AdvancedTCA and MicroTCA are some of the most exciting things to happen in the board business since VME. Some even claim that they are the most important developments ever. For the first time there is a complete ecosystem of customers and vendors working together to specify, implement, and apply the new technologies.

Advanced Mezzanine Cards are printed circuit boards, also known as PCBs, that follow a specification of the PCI Industrial Computers Manufacturers Group. There are now over a 100 companies participating.

AMC.x is the the official specification designation for AdvancedMC which is targeted to requirements for the next generation of carrier grade communications equipment. This series of specifications are designed to work on any carrier card and plug into a backplane directly as defined by MicroTCA specifications.

Micro TCA

AdvancedMC cards are considered powerful enough that there are situations where the processing functionality is the only requirement. The MicroTCA standard is targeted at supplying a COTS chassis that will allow AMC cards to function without any AdvancedTCA carrier card.

Versions of MicroTCA with fewer AdvancedMC card slots are informally known as NanoTCA and PicoTCA.

The function of the ATCA carrier board and of the ATCA shelf manager are concentrated on one board, which is called the MicroTCA Carrier Hub.Popular Posts:

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• Get state-of-the-art overclocking capabilities that give you unmatched control and flexibility.
• Engineered for speed, the ATI Radeon HD 5970 delivers an unrivaled HD gaming experience.

Click here to apply for the ATI HD5970 GPU on finance as a single product, or as part of a custom-built PC from 800HighTech.com>>>

ATI Radeon Financed

ATI Radeon HD5970 Key Features

DirectX 11

DirectX 11 is a key feature of Windows 7 and is important for two key reasons: it helps consumers experience better performing games and faster computing. To do this, DirectX 11 brings several new features which collectively improve the graphic fidelity of games and 3D applications while also enhancing the ability of the CPU and GPU to work together more efficiently. This in turn will allow end-users to potentially realize significant increases in performance as application developers harness the power of tessellation, multi-threading and compute shader technology, three key new features of DirectX 11.

DirectX11

The Ladybug demo shows the results of a new approach to simulating lens-accurate depth-of-field effects based on real-world parameters of focal length and focus distance. This technique is made possible by the ATI Radeon HD 5000 Series of graphics processors and the Microsoft DirectX 11 and Direct Compute 11 technologies. Depth-of-field is used in feature films by cinematographers to subtly guide a viewer’s attention through a shot or to heighten the emotion of a scene. This technique finally provides developers with a way to achieve the same effects and bring new levels of cinematic realism to their games. This approach is enabled by features such as atomic operations and shared memory.

Eyefinity Technology

Expand your view of gaming, productivity, and entertainment and discover a new realm of panoramic computing with ATI Eyefinity advanced multiple-display technology. With the introduction of new GPUs from AMD which are compliant with next-generation DirectX 11, ATI Eyefinity Technology with DisplayPort connectivity, enables a single GPU to support up to six independent display outputs simultaneously. Boost everyday productivity, and ease multitasking with a vastly expanded visual workspace.

Eyefinity

Intensify gaming with ultra-immersive playing environments, and expand your entertainment landscape with a breathtaking field-of-view. Offering easy configuration and flexible upgradability, the innovative graphics capabilities of ATI Eyefinity multiple-display technology helps dissolve visual limitations and adds a new “surround-sight” sensation to your PC experience.

CrossFireX

CrossFireX

ATI CrossFireX technology allows you to expand your system’s graphics capabilities. It allows you the ability to scale your system’s graphics horsepower as you need it, supporting up to four ATI Radeon HD graphics cards, making this the most scalable gaming platform ever.

ATI 5970 System Requirements

• PCI Express based PC is required with one X16 lane graphics slot available on the motherboard
• 650 Watt or greater power supply one 75W 6-pin and one 150W 8-pin PCI Express power connectors recommended (850 Watt with two 75W 6-pin and two 150W 8-pin connectors for ATI CrossFireX technology in dual mode)
• Certified power supplies are recommended. Refer to http://support.amd.com/us/certified/power-supplies/Pages/listing.aspx for a list of certified products
• Minimum 1GB of system memory
• Installation software requires CD-ROM drive
• DVD playback requires DVD drive
• Blu-ray playback requires Blu-ray drive
• For an ATI CrossFireX system, a second ATI Radeon HD 5970 graphics card, an ATI CrossFireX Ready motherboard and one ATI CrossFireX Bridge Interconnect cable per graphics card (included) are required

