Hello New Gear – May 2023

Our house brand Stairville presents three new moving heads for various applications. With its 3×3 matrix, the Stairville Infinite Pixel Mini 90 lets you create custom creative effects even on small stages. The Stairville Infinite Pixel 250 offers many pre-programmed patterns and characters for creating amazing effects and text even in small channel modes. This moving head offers a 5×5 matrix and 250 watts of light output. The Stairville Infinite Pixel 360 also features many pre-programmed patterns and characters. With infinite rotation in the pan and tilt planes and a mighty 360 watts of light output, it delivers spectacular effects on medium and large stages.

The RME Fireface UFX III is a high-end USB 3.0 audio interface with 94 inputs and 94 outputs, all of which can be used simultaneously. In addition to the analog inputs and outputs, it is equipped with AES, ADAT, and MADI. RME’s low-latency hardware and driver design has long achieved a legendary reputation in the audio world, which is why these interfaces are among the most popular in the world’s top studios – and you can enjoy this level of quality, too!

The Yamaha DM3 (with Dante interface) and DM3 S (standard version without Dante) are two new 16-channel digital mixers for studio, streaming, and live applications. In a small footprint, they offer everything you’d expect from a “grown-up” mixer. The DM3 and DM3 S both feature 9 motorized faders, a built-in 18 x 18 USB 2.0 audio interface, 6 freely assignable buttons, DAW remote control (HUI), and 18 effects plus a graphic EQ. They are operated via 9” touch displays; an editor app for tablets is also available. Learn more about the new Yamaha DM3 series in the video below:

Compact is great, but sometimes you need tiny! This is why Behringer has introduced the 502S and 802S as the new entry-level models of the Xenyx series of mixers. The 502S is an analogue 5-channel mixer with a USB streaming interface. Despite its tiny form factor, it offers everything you need for a small setup, including a microphone channel with a 2-band EQ. The 802S also offers a USB streaming interface, but as the name suggests, it has a total of 8 channels. Both microphone channels are equipped with switchable 48V phantom power and six of the channels offer a 3-band EQ section. In addition to this, the 802S features an effect send. No matter if you’re running out of space on your desk or want to keep your live setup compact and portable – you’re sure to find a space for these mixers.

Universal Audio has introduced new guitar effects pedals in the UAFX series. The Galaxy ’74 Tape Echo Rev. is an authentic emulation of the classic mid-70s analogue delay and reverb unit from Japan. Max Preamp & Dual Comp. emulates the famous UA 1176, Teletronix LA-2A and Classic Dyna Comp compressors, as well as a UA 610 tube preamp and EQ. And the UAFX Del-Verb Ambience Compan. offers 6 vintage reverb and delay effects, including the spring reverb from classic American guitar amps of the 60s, vintage studio plate reverb from The Plant, and vintage studio digital reverb algorithms of the 80s. Hear the new pedals at work in Universal Audio’s video below:

If you’re one of those who like to have everything laid out well and within easy reach in their studio, the new Thomann Studio Tables are worth a look! The recording workstations made of plastic-coated MDF board all offer 2 headphone holders and rotatable monitor base plates. Depending on the model, you get 2×3 or 3×3 units of rack space and pull-out keyboard shelves in two different widths. The desks are available in L or XL sizes in black or with a wood finish.

Have you always wanted to use the excellent plug-ins from Universal Audio on your computer, but without having to buy DSP hardware? The time has come: The UAD Native Bundles are finally here! You can choose from the Universal Audio UAD Creative Edition Native with 10 plug-ins (5 instruments, 5 effects), the Universal Audio UAD Mix Edition Native with 23 effect plug-ins from the 1176 Limiter to the Lexicon 224 Reverb, and the Universal Audio UAD Diamond Edition Native with 28 plug-ins from the Moog Minimoog to the Pultec Passive EQ Collection to the Teletronix LA-2A Collection. Find out all you need to know on our product pages! Affordable launch offers are available now!

The Vox AmPlug2 Brian May is a headphone amplifier modeled after Brian May’s signature VOX AC30 sound. Simply plug it into your guitar and you’re ready to go! Besides a switchable treble boost and stereo delay, phaser, and chorus effects, it offers built-in rhythm patterns for jamming – including the timeless stomp-stomp-clap groove from “We Will Rock You”! Brian May himself introduces his headphone amp in the video below:

This new USB 2.0 audio interface from IK Multimedia was developed specifically for guitarists. In addition to a Class-A microphone preamp with phantom power, the IK Multimedia AXE I/O One offers a Z-Tone input for guitar or bass with impedance adjustment, a selector switch for active or passive pickups, PURE and JFET input stages, and an Amp Out output for easy reamping. Get an overview of its features in the video below:

The SOMA Illuminator is an 8-channel converter for controlling LEDs and LED strips using analogue control voltages. For example, this allows you to control your own light show with your modular system or any synthesizer with CV outputs. Simply connect the SOMA Illuminator and hook it up to some compatible LEDs! Find out how easy it is and what you can do with it in the video below by SOMA Labs founder and developer Vlad Kreimer: