An industry giant unveils compact MIDI devices for music makers on-the-go!

The new nanoSeries devices of Korg are particularly designed to meet the needs of artists who are always on the move – making music anywhere, anytime, without compromising the control department. Its range of MIID controllers features three compact products – the nanoKEY, the nanoPAD, and the nanoKONTROL.

Expected to be tough, the nanoKEY is no ordinary keyboard – it is a 25-note, velocity-sensitive model. Aside from being very handy in recording chords and melodies, the nanoKEY can also be used to send MIDI data, further expanding its power. It has an Octave Shift function that provides immediate access to the entire MIDI note range. There are pitch and modulation buttons provided as well, allowing your performances the kind of expression natural to any controller, regardless of its size.

The Korg nanoKEY is also very small. In fact, you can put it right in front of your laptop, your recording station, on a recording console, or wherever you need a versatile control over your virtual instrument or DJ software. But despite its size, the nanoKEY comes with several benefits when it comes to functionality, but its intuitive layout makes operation a breeze for any user.

The nanoPAD has 12 highly responsive trigger pads (including an X/Y pad) that are perfect both for laptop DJs and drum programming because of its roll and flam functions that provides unique interface ideal for realistic drum programming. It is USB powered, and is also capable of sending both notes and MIDI control data.

The nanoPAD also has a Chord Trigger function that lets you enter chords onto a single pad, which helps you to make the most of the work surface as you create. The pad also makes a great interface for soloing or muting tracks because it can transmit control change messages. You can turn objects on and off, or trigger clips during your live performances.

Finally, Korg wraps the MIDI bundle with the nanoKONTROL. It offers 9 faders, 9 knobs, 18 switches plus a full transport section for expansive control. That means that is the perfect DAW and plug-in control, although it also has a note input mode that will help you lay down your next big groove.

For each of the four programmable scenes that the nanoKONTROL offers, you have the freedom to set the controllers any way you need them. That means that you can send a total of 168 different MIDI Control Change messages and MIDI notes using the switches. Each of the 6 transport buttons can send either MIDI Control Change messages or MMC messages to control functions like start, stop, loop, or record on your DAW software.

Thanks to the Korg MIDI Bundle, taking full control over the quality of music that you create is now possible.

Get the nanoKEY, the nanoPAD, and the nanoKONTROL today!

Speaker giant Alesis recently debuted the Alesis M1 Active 520 USB Studio Monitors. Particularly designed for professional studio use, this pair will blow your ears away.

With an active studio interface, the Alesis M1 Active 520 is a team  composed of two active, bi-amplified, two-way reference speakers that can give you a faithful audio range from 20kHz down to a mere 56kHz, covering nearly all frequencies audible to human ears. On top of its USB playback ability, this pair also comes with two TRS-balanced quarter-of-an-inch inputs that transforms them into a computer audio interface in seconds.

Despite its new design, these studio monitors are very affordable for its features – it is a high precision, active reference pair of monitors complete with Bass Density control and EQ. It offers incredible sound definition and an accurate flat frequency response from the high precision drivers, thanks to its professionally made crossover. The cabinet as well as its drivers has also been redesigned for a bolder look and an even greater sonic clarity.

The front baffle of the M1 Active is an inch think, which means that it can effectively minimize speaker resonance. At the same time, its visually impressive acoustic waveguide disperses high frequency sound across your control room.

Designed for studio use, the Alesis M1 studio monitors come with a 5-inch polypropylene, low frequency drivers that are capable of 50W RMS output with 1-inch silk dome high-frequency drivers capable of 25W RMS mounted in a low resonance bass reflex, magnetically shielded cabinets. And to make things even better, the Alesis M1 comes complete with integrated USB interface providing 16-bit, 44.1/48 kHz of recording and playback functionality.

But what sets the Alesis M1 Active 520 USB Studio Monitors apart from the rest of the monitors available in the market is its new “Bass Density” technology, which allows you to tailor the output of these monitors to any room’s acoustics.

