SWIVEL SYSTEMS SG20Owners of Palm computing devices can now create music with a 16-bit, 44.1 kHz General MIDI sound set. The Swivel Systems SG20 ($200) is a General MIDI tone module that clips onto a Palm computer; it's about half the size of the Palm, and runs on two AAA batteries.
The unit offers 24-voice polyphony with 128 musical instruments and 140 drum sounds. Chorus and reverb are built in. With the supplied MIDI/Audio Expander cable, the SG20 can also be used as a sound module with other MIDI devices. A built-in stereo mini headphone jack is provided for private listening. The SG20 is compatible with all Palm models; to use it with the Palm V and Palm Vx, you'll need the Palmdock V ($35) from Solvepoint.
The SG20 comes bundled with miniMusic's NotePad and BeatPad sequencing software (see "What's New" in the June 2000 issue of EM). Swivel Systems; tel. (415) 474-7446; e-mail simon@swivelsystems.com; Web www.swivelsystems.com.
WIARD SYNTHESIZER MODULAR SYSTEMThe Wiard Synthesizer Modular System is a true analog synthesizer that is available in several different configurations. The standard system ($3,295) is a rack-mountable package, and individual modules are sold separately ($399 to $549). The modules can interface easily with other modular systems using patch cords.
There are two types of VCO modules; one type has four waveforms, an AR envelope generator, a voltage- controlled amplifier, a noise source, and a jack multiple. The other, dubbed Waveform City, adds a digital waveshaper, control-voltage quantization, and nonlinear audio processing. The filter module offers a multimode filter with voltage-controlled cutoff, resonance, and filter type. The filter has a 4-input mixer and jack multiple, which is a patch bay-type splitter.
The Sequantizer is an 8-step analog sequencer module with voltage-controlled stage selection, a voltage quantizer/ summer/transposer, and a jack multiple. The Envelator module adds two multimode envelope generators. A switch enables either or both of the envelopes to retrigger at the end of their cycles. This causes the envelopes to ramp up and down, effectively configuring them as LFOs with variable sawtooth or triangle waveshapes. The envelope generator also contains a voltage-controlled crossfader that can be used to crossfade control voltages as well as external audio signals.
The stock system offers a dual-joystick controller. Wiard's optional Manual Controller ($299) comes with two joysticks, two triggers, two stereo patch bays, and a voltmeter. The patch bays offer multiple connector types for interfacing with external audio gear and other synthesizers. Wiard Synthesizer Company; tel. (414) 327-6316; fax (414) 546-9785; e-mail sales@wiard.com; Web www.wiard.com.
PRESONUS DIGIMAXPreSonus's DigiMax ($1,499) is an 8-channel mic preamp that provides a host of digital and analog I/O features and more. Each channel has a dual-servo mic preamp that does not use capacitors, and each features a peak and RMS limiter with knobs for adjusting the threshold and gain. The first two channels offer high-impedance inputs on the front panel for easy access; a button for each of these channels allows you to reverse the polarity. An EQ-enhancement button is useful for adding "air" around 12 kHz and to subtly contour lower frequencies. The 48V phantom power can be defeated individually for each channel. The DigiMax comes with eight 1/4-inch TRS balanced outputs.
Each channel has its own 24-bit ADC, and you can select sampling rates of 48, 44.1, or 32 kHz from the front panel. The DigiMax offers BNC word-clock I/O and an ADAT Lightpipe output. In addition, separate breakout cables provide four stereo coax S/PDIF ports (eight channels) and four stereo XLR AES/EBU outputs. (You can connect either the S/PDIF or the AES/EBU breakout cable to the unit's single 9-pin port.) PreSonus Audio Electronics; tel. (800) 750-0323 or (225) 216-7887; fax (225) 926-8347; e-mail presonus@presonus.com; Web www.presonus.com.