Audio-Technica Introduces ATH-M50xBT Wireless Over-Ear Headphones with Bluetooth 5
Here's an interesting idea! Take one of the most successful headphones ever and an industry standard, and create a wireless version combining the latest Bluetooth 5 technology with the extra features making the design look exactly the same. That's what Audio-Technica just announced with the introduction of its ATH-M50xBT wireless over-ear headphones, which bring Bluetooth wireless technology to one of the world’s most acclaimed pro audio and consumer headphones. And even the price stays affordable at USD $199.00.
Mackie Announces Availability for DL16S and DL32S Wireless Mixers and Releases Master Fader 5.0
Previewed back in June 2018, Mackie announced immediate availability of the latest DL Series digital mixers, the 16-channel DL16S and 32-channel DL32S Wireless Digital Live Sound Mixers with built-in Wi-Fi. Delivering the proven performance and intuitive control that the DL Series is known for, the DL16S and DL32S offer an all-new affordable, stagebox form factor with built-in Wi-Fi. The company also releases version 5.0 of its Master Fader app, which provides complete wireless control over the wireless digital mixer series.
Rational Acoustics Confirms Smaart v8.3 Update Is Now Available
Smaart v8.3 is the third major update to the Smaart v8 measurement platform, originally introduced in 2016. This free update includes integration with the Roland Octa-Capture USB 24-bit/192 kHz audio interface, major Client Window improvements, new Frequency-domain Time Windowing (FTW) for complex averaged transfer function measurements, and numerous enhancements and bug fixes in almost every area of the program. This update is recommended for all Smaart v8 users.
Paid Music Streaming Subscriptions Will Hit 235 Million by the End of 2018
The Digital Media and Entertainment team at Futuresource Consulting published its latest Music Market Report revealing that music streaming services continue its ascendance globally. With the number of paid streaming subscriptions on track to reach 235 million worldwide by the end of 2018, Futuresource Consulting forecasts a significant decrease in music file download and the sales of CD's, as streaming services continue to expand its music catalog and worldwide coverage, actually increasing overall revenues for the music industry.
SoundHound and Honda Partner on Development of a Voice-Enabled AI Assistant
SoundHound Inc., the voice-enabled AI and conversational intelligence technology company, announced a strategic partnership with Honda Motor to accelerate the development of a voice-enabled AI assistant. Using SoundHound's Houndify Voice AI Platform, the AI Assistant will support highly sophisticated and natural interactions with speed and accuracy, leveraging its proprietary Speech-to-Meaning and Deep Meaning Understanding technologies, and intelligence in voice recognition and understanding.
Dense Launches Kickstarter Campaign for Adapt Compact USB-C Audio DAC
Another week and more audio products are pitched on crowdfunding platforms. Some products have new or clearly differentiated arguments - sometimes so new or different that it's hard to believe! - while others are simply well-designed or products that have to rely on better quality and technical arguments that consumer's will find hard to understand or believe. The latter is the reason why we decided to write about the new Dense Audio USB audio DAC, called Adapt. This is a product designed by an experienced team, who have ventured into creating a new company and launch a product "that could set a new standard and be used for a long time in this fast-changing world."
Blue Mix-Fi Headphone Wins 2018 Emmy Award for Outstanding Achievement In Engineering Development
The Television Academy recently announced the recipients of the 2018 Engineering Emmy Awards honoring an individual, company or organization for developments in broadcast technology - and a very strange thing happened: A headphone won an Emmy! For the first time in the history of the prestigious awards, a headphone was recognized because, it enables users "to produce mixes that translate accurately from headphone to near field monitors to the wall and beyond." What headphones received the honor? The Blue Mix-Fi headphones...
ATC Announces Installation-Friendly SCM12i Pro Passive Studio Monitor
British loudspeaker manufacturer ATC announced availability of its latest SCM12i Pro passive monitor — effectively an adaptation of its SCM12 Pro compact, high-performance, two-way passive studio monitor released in September 2016 to widespread critical acclaim, albeit (re)designed for simple installation into recording, post-production, broadcast, and film studios of all shapes and sizes.
Neutrik Introduces Locking USB Type-C Cables and True Outdoor Protection Connectors
Neutrik AG just launched the new mediaCON product family, promoted at recent shows like IBC in Amsterdam and AES New York. The new mediaCON series notably includes a robust, lockable USB Type-C cables and panel sockets, with all components designed for data rates up to 10 GB/s (USB 3.1), 100 W power and 10,000 mating cycles. No news yet of corresponding Thunderbolt 3 cables. But Neutrik also introduced the new TOP (True Outdoor Protection) series for all-weather applications, including etherCON, power and XLR connectors.
Audio Industry Connects at 145th Audio Engineering Society International New York Convention
Celebrating decades of professional audio leadership in its 70th anniversary year, the Audio Engineering Society raised the bar yet again with its 145th International Convention, the place to be to celebrate and experience the past, present and future of audio engineering technologies and techniques. Contrary to typical event patterns, for the second year in a row in New York City, the Convention’s exhibition floor was still packed at closing time – the Jacob Javits Center staff had to plead for a cleared hall with attendees who did not want their experience to end.