Cloud Microphones, maker of the original, award-winning Cloudlifter, has unveiled their latest addition to the Cloudlifter family. The brand new Cloudlifter X offers a custom-designed Cinemag transformer along with two selectable output levels that expand the range of output gain offered by the industry standard CL-1.

Featuring Cloud’s signature ultra-clean gain, the nickel-core Cinemag transformer delivers an incredible amount of bandwidth at normal input levels, and can also provide a variable amount of harmonic content and saturation as the input signal is increased, adding extremely musical flavours to the CL-X’s output, which can change dynamically based on the input level of the source material.

“Our customers love the CL-1 for its ultra-clean, transparent gain,” says CEO Rodger Cloud. “With the addition of a custom transformer, the CL-X will respond to different sources and input levels, returning ultra-clean gain with varying levels of character and mojo. We like to say ‘the more signal you give it, the more love it will give back’.”

Inspired by the two-position More/Max switch found on the Cloudlifter Z, the default setting (up to 12dB) on the CL-X is ideal for use with hotter signals like an SM57 on a snare, whereas the “Max” setting (up to 36dB) is perfectly suited for quieter source material such as acoustic instruments, podcasting, ASMR, or even Foley. 

“The CL-X is the perfect companion piece for CL-1 owners,” says Cloud. “The additional gain settings — neither of which can be found on the CL-1 – combined with the sonic flavour of the transformer opens up a whole new world of Cloudlifting possibilities.”

The Cloudlifter X carries a US$269 MSRP, and is currently shipping.

SPL’s Crescendo Duo, the dual-channel microphone preamplifier with 120V technology, embodies the precise sound that German Rundfunk-Technik is famous for. With an internal operating voltage of 120 volts, this allows the Crescendo microphone preamplifiers to break completely new ground which results in microphone preamps that sound detail-rich, vivid, and equally honest.

With the  Crescendo Duo’s new V2 revision, the mic pre receives a facelift in the new design of the SPL Studio series. But besides the black faceplate the housing has also got an update to the next level. Since Crescendo duo V1 is already pushing the envelope, the only technical change in V2 is different steps of amplification on the big “Mic Gain” switch, where there now is a large choice of medium amplification values.

Spot The Difference

• Crescendo duo v2 comes with a new faceplate design in black
• Crescendo duo v2 comes with a different and improved housing
• Crescendo duo v2 comes with more steps of values for medium amplification on the big “Mic Gain” switch

SPL Crescendo Duo V2 is available now.

EVO by Audient announces the arrival of EVO SP8, an eight channel Smart Preamp with AD/DA. Billed as the perfect expander for your audio interface, SP8 is the newest addition to the EVO range.

“Bigger sessions demand more channels and expanding your existing audio interface via ADAT might be the most cost-effective solution to scale up your studio,” says Audient/EVO marketing director, Andy Allen. “SP8 does exactly that, giving you eight studio quality analogue preamps, a modern and intuitive user experience with exceptional audio performance across the board.”

With SP8’s eight mic/line inputs, eight line outputs and 2x ADAT I/O connections, this 8 channel smart mic preamp provides enough I/O to tackle multi-mic sessions like recording drums or even a full band.

As with all EVO products, SP8 benefits from the addition of Smartgain, an innovative and time saving feature which gives the option to automatically set the gain with the touch of a button. “As with EVO 16, EVO SP8 can automatically set the gain for all 8 channels at once,” explains Andy, highlighting the added advantage for musicians who have multiple mic inputs (drummers) or line inputs (synth players).

“If you’re expanding your current non-EVO audio interface, you get up to eight channels of simultaneous Smartgain with SP8, which not only takes the guesswork out of setting your levels, but also saves you time. If you are pairing two SP8s with your EVO 16 then you have Smartgain on all 24 channels! Soundcheck an entire band in less than 20 seconds. Imagine how that could transform a session and allow producers to stay focused on what’s important — making music,” says Andy.

