Canadian Musician - September/October 2020 | Page 70

HOT GEAR PreSonus Atom SQ Hybrid MIDI Controller PreSonus has released the Atom SQ performance-based hybrid MIDI controller. Being part sequencer, part performance pad, and part keyboard, the company says the Atom SQ is its most flexible MIDI controller to date. With the Atom SQ, musicians can build patterns quickly with the TR-style step sequencer and finger drum grooves with the responsive pads. They can also launch expressive arpeggiations or lay down basslines and melodies from the same controller. The PreSonus Atom SQ features deep integration with PreSonus Studio One and Ableton Live, presenting a seamless extension of those DAWs’ capabilities. And, with eight assignable rotary controllers and an expressive touchstrip, it is customizable to fit the user’s performance style. The Atom SQ is equipped with 32 velocity- and pressure-sensitive pads, laid out in a TR-style staggered configuration. It also has a slew of “new-school” features, including a context-sensitive screen that changes its display depending on what the user is doing, and backlit RGB LED pads for colour coordinating samples and loops. For more information, contact Erikson Audio: 514-457-2555, [email protected], www.eriksonaudio.com. Spitfire Symphonic Motions Virtual String Instrument Plug-In Spitfire Audio has released the Symphonic Motions virtual instrument plug-in. This new addition to the Spitfire Symphonic Range is meant to offer the flexibility and ease to design expressive shorts and intricate rhythmic patterns, enhancing the realism of scores. Symphonic Motions features top string players from London performing a range of rebowing movements, rhythms, and playing techniques, all recorded in The Hall at AIR Studios. These performances are presented in an easy-to-use grid interface inside the dedicated plug-in for instant access to almost infinite combinations of tempo-locked rhythms, techniques, and realistic rebowing. The grid interface, inspired by the EMS VCS3 synth, positions “pegs” via an onscreen 12 x 40 grid arrangement, giving access to recordings across 12 intervals, organized in a grid with a wide range of possible configurations. Users can instantly select which technique sits on each of those 12 key ranges, toggle their pegs, or generate randomized combinations for instant inspiration. For more information, go to www.spitfireaudio.com. AMS Neve 1073 OPX Preamplifier To mark the 50 th anniversary of the 1073 microphone preamp, AMS Neve has launched the 1073 OPX, a new octal microphone/line/instrument preamp designed to meet the needs of modern studio environments. Designed and still manufactured in the U.K., AMS Neve’s 1073 remains one of the most popular mic preamps for top-end producers and engineers thanks to its unique tonal quality and ability to deliver warmth, low-mid punch, and subtle harmonic distortion. With the launch of the 1073 OPX, AMS Neve has taken its ‘70s classic and updated it for today’s workflows by packing eight 1073 remote-controlled preamps with Marinair transformers into a 2 U rack unit. Front and rear connectors give comprehensive connectivity to any studio/live/broadcast environment while modern remote-control software gives twoway control with total recall of all settings. Input sources benefit from the transformer-coupled input stage and can be connected directly to the front-mounted mic/line/DI input for recording in the control room. For more information, contact Systemes Guinois: 514-931-2000, [email protected], www.systemesguinois.com. 70 CANADIAN MUSICIAN