Reviews | Imagination Works

LG K4 K130E – 4.5″ Android 5.1 smartphone with 4G, 4-cores CPU, 1 GB of RAM and 5 MP camera

Company LG at the beginning of year released a couple of new smartphones, among them there is K4 K130E – 4.5″ multitouch Android 5.1 smartphone with 4G, 4-cores processor MediaTek MT6735M, working on 1 GHz frequency, 1 GB of RAM and 5 MP main camera. Judging by photos, screen has good angles of view and IPS, AMOLED or other quality matrix is used; its resolution is 854 x 480 pixels; in device following are also built in : 8 GB of on-board memory with ability to extend via flash memory cards with 32 GB max capacity ( larger are, probably, also supported ) and 2 Micro SIM cards slots. Smartphone can work in 2G ( GSM 850, 900, 1800 and 1900 ), 3G and 4G LTE networks; it has A-GPS satellite navigation system and gravity sensor.

In LG K4 K130E two relatively good for smartphones cameras are placed : 5 MP main one with LED flash and 2 MP frontal one; it supports wireless Wi-Fi ( 802.11 b/g/n + Direct ) and Bluetooth 4.1 for remote data transfers and communications with other devices, without NFC support. On its external panels following can be found : Micro USB 2.0 port for connection with computer and battery charging, 1/8″ mini jack connector for headset and headphones, microphone and speaker and power and volume control buttons. Device’s body is made from plastic, its sizes are 131.9 ( height ) x 66.7 ( width ) x 8.9 ( depth ) mm and mass is 120 g; battery charge is 1940 mAh – this is not big value for smartphones; device is released in 2 color variants : blue indigo and white.

Package contains : LG K4 K130E smartphone itself, USB cable, recharger, headset, warranty card and user’s guide. Smartphone is good : with large screen, powerful system, relatively good for mobile devices cameras and 4G LTE support; its minus is only weak battery. There is need to wait for device to appear in shops and there’ll be an ability to say what competition it can make to other simillar Android and Windows smartphones.

M-Audio M-Track Hub – USB hub and audio interface in compact metal body

One of combined USB hubs and audio interfaces is a M-Audio M-Track Hub – device in small fully metal body. It has power adapter input and can supply energy to 3 USB devices simultaneously and play sound at the same time, this allows to connect to computer a couple of USB instruments and listen for the sound from DAW with 24 bits per sample precision ( manufacturer does not tell with which sampling rate ). On top it has large metal knod for main inputs volume control; on frontal panel there are TRS 1/4″ jack headphones output, their volume control and 3 USB ports. On back panel there are : Kensington Lock slot, power adapter input, USB input for connection to computer and 2 balanced main analogue TRS 1/4″ jack outputs ( left and right ).

Audio interface M-Audio M-Track Hub ( back panel )

Package contains : combined USB audio interface and hub M-Audio M-Track Hub, USB cable, warranty card and user’s guide. From one side : this is a convenient compact device, allowing to power 3 USB devices and connect them to computer and listen to the sound simultaneously; from the other : taking into account M-Audio‘s pricing policy, it is better to buy entry-level studio audio interface of Steinberg, Behringer, Focusrite, Roland, ESI or other manufacturers production and externally powered USB hub and receive much bigger functionality for the same or even smaller sum.

Philips SHQ4305 – in-ear 8.6 mm headphones with neodymium magnets, 5 Hz – 24 kHz and microphone

Among new devices of company Philips there are in-ear headphones SHQ4305 with 8.6 mm membranes, moved by neodymium magnets, support of 5 Hz – 24 kHz sound and built-in microphone. Their acoustic system is closed, impedance is 16 Ohms, sensitivity is 107 dB and maximal power input is 20 mW. To one their side 1.2 m cable is connected with 1/8″ gold-plated mini jack connector and microphone, built into volume control module; it additionally is reinforced with kevlar to increase break resistance at exercises and equipped with clip for mounting to clothes. Headphones have neckband, they are protected from sweat and moisture and have only 11.4 g mass. Package contains : Philips SHQ4305 headphones themselves, cable storage pouch, 3 pairs of interchangeable tips of different sizes, clip, warranty card and user’s guide. All in all headphones are good : with neodymium magnets, 5 Hz – 24 kHz reproducible frequencies range, built in microphone and protection from sweat and moisture. Probably, Philips will not overprice them and there is ability to expect around 20 USD price. If they’ll cost more, then for the same amount of money there is ability to buy 40 and 50 mm monitor headphones or for much smaller sum in-ear headphones of other manufacturers. So, here is need to look on their price at shops, when they’ll appear in them.

