Some exciting developments from CES 2022 have really stood out in terms of innovation. Let’s take a look at two items in particular that have piqued our interest. Check out the Mind Control Earbuds from Wisear Technology, which makes use of a combination of sensors and an AI algorithm to read your brainwaves, and the Noveto N-1 Bluetooth speaker system with invisible headphone mode for a discrete uniquely earpiece-free listening experience. What are your favorite tech products from CES 2022? Let us know in the comments below. Mind Control Music Control with Wisear Technology Based in Paris, France, music tech startup Wisear has been hard at work developing the technology that allows your thoughts to control a smartphone’s basic music playback controls. Using specialized earbuds, the system carries out commands when you think of raising the volume, skipping to the next track, or muting the audio completely. Using sensors from the same manufacturers that created Apple’s AirPods 3 and the Bose QuietComfort earbuds, the system measures your brain activity. The system uses a method called “EarEEG” that combines an AI algorithm with the data captured by the sensors. Following the presentation at CES 2022, Wisear is looking to partner with an earbud manufacturer to take the Mind Control system onto the commercial market. Their neuronal biosensing solution has other potential applications like controlling a walkie-talkie’s push-to-talk function and their is a world of possibilities that will open up should it be incorporated in VR/AR headsets. As to when exactly we will be skipping through playlists telepathically, only time will tell. It certainly sounds like an exciting prospect either way. Noveto N-1 Invisible headphone solution Noveto N-1 – Soundbar with Invisible…

The new Mooer Preamp Model X2 offers a dual channel digital preamp in a compact pedal format. This could be a great addition for players looking to sculpt their tone own smaller pedalboard setups. Mooer Preamp Model X2 This is the latest addition to the Mooer X2 Series, following on from the company’s Delay and Reverb and the Groove Loop stereo looper. The dual channel digital preamp in the new Preamp Model X2 gives players access to 3 cabinet simulations, along with support for third-party IRs/Impulse Response plus 14 editable user presets. Each of the 14 presets has two different channel settings available via Channel A/Purple and Channel B/Blue, so you can easily switch between the two types. The foot switches can be used as an on/off, or to select the presets. Mooer Preamp Model X2 – Dual-Channel Digital Preamp Mooer Studio I like that Mooer has its own free Mooer Studio editing software. This way users can build and tweak their own presets and then upload them to the pedal via USB C. The editing software can also used for loading up third party Impulse Responses, and to load sample files recorded by actual amplifiers using Mooer’s MNRS technology. Mooer Preamp Model X2 Versatile Preamp? You get the basic controls on the front of the pedal itself, so you can also adjust them on the fly. These include Level, Gain, Bass, Middle, and Treble, plus a Save button. The pedal runs on a standard 9V DC power supply and comes with a USB-A to USB-C cable for the Mooer Studio software. This could be a handy little pedal with all these editable settings, though currently there are no official audio demos or details on the main Mooer site. If…

Part 2 of our Gearnews December Raffle! This week we’re giving away a brand spanking new Universal Audio 276 interface. Dual inputs and outputs, 24/192 recording, an analog compressor based on the 1176, Vintage Mic Preamp mode and a big suite of bundled software – what’s not to like? Universal Audio Volt 276 Audio Interface Universal Audio production quality in an affordable device – looking back now it’s obvious it had to happen eventually. And UA is uniquely placed to provide something cool, compact and affordable yet also desirable, with the allure of that “studio sound” that can be difficult to achieve when you’re starting out, or on a tight budget. So UA came up with the Volt series, with two different product lines. The “76” line – one of which we’re giving away here – includes an analogue compressor for “instant clarity and punch” with three presets, as well as a Vintage Mic Preamp mode. Oh, and wooden side panels. One thing that’s cool here is the ability to hook up the Volt to an iPad or iPhone, so you’re getting that UA vibe even when you’re recording or mixing with an ultra-light setup. Universal Audio Volt 276 Features Onboard 76 Compressor with presets for voice, guitars, synths, and drum machines 2-in/2-out USB 2 with 24-bit and 192 kHz audio conversion Supports Mac, PC, iPad, and iPhone Vintage Mic Preamp mode Big software bundle by Ableton, Melodyne, UJAM’s Virtual Drummer, Marshall and Ampeg Studio-quality headphone amp Bus powered 48V phantom power Direct Monitoring, latency-free MIDI You can keep up to date with Universal Audio news, releases and offers by signing up to their newsletter, which you can accomplish at…

