Lets review MIDI keyboard M-Audio Axiom AIR Mini 32, which has diverse functional and compact sizes. It has 32 velocity-sensitive mini-keys, with selectable touch curves; 8 drumpads; 8 knobs; 3 transport buttons; 10 memory cells for setting and recalling of keyboard parameters sets; pitch bend, modulation and sustain control buttons; and octaves shift buttons. Keyboard is connected to computer via USB port and receives power from it; it supports HyperControl function for integration with modern DAWs : Ableton Live, Steinberg Cubase, FL Studio, Cackewalk Sonar, REAPER, Avid Pro Tools and others. MIDI keyboard is supported by Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8 and 10 and Mac OS X operating systems; it is supplied with software DAW Ableton Live Lite and Ignite Music Creation ( which is bundled with 275 software instruments, developed by AIR Music Technology ). Keyboard sizes are : 396 ( width ) x 196 ( depth ) x 38 ( height ) mm. Package contains : M-Audio Axiom AIR Mini 32 MIDI keyboard itself, USB cable, optical disks with drivers and software and user’s guide.
MIDI keyboard M-Audio Axiom AIR Mini 32 ( top view )
It is interesting keyboard, which has 32 keys, 8 drumpads, compact sizes and adequate price; its minuses are : pitch-bend and modulation controls in form of buttons, instead of wheels, and lack of expression or sustain pedal input. So, it is applicable for wide range of uses, from home studio to concerts.
In audio part today we will meet with IK Multimedia iRig Keys – MIDI keyboard, which is oriented on work with different devices : PC, Mac, iOS and Android. It has 37 velocity-sensitive mini-keys; pitch bend and modulation wheels; volume control knob, which can be programmed to control custom parameter; octaves control buttons, which can be programmed; 4 buttons for storing and restoring of parameters sets; and sustain or expression pedal input. MIDI keyboard is connected to devices via Core MIDI interface ( for iOS ) or via USB interface ( for PC and Mac ), it is powered from these connections. Also, it can be used with Android devices via OTG to Micro-USB adapter, which is bundled with controller. Keyboard is supplied with following software : SampleTank FREE iOS and iGrand Piano FREE for iOS ( they can be downloaded from Apple App Store ); iGrand Piano FREE and iLectric Piano FREE for Android ( they can be downloaded from Google Play or Samsung Galaxy Apps ); SampleTank 3 SE for PC and Mac ( they can be downloaded from manufacturer’s web-site after registration ); and The Grid plus 5 Beats and Elektronika virtual instruments for SampleTank 3 SE ( they are also can be downloaded from manufacturer’s web-site ). This is interesting MIDI keyboard model, which has small sizes and weight and ability to work with different devices; its minuses are : lack of drumpads, small amount of programmable buttons for DAW control and small keys size ( but this is the consequence of its compact sizes ). So, this device should be bought only if there will be no need in additional controls; but, if there is need to simply buy MIDI keyboard, then it is better to buy more functional device, which costs the same amount of money or not much more.
Lets review in audio part external studio audio interface ESI Dr. DAC prime. It has big amount of professional functions and adequate price. Card works with 192 kHz sampling rate and 24 bits precision. Digital to analogue conversion ( DAC ) is performed by TI Burr Brown PCM1796 module, which has 123 dB dynamic range ( this allows to play simultaneously silent and loud sounds and makes sound picture more complete ); next signal is processed by 3 operational amplifiers LME49860NA, which are placed on PCB in sockets and can be easily replaced with others, if needed. Reverse analogue to digital conversion ( ADC ) is performed by AKM AK5386 ADC module with 110 dB dynamic range. Audio interface can playback signal, that it receives via USB port, digital S/PDIF audio connector or from analogue inputs, 2nd and 3rd variants requre additional power from power adapter. Frontal panel of card has : power switch; sound mute switch; upsampling switch ( if input signal has sampling rate less, than 192 kHz, then card can upsample it to this value for further processing or transmitting ); input signal selector ( USB, digital input or analogue inputs ); volume control for headphones; TRS 6.3 mm ( 1/4″ ) jack and 3.5 mm ( 1/8″ ) mini-jack headphones outputs themselves; and LED indicators of card’s different functions states.
