AKG GN ESP Series Gooseneck Microphones

Price: $250-290.00

The GN ESP Series Gooseneck Microphone provide high-resolution for any sound installed venue. Its primary features, aside from the built-in gooseneck design, include High Radio Interference immunity and a programmable mute switch with on/off, push-to-talk, or push-to-mute options. Each of the three models - the GN 15 ESP, GN 30 ESP, and GN 50 ESP - has an adjustable neck that allows for noiseless set-up. The microphones can be used in either permanent or temporary installations and have XLR connectors with female inputs and can adapt to surface mounts. An integrated PED ring provides clear display of the microphone's status. Hidden mode selection jumpers prevent settings from unintentional realignment. Also, the microphone's modular design provides compatibility with the CK series modular microphone capsules.

www.akg.com

Pro Tone Flying Eye Envelope Filter Pedal

Price: $199.00

The latest release from Pro Tone's modulation line, the Flying Eye Envelope Filter Pedal, allows for a variety of classic wah tones with new school functionality. Its reverse switch sweep allows for both downward and upward sweeps, with a new scope of lower tones. Built by hand in Crossroads, Texas, its powder-coated aluminum housing and stomp switch are meant for durability. The pedal operates by standard 9V Boss-style power adapter. Additional features include a Super-Bright LED, attack and threshold controls for both ends of the auto-wah spectrum, from bright, juicy funk splashes to murky bass wobbles. The pedal also offers a True Hardware Bypass for noiseless operation.

www.protonepedals.com

Reeves 225 Bass Amp

Price: $2,499.00

Making their debut in the bass amps market, the small but well-regarded Reeves Amplification released the Custom 225 Bass amp. Taking handsome design cues from HiWatt amps, the head is packed with three 12ax7 tubes and a single 12AT7, driven with 225 watts of power with switchable impedances of 4, 8 and 16 ohms. With all this power and high headroom, the amp should be a versatile tool across many styles and circumstances. Its features include both active and passive inputs and a balanced transformer-balanced XLR line out. Controls include normal and bright volume, three bands of EQ, presence and master volume.

www.reevesamps.com

Musicrow Vintage Strings MkII

Price: $39.00

New from Musicrow, the Vintage Strings MkII is a purely synthesized string VST instrument, emulating the sound of analog string ensemble keyboards from the 70s. Similar to classic Arp Solina and Crumer Performer instruments, this distinctive synth program replicates the orchestral string sounds from those lush machines in an easy-to-use virtual format. Without any use of sampling, the Vintage Strings MkII provides 64 user-friendly presets that can easily be tweaked or modified, producing an endless range of beautiful, atmospheric string pads like the ones you've heard in recordings by everyone from Pink Floyd and Tangerine Dream to Joy Division. Improvements that Musicrow has made include a revamped chorus section as well as a new reverb section.

www.mcrow.net

WorxAudio Technologies M80i Install Line Array Loudspeakers

Price: $2100.00

WorxAudio recently announced their new line of loudspeakers, the M80i Install Line Array. Designed for a wide variety of uses from performance venues and clubs, theaters, corporate/industrial presentation and AV production, the M80i speakers are the latest in WorxAudio's TrueLine Series of speakers. They incorporate a medium format, 1-inch exit compression driver coupled to a stabilized proprietary FlatWave Former for crisp high frequencies over a reliable area. Dual 8-inch cone transducers are coupled with WorxAudio's Acoustic Intergrading Module (AIM), which is designed to minimize cone filtering and provide a frequency range from 300Hz to 18kHz. Cabinets are made of multi-ply Baltic Birch wood and finished in catalyzed polyurathane finish in black or white with 16-gauge perforated, cloth-backed, powder-coated steel grills. The speakers ship with fully captive TrueAim rigging hardware with 1-degree increments for use in either flown or ground stack configurations.

www.worxaudio.com

Yamaha Clavinova CPV400 Series Digital Pianos

Price: Not Available at Press Time

With the CPV400 Series Digital Pianos from Yamaha, it is now possible to do 16-track recording for fully orchestrated performances. The USB Audio Recorder allows for both vocal and instrumental recording. The built-in LAN port provides the added convenience of comprehensive computer connectivity, enabling users to access Yamaha's ICD website and download new styles or song files onto their instrument. Users can easily convert their performances into CD or mp3 format through iTunes or Windows Media Player.

Each Claviona comes with 191 accompaniment styles for professional style backing tracks. For the CVP 409/407 models, Instrumental Active Field Control technologies reproduce acoustic timbres of a grand piano through built-in microphones and speakers. Made from natural wood, its graded hammer keyboard provides natural piano touch and expression technologies, as well as Synthetic Ivory key-tops. Additional features include a display function for scores and lyrics, extra-large monochrome LCD with a Sliding Key Cover, and Advanced Wave Memory Stereo Sampling.

www.yamaha.com

Mackie SRM150 Compact PA System

Price: $389.99

The Mackie SRM150 Compact PA System provides the compact technology of an onboard 3-channel mixer with professional sound quality. Driven by Class-D amplification and a 5.25" EAW-designed, full-range neodymium driver, its proven Mackie technologies are made accessible to a range of applications. The SRM150 is an ideal personal monitor, as its portable system easily mounts onto a microphone stand. Additional features include 2 combo XLR/Line inputs, a 3-band active EQ, two high-headroom Mackie mic and line preamps with 48V phantom power, and a stereo channel for CD/MP3 players.

www.mackie.com

BOOKS

The Professional Studio Vocalist

By Claytoven Richardson, $29.99

Veteran vocalist Claytoven Richardson, who has recorded with a number of big names in the industry throughout his career, offers a look into the skills and knowledge necessary for becoming a successful recording artist with The Professional Studio Vocalist. The informative guide aims to help talented singers learn how to work constructively in and profit from the studio setting. A diagnostic quiz at the opening of the book helps determine individual strengths and weaknesses in general music knowledge, and the following chapters focus on

The Ultimate Personal Recording Studio

By Gino Robair, $29.99

In The Ultimate Personal Recording Studio, Gino Robair, senior editor at Electronic Musician magazine, integrates information from a number of sources, including articles from his own publication, in order to create an inclusive, easy-to-understand guide to establishing and making the most of a personal studio set-up. The first chapter helps in defining specific goals, after which point the reader can move on to the detailed gear checklist offered in chapter two. With sections detailing different types of studio microphones, patch bays and effects, and outlining recording techniques for specific instruments (acoustic guitar, electric guitar, bass, drums, piano and synth), this book works to ensure that even the most technologically clueless can achieve their studio goals in the digital age. (Thomson Course Technology)