Aphex® Deepens Its Relationship with the Music Industry Recording Arts (MIRA) Program at St. Petersburg College

— Leading audio processing product developer and innovative pro audio and music industry education center have a shared vision of how technology and academia can work together to the enhanced benefit of the school, the students and the quality of sound —

BURBANK, CA, February 12, 2013 — Aphex®, a leader in audio enhancement technology for more than 35 years, has deepened its unique relationship with the Music Industry Recording Arts (MIRA) program at St. Petersburg College in St. Petersburg, Florida. The MIRA program, which was launched four years ago with a dozen students and offers an accredited Associate of Science degree in a well-integrated curriculum of audio sciences and business acumen, now has between 250 and 300 students per semester in the program, and plans to launch a four-year Bachelor of Applied Science degree program in 2014. For the last two years, the MIRA program has collaborated closely with Aphex, using products including the Aural Exciter®, 500 Series EQ, Aphex Channel, Aphex Dominator II and Compellor® processors, as well as the HeadPod 4™ headphone amplifier, all integrated into MIRA’s pro audio curriculum. As new products become available, Aphex shares them with MIRA, providing the program’s students with state-of-the-art technology that offers them access to equipment identical to that being used in commercial facilities. At the same time, the faculty and students of MIRA regularly provide insightful feedback into how those products perform under the singular pressures of an academic environment. It’s a relationship from which everyone benefits, most of all the students.

This mutually beneficial association has come about because of the shared vision of Mark Matthews, Lead Instructor of the MIRA program, and Aphex wanting to bring the “real world” of recording and music to students. “At MIRA, we approach learning about audio arts and the music industry in an experiential, hands-on way, and Aphex has been a significant partner in how we go about that,” says Matthews. “That we work so well together stems from the fact that both Robin and I came to where we are now from being musicians and from working in various aspects of the music industry. Our visions of how best to teach about sound and improve sound are very much in synch.”

Aphex COO, Robin Sibucao agrees, adding, “Mark Matthews has the perfect combination of experience, talent and vision to lead their unique MIRA Program. Matthews is pioneering a new educational path to prepare students not only to enter the industry’s workplace but also to grow and sustain within the many segments of the audio industry. We are thrilled that Aphex and MIRA have developed such a great working relationship and that we can be a part of helping the audio professionals of the future in such a powerful program. And as the students learn using our product, Aphex also learns while watching them use those products – we get to see how an entirely new generation of pro audio professionals looks at its tools.”

As the relationship enters its next stage, Sibucao points to MIRA’s new MYRA Radio Network, an internet-based radio station broadcasting from the St. Petersburg/Gibbs campus. The station is a multi-format platform completely managed and programmed by students, who produce their own programs and have complete creative control over the content. The HeadPod 4 is now an integral part of the station’s infrastructure, thanks to its four stereo power amplifiers and switchable multi-source inputs (including SPDIF) that make it a perfect fit for the needs of MIRA’s new broadcast center. The MYRA Radio Network will create another platform in which MIRA’s students and faculty can work together, but it’s also another level in a deepening relationship that’s totally student-focused, says Matthews. “It’s about how best to integrate not only Aphex products, but also all relevant production equipment, into the student workflow at MIRA. From this dialog, a new way of thinking has been developed regarding how educational institutions and manufacturers can work together in a mutually beneficial relationship.”

Aphex® Now Shipping Expanded 500 Series with New Modules

— New Parametric EQ, Optical Compressor and three new Mic Pre units join the acclaimed EX•BB 500™ in the series, forming a comprehensive line of signal processors —

BURBANK, CA, February 5, 2013 — Aphex®, a leader in audio enhancement technology for more than 35 years, is now shipping its new 500 Series modules. The 500 Series now includes six models: J PRE 500 Mic Pre; EQF 500 Parametric Equalizer; DUAL RPA 500 Mic Pre; A PRE 500 Mic Pre; the COMP 500 Optical Compressor; and the acclaimed, previously unveiled EX•BB 500™ Aural Exciter®/Big Bottom® module. All benefit from the portable and convenient 500 Series format and legendary Aphex sound.

