Variation on Teardrop – Massive Attack theme in DAW REAPER

Variation on Teardrop - Massive Attack theme in DAW REAPER
Variation on Teardrop – Massive Attack theme in DAW REAPER

Love, love is a verb
Love is a doing word
Fearless on my breath
Gentle impulsion
Shakes me, makes me lighter
Fearless on my breath …

Under the the impression of performing of Teardrop composition of Massive Attack collective on electric keys on Gastronom-Fest ( RU ), I wished to create its variation in DAW REAPER with use of program VST instruments and effects. For this I downloaded from Internet 2 MIDI files with melody notes, combined them, slightly edited and chose the best sounding together instruments. Then with use of reverberation added volume and expression to main instruments and with compression adjusted dynamic range of additional instruments, so that their volume variations would not highlight them too much. Then tracks volume balancing, addition of volume automation for main instruments : they are switched on and off smoothly, this way it has more dynamics and saturation.

… Teardrop on the fire
Fearless on my breath

Night, night after day
Black flowers blossom
Fearless on my breath
Black flowers blossom
Fearless on my breath …

Main instruments in composition are sampler VST synthesizers ESI Piano and DSK Overture with instrument Harpsichord, additional ones are ESI Piano and DSK World Strings with instrument Celtic Harp. + Small changes of sound synthesis parameters, such as built-in effects, filters and other parameters. For drums sounds I used drum-machine DSK DrumZMachineZ, which allows to synthesize sounds the same way, as hardware drums synthesizers do, there are 18 of them presented in program ( among them, for example, there are : Roland TR 808, Acetone Rhythm Ace, Akai XR10, Alessis HR 16, Boss DR55, Korg DD1, Yamaha RX 11 and others ), there is also ability to change their different parameters, creating needed sound. DSK also has sampled drums synthesizers, which allow to generate sounds on base of recorded samples, but with fully electronic generators it is easier to work and create needed sound. You can download project files for DAW REAPER via this link : Variation on Teardrop – Massive Attack theme in DAW REAPER. Onwards I’ll work on creation of next composition, Stay Tuned!

VST instrument DSK Overture and effects ESI Phaser, Reverberation and Chorus and ReaCompressor in DAW REAPER
VST instrument DSK Overture and effects ESI Phaser, Reverberation and Chorus and ReaCompressor in DAW REAPER

… Teardrop on the fire
Fearless on my…

Water is my eye
Most faithful mirror
Fearless on my breath
Teardrop on the fire
Of a confession
Fearless on my breath
Most faithful mirror
Fearless on my breath …

Slightly in more details about instruments, used in Massive Attack’sTeardrop composition creation : ESI Piano – is a piano synthesizer, which allows to change different parameters of sound generation, for example, Sustain and Resonance, as well as to apply built in reverberation for simulation of room, in which instrument plays. DSK Overture – is a sampler instrument, generating sounds of large amount of instruments : wind and strings, among them there are, for example : harp, cello, contrabass, flute, french and english horns, trombone and others. DSK World Strings is also a sampler synthesizer, which presents instruments of different peoples of the world : Celtic harp, dobro, dulcimer, koto, kanun, tar and others. About DSK DrumZ – MachineZ there is also ability to say, that this instrument allows to combine sounds of drums, generated by different synthesizers in one part, and set their position in stereo picture and sound volume level.

… Teardrop on the fire
Fearless on my breath

You stumble in the dark
You stumble in the dark

Massive Attack – is a British group, founded in Bristol in 1988 year by Robert “3D” Del Naja, Grant “Daddy G” Marshall and former participant “Mushroom” Vowles ( “Mush” ). They create electronic music in Trip hop style, for which slow paced rhythm and mainly sad and melancholy mood of compositions are characteristic. Their debut album Blue Lines was released in 1991 year and contains one of the most well known tracks of group Unfinished Sympathy, their third album Mezzanine, containing composition Teardrop, to which this article is devoted, was released in 1998 year. Both albums are considered one of the best in all history of modern music creation; Massive Attack was nominated on and received lots of musical awards, among which there are : MTV Europe Music Awards, Q Awards, Brit Awards and others. Teardrop is one of the most widely know compositions of collective all around the world, it was used in large amount of films and on television; it has lots of variations and remixes, +1 one of which is presented on this page :-) .

REAPER ( Rapid Environment for Audio Production, Engineering, and Recording ) – is a Digital Audio Workstation, developed by company Cockos Incorporated from 2004 year. In its creation and advancement main aspects are set on professional functionality and small price, instead of large amount of already completed half-automated instruments and effects, as this is done in lots of other DAWs. Among features of REAPER there are : 64-bits sound processing engine; support of all sampling rates and precisions; support of recording and editing of audio and MIDI on any amount of the tracks; support of MIDI controllers; support of VST, VST3, AU, DX and JS plugins; ability to automate all tracks’ parameters; large amount of already made instruments and effects for sounds and music creation; as well as support of built-in scripting language for audio processing and control of DAW. Program is developed with accounting of wishes of musicians; it is used, for example, by BBC, and by other companies and musicians. It can be used for free in a defined time interval, after this, by license, it should be bought, however its functionality is not limited after testing time period. Current version of DAW works in Microsoft Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, 8.1 and 10 and Mac OS X 10.5 and newer operating systems; Linux is not supported directly, but there is ability to launch REAPER in Wine emulator.

Korg DS-DAC-100 – high-quality USB DAC for stereo sound reproduction with 192 kHz, 24 bits and support of DSD for 320 USD

External USB digital to analogue converter Korg DS-DAC-100
External USB digital to analogue converter Korg DS-DAC-100

Among high-quality USB audio interfaces of Korg there is a Korg DS-DAC-100 – external Digital to Analogue Converter, able to reproduce stereo sound with 192 kHz sampling rate, 24 bits precision and with support of native hardware decoding of DSD signal for 320 USD. Besides maximal frequency and precision it also supports 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96 and 176.4 kHz and 16 bits. On its frontal panel there are TRS 1/4″ jack output for headphones, volume control and work and chosen sampling rate indicators. On back panel of device there are : USB 2.0 Type B port for connection to computer and powering, unbalanced RCA left and right outputs, as well as balanced XLR left and right outputs.