There’s also a high resolution, full-colour LCD screen built into the unit. “Navigate SP8’s hardware features with blazing speed, courtesy of our Motion User Interface. The wide angle screen intelligently displays information as you need it, transforming EVO SP8 into a fully immersive, easy to use Smart Preamp — the first of its kind,” Andy continues. With the option to view the channel status and keep an eye on metering levels, Motion UI uses a centralised one-knob system to adjust all EVO 16’s hardware parameters.

“We’re calling it the mic preamp of the future,” says Andy. “Our powerful EVO Mic Preamp technology combines all the sonic advantages of a studio-grade analogue mic preamp with digitally controlled tactile precision, so you can set your gain with pin-point accuracy — right down to the decibel.” EVO Mic Preamps provide 58dB Mic Gain, while its advanced 32-bit converter technology offers 121dB dynamic range.

Features:

• 8 x EVO Mic Preamps
• 2 x JFET Instrument Inputs
• 8 x Line Outputs
• 2 x ADAT Inputs
• 2 x ADAT Outputs
• Class Leading AD/DA Converters
• Multi-Channel Smartgain
• ‘EVO Motion UI’ Control System
• High-Res LCD Screen
• One Knob Centralised Control
• Ultra Clear Metering
• Input/Output Control
• Channel Status Indication
• Optional Rack Ears
• Word Clock Input
• 24bit / 96kHz

Just like EVO 16, the meticulously designed solid steel chassis with non-slip rubber feet means EVO SP8 fits comfortably either on a desktop, in a portable rig or as a permanent fixture in the studio. Optional rack-ears make it that bit more flexible.

EVO SP8 is expected to ship in the first quarter of 2023 and will retail at £399 inc VAT, €449 inc local VAT, and US$499 MAP.

The latest release from Soyuz Microphones sees the pro audio brand expanding its inline microphone preamp concept with the Launcher Deluxe. The new stereo inline microphone preamp adds new connectivity, two different modes of use, and compatibility with condenser microphones and line-level signals.

“The Launcher has been a huge success for us, and since its release, we’ve gotten a lot of feedback from users all over the world,” says Soyuz Microphones owner David Brown. “With the Launcher Deluxe, we’ve given them everything they want and more.” The Launcher Deluxe utilises two separate signal paths to pass mic and line-level signals through the unit. Each path features two custom hand-wound toroidal transformers (the Launcher Deluxe features four transformers in total) and the same analog circuit that gave the original Launcher its distinct colour and vibe.

Designed for flexibility, each channel of the Launcher Deluxe features two individually selectable modes, Launcher Mode and Saturate Mode, to benefit any source. Launcher Mode delivers a 26dB boost of gain and colour to any dynamic or ribbon microphone. Flip the switch to Saturate Mode to bypass the additional gain and impart the classic character of The Launcher on any FET or tube condenser mic and line-level signal.

“The game-changer with the Launcher Deluxe is the ability to use it with condenser microphones,” states Brown. “Now engineers and artists alike can take advantage of The Launcher’s signature colour and give their lesser microphones a much needed lift.” Initially released in 2019, The Launcher is a simple tool that offers easy access to the dreamy warmth and rich character of studio gear from the classic era. With more and more creators using multiple Launchers for live performances, recording sessions, and stereo summing, Soyuz envisioned a stereo version of the box with more flexibility.

The Launcher Deluxe is a viable option for working on the go and keeping your sound consistent no matter where you take it. The stereo inline mic preamp will easily fit into your book bag or carrying case and find a comfortable home on stage, pedalboards, podcast desk, recording consoles, and more.

The Launcher Deluxe stereo inline microphone preamp is now available at Soyuz retailers around the world.

Heritage Audio has announced the availability two new 8 channel units — the Súper 8 preamp, and the OST-8 ADAT. The Súper 8 is an 8 channel transformer-coupled class A mic preamp with premium 24 bit 192k ADC providing eight channels in a 2U enclosure. The OST-8 ADAT is a 3U rack-mountable, eight-slot 500-Series enclosure, allowing workability with a premium 24-bit/192kHz ADC creating a clean, direct pathway for sending signals to a DAW using an ADAT Lightpipe cable.

