Mackie Speakers have been around quite a few years now and I have been a few bands that have used their SRM (Sound Reinforcement Monitors) range of speakers and I must say I have always thought they do a very professional job, are reliable with a great build quality and sound great. Mackie decided to re-design them and they now have a version 2 range of SRM speakers and following my review of their cheaper Mackie Thump range, I decided to look at the SRM 450v2.

I thought that the SRM 450 (both version 1 and 2) had 15inch woofers because of the frequency range that they both cover from 45Hz – 20KHz, but they do in fact have 12 inch woofers. This frequency range is as good as many 15” active monitors on the market.

WEIGHING UP THE MACKIE SRM 450 v2

As I have said before, the weight of a speaker is becoming more of consideration when purchasing active speakers especially as they include built-in amplification which seriously adds to the burden of what you have to carry about. Today to keep the weight down companies are using injection-molded polypropylene for their cabinets The Mackie Thump with a 15 inch Woofer weighed and incredible 36 lbs. / 16.3 kg and this weight is extremely hard to beat. The SRM 450s are of a stronger build and unfortunately do weigh more. Version 1 weighed 51 lbs. / 23.2 kg and this felt a bit on the heavy side however, the Version 2 SRM 450’s are 11lbs lighter – coming in at a very acceptable 40lbs / 18 kg. The fact that they have a 12 inch woofer mean that they are slightly smaller than the 15 inch monitors from other manufacturers, combined with a great weight mean that these are a very portable option.

I really noticed this when I mounted it on a speaker pole as it felt easier due to three of its attributes; size, weight and weight distribution. The two comfortable handles on either side are positioned perfectly to provide you with this evenness as you lift – they say that the design is Asymmetrical Trapezoidal (try saying that after a few drinks). There is also a third handle on top to help with manoeuvres. With their optional extra holder bag, they pack easily in the back of your car. The sizes are:- 660 x 390 x 376 mm which is 26 x 15.4 x 14.8 inches

WHAT IS VERSION 2 ALL ABOUT?

Well apart from being 11lbs. lighter, it looks identical to its predecessor but version 2 houses a new lightweight neodymium woofer, a new heat-treated titanium compression driver and Class-D Fast Recovery amplification which allow the units to stay very cool. On top of this, the transducers have been upgraded, along with the three-inch voice coil. These improvements provide greater power with more clarity and punch than version 1 had.

TRANSDUCERS – WOOFER AND COMPRESSION DRIVER

Mackie’s main design criteria were to have studio sound quality on stage and I seriously believe that they achieved this. Version 1 type SRM450s delivered a punchy bottom to the sound, incredibly this has improved in version 2 by way of its servo feedback technology, which locks the 12 inch woofer in place with the positive and negative outputs of the amplifier to make them sound even larger. For the lower frequencies the 12 inch / 300 mm Woofer which has a 3 inch / 75mm voice coil and a frequency range of 45 Hz to 3kHz, whilst for the higher frequency range there is a heat-treated titanium 1.75 inch / 44.5 mm compression driver which has a frequency range of 1kHz to 20kHz for accurate reproduction of the Mid and Upper range. Both have a nominal impedance of 8 ohms.

AMPLIFICATION

There are two power amplifiers (Low and High) which Mackie say are “Fast Recovery” which basically allows them to quickly recover if they were driven into ‘Clipping’. The Specifications for them are: – The Low Amp produces 540 watts peak (300 watts continuous) before clipping and the High Amp produces 150 watts peak (100 watts continuous) before clipping.

Mackie also tell us that “you get a complete loudspeaker system, with complex electronics and carefully chosen components, all precisely tuned and tweaked to work together. The result is a loudspeaker with phenomenal sound quality and power, that’s completely plug-and-play and no EQ is needed”. I wouldn’t fully agree with that statement. Despite Mackie doing a great job, there are many situations which require some EQ. In my own case I have been used to a 15” woofer as some Synth sounds really have a big low-end and although these 12 inch woofers cover a similar frequency range they are not as warm as some 15 inch woofers, but with a little bit of EQ in my opinion, this can compensate to some extent for this.