Oysters T104 WSi – 10.1″ IPS Windows 10 tablet PC with 5800 mAh battery and 1 GB of RAM

Among Windows tablet PCs there is a novelty : device Oysters T104 WSi with 10th version of this OS, 10.1″ multitouch IPS screen with 1280 x 800 pixels resolution, 5800 mAh battery and 1 GB of RAM. In it are also built in : 4-cores processor Intel Atom Z3735G, working on 1.8 GHz frequency; graphical chip Intel HD Graphics ( Bay Trail ), built into CPU; 16 GB of on-board memory with ability to extend via Micro SD flash cards with 32 GB max capacity ( larger are, probably, also supported ); and SIM cards slot. It can be used as phone and supports 2G ( GSM 850, 900, 1800 and 1900 ) and 3G networks, without 4G LTE support. It has no satellite navigation systems and has only gravity sensor.

Tablet PC Oysters T104 WSi ( back panel )

In Oysters T104 WSi two weak, even for tablet PCs, cameras are placed : 2 MP main one and 0.3 MP frontal one; it supports wireless connections Wi-Fi ( IEEE 802.11 b/g/n ) and Bluetooth 4.0 for remote data transfers and communications with other devices, without NFC support. On external panels of device there are : Micro USB port for battery charging and external devices connection, 1/8″ mini jack headset and headphones connector, microphone and speaker and power and volume control buttons. Device’s body is made from plastic, its sizes are 258 ( width ) x 173 ( height ) x 11 ( depth ) mm and mass is 600 g. Battery size is 5800 mAh – this is a very good value for tablet PCs.

Package contains : Oysters T104 WSi tablet PC itself, USB cable, recharger, warranty card and user’s guide. Tablet is very good : has large IPS screen, Windows 10 OS, 5800 mAh battery and powerful system and costs around 120 – 130 USD. There is need to note, that for 2 times smaller sum there is ability to buy 8″ IPS Windows and Android tablet PCs with approximately the same other features and 2 times smaller mass.

ESI Dr. DAC nano – mini USB audio interface for analogue signal output and conversion into optical one

One of the smallest devices of ESI company is a Dr. DAC nano – USB audio interface for analogue signal output or conversion into digital optical with support of 96 kHz and 24 bits per sample work modes. On frontal panel of device there is combined 1/8″ mini jack connector for analogue or digital optical S/PDIF signals output; on back panel there is Mini USB port for connection with computer and powering. In interface there are : DAC AKM AK4421 with support of 192 kHz and 24 bits internal work mode and 103 dB dynamic range; headphones amplifier Analog Devices AD8397; and solid tantalum electrolytic capacitors. Device works in Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, 8.1 and 10 and Mac OS X without additional drivers with Plug and Play, also for it drivers are released for Windows with support of ASIO 2.0 interface, via which it can work with modern DAWs : FL Studio, Cackewalk Sonar, REAPER, Avid Pro Tools, Ableton Live, Steinberg Cubase and others.

USB audio interface ESI Dr. DAC nano ( back panel )

ESI Dr. DAC nano can power headphones with 16 – 300 Ohms impedance; its sizes are 60 ( depth ) x 45 ( width ) x 17 ( height ) mm. Package contains : ESI Dr. DAC nano audio interface itself, USB cable, warranty card and user’s guide. For its purposes interface is very good, if it is bought only for compact high-quality audio playback or conversion into digital optical signal; but if it is bought for other purposes also, then it is better to add not big amount of money and buy entry-level studio audio interface of Steinberg, Behringer, Focusrite, Roland, ESI itself, M-Audio or other manufacturers production.

