Canadian Music Trade - August/September 2020 | Page 30

Product News IK Multimedia Axe I/O Solo Guitar Interface IK Multimedia has released the Axe I/O Solo, the latest addition to its range of Axe I/O guitar interfaces with advanced tone-shaping features. It maintains the original’s tone while offering a more budget-friendly, mobile format. The Axe I/O Solo is a compact, bus-powered two-in/three-out USB audio interface that features: IK’s Pure microphone preamp; an instrument input with proprietary tone-shaping options; an exclusive Amp Out to incorporate real gear into a recording set-up; and 24-bit, 192 kHz converters with a wide dynamic range. It can also act as a controller for use with IK’s included AmpliTube or other guitar-friendly software. With the high-definition, class A Pure mic preamp, an extended flat-frequency response captures the full tonal range of voices and instruments without colouring the sound. Its dynamic range also ensures ultra-quiet recordings. Proprietary tone-shaping options let users dial in their preferred settings for their instruments or coax a wider range of tones from a single instrument. As well, IK’s proprietary Z-Tone impedance-adapting circuit lets users adjust the input impedance to interact with their guitar’s pickups. For more information, contact Hal Leonard: 414-774-3630, [email protected], www.halleonard.com. Reloop sPodcaster Go USB Microphone Reloop has released the sPodcaster Go, a professional-quality USB podcast microphone. This USB condenser microphone builds on the previously-released sPodcaster series products with a retro design and a portable and slim aluminium housing. Recordings are captured via high-quality A/D converters and an integrated class-compliant audio interface. Thanks to the cardioid polar pattern, the system is directed towards a sound source so that ambient noise and feedback are largely cancelled out. The 3.5 mm jack connector on the back panel allows the user to connect headphones or speakers for instant monitoring. All of the computer’s audio output is played back via the sPodcaster Go’s audio interface and can be comfortably adjusted using the volume buttons. A USB connection between PC or Mac is plug-and-play without any additional driver installation and also supplies the microphone with power. For more information, contact Erikson Audio: 514-457-2555, [email protected], www.eriksonaudio.com. Kawai CA49 & CA59 Digital Pianos Kawai has released the CA49 and CA59, the latest additions to the Concert Artist series of premium digital pianos. They incorporate technologies developed in collaboration with Japanese audio equipment manufacturer Onkyo. Both digital pianos feature new motherboard and amplification hardware designed for richer, higher quality sound, and four-speaker delivery systems designed to reproduce the sound field of a grand piano. The latest models use improved cheekblock control panels that incorporate modern OLED graphic displays, while the CA49 boasts a new interface for more intuitive operation. They also feature enhanced Shigeru Kawai grand piano sounds, providing a more natural and realistic playing experience, while the CA59 includes a new Shigeru Kawai SK-5 studio grand sound and additional Virtual Technician parameters for enhanced tonal variety. Both instruments include Bluetooth MIDI connectivity, with the CA59 also boasting Bluetooth Audio. For more information, contact Kawai Music: 310-631-1771, [email protected], www.kawaius.com. 30 CANADIAN MUSIC TRADE