Simon Allen, Author at gearnews.com

Simon is an internationally recognised Professional Sound Engineer/Producer with over a decade in the industry. Working mostly in music, his reputation as a mix engineer continues to reach new heights. Sound Engineer (Studio & Live) Freelance Record Producer Pro Audio Specialist / Consultant Pro Audio Journalist Pro Audio Trainer

Will MOTU’s new 624 and 8A raise the bar for compact interfaces?

07 Dec 2016 in Studio

MOTU have announced the availability of the 624 and 8A audio interfaces. Equipped with Thunderbolt, USB3 and AVB, there's a lot packed into these half-rack units.

Rostec rev up new LMA8 “high performance” mic pre

06 Dec 2016 in Studio

Rostec's new 8-channel LMA8 mic pre-amp and converter combines "classical philosophy realized by modern technology". And there's rumours of other new bits of gear too...

REELIGHT my fire! BeatSkillz tape plug-in coming soon

03 Dec 2016 in Studio

Presumably BeatSkillz didn't intend to name their new tape emulator after the Take That song, but REELIGHT sounds like it will have plenty of fire!

EXCLUSIVE: Ferrofish A32 with Dante coming soon!

02 Dec 2016 in Studio

Watch this space... there's a new revision of the Ferrofish A32 coming soon, which will feature Dante as well as MADI, ADAT and analogue.

Ear Trumpet Labs tackles upright bass with ‘Nadine’

30 Nov 2016 in Studio, Guitar

micing an upright bass can be a challenge. ETL's new 'Nadine' mic however, offers a new solution.

Acustica Audio offer up a dash of ‘Lime’ for your mix

30 Nov 2016 in Studio

Here it is then: Recently we saw Acustica release their SSL emulation channel strip, now Lime gives us the Neve version. A British sound, 'in-the-box'!

Another LA-2A emulation! Black Rooster Audio’s VLA-2A

26 Nov 2016 in Studio

Do we need yet another plug-in emulating the LA-2A tube compressor? If the VLA-2A sounds as good as the GUI looks, then perhaps we do!

Resurface - The Audio Console Marketplace

Resurface: a new marketplace for used mixing consoles

24 Nov 2016 in Studio

A new web portal for selling, buying and servicing used consoles and controllers, 'Resurface', is launched. Can this service change the pro audio market?

Will the Chandler Abbey Road REDD redefine the microphone?

22 Nov 2016 in Studio

Chandler and Abbey Road join forces to develop a microphone with the EMI badge: the REDD Microphone - and have come up with a truly exciting product.

UA announces new ‘flagship’ Ultimate 5 software package

20 Nov 2016 in Studio

Something seems very dated here. There feels like a lot of marketing hot air involved here. What we need are updated DSP solutions. Maybe NAMM next year?

Sontronics Mercury Valve Mic spotted at MPX 2016

New Sontronics ‘Mercury’ valve mic spotted!

18 Nov 2016 in Studio

Our roving reporter caught up with the team from Sontronics at MPX 2016 today, and look what was on the corner of their stand! More to follow about 'Mercury' soon.

‘Mastering by presets’ with iZotope’s Ozone 7 Elements

18 Nov 2016 in Studio

Love it or hate it, Ozone 7 Elements is here offering 'mastering by presets'. Are iZotope milking their reputation, or should we all be thankful?

Can INTEGRAL “revolutionise” guitar cab micing?

16 Nov 2016 in Studio, Guitar

SAM Systems from Devon, UK have invented INTEGRAL, a retro-fit close micing product for guitar cabs. Can this clever product deliver a genuine revolution in guitar recording?

Slate release Control

15 Nov 2016 in Studio

Slate's Media Technology department have developed a monitor controller for their RAVEN systems, or as a standalone unit. 'Control' is shipping now.

FabFilter’s Pro-R reverb plug-in is finally here!

15 Nov 2016 in Studio

We've been following the recent teaser campaign by FabFilter closely, eagerly waiting to see this new reverb plug-in. Announced today, here is Pro-R.

Send those mono sounds into a stereo ‘Haaze’!

14 Nov 2016 in Studio

After feeling sceptical about this new plug-in when it was announced last week, perhaps it's ok after all. Want to widen your mono sources? Check out Haaze.

Nugen Audio’s MasterCheck Pro: A new standard?

14 Nov 2016 in Studio, Deals

How loud should your master be? How will the loudness treatment effect your mix? MasterCheck Pro is a metering and quality-simulator plug-in here to help.

Is Apple planning iPad Pro 2 for Christmas?

14 Nov 2016 in Other

Wasn't it about this time last year we saw the new iPad Pro? Are Apple planning a surprise release in time for Christmas?

PUNISH your sounds with Heavyocity’s new plug-in

12 Nov 2016 in Studio

Not another saturation plug-in I hear you ask? Well, not quite. PUNISH has a lot more on offer, including its own flavour of distortion effects.

FabFilter Pro-R Reverb Plugin with Rik Simpson

FabFilter Teaser Part 2: It’s a reverb plug-in called Pro-R

07 Nov 2016 in Studio

Last week we reported on a teaser video from FabFilter. Turns out it is a reverb plug-in and part 2 sees Rik Simpson taking a first glimpse of "Pro-R".

Can Klark Teknik’s 1176-KT win the clone wars?

07 Nov 2016 in Studio

Klark Teknik producing a clone? Something feels amiss. Surely Behringer who own Klark Teknik are abusing the name.

Has Icon’s Qcon Pro X DAW controller arrived too late?

05 Nov 2016 in Studio

With so much interest around the release of the Qcon Pro X, many have waited a long time to actually buy one. Limited stocks available later this month.

FabFilter Plugin Teaser Video - Screenshot

Teaser alert! New FabFilter plugin coming soon

04 Nov 2016 in Studio, Synths

FabFilter have published a teaser video on their YouTube channel highlighting an imminent plug-in release. But what is it, a new reverb? We're in the dark until 15th Nov.