Getting the Alesis M1 Active 520 USB Studio Monitors also means having a TRS balanced ¼ inch inputs and a headphone output that automatically mutes the speakers when the headphones are connected and in use. And should you find that the bass output needs a little more punch, you will delighted to find that these bad boys are prepared with a bass boost switch, ensuring that your world is indeed truly rocked.

The entire history and reputation of Alesis as far as speaker manufacturing is concerned has gone into these boys. These studio monitors are the perfect solution for a variety of media outlets such as recording studios, radio broadcasts and other post-production facilities.  So what are you waiting for? Get the Alesis M1 Active 520 USB Studio Monitors, today!

Let’s admit it, we have not heard much from the world of hand held digital recorders for a very long time now. So when Roland announced their new baby, the Roland R-05 WAV/MP3 Handheld Recorder, it certainly came as a breath of fresh air. Roland just recently launched a quite impressive line of digital recorders that are portable but very functional at the same time.

The Roland R-05 WAV/ MP3 Handheld Recorder will surely capture the hearts of the tiny gadget geeks because it is very user-friendly and at the same time has a crystal clear audio quality as well as enhanced editing features. This portable sound recorder’s features come with an extended battery life, making the deal even sweeter than it already is.

Anyone can record straight onto SD cards with this Roland’s stable stereo recording that boasts of a resolution up to 24-bit/95kHz. This makes the Roland R-05 a perfect recording gizmo for almost everywhere – be it in school, in the boardroom, or at the streets. There is no need for an external recording device because the R-05 lets you record clearly using its built-in stereo microphone. But should you need an external mic for certain recording circumstance, the R-05 also has the needed port for an external mic. With its new Roland CS-10EM Binaural Microphone and Earphones, this device will let you enjoy stereo field recording like never before.

Aside from all its amazing physical features and capabilities intended to satisfy the needs of musicians after pro recording at their hands, the Roland R-05 can withstand and record up to 16 hours worth of content. Anticipation is not a problem since you can manipulate its playback speed without ruining or changing the pitch.

Using the Roland R-05 handheld digital recorder, you can loop particular audio regions at optimum recording level because its Rehearsal mode automatically does the needed recording adjustments and compensations for you. Its integrated reverb provides a high gloss finish to the recordings as well. But the thing that really caught my interest in the R-05 is its unique feature of letting you record WAV and MP3 based files simultaneously, on the same performance. Now, if you do not find that interesting, I don’t know what will.

File transfers from device to computer is not a problem, thanks to the USB 2.0 that is included when you get the R-05. And since you can transfer your recorded audio files effortlessly to your computer, you will be dividing, trimming, editing, and merging your audio files in no time.

Anyone looking for a portable wav or mp3 recorder will end their search with the Roland R-05 WAV/ MP3 Handheld Recorder. No other hand held recording device will let give you these many applications all in one pocket-sized device. So fill in that void in your pocket and check the Roland R-05 WAV/ MP3 Handheld Recorder now!

Buy the Roland R-05 WAV and MP3 Handheld Recorder and get special limited time offers on financing and no interest lay aways.

Roland did it again! The new Roland CD2i SD/CD Recorder is the newest member to Roland’s family of handy equipments that has all the possible features in one package.

The Roland CD2i SD/CD Recorder is primarily a portable CD/SD Card recorder that will let you burn finished CDs without needing any computer. Its built-in high quality stereo condenser microphones enable the CD2i to capture audio during live performances. However, for those who want to do it the traditional way and record audio from a separate external source, the CD2i also has stereo line-in inputs. This is even great news for people who own old vinyl – with the CD2i, they will now be able to convert their old vinyl records and archive them into a CD.

If you are rather the more creative type, you can take advantage of CD2i’s ability to create a performance while you improve your musical skills using the CD2i’s onboard features. And if you are not satisfied with what you just recorded, the CD2i will let you over-dub additional parts right there and then!

