STACK #232 February 2024

TECH FEATURE

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Equipment excitement! We’ve picked out some of the very best products available to get you on your way to top-shelf content creation.

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Focusrite Scarlett Audio Interface Focusrite Scarlett audio interfaces are the absolute go-to for millions of songwriters, musos and producers to get the very best out of their material during those three pillars of creation: recording, mixing, and playback! The Solo model has one XLR input and one instrument input, so it’s perfect for solo musicians or podcasters who only want to record one source at a time. Because of this simpler configuration, it’s cheaper than the 2i2. By contrast, the 2i2 can handle two instrument or microphone inputs, providing more flexibility for recording multiple sources simultaneously (like a singer and a guitarist).

DJI Mic 2 Prepare to be blown away by the DJI Mic 2, the ideal microphone for capturing audio in multi source situations. It may be tiny, but it’s mighty; its omnidirectional audio recording is specifically optimised for vocals, and it boasts a brand new noise cancelling feature which does a bang-up job of reducing environmental noise for clean, uninterrupted conversations, even if you’re vox-popping in the campus bar. The quality of its recording is top notch, and it supports 32-bit floating-point internal recording. Lastly, check out that battery life: a huge six hours, or up to 12 hours with the charging case.

Novation Launchkey Mini MK3 The Launchkey Mini has been around for a little while, but that’s because you can’t improve on perfection. This little beast is a 25-key MIDI keyboard controller, and it comes with everything you could possibly need to create dynamic audio with Ableton Live. And yes, it’s so small you can easily slot it into your backpack. Making rhythms, melodies and sounds is so much fun on this little thing; it has an arpeggiator, fixed chord shape abilities (which can follow you up the keyboard in Fixed Chord mode), and 16 mega-sensitive pads which you can use to launch clips, or tap out your own drum rhythms.

Audio-Technica AT2020 Microphone

Audio-Technica M50xBT2 Audio-Technica have leveled up their original and beloved M50x headphones with the M50xBT2s, which feature 45mm large aperture drivers in a wireless design. They’ve included a slew of fantastic enhancements, such as improved vocal pickup for better call quality, an updated USB-C connection, and multipoint pairing mode. Get yourself the accompanying app, and you can delve

Sennheiser Accentum Plus Wireless Headphones The brand new Accentum Wireless cans from Sennheiser are all about freedom. They feel exactly as cushy as they look, and feature a pretty stunning fast-charge feature that gives you five hours of play time with just ten minutes of charge. On a full charge they’ll last 50 hours, even with Bluetooth and noise cancelling activated. The headphones’ transducive system brings everything you’re listening to to life, with exceptionally high-quality sound creating an expansive soundstage effect. The adaptive, hybrid

It was on this mic that a 14-year-old Billie Eilish – unknown, hanging out at home with her aspiring producer brother – recorded her breakout track Ocean Eyes . And there’s a reason artists as diverse as Eilish, Mac DeMarco, and Juice WRLD have all selected this mic for their material: it’s super affordable, while delivering studio-quality sound via its cardioid pick-up pattern. It’s perfect for anyone who’s capturing acoustic audio: musicians,

into the nitty-gritty of EQ adjustment

podcasters, field recorders, voice-over artists, and home studio recorders.

and activate low-latency

noise-cancelling feature can dynamically change

There are a few models out: The slightly older but incredibly robust XLR requires phantom power, while the newer USB+ and USBX – you guessed it – plug in to whichever device you’re recording on via USB. The most recent USBX has USB-C connection, zero-latency headphone monitoring, and comes with a heavy-duty desk stand.

mode. The sound quality of these headphones is enormously acclaimed, and

noise levels to give you totally focused istening, while

Transparency Mode lets you hear external sounds with just a touch.

50 hours of continuous use on a full charge is nothing to sneeze at.

30 FEBRUARY 2024

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