External USB digital to analogue converter Korg DS-DAC-100 ( back panel )
External USB digital to analogue converter Korg DS-DAC-100 ( back panel )

Korg DS-DAC-100 supports hardware decoding of DSD sound and PCM signal playback via ASIO 2.0, WDM and Core Audio interfaces in Windows 7, 8, 8.1 and 10 and Mac OS X operating systems via specialized drivers. Digital to analogue conversions are handled by Cirrus Logic CS4398 processor with following characteristics : THD+N 0.005%, signal to noise ratio 105 dB and working frequencies range 10 Hz – 40 kHz ( with +- 1 dB deviation ). Linear outputs of device have following characteristics : impedance is 10 kOhms, nominal signal level -6 – +6 dBV; headphones output : 16 Ohms impedance and maximal power 85 + 85 mW with 32 Ohms impedance. Korg DS-DAC-100 draws maximum 2.5 W of energy and 500 mA of current, its sizes are 207 ( width ) x 160 ( depth ) x 60 ( height ) mm and mass is 862 g.

Package contains monitor dynamic headphones PHONON SMB-02 DS-DAC EDITION, Korg DS-DAC-100 can decode in hardware DSD sound with 2.8224 or 5.6448 MHz encoding frequencies. Also in package with Korg DS-DAC-100 digital to analogue converter there are : USB cable, 3 spikes-pins, optical disk with drivers and software, warranty card and user’s guide.

From one side : DAC is quite good and has good audio characteristics, native hardware DSD sound decoding and high-quality digital and analogue components; but from the other side in technical area it is no better, than even entry and middle level professional studio audio interfaces of Steinberg, Behringer, Focusrite, Roland, ESI, M-Audio, Alesis and other companies. Which often are far better, than it in digital and analogue specifications, have much larger amount of output channels, have professional inputs for recording of high-quality audio, MIDI connectors and digital inputs and outputs, as well as loads of other functions, and cost 1.5 – 2 times cheaper, than Korg DS-DAC-100. So, purchasing of this device has no big sense, because human will not be able to hear difference between software sound decoding and playback on professional studio audio interface and its native decoding and playback via Korg DS-DAC-100 – whatever its manufacturer would marketingly say in this respect.

Korg – is a Japanese company, founded in 1962 year in Tokyo, previously it was known under names Keio Gijutsu Kenkyujo Ltd. and Keio Electronic Laboratories. It produces MIDI keyboards and other musical controllers, audio processors, electronic tuners, audio interfaces and other sound equipment. Under Vox brand name it also manufactures electric guitars and amplifiers for them. Currently company is one of the largest world manufacturers of audio devices with rich history of production of high-quality musical instruments, which are used by artists and musicians in studios and on concerts all around the world.

Philips Fidelio X2 – new 50 mm monitor headphones with 5 Hz – 40 kHz, neodymium magnets and THD 0.1% for 280 USD

Monitor headphones Philips Fidelio X2
Monitor headphones Philips Fidelio X2

Company Philips released new professional dynamic monitor headphones Philips Fidelio X2 with 50 mm LMC diaphragms, 5 Hz – 40 kHz reproducible sounds frequencies range, neodymium magnets, THD 0.1% and open acoustic architecture for 280 USD. Their impedance is 32 Ohms, sensitivity is 100 dB, maximal input power is 500 mW and mass is 380 g. Detachable cable with 3 m length is mounted only to 1 cup, to sound source it connects via 1/8″ mini-jack plug with gold-plated contacts. Additionally it is equipped with special clip, which prevents tangling and clinging to clothes and surrounding objects.

Monitor headphones Philips Fidelio X2 package
Monitor headphones Philips Fidelio X2 package

Headphones Philips Fidelio X2 are not foldable, each cup has only 1 audio emitter, in place of entering into driver cable is additionally reinforced with resin tube for increased durability and wear resistance during bending and tear-off forces application. Cushions have breathing structure and remember form, this, together with soft covering of headband, allows to comfortably listen to the music and sounds during long time. Layered Motion Control diaphragms consist from multiple layers of polymer, sealed together with gel, which together dampen excessive vibration and resonance, which allows to reproduce all sounds frequencies more evenly, especially high ones. Sound emitters of headphones are placed under tilted angle, which allow to reduce amount of sound reflections ( this increases loudness and precision of sounds reproduction, due to the fact, that reflected sound does not come to ears with delay ) and direct it into the ears.

Headband of Philips Fidelio X2 automatically adjusts to listeners with different head sizes and forms; their cups have 2 layers, which decreases resonance amount and increases precision of sounds reproduction. Headphones have no active noise-cancellation function, as some other monitor headphones do, but they have very good external sounds isolation. Their cable is additionally reinforced with cloth braid, which increases wear and breaking resistance, it has no built-in volume control module, microphone and smartphones control button.

Package contains : Philips Fidelio X2 monitor headphones themselves, adapter to 1/4″ jack plug also with gold-plated contacts, clip for wire, warranty card and user’s guide. From one side : headphones are great, they have large diaphragms, wide reproducible audio-frequencies range, neodymium magnets, low THD, good sensitivity and implementation of different techniques for amplitude frequency characteristic evening and resonance vibrations lowering during sound reproduction. From the other side their price is quite big and there is ability to buy much cheaper 50 mm monitor headphones of other manufacturers with close characteristics and even cheaper 40 mm monitor headphones, also providing high quality of sounds and music playback. There is ability to note, that if from device small mass and compactness are needed, then there is ability to look on in-ears headphones, oriented for use during sportive exercises and trainings and everyday compact use, their cable is also often equipped with slider and clip for tangling and clinging to clothes and surrounding objects prevention.

Philips – is a company, which were founded in Dutch in 1891 year; now it has 3 large subdivisions, which develop and produce : consumer electronics, medical equipment and lighting devices. At current moment this is one of the largest companies – producers of electronics, in which around 105000 people work in 60 countries of the world. In electronics area it produces wide range of devices : from kitchen appliances to headphones and smartphones. Philips is notable for producing quality devices, providing proper technical information about them without using of large amounts of psychological marketing and for setting of optimal prices for its goods.

ESI U168 XT – new USB audio interface with 96 kHz, 24 bits, dynamic range up to 112 dB and digital S/PDIF connectors

USB audio interface ESI U168XT
USB audio interface ESI U168XT

Company ESI continues to release new interesting sound devices and this time brings mirth with professional USB audio interface U168 XT with support of 96 kHz and 24 bits work mode, dynamic range up to 112 dB and digital S/PDIF inputs and outputs. It has 16 inputs and 8 outputs, which can be used simultaneously; also it supports 44.1, 48 and 88.2 kHz sampling rates. On frontal panel of device there are : 4 combined XLR/TRS 1/4″ jack microphone inputs ( first 2 of them can work in instrumental Hi-Z mode ), switch on and phantom power +48 V plugging buttons, gain control knob and work indicators for each of them. Mono work mode of inputs switches, their work modes indicators and volume control knobs for inputs 1 – 8 and 9 – 16 and outputs 1 – 8 on back panel; 2 TRS 1/4″ jack outputs for monitor headphones, their volume controls, these ports switch on buttons; and power button with indicator.

USB audio interface ESI U168XT ( back panel )
USB audio interface ESI U168XT ( back panel )

On back panel of ESI U168 XT there are : 16th channels MIDI input and output; power adapter +12 V input and USB port for connection to computer; coaxial digital S/PDIF RCA input and output; mixed left and righ TRS 1/4″ jack outputs; 8 linear TRS 1/4″ jack outputs; and 16 more inputs with the same type of connectors. Audio interface performs analogue to digital conversions with 107 dB dynamic range and digital to analogue with 112 dB range, which are very good values for sound devices; its sizes are 45 ( width ) x 14,5 ( depth ) x 4,5 ( height ) cm; it is powered from power line adapter, which is included in the package. Manufacturer does not tell what mass device has, but, presumably, it is around 1 kg. Also, ESI does not tell in which mode inputs and outputs work, it seems, that they work only in unbalanced mode.

ESI U168 XT works in Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1 and 10 operating systems with support of ASIO 2.0, MME, WDM and DirectSound interfaces; as well as in Mac OS X 10.7 and newer with support of Core Audio interface. Through them device interacts with modern DAWs : FL Studio, Cackewalk Sonar, REAPER, Avid Pro Tools, Ableton Live, Steinberg Cubase and others. Audio device will be available for purchase in shops at the end of this Summer.

With device programs Image-Line Deckadance LE and DAW Bitwig 8-Track are supplied. First of them is a DJs’ console and mixer, which can work as stand-alone program and as VST plugin with connection to DAW or other program. Second of them is entry-level DAW, which allow to work with sounds and MIDI notes on up to 8 tracks with ability to record analogue audio and connect different VST instruments and effects. Also it has sounds and presets, selected from professional Bitwig Studio Library, and supports automation and built-in Open Controller Scripting API for advanced control and processing. Bitwig 8-Track is a simplified version of Bitwig Studio and takes 5 GB of disk space, it downloads additional modules from Internet during setup.

Package contains : USB audio interface ESI U168XT itself, USB cable, optical disk with drivers and programs, warranty card and user’s guide. Audio interface is great : it has good digital part, large amount of connectors and parameters controls, as well as MIDI input and output and digital coaxial S/PDIF connectors. Wherein its analogue part is better, than many other audio interfaces of this level have. There is ability to anticipate, that ESI will set optimal price on it and it ‘ll be very competitive among audio interfaces of Steinberg, Behringer, Focusrite, Roland, ESI, M-Audio, Alesis and other companies production.

Company ESI was founded in Germany in 2006 year, mainly it produces audio interfaces, loudspeakers and other sound equipment. Its products are notable for high quality and acceptable prices, currently offices and facilities of company are located in a couple of countries of the world.

Test-review of M39 photo lens Industar 69 on Micro 4/3 sensor with crop-factor 1.3

Industar 69 lens, frontal view with diaphragm control ring - M39 photo lens Industar 69 testing on Micro 4/3 matrix
Industar 69 lens, frontal view with diaphragm control ring – M39 photo lens Industar 69 testing on Micro 4/3 matrix

At last I have a time to test M39 photo lens Industar 69 on Micro 4/3 sensor, it is designed for frame size, which is equal to APS-C sensor; so on Micro 4/3 matrix its crop-factor is 1.3 – in this amount of times its effective focal length is increased and its angle of view is decreased. For its frame size it has following characteristics : 28 mm focal distance, f/2.8-16 diaphragm, standard minimal focusing distance is 0.65 m ( after readjustment there is ability to focus with it much closer, approximately on 10 – 20 cm distance in front of lens ) and field of view is 56 degrees ( 43.08 degrees on Micro Four Thirds matrix ). Lens has 5 diaphragm blades without blackening, 4 lens elements in 3 groups with single-layer optical anti-reflective and protective coating and 22.5 mm thread over frontal glass for optical filters. Its optical resolution is 45/20 lines on mm center/borders ( some sources tell, that it is equal to 44/22 lines on mm ) – this is close to Helios 44M-7, but below it, especially on borders.

Industar 69 lens, back view - M39 photo lens Industar 69 testing on Micro 4/3 matrix
Industar 69 lens, back view – M39 photo lens Industar 69 testing on Micro 4/3 matrix

Operating segment ( distance between mount of lens to sensor/film ) of Industar 69 is equal to 27.5 mm and differs from standard 28.8 mm of M39 mount. So, to be able to focus on infinity, there is need to perform readjustment of lens. There are many ways to do this, I made it this way : unscrewed frontal body part with 3 small screws on the sides, removed stoppers, which do not allow lens elements block to rotate past defined limits. Focusing of optics is performed by movement of the whole glasses block, so there is only need to make it so, that it can be rotated to 27.5 mm inside of camera; after removing of stoppers it almost focuses on infinity and there is need to screw it slightly more. Inside around thread there is small aluminum protrusion, which can be whittled away to allow to move glasses block further. I made exactly this way with use of rasp, whittled slightly more, than needed, and when it is screwed completely, Industar 69 goes slightly farther, than infinity, there is ability to just screw it not completely to focus on far away objects.

