Tag Archives: recording studio

Art

The Iconic 909 Techno, House & Acid (Drum) Machine

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Vogue- Madonna. Girls Aint Nothing But Trouble- DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince. Garage Palace- Gorillaz & Little Simz. Pump Up The Jam- Technotronic. Take Me Home 2016 Remaster- Phil Collins. Hunter- Bjork. Revolution 909- Daft Punk. Purple Hearts- Kendrick Lamar w Summer Walker & Ghostface Killah. What do all of these hit songs (and many more) have in common?

“The Roland TR-909 Rhythm Composer is an iconic drum machine powerhouse that’s defined genres and ignited dance floors since its debut. Known for its instantly recognizable punchy classic drum sounds, the TR-909 delivers that quintessential rhythm that has shaped techno, house, acid, and beyond.” Tone Tweakers.

To say that the 909 is a versatile instrument is an understatement.

Creatively transformed into distinct and unique sonic identities by adding interesting studio effects to its sound samples and through different methods of programming tracks, the differences between rhythm styles and drum sounds between hit songs is amazing .

The drums in Phil Collins’s “Take Me Home” are characterized by a powerful and distinctive gated reverb effect on the snare, creating a dense, atmospheric rhythm that drives the song.

“The laid-back vibe of “Purple Hearts” compliments the snappiness of the vintage TR-909 sound. The drums help carry the smooth groove throughout the song, and the cymbals add some sparkle and shimmer to an otherwise tight percussion sound.” Native Instruments.

909 sighting. Fat Boy Slim’s “You’ve Come A Long Way Baby” liner notes.

The TR-909 drum machine was created in 1984 by the Roland Corporation. Forty years later, it is still a highly sought after drum machine commanding a serious amount of purchase money. For perspective, the cost for the 909 in 1985 was $1,095 usd ($3,502 usd allowing for inflation) but has appreciated substantially in value since then- the 909 regularly sells for double this amount or more, not surprising since it is renowned for its iconic analog drum sounds which have become staples in electronic music genres such as techno, house, and acid. The TR-909’s distinctive sound and easy-to-use interface have made it a classic piece of equipment, shaping the sound of countless tracks and influencing generations of musicians and producers.

Attack of the 500$ Clone

“Great care has been taken in designing the RD-9 to achieve new possibilities in beat creation by reviving a timeless design from one of the most classic drum machines of yesteryear. By taking a fresh and modern approach on a classic drum machine, the RD-9 gives you the power to harness the phenomenal sound of the venerable TR-909 and tap into some new features as well. Colossal bass drums through sizzling hi-hats can be manipulated to take your rhythm performance to the next level. This is an analog beat-making monster.” Behringer

Reviews

Technology Pushing 10,000$ Loudspeaker

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Just in time for audiophile Christmas~
PS Audio Introduces Its aspen FR10 Loudspeaker, Ideal for a Wide Variety of Listening Rooms and Systems — New FR10 floorstanding speaker delivers the sonic magic of the aspen series in a smaller, more affordable form factor —
Boulder, Colorado, December, 2023 – PS Audio today announced the introduction of its aspen FR10 loudspeaker, an elegant, slim 3-way floorstanding tower that brings the extraordinary sound quality and innovative driver design of the aspen series to a wider range of listening environments, systems, and budgets.

The new FR10 (SRP: $9,999 usd / $13,300 cad per pair, available now) features PS Audio’s acclaimed push-pull planar magnetic midrange and high-frequency driver technologies, complemented by ultra-low-distortion, linear-magnet woofers, high-excursion passive radiators, and a host of additional refinements. Like all the models in the aspen series, the FR10 has a sleek, refined appearance.

Paul McGowan, PS Audio CEO noted, “The aspen FR10 embodies more than 50 years of experience in audio in learning what works in a loudspeaker, and what it takes for a speaker to ‘disappear’ in a listening room and deliver a magical musical experience. Our goal with the aspen FR10 was to offer no-compromise full-range loudspeaker performance in a smaller, more affordable form factor that fits easily into smaller and medium-sized rooms.”

All the drivers in the FR10 are custom-designed from the ground up. The 8-inch planar ribbon midrange and 2.5-inch planar ribbon tweeter employ a push-pull design with an identical symmetrical motor structure on either side of their driver diaphragms. This inherently linear configuration provides lower distortion than conventional single-sided magnet structures, along with higher efficiency.

The midrange and high-frequency drivers employ high-strength magnets and diaphragms made from Teonex® film, a thin, highly stable material that provides exceptional transient response and resolution, with a fast, clean decay. The drivers are housed in a sealed sub-enclosure to ensure maximum clarity and freedom from internal cabinet colorations.

The PS Audio aspen FR10 utilizes dual 6.5-inch cast-frame woofers with a non-woven carbon fiber PMI foam sandwich cone, for an articulate response that complements the speed and transparency of the planar-magnetic midrange and high-frequency drivers. The woofers utilize a split magnetic gap with dual copper shorting rings, and have a large 3/4-inch peak-to-peak linear excursion for low distortion and a dynamically responsive bass output. The woofers are augmented by three flat-piston carbon fiber passive radiators. The FR10 offers wide range frequency response from 32 Hz – 20 kHz (- 6 dB, half-space; 25 Hz – 6 dB in-room).

