RØDE Announces Acquisition of Iconic Audio Brand Aphex

Australian pro-audio company RØDE Microphones announced the acquisition of legendary US audio technology manufacturer, Aphex, well known for its range of audio signal processing equipment that features various proprietary technologies including the iconic “Aural Exciter”.

Radial Engineering confirms its new Space Heater 500 tube overdrive unit is now shipping. The Space Heater 500 is a single-wide tube overdrive module for the Radial Workhorse and other 500 series racks that delivers natural crunch to drums, adds character to voice, and natural compression to bass and acoustic guitar.

Radial Engineering announced two interesting upgrades for its Radial 500 series power racks. Following the company’s tradition of innovation where it matters, Radial introduced new alignment guides and knurled thumbscrews, which will now be standard on all Radial Workhorse 500 series power racks.

Solid State Logic announced the release of the VHD Pre Module for the popular 500 format modular rack platform. The release makes its patented Variable Harmonic Drive (VHD) and SSL SuperAnalog preamp technology from Duality, SSL’s large format studio console, available for studios of all sizes.

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.

Rupert Neve Designs announced two new products for the 2015 NAMM Show: the RNDI Active Transformer Direct Interface, and the R6 Six Space 500 Series Rack. The RNDI utilizes a custom Rupert Neve-designed transformer and a class-A biased discrete FET amplifier to elegantly balance an instrument signal. The R6 is a rack with more than 150% the required current and a full complement of XLR, TRS and DB-25 I/O.

Crane Song by Dave Hill introduced two new products at the 137th AES Convention in Los Angeles. The Avocet II discrete class A monitor controller, the latest iteration of one of Crane Song’s best-selling hardware products, features an entirely new DAC and also offers significantly improved jitter performance. The Insigna Tube Equalizer, featuring three bands of EQ plus selectively variable high and low pass filters, is the third 500 Series module from Crane Song.

The elysia xfilter 500 is an active true stereo equalizer in a 500-series module format (VPR Alliance certified). Like the xpressor 500 and nvelope 500, it fills two slots on an API lunchbox or 500-series compatible rack. As of publication, the xfilter is also available as a stand-alone 19” rack unit with the same features and functions so this review is valid for both xfilter 500 versions.