Tuesday, June 26, 2018

Overloud Mark Studio 2 [Exciting, Deep] Review | Reviewer's Revival

Overloud Mark Studio 2 Review | Reviewer's Revival



Italian amplification specialist, Markbass®, has been producing some of the finest, most powerful-sounding bass rigs for the better part of two decades now (EST. 2001). Markbass® amps are world class in build quality, features, reliability, and obviously, sound quality. Fortunately for those of us longing for that definable bass sound in our ITB (In-the-box) mixes, Overloud has collaborated with their countrymen – bringing us their prolific Mark Studio 2 amp simulation plug-in.

Mark Studio 2 bests its forbearer, Mark Studio 1, by upping the anti from three amp heads and six cabinets to six amps and nine cabinets, respectively. A selection of six modelled close mics is on hand, as is a satisfying (virtual) midi-controllable pedal board layout.  Also included in the booty are a couple of front (room) microphones. Polishing off the kit is a built-in precision tuner with optional output mute. All of this bass-a-licious-ness is presented in an easy to use, intuitive UI (User Interface) complete with a robust, simplified preset manager.

A notable change, welcomed by all customers, is whenever a company *lowers* its prices, instead of raising them. This is just such a case in point – Mark Studio 2 offers more, and costs less, than its predecessor, coming in at only € 109/$129 (usd). Mark Studio 1 bore an exorbitant price tag of € 190 a few short years ago. Generous upgrade prices reduce that amount by no less than 40%, and during annual sales events, even more so.

Friday, January 26, 2018

ESI Unik 08+ Monitor Speakers [Exciting, Deep] Review | Reviewer's Revival

ESI Unik 08+ Monitor Speakers Review | Reviewer's Revival


ESI UniK 08+ Plus Review



A positive upside to our modern-day technology surge is an ever increasing availability of relatively affordable music production software, virtual instruments, and, of course, audio interfaces. For less than $1500, any enterprising musician with a moderately powerful PC (read: Bedroom Producer), can put together a decent home studio complete with DAW, audio interface, 49-key midi controller, microphone, headphones and maybe even a few 3rd party plug-ins.

​Then the fun begins (and perhaps some frustration too) as creative musical ideas actually take form and multi-tracked inventions can be shared with the masses. Right?

Well, not if you can’t produce a good mix, young grasshopper.

An experienced engineer will have immediately noticed a glaring omission from the $1500 list noted above --reference monitors. That’s right – I’m talking about studio monitors. Headphones are great for privacy and noise isolation in a bedroom studio or college apartment, but when it comes time to render a good mix, those “Dr. Beats” just ain’t gonna cut it, mate. What you need is a (hopefully) treated room and a pair of good quality, accurate, flat-response reference monitors.

As it happens, yours truly is reviewing a pair of reference monitors that behooves our attention and consideration. ESI has upped their game greater than ever before and now produce a select, but very impressive, range of studio-reference-speakers. Crowning their speaker line is the princely UniK 08 Plus. These 140 watt, bi-amped beauties house a potent kevlar-curved 8” low frequency driver and an exceptionally clear-sounding magnetostactic tweeter.

Spolier Alert:  Before we even get into the meat of the review, it is my sincere assessment that these powerful, attractive reference monitors contend very well against competitors selling for twice as much. Each “UniK 08 Plus” retails for $399 (USD), essentially costing about $800 a pair. Notwithstanding, the degree of accurate, detailed sonic quality that these speakers provide, for such a modest price, makes them practically a steal!