Blue Announces New Updated and Enhanced Essentials Series Microphones at NAMM 2017

Blue Microphones announced the newly updated and enhanced Essentials Series now featuring improved sound and design of their best-selling studio microphones, Spark SL, Bluebird SL and Baby Bottle SL. Taking their most popular microphone line one step further, Blue advances each mic with a new streamlined build and refined sonics, along with a versatile 100Hz high-pass filter and -20dB pad. All three new models will be available worldwide in February 2017.

California-based Lauten Audio has announced two new microphones, the LA-220 solid-state large diaphragm vocal condenser, and the LA-120 small diaphragm FET instrument condenser pair, both expanding the brand’s recently announced "Series Black" line of affordable products, aimed at project studios. The LA-220 ($249 US est. street) and the LA-120 ($349 US est. street) are both professional quality products inspired by classic designs and are now available in US, with international shipments scheduled to start in October 2016.

The new Drawmer MC1.1 monitor pre-amp follows the success of the previous Drawmer MC2.1 monitor controller, this time designed with the project studio market in mind. The MC1.1 shares the same analog circuitry and robust linear power supply, while also featuring a phono input, at an affordable $549.00 MAP price.

Blue announced the Bottle Rocket Mic Locker, featuring the Bottle Rocket Stage One studio microphone along with four of Blue’s interchangeable capsules, housed in a custom SKB hard shell case. The power and versatility of an entire mic locker in one package, for $1699.99 MSRP.

Audient released two interesting products for project/home studios at the 2015 Prolight+Sound / Musikmesse shows. One is the iD14, a two-channel desktop USB 2.0 audio interface. The other is the ASP800, an 8 channel Class-A microphone preamplifier and ADC with HMX MOSFET drive and IRON transformer saturator technologies.

Genelec introduced a new ultra-compact active subwoofer, designed for limited production spaces. The ideal companion to complement Genelec 8010 and 8020 monitors, the 7040A extends the low frequency response down to 30 Hz and uses Genelec’s patented Laminar Spiral Enclosure (LSE) technology, being able to produce 100 dB of SPL using a 6.5 inch woofer and a powerful Genelec-designed Class D amplifier.

Following the acclaimed launch of the model 676 Tube Mic Pre Channel Strip, dbx once again turns its attention toward the project studio market with five new 500 series processors. The new dbx 500 Series models include the 560A Compressor/Limiter, 530 Parametric EQ, 580 Mic Pre, 520 De-Esser and 510 Sub Harmonic Synth.

An interesting new book from Hal Leonard’s Quick Pro Guides series, The iPad in the Music Studio focuses on the iPad’s connectivity to the professional, project, and home music studios. An interesting tour of the latest iPad-related music hardware and software (apps) on the market which is important to explore now, because it will be old news by this time next year.