The J PRE 500 mic pre is inspired by the flagship Aphex 1788A remote controlled preamp. They both have the same Jensen JT11K8 nickel input Transformer and Aphex patented Mic Limiter technology. Designed to provide no-compromise audio quality in the convenient 500 series format, the J PRE 500 also features a Jensen JT-11DL nickel output-balancing transformer.

The EQF 500 reissue is a modern take on the classic Aphex EQF-2 500 series three-band equalizer, originally introduced in the 1980s. With a Jensen output balancing transformer and 25Hz to 20kHz operation, the EQF 500 is extremely versatile and will make any program material shine while being punchy and quiet.

The DUAL RPA 500 mic pre is a two-channel solid state/tube hybrid preamp. The solid-state front end provides a fast transient response while the tube back end provides warmth and punch. The DUAL RPA 500 also has the Aphex patented Mic Limiter technology for “no second take” recording.

The A PRE 500 mic pre is inspired by the popular Aphex 188 eight-channel preamp. However, the A PRE uses a custom-designed CineMag input transformer and a Jensen JT-11DL nickel output balancing transformer. The A PRE 500 is extremely clear sounding yet musical.

The new COMP 500 module is an optical compressor. It features an electronically balanced input and uses a Jensen JT-11DL nickel output balancing transformer. The optocoupler was specified to be as fast as possible and, is produced exclusively for Aphex. The module features stereo linking, and provides all the transparency of an optical compressor with the flexibility to get aggressive compression when needed.

The EX•BB 500 is a mono, 500 Series module version of the popular Aphex Aural Exciter and Optical Big Bottom processors. Each processor has a dedicated, lighted enable button.

“The expansion of our 500 Series with these five new modules further illustrates Aphex’s commitment to providing a comprehensive range of signal processors,” stated Rick McClendon, Aphex’s General Manager. “The addition of three new mic pre’s, a parametric EQ and an optical compressor, which join our highly successful EX•BB 500 Aural Exciter/Big Bottom module, offers audio professionals a wider palette of processing options.”

Aphex CEO David Wiener was excited to add, “Remember that our Aphex technologies and products have been used by major artists, engineers and producers through popular music history, from Paul McCartney and Pink Floyd, to today’s Grammy®s, Oscar®s, and the upcoming Soul Train Awards. Aphex has had a huge impact and now, with our new 500 Series, we’re making these powerful tools available to pros and the new talent coming into the audio and entertainment industry. It’s really exciting to see our tech become small, portable and accessible to everyone.”

— The new, highly configurable USB 500 Rack can be either a USB interface for your DAW or conventional 500 series rack —

NAMM SHOW, ANAHEIM, CA, January 24, 2013 — Aphex® (booth 6940), a leader in professional audio technology for more than 35 years, is introducing the USB 500 Rack, a four-slot API 500 Series rack that offers users incredible flexibility. The USB 500 can function as a USB interface, allowing users to connect their 500 Series modules to their favorite digital audio workstation via USB. For instance, the USB 500 could be loaded with up to four mic pre-amps, with signals sent to the DAW via USB, and played back through the monitor section of the rack, which features volume, mono/stereo and dim controls as well as headphone output using the acclaimed Aphex HeadPod 4™ technology. Any configuration of processors installed in the rack can be applied as inserts into a DAW via USB. A user can load the rack with a combination of, for instance, compressors and EQs, and connect them through USB into DAW channel inserts. This high degree of flexibility allows the Aphex USB 500 Rack to act as a computer audio interface, or as a set of inserts into a DAW, always monitoring the DAW from the monitor section of the rack. It can also function as a conventional analog rack. In either mode users can chain the modules into a channel strip or link adjacent modules for stereo operation.

The new Aphex USB 500 will be available Q2 2013 at a U.S. MSRP of $949.00.