ATI 5970 Technical Specifications

• Dual GPUs with a total of 4.3 billion 40nm transistors
• TeraScale 2 Unified Processing Architecture: 3200 Stream Processing Units, 160 Texture Units, 256 Z/Stencil ROP Units, 64 Color ROP Units
• GDDR5 memory interface
• PCI Express 2.1 x16 bus interface
• DirectX 11 support: Shader Model 5.0, DirectCompute 11, Programmable hardware tessellation unit, Accelerated multi-threading, HDR texture compression, Order-independent transparency
• OpenGL 3.2 support
• Image quality enhancement technology: Up to 24x multi-sample and super-sample anti-aliasing modes, Adaptive anti-aliasing, Super AA, 16x angle independent anisotropic texture filtering, 128-bit floating point HDR rendering,
• ATI Eyefinity multi-display technology: Three independent display controllers, Drive three displays simultaneously with independent resolutions, refresh rates, color controls, and video overlays
• Display grouping: Combine multiple displays to behave like a single large display
• ATI Stream acceleration technology: OpenCL support, DirectCompute 11, Double precision floating point processing support, Accelerated video encoding, transcoding, and upscaling, Native support for common video encoding instructions
• ATI CrossFireX multi-GPU technology, Dual card performance scaling, ATI Avivo HD video & display technology, UVD 2 dedicated video playback accelerator, Advanced post-processing and scaling, Dynamic contrast enhancement and color correction, Brighter whites processing (blue stretch), Independent video gamma control, Dynamic video range control, Support for H.264, VC-1, and MPEG-2, Dual-stream 1080p playback support, DXVA 1.0 & 2.0 support,
• Integrated dual-link DVI output with HDCP: Max resolution: 2560×1600
• Integrated DisplayPort output: Max resolution: 2560×1600
• Integrated HDMI 1.3 output with Deep Color, xvYCC wide gamut support, and high bit-rate audio: Max resolution: 1920×1200
• Integrated VGA output: Max resolution: 2048×1536
• 3D stereoscopic display/glasses support
• Integrated HD audio controller: Output protected high bit rate 7.1 channel surround sound over HDMI with no additional cables required, Supports AC-3, AAC, Dolby TrueHD and DTS Master Audio formats
• ATI PowerPlay power management technology: Dynamic power management with low power idle state, Ultra-low power state support for single and multi-board configurations
• Certified drivers for Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP

Speeds & Feeds

• Engine clock speed: 725 MHz
• Processing power (single precision): 4.64 TeraFLOPS
• Processing power (double precision): 928 GigaFLOPS
• Polygon throughput: 1.45 billion polygons/sec
• Data fetch rate (32-bit): 464 billion fetches/sec
• Texel fill rate (bilinear filtered): 116 Gigatexels/sec
• Pixel fill rate: 46.4 Gigapixels/sec
• Anti-aliased pixel fill rate: 185.6 Gigasamples/sec
• Memory clock speed: 1.0 GHz
• Memory data rate: 4.0 Gbps
• Memory bandwidth: 256.0 GB/sec
• Maximum board power: 294 Watts

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And expand your visual real estate across three HD displays in jaw-dropping stereoscopic 3D for the ultimate in immersive gaming. NVIDIA GeForce GTX 480: pure adrenaline meets visual bliss.

Click here to apply for the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 480 graphics card on finance from 800HighTech.com>>>

Available to finance separately, or as part of a Custom desktop PC.

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 480 Graphics Card Overview

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 480 Financed

Incredibly detailed visuals

Incredibly Detailed Visuals

Experience an unprecedented level of detail and realism in the latest games. Tessellation- one of the biggest new features of Microsoft DirectX11- helps developers create more detailed characters and terrain in games, bringing you sharper, crisper images and a more realistic experience. GeForce GTX 400 GPUs deliver up to 8x the tessellation performance compared to competition, bringing your games closer to reality without sacrificing the high frame rates you enjoy.

Stunning Gaming Effects

Stunning Game Effects

Cutting-edge Microsoft DirectX 11 graphics and NVIDIA PhysX technology take gaming to a new level. Witness effects so realistic that you’ll have to remind yourself it’s just a game. Repeat: It’s just a game.

Total Immersion

Total Immersion

Breakthrough the boundaries of your screen. Games, movies and photos enter a new dimension with NVIDIA 3D Vision technology. Thrill seeker? Use two GeForce GTX 480 cards in NVIDIA SLI configuration to project across three displays with NVIDIA 3D Vision Surround1 technology. Warning: May cause screen envy.

Futuristic Graphics

Futuristic Graphics

Prepare yourself for the future of gaming. GeForce GTX 480 powers interactive raytracing, bringing spectacular, photo-realistic renderings to your screen for the first time. Go ahead, spoil your eyes.

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 480 Graphics Card Key Features

• Microsoft DirectX 11 Support: DirectX 11 GPU with Shader Model 5.0 support designed for ultra high performance in the new API’s key graphics feature, GPU-accelerated tessellation.
• NVIDIA 3D Vision Surround Ready: Expand your games across three displays in full stereoscopic 3D for the ultimate “inside the game” experience with the power of NVIDIA 3D Vision and SLI technologies. NVIDIA Surround also supports triple screen gaming with non-stereo displays.
• Interactive Ray Tracing: By tracing the path of light through a 3D scene, ray tracing uses the power of the GPU to create spectacular, photo-realistic visuals. Get a glimpse into the future of gaming with ray tracing.
• 3-way NVIDIA SLI Technology: Industry leading 3-way NVIDIA SLI technology offers amazing performance scaling by implementing 3-way AFR (Alternate Frame Rendering) for the world’s premier gaming solution under Windows 7 with solid, state-of-the-art drivers.
• NVIDIA PhysX Technology: Full support for NVIDIA PhysX technology, enabling a totally new class of physical gaming interaction for a more dynamic and realistic experience with GeForce.
• NVIDIA CUDA Technology: CUDA technology unlocks the power of the GPU’s processor cores to accelerate the most demanding tasks such as video transcoding, physics simulation, ray tracing, and more, delivering incredible performance improvements over traditional CPUs.

32x Anti-aliasing Technology: Lightning fast, high-quality anti-aliasing at up to 32x sample rates obliterates jagged edges.