With nothing plugged into the SRM450v2 I found that there is no unwanted noise or hiss, you only hear a little bit as you get anywhere between very high and maximum volume, which you are unlikely to do anyway. Also I used the SRM450v2 for a good 4 hours and it did not get warm and the sound was still very clean.

THE MACKIE CROSSOVER

Mackie explain their crossover very well given you every confidence in their product. They tell us that “the built-in electronic crossover is a 24dB / octave Linkwitz-Riley design which is more expensive than other designs but that the benefits include:- 1) Absolutely flat frequency response throughout the Bandpass without the characteristic ripple near the crossover point exhibited by other designs. 2) The sharp 24dB per octave roll-off of the filters ensures that the transducers are not reproducing frequencies outside of their capabilities. 3) The acoustic sum of the two driver responses is unity at the crossover frequency resulting in perfect power response. 4) They provide perfect phase response yielding phenomenal accuracy even at 20 feet away”.

This sounds extremely impressive but how good do these Version 2 speakers sound?

LIVE SOUND TEST

My main use is to use one as a keyboard / vocal stage monitor. As I played, the band commented on the warmth and clarity of the sound. They were able to hear my keyboards clearly through the loud guitar and drum sound on stage and I think this was partly due to Mackie’s ultra-wide dispersion of sound because no matter where you stand you get the full depth and definition of the mix. Sometimes I struggle to hear my own vocals against the power of our lead vocalist but with this Mackie, this was much more defined. I have to say, I don’t think I have had a better on-stage sound. If you can hear clearly, you can play tighter and you are more relaxed. I experienced all of these and it was a very pleasing experience. The dynamic range of my synth certainly put the SRM through its paces but it performed admirably. The other thing that I was aware of was that I had little to no feedback from my vocals during the sound-check, where it was pushed to ascertain the limit.

SETTING UP CONTROLLING THE MACKIE SRM 450 v2

You can really position/ angle these in every way possible as they have been designed to be pole-mounted from the bottom, you can fly them vertically or horizontally via their integrated M10 mounting points or use them as a wedge monitors and of course with their lighter weight now, this is so much easier.

OK so let’s have a look around the back where you will find all of the connections and controls logically laid out and clearly labelled for you. At the top of this control panel are three indicator lights for Thermal, Peak and Signal Present. The Power On/Off button has a useful addition in the form of a ‘Time Turnoff’ switch. I like this because it puts it into an energy saving mode after three minutes of silence, then cleverly reactivates if it receives an input signal. My first surprise was the fact that there appeared to be no EQ, so what have Mackie done instead? Well there is something called a ‘Contour’ button which reduces the mid-frequencies between 100Hz and 12kHz and a ‘Low-Cut’ button which allows you to roll off the bass frequencies below 75Hz. These do a good job and could be a very quick solution to playing in places where there are already high levels at these frequencies but I think I would prefer a 3 or 4 band EQ.

Also on the back panel are: – XLR Input and Thru sockets and a Level control. The XLR input can take either a line or microphone signal, which allows you to use the SRM450s as a basic vocal PA without the use of a mixer and can be adjusted with the input level control knob. I put my Shure SM58 directly in and although there is no EQ, it gave a great clear crisp sound to my voice. If you need to add more SR450v2 monitors for a larger PA, you can daisy-chain them by use of the XLR Thru socket. Lastly there is a thermal cut-out indicator that activates if the unit has been driven too hard for too long a period of time. This automatically switches it into a protected mode until it has been given time to cool down.

CONCLUSION

Well there you have it a very reliable, high output powered speaker with a great frequency range, great punchy, clean sound in a very portable nice looking package. They do not get hot, however hard you push them and at this quality level they are a great price. They have been designed to sound like monitors so that under a ‘Live’ setup they give a detailed and accurate mix but also have a fantastic ultra-wide dispersion to hear the sound clearly wherever you stand. They have a built-in protection circuitry for long life with a built-in limiter for less distortion at peak levels. You can position and mount them easily anywhere and at only 40lbs they are not going to break your back – they sound just right for me.

