Akai Advance MIDI Keyboard Controllers
Last year, we got Native Instruments’ Komplete Kontrol S MIDI controller keyboards. Building on the theme of rainbow-candy-colored USB MIDI controller boards, the Akai Advance MIDI controller series has arrived. What makes the Advance controllers really special is the software they come with — AKAI calls it VIP, which stands for Virtual Instrument Player. I saw a hands-on demo of the beta version at NAMM 2015, and VIP is what virtual instrument hoarders have been waiting for. If you have lot of VSTs from a lot of third-party vendors, VIP is designed to organize them all into a nice browser so you can find and tweak your sounds fast, using the Advance’s controls.
The Akai Advance 49
The Advance keyboards boast an incredibly useful high-res color screen, and they also have big colorful MPC pads and huge, fat knobs for controlling your softsynths. That said, if you’re already set up with a Maschine or you use the Komplete instruments for anything and everything, then the Native Instruments Komplete Kontrol boards are made just for you.
The Shure PGA-181 Side-Address condenser mic
Shure PG Alta Series Microphones
If you’re familiar with the Shure Performance Gear family, you know it’s where to find Shure’s more-affordable editions of their industry-standard SM series and Beta series microphones. PG mics have always been solid choices for kids, students, and anyone on a tight budget. Now, Shure has completely refreshed their PG wired microphones, and relaunched the series as “PG Alta.” If you see “PGA” in the model number, you’ll know it’s a PG Alta mic — Shure’s updated version of the tried-and-true Shure PG microphones that budget-minded musicians have been using for decades. For example, the Shure PG58 is discontinued, but the the Shure PGA58 is here to replace it. When it’s time to upgrade from a handheld dynamic, check out the Shure PGA181 — it’s a tough side-address cardioid condenser mic that you can use to record just about anything.
Cakewalk SONAR DAW Software: Artist, Professional and Platinum Versions
Cakewalk Sonar Artist software
Cakewalk has released 3 new versions of SONAR, their popular Windows PC DAW software. SONAR Platinum is the flagship version, with all the bells and whistles — you get 57 mixing and mastering effects plug-ins, including the VocalSync plug-in for doubling vocals or matching ADR for film/video, and 21 virtual instruments, including the Rapture software synth. Next up, there’s SONAR Professional, which gives you tools like Melodyne pitch-correction and the Addictive Drums virtual instrument built in. And if you’re looking for a crazy-affordable DAW for your Windows PC, SONAR Artist gives you a whole lot for the price. If you’re on a Windows machine, SONAR definitely deserves a spot on your DAW shopping list.
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