Disassembled and readjusted to M39 operating segment Industar 69 lens - M39 photo lens Industar 69 testing on Micro 4/3 matrix
Disassembled and readjusted to M39 operating segment Industar 69 lens – M39 photo lens Industar 69 testing on Micro 4/3 matrix

After this frontal body part of Industar 69 can be installed back, taking into account precise setting of diaphragms scale; after readjustment scale of focusing distances has not much meaning, because lenses elements block can be unscrewed much further and there is ability to focus on objects in 10 – 20 cm in front of camera for macro photographs. Additionally macro rings can be used for focusing on even closer objects. As it can be seen in test photos, Industar 69 does not have positional and magnification chromatic aberrations – this is an advantage of fixed lens with small glasses amount. All photos are made with diaphragm f/5.6, because on more open ones it blurs frame sides too much. It works good with counter and side lighting : does not loose contrast and have no large flares amount, because its frontal lens placed deeply in its body and this is again advantage of lenses with small optical elements amount. However with some angles of Sun close to frame border there is a colorful violet strip : sometimes it can be used in artistic purposes, sometimes it can disturb, but it appears only in narrow angles range and there is always ability to choose position and shooting angle to make it so, that it’ll not appear.

Positional chromatic aberrations testing : branches and trunks of trees with sky in background and small exposure - M39 photo lens Industar 69 testing on Micro 4/3 matrix
Positional chromatic aberrations testing : branches and trunks of trees with sky in background and small exposure – M39 photo lens Industar 69 testing on Micro 4/3 matrix

One of the advantages of Industar 69 is its small sizes and mass – in this area with adapter to camera mount from M39 it is close to modern compact lenses of mirrorless cameras. Its diaphragm control ring is located on frontal side, very thin and often rotates tightly; so, to adjust it there is need to rotate front of camera to oneself and, rotating this ring, it is easy to change lens focusing – this is its minus, but it is a payment for its compactness and small mass. When diaphragm is strongly closed its hole looks like five edges Soviet quality mark, so in blur zone light sources and bright points have the same form.

Sun is in the center of frame - M39 photo lens Industar 69 testing on Micro 4/3 matrix
Sun is in the center of frame – M39 photo lens Industar 69 testing on Micro 4/3 matrix

All in all there is ability to say, that lens blurs frame edges very much, even on diaphragms 5.6 – 8 – the most optimal ones for majority of lenses, sides are blurred on 20 – 30 % of radius, top and bottom on 20 % on Micro 4/3 sensor; on its constructive APS-C matrix this effect ‘ll be visible even more. Especially on open diaphragms. On many of test photos it can be clearly seen how strongly it blurs edges of frame. So, it can be used in scenes, where sharpness in whole field of view is not needed : in macro shooting, portraits making, shooting of small groups of people in center of frame and objects on the speed – here blurring of sides does not affect, slightly noticeable and even useful. However with landscapes, architecture, interior and large groups of people in whole FOV of shooting, where sharpness in whole FOV is needed, Industar 69 will give large blurring of frame edges and is not very suitable for these tasks. There is also need to note, that in macro it is quite good, however there are lenses with close price, which provide much better quality in this kind of photos making.

Sun is close to border of frame - M39 photo lens Industar 69 testing on Micro 4/3 matrix
Sun is close to border of frame – M39 photo lens Industar 69 testing on Micro 4/3 matrix

So, Industar 69 is quite specific lens for narrow set of tasks, some people ask for it around 50 USD or more, as wide angle lens for crop-matrices – it is not worth such amount of money, because 20 – 50 % of frame sides are blurred and all advantages of wide angle are blurred with them. 10 – 20 USD is optimal price for it, because it is oriented only on narrow set of tasks and there are lenses with close price, which have much better sharpness in center and sides of frame. In 1 – 2 weeks I’ll make photos of test mira with part of diaphragm values and update article with them and their analysis; but even now there is ability to say, that it ‘ll blur sides on them all down to f/11, and further sharpness is reduced by diffraction, so it’ll not has sharp frame sides.

Positional chromatic aberrations testing : branches and trunks of trees with sky in background and small exposure + colorful strip example, when Sun is close to border of frame - M39 photo lens Industar 69 testing on Micro 4/3 matrix
Positional chromatic aberrations testing : branches and trunks of trees with sky in background and small exposure + colorful strip example, when Sun is close to border of frame – M39 photo lens Industar 69 testing on Micro 4/3 matrix

Photos in full resolution, made with Industar 69 can be seen on this page : Industar 69 lens test photos. Video with frontal and side lighting without YouTube recompression can be seen here : Industar 69 lens test videos.

Macro example - M39 photo lens Industar 69 testing on Micro 4/3 matrix
Macro example – M39 photo lens Industar 69 testing on Micro 4/3 matrix
Macro example - M39 photo lens Industar 69 testing on Micro 4/3 matrix
Macro example – M39 photo lens Industar 69 testing on Micro 4/3 matrix
Magnification chromatic aberration testing : black text on white background under tilted angle + macro example - M39 photo lens Industar 69 testing on Micro 4/3 matrix
Magnification chromatic aberration testing : black text on white background under tilted angle + macro example – M39 photo lens Industar 69 testing on Micro 4/3 matrix

Test mira photos with Industar 69 lens ( 16.7.23 )

Made test mira photos with Industar 69 lens, as it was anticipated, on diaphragm 2.8 it blurs sides and center is very soft too, so it can be used only in some cases. With diaphragm 4 center is relatively sharp, sides are blurred approximately the same way. With 5.6 center is very sharp and sides are slightly better. On diaphragms 8 – 11 sides are more or less sharp, but on 11 diffraction starts to affect image, so maximal sharpness of Industar 69 can be achieved with diaphragms between 8 and 11. On 16 ( probably, this is a smaller diaphragm, because with closing down to limit mark goes far beyond 16 scale point and lighting sensor shows much larger its reduction, than on the other steps of diaphragm settings ) sides are sharp approximately the same way, as center, but whole image is blurred quite strongly with diffraction; so, it can be used only for narrow range of tasks.

