Studio Equipment Recommendations July 2014

Review: For a more precise control and enhancement of your sound, XU models of the MG Series come equipped with a suite of Yamaha's renowned SPX effects. Featuring high-resolution Chorus, Flanger, Distortions, Reverb and Delay, all with editable parameters, these are the same multi-effects processors used on Yamaha's high-end mixing consoles, giving you the tools you need to elevate your mixes to a higher plane.

For more than a century, Yamaha has been building a legacy of superior craftsmanship and innovation exemplified in all of our products, from an unrivalled catalogue of world-class musical instruments to touring-grade professional audio. Now in its third incarnation, the MG Series embodies this pursuit of design excellence, and incorporates some of the same technologies developed for use in high-end professional consoles, including studio-quality preamps, powerful digital processing, and a rugged, reliable construction. With an intuitive, easy-to-use interface, the MG Series boasts an extensive line-up of compact mixing consoles with models ranging from six to twenty channels, suitable for a diverse range of users and applications. For installed, recording, or live music settings, the solid construction and flexible design of these consoles lets you shape your sound with confidence, continually delivering peak performance and a level of sound quality and reliability unrivalled in its class.

Yamaha has always strived to provide sound engineers with the purest possible signal instead of added processing or colour to give it a "signature" sound, and the MG Series is no exception. Embracing this philosophy of transparent sound, these mixing consoles deliver a level of sonic purity and sound quality that is unmatched in their class.

The preamps are where it all starts. Everything you do as a sound engineer is dependent on the quality of your preamps, which determines the direction your mix will take, and ultimately how good it is going to sound. MG Series mixing consoles feature Yamaha's studio-grade discrete class-A D-PRE preamps, which utilize an inverted Darlington circuit comprising two cascading transistors in a configuration that provides more power with lower impedance. Delivering fat, natural sounding bass and smooth, soaring highs, with very low distortion, D-PRE preamps possess an impressively wide frequency range that allow them to handle signal from any audio source without overly amplifying any specific elements of the sound. Having such a pure sonic platform to build on will ultimately save you time and effort by eliminating the need for excessive EQing or additional effects processing in order to "fix" your mix.

The head amp determines sound quality, and op-amp integrated circuits are one of the most important parts in the head amp circuit. MG Series mixers feature new, high-quality, custom made MG01 op-amps that we developed in cooperation with the semiconductor manufacturer. Although many other Op-amps prioritize electrical design and efficiency, we worked directly with the semiconductor manufacturer to focus on sound quality first. MG01 op-amps feature redesigned circuitry in which even the internal components and wiring have been optimized, and use materials such as high-quality silicon wafers and copper wire to achieve superb resolution.

With phantom power, MG Series consoles allow you to take full advantage of the greater frequency response and high sound quality of condenser microphones. The input channel with PAD switch accepts MIC to line level of inputs, PAD Switch attenuates high input signals that often accompany miked instruments during performance, avoiding the clipping that can seriously affect your mix.

When was the last time you heard guitar without EQ or a completely unprocessed vocal on one of your favourite songs? Probably never. Yamaha mixers are famous for their flat response and sonic purity, but it often takes more than a perfectly-captured instrumental performance or vocal to achieve a professional-sounding mix. Equipped with some of the same state-of-the-art functionality featured on Yamaha's high-end consoles, the MG Series gives you the tools you need to produce high quality sound that is uniquely your own.

MG XU models are bundled with Downloadable Steinberg's Cubase AI software. As one of the most advanced, comprehensive DAW suites available, Steinberg's Cubase has led the charge, providing users with a powerful and flexible platform for music production. Cubase AI offers these same core technologies and interface that have won Cubase worldwide acclaim.

Review: Stereo spring reverberation for highest standards

Stereo and more
Our DSR-3, Dual Spring Reverb, was developed to deliver stereophonic spring reverberation for professional users. Furthermore, we couldn't resist adding creative potential to the unit by including additional operating modes for parallel and serial use.

Matched Pairs
Just like in our valve-based ReTubeVerb, the classic VSR 3.2 and the adventurous Retroverb Lancet, DSR-3 relies on the exceptional sound quality of AccuBell springs (formerly Accutronics). To ensure perfect stereo sound, the springs of DSR-3 are manually checked, selected and matched with great care.

Each channel offers a two band equalizer with BASS and TREBLE controls being carefully matched to the specific frequency range of the springs. Hereby, the effect can be adjusted to your specific needs easily and with great flexibility.

High-level-communication
Besides 6.3mm in- and outputs in jack-format (TS), DSR-3 additionally offers balanced XLR- in- and outputs. Output balancing is carried out by custom-designed transformers with excellent sonic characteristics. As a benefit, DSR-3 becomes a first-class DI-box this way.

Productivity and creativity
Both spring channels can be combined in three operating modes or used independently:

STEREO processes stereophonic audio sources. To ensure perfect matching of the settings, the first SPRING REVERB channel controls all parameters being sonically relevant.
DUAL MONO processes two independent sound sources. Each channel acts independently as if it was a single unit.
SERIAL for experimental spring reverberation effects. The reverberated signal of channel one is routed into the second channel, making long reverb tails possible.

DSR-3 is assembled with loving care in our electroacoustic manufactory in Erlbach, Germany - the so called Vogtland. Using VERMONA's DSR-3 allows creating highest quality lush and full reverberation effects with depth and vintage charm of days gone by.