Súper 8
The Súper 8 offers a compact solution for when several high quality preamps and top class conversion is needed. It allows eight high-quality signals to be recorded into a DAW with an ADAT Lightpipe cable. The unit can either be the Master or Slaved to another unit as there is a BNC IN and OUT for reliable syncing. It also offers an alternate route to the converter via a DB25 connector to expand the unit’s flexibility.

Using its Class A 73 Preamp building experience Heritage Audio was able to fit 8 MIC/Line preamps into a sturdy 2 unit rack. All 8 are faithful to its 3 stage all Class A design with Carnhill transformers fitted at the input and the output. The first two channels also include its high quality JFET DI as well as a fully sweepable Lo-cut filter. All 8 channels include switches for 48V, Line, Lo-cut(-3dB at 82Hz) and Phase.

There is built in analog to digital conversion available on 3 different digital formats: ADAT, AES/EBU and SPDIF with BNC connectors for reliable word clock syncing. Selectable sampling frequencies from 44.1kH to 192kH. The MIC/Line Preamp outputs can be directly sent to the DAC, but there’s also the possibility of choosing an alternative input — per channel — for the digital conversion, making this an extremely flexible unit. This can come in useful if you need to output the preamps to an EQ or compressor before returning them for digital conversion.

Features:

• 8 Class A 73 Style Preamps with 3 Stage design offering up to 80dB of Gain
• Exclusively designed Carnhill Transformers on the Input and Output
• High quality JFET D.I. before the Input Transformer on first 2 Channels
• Sweepable LoCut filter on first 2 Channels
• Premium 24Bit/192kHz 8 Channel ADC
• ADAT, SPDIF, AES/EBU Digital Output options
• Analog Inputs & Outputs on Gold Plated XLRs as well as DB25 Connectors
• Alternate Input path to ADC available

OST-8 ADAT
Many people rely on the ADAT format and almost every serious sound card includes an ADAT option, so incorporating an ADAT output is a practical progression for Heritage Audio designs. The OST-8 ADAT is an 8 slot 500 series enclosure with its own built-in premium converter to make capturing, processing, and digitalising signals at a high quality a reality. 

Here Heritage Audio has relied on its trusted On Slot Technology to guarantee a clean, protective environment for your valuable 500 series modules. It offers filtering and isolation for each slot, and each module is individually regulated providing each module with tis own power supply. 

The OST-8 ADAT incorporates a high quality 24Bit/192kH ADC that can operate as a MASTER unit or SLAVE to another with a BNC connector to sync to WordClock to assure a stable conversion. A great feature is that it’s possible to select individually, per channel, the input routed to the ADC. This means one can choose between the signal directly from the input, the signal after going through the 500 module or an ADC external in signal. This last option is useful as it gives the user more processing possibilities before the conversion stage.

The OST-8 ADAT is solidly built and includes gold plated XLR connectors as well as the Inputs and Outputs duplicated on DB25 connectors for further convenience. Then there’s the ‘LINK’ button on the back which has become a must have as it permits you to internally connect one module’s output to the next, adjacent module’s input with the no need to use patch cables.

Features:

• Premium 24Bit/192kH 8 Channel Analog-To-Digital converter can be either MASTER or SLAVE to another unit and guarantee correct syncing with its BNC connector
• Heritage Audio’s ‘On Slot Technology’ has been used to offer protection, filtering, and isolation for you modules
• Alternate Input path to ADC available
• 2 X ADAT Outputs enables SMUX use
• 3 selectable input options per channel (Pre 500 module, Post 500 module or External Aux) of the 8 channel ADC means you will always have the most flexible routing possible
• Trusted, streamlined connection with your audio interface using just one Lightpipe cable
• OST-8 ADAT also includes the popular ‘LINK’ button to internally connect one module to the next without the need for patch cables
• Gold plated, balanced +4dB connectors are used throughout as well as duplicated on DB25 connectors for even more convenience