External sound card ESI Dr. DAC prime ( back panel )
Card’s back panel has : linear analogue RCA inputs and outputs; digital S/PDIF RCA input and output ( they can work with coaxial and optical signal, second variant requires special converter, which is bundled with card ); USB port; power adapter input; and analogue outputs mode switch ( fixed or variable volume level ). All RCA-slots are gold-plated, there is need to use gold-plated plugs with them, so that oxide film will not form in contacts places, which decreases connection quality. Sound card is automatically recognized by Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8 and 10 and Mac OS X operating systems; also ASIO 2.0 drivers are released for it for Windows, via which it can work with modern DAWs Cackewalk Sonar, REAPER, Avid Pro Tools, Ableton Live, Steinberg Cubase, FL Studio and others with low latency. Card sizes are : 150 ( width ) x 104 ( depth ) x 38 ( height ) mm. Package contains : ESI Dr. DAC prime sound card itself, power adapter, USB cable, optical S/PDIF signal converter, optical disks with drivers and software and user’s guide.
Based on description and my experience of work with ESI devices, there is ability to say, that this is good card with adequate price, which is oriented for playback and recording of already completed signal, because it has no microphone and instrumental Hi-Z inputs and MIDI connectors. Its pluses are 192 kHz sampling rate and professional hardware, that is set in it. Wherein, it is worth purchasing, if it will be used for the purpose, for which it is designed, because there is ability to buy for the same price more universal studio audio interface, which will perform all professional functions.
Lets review functional MIDI keyboard Alesis V61. It has 61 full-size keys, which react on pess velocity; octave up and down buttons; 4 programmable buttons and 4 programmable knobs; 8 drun pads, which react on presses velocity and applied force; and pitch bend and modulation wheels. All additional controls have variable back-light, which shows their activity degree. Controller is connected to computer via USB port ( through which it also receives power ) and is automatically recognized by Windows and Mac OS X operating systems, in which it can integrate with modern DAWs : Avid Pro Tools, Ableton Live, Steinberg Cubase, FL Studio, Cackewalk Sonar, REAPER and others. Alesis V61 is bundled with DAW Ableton Live Lite 9 and multifunctional instrument AIR Music Tech Xpand!2. There is also need to note compact design of MIDI keyboard and its adequate price ( 169 USD at the middle of Autumn 2015 ) in comparison with other MIDI controllers.
External sound card Roland DUO-CAPTURE EX ( front panel )
Today we will review external studio audio interface Roland DUO-CAPTURE EX. It is equipped with configurable functions and is oriented on professional work. Frontal panel of card contains : 2 combined XLR/TRS inputs with professional VS Preamps, one of which is switchable instrumental Hi-Z/Lo-Z, second is microphone input, to which phantom +48 V power can be connected; amplification levels controls for them; volume control for main analogue outputs of card and for monitor headphones; TRS 6.3 mm ( 1/4″ ) jack output for headphones themselves. Back panel of card contains : USB port for communication with computer and for powering from it; DC input ( it is not supplied with card ); MIDI input and output for instruments and other devices; 2 TRS 6.3 mm ( 1/4″ ) jack analogue balanced outputs ( they neutralize all noise signals, which are added to main signal, when it is transmitted in the cable ); sampling rate switch ( 44.1 or 48 kHz ); phantom power switch; instrumental input switch Hi-Z or Lo-Z; Direct Monitor mode switch for headphones ( mono, stereo, off ); power button; and ground contact. Card is powered via USB port, or batteries, or from electric line via power adapter; its built in power supply unit has low noise levels, which reduces unwanted signals levels in sound card’s internals.
