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A New Year brings New Gear. We got a glimpse of the new stuff at this years NAMM and CES shows. Most would say these are the top shows of the year, when manufacturers show off their new goods. The scope of pro-audio gear grows every year.

Far back in podcasting history, it was common for shows to trade (and “air”) audio comments, thoughts and suggestions from listeners and fellow podcasters alike. That tradition seems to haved faded.

As we ready the Studio1A console, let us know what type of studio gear you want to hear. Microphones, processors, mixers/consoles …and the list goes on.

After a video hiatus, I fired up the cam again and created this video. It’s not pretty, but we’re still shining up Studio1A. The YouTube Channel momentum never slowed down, and the 10 minute barrier has been lifted. Now, we are able to pack more gear talk into each Tube.

Drop me an email with that MP3 file as we ready the studio for a great 2012!

@markjensen

Sponsored by BSW. Voiceover, Broadcast, Podcasting, Pro-Audio and New Media Gear is here…

A great tool from our friends at Aphex. Plug in that vintage ‘consumer’ level device (like a reel-to-reel or …dare I say, cassette) and listen to the levels go-pro!

That certainly was quick. The 2011 Holiday Season passed right by. Now, it’s time to buckle up and ready ourselves for a great 2012.

In the blink of an eye, Studio1A begins its ‘official’ 7th year. Official, based on the emergence of New Media to the World; the year of the Podcast.

An entire new wave of products await as NAMM and CES will very shortly reveal. I’ll be searching out new pro-audio gear as well as voicing some of the classics. The Studio1A Reasonably Priced Microphone stands ready as the ultimate low-price competitor to beat. Of course, the World of pro-audio does not spin around microphones alone. There are amps, compressors, consoles, plug-ins and much more to check out.

This year will be a fun ride. Glad I can share it with you!

@markjensen

Sponsored by BSW. Voiceover, Broadcast, Podcasting, Pro-Audio and New Media Gear is here…

The ‘UNFLASH’ Link, just for our Apple Listeners!

The team at Blue Microphone still know how to get a reaction. The ‘reactor’ is a radical, albeit functional offering, bringing to mind visions of a Fringe alternate reality episode.

This mic is hefty. Arriving in a handsome, padded flight case, a nicely crafted ‘orbital’ shock mount and rare earth magnetically affixed blast filter are on-board.

Unconventional as it appears, I found the lighted, large and magnified rotary pattern switch to be a treat! Just by a glance, you’ll know which pattern is selected and how to reach the others. The blast filters magnets attach it to the capsule, but a quick twist below the filter allows you to alter it’s position; left/right, near/far.

Being an externally charged, large diaphragm condenser; the reactor requires 48 volts phantom power. After lighting it up, the reactor treated me to a full, crisp sound. This one, indeed, would make a fine voiceover microphone. The omni pattern was very pleasing, as it didn’t pull up the noise floor.

Reasonably priced and a great performer (not to mention a head turner), I found this one from Blue to be a sonic gem.

At publish date, street prices are $499.xx.

Listen in and let me know what you think?

@markjensen

Sponsored by BSW. Voiceover, Broadcast, Podcasting, Pro-Audio and New Media Gear is here…

The ‘UNFLASH’ Link, just for our Apple Listeners!

You’ve likely noticed that the BSW/NewMediaGear coupon code …and page is missing [gasp!]

Not to worry. Our friends at BSW are simply constructing, from the ground up, an even more enjoyable way to acquire that great professional audio gear. As you read this, a new BSW podcasting area is being constructed. The banner link will be restored shortly, so stay tuned!

@markjensen

Sponsored by BSW. Voiceover, Broadcast, Podcasting, Pro-Audio and New Media Gear is here…

Acoustical treatment DOES make a difference!

The ‘UNFLASH’ Link, just for our Apple Listeners!

As I listened back to the audio from this show, it was very apparent that more work needs to be done. It really is difficult to squash audio reflections in a square area.

First – hear the Electro-Voice RE-20. I selected the RE-20 because it is a broadcast standard …and because of its mellow mid-low characteristics. Switching to a large diaphragm condenser makes a tremendous difference, which you can easily hear.