• NVIDIAPureVideo HD Technology: The combination of high-definition video decode acceleration and post-processing that delivers unprecedented picture clarity, smooth video, accurate color, and precise image scaling for movies and video.
• PCI Express 2.0 Support: Designed for the new PCI Express 2.0 bus architecture offering the highest data transfer speeds for the most bandwidth-hungry games and 3D applications, while maintaining backwards compatibility with existing PCI Express motherboards for the broadest support.
• Dual-link DVI Support: Able to drive industry’s largest and highest resolution flat-panel displays up to 2560×1600 and with support for High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection (HDCP).
• HDMI 1.3a Support: Fully integrated support for HDMI 1.3a including xvYCC, deep color, and 7.1 digital surround sound.

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 480 Graphics Card

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 480 Graphics Card Technical Specifications

GPU Engine Specs

• CUDA Cores: 480
• Graphics Clock (MHz): 700 MHz
• Processor Clock (MHz): 1401 MHz
• Texture Fill Rate (billion/sec): 42

Memory

• Memory Clock (MHz): 1848
• Standard Memory Config: 1536 MB GDDR5
• Memory Interface Width: 384-bit
• Memory Bandwidth (GB/sec): 177.4

Feature Support

• NVIDIA SLI-ready: 2-way/3-Way
• NVIDIA 3D Vision Ready: Yes
• NVIDIA 3D Vision Surround Ready: Yes
• NVIDIA PureVideo Technology: HD
• NVIDIA PhysX-ready: Yes
• NVIDIA CUDA Technology: Yes
• Microsoft DirectX: 11
• OpenGL: 4.0
• Bus Support: PCI-E 2.0 x 16
• Certified for Windows 7: Yes

Display Support

• Maximum Digital Resolution: 2560×1600
• Maximum VGA Resolution: 2048×1536
• Standard Display Connectors: Mini HDMI, Two Dual Link DVI
• Multi Monitor: Yes
• HDCP: Yes
• HDMI: Yes
• Audio Input for HDMI: Internal

Dimensions

• Height: 4.376 inches (111 mm)
• Length: 10.5 inches (267 mm)
• Width: Dual-slot

Thermal and Power Specs

• Maximum GPU Temperature (in C): 105 C
• Maximum Graphics Card Power (W): 250 W
• Minimum Recommended System Power (W): 600 W
• Supplementary Power Connectors: 6-pin & 8-pin
• High Dynamic-Range Lighting: 128bit
• Unified Architecture: Yes

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On Tuesday, September 1st Alienware proudly released their TactX keyboard and mouse into the US with the UK to shortly follow. The TactX name implies a focus on cunning ingenuity and precision, designed to appeal to serious gamers and others who realize it takes great peripherals in addition to a great computer to make an awesome gaming ecosystem.

Alienware TactX Gaming Mouse

Packed With Performance

School your enemies with one click. The new Alienware TactX Mouse has all the elements you need to lead your team to victory. Delivering uncompromising speed and accuracy, this mouse is designed to intensify your mad gaming skills.

Alienware TactX Mouse Dual Mode

Light It Up

Personalize your gaming experience with exclusive AlienFX customizable lighting. Set the tone for each game you’re playing with over 20 different colors to choose from.

Alienware Tactx Mouse Custom Lighting

Speed You Need

Experience pinpoint accuracy, smooth movements and on-the-fly DPI switching with the powerful 5000 DPI Laser Engine.

Alienware Tactx Mouse 5000 DPI Laser Engine

Gaming on the Go

Jump from game to game with ease with 5 customizable user profiles and 9 customizable buttons. Destroy the competition wherever you go with onboard memory that lets you program and save your settings to take with you to LAN parties.

Alienware Tactx Mobile Gaming Mouse

Keep Moving

Seamlessly navigate your team to safer harbors with both vertical and horizontal scrolling modes. Also, with dual vertical scroll modes, switch between precise, click-to-click scrolling and frictionless hyper-fast scrolling for total domination.

Alienware Tactx Mouse Fast Scrolling

More Range

The 6-foot, high-speed, braided, USB 2.0 cable allows for more setup room for your other peripherals and gaming rig.

Alienware TactX Mouse

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Click here to apply for the Neko EX5 Midi Workstation on finance from 800HighTech.com>>>

Neko EX5 Midi Workstation Overview

Perfect for studios, producers and artists-on-the-go, the Open Labs Gen5 NeKo EX5 is based on the superior quality and established reputation of the acclaimed L-series.

The Gen5 E-Series products feature the same high-grade aircraft aluminum chassis, innovative touch screen capabilities and pristine audio quality as the L-series. The Gen5 NeKo EX5 includes more than 7,500 high-quality preset sounds, a fully licensed version of Reaper (DAW), our live virtual instrument host RiffTM, and practically unlimited capability for third-party plug-ins, VSTi’s and applications including Pro ToolsTM, Native InstrumentsTM, CubaseTM, AbletonTM, ReasonTM and more.

