How many times have you reached for a cable only to find it has the wrong XLR connector on the other end ? In direct response to high professional and consumer demand, Neutrik introduces the world's first unisex 3-pin XLR connector : convertCON.

convertCON (NC3FM-C) is a new 3-pin male and female cable connector in a single housing. By simply sliding the housing back and forth, convertCON is transformed from a male to female connector. This new male/female cable end XLR allows for use of one connector, as it can mate with either a male or female 3-pin XLR.

convertCON shares some of the features and benefits of Neutrik's best-selling XLR XX series. It also features an improved chuck type strain relief that provides higher pull-out force and makes assembly easier and faster. Its rugged zinc die cast shell ensures a long lasting and dependable connection, while its sleek and ergonomic design makes it convenient and easy to handle.

convertCON is also available with black chrome housing and gold contacts (NC3FM-C-B).

For more information, please follow the link below :

Sonalksis today announces that the awaited mastering plug-in series, Sonalksis Mastering Suite, has just finished the last beta stage and will shortly be released to the public.

The Sonalksis Mastering Suite consists of a select range of plug-ins for Mastering Engineers, Producers and other Industry Professionals.

MultiLimit - Multiband Mastering Limiter
Maxlimit - Maximizing Mastering Limiter
StereoTools - Stereo Imaging Processor
Ultimate-D - Ultimate Dithering

All the plug-ins will be available in VST, AU, DirectX and RTAS versions, according to their platforms, OS X 10.4/10.5 and Windows XP/VISTA. Digidesign TDM versions will be released later in the year.

Wanna learn how to mic a guitar amp and get good tone ?

Well, here is a great video which may be useful. It shows various sound achieved by placing a microphone on a guitar amp.

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Antares Audio Technologies has also announced the release of the Auto-Tune Vocal Studio, a new bundle which combines the Native or TDM version of Auto-Tune Evo with the 10 vocal processing plug-ins of AVOX 2.

The Auto-Tune Vocal Studio is available now in a Native version for RTAS (Mac OS X and PC), VST (Mac OS X and PC) and Audio Units. Also available is Auto-Tune Vocal Studio TDM, which includes Auto-Tune Evo TDM (Mac OS X and PC). MSRP is $899.00 for the Native version and $1099.00 for TDM version.

In this interview, Carl Beatty, a veteran engineer and Professor of Production and Engineering at Berklee College of Music, discusses how the era of digital recording, with its presets, wizards and unlimited tracks, encourages novice engineers and producers to get lazy about capturing performances that are musical and tight enough for the final mix. He also describes how people who are serious about their recording careers can re-visit the studio techniques of the analog age to learn some recording best practices that work equally well in an analog studio as on a home ProTools setup.

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