External sound card Roland DUO-CAPTURE EX ( back panel )
It works with 24 bits precision; and supports following interfaces WDM and ASIO for Windows and Core Audio for Mac OS and iOS; through them it can work with modern DAWs : Steinberg Cubase, FL Studio, Cackewalk Sonar, REAPER, Avid Pro Tools, Ableton Live and others. Audio card body is produced from aluminum, it weights 460 grams and has relatively small dimensions : 153 ( width ) x 119 ( depth ) x 47 ( height ) mm. Package contains : Roland DUO-CAPTURE EX sound card itself, USB cable, optical disks with drivers and software and user’s guide. In a whole, this is a good professional sound card : it has high quality preamplifiers for analogue inputs, balanced analogue outputs, and MIDI input and output. Its main weakness is only 48 kHz max sampling rate, but not always higher frequencies are needed, for example, if sound after recording will not be processed too much.
Todays audio part will be dedicated to professional MIDI keyboard Novation Launchkey 49. It has 49 velocity-sensitive keys; 16 drum-pads with RGB backlight, which are also velocity-sensitive; 8 knobs; 9 sliders; pitch bend and modulation wheels; 2 octave/transpose buttons; 1 LED display; 2 Track/MIDI Channel buttons; 8 mute/solo tracks buttons; 3 InControl buttons; 2 RGB backlit buttons; 6.3 mm ( 1/4” ) TRS jack input for sustain pedal; and Kensington Lock port. Keyboard can be connected to computer via USB or MIDI port. In first case it receives power only from this connection; in the second – it requires additional power adapter input ( which is not supplied with device ). MIDI keyboard tightly integrates with DAWs Ableton Live and FL Studio, wherein it can work with other modern DAWs : Avid Pro Tools, Steinberg Cubase, Cackewalk Sonar, REAPER and others. It is automatically set up, when connected to Windows or Mac OS based computers via Plug In and Play function. Novation Launchkey 49 package contains following software : DAW Ableton Live Lite, virtual instruments Novation Bass Station and Novation V-Station, and 1 GB of Loopmasters samples. For connection to iOS devices MIDI keyboard requires power adapter and camera connection kit, or special iOS USB camera adapter. Device sizes are : 775 ( length ) x 270 ( depth ) x 90 ( height ) mm.
Today among audio devices we will look on MIDI keyboard M-Audio Keystation 49 II USB. It is DAW parameters controller and MIDI notes recording instrument. Overall process looks like so : human plays on this instrument and controls various parameters, they are recorded by DAW in MIDI editor, then they are played by software synthesizer. Keyboard has 49 full-size keys, which react on press velocity ( it is very useful, because many synthesizing parameters can be controlled with press velocity, this allows to perform these actions faster and more creatively ); has USB and MIDI connectors for communications with computer; is powered from 1 USB port; has different buttons and knobs for DAW parameters controlling; has small weight ( this is useful for its use on concerts ); and can be plugged to iOS devices via Apple iPad Camera Connection Kit adapter ( which is not bundled with MIDI keyboard ). With M-Audio Keystation 49 II USB controller following software is supplied : SONiVOX Eighty-Eight Ensemble – sample based synthesizer-emulator of piano 9-foot CD327 Steinway ( it has in itself recorded samples of this instrument, from which it can synthesize different sounds of this instrument ); DAW Ableton Live Lite; and multi-functional AIR Music Tech Xpand!2 synthesizer. Keyboard can work with Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8 and Windows 10 and Mac OS X 10.5 and newer operating systems; it integrates very well with modern DAWs : FL Studio, Cackewalk Sonar, REAPER, Avid Pro Tools, Ableton Live, Steinberg Cubase and others.
Lets review new studio monitor headphones KRK KNS 6400. They have closed-back architecture and their 40 mm membranes are powered by neodymium magnets. They can absorb outer sounds with 26 dB max volume. They can reproduce sounds in 10 – 22000 Hz frequencies range, their sensitivity is 95 dB, impedance is 36 Ohms and maximal power input is 1000 mW. Headphones are equipped with 2.5 m pluggable cable with 3.5 mm ( 1/8″ ) gold-plated mini-jack connector, it has no built-in volume control unit. Wing and earcups are made of plastic, cushions from leatherette; which provide comfortable long-time use in studio conditions. Head and ears cushions can be replaced in case of damage. Headphones weight 210 g. Package contains : KRK KNS 6400 headphones themselves, pluggable cable, screw-on 6.3 mm ( 1/4″ ) jack converter, storage and carrying case and user’s guide. These are good studio-level quality headphones for optimal price, which can be used for professional work and for in-home use for music listening.