The Korg Kaossilator 2 Highlights:

Play the synthesizer simply by using your finger to stroke, tap, or rub the touchpad
150 built-in sounds cover every style of dance music
PCM sound engine serves up realistic drums
Scale Key and Note Range eliminates “wrong” notes
Built-in Gate Arpeggiator with adjustable gate time and swing settings
Loop Recording allows the creation of layered phrases with unlimited overdubs
Dual Loop Recording banks allow DJ-Style mutes and cross-fades
Record using the built-in mic; or use the mic input for recording of external input
MicroSD/SDHC card slot for saving loops and recorded performances
Operation linked with KORG iKaossilator for iPhone
Easy-to-read screen uses high-visibility organic EL (OEL) display
VALUE slider allows smooth parameter control
Battery operation and built-in speaker for on-the-go enjoyment

The Korg Mini Kaoss Pad 2 Highlights:

Control effects in real time using the intuitive touchpad interface
100 effect programs, ideal for DJ mixes or sound design
3 Program Memories provide instant recall of favorite effects
FX RELEASE applies a natural “tail” to the effect sound
Powerful Looper, Vinyl Break, & Ducking Comp effects borrowed from the KAOSS PAD QUAD
Use the “Hold” feature to memorize a position on the touchpad
Built-in Auto BPM detection
Internal mic plus external audio inputs
MP3 player with microSD card slot for data storage/exchange;
Perform on the mini KAOSS PAD 2 without needing any other equipment!
Support for pitch change and cue point settings allows serious DJ play.
Record your performances
6 preset loops for use as audio demos sample?Easy-to-read screen uses high-visibility organic EL (OEL) display
VALUE slider allows smooth parameter control
Battery operation and built-in speaker for on-the-go enjoyment

The 16 square trigger pads provide 127 levels of Velocity response with X-Y location and continuous pressure. There are 2 rotary sensors which allow you to scrub, trigger, stretch, pinch and play phrases and sound files, manipulate continuous controllers and more . Each rotary sensor measures angle, pressure and distance from the center.

The 9 Multi-touch touch sensitive sliders can be mapped to fader and effects controls. LEDs within each slider act as VU meters or remind you where you were. Multi-touch lets you select a length between two fingers to set stereo locations or filter resonances. Tapping a slider can mute or toggle any track or function.

The switches are located in smart groupings to select samples, fader banks, and transport controls. Each of the switches can scan up and down through files at speeds variable with your touch. Great for quickly locating that perfect fill or telling your looper you really meant it.

QuNeo is the size of an iPad and can fit in iPad accessories such as mic clips, stands and more. It works with USB, MIDI or OSC and will communicate with your favorite music software environments right out of the box. More advanced users and programmers can use the development kit and API to create their own code to respond to QuNeo’s sensor data. Hack away to control your world in ways never before possible!

With extensive additional feature sets that bring the hardware bang up to date with competitive rival plug-ins and a player’s piano feel and new controls making it all the more authentic, it covers all your bases.

Perhaps the most important addition is one of sympathetic strings, or Acoustic Resonance as it’s called here, which replicates the sounds of strings other than the ones you’re playing very gently reverberating in the background – it’s the piano ‘jangle’ that occurs when you hit an acoustic instrument’s keys hard with the sustain on, and its inclusion here can only make for a more authentic playing experience.

New features include a triple pedal that’s been engineered not only to feel like a real piano’s would, but is also capable of generating the incidental dampener sounds too – Nord describes them as ‘stomp’ and ‘sizzle’.

Nord is also making a big deal of the fact that you can replace every single sound stored within the Piano 2 HA 88, to the extent of editing full sample instruments using the included software. Selecting, editing, layering and splitting sounds with dedicated buttons should be a simplistic, common-sense experience – Nord is keen to avoid endless menu cycling, and therefore has made sure that all major functions are represented by hands-on controls. The layers, incidentally, can be slowly brought into your mix by attaching a volume pedal to the provided input.