Open Labs Neko EX5

Both Gen5 E-Series products are fully upgradeable to the L-Series standards with the upgrade package available in late 2009. The Open Labs NeKo EX5 ships complete with the following:

Pre Sonus DSP

• More than 7,500 high-quality sounds;
• 15-inch touch screen for hands on control of any software parameter and two button touch pad;
• Open Labs’ proprietary virtual instrument host RiffTM – the ultimate tool for live performance using VSTi’s;
• Unlimited capability for running third party plug-ins, VSTi’s and applications, including Pro ToolsTM, CubaseTM, AbletonTM, Native InstrumentsTM, Serato Scratch LiveTM, ReasonTM and many more;


Neko EX5 Control Interface

• Master Control Panel including transport controls, 4 plus 1 mappable faders, transpose functions and more;
• 61-key semi-weighted, synth-action keyboard with after-touch;
• Comprehensive I/O capable of up to 24bit/96KHz audio with 4 in / 6 out including 2 phantom-powered mic-preamps with instrument inputs, S/PDIF I/O and MIDI I/O;
• Intel Core 2 Duo 2.8 GHz processor, 2 GB RAM, 500 GB hard drive, dual-layer CD/DVD burner;


Neko EX5 With CD DVD Drive

• 4 USB 2.0 ports (2 external/2internal), 1 Firewire 1394 port, 1 VGA Video port, 1 Ethernet port, Internet ready;
• Integrated QWERTY keyboard panel;
• Open Labs’ Edition of WindowsTM, specifically configured for music production; and
• One year of Open Labs Gold Support Services which include: one-hour “Get to Know Your Machine” session, remote desktop support via Internet in addition to phone and email support, and full parts/labor warranty coverage.

Open Labs Neko EX5 Ins And Outs

Neko EX5 Midi Workstation Technical Specifications

• Keyboard: 61-key semi-weighted synth action keyboard (World class Fatar Technology
• CPU: NeKo EX5: Intel Core2 Duo (2.8GHz)
• Control Surfaces: Pitch Bend and Modulation Wheels, Trackpad with 2 buttons, Built-in Keyboard (“QWERTY”) Module, Open Labs Master Control
• Memory: 2 GB (upgradeable to 4GB)
• Audio I/O: (1) High Performance Audio I/O Card with Low Latency including 24-bit/96kHz professional 4-in/6-out, (2) mic/instrument preamp inputs (with Phantom Power 48V), (2) analog line inputs, analog line outputs, S/PDIF digital I/O (coaxial)
• Storage: 500 Gigabyte (upgradeable to 2TB)
• Drive: High Speed Dual-Layer 8.5GB/disc CD/DVD Burner
• Display: Internal 15” Color Touch Screen LCD High resolution (1024 x 768), External VGA port for running dual monitors or a video projector
• Connection: Midi In/Out, Sustain and (1) Expression ports, 4 USB 2.0 ports (2 external/2 internal), (1) FireWire 400 port, (1) Gigabit (10/100/1000) Ethernet port
• Software: Microsoft Windows XP Home, Open Labs Custom GUI (Graphic User Interface), Open Labs Riff, Open Labs mFusion, Reaper
• PREMIUM Factory Sound Library: Over 7,500 presets on the Neko EX5 and 1,000 song presets loaded into RiFFTM. (Check our Software Bundle webpage for more information)
• Power Supply: 500 Watt Power Supply, Whisper Quiet Cooling Fans (Internal Chassis, Processor & Power Supply)
• Dimensions: 46”(W) X 20”(D) X 7”(H)
• Weight (base configuration): 46 lbs.

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Click here to apply for the Boxee Internet TV Box on finance from 800HighTech.com>>>

Boxee Box Internet TV Box Financed

What is Boxee?

Boxee is the best way to enjoy entertainment from the Internet or a computer on a TV. Their free, open source, downloadable software for Mac, Linux and Windows brings all your entertainment into one place – whether it’s from the Internet or from your hard drive or home network. Plus, they overlay everything with a heaping helping of social by letting you share what you’re playing with friends on Boxee, Twitter, and Facebook.

The Boxee Box by D-Link takes the same popular software and offers it up as a great device — the perfect companion to a high definition TV. The Boxee Box by D-Link provides access to more than just traditional TV content. It includes a huge library that spans the Internet, such as university courses, panel discussions, academic lectures, presentations, web-only videos and more from TED, Stanford, FORA.tv, Kid Mango, Next New Networks and more. Boxee also makes it easy for users to add their own favorite entertainment sources with simple RSS or XML feeds available for most online video.

In addition to video content, Boxee users can access great music from sites like Pandora, last.fm, shoutcast, and We are Hunted as well as fun photos from sites like flickr, Picasa and the Facebook. So get comfortable on that big old couch, grab your remote and see what it’s all about!

Boxee Key Features

Boxee Box Rear Inputs

Everything you want.

The Boxee Box brings all your favorite TV shows & movies from the Internet or your hard drive onto your TV – no PC needed.

More bang, less buck.

Why pay for stuff you don’t watch? The Boxee Box lets you watch thousands of popular TV shows and movies for FREE!

Tailored to your TV.

With the Boxee Box you never need to “surf the Web” on your TV, instead you just use your remote control to pick and choose the best digital entertainment. No keyboard required.

It plays almost everything.

The Boxee Box plays any non-DRM media. If you can create it, Boxee will play it.

Just plain easy.

Connecting the Boxee Box to your HDTV is as easy as hooking up a DVD player.

QWERTY Keyboard comes standard.

The backside of our remote features a full keyboard to make it easier to interact with your TV — say goodbye to hunting and pecking for letters on-screen!

Share with friends.

Boxee makes it easy for friends to share their favorite movies, TV Shows, and songs with each other, on Boxee or on social networks like Facebook and Twitter.

Boxee Box Remote Control

Boxee Key Specifications

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Launchpad uses four different modes:

• Session Mode for controlling clips in Ableton Live’s Session View
• Mixer Mode for controlling Live’s mixer
• Two User Modes for custom device control and configuration

Click here to apply for the Novation Launch Pad on finance>>>

Novation Launch Pad

Novation Ableton Live Launch Pad Key Features

Big grid

Novation Launch Pad Big Grid

Compact, portable

Novation Launch Pad - Compact Portable

4 modes for flexibility

Novation Launch Pad 4 Modes

It’s not just about launching clips: as well as the Session Mode, Launchpad offers Mixer Mode a unique way to control Ableton Live’s mixer and two fully-customizable User Modes.