Specifications:

Spring Tank
2x AccuBell, type 9, selected
reverbration time: between 1.75 s and 3 s

Inputs

1/4"-jack input, front
unbalanced
max. input level: +18 dBu
impedance: 1 MO

1/4"-jack inputs, rear
unbalanced
max. input level: +18 dBu
impedance: 100 kO

XLR-inputs, rear
balanced
max. input level: +18 dBu
impedance: 10 kO

Outputs
max. output level: +17 dBu
impedance: < 600 O

Signal-to-Noise Ration (XLR)
direct: >= 94 dB
effect: >= 70 dB

Equalizer
bass: 50 Hz / i 13 dB
treble: 7 kHz / i 22 dB

Miscellaneous
power supply: internal PSU (90 V~ bis 240 V~)
dimensions: 19", 2 u, 24.7 cm deep (from rear of front panel)
weight: 7 kg

Review: Great value sub from one of the rising brands in the studio monitor market. 10-inch speaker design reproduces frequencies all the way down to 20 Hz for precise monitoring of bass.

Supplier's notes:
To hear what's really going on at the bottom of your mixes, you need a subwoofer that speaks the truth. The Temblor T10 lets you take charge of the low-frequency foundation of your mix with a combination of quality components and design, plenty of inputs and outputs, and extensive user controls not normally available in this price range.

An ideal companion to Eris and Sceptre active reference monitors, the T10 complements full-range monitors without overshadowing them, extending the reach of your full-range system's low end with a musical and natural approach.
Powerful and musical, Temblor features high-quality components and design that enable it to deliver fast and accurate transient response, extending low frequencies without a hint of "tubbiness" or overshoot.

The Temblor T10 is an active subwoofer with a 10-inch glass-composite driver, built-in crossover, high-temperature voice coil, and damped rubber surround. Its cabinet features a front-firing, bass-reflex acoustic port and optimized, resonance-suppressing internal bracing. The enclosure has integrated rubber feet for stable placement.

In addition to outstanding accuracy and a frequency response that ranges from 20 Hz to 130 Hz, this combination of features enables the subwoofer to produce higher volume - up to 113 dB SPL - with less power than a sealed-box design. But make no mistake; the T10 has plenty of juice: 250 watts of Class AB power.

The result is a subwoofer that delivers accurate, tight low end and outperforms subs costing far more. With Temblor T10, you hear what the foundation of your mix really sounds like so you can produce your best mix from top to bottom.

The T10 provides more user controls than any other subwoofer in its class, enabling seamless integration into your listening environment.

The Temblor T10's extensive user controls include input gain (-30 dB to +6 dB, continuously variable) and a continuously variable low-pass filter (50 Hz to 130 Hz) that let you create a seamless crossover transition between your full-range studio monitors and subwoofer for a more accurate listening environment.

A switchable high-pass filter removes frequency content below 80 Hz from the full-range signal sent from the T10 outputs to the main monitors, avoiding destructive cancellation and reinforcement in the T10's upper range.
The result is a subwoofer that can be adjusted to perfectly complement not only our Sceptre CoActual and Eris active studio monitors but virtually any studio monitor.

The T10 also features a momentary footswitch (included) that bypasses the subwoofer, high-pass filter, and Sub Out. This allows your audio source signal to pass directly through the Temblor T10 to the full-range studio monitors, making comparing your mix with or without sub frequencies quick and easy. This helps to ensure your mix will sound good on a wide variety of systems.

Of course, we didn't forget the "small things" that can make a big difference: polarity invert and a ground-lift switch.

No other subwoofer anywhere close to the Temblor T10's price range offers a comparable selection of inputs and outputs.

The Temblor T10 provides a choice of three input pairs: two sets of balanced inputs (XLR and 1/4" TRS) and one pair of RCA unbalanced inputs. Pairs of inputs are provided in order to accept a stereo signal from your audio source.
When both of the balanced connections are in use, the TRS inputs will take precedence over the XLR inputs. The RCA inputs will sum into either balanced connection.

You get two pairs of balanced outputs: XLR and 1/4" TRS. The full-range signal connected to the stereo inputs on the T10 is passed through to these outputs so you can connect them to your main left and right studio monitors. If the High Pass Filter switch is engaged, frequencies below 80 Hz are not sent from these outputs.

The T10 also has a balanced XLR output that sends the low-frequency signal from the low-pass filter to a second Temblor T10 for the ultimate in smooth low end.

Review: Space takes the Reflexion Filter to another dimension!

sE Electronics Space takes the patented Multi-Layer Air-Gap technology that made the RF Pro a professional and project studio essential to create a product that is both bigger and better!

While other manufacturers haven't even come close to replicating the design and performance of the RF Pro, we've now set the bar even higher. Space or Specialised Portable Acoustic Control Environment, has a larger surface area, designed to offer incredible isolation in any room for professional vocal and instrument recordings. By surrounding more of the microphone, Space limits the amount of direct sound reaching walls and, ultimately, reflecting back towards the microphone.

Space's design consists of an unprecedented 10 thick layers of sE's patented Multi-Layer Air-Gap technology, and the inclusion of seven new vertical bass pillars deepens the air gaps while adding randomisation of diffusion. Space also boasts new mounting hardware, providing a more robust clamp that's fully adjustable and lockable vertically and horizontally with the ability to tilt for instrument recording at any angle.