Philips SHL3850NC – new 32 mm foldable monitor headphones with active noise canceling

Legendary non-overbranded in headphones area company Philips released new model of its production SHL3850NC – 32 mm foldable monitor headphones with active noise canceling and drivers’ neodymium magnets. They can reproduce sounds in 10 Hz – 22 kHz frequencies range, have 16 Ohms impedance, 30 mW max power input and 105 dB sensitivity. Cups architecture is closed, active noise canceling removes up to 97% of external sounds and is powered from AAA battery, charge of which is enough for 50 hours of stand-by and 40 hours of music playback. 1.2 m cable is connected to one of the cups, it receives signal via 1/8″ mini jack connector. Package contains : Philips SHL3850NC headphones themselves, warranty card and user’s guide. All in all headphones are good, have wide frequencies range, neodymium magnets and active noise canceling; there will be need to look on their price, when they’ll be available in shops : if it will be around 30 – 40 USD, then they can be bought ( however for the same amount of money there is ability to buy 40 and 50 mm monitor headphones without active noise canceling ), if it will be higher, then is there sense to pay such amount of money for active noise canceling?

Rave + Trip-Hop “Good night, babies” in DAW REAPER : FM synthesis and reverberation and phaser effects

Lets continue studying music creation and DAW REAPER learning and create Rave + Trip-Hop variation of Russian song “Good night, babies“, wherein we will use FM synthesis, reverberation and phaser effects and tracks automation. For melody and basses I used the same way hybrid VST synthesiser Xenobioz Funxion with the same presets and downloaded MIDI notes from internet ( thank you goes to original author ), removing bank selection signal from them. With tracks automation I set smooth volume increase and decrease at the beginning and end of composition, so that it does not start and end abruptly. Via this link you can download completed composition in FLAC format and archive with project file and sounds : Rave + Trip-Hop “Good night, babies” in DAW REAPER : FM synthesis and reverberation and phaser effects.

At the beginning we add MIDI notes to tracks of composition and plug in to them VST synthesiser Xenobioz Funxion with Exotic Flute and Pentagon presets for melody and basses. Then we will add to melody track built-in ReaVerb effect, which adds reverberation and makes it more volumetric, giving to it an atmosphere. It is better to not overuse it, so that melody will remain easy for perception and reverberation will not attract attention to itself. Then we add to basses track scripted effect Guitar/phaser, it is written on built in script language of DAW, so it works not so fast, as compilled VST applications, and it is better to use not much of them, so that composition playback would not lag. Phaser adds to basses “U-a-u-a-u-a-…” sound, this is especially noticeable on long basses notes and makes them not monotonous and constant, without addition of too much movement to basses. It is better to not apply reverberation to them, because basses should stay at the center of stereo picture and not jump here and there, otherwise this will draw too much attention and annoy. Then we add simple and hasteless drums rhythm with kicks and snares, characteristic to Trip-Hop music, let it accompaniment basses this time, and use syncopation, where needed, so that drums rhythm is not monotonous. Next : final strokes, and composition is ready.

This is it for today, next time I’ll create variation of other composition to continue growth in this direction. If you have any questions, then ask them in the comments to article. See you next time!

ZTE Blade Q Lux 3G – Android 4.4 smartphone with 4.5″ IPS screen, 2-cores processor and 512 MB of RAM

Company ZTE recently released new not pricey Android 4.4 smartphone Blade Q Lux 3G with 4.5″ multitouch IPS screen with 480 x 854 pixels resolution, 2-cores processor MediaTek MT6572M with 1 GHz frequency and 512 MB of RAM, which costs around 60 USD. In it also are built-in : 4 GB of on-board memory with ability to extend via Micro SD flash cards with 32 GB max capacity ( larger are, probably, also supported ) and 2 Micro SIM cards slots. Smartphone can work in 2G ( GSM 900, 1800 and 1900 ) and 3G networks, without 4G LTE support; it supports GPS satellite navigation system and proximity, lighting and acceleration sensors.

Smartphone ZTE Blade Q Lux 3G ( back panel )

In ZTE Blade Q Lux 3G two not bad for smartphones of such price cameras are placed : 8 MP main one with LED flash and autofocusing and 2 MP frontal one; it supports wireless Wi-Fi ( 802.11b/g/n ) and Bluetooth 3.0 ( +EDR, +A2DP ) for remote data transfers and communications with other devices, without NFC support. On its external panels following are placed : Micro USB port for connection with computer and Li-ion battery charging, 1/8″ mini jack headset connector, microphone and speaker and power and volume control buttons. Battery charge is 2200 mAh, which is enough for 16 hours of talking or 308 hours of stand-by time; its body is made from plastic, its sizes are 67.5 ( width ) x 134.5 ( height ) x 10.3 ( depth ) mm and mass is 144 g.