Finally, the FX section on the Nord Piano 2 HA 88 is particularly comprehensive – you’re able to fire up amp simulations, add choruses, delays and wah-wahs, and EQ your tones to get them just-so.

It’s the quality and playing authenticity that Nord is known for, with significantly more in the way of features, and the Acoustic Resonance and redesigned pedal sounds alone are worth your attention.

Nord Piano 2 HA88 main features:

* Portable Digital Piano with 88 Hammer Action Weighted keys
* Grand, Upright and Electric Piano sounds from the Nord Piano Library
* Nord Triple Pedal included
* Advanced String Resonance
* Nord Sample Library with over 1000 instruments
* Create your own samples with the Nord Sample Editor
* Volume pedal input
* Dedicated buttons and knobs for all functions
* Effects include Phaser, Wah-wah, Flanger, Chorus, Delay, 3-band Equalizer, Amp Simulations, Compressor and Reverb

Here is a list of what the update includes:-

* Bug fixes – Various bug fixes based on direct customer feedback. “Customer First” approach ensures highest impact items are given priority. Complete list of fixes will be available upon release.

* FX Chains update – New “Mod Matrix” feature allows mapping up to four parameters to one knob, and the ability to set control ranges and invert direction. Range control is now graphical, simplifying integration with the new Mod Matrix. The new “Touch Learn” feature speeds mapping of controls.

* Rewire 64 support– 64-bit versions of SONAR X1d will be natively compatible with 64-bit ReWire applications.

* V-Studio 700 enhancements – In addition to specific bug fixes , SONAR X1d deeply integrates with the V-Studio 700 via enhanced ProChannel and FXChain integration.

* Quick Group update– Now provides Quick Group control of virtually every track and bus parameter. Highlights include full ProChannel support and creation, deletion and scrolling of aux sends.

* Keyboard Shortcut improvements – Updates have been applied to existing shortcut controls, and the keyboard shortcuts preference page now includes a search function. In addition, Key Clusters have been updated to include one-touch ProChannel access and quicker access to snap functions.

* Usability and UI improvements – Further demonstrating Cakewalk’s commitment to improving customer experience with SONAR X1, the SONAR X1d update includes many usability and interface enhancements. The improvements and enhancements include a Metronome update with beat subdivisions and indented folder tracks in the Track View.

* NEW! QuadCurve EQ – SONAR X1 Producer Expanded customers will get an updated ProChannel EQ called QuadCurve EQ. The QuadCurve EQ has an improved graph that features helpful labeling and color-coded bands as well as controls that display always visible, embedded values. Existing Gloss EQ modes have been renamed to better describe their function, and a new 4th mode has been added. This new “Hybrid” mode is an asymmetrical, dual-dependency, mode that’s extremely versatile and simultaneously suited for both clinical tasks and tonal shaping.

Availability:
The SONAR X1d free update for SONAR X1 Essential, SONAR X1 Studio, SONAR X1 Producer & SONAR X1 Producer Expanded will be available mid February via a free download from www.cakewalk.com.

The SONAR X1d update requires SONARX1c to be installed.

The Mackie DL1608 features 16 great preamps which are the same ones that are featured on the Onyx range of mixing desks. Combine this with the built-in 24-bit Cirrus Logic AD/DA converters and you have yourself one hell of a great sounding product!

What is so different with this product is that it has wireless integration with an iPad, so you can control your mix from anywhere in the venue! This means that you can control levels, pans and even plug-ins such as EQ, compression, reverb, etc. from wherever you are standing. The Mackie DL1608 supports up to 10 iPads, meaning that it can completely replace a system that up until recently would have required a bulky, heavy console and racks of gear!

In addition it has built-in DSP and is packed with a wealth of powerful plug-ins on every channel, giving you access to everything you need to create polished live mixes, without the need to spend thousands of pounds on additional hardware. From dynamic control plug-ins to EQ and effects such as reverb and delay, the DL1608 comes complete with them all!

Because the Mackie DL1608 makes use of digital circuitry, you can save mix settings with the press of a button! This allows you to store settings that are specific to individual bands, venues or songs and then instantly recall them when needed! What’s more is that if you are struggling to get an instrument to sound just right in the mix, the DL1608 comes complete with a selection of presets, so you can just scroll through and find one that brings the instrument to life before making any necessary tweaks.