Test mira photo, diaphragm 2.8, center of image - M39 photo lens Industar 69 testing on Micro 4/3 matrix
Test mira photo, diaphragm 2.8, center of image – M39 photo lens Industar 69 testing on Micro 4/3 matrix

All in all by photos of test mira there is ability to prove, that Industar 69 is more oriented on portrait, objects and macro shootings, as well as making photos of small groups of people in the center of frame, where sharpness of edges is not very important. More or less sharpness of edges on Micro 4/3 sensor can be achieved with it, but it is hardly applicable to making photos of landscapes, architecture and large groups of people in whole FOV. Lens is good enough with its own features, which should be accounted in work with it. Next I’ll test Vega 11U – one of the most sharp Soviet lenses with optical resolution 70/40 lines on mm ( center/edges ).

Test mira photo, diaphragm 2.8, lower left corner of image - M39 photo lens Industar 69 testing on Micro 4/3 matrix
Test mira photo, diaphragm 2.8, lower left corner of image – M39 photo lens Industar 69 testing on Micro 4/3 matrix
Test mira photo, diaphragm 4, center of image - M39 photo lens Industar 69 testing on Micro 4/3 matrix
Test mira photo, diaphragm 4, center of image – M39 photo lens Industar 69 testing on Micro 4/3 matrix
Test mira photo, diaphragm 4, lower left corner of image - M39 photo lens Industar 69 testing on Micro 4/3 matrix
Test mira photo, diaphragm 4, lower left corner of image – M39 photo lens Industar 69 testing on Micro 4/3 matrix
Test mira photo, diaphragm 5.6, center of image - M39 photo lens Industar 69 testing on Micro 4/3 matrix
Test mira photo, diaphragm 5.6, center of image – M39 photo lens Industar 69 testing on Micro 4/3 matrix
Test mira photo, diaphragm 5.6 lower left corner of image - M39 photo lens Industar 69 testing on Micro 4/3 matrix
Test mira photo, diaphragm 5.6, lower left corner of image – M39 photo lens Industar 69 testing on Micro 4/3 matrix
Test mira photo, diaphragm 8, center of image - M39 photo lens Industar 69 testing on Micro 4/3 matrix
Test mira photo, diaphragm 8, center of image – M39 photo lens Industar 69 testing on Micro 4/3 matrix
Test mira photo, diaphragm 8, lower left corner of image - M39 photo lens Industar 69 testing on Micro 4/3 matrix
Test mira photo, diaphragm 8, lower left corner of image – M39 photo lens Industar 69 testing on Micro 4/3 matrix
Test mira photo, diaphragm 11, center of image - M39 photo lens Industar 69 testing on Micro 4/3 matrix
Test mira photo, diaphragm 11, center of image – M39 photo lens Industar 69 testing on Micro 4/3 matrix
Test mira photo, diaphragm 11, lower left corner of image - M39 photo lens Industar 69 testing on Micro 4/3 matrix
Test mira photo, diaphragm 11, lower left corner of image – M39 photo lens Industar 69 testing on Micro 4/3 matrix
Test mira photo, diaphragm 16, center of image - M39 photo lens Industar 69 testing on Micro 4/3 matrix
Test mira photo, diaphragm 16, center of image – M39 photo lens Industar 69 testing on Micro 4/3 matrix
Test mira photo, diaphragm 16, lower left corner of image - M39 photo lens Industar 69 testing on Micro 4/3 matrix
Test mira photo, diaphragm 16, lower left corner of image – M39 photo lens Industar 69 testing on Micro 4/3 matrix

Game Elite vs Freedom – third-person indie shooter is published in Steam!

Computer game Elite vs Freedomindie third-person shooter is published in Steam store! After 3.5 years of work on project, for somebody even 4, we already made it and came to cherished goal. This was a hard way, full of hard and responsible moments, months of work without holidays ( often with half-sleeping at nights ) and mirth moments; it taught us a lot and made our lives and us ourselves better, we developed professionally and will work on next projects more effective and better. I am glad to be a part of this project and work with such professional and responsive people and very like to continue work on next projects and develop further in this area. I express great personal thankfulness to Clemens Hofmann – director of AVE Media LLC for help in a hard moments, this helped me a lot and I’ll not forget help in a hard times.

Elite vs Freedom game booklet in Steam
Elite vs Freedom game booklet in Steam

I work in this project as lead programmer ( artificial intelligence, game rules, user interface, networking and cooking of all game elements together into build ), one of sounds specialists, translator to Russian language ( all feedback in this respect is to my side ) and add part of ideas to project. If you have some propositions, words of support and constructive feedback, then you can publish them on our support forums; if you are press representative or owner of a popular web-site and wish to publish review of our game, then you also can contact us through our forum, official site or Steam Support Forums.

Next support of EvF, errors fixing and work on next project – this will be really a Game from a capital letter – the way games should be : interactive adventure, a book, developing human inside. For now I can not tell details about it, they’ll be published, the earliest, only after a couple of months. Now I can say only that in spirit and idea it’ll look like one of the games for 16-bits console Sega, which impressed me and touched my soul so much in a childhood and in a lot directed me in the way of computer games creation, that I started to walk in this direction and will keep walking, despite all of the difficulties; this helps me very much in life and helps me to develop in all areas. And the thing, that this game ‘ll use Unreal Engine 4 – state of the art in computer games development area in all areas : graphics, sound, code, tools for work with content and levels creation, development technology and iterations in games implementation into reality, networking and interface with user, as well as all other directions. Be connected and keep up to date on the news from the fields!