The FR10’s slim enclosure measures 41.5 inches high by 8 inches wide (11.75 inches wide with its stand) by 16.25 inches deep. It’s available in a striking new matte finish in either black or white, and comes with magnetically detachable grilles. The aspen FR10’s room-friendly design makes it easy to set up and enjoy, and the FR10 comes with a handy setup booklet and CD to get the most out of the speaker. The FR10 has a visually distinctive “floating” appearance, with a curved bottom and an anodized aluminum base that is supplied with mounting feet that can be used with either removable stainless-steel spikes, or a soft rubber foot underneath.

The aspen FR10 delivers remarkable loudspeaker performance in every respect, with authoritative bass, an inviting midrange, smooth, extended highs, wide dynamic range, and palpable imaging on a wide and deep soundstage. It’s sure to thrill even the most demanding audiophiles and music aficionados.aspen FR10 Features at a Glance:
Enclosure type: sealed upper midrange/tweeter module and lower cabinet for the woofers and passive radiatorsHigh-frequency transducer: 2.5-inch planar magnetic ribbon tweeter with Teonex diaphragm Mid-frequency transducer: 8-inch planar magnetic ribbon midrange with Teonex diaphragm Passive radiator: three 6 by nine inch flat-piston carbon fiber Woofer: dual 6.5-inch cast-frame, non-woven carbon fiber PMI foam sandwich cone Thermoset resin fiberglass-composite woofer baffle Magnetically-attached grille Computer-optimized custom crossover with premium film capacitors and air-core inductors Polished stainless-steel spikes with soft rubber feet enable a variety of mounting options Frequency Response: 32 Hz – 20 kHz (- 6 dB, half-space; 25 Hz – 6 dB in-room)Crossover Frequency: 550 Hz, 1,750 Hz Sensitivity: 86.5 dB Nominal Impedance: 4 ohms (3.3 ohms minimum)Recommended Amplifier Power: 50 – 125 watts Dimensions: 41.5 x 11.75 x 16.25 inches with base Weight: 75 lbs. (34.1 kg)Teonex is a registered trademark of DuPont Teijin Films.
Art

Stereo Equip Manufacturer Opens Record Studio To Level The Field

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It’s been nearly two years since we moved into our new digs in Boulder, Colorado. The most exciting part has been watching our recording/mastering studio, led by engineer Gus Skinas, come to life. Gus is a close friend and one of the nicest and most humble gents around. The world knows Gus from his work on projects for Pink Floyd, The Rolling Stones, Stevie Wonder, Elton John, Al Kooper, George Harrison, Queen, Joni Mitchell, Chick Corea, Frank Zappa, and The Police (to mention a few). His talent is unmatched, and we’re proud to have him in the hi-fi family.



A few days ago, we made a big step forward. With Gus at the helm, PS Audio has launched our much-anticipated music label: Octave Records.

Almost every time I give a tour at the new facility I get questions about Octave. With hundreds of labels out there, what makes Octave different? You and Paul make components, why the expansion into recording? Are you just doing this because it’s cool?

Guilty as charged!

In truth, we started Octave Records for the same reason we design audio components—because we know we can make a difference. We know we can produce albums with superior sonic quality and we also remain keenly aware of the challenges faced by so many music creators. Labels have been known to sacrifice quality for profits and for mass-market appeal. For albums-sold, most labels compensate artists with pennies on the dollar. Oftentimes, labels insist on owning the artist’s music. We believe the music deserves high-quality presentation and that the artists deserve to be honored for their contributions. It’s the artists, after all, who give rise to our entire industry.

So we decided to build a label the way we think it ought to be. Octave Records uses the finest studio equipment, all centered around the acclaimed Sonoma DSD recording, mixing and mastering system. We asked Gus to personally craft each recording. And to better support musicians, Octave Records covers 100% of the studio, mixing, mastering, production, distribution and marketing costs. We also provide artists with a direct-share of retail revenues, which are ten to twenty times that of other labels. At Octave Records, the artists own their music, and we give them creative control. They’ve earned it…and we get to enjoy the fruits of their labors on our hi-fi systems!

“Along with our dedication to producing the best-sounding recordings available today, Octave Records offers a different kind of business model,” said Paul McGowan, PS Audio CEO. To support musicians, Octave covers 100% of all studio, mixing, mastering, production, distribution and marketing expenses so that artists may directly share in retain sales revenues – while also retaining ownership of their music.”



It’s with great pride that we announce the first album from Octave Records: Out of Thin Air, a solo piano performance from renowned pianist Don Grusin.



Offered in SACD, native DSD (DVD-Audio) and CD formats, you can learn more about Octave Records and listen to samples of Grusin’s new album here https://www.psaudio.com/products/out-of-thin-air/ If you are interested in picking up a copy of this limited edition, they are available with world-wide distribution (direct from us in Boulder), however, this album is not available for digital download at this time.

I hope you enjoy listening to the album as much as we have enjoyed making it. This is the first of many. For the Silo, Scott McGowan.