iRig Keys
$129 (£104.74) [standard] and $149 (£121) [pro] (retail)
IK Multimedia have announced the second generation of their very popular iRig Keys controllers. Both contain 37 keys, with the Pro featuring full-size keys and the standard fitted with mini ones. Both keyboards are class compliant for use with laptops and desktops.
The big selling point for the iRig Keys is that they work seamlessly with a lot of IK Multimedia's iOS software and are also MFI (Made for iPhone). They both feature several assignable buttons and a pitch and mod wheel.
PX-1 & PM-2 Condenser microphones
Price: PX-1 - £114 and a pair of PM-2s - £114 (retail)
Echo Studio is the first effects plugin from Intuitive Audio – its Chord Composer was featured in this section a little while ago. It is marketed as a multi-tap delay and has up to 32 taps available for very long delays.
The plugin allows the user to control every parameter. Each repeat can have a separate filter, EQ change and pitch shift, among others. This might sound like a lot of control for a single delay plugin, but I find myself using this sort of effect a lot in advanced composition lessons. Could be worth checking out.
Model 16
Price: £759 (retail)
Most schools now have audio interfaces connected to a computer – but mixers still have their place both in studios and for concerts. If you like having a mixer that doubles as an interface but doesn't take up too much space, then Tascam have just announced the Model 16.
As the name implies, it's a 16-channel mixer – 10 of which have mic inputs (one of the other channels surprisingly has Bluetooth!). The Model 16 can record all 16 channels as WAV files to an SD card. Or if you prefer to record direct, the desk doubles as a 16in/14-out audio interface.