Package contains : ZTE Blade Q Lux 3G smartphone itself, recharger, USB cable, headset, warranty card and user’s guide. For its price – this is a good smartphone, for approximately the same amount of money there is ability to buy entry-level Windows Microsoft Lumia smartphones and Android or Windows tablet PCs with larger screens, powerful systems and ability to be used as phone. So, among them there is need to chose, based on personal taste and convenience of use.

Nektar Impact iX – 49 and 61 keys USB MIDI keyboards with pedal input

Among classical USB MIDI keyboards there are Nektar Impact iX 49 and 61 with according amounts of velocity-sensitive keys and TRS 1/4″ jack input for sustain pedal. There is ability to use for keys one of 4 velocity sensitivity curves or one of 3 fixed values; devices have octaves control buttons, pitch bend and modulation control wheels, one 30 mm slider and 4 transport control buttons. On back panel there are : Kensington Lock slot, TRS 1/4″ jack input for sustain pedal and USB port for connection to computer and powering. They can be connected to Apple iPad via optional USB Camera Kit module.

MIDI keyboard Nektar Impact iX ( back panel )

MIDI keyboards Nektar Impact iX 49 and 61 work in Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, 8.1 and 10, Mac OS X and Linux without additional drivers and allow to control modern DAWs ( FL Studio, Cackewalk Sonar, REAPER, Avid Pro Tools, Ableton Live, Steinberg Cubase and others ) and their VST instruments and effects. Nektar Impact iX 49 mass is 2.2 kg and 61 is 2.7 kg. With devices DAW Studio One Artist is bundled. Package contains : MIDI keyboard Nektar Impact iX 49 or 61, USB cable, optical disk with programs, warranty card and user’s guide. MIDI keyboards are functional, have classical set of controls and adequate price; there is ability to wish for drumpads and powering from power adapter for work with tablet PCs, which are present in other MIDI keyboards models.

Philips Xenium V377 – new 5″ IPS Android 5.1 smartphone with 5000 mAh battery and 5 MP camera

One of the mobile novelties of the end of 2015 year – beginning of 2016 is an Android 5.1 smartphone Philips Xenium V377 with 5″ multitouch IPS screen with Full HD 1280 x 720 pixels resolution, 5000 mAh battery ( which is very good for smartphones ) and 5 MP main camera. In it are also built in : 4-cores processor MediaTek MT6580, working on 1.3 GHz frequency, 1 GB of RAM, 8 GB of on-board memory with ability to extend via Micro SD and Micro SDHC flash memory cards with 32 GB max size ( larger, probably, are also supported ) and 2 Micro SIM cards slots. Smartphone can work in 2G ( GSM 850, 900, 1800 and 1900 ) and 3G networks, without 4G LTE support; it has GLONASS, GPS and A-GPS satellite navigation systems.

Smartphone Philips Xenium V377 ( side view )

In Philips Xenium V377 two cameras are placed : 5 MP main one ( which is average for smartphones ) and 2 MP frontal one; it supports wireless Wi-Fi ( 802.11 b/g/n ) and Bluetooth 4.0 connections for remote data transfers and communications with other devices, without NFC support. On its outer panels following are placed : USB port ( for connection with computer and battery charging ), 1/8″ mini jack headset connector, microphone and speaker and volume control and power buttons. Battery charge is 5000 mAh, which is very good for smartphones, it is enough for 29 hours of speaking and 1152 hours of stand-by mode; device’s body is made from plastics, its sizes are 74 ( width ) x 145 ( height ) x 10.9 ( depth ) mm and mass is 188.5 g.

Package contains : Philips Xenium V377 smartphone itself, USB cable, headset, warranty card and user’s guide. Smartphone is good : with high-capacity battery, large 5″ IPS screen, powerful system and good enough for smartphones cameras, wherein its price is around 130 USD; for smaller sum there is ability to buy similar Windows and Android smartphones and the same way for smaller sum there is ability to buy Windows or Android tablet PCs with larger screen, powerful system and ability to be used as phone. So, here choice is between device’s compactness and battery size between similar smartphones.

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