Pro Tools Intro
Price: Free
Avid has released Pro Tools Intro – a free version of its industry-standard DAW – replacing the previous free software, Pro Tools First. The DAW can be used for recording, mixing, editing and in film or television audio post-production. Intro allows you to work with up to eight audio tracks, eight instrument tracks, and eight midi tracks. It also includes 1,200 pre-set instrument sounds and hundreds of quality audio loops, plus 34 useful plugins, including EQ, compressors, reverb, delay, and guitar amp emulators. PACE iLok technology is used to license Pro Tools software. If you're new to Pro Tools, you will receive a free iLok account and licence as part of the Intro sign up process. This is a great way to give students the opportunity to gain experience in using this industry-standard software.
Sitar Renaissance
Price: Free
SampleScience is a plugin and sound library developer based in Canada that has gained a good reputation with many music producers for its interesting and quality plugin instruments. One of these, the Sitar Renaissance plugin, is based on a restored audio recording of an original sitar recording. I have loaded this into a DAW, and I am impressed. The description SampleScience has given of ‘a plucked sitar instrument’ doesn’t really do justice to the great sound this instrument delivers. It is available as a VST/VST3/AU plugin instrument and as a Decent Sampler/Kontakt library. It is worth looking through their collection as they have a great range of instruments and sounds, and you can also download a bundle of 19 plugins – all for free.
www.samplescience.info/2022/09/sitar-renaissance.html
Orba 2
Price: £139
The Orba 2 from Artiphon is a handheld musical instrument that can record, loop, and playback samples, and act as a midi controller linked to a DAW. There are eight velocity-sensitive touch pads, plus motion and tilt sensors that enable you to play the instrument with nine different gesture controls, such as tapping, shaking, or waving. You can listen through the built-in speaker or connect via Bluetooth to external speakers. The Orba 2 follows the Orba 1 and comes with a range of new features: you can now record and import your own samples; you can now automatically quantise your notes once you've recorded them, making looping easier. The Orba app also enables you to customise your instrument and share music. The Orba 2 is easy to use and is a fun, affordable and accessible way to make music.
Evo 16 Audio Interface
Price: £399
The Evo 16 Audio Interface is a compact interface with a range of features that make it good value for money. There are eight analogue XLR/jack combo inputs, each with a high-quality mic preamp and phantom power, two independent headphone outputs, and eight line outputs. The first two channels on the front of the unit can also record instrument signals such as guitars or bass. Audient's ‘smartgain’ technology can automatically set the gain for all eight channels, making recording larger setups easier – something that is useful for beginners. The new ‘Motion UI’ user interface and ‘one-knob’ control system give you control of all functions directly from the interface. The high-resolution, colour LCD screen shows adjustments in real time. You can also control the interface through the software provided, with options to save settings, set loopback channels and more. Evo 16 comes with a software bundle including Cubase LE.