Next stop, more mics as they queue up in the awaiting lockers.

The build out continues.

…stay tuned!

@markjensen

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Drop me a line with comments, thoughts and suggestions:
mark at newmediagear dot com

Sponsored by BSW. Voiceover, Broadcast, Podcasting, Pro-Audio and New Media Gear is here…

It’s a work-in-progress, but the new broadcast studio is coming together!

The ‘UNFLASH’ Link, just for our Apple Listeners!

Yes – the audio you hear on this podcast is less than stellar. Acoustic treatment should arrive today for the new Studio1A, which is now a great echo chamber.

I am excited about the new space, with extra rooms for mic lockers, a true iso booth (claustrophobic, but effective), video production stage and the most important space of all; the on-air studio.

After a LOT of soldering, most everything is electrically connected. After sound treatment, we’re back in the pro-audio saddle.

…stay tuned!

@markjensen

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Studio1A is Powered by Panamax…

Studio1A BlueMax Lighting by full spectrum solutions…

Drop me a line with comments, thoughts and suggestions:
mark at newmediagear dot com

Sponsored by BSW. Voiceover, Broadcast, Podcasting, Pro-Audio and New Media Gear is here…

Studio1A is back. A new city, same sound and more professional audio gear.

So. How was your summer? …or winter for our friends across and around the globe

With Lauras help, Studio1A is now nestled in a (not so quiet) bustling suburb. The change is a positive one. Topping the ‘new feature’ list; a large workshop with endless building potential, not to mention multiple floors and almost a mile of new cable between them. Having hired movers, we certainly were surprised at how much boxing and sorting was involved. The real message is just how much more total space we have for product, mic lockers, electronic workstations and even a video sound stage.

As the components (mainly the Wheatstone console) come together, so will the audio. Only a few equipment casualties lie in the wake of the move. One of our Aphex 230s developed a switching power supply problem. Everything else came right back to life and happily feasted on a steady diet of 60Hz AC.

What to expect in the coming weeks? Several new (and surprising) microphones along with our annual Holiday Product Roundup. This year, you’re back in the celebration as we reveal some of the coolest gadgets on the planet. Holiday time is close.

Ok – enough banter for now. Back to Neutrik XLRs, Gotham installation cable, DB-25s and a lot of temperature controlled soldering.

Perhaps I should lay off the smoky rosin-core soldering for just a bit. I’m almost sure that human-sized rabbit in the lobby isn’t real?

…stay tuned!

@markjensen

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Drop me a line with comments, thoughts and suggestions:
mark at newmediagear dot com

Sponsored by BSW. Voiceover, Broadcast, Podcasting, Pro-Audio and New Media Gear is here…

The little microphone with a big voice. The Heil PR-31BW large diaphragm dynamic.

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Always at work, developing new sounds for his fans. I spoke with Bob Heil about the latest at HeilSound. It’s always a pleasure to speak with Bob because he is so passionate about his work. It’s downright inspiring compared to trading emails from ad agencies. Not that there’s anything wrong with that, but HeilSound is a large presence in the microphone world that still takes time to listen when their customers talk.

The PR-40 started the phenomenon at just the right time – as podcasting and new forms of media broke ground with amazing speed. Following the PR-40, with its ultra-smooth low-end dynamic sound came the PR-20 and the unsung hero – the PR-30. While the PR-40 continues to be a guiding light, the PR-30 made quick inroads to television and live sound. The 30 was a little easier to tame in live venues and behaved well on (comparatively) noisy television sound stages. In a broadcast booth, the full sounding PR-40 is king, although it too can be found on-stage.

When a well known customer came to Bob with a request, it wasn’t long before the PR-31BW emerged. While the PR-30 filled a sonic void, it was a bit large for drum placement, under cymbals and sometimes even in front of a guitar amp. The PR-31BW was born; the “BW” referring to FOH engineer Bob Workman. Bob Heil went to work, “chopping” the PR-30, retaining its character while turning it into a shorty. The transformation worked quite well, and I’ll let you decide how it sounds. The only thing I would add to this little/big dynamic is a shock mount. The SM-2C works fine. In placing a large element in a small capsule, the laws of physics just won’t bend.

