Tops and Flops: This Week’s Audio News Highlights
Some of the hits and misses in this week's audio releases.
2,8 / 5,0 | 
Tops and Flops: This Week's Audio News Highlights · Source: Universal Audio / Audiomodern
In this week’s Tops and Flops, we’ll be looking at some of the ups and downs in the world of audio, from the high-end to more budget gear.
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Tops and Flops
In the world of high-end pro studio gear, we saw some exciting new releases, particularly for professional mixing and mastering engineers. So let’s take a look at some of these new developments:
Tops and Flops: Burl Audio
The high-end modular digital converter manufacturer from San Francisco, Burl Audio, has released a new range of modules called the Burl Black series and the new Mothership 3 format that allows up to 64 channels per slot.
The Burl Black range has been created to be more accessible than the flagship Green range of modules, offering higher channel counts at a slightly more affordable price point. This includes the BAD16 16-channel AD conversion module, the BDA16 16-channel DA conversion module, and the BDA12 Orca 12-channel DA conversion and monitor controller module.
Note that the Burl Black series can only be used with the new Mothership 3 interfaces, such as the new B16 and B80 which are available in Digilink, Soundgrid, MADI, and DANTE-compatible configurations.
Although Burl Audio claims that the new Black series converters are aimed at musicians and project studios, they still fall way outside the price range of most musicians. However, the Mothership 3 format is still an exciting development for high-end pro users.
Tops and Flops: PresentDayProduction
They have been on the way for some time, but this week, the new PDP MUM-10 3-way modular studio monitors are finally available for order, and there are even trade-in options available for current MUM-6 and MUM-8 owners.
In addition to the basic 3-way model, with its incredible 10-inch Purifi PTT10 bass driver, PDP is also offering the MUM-10MB (meter bridge) for those who prefer horizontal configurations.
For immersive mixing setups, another custom option is the MUM-8C center speaker with its vertically aligned tweeter and midrange driver configuration. Whether this is available for the new MUM-10 is unclear, but judging how PDP goes the extra mile for customers, they should be able to accommodate you.
Meanwhile, the MUM-10 and MUM-10MB are priced at £7,495.83 for a pair, which may seem pricy to the average audio user. However, when one considers that the ATC SCM50A costs double that without all the digital features, it should give you a better idea of what the MUM series offers for professionals.
Tops and Flops: Universal Audio
Another major release was the new Universal Audio Apollo X Gen 2 range of rackmount and desktop audio interfaces. Now offering improved AD/DA conversion, monitor calibration, and expanded real-time processing options, this is a formidable upgrade from a market leader in this space.
However, announced alongside the Apollo interfaces was a range of UAD plug-ins, including amp simulators, SSL 4000 console processors, and a new all-in-one vocal processor called Topline Vocal Suite.
With Pitch correction, formant shifting, saturation, dynamics, EQ, and modulation effects, Topline bundles an amazing set of features into an easy-to-use plug-in interface. However, it still seems a long way from justifying a $400 pricetag.
Creating a plug-in that is clearly streamlined for less-experienced audio users seems slightly oxymoronic when it’s priced for pros. Luckily, there is a 50% off introductory offer, and UA does have discounts running regularly throughout the year.
- Read about Topline Vocal Suite
Tops and Flops: Audiomodern Soundbox
This week was not without its letdowns, and the announcement of Audiomodern Soundbox was certainly one of these. While the developer Audiomodern is known for offering creatively innovative instruments and effects plug-ins and sound packs, there were some clear errors of judgment in the process of the Soundbox roll-out.
Firstly, the plug-in was initially proposed to reviewers as a “new free plug-in platform”. However, they neglected to mention the fact that while the platform is free, you have to purchase the sound modules Voxmotiv, Kromium, and Cosmo separately.
In addition, as the YouTuber Dash Glitch explains, some of the promised features such as MPE support, are not yet functional and there were still a few bugs in the software. He also goes on to say that the communication from Audiomodern was unprofessional at best, but still, he tries to give an unbiased review of the plug-in.
Although disappointing, there are audio companies that operate with an ethos synonymous with the tech space when it comes to dealing with users. Indiscriminate subscription and upgrade models, hidden paywalls, and in-app purchases are all instant red flags for most audio users. Yet major players like PreSonus have still managed to isolate its pro user base somewhat with the Studio One 7 pricing structure.
- More about Audiomodern Soundbox
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