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Ten Best Jazz Albums of 2022 | Bill Milkowski

My favourite jazz album of 2022 was Franco Ambrosetti’s Nora. On this magnificent assortment of romantic ballads, the 80-year-old Swiss trumpeter and flugelhornist evokes Charlie Parker with Strings from 1950 and Clifford Brown with Strings from 1955. With Grammy-winning arranger Alan Broadbent conducting a 22-piece string orchestra whereas the core group consists of pianist Uri Caine, bassist Scott Colley, and drummer Peter Erskine, Ambrosetti takes his time and tells a narrative on every certainly one of these melodic gems (there are additionally some solo contributions from guitarist John Scofield). In the vein of different traditional partnerships like Miles Davis with Gil Evans or Frank Sinatra with Gordon Jenkins, Ambrosetti embraces Broadbent’s attractive preparations with uncommon intimacy and beauty, delivering golden tones on his flugelhorn like these different nice singers of songs. Recorded in February 2022 at Sear Sound Studio in Manhattan by Jim Anderson and combined by Anderson and assistant engineer Ulrike Schwarz, Nora has a wealthy, creamy sound that enhances the attract of tender choices like “Falling in Love,” “Autumn Leaves,” and a luxurious studying of John Coltrane’s “After the Rain.” Playback choices embrace 5.1 encompass sound. Look for an evaluation of the sonics of Nora in Andrew Quint’s immersive sound characteristic within the subsequent difficulty of TAS.

1. Franco Ambrosetti: Nora. Enja.

 

2. Bill Frisell: Four. Blue Note.

 

3. Julian Lage: View with a Room. Blue Note.

 

4. Charles Lloyd Trios: Chapel. Blue Note.

 

5. John Scofield: John Scofield. ECM.

 

6. Pasquale Grasso: Be-Bop! Sony Masterworks.

 

7. Enrico Rava/Fred Hersch: The Song Is You. ECM.

 

8. Al Foster: Reflections. Smoke Sessions.

 

9. The Jon Cowherd Trio: Pride and Joy. Le Coq.

 

10. Seamus Blake: New York Factor Vol. 1. Self-released.

The submit Ten Best Jazz Albums of 2022 | Bill Milkowski appeared first on The Absolute Sound.

Pro Sound News’ Gear of the Year 2020

Gear of the Year logo 20202020 will be remembered as the year we’d like to forget, but when 2021 is recalled one day as the year everything bounced back, much of that will be due to groundwork laid down in the preceding 12 months. That includes the pro-audio industry—next year, when live events and concerts return, new hits rule the airwaves and the latest must-hear podcasts land in your listening queue, many of them will be created using pro-audio equipment that was introduced over the last 12 months. With that in mind, here’s the Gear of the Year for 2020.

So what was the Gear of the Year? That’s not an easy thing to determine, so rather than weigh a hot new plug-in against an arena-filling P.A. or an audio console years in development, we decided to let our readers show the way.

Product announcements have always been among the most popular stories on prosoundnetwork.com, so we dug through our Google Analytics (readership statistics), sifting through all the “new product” stories we ran 2020 (well into the triple digits!) to determine which ones were the most popular with PSN readers. With that in mind, here’s the Gear of the Year that YOU unknowingly picked—a true Top-20 for 2020.

YAMAHA RIVAGE PM5
YAMAHA RIVAGE PM5

1. YAMAHA RIVAGE PM3 AND PM5 DIGITAL MIXING SYSTEMS
This dual product launch in May was far and away the most popular product announcement of 2020 with our readers. Yamaha introduced two consoles—the PM5 and PM3—as well as a pair of DSP engines—DSPRX and DSP-RX-EX—and version 4 firmware that provides features to new and legacy Rivage systems.

Both of the new consoles feature large capacitive touchscreens that allow users to use multi-finger gestures, with the PM5 sporting three screens and the PM3 getting one. As with their predecessors, the PM5 and PM3 sport 38 faders—three bays of 12, with two masters—but each of the new control surfaces is laid out with an eye toward increased efficiency.

 

2. SOLID STATE LOGIC 2 AND 2+ USB AUDIO INTERFACES
Solid State Logic unveiled its first personal studio-market products—the USB-powered SSL 2 (2-in/2-out) and SSL 2+ (2-in/4-out) audio interfaces—at the Winter NAMM Show. The 2+ in particular caught our readers’ eyes, with a 4K analog enhancement mode “inspired by classic SSL consoles,” monitoring and an SSL Production Pack software bundle. Offering expanded I/O for musicians collaborating, it includes two analog mic preamps, 24-bit/192 kHz AD/DA AKM converters, multiple headphone outputs with independent monitor mix, MIDI I/O, and additional unbalanced outputs for DJ mixers.

