New from Akai & Alesis @ Winter NAMM 2009

Three new products from the Akai/Alesis stable. I am reliably informed that other exciting news from the Jack O'Donnell triumvirate is imminent, including some worthwhile firmware updates :o)

But, for now, feast your eyes on these three...

Akai MPK25

The MPK25 draws on the design of the popular MPK49, the first keyboard ever to feature genuine MPC pads. It features a 25-key, semi-weighted keyboard with aftertouch, 12 MPC pads, Q-Link controls and MPC technology. Its smaller, more portable size makes the MPK25 the perfect travel companion. Its small footprint can fit in a musician’s lap on the couch or on a plane, enabling them to create tracks whenever inspiration strikes.

The MPK series features Akai Professional-exclusive MPC pads that are pressure and velocity-sensitive to capture every nuance of the user’s creativity. The pads can access four banks of sounds, so performers can have 48 samples at their fingertips with the touch of a button.

The MPK25 offers extensive assignable controls through its Q-Link section. The MPK25 gives players 32 parameters of hands-on control through 12 virtual knobs and four virtual buttons, each of which can access two different banks of assignment via a bank-change control.

Two technologies pioneered in the MPC series and built into the MPK series are MPC Note Repeat and MPC Swing. These note-modifying features can be heard in many of the most popular tracks over the last two decades. MPC Note Repeat automatically plays a rhythmic pattern, such as 16th notes on a hi-hat, for accuracy and speed of entry. MPC Swing is sometimes referred to as "the heart and soul of hip hop". Users can specify exactly the degree and timing of swing they want to apply for the perfect feel.

The MPK25 has an arpeggiator, which enables performers to develop creative riffs in seconds. The arpeggiator features six different modes and can have its own swing settings independent of the MPC Note Repeat settings.

Because MPK series controllers are USB class compliant, they do not require custom drivers to work with Mac or PC computers and will work with all MIDI recording, sequencing and performance software. The MPK series is perfect for musicians, producers, DJs and VJs.

The MPK25 comes with Ableton Live Lite Akai Edition software, one of the most popular and powerful performance and production programs in the world. Ableton Live Lite enables musicians to spontaneously compose, record, remix, improvise and edit musical ideas in a seamless audio/MIDI environment.

“This new addition to the MPK line takes the expressive, creative capabilities of the MPK49 to new places,” said Gregg Stein, Director of Marketing, Akai Professional. “The MPK25 can go away for the weekend with you and it is easy to integrate into on-stage setups for multi-instrumentalists and drummers.”

The MPK25 keyboard controller with MPC pads will be available from pro audio and musical instrument retailers in Q2 at an MSRP of $399.99 and an estimated street price of $299.99.

Alesis iMultimix16 USB

iMultiMix 16 USB is the second entry in a new class of iPod mixers that started with the popular iMultiMix 8 USB. iMultiMix 16 USB features a Universal Dock for iPod that enables recording directly to any iPod Classic, 5th generation (video) and 2nd or 3rd generation iPod nano. The mobile recording mixer has iPod transport controls and a control wheel built into the surface for complete control of the iPod while it is docked in the mixer. For clean live recordings of nearly any performance, including home studios, musicians, podcasters and houses of worship, iMultiMix 16 USB is the ideal solution. The USB connection delivers convenient transfer of tracks into iTunes upon connection to a computer. Files recorded into the iPod are CD quality, 16-bit, 44.1kHz WAV files.

Mac and PC recording engineers can connect iMultiMix 16 USB using USB for direct-to-computer recording. In addition to its computer connectivity, iMultiMix 16 USB offers eight analog inputs, 100 digital, 28-bit effects, phantom power and two switchable mic/line/guitar inputs.

Steinberg Cubase LE 4 and Ableton Live Lite 7 recording and performance software are included, completing the total-studio package.

“iMultiMix 16 USB is supremely versatile,” said Jim Norman, Product Manager, Alesis. “You can record any source in a studio, stage or rehearsal-room environment, add the onboard effects and then route your mix out to a PA, computer, hardware recorder, iPod or combinations thereof.”

iMultiMix 16 USB is available from pro audio and musical instrument retailers. It has an MSRP of $799.99 and a street price of $599.99.

Alesis ProTrack Mobile Recording Kit

The Alesis ProTrack Mobile Recording Kit combines the innovative ProTrack handheld recorder for iPod with Alesis’ new AM2 Stereo Microphone Set. The kit enables musicians and recording engineers to record high-quality stereo sound directly to their iPod from a wide variety of sources.

The ProTrack provides direct-to-iPod, stereo, digital recording in a portable, handheld form. Consumers can capture live audio anywhere and anytime with their iPod. The ProTrack’s design integrates the iPod into the recorder and clear, protective covers securely mount the user’s iPod to the recorder.

Users can record detailed, stereo audio using the ProTrack’s onboard dual condenser microphones, which are fixed in XY-stereo configuration for reliable stereo imaging. While the onboard microphones are capable of capturing quality sound, the ProTrack Mobile Recording Kit includes the AM2 Stereo Microphone Set, a matched-stereo, cardioid condenser microphone kit with two AM2 microphones, windscreens, clips, a padded hard case and an XY-stereo mount.

Using the ProTrack with the AM2 microphones enables the user to place a microphone with near-limitless flexibility in both stereo-miking techniques and applications. For example, drummers can use the AM2s to capture their drumset, guitarists can capture a stereo image of their acoustic guitar or amplifier and bands can record their sets live, in stereo. The ProTrack supplies the necessary 48V phantom power to power the AM2 condenser microphones.

AM2 microphones are low profile, miniature cardioid condensers with switchable -10dB attenuation and high-pass filter. With a clean fet amplifier and a transformerless output stage, AM2 microphones offer low-self-noise, high-resolution audio capture. Their small diaphragm condenser capsules offer excellent pickup of the "air" that characterizes high-quality small diaphragm condensers.

AM2 microphones can be used very close to a sound source without the sound becoming harsh. The switchable high-pass filter reduces interferences through subsonic and low frequencies and compensates for proximity effect. The attenuation switch enables the microphone to handle high sound pressure levels without distortion.

“The ProTrack Mobile Recording Kit makes the ProTrack even more flexible,” said Jim Norman, Product Manager, Alesis. “You can place these tiny, quality mics nearly anywhere and grab excellent audio.”

The ProTrack Mobile Recording Kit is available now from pro audio and musical instrument retailers at an MSRP of $399.99 and an estimated street price of $299.99.