You can even record your mix directly to your iPad, making it easy to archive and share a performance and you can also play music directly from your iPad, which is useful for intervals or for before a show – What a great product.

Specs:

* 16 Onyx mic preamps
* High-end Cirrus Logic® converters
* Ultra low-noise, high-headroom design
* 6 aux sends for monitor mixes
* Master L/R output for mains
* Powerful, touch-sensitive plug-ins
* 4-band EQ, gate and compression on inputs
* 31-band GEQ and comp/limiter on outputs
* Global reverb and delay
* Seamless wired to wireless mixing
* Tune the room from anywhere
* Get on stage to ring out monitors
* Personal monitor mixing
* Use up to 10 iPad devices simultaneously
* Intuitive Master Fader app
* “Grow and Glow” visual feedback
* Preset and snapshot recall
* Record the mix to the iPad for instant sharing
* Integrate music from any app into the mix
* PadLock™ feature locks down iPad for permanent installs
* Industry standard Kensington lock secures mixer
* Compact footprint saves precious workspace
* 15.5? x 11.5? x 3.9?
* 6.9 lbs / 3.2 kg

The Vortex will work with all your virtual instruments on your PC, Mac, and even iPhones and iPads but also with any MIDI hardware you may need to control on stage and features large transport and patch select controls offering instant access to the most important functions. It is a great price and will breathe new life into your performances.

The main characteristics of the Alesis Vortex Keytar Controller with Accelerometer include:

* Dynamic, shoulder-worn performance keyboard with attention-grabbing looks.

* The first USB keytar controller—works with all of your software instruments & synths on Mac, PC, & iOS devices.

* USB and traditional MIDI jacks for use with virtually any synth, sound module, or other MIDI hardware or software.

* Embedded, MIDI-assignable accelerometer for performance parameter control by tilting the neck.

* Thumb-controlled volume slider, sustain button and pitch-bend wheel on neck.

* Finger-controlled MIDI-assignable touchstrip, sustain, and octave-control buttons on neck.

* 37 velocity-sensitive keys with aftertouch for compact, yet complete melodic range.

* Eight velocity-sensitive drum pads/sample triggers enable you to create beats or trigger clips.

* Large transport & patch-select controls for instant access.

* It even includes a strap; standard guitar strap pegs are compatible with virtually any strap.

* Bus powered when USB-connected to Mac or PC; battery compartment for use with MIDI modules and iOS devices.

This offers such great facilities for the price – well done Alesis – keep them coming.

Waldorf tell us that ” You are looking at a completely analog synthesizer that accurately delivers what synthesizer enthusiasts around the world truly crave. Pulse 2 is the reincarnation of it’s legendary ancestor, the Waldorf Pulse, that dominated the electronic music of the 90s.

Three analog oscillators in combination with a true analog cascading filter is what Pulse and Pulse 2 have in common. But we didn’t stop there. The filter circuits now also offer Highpass and Bandpass modes. We added analog Filter FM and Ring Modulation along with paraphonic modes that allow up to eight voice chords.

Like the Blofeld Synthesizer, the Pulse 2 is housed in a sturdy metal desktop case. Besides its large LCD display, 8 stainless steel knobs are available to surf through its clearly arrayed parameter matrix, set master volume and edit display accessible parameters”. It should be available in Summer 2012.

Here are the Specifications:-

* 3 analog oscillators + 1 noise generator
* Pulse width modulation
* Hard sync
* Filter FM from Oscillator 3
* Ring Modulation from Oscillator 3
* XOR Osc Mode
* 8/4 Voice Paraphonic modes
* Cascade Filter
* 24dB/12db Lowpass, 12db Highpass/Bandpass filter modes
* Powerful Arpeggiator
* 8-slot Modulation Matrix
* USB
* MIDI
* External analog signal input
* Stereo line out
* Headphone out
* Backwards compatible with classic Pulse
* 128×64 character backlit LCD