JBL 4349 STUDIO MONITOR

3. JBL 4349 STUDIO MONITOR
The JBL 4349 studio monitor is a compact, high-performance monitor loudspeaker built around the JBL D2415K dual 1.5-inch compression driver mated to a large format, High-Definition Imaging (HDI) horn, paired with a 12-inch cast-frame and pure-pulp cone woofer. The JBL D2415K compression driver features a pair of lightweight polymer annular diaphragms with reduced diaphragm mass, while the V-shaped geometry of the annular diaphragm reduces breakup modes, eliminates time smear and reduces distortion, according to JBL.

 

APPLE LOGIC PRO X 10.54. APPLE LOGIC PRO X 10.5
Apple updated Logic Pro X with a “professional” version of Live Loops, new sampling features and new and revamped beatmaking tools. Live Loops lets users arrange loops, samples and recordings on a grid to build musical ideas, which can then be further developed on Logic’s timeline. Remix FX brings effects to Live Loops that can be used in real time, while the updated Sampler augments the EXS24 plug-in with new sound shaping controls. Other new tools include Quick Sampler, Step Sequencer, Drum Synth and Drum Machine Designer.

 

 AMS NEVE 8424 CONSOLE5. AMS NEVE 8424 CONSOLE
The AMS Neve 8424 is a small-format desk based on the 80-series console range. Intended for hybrid studios, the desk provides a center point between analog outboard gear, synths and the like, and the digital world of DAW workflows, software plug-ins and session recall. As an analog mixing platform, the 8424 offers 24 DAW returns across 24 channel faders or, for larger DAW sessions, a 48-Mix mode that allows a total of 48 mono inputs with individual level and pan controls to be mixed through the stereo mix bus.

 

MILLENNIA MEDIA HV-316 MIC PREAMP6. MILLENNIA MEDIA HV-316 MIC PREAMP
Millennia Media bowed its fully remote-controllable microphone preamplifier, the HV-316. Offering 12V battery operation, the HV-316 is housed in a 10-pound, 1U aluminum chassis housing 16 channels of Millennia HV-3 microphone preamplifiers with simultaneous analog and Dante 32-bit/192 kHz Ethernet outputs. Other digital audio output options are planned, including USB and MADI. The unit is designed for high-temperature continuous operation (up to 150° F), is powered by both 12V DC and worldwide 80–264V AC, and features “pi filter” shielding on audio and digital feeds to prevent interference.

 

Gear of the Year - SHURE SLX-D DIGITAL WIRELESS SYSTEM7. SHURE SLX-D DIGITAL WIRELESS SYSTEM
The Shure SLX-D, offered in single- and dual-channel models, provides operation of up to 32 channels per frequency band. Transmitters run on standard AA batteries or an optional lithium-ion rechargeable battery solution with a dual-docking charging station. For less technically inclined users, it offers Guided Frequency Setup and a Group Scan feature that sets up multiple channels by assigning frequencies to all receivers automatically via Ethernet connections, allowing a 30-plus channel system can be set up via Group Scan within a few seconds.

 

MEYER SOUND SPACEMAP GO8. MEYER SOUND SPACEMAP GO
The Meyer Sound Spacemap Go is a free Apple iPad app for spatial sound design and mixing. Working with the company’s Galaxy Network Platform, Spacemap Go can control Galaxy processors using a single or multiple iPads as long as the units have current firmware and Compass control software. Spacemap Go is compatible with various sound design/show control programs such as QLab, so designs assembled using them can be implemented into a multichannel spatial mix using Spacemap Go’s templates for common multichannel configurations.

 

D&B AUDIOTECHNIK 44S LOUDSPEAKER9. D&B AUDIOTECHNIK 44S LOUDSPEAKER
Housed in a flush-mountable cabinet, the d&b audiotechnik 44S is a two-way passive, point source installation loudspeaker with 2 x 4.5-inch neodymium LF drivers and 2 x 1.25-inch HF dome tweeters, delivering a frequency response of 90 Hz–17 kHz. The 44S features a waveguide and baffle design intended to provide horizontal dispersion down to the lower frequencies while being focused vertically, providing a 90° x 30° dispersion pattern to direct sound to specific spaces.