Innovative mixer control

Novation Launch Pad Mixer Controls

In Mixer Mode, the rows and columns of the grid become virtual faders, sliders and knobs controlling track volume, pan, sends, mute, solo, Clip Stop Buttons and record arm, depending on the function selected. Use the scene launch/mixer function buttons to select the function you want to control.

Customizable

Novation Launch Pad Customizeable Midi

The two fully-customizable User Modes transform the grid into a drum pad controller, DJ effect controller or anything else you can think of. The default state for User Mode 1 provides drum pad control for Live’s Drum Racks great for sketching out beats. Using Live’s simple MIDI mapping, it’s easy to create custom control environments, whatever devices you’re using and however your Live Sets are configured.

Made for Max for Live

Lauch Pad For Max 4 Ableton Live

The User Modes make Launchpad the ideal hardware counterpart for Max for Live. Launchpad is flexible enough to deal with even the most detailed Max for Live devices and can handle generic parameters and controls with ease. Eleven LED states provide visual feedback that’s precise enough for complex devices. Launchpad users will soon be able to download a Max for Live step sequencer patch from Novation and more Max for Live patches are planned for the future.

Communication goes both ways

Novation Launch Pad Communication

Live and Launchpad are in a constant, two-way, hardware-software dialog. The back-lit grid buttons show what’s happening in Live and Live, in turn, shows which section of the Session View is currently under Launchpad control: a red border around the current clip group let’s you see where you are with a just a cursory glance at your screen.

Navigating the Session View

Novation Launch Pad Arrow Buttons

Obviously, you’re not limited to controlling only 64 clips. The arrow buttons move the grid up, down, left and right one track or scene at a time. Hold down the ‘Session’ button in Session Mode, and you can use the arrow keys to jump eight tracks or rows at a time very useful for navigating around large, complex Live Sets.

More buttons? More Launchpads

Novation Launch Pad More Together

Want more buttons? Launchpads are designed to work together, with up to six units at once. That’s more than 400 assignable buttons! Launchpads running on the same system can run in different modes, so you can control the Session View, mixer and custom setups all at once, with one Launchpad for each.

Novation Ableton Live Launch Pad System Requirements

• Launchpad requires the latest available version of Live  7 or Live  8.

Mac:

• Any G4 or faster (Intel Mac recommended),
• 512 MB RAM (1 GB recommended),
• Mac OS X 10.3.9 (10.4 or later recommended),
• QuickTime 6.5 or higher,
• DVD-ROM drive

Windows:

• 1.5 GHz CPU or faster,
• 512 MB RAM (1 GB recommended),
• Windows XP or Windows Vista,
• Windows compatible sound card (ASIO driver support recommended),
• QuickTime 6.5 or higher,
• DVD-ROM drive

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The MG mixers offer an extraordinary blend of technology: some inherited from professional Yamaha mixing consoles you’re likely to see in distinguished halls throughout the world, and some developed specifically to deliver optimum performance in the MG-console format. In either case these performance-packed mixers are founded on a world-spanning network of human and technological resources that crystallize to deliver features that really matter, and sound that is undeniably superior.

Click here to apply for the Yamaha MG166CX-USB on finance from 800HighTech>>>

Yamaha MG166CX-USB Audio Mixer

Yamaha MG166CX-USB Key Features

Lightweight, Portable Designs

Designing a lightweight mixer is not too difficult, but designing a lightweight, compact mixer that delivers serious performance is another matter. The Yamaha design team went to extraordinary lengths in the MG series, including in-depth material and structural analysis, to bring you maximum manageability and maximum performance in the same packages. The result is that you can easily pop the smallest models into your briefcase or shoulder bag and take with you anywhere. Even the larger models can be tucked under an arm and carried around quite easily. But the performance you’ll get at the studio, club, hall, or anywhere you choose to use these fine mixers is far from lightweight. Every one of the MG series mixers provides significant space savings along with huge performance benefits.

Built-in SPX Digital Effects

Yamaha MG166CX With SPX Digital Effects

Versatile Connectivity and Pro-class Connectors

Yamaha MG166CX-USB Versatile Connectivity

Smooth 60-millimeter Faders & Illuminated Channel ON Switches

Yamaha MG166CX-USB With 60mm faders

Built-in Channel Compressors

Yamaha MG166CX-USB Channel Compression

High-performance Microphone Preamplifiers with Switchable Phantom Power

Microphone preamplifiers are critical in any mixer, and a performance bottleneck in many. That’s why pros often spend thousands of dollars on just a single channel of microphone pre-amplification. The microphone preamps built into the MG mixers inherit technology from Yamaha’s top-line professional consoles, and have been painstakingly designed to deliver superior sonic performance with any dynamic or condenser microphone. Gain trim covers a wide – 60dB ~ -16dB range for microphones (-34dB ~ +10dB for line input), so you’ll be able to achieve optimum level matching with just about any source. All microphone preamps also feature switchable phantom power so you can take advantage of the natural, extended response of high-quality condenser microphones.