The original 925 compressor by MIA Labs is a niche but well-loved compressor plug-in that tried something different for a change. MIA designed it using physical modelling principles and liberal inspiration from coveted vintage units. The concept has reached its second development milestone with the release of 925 Compressor MK2. Here’s more about the changes and upgrades applied to the 925. MIA Labs 925 Compressor MK2 Something very characteristic of the 925 comp’s design is that the sidechain detection circuit is based on a basic analog envelope detector which results in a lively dynamic response. The high detection speed lets the compressor follow the actual waveform instead of just the envelope. Along with the logarithmic gain reduction, this produces more natural-sounding compression and contributes to the 925 compressor’s versatility. The plug-in is suitable for both track and bus compression, including mastering applications. Additionally, the 925 compressor has a variable knee response to really slam transient-heavy sounds like percussion and rock vocals. For 925 MK2, MIA Labs introduced Slope / Ratio mode selection which completely changes the compression character and dynamic response. The Damping control is new to 925 MK2, enabling greater control and shaping of the output signal’s envelope. Additional improvements include improved CPU performance, new sidechain filtering and band compression options, Dry/Wet mix control, and resizable user interface. MIA Labs 925 Compressor MK2 Price and availability 925 compressor MK2 is on an introductory sale for EUR 39, down from EUR 129. It’s a free upgrade for owners of the original 925 comp. A free 14-day trial version is available as well. The plug-in works under Windows 7 or later and macOS 10.7 or later in 64-bit AAX, AU, and…

PreSonus has updated the R series studio monitors and announced the R65 V2 and R80 V2. The new monitors retain the 2-way configuration with AMT tweeters, but offer more tuning options than their predecessors. The amplifiers have also been updated. PreSonus R65 V2 and R80 V2 Both new models use a 6.8 square inch Air Motion Transformator (AMT) driven by a Class-A/B amplifier module with 65 watts. PreSonus says that the thin folds (less than 0.01 mm) of the Kapton membrane ensure that the tweeter moves instantly, for wave cycle accurate transient reproduction. The manufacturer also claims that the AMT design results in a wider sweet spot with focused vertical dispersion. This helps to minimize reflections from the desk, ceiling and floor, which could otherwise cause phase and coherence issues. The R65 V2 features a 6.5-inch woofer made of custom-woven composite, while the R80 V2 is equipped with an 8-inch speaker. Both models are built around a 75-watt Class-A/B amplifier module for the low and mid frequencies, which offers plenty of headroom to ensure distortion-free, non-fatiguing performance, PreSonus says. The manufacturer also claims that the woofers offer consistent dispersion across their entire frequency range. The R65 V2 offers a frequency response of 45 Hz to 22 kHz, while the larger R80 V2 goes down to 40 Hz. PreSonus R65 V2 New adjustment options In addition to the new amp modules, PreSonus has brought the acoustic tuning controls of the Eris lineto the R65 V2 and R80 V2. Both monitors offer low cut, mid frequency and high frequency controls. There’s also an Acoustic Space switch to compensate for the any issues caused by placing the speakers close to a wall or…

If you’re looking to add a virtual high-gain ‘block letter’ Peavey 5150 amp head to your DAW, check out Kazrog’s new Ampcraft 1992 plugin. The software also includes four popular stompboxes, and a dual IR loader cab simulation section. Using 32x oversampling, this promises to be a very accurate model of the classic high-gain head. And currently, you can pick it up for an introductory price. Kazrog Ampcraft 1992 Peavey’s original 5150 amp heads are known for their high-gain tones, and now Kazrog gives you access to them for your DAW with its new Ampcraft 1992 plugin. Kazrog has already garnered a reputation for making great software emulations with the Thermionik and Recabinet. Now, with the launch of its new Ampcraft series, we can expect more great amp simulations in the future. Kazrog Ampcraft 1992 Amp More Headroom Apparently, the Ampcraft 1992 has a higher headroom for the clean/crunch channel than the original Peavey 5150 amps, so there has been some updating to the original’s response. But otherwise, we have a fairly comparable virtual representation of the classic high-gain head. This includes both the resonance and the pre/post gain sections of the originals. Stompboxes To give your virtual amp some extra juice, Kazrog has also modelled four pedals for you to experiment with. First up, the 808 is modelled after the limited boutique Japanese “808” pedal with handpicked vintage ICs. Then you have the 66 that is based on a modern boutique EQ/boost pedal made famous by a certain  Swedish metal band. Next, the Stockholm is modelled on a Japanese-built pedal known for its buzzsaw distortion tone, that became a staple in the early Swedish death metal sound. And finally, you have the Djrive, which is a model of a modern boutique overdrive pedal that…