 

BEYERDYNAMIC TG D70 AND TG 151 MICS10. BEYERDYNAMIC TG D70 AND TG 151 MICS
Beyerdynamic made two additions to its Touring Gear (TG) series. The second-generation TG D70 dynamic kickdrum mic is meant for capturing the impact of bass drums and similar low-frequency-intensive instruments, while the TG 151 instrument mic is a lean microphone with a short shaft that can be used on everything from snares and toms to brass instruments and guitar amplifiers.

 

New Studio Microphone Wrap-Up : Fall 2020

 

Gear of the Year -QSC Q-SYS CORE PROCESSORS11. QSC Q-SYS CORE PROCESSORS
QSC’s Q-SYS Core 8 Flex and Nano audio, video and control processors provide scalable DSP processing, video routing and bridging for web conferencing, as well as third-party endpoint integration without the need for separate dedicated control processors. The 8 Flex includes onboard analog audio I/O and GPIO plus network I/O, while Nano offers network-only audio I/O processing and control.

 

TELEFUNKEN TF11 MICROPHONE12. TELEFUNKEN TF11 MICROPHONE
Telefunken‘s TF11 is the company’s first phantom-powered large-diaphragm condenser mic. The CK12-style edge-terminated capsule is a single-membrane version of the capsule featured in the TF51, and the amplifier is a proprietary take on the FET mic amplifier similar to the M60, coupled with a custom large-format nickel-iron core transformer.

 

L-ACOUSTICS K3 LOUDSPEAKER13. L-ACOUSTICS K3 LOUDSPEAKER
K3 is a compact loudspeaker from L-Acoustics that is intended as a main system to cover up to 10,000 people, or for use as outfills or delays for K1 or K2 systems. Designed as a full-range line source, K3 integrates 12-inch transducers for large-format system performance in the form factor of a 10-inch design.

 

CLEAR-COM HEADSET SANITIZATION KITS14. CLEAR-COM HEADSET SANITIZATION KITS
Clear-Com has sanitization kits for its CC-300, CC-400, CC-110, CC-220 and CC-26K headsets. They include replacement ear pads, pop filters, sanitizing wipes, ear sock covers and temple pads in a cloth bag. Items for each kit vary depending on the headset, and can also be purchased separately.

 

ZOOM PODTRAK P8 PODCAST STUDIO15. ZOOM PODTRAK P8 PODCAST STUDIO
The Zoom PodTrak P8 provides recording, editing and mixing capabilities all in one unit. Six mics, a smartphone and PC can be recorded simultaneously, each with its own fader and preamp with 70 dB of gain. A touchscreen controls monitoring, adjusting, onboard editing and more.

 

Pro Sound News‘ Gear of the Year, 2019

 

WAVES SHIPS KALEIDOSCOPES PLUG-IN16. WAVES SHIPS KALEIDOSCOPES PLUG-IN
Waves’ Kaleidoscopes plug-in creates classic analog studio effects such as 1960s phasing and tape flanging, 1970s stadium tremolo-guitar vibes and 1980s chorus sounds.

 

Gear of the Year - OUTLINE STADIA 28 LINE ARRAY SYSTEM17. OUTLINE STADIA 28 LINE ARRAY SYSTEM
The Outline Stadia 28 is a medium-throw system intended for use in permanent outdoor installations. A single enclosure weighs 46.2 pounds and can reportedly reach 139 dB SPL.

 

LAB.GRUPPEN FA SERIES AMPLIFIERS18. LAB.GRUPPEN FA SERIES AMPLIFIERS
Lab.gruppen‘s FA Series Energy Star-certified amplifiers are intended for commercial and industrial applications, and are offered in 2 x 60W, 2 x 120W and 2 x 240W.

 

D.W. FEARN VT-2 PREAMPLIFIER19. D.W. FEARN VT-2 PREAMPLIFIER
The updated D.W. Fearn VT-2 Dual-Channel Vacuum Tube Microphone Preamplifier now features an integrated, switchable 43 dB pad, aiding patching into a master bus.

 

KEF LS50 META SPEAKER20. KEF LS50 META SPEAKER
Our Gear of the Year list concludes with the LS50, featuring KEF’s Metamaterial Absorption Technology driver array, a cone neck decoupler, offset flexible bass port, low-diffraction curved baffle and more.

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