from all sides. Contact points between the mounted capsule and the enclosure are reduced to a minimum, allowing for an open and natural sound.
Yorkville Sound Battery-Powered EXM Speaker, Sub
Yorkville Sound has introduced the EXM Mobile8, a lightweight 3-way battery powered speaker, and the EXM Mobile Sub, said to be the first battery powered portable subwoofer.
The EXM Mobile8 contains an 8-inch woofer and a coaxial mid-high driver. The company’s aim in providing a 3-way speaker is to make the most of the dedicated mid-range of the coaxial driver, allowing the 8-inch woofer to work at its fullest capacity. The model also offers Bluetooth connectivity with numerous options; the onboard Bluetooth function pairs a sound source to the EXM Mobile8, groups two EXM Moblie8 units together for true stereo streaming, and can further wirelessly group the EXM Mobile8 to the EXM Mobile Sub.
Meanwhile, the EXM Mobile Sub, a portable lithium ion, batterypowered subwoofer, is equipped with two 8-inch woofers and weighs 30 lbs. Like the EXM Mobile8, it is Bluetooth enabled, allowing users to stereo stream with a second Mobile Sub and use EXM Mobile8 as a full range speaker wirelessly via Bluetooth.
Allen & Heath dLive CTi1500 Console
Allen & Heath has unveiled the dLive CTi1500, an update of its compact dLive C1500 control surface. In development for more than a year, the new edition eschews as much weight as possible, weighing in at 25.4 lbs. Side trims have been replaced by Titanium panels; rear and base panels have been re-engineered to cut weight; and internally the desk sports new alloy metalwork.
Not everything is different—the front panel remains largely the same as a C1500, only redesigned to replace the armrest with steel curves. The console still sports 12 faders (with 6 layers), built-in audio I/O, an audio networking port, a 12” capacitive touchscreen and the onboard Harmony UI. ■
