Blackmagic Design Makes a Grand Entrance Into Professional Audio with Acquisition of Fairlight
As reported back in July 2016, Australian technology development company Fairlight.AU was actively seeking a buyer for its Professional Audio technology and intended to focus on licensing its existing generic user-interface technologies. At IBC 2016, the largest company in broadcast and professional video technologies from Australia, Blackmagic Design, confirmed the acquisition, together with many other spectacular announcements.
Technica Del Arte Launches uMi USB Microphone Interface at IBC 2016
A highlight of Technica Del Arte’s presence at IBC 2016 was the launch of uMi, a professional location broadcast and recording USB microphone interface, designed with the mobile reporter and musician in mind. Compact, robust, flexible, multi-platform and delivering 24-bit/192kHz audio quality for all professional applications, the compact uMi microphone was designed in response to a number of key requests from users of Technica Del Arte’s popular LUCI reporter software.
New Premium Wireless, Bluetooth Earphones from Beats
Apple’s rogue army of lifestyle audio products received its first ever update since Cupertino invested in the brand with the unveiling of the new Solo3 Wireless Headphones, BeatsX and Powerbeats3 Wireless Earphones. All three new Bluetooth products benefited from Apple’s integrated W1 chip, Class 1 Bluetooth, extended battery life, Fast Fuel charge, and the Beats popular sound signature.
JoeCo Launches BLUEBOX Workstation Interface Recorders
Set to raise the standard of DAW-based recording set-ups, the BLUEBOX range of Workstation Interface Recorders is officially launching from JoeCo at IBC 2016. The new range combines a superior multi-channel USB 2.0 DAW interface with high quality preamps on every channel, with the reliability of JoeCo’s range of 24-bit/96kHz Blackbox Recorders, used as on-board backup recording, or as a stand-alone, live, multi-channel audio acquisition recorder connected to a DAW for live mixdown.
Mobile Audio, Streaming and Smart-Home Takes Centre Place at IFA 2016
More international trade visitors, more international media, visitors excited by the variety of innovation, positive mood across the board. That’s how the organisers of IFA Berlin, one of the largest trade shows for consumer electronics and home appliances, describe the 2016 edition, which took place at the Berlin Exhibition Grounds (ExpoCenter City). New audio products were front and centre at this year’s event.
Bowers & Wilkins Introduces New P7 Wireless and P3 Series 2 Headphones
Famed British loudspeaker company, Bowers & Wilkins is reinforcing its headphone range with the announcement of the all-new P7 Wireless headphones, in tandem with the launch of the P3 Series 2, a new and improved version of their award-winning P3 over-ear headphones with improved audio and a new premium leather finish. According to B&W, the new P7 Wireless sets a new standard for on-the-go listening, delivering “professional quality sound” on the move with the added convenience of simple wireless streaming.
Drawmer Now Shipping MC3.1 Monitor Controller
The new MC3.1 Monitor Controller is now shipping. This is the latest product in the brand’s Monitor Controller family bringing an expanded feature set over the MC2.1. Full cue mix facilities, a secondary preset volume control to give repeatable calibrated output, a digital input, Low/Mid/High band solo, Individual Mono/Sub select, and External talkback Mic input with footswitch control are all new additions. Housed in a stylish aluminum Desktop wedge shaped chassis, with external power supply.
MobileMan Introduces the World’s Latest Wearable Audio Bluetooth Stereo Speaker System
Tired of headphones restricting your ability to move freely and tiny mono Bluetooth speakers? How about a wearable stereo speaker that you can truly wear? Introducing MobileMan USA, the producer of the MobileMan S1, the world’s latest wearable audio Bluetooth speaker system, patent pending. “It's time to cut the cord, toss the ear buds and liberate your ears. MobileMan makes wearables listenable and provides the soundtrack to all of your urban adventures”, says the company.
Apple iPhone 7 Kickstarts the Jackless Age for the Audio Industry
There were hardly any surprises at the Apple scheduled event in San Francisco. Just a sequential confirmation of all the rumors that had already been circulating for a while. This doesn’t mean that Apple didn’t deliver on the expected performance, design and the highest engineering level in all the new products announced, from the Apple Watch Series 2, to the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus, all the way to a full range of audio accessories from Apple and Beats, including the new wireless Airpods and the fact that we now have officially entered the “jackless age”.
Media Networking Alliance AES67 Live Demonstrations at IBC 2016
With the broadcast and digital production communities focused on reaching an agreement on a new IP standard for video, the audio equation is well advanced, even if dependent upon an interoperability standard to connect different protocols, such as Dante, RAVENNA, Livewire and others. During the 2016 International Broadcasting Convention, the Media Networking Alliance live demos will serve to show how AES67 is the neutral ground upon which dozens of live demos depend upon.