Alesis iO Hub – USB audio interface with 2 inputs, 2 outputs, phantom power +48 V and Direct Monitor

USB audio interface Alesis iO Hub
USB audio interface Alesis iO Hub

Among compact and functional USB audio interfaces there is a Alesis iO Hub – device with 2 inputs, 2 outputs, phantom power +48 V and Direct Monitor. On its frontal panel there are : power indicator, gain control knobs for both inputs, phantom power +48 V switch for first one, second input can be switched between microphone/linear and instrumental Hi-Z modes via according switch; volume control for headphones with Direct Monitor function switch; and volume control of device main outputs. On top of interface there are : 2 combined XLR/TRS 1/4″ jack microphone/linear inputs; analogue TRS 1/4″ jack left and right outputs; and TRS 1/4″ jack monitor headphones output.

USB audio interface Alesis iO Hub ( frontal panel )
USB audio interface Alesis iO Hub ( frontal panel )

Alesis iO Hub can be powered from USB port or battery, which can be placed in special bay, for work with mobile devices ( tablet PCs and notebooks ) without load on their batteries. Manufacturer does not tell with which parameters device works, most probably, it should support at least 48 kHz and 24 bits work mode. USB interface is a Class Compliant and does not require additional drivers in Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1 and 10 and Mac OS X, also it can work with Apple iPad with use of Apple iPad Camera Connection Kit, which should be bought separately. And can interact in them with DAWs : Avid Pro Tools, Ableton Live, Steinberg Cubase, FL Studio, Cackewalk Sonar, REAPER and others; device’s body is made from metal for increased durability and decrease of electro-magnetic interference.

Package contains : USB audio interface Alesis iO Hub itself, USB cable, warranty card and user’s guide. By the compact sizes, connectors amount and convenient controls interfaces is good; how good it is overall there is ability to say by its sampling rate, digital to analogue and analogue to digital conversions precision from user’s manual; THD+N, noise level and dynamic range of inputs and outputs; and its price. There is also ability to look on other USB audio interfaces of Steinberg, Behringer, Focusrite, Roland, ESI, M-Audio, Alesis and other companies production, to chose from them one, which is the most optimal for set tasks.

100 km Velo Drag Racing 2016 Stage I and 120 km May Velo Trip in 2 days

Nura Glukhikh and Svetlana Lakosnikova on Velo Drag Racing 2016 Stage I competitions, Yekaterinburg
Nura Glukhikh and Svetlana Lakosnikova on Velo Drag Racing 2016 Stage I competitions, Yekaterinburg

On this weekend there were 2 events, which I very liked to attend and decided to visit them both : Velo Drag Racing 2016 Stage I and May Velo Trip 2016, and let it be 250 km in 2 days. I rode at Saturday morning just in time to come to competitions beginning : it is warm and good, Sun is lighting and heat goes up from the asphalt; by the weather forecasts there’ll be light rain at this day, so, knowing the whims of Urals weather, I took with me coat to not cold on the speed after them, when I’ll ride home. Has come to a couple of places for my own businesses and then to VDR 2016 I; arrived before the start of main races, rode in qualification, but did not shown enough speed for going to main rides, yes, I have to develop and train my speed, because I’m oriented more on long-time and metodical pedals rotation without rest, then to sprint. Then I went for one of my the most loved businesses : photos making, results of my work and what I learned during this winter can be seen at bottom of the page.

Yelena Koreshkova on Velo Drag Racing 2016 Stage I, Yekaterinburg
Yelena Koreshkova on Velo Drag Racing 2016 Stage I, Yekaterinburg

Women on the bicycles are magnificent, men develop speed just from the start and there is no need to go far from it. After competitions I rode to a couple of other places, above the northern part of Yekaterinburg small rain went on ( whereas southern part and Polevskoy highway kept dry ). And this is all for today’s businesses in Yekaterinburg, then ride to home, eat food, make works at home and prepare to tomorrow’s day. First stage of Velo Drag Racing 2016 went just great. Maybe, I’ll ride on 1 – 2 days, or maybe all 4, to Rhipaean Solstice ( group in social network VKontakte ) as a photographer, I very liked to make photos in a process of competitions; I would have participated in 1 day of races, as rider, but at this year 1-day participation was cancelled and all 4 days of races cost considerable amount of money and I did not rode before 4 days in a row of cross-country 50 – 80 km marathons. Maybe, I’ll also ride to Sarapulka on Need for Speed – road race in 2 days : here ‘ll be ability to make a photos of the speed, with car it would be just great : there would be ability to meet sportsmen a couple of times on the distance. Now I’ll participate in a part of competitions as a rider and on a part as a photographer.

Maxim Suhorukov and another one rider, whom I do not know by name, on Velo Drag Racing 2016 Stage I competitions, Yekaterinburg
Maxim Suhorukov and another one rider, whom I do not know by name, on Velo Drag Racing 2016 Stage I competitions, Yekaterinburg

Bought new frontal hub, arrived at home : I cannot just place new frontal hub in front of me and sit and look at it, I need to set it on the bicycle : “But tomorrow there ‘ll be May Velo Trip,” – “It is ok, I’ll invent something,” … up to approximately 3 o’clock of night I changed the hub, respoked only half of a wheel : “The morning is wiser than the evening,” – went to sleep to not brake something in a half-sleeping state. Got up at 5:50 of a morning, even before alarm-clock, laid down for another 20 – 30 minutes, to give a brain in a half-active – half-sleeping state to rest and activate, often this state of half-activity gives neural system ability to rest and activate on a new day much better, than additional 30 minutes of usual deep sleeping. However there is need to not overuse it, because without a full value sleeping neural system will not be able to activate even this way. At morning I continued to respoke the wheel, for a couple of hours worked on this, its centering and rim straightening into one plane; at spokes unscrewing time I teared pair of spokes, because aluminum nipples attached strongly to the steel spokes, next time I’ll screw them with the lubrication. Then businesses before the ride, in result on May Velo Trip ( group in VK ) I moved only at 10:20 – 10:30 a.m. “Hope that organizers will allow me to ride on 50 km, when I’ll arrive to start.

