Ableton Live 11
Price: £191 – Standard, £323 – Suite (education pricing)
Live 11 has finally been launched and it can't come a moment too soon. The flagship software from Ableton is fast becoming one of the most popular DAWs. Ableton began life as a piece of software for triggering loops, samples and clips in the, well, ‘live’ environment. But in recent versions it has become a fully-fledged DAW.
The ability to comp between different takes is a game-changing addition for studio-engineering, but the software has also kept to its roots and has added the facility to follow live musicians by listening to incoming audio signals. Further, there are new plugins and effects including a clever new reverb. There are multiple smaller changes, and this could become my new favourite DAW. Full review to follow.
Waveform Free
Price: Free!
As I write, students are being told they can return to schools, and although we want this to be permanent, knowing about some free software is never a bad thing. Tracktion maintains that its software is the best and most fully featured free DAW available. Obviously, being free it's not as richly featured as the paid-for version, but it does seem pretty well equipped.
The 2021 release features a new ‘Welcome’ screen that has some templates to allow new users a jumping-off point to get started quickly and easily. The other big addition is musical typing. This allows you to use the QWERTY keyboard to enter music in the absence of a MIDI keyboard _ particularly useful for entry-level users or students at home without access to MIDI keyboards. The website claims that all of its pro software is free for educational establishments, so it could be a good alternative for cash-strapped departments.
iRig Pre 2
Price: €50 (retail)
IK Multimedia has launched yet another product in its enormous iRig series of hardware devices. The iRig 2 is designed for users of phones, tablets and DSLR cameras who want to connect a better-quality microphone. There is an XLR connector and a headphone socket on one end, and a 3.5mm jack plug on the other for connection to your device (iOS users may need an adaptor).
The iRig Pre 2 can provide phantom power for condenser mics via 2 x AA batteries. The interface will last up to seven hours when using phantom and up to 20 when used with dynamic mics that don't require power. This little device could be perfect for sending students off to record their own work in practice rooms.
A1 Bluetooth Speakers
Price: $199
Small consumer-audio manufacturer Audioengine has announced an ultra-compact pair of Bluetooth speakers. The A1 follows its previous model (the A2) that won awards for its quality in 2019. Each speaker contains a 2.75” driver, a 0.75” tweeter and a 60-watt amp. As with many speakers of this size, the amplifi er is in one of the speakers, which then powers its passive sibling.
Audio can be connected to the speakers via a 3.5mm jack plug or Bluetooth, in a variety of audio fi le formats. These speakers are not going to replace high-quality monitors or the large speakers of a teaching space, but at only 6” cubed, these could be a perfect tool for when lessons get re-roomed and you find yourself teaching in a room with no speakers.