3-band Channel EQ and High-pass Filters

Building a truly useful, musical-sounding channel equalizer is no easy task, but Yamaha has decades of experience in building pro consoles to draw on. You reap the benefits in the MG series mixers: all mono channels feature 3-band equalizers with LOW, MID, and HIGH controls. Depending on the model some of all of the stereo channels have 2-band EQ for smooth equalization of stereo sources. Although not directly related to the equalizer circuitry, all inputs also feature 80 Hz low-pass filters that can be used to eliminate subsonic noise that is outside the equalizers’ range.

Aux/Effect Sends

All models except the MG82CX have from one to three AUX sends for convenient to processing and monitor systems. Master send controls are also provided, as are RETURN level controls for the AUX and STEREO busses. “CX” models have EFFECT send controls on all channels that adjust the level of the signal sent from the corresponding channel to the mixer’s internal multi-effect system. The same signal can also be sent to external effect processors via the mixer’s EFFECT SEND jack.

Two, Four or Six Buses (Stereo and Group)

The smallest models in the lineup the MG82CX and MG102C have a single stereo bus (i.e. two mono buses). All other models additionally feature one or two stereo group buses and outputs that can be used for convenient channel grouping. Assign switches for the stereo and group buses are located next to each channel fader.

Bright Meters for Visual Level Monitoring

Accurate visual level monitoring can help you achieve maximum signal-to-noise ratio without distortion. The MG mixer’s bright, easy-to-read multi-segment LED meters make it easy to control system levels for optimum overall performance.

Optional Mic Stand Mount for the MG82CX and MG102C

Yamaha MG166CX-USB With Optional Mic Stand Mount

Easy Operation

All switches, controls, and displays have been designed and laid out for intuitive access and smooth, reliable operation with positive tactile and visual feedback.

Yamaha MG166CX-USB Mixer

Yamaha MG166CX-USB Technical Specifications

• Mic/Line inputs: 10
• Line inputs: 8 mono + 4 stereo
• Mixer input channels: 16
• Group busses : 4
• AUX busses: 3 (Incl. 1x Effect send)
• Main busses: Stereo
• Total harmonic distortion (THD+N): Less than 0.1%, 20Hz-20kHz
• Frequency response: 0, +1, -3dB , 20Hz-20kHz
• Hum and noise level: Equivalent input noise (EIN): -128dBu
• Residual output noise: -98dBu
• Crosstalk (1kHz): -70dB
• Power supply adaptor: PA-30 AC adaptor (AC35VCT, 1.4A)
• 100V, 120V, 220V, 230V or 240V; 50/60Hz
• Power consumption: 35W
• Dimensions (W x H x D, mm): 478 x 105 x 496
• Net weight: 5.5kg
• Accessories: Owners manual, AC adaptor

• Sager NP8120 Gaming Notebook
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• Toshiba Portégé M780 Laptop Tablet PC
• KORG M3 XPanded Music Workstation Sampler

Ableton Live software is a powerful, flexible environment for creating, performing, and producing music. This unique software demands an equally unique control instrument. Akai Professional and Ableton are proud to present the APC40: the Ableton Performance Controller. Combining the APC40 with Ableton Live transforms your experience from constructing tracks on a computer to fluid, musical creation.

The APC40 is the link between human and computer that perfectly balances analytical parameter control with creative expression. Whether you are an electronic music artist and Live is your canvass, a DJ using Live to mix or remix tracks, or a more traditional musician using Live on stage or in the studio, you will find the APC40 to the intuitive, powerful instrument that directly links your inspiration with Ableton Live.

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Akai APC40 Ableton Midi Controller

Akai-APC40 Key Features

• Designed in partnership with Ableton for Ableton Live
• Unique clip matrix with multicolor lighting displays current clip status
• No mapping required; every knob, button, and fader is customizable
• Bidirectional communication between APC40 and Ableton Live
• Solid, professional feel with rugged, metal chassis and premium controls
• Comes with Ableton Live Akai Professional APC40 Edition software
• Works with standalone editions of Ableton Live
• USB plug-and-play connection for Mac and PC
• Premium controller with rugged, metal chassis

Includes:

• APC40 Ableton performance controller
• USB cable
• Power supply
• Software CD
• Quick start guide

DIRECT DESIGN

Because Akai Professional and Ableton designed the APC40 specifically for Ableton Live, you don’t need to map its controls to talk to the software. Just connect your laptop to the APC40 via USB and you’re ready to make magic. The APC40 is plug and play, so you don’t need to install drivers. First-time setup is literally three steps: load Ableton Live, plug in and power up your APC40, and select the APC40 as Ableton Live’s controller. That’s it. No mapping, no setup, no hassles.

The APC40 comes pre-mapped for instant use with Ableton Live software, so if you’re new to it, you’ll find using the APC40 to be easy to get around on. And if you’re an experienced Live user, you’ll be happy to note that you can custom-map every single knob, button, and fader on the APC40 to completely customize the controls for the way you like to work.

VIRTUAL VIEW

The APC40 talks directly to Ableton Live and Live talks directly to the APC40. This bidirectional communication makes the APC40 an advanced controller in that it can receive feedback from the software and display it on its clip matrix of 40 triggers and on LED rings surrounding each knob.

The clip matrix gives you an instant view of clip status: what’s loaded, what’s playing, and what’s being recorded. Each state displays on the matrix in a different color so you can get a quick picture of clip state. You can shift your clip focus and get an overview of the clips you have loaded for your set. The APC40 has 16 knobs, each surrounded by a ring of LEDs. These LED rings make it easy to see your settings on dark stages, indicating the currently selected parameters’ values.