Sportsmen, whom I do not know by name, and Nikita Shneps on Velo Drag Racing 2016 Stage I competitions, Yekaterinburg
Sportsmen, whom I do not know by name, and Nikita Shneps on Velo Drag Racing 2016 Stage I competitions, Yekaterinburg

Almost whole road to Yekaterinburg it was a pleasure itself to rotate the pedals. Only close to the city tube of back wheel started to allow air outside, with its pumping up I arrived to start of May Velo Trip, registered myself, took the map, it is good, that here everything is not so strict, as on competitions; and moved to trip. After start boy around 10 years old approached me : “Can I go with you?” – ( “Hmm, this is not a 100 km road to Shunuth in January, in city everything will be alright,” ) – “Ok, lets go, you’ll ride as much as you can, after Russia Foresters Park you’ll see by your strengths and tell whether you’ll be able to ride further; and make a call to your parents on the way, so that they’ll know where you are and where you ride,” – “Ok, I’ll do this,” – “Lets ride.” On the way I learned, that his name is Artyom, they not long time ago moved to Yekaterinburg and he periodically rides in these areas; replaced tube of back wheel, riding next became easier and more interesting. Markup at the start of a distance is almost missing, probably, with the account on large bicycles riders group, but after start of ways branching everything is good in this respect. Russia Foresters Park : “Will you go further, do you have strengths for this?” – “Yes, I’ll be able,” – “Ok, lets go,” – … : “I want to drink,” – “Here, take tea,” – just small stop here and on 10 x 10 square cm of skin 100 – 200 mosquitoes bite in – this is a nightmare itself, it is better to not stop here without spray against blood suckers.

Group photo, Velo Drag Racing 2016 Stage I competitions, Yekaterinburg
Group photo, Velo Drag Racing 2016 Stage I competitions, Yekaterinburg

5% discount on goods in Sportek

Buy sportive goods in Sportek shop and specify my agent data : Karimov Rodion Maratovich, doing this, you’ll receive 5% discount ( does not apply to actions and does not sum with discount cards reduction ), your karma will be increased and you’ll bring happiness to me.

We arrived to first checkpoint, child drank water on it, we moved further; hills are not high here, so they did not caused any difficulties; returning trip to entrance of the park. Again asphalt, there is need to look after the child, so that he’ll not ride too fast from hills and so that he’ll not move to carriageway ( “No, next time I’ll not take children of other people with me in such rides : let their parents do this job, look after them and take this responsibility on them” ). Next asphalt, CP, forest, CP; gave to Artyom half of my food, I can ride 50 – 100 – 150 km without food, a fortiori I ate good at morning. It was better to send him on the turn on the third Check Point to 16 km distance, on the way to 4th CP more or less hills started to be on the distance, here he began to tire and it became clear, that moving next ‘ll be difficult for him; we arrived to CP of ProBike Team ( group in VKontakte ), they gave food to child, I wished to take him with me further, but it was very hard for him to climb into following hills. We returned back to 4th CP to send him back on mainland with event organizers.

Map, booklets and discounts coupons in sportive shops from May Velo Trip 2016, Yekaterinburg
Map, booklets and discounts coupons in sportive shops from May Velo Trip 2016, Yekaterinburg

After consulting with women from ProBike Team on the subject what to do with him, we decided, that it is the best to send him to the Rudniy on direct asphalt road, this is what I done. It’s good, that road is nearby back from CP and it did not take much time. Gave to him money for bus from Rudniy to Yekaterinburg and sent into adult unaided life :-) , I hope, that he arrived without problems : 8 km on direct asphalt road with cars, riding nearby periodically, should not cause difficulties for him. Next time in such trips, if kids are asking to ride with me, then in the city there is ability to think about this, if I’m not loaded very much with my own businesses, but, as soon as forest, ground roads, stones and trees roots start – children have to go home. But anyway, Artyom done well, he rode approximately 25 km and on the asphalt was quite fast, even faster than many adult bikers, if he’ll start to attend sportive bicycles school, then he’ll be able to reach a lot in this area, with proper diligence. “Relived yourself?” ( :-) ) – “Yes, lead him to the road, gave money for the bus and shown the way,” – “Ok, good luck to you,” – “Thank you, … good bye,” – then I enabled my marathon speed and rotated pedals without pauses to arrive to finish and receive ensign.

I am on Velo Drag Racing 2016 Stage I competitions, Yekaterinburg ( photographer is Dmitry Ziryanov )
I am on Velo Drag Racing 2016 Stage I competitions, Yekaterinburg ( photographer is Dmitry Ziryanov )

On the fifth CP I signed all the documents, Anna sprayed me with insects repellent, part of it got into the moth and nose, for it to soak up into the blood. so that vampires ‘ll not be able to suck it, this is it, now I’m an agent of Sportek :-) ( VK group ) , will advertise them from now on, they worth it : quality goods with one of the smallest prices in the city. On the road to fifth CP and slightly after it the most serious uphills and downhills on the whole 50 km distance have started, I made a right thing, by sending child to Rudniy; after CP of Sportek there is a CP of Multiteam ( group in VKontakte ), they have everything organized Ural MTB Marafonish ( VK group ), made a mark on the map, took booklets and stickers and moved further into the forest through the Uktus to the finish. Part of the trails are familiar from competitions of previous year, on them I quickly rode to asphalt and directed to the TC Globe, from which I started.

I managed to arrive in 1 – 2 hours before finish closing, received ensign and lots of booklets and stickers, then rode to do my businesses, before returning back, tube of frontal wheel also started to let air out, and patch of second replacing tube went off; so I installed one, which started to let air out at morning; with it at least with pumping up there is ability to ride 5 – 10 km at once. This way I went to home, periodically making stops for technical maintenance of the bicycle. When I arrived to Mountain Shield, tube again let air out, not far at the back there is a last for today bus to Polevskoy; in perspective camera can start to pass air outside very strongly and I did not wanted too much after 220 km of these 2 days to walk on feet for 30 – 20 km in night-time cooling, with mosquitoes flying around, in a light clothes and boots with cleats and leading bicycle nearby up to 2 – 3 hours of night before the very beginning of a new working week. So, I decided to slightly remember pop-music and managed to city on the bus : “Strengths has left you?” – “No, tubes pass the air out, I would rode without a problems with working tubes.” – … Now gluing of the tubes, technical maintenance of the bicycle and preparation for new deeds, see you on them.

