Mackie Appoints Danny Olesh as Chief Technology Officer

Mackie announced the appointment of its new Chief Technology Officer, Danny Olesh. With more than 40 years of experience in the audio industry, product development, and digital technologies, Olesh is regarded as one of the top live sound engineers in Australia where many of his innovative product ideas came to life. An experienced pro audio professional and educator, Olesh brings a renewed focus on emerging technologies, innovation and exciting future products for the Mackie brand.

Even with the restrictions imposed over The NAMM Show 2021, Gibson was one of most energized companies with an astonishing number of new product announcements in all its brands. Its pro audio studio monitor brand KRK also received attention, the latest generation of KRK monitors are now complemented with a new generation of powered subwoofers. Coming spring 2021, the new series of KRK Studio Subwoofers will be available in 8-, 10-, and 12-inch variations: S8.4, S10.4, and S12.4.

Yamaha has announced a new addition to its professional loudspeaker range, the MSP3A powered monitor, building on the sound reproduction and convenience features of the existing MSP3 model. The new compact design features a 22-watt built-in amplifier, Twisted Flare Port for clearer bass, and offers a variety of inputs, controls and optional support brackets, making it ideal for nearfield in home and project studios, post-production, monitoring electronic instruments and for surround reproduction.

audioXpress February 2021 explains why Microphones have gained Essential Status, and how microphones have a foundational contribution to voice front-ends. Erica Yorga details how Thousands of Virtual Microphones can solve audio conferencing challenges, and Mike Meechan explains how to design high-performance microphone preamplifiers. Brent Butterworth reviews the Widex Moment mRIC RD hearing aids to understand the differences and similarities in the critical sound experience. Michael Steffes explains how to increase the output current for an audio op-amp, and Andrew C. Russell details the X-Altra, a high-performance MC/MM phono equalizer DIY project. Now available in print and digital.

With strict lockdowns again in place at the start of 2021, some companies have managed to stay busy and have new products to share with the world. UK-based Audient unveiled a brand new logo and corporate image, a redesigned website, and unveiled three new products, all particularly suitable to working from home. Either for creating music, podcasts or just communications, Audient launched redesigned mark II editions of the iD4 and iD14 USB-C audio interfaces, together with the brand new EVO Start Recording Bundle.

People working from home. Constrains on manufacturing and logistics. These are ideal times to repackage and relaunch basic products in high-demand. M-Audio just launched two new ultra-compact and affordable audio interfaces featuring the company’s own Crystal preamps, enabling users anywhere to produce studio quality sound for livestreams, podcasts, and music productions. And the company increased the perceived value with a strong software bundle for all production needs.

With lots of people receptive to the idea of investing in a nice, high-quality microphone to use at home - preferably an instantly recognizable classic that screams "pro" - Electro-Voice announced the introduction of the RE20-BLACK – a new low-reflection color option for the classic broadcast microphone. Sporting an elegant, dark charcoal finish the classic RE20 looks even better, while its unique Variable-D design allows users to work naturally around the mic at varying distances, while ensuring full, smooth sound quality.

Reacting to the exploding demand for microphone that can be used at home for web meetings, podcasting, voiceovers, or general home studio use, PreSonus is the latest company to announce a new entry in the USB microphone category. The new PreSonus Revelator microphone makes it easy to get polished, professional-sounding results with selectable polar patterns, preset configurations and loopback audio. Better still, it's an affordable option that looks like a big, expensive studio microphone that offers that delivers the desired "Radio Sound."

From November 1st to December 31st, Solid State Logic is providing an expanded SSL Production Pack along with all new purchases of its professional personal studio interfaces, SSL 2 and SSL 2+. The addition of SSL’s premium FlexVerb and X-comp Native plug-ins imparts an unmistakable studio-quality polish alongside SSL mix favorites VocalStrip 2 and Drumstrip, along with an array of leading third-party DAW software and samples.

Inspired by the Shure SM7B, which quickly became an icon among many musicians, podcasters and creatives forced to work from home, the new Shure MV7 is a dynamic microphone with both USB and XLR outputs for use with computers and professional interfaces alike. Basically, the MV7 expands on the famous cardioid studio microphone with software features. Users can connect via USB and explore additional set-up features and Auto Level Mode within the complementary ShurePlus MOTIV app, which allows controlling vocal tone, and distance-effect from the microphone.