The JBL-Eon One Mk2 could well be the most well designed, battery operated PA system we’ve ever seen! Do you need something lightweight, portable and powerful? Seemingly JBL has the solution. JBL-Eon ONE Mk2 When you think of big-name brands in PA equipment and loudspeakers, JBL is up there with the best. You may already be familiar with JBL’s Eon range of active PA speakers including the Eon One portable speaker. If you looked at the Eon One and thought “nice idea, but I need something a bit bigger and louder”, then JBL has a proposition for you. Enter the JBL Eon ONE Mk2. The first thing you’ll notice is a completely different form factor. Column PA systems have become super popular, no doubt typified by the original Bose L1 and subsequently copied by everyone else. A column array design like this should ensure you get great coverage from a single point source. They’re also, easy to disassemble and move from location to location, ideal for those on the go. Battery Powered & Cleverly Designed Perhaps the standout feature of the JBL-Eon ONE Mk2, is its ability to be battery powered. The battery packs are interchangeable and actually form part of the column array itself. As an accessory, you can purchase a dual charger dock and spare packs. This means you could conceivably run the Eon ONE, mains free, all day long which is super impressive and could be a unique selling point in itself. If we take a look at the specs of the Eon ONE, we find a 10″ woofer coupled to 8, 2″ tweeters forming the array. I’m going to ignore the meaningless peak power output (when…

The Arcade adventure of interwoven loop packs evolves to become an instrument for playing melody and chords with Note Kits. Arcade 2.0 Arcade has been a fun place to play. With an ever-expanding library of nicely curated loops, it’s one of those pieces of software that makes you sound great with the minimum amount of effort. Messing about with loops will only get you so far and so Arcade tended to find itself as a background tool that was great at producing a bedrock of sound and interest but it was never able to finish a track on its own. Arcade 2.0 aims to change that by turning itself into a playable instrument with Note Kits. Note Kits are still sample-based but instead of rhythmic loops, you get instruments for playing melodies and chords. The stylish front end gives you control over a handful of aspects of each Note Kit to morph the sounds and tweak it to your liking, however, hidden away under the “Tweak” button is a whole synth engine of possibility. You’ll find 3 layers of samples in which you can select waveforms, configure envelopes, adjust filters and route each one through its own effects chain. Output Arcade Note Kit editor The core elements of a beautiful looking UI, fabulous loops on the white notes, interesting manipulations on the black notes, macro effects, sample editing and the ability to drop in your own samples all remain. And Output has stayed true to its intention of constantly updating the instrument with new content. If you’re already into the sorts of sounds and production Arcade can offer then the Note Kits are going to keep you in that environment…

Plugin Alliance has released Tantra 2 by DS Audio. The plug-in lets you go wild with sequenced multi-effects in two layers. Turn any audio track into something completely different with this fireworks display of rhythmic effects. DS Audio Tantra 2 The concept behind Tantra 2 isn’t completely new or unique. If you like to chop up your audio tracks using sequenced effects, you’ve now got a choice of many interesting plug-ins like Infiltrator, Shaperbox, or Lunatic, which came out just a couple of weeks ago. But Tantra 2, which is distributed under the Plugin Alliance umbrella, offers a twist: Everything you see is available in two layers. The effects section offers six effects: filter, distortion, delay, lo-fi, flanger, and glitch. These can be adjusted separately for the A and B layers. Each layer offers its own set of stereo inputs and outputs. This means that you can use the layers in parallel or in a series and effectively mix two separate effects chains, which opens up many creative possibilities. Everything is controlled by the Modulator section. There are eight modulators, which can be programmed in a 32-step sequencer. By modulating the parameters of the various effects, this allows you to create complex patterns that range from subtle motion to all-out destruction. The master section offers separate level and pan controls for the two layers, as well as global reverb, equalizer and exciter effects. If you like to fire rhythmic salvos of effects at your audio material, Tantra 2 puts a well-stocked arsenal at your fingertips. It’s not like DS Audio has reinvented the wheel, but if you like sequenced effects, be sure to add this one to your list. Price…

Mooer has just launched the new Groove Loop X2 stereo looper pedal. The pedal features an onboard drum machine, so you can play against a beat. There are 121 drum grooves that can be synced to the looped audio, making practise a lot less of a chore. Mooer Groove Loop X2 The new Groove Loop X2 stereo looper from Mooer has 14 save slots, each of which can store up to 10 minutes of audio. Then you have those 121 drum grooves that can be synced to your looped audio, so practising will be a lot more fun. There are 11 different musical styles on offer here, which you can select using the Genre and Pattern controls on the pedal. Mooer Groove Loop X2 Three Looping Modes You also have access to three different looping modes. These include the Normal mode, a Count-in mode that you can toggle on or off, and finally, an Automatic mode. The latter mode automatically starts looping as soon as a guitar signal is detected. The Time Stretch function enables players to alter the speed of their loop’s playback, without affecting the original pitch. It’s a neat feature that you can really get creative and experimental with. There’s also a Tap Tempo that you can use to set the tempo manually. And when not, the pedal will detect the tempo automatically while you are playing. The looper features an onboard drum machine, time stretch and tap tempo Stereo Operation You also get stereo inputs, along with the ability to split the looper and onboard drum machine to separate stereo outputs. This could be great for live work, especially if you want to send your drums to their own PA/mixer channel or separate…