With the Roland CD2i Recorder, you can repeat sections of any audio should you need to study some musical parts. You can also change and manipulate the key and tempo and at the same time decrease the tempo without harming the audio’s original pitch when learning tricky sections of songs. On top of that, the CD2i also has its own, onboard metronome! That feature alone makes the Roland CD2i not only an ideal tool, but a very useful and convenient gadget for music teachers, students, and even musicians since it provides the ability to record lessons as well as performances. The Roland CD2i is the perfect recording gadget if you are looking for something that will give you a clean and with tremendous detail when you review and analyze your performance.

But despite Roland CD2i’s convenience and ease of operation, some people still find the things that it can do a little overwhelming. But Roland’s years of experience allowed them the foresight to anticipate just that and provide a solution for such concern. When you get the CD2i, Roland have included the Easy Guide Facility. Essentially, it is an instruction led commands that you will see on the LCD screen. The Easy Guide will walk you through operating the CD2i, step by step with instructions available in six languages. By utilizing the Rehearsal function, the CD2i automatically adjusts the input level in order to give you nothing but the best sound without having to go through the trial and error phase.

Having said all that, the Roland CD2i Recorder is surely an extremely user-friendly and intuitive product.

Focus on your music and let the Roland CD2i change the way you rehearse and record!

Buy the Roland CD2i SD/CD Recorder and get special limited time offers on financing and no interest lay aways.

Although small in size, the MicroBook USB Audio Interface is huge when it comes to audio quality. It is a USB bus-powered audio interface that provides studio-grade audio performance. Despite being small, about the size of a regular pocket, the MicroBook USB Audio Interface can turn your Mac or PC into a personal 4×2 recording studio – all complete with the needed audio I/O and mixing features for professional recording.

The MicroBook lets you have a complete personal recording set up whether on a Mac or on a PC. It has four simultaneous inputs for a microphone, a guitar, and a keyboard or any other stereo line-level device. Its mic preamp gives nothing but a neutral coloration and pristine sound, thanks to 20dB pad and 48V phantom power of its built-in condenser mics. On top of that, the MicroBook offers flexible monitoring options – choose among a programmable analog, a digital and headphone outputs.

Because the MicroBook is slim, its mic input is a balanced quarter-inch jack. If in case you would like to use a mic cable with an XLR plug, there is no need to worry because the MicroBook comes with a XLR-to-1/4-inch adapter. Its Precision Digital Trim Feature lets you digitally control analog trim on all analog units. This only means one thing – you get to enjoy both worlds: the excellent signal quality of analog audio circuitry and the fine-tune precision of digital control. Not only that, you also get to save and recall trim settings on your computer.

But perhaps the best thing about the MicroBook is its superb audio quality. It provides rigid audio quality particularly tailored to meet the demands of most professional recording applications. Because it comes from MOTU’s award-winning family of FireWire, USB and PCI audio interfaces, the MicroBook is without a doubt a product that signifies decades of engineering expertise.

Most of the audio interface brands that we see in the market today (even the expensive ones) usually cut corners with unbalanced analog inputs and outputs. Such imbalance then results to a greatly compromised performance that falls way below an equivalent balanced circuit. But the MicroBook has well balanced inputs and outputs that ensure only the best protection possible against RF interference, AC hum, and other noise-creating environmental factors.

The guitar input of the MicroBook gives the proper impedance loads for guitars, so you can play through guitar-processing plug-ins in a host software without worries knowing that you will get nothing but natural feel and response. Its “mini” eight-inch analog input can also be connected to an iPod or any other stereo line level signal. This allows audio input mixing with other inputs and routed to any output device.

With the birth of the MicroBook, you can now have quality I/O recording, personal audio tracking, laptop-based DJing, among many other applications, on-the-go.

Buy the MicroBook USB Audio Interface and get special limited time offers on financing and no interest lay aways.