Akai APC40 Side View

PREMIUM FEEL

Ableton selected Akai Professional as its partner in developing the APC40 because of Akai Pro’s leadership position in great-feeling controllers that are rock solid, rugged, and precise. From the legendary MPC series that changed the way music is made to the industry-standard MPD and MPK controllers, Akai Professional is revered by musicians, DJs, and producers everywhere for creating the feel that powers their creativity. The APC40 is built with a rugged, metal chassis and slip-proof rubber detailing. All of the knobs and faders are solid and precise for pinpoint performance. It even features a high quality, replaceable crossfader for transitioning between clips and loops assigned to “A” or “B”.

CREATIVE CONTROL

The APC40 comes Ableton Live Akai Professional APC40 Edition software, which is fully functional for performance and production. Owners of standalone editions of Ableton Live 7 or 8 can also work seamlessly with the APC40. Live 7 with the latest automatic update has full support for the APC40 and all versions of Live 8 are APC40-ready.

Akai APC40 Financed

The APC40 has two banks of eight knobs. The first set controls Global parameters so you’ll always have instant access to your main sends, pans, and other essentials. The second bank of eight knobs is dynamically reassigned to the Track you select. You can control eight track parameters at a time, and as you switch channels, the Track knobs follow your focus. For example, you might be working with the Beat Decoder on track two. When you switch to track four, the eight Track knobs that you had been controlling the Beat Decoder with are now controlling the Flangeverb on track four. You’ll even notice that the settings for each knob load on the light rings so you’ll immediately see each knob’s status.

The APC40 also enables special clip-status views and feedback that only the APC40′s matrix can display. The matrix is not limited to only 40 clips: you can scroll and shift, enabling you to access, control, and perform with an unlimited number of cells.

The APC40 has a wide range of controllers. The eight Global knobs can access four banks of controls; the eight Track knobs control nine different track parameters each. This gives you a massive total of 72 controllers that are dynamically reassigned each time you switch tracks. Channel faders, bus faders, and a crossfader give you smooth control of key values. You have even more control power with special controls including Tap Tempo, Tempo Nudge, record enables, solo/cues, and two assignable footswitch inputs.

Designed in partnership with Ableton, the APC40 is the most advanced Live controller for the most advanced performers. The APC40 is Ableton Live performance… perfected.

Akai APC40 Technical Specifications

• Dimensions: 16.88 x 13.13 x 2.62 (WxDxH) / 429mm x 334mm x 67mm (WxDxH)
• Weight: 5.8 lbs / 2.64 kg
• Power supply: 12V 2.0A pin-positive, included
• Communication: USB-MIDI with proprietary hardware/software handshake
• Inputs: USB, Two assignable footswitch inputs

Mac system requirements:

• G4 or faster/Intel Mac recommended,
• 512 MB RAM/1 GB recommended,
• OS 10.3.9, 10.4 or later. recommended,
• QuickTime 6.5 or higher,
• DVD-ROM drive,
• USB port

PC system requirements:

• 1.5 GHz or faster,
• 512 MB RAM/1 GB recommended,
• Windows XP or Vista,
• Windows-compatible sound card/ASIO driver support recommended,
• QuickTime 6.5 or higher,
• DVD-ROM drive,
• USB port

• Sager NP8120 Gaming Notebook
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• Toshiba Portégé M780 Laptop Tablet PC
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The 828mkII is equally well-suited for studio and stage, with or without a computer. As a computer interface, the 828mkII provides 20 separate inputs and 22 outputs, including separate main outs and headphone out. The two mic/guitar/instrument inputs feature analog, pre-amplified sends which allow you to insert your favorite outboard EQ, compressor, guitar amp, reverb or other effects processor before the signal goes digital. Use any input as a return.

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MOTU 828 MKII

MOTU 828MKII USB Key Features

You can add additional send/return loops using the 828mkII’s new CueMix DSP on-board mixing feature, a flexible DSP-driven 20-input/8-bus mixing and monitoring matrix that eliminates the need for an external mixer or patchbay. Connect all of your studio gear, including microphones, guitars, synths, keyboards, drum machines and even effects processors. Then monitor all of these live inputs via the 828mkII’s main outs, headphone jack or any other output with virtually no monitoring latency and no processor drain on your computer. You can even create separate monitor mixes for the main outs, headphones and other outputs. Control everything from the included CueMix Console software or directly from the 828mkII’s front-panel.

Portable Design

Need to hit the road? The 828mkII operates as a stand-alone mixer, with no computer required. Need to tweak your mix? Do it on the spot with the 828mkII’s backlit LCD and front-panel controls. Every 828mkII setting can be accessed from the front panel.

MOTU 828 MKII Sound Card

Studio Quality Ins and Outs

Back in the studio, 8 channels of ADAT optical digital I/O, plus stereo S/PDIF, make the 828mkII an ideal companion for a digital mixer. All digital I/O connections support standard sample rates up to 96kHz.

The 828mkII includes 16-channels of MIDI input and output via its hi-speed USB 2.0 connection to the computer. Simply plug in your USB cable, and both MIDI and audio are ready to go. Connect any MIDI device, such as a controller keyboard, synth module, automated control surface or drum machine. Timing is sample-accurate with supporting software.

All inputs and outputs are discrete. In other words, using a mic-preamp input does not ‘steal’ an input from the TRS analog I/O bank, and the headphones and main outputs are available as separate mix destinations. They do not ‘mirror’ another output. CueMix DSP™, however, can be configured to mirror an existing mix bus to the headphones.