Join me for a sonic peak at the PR-31BW and the latest from HeilSound.

More to come …stay tuned!

@markjensen

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Drop me a line with comments, thoughts and suggestions:
mark at newmediagear dot com

Sponsored by BSW. Voiceover, Broadcast, Podcasting, Pro-Audio and New Media Gear is here…

A worthy add to any project or voiceover studio. The Telefunken Copperhead.

The ‘UNFLASH’ Link, just for our Apple Listeners!

An intimidating name for a silky microphone. …no bite here

A while back, I tried the AK-47 from t-funks R-F-T line and was quite enamored with the sound, style; and yes, admittedly the Telefunken badge it wore.

Makers of a wide selection, the R-F-T line offers an affordable option to own a newly designed Telefunken. As well, the company makes historically accurate reconstructed mics from original plans. If you look into a classic from their Diamond series, be ready to pony up serious cash. History comes with a price. But, back to the Copperhead.

The relatively slim body of the CU-29 is quite attractive, sporting a matte brushed ‘coppery’ head and trim. A slimline power supply, wood presentation case and cable (mic to power supply) are provided along with a nicely done shock mount.

Inside the Copperhead sits an EF95 NOS tube. Most vacuum tube mics in this price range sport a 12AT7 or 12AX7. Tubes are tricky because there are a myriad of substitutions and designations. After burning the mic in for a few days, I gave it spin. Connected to our voiceover chain, the mic you hear has some (single band) compression and no eq, unless you count the 25hz high-pass which is always in place. A trend I’m seeing is back to smooth, which the Copperhead delivers, without giving up too much ‘air’. Let’s face it, some mics are just TOO accurate for their own good, unless you enjoy spending your days in an isobooth …or can afford a spring-floor mega dollar recording room. Like me, most of us are probably somewhere in the middle with a nice accurate studio. The Copperhead played very well in Studio1A, even without a noise gate. Note that there are breathes in the recording. In the broadcast chain, we can do a lot with real-time processing, but I wanted you to really hear the microphone – as is.

Of course, the first microphone you hear will be our “Reasonably Priced Microphone”. I enjoyed the comparison because after reviewing the contrast, my ears heard something different than during the recording. You’ll probably notice that the Copperhead opens up more while remaining mellow and handling the low end very well. But, before I tell you too much about the sound, it’s probably better to listen in and let me know what YOU think?

@markjensen

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Studio1A BlueMax Lighting by full spectrum solutions…

Drop me a line with comments, thoughts and suggestions:
mark at newmediagear dot com

Sponsored by BSW. Voiceover, Broadcast, Podcasting, Pro-Audio and New Media Gear is here…

1RU of pure vocal horsepower. The Aphex Channel.

Long, long ago when Studio1A was nestled in the “rolling hills”, I was searching for a sound. As a former radio guy, that compression-wars sound was still hauntingly familiar and comfortable. New media was an infant and podcasting began changing what used to be traditional media. During this time, I remember listening to dozens of high-profile shows that simply didn’t utilize processing of any kind. Now there’s an aural contrast; over-the-air radio vs. the wild West days of podcasting.

I knew what had to be done in building a new media studio …and did it. A microphone processor (or vocal strip) was needed for each microphone to level the host and guests up front. Then, run everything, including music, sound effects and mic audio through a console, eventually blended together as program output. That output needed a true broadcast processor for the final audio massage, before being encoded.

I tried several different brands of voice processors but one of them stood out. The Aphex 230 was my Voice Channel of choice, and remains so to this day. After thousands of podcasts, our bank of Aphex 230s continue to hum (not literally) along every day, working harder than I.

Time does march on and there’s a new strip in town, simply called “Channel”. Channel appears to be a tweaked 230, but it’s dangerous to judge a book by its cover. I say appears, because we have not checked one of these new pieces out …yet. I have spoken with the folks at Aphex and a test drive is in the works. For now, simply know that the legend continues.

Until then, the question looms: has the “Channel” changed?

Channel is a trademark of Aphex.

@markjensen

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Drop me a line with comments, thoughts and suggestions:
mark at newmediagear dot com