Lets continue our acquaintance with DAW REAPER : today we will learn VST ( Virtual Studio Technology – is a technology for plugins creation, which act as instruments, effects and processors, and for their unified connection to different DAWs and other programs ), work with recorded sounds and rhythm of composition. For this purpose we will create simple example, for rhythm we will use recorded sounds of snares and hats; simple melody we will create with use of VST synthesizer Genobazz 2, which was created by TEK’IT Audio. You should already have installed DAW REAPER, if you have some difficulties, you can write about them in comments, I’ll answer to you as soon as I’ll have free time. VST Genobazz 2 can be downloaded from Internet, it is a free plugin; you can find links to it in Google. It is distributed in form of executable installer; create somewhere VSTs folder, in which you’ll install plugins, they can be used by other DAWs also, so it is better to place it on path, that is accessible by all programs. Then install Genobazz 2 in this folder; then open options page in DAW REAPER Options -> Preferences ( this window can be seen on upper image ); choose VST in left list, add path to you VSTs folder in according field and press Clear cache/Rescan, so that DAW will find and install this plugin. Then download archive with project example and open it in REAPER.
DAW REAPER : Rhythm and basses
As it can be seen from the image, rhythm is created with use of recorded sounds ( they are located in project archive ). All sound files can be inserted into tracks by dragging and dropping them from Explorer into DAW, it will import and setup them by itself. Basses are synthesized with use of MIDI notes, for them I selected two sounds presets ( preset sound synthesis parameters ) of Genobazz 2 : Defaul and Acid Tweet Arp. VST plugins can be added to track by clicking on FX button; then on Add add button and by selection of VST ( for effects and processors ) or VSTi ( for instruments ). REAPER also supports other plugins formats and its own scripting language for sounds processing. Order of plugins matters, because sound signal is passed from current plugin to next one, this way sounds processing chains can be created, for example : synthesizer receives MIDI notes and generates sound, which later is processed by effects, so that needed sound will be obtained. VST plugins can be added to MIDI tracks and to tracks with recorded sounds. MIDI notes can be edited by double clicking on their panels in track; to the left on their editing windows musical keyboard is located, at the bottom part there is area in which other notes parameters can be edited, for example, velocity of keys pressing ( whether these additional parameters will be accounted by synthesizer : depends solely on itself ).
DAW REAPER VST Genobazz 2
This project example is very simple and there is ability to experiment with it, creating composition, which you like. For example, there is disabled track, which can be used to create rhythm with kicks and receive House music rythm; all in all, here is ability to unleash your imagination. That is it for today; if you have any questions, you can ask them in the comments, I’ll answer to them as soon as I’ll have free time for this. See you in the next article about DAW REAPER.
Lets review Audio-Technica ATH-R70x novelty, these are the professional studio monitor headphones with according characteristics. They have : 45 mm drivers, powerful magnets with fully metal housing ( which provides construction stability and provides clear high frequencies reproduction ), 5 – 40000 Hz sounds frequencies reproduction range, 1000 mW maximal power input, 99 dB sensitivity and 470 Ohms impedance ( such high impedance requires powerful signal, which makes all cable noise signals very week in comparison with it, and also it does not allow all noise signals to go to electric coil near magnet ). They had open back architecture with aluminum honeycomb mesh housing and composite resin and plastic materials for construction rigidity, which make sound reproduction more clear. They weight 210 g and have cozy pads and wing, which make their long use comfortable, which is important with their use in studio. Cable of headphones is pluggable, wherein, it does not matter how it is attached to pads, because right signal is automatically chosen for each pad. Package contains : Audio-Technica ATH-R70x headphones themselves, pluggable cable, protective carrying pouch and user’s guide. All in all : these are the very interesting headphones, but they are not suited for home use, because they cost very much and their high characteristics are not needed for home use. But, if there is choosing : buy too branded audiophile headphones, for which 2/3 of cost are costs for brand name and marketing expenses, and these ones, then it is better to buy these ones.