• Analog 24-bit 96-kHz on +4/-10 bal/unbal TRS: 8 in/8 out
• Mic preamps 24-bit 96-kHz on XLR/TRS combo : 2 in
• Main outputs 24-bit 96kHz on bal/unbal TRS stereo out
• Headphone output: stereo out
• ADAT optical (digital): 8 in/8 out – * 4 channels at 88.2 / 96kHz – can also be configured as stereo TOSLink S/PDIF
• S/PDIF 24-bit 96-kHz (digital): stereo in/stero out
• Total: 20 in/22 out

CueMix DSP

The 828mkII provides DSP-driven digital mixing and monitoring for all 20 inputs. You can connect mics, guitars, synths and effects processors, and monitor everything from the 828mkII’s main outs or headphone jack with no separate mixer needed and no latency.

The 828mkII supports up to four separate stereo monitor mixes assigned to any four digital or analog output pairs. For example, you could set up separate monitor mixes for the main outs and headphone outs, while two additional stereo buses could be used for send/return loops to reverb units or other outboard gear. Each mix can support all 20 inputs (8 TRS analog, 2 mic, 8 ADAT optical digital and stereo SPDIF digital).

MOTU 828MKII With CueMix Digital Sound Processing

• Bounce Back – A new “CueMix Bounce Back” feature lets you route one of the four CueMix DSP mixes back to the computer. This allows you to record, for example, your entire mix – including monitored inputs – back into the computer.
• Talkback – CueMix Console provides Talkback and Listenback buttons. Talkback allows an engineer in the control room to temporarily dim all audio and talk to musicians in the live room. Conversely, Listenback allows musicians to talk to the control room. For Talkback, you can set up a dedicated mic in your control room and connect it to a mic input on your 828mkII. For Listenback, you can set up a dedicated listenback mic in the live room for the musicians and connect it to another mic input.
• Stand-alone mixing – The 828mkII can function as a stand-alone digital mixer. Create up to four independent stereo mixes and adjust them on the fly with the front panel display.

High-speed USB Connection

The 828mkII can be connected to any high-speed USB 2.0-equipped Mac or PC. The 828mkII provides cross-platform compatibility with Mac OS X (version 10.3 or later), Windows XP and all of your favorite audio software and host-based effects via WDM/ASIO/GSIF/Core Audio drivers. Or you can use the included AudioDesk workstation software for Macintosh, with 24-bit recording/editing and 32-bit mixing/processing/mastering.

MIDI

The 828mkII includes a 16-channel MIDI interface that provides sample-accurate timing with supporting software.

Connect a MIDI keyboard, sound module or control surface, and you are ready to go. The USB cable carries both MIDI and audio so you don’t need to connect an additional USB cable for MIDI.

MOTU 828MKII Midi In/Out

MOTU 828MKII Technical Specifications

• CueMix DSP near-zero monitoring system.
• Front-panel control – access your entire mix, or any 828mkII setting, directly from the front panel.
• Stand-alone operation – program your mixes at the studio and then bring the 828mkII to your gig – no computer needed. Need to tweak the mix? Do it on site using the back-lit LCD and front-panel controls.
• Multiple CueMix DSP mixes – create different monitor mixes for the main outs and headphones. Add send/return loops for outboard gear – with no latency.
• Two mic pre-amps with switchable 48-volt phantom power, front-panel trim controls and pre-amplified sends.
• Mic/guitar instrument sends – add your favorite outboard EQ, preamp, reverb or other processor to the two mic/guitar inputs, before the signal goes digital.
• 20 inputs / 22 outputs – there’s no channel sharing in the 828mkII; the mic inputs, S/PDIF I/O, headphone out and main outs are all handled as separate channels.
• 8 channels of 24-bit ADAT optical input/output. Eight channels at 44.1/48kHz. Four channels at 88.2/96kHz.
• Sample-accurate digital transfers between ADAT digital tape decks and the computer via the ADAT sync port.
• Sample-accurate MIDI – connect a MIDI controller and/or sound module with no separate interface

needed. MIDI I/O is sample-accurate with supporting software.

• Expandable – add additional interfaces for more I/O as your needs grow.
• Eight 24-bit 96kHz analog inputs and outputs on balanced/unbalanced 1/4″ TRS jacks.
• Separate TRS main outs and front-panel headphone jack, each with independent volume control.
• Stereo 24-bit 96kHz S/PDIF in/out.
• Word clock in and out.
• SMPTE in and out.
• Includes drivers for Mac & PC, including ASIO, WDM, Wave, GSIF, Core Audio, and Core MIDI. Supports all popular Macintosh and Windows audio software.
• 100% compatible with all host-based effects processing in today’s popular audio programs.
• Includes AudioDesk full-featured sample-accurate workstation software for the Macintosh with recording, editing, mixing, real-time 32-bit effects processing & sample-accurate sync.
• Plug-and-play operation with your Mac or PC via high-speed USB 2.0.
• Front panel volume control for main outputs.
• Front panel headphone jack with independent volume control.
• Front panel meters for all analog, digital and MIDI I/O, plus SMPTE sync tach and lock LEDs.
• Dedicated front panel clock status LEDs.

• Sager NP8120 Gaming Notebook
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• Rain LiveBook Zephyr Laptop
• Toshiba Portégé M780 Laptop Tablet PC
• KORG M3 XPanded Music Workstation Sampler