You can see additional photos here : 100 km Velo Drag Racing 2016 Stage I and 120 km May Velo Trip in 2 days.

Superlux HD-665 – 40 mm monitor headphones with 10 Hz – 20 kHz, 102 dB/mW sensitivity and good isolation from noises

40 mm monitor headphones Superlux HD-665
40 mm monitor headphones Superlux HD-665

Company Superlux presented its new high-quality device with not high price : HD-66540 mm dynamic monitor headphones with support of 10 Hz – 20 kHz sound frequencies playback, closed acoustic architecture, 102 dB/mW sensitivity and good isolation from external sounds, which cost around 80 USD. Their impedance is 68 Ohms, for their sounding there is need in powerful audio source, for example, USB audio source with separate output for headphones and its signal amplifier; mass is 372 g without cable accounting and 428 g with it. Earspads and part of headband of audio device are covered with soft material for comfortable sounds listening during long time.

Wire of Superlux HD-665 has 3 m length, it is detachable, connects to only 1 of the cups and plugs to sound source via 1/8″ mini jack connector with gold-plated contacts; headphones are supplied only in black color variant and have auto adjustment mechanism for users with different heads sizes. Manufacturer tells about additional measures, applied for increase of amplitude-frequency characteristic evening, in particular : headphones have improved basses reproduction, which is useful for playback of drums, string instruments and other instruments, having low frequencies in their sounds, during their recording in the studio or simple music playback. Superlux HD-665 absorb external sounds with volume up to 30 dB, they have no noise-cancellation function; each cup has only 1 driver; even accounting for the fact, that their earspads rotate freely, they have no compact folding mechanism,

Package with Superlux HD-665 headphones contains : adapter to 1/4″ jack connector also with gold-plated contacts, cable fixation clip, bag for convenient carrying and storage, warranty card and user’s guide. All in all, headphones are good : they have wide reproducible sounds frequencies range, improved basses reproduction, good sensitivity, high impedance for noises from cable and contacts areas absorbing and more stable audio playback, good environmental noises absorbing and comfortable framing for long-time sounds and music listening. Their price is quite adequate to their functions; however there is need to note that for the smaller price there is ability to buy 40 mm monitor headphones with close characteristics and for approximately the same – 50 mm monitor headphones, providing better basses reproduction.

Superlux – is a company, which main office is located in Taiwan development and testing laboratories and facilities in Hong Kong and other China cities. This name is a brand of company Goang-Fann Co. Ltd., which in 1997 year acquired Tenlux – company-producer of microphones and started to release headphones, microphones and other audio equipment under this name. Company is known for production of very functional devices with very attractive prices; so, when according sound devices are being choosen, it is useful to look on products of Superlux.

Focusrite iTrack Solo – USB audio interface with 96 kHz and 105 dB dynamic range, oriented for Apple iPad

USB audio interface Focusrite iTrack Solo
USB audio interface Focusrite iTrack Solo

Among devices, oriented on use with Apple iPad, there is an USB audio interfaces Focusrite iTrack Solo with support of 96 kHz work mode and 105 dB dynamic range of digital to analogue and analogue to digital conversions. On frontal panel of device there are : microphone/linear XLR input with phantom power +48 V switch and gain control knob; TRS 1/4″ jack instrumental Hi-Z input with signal gain control; output volume control, USB connection activity indicator, Direct Monitor function switch and TRS 1/4″ jack monitor headphones output. On back panel of Focusrite iTrack Solo there is ability to find : Kensington Lock slot, USB 2.0 port for connection to computer and powering, Device Link port for connection to Apple iPad and left and right linear RCA outputs.

USB audio interface Focusrite iTrack Solo ( back panel )
USB audio interface Focusrite iTrack Solo ( back panel )

Manufacturer does not tell with which precision device works, but, the most probably, it supports 24 bits per sample. Focusrite iTrack Solo uses only internal timings and does not synchronize with external devices; dynamic range of its digital modules is 114 dB, with accounting of analogue part it goes down to 105 dB; inputs isolation and outputs isolation are 90 dB, isolation of inputs from outputs is an 85 dB. Microphone input of audio interface works with THD+N value, equal to 0.002 % and noise level -120 dB; for instrumental inputs the same parameters are equal, accordingly, to : 0.003 % and -87 dB; THD+N of analogue outputs is a 0.001 %, they can work in balanced mode. Focusrite iTrack Solo works in Mac OS X without additional drivers, in Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1 and 10 it requires them; in these OSes it works with support of Core Audio and ASIO 2.0 interfaces, accordingly, for interaction with modern DAWs : Avid Pro Tools, Ableton Live, Steinberg Cubase, FL Studio, Cackewalk Sonar, REAPER and others.

With Focusrite iTrack Solo DAW Ableton Live Lite 9 and VST/AU plugins package Focusrite Scarlett are supplied; its body is made from metal for better durability and electro-magnetic interference amount reduction. Device’s body sizes are 150 ( width ) x 100 ( depth ) x 45 ( height ) mm and mass is 500 g; package with Focusrite iTrack Solo contains : 1.2 m USB cable, 1.2 m Device Link cable for connection to 30 pins Apple iPad port, USB power adapter ( depending on country ), warranty card, user’s guide and cards for software downloading. There are 2 modifications of device : Focusrite iTrack Solo Lightning, compatible with Apple iPad mini, iPad mini with Retina display, iPad 4th generation and iPad Air; as well as usual version Focusrite iTrack Solo, compatible Apple iPad 1st, 2nd and 3rd generations.

For its compact sizes device is great : it has wide enough dynamic range, good channels isolation. good THD+N and noise level values of outputs and inputs, enough amount of connectors for mobile use, as well as good audio programs bundled with it. Among close to Focusrite iTrack Solo USB audio interfaces there are also good devices of Steinberg, Behringer, Focusrite, Roland, ESI, M-Audio, Alesis and other companies production with close characteristics; there is ability to choose from them one, that fits the most to intended use.