Featured Equipment of the Week: Samson Expedition 40iw portable PA with wireless mic

Samson Expedition 40iw portable PA with wireless mic

To ensure pristine, full-range sound, the Expedition 40iw (XP40iw) employs a 6-inch woofer and a 1-inch high frequency driver. The unit features a 40 watt Class D amplifier that is perfectly matched to the driver for high efficiency and low current draw. It provides a built-in VHF wireless microphone system that’s ideal for any number of vocal applications. An internal iPod dock with level control also gives you the option of incorporating songs or other MP3s into your performance. Plus, with bass and treble control you can tweak your sound to appropriately match your specific setting and audience.
Find out more: Expedition 40iw portable PA

Features:

• 6-inch woofer
• 1-inch high frequency driver
• 40 watts of power from a lightweight Class D amplifier
• Channel 1: XLR - 1/4-inch combo input allowing line level or microphone level with phantom power
• Channel 2: 1/4-inch input allowing line level or microphone level with phantom power + 1/8-inch stereo aux input allows for stereo line level signal
• Built-in VHF wireless microphone system
• iPod dock with level control
• 1/4-inch link in/out jack to link 2 systems together creating a stereo setup
• Bass and treble control
• Integral top handle
• Speaker stand pole-mount receptacle
• Rechargeable battery included

 Find out more and buy Samson XP40iw at Revolution Audio

FAQ: Can I pick up my order?

Yes, however our office in Richmond Hill is not open to the public or drop-in sales.

To reduce shipping waste we offer a local pickup option by appointment only.
There is a $5 handling charge for local pickups.
Prepayment of the entire order is required.
Email to make arrangements, this option is not available through the webstore.
sales[at]revolutionaudio.ca

Choosing headphones for the home studio

You've probably noticed there are several different styles of headphones out there, some go in you ear, some go over. Some are wireless and some cancel noise. Which is the best kind to buy?

Studio Headphones
There are three kinds of headphones most commonly used in studios. They look similar but there is one feature that distinguishes the three types, that is the vents on the back of the cup.

A headphone with no vents is called a closed-back design, sound from the speaker are prevented from leaking out and outside sounds are isolated. This type of headphone is great for recording because of the isolation they provide, greatly reducing extra noise picked up by your microphones. The problem with this design is that it is difficult to build an accurate and detailed speaker in a sealed box, so you can't really trust the sound from them for mixing.

Featured Equipment Of The Week: Presonus HP4 4-channel headphone amp

Presonus HP4 4-channel headphone amp 
 The Presonus HP4 comes in a 1/3-rackspace chassis. The HP4 accepts balanced/unbalanced inputs and outputs (1/4" TRS). It features four discrete headphone outputs on the front panel each with its own volume potentiometer and 250mW of amplification per channel.
Find out more: Presonus HP4 $149.99

Can you say quiet? PreSonus can with the HP4's -98 dB noise floor and wide frequency response. Also, the HP4 allows control over control room monitors with a separate volume potentiometer that can be muted using the MONITOR MUTE button.
 The HP4 is powered by an external wall mounted power supply. The input can either be set to stereo or mono. The mono selector button on the front channel simply copies both inputs to both sides.
Presonus HP4 4-Channel headphone distribution amplifier

Featured Equipment Of The Week: Novation Nocturn Intelligent Plug-in Controller

Novation Nocturn Intelligent Plug-in Controller
Novation’s most affordable hardware controller to date, Nocturn is an intelligent plug-in controller that promises to unleash the full potential of all your favourite instruments and effects. Featuring the latest Automap software, exclusive to Novation controllers, Nocturn provides automatic, instant and intelligent control of all automatable plug-ins within every major sequencer, including Pro Tools.

Nocturn features eight touch-sensitive rotary encoders, each equipped with a bright eleven-LED ring (ideal for laptop DJ’ing in a dark club environment). These are accompanied by eight user-assignable illuminated buttons and a smooth, professional 45mm cross-fader. The finishing touch is Novation’s unique ‘speed dial’; a touch-sensitive rotary encoder that instantly takes control of whatever your mouse is focused on!

Find out more: Novation Nocturn

TOP FEATURES

• Exclusive Automap Universal technology
  Novation’s instant and intelligent control technology leaves you free to focus on what matters most - your music.
• Heads-up transparent control GUI
  Automap provides a transparent control map across your computer screen, so you can see at a glance how every parameter is assigned.
• Novation’s unique ‘Speed Dial’
  An instant access touch-sensitive control for composers and performers alike, allowing you to take control of whatever your mouse is focused on!
• Touch-sensitive controls
  Nocturn also features eight touch-sensitive rotary encoders with bright, eleven-LED rings. Simply touch an encoder to assign to any parameter.
• The Lap-top DJ solution
  Alongside the brightly lit encoders, Nocturn also features illuminated buttons and a smooth, professional 45mm cross-fader, making it ideal for laptop DJ’ing in a dark club environment.
• Instant ‘learn’ function
  Simply click on the software parameter and touch a Nocturn control to assign it. Now you can re-assign every control in seconds.

 Buy Novation Nocturn Intelligent Plug-in Controller for just $99

Modulation Effects Explained

Modulation Effects Explained
Modulation effects are a great way to create movement within a mix. This article will explain the different types of modulation effects available for mixing.

1. Tremolo
2. Vibrato
3. Flanging
4. Phase Shifting or Phasing
5. Chorus

All of these effects are built around a Low Frequency Oscillator more commonly referred to as just an LFO. An LFO is an audio signal usually less than 20Hz that creates a pulsating rhythm rather than an audible tone. These are used for manipulate synthesizer tones, and as you will see, to create various modulation effects. All the effects listed use Sine wave as the waveshape for the LFO.