Silicon Designs Announces Sales Territory Expansion of Measurement Instruments

A global industry leader in the design and manufacture of highly rugged industrial-grade MEMS capacitive accelerometer chips and modules, as well as supporting data acquisition, is pleased to announce the territory expansion of Measurement Instruments (www.meas-inst.com), to include exclusive sales representation in Delaware, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, as well as the District of Columbia (Washington, DC).

In its newly expanded role, Measurement Instruments will be actively selling and promoting Silicon Designs MEMS variable capacitive accelerometer modules and chips for low-to-medium frequency instrumentation applications, as well as its popular new model 3330 G-logger portable USB data acquisition system. Particular focus shall be concentrated upon customer application requirements within aerospace, automotive, defense, electronics, energy, industrial, military, and test and measurement markets.

Measurement Instruments is a leading manufacturer’s sales representative for sensors, data acquisition systems and related electronics. Headquartered in Blairsville, Pennsylvania, the company offers its 75 years of combined industry experience via seven fully dedicated office locations across the Northeast, Central and Midwestern United States, further supported by 15 outside direct salespersons and a nine-member inside support teams, representing 25 unique supplier lines. The company’s core technology focus includes Test & Measurement Instrumentation, Sensors, Power Supplies & Analyzers, Data Acquisition, Calibration & Standards, BUS Analyzers and Industrial PC Solutions.

Based near Seattle, Washington, the privately held Silicon Designs was established in 1983, with the goal of improving accepted industry design standards for MEMS variable capacitive accelerometers. At that time, typical industrial-grade accelerometers were bulky, highly fragile and costly. The SDI engineering team listened to the needs of customers who called for more compact, sensitive, rugged and reasonably priced MEMS capacitive modules, chips and data acquisition systems, yet ones still offering high-performance for a lower overall cost per measurement channel.  With the customer’s expressed feedback in mind, resultant product lines were designed and built to surpass expectations. The company has since grown steadily over the years, though its core competency remains MEMS-based accelerometers, with the philosophy of “Make it better, stronger, smaller and less expensive” maintained to this day.  

For more information about Silicon Designs and its product technologies, visit www.silicondesigns.com. In addition, Silicon Designs customers located in Delaware, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Washington, DC, are invited to please visit www.meas-inst.com.

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Native Instruments Maschine Groove Production Studio

Fully Integrated Concept

MASCHINE is the tactile control center for your productions. Use it in your production or performance environment, and get the most out of both worlds: hardware playability and cutting-edge digital technology.

• With the fully integrated hardware you control every function and parameter of the software running on your computer, making your workflow super fast and smooth
Convenient integration as a plug-in into any VST, AU or RTAS supported DAW

• Total recall of all parameters either in standalone mode or as a plug-in


• Browse and load all instrument and effect presets from KOMPLETE 8 directly from the hardware - use the 8 knobs to filter results to quickly get you to the sound you want


• Frequent software updates means MASCHINE continues to evolve to fit your production needs

Hardware

The controller channels your creative impulses into total interaction with the software, offering an ultra-fast workflow, instant portability and a very high fun factor.

• Load your samples, effects and plug-ins and control them with the pads and knobs - there's no need to touch the computer's mouse or keyboard


• 16 highly-sensitive back-lit pads with velocity and after-touch


• 11 higher-than-MIDI-resolution rotary encoders for true analog feel and realtime multi-parameter tweaking


• 41 buttons for direct control of all software functions, combinable with a shift function to open up even more control possibilities


• Two 64 x 256 pixel backlit displays instantly find the information you need, even in the darkest club situation


• Bus powered hardware via USB 2.0, integrated MIDI I/O interface, plus Kensington lock


• Dimensions: 320 x 295 x 60 mm / 12.6 x 11.6 x 2.4"


• Weight: 1811 Grams / 4 lbs

Sequencer

Create rhythms, bass lines, chords and melodies easily, and then arrange them into complete tracks as you go via the powerful sequencer- directly controllable from dedicated buttons and knobs on the hardware.

• Two modes: XOX drum machine step sequencer and MPC-style live recording


• Clip-based concept for intuitive arrangement of your project into scenes and songs


• Classic groove box functions such as 16 velocity levels, swing (sounds, groups, global), pad-link, and note repeat


• Use one button and 8 knobs to automate sampler, effects or plug-in parameters simultaneously in real time


• Select and edit note events directly from the controller for efficient workflow


• MIDI In and Out for sequencing external soft- or hardware, or connecting an external MIDI keyboard for playing complex melodic ideas

Sampler

MASCHINE is based on a high-performance sampler with tactile editing, allowing audio recording of internal or external sources, and precise sample playback.

• Sample-length and number of samples only limited by your computer's RAM capacity


• Polyphony up to 32 voices for each sound, with choke, legato and glide options


• Powerful slicing by transient detection, fixed grid or equal splits with automatic pad assignment


• Destructive sample editing (e.g. truncate, normalize, reverse, etc)


• Convenient import of own samples, REX2 files and MPC programs


• Vintage Sampling Modes emulating the sound of the MPC60 and/ SP1200


• Supports up to 24-bit/192kHz audio when using a high-quality audio interface like KOMPLETE AUDIO 6

Plug-In Hosting / Komplete 8 Integration

MASCHINE now hosts any VST or Audio Units plug-ins from either Native Instruments or any 3rd party manufacturer. The 1.7 update sees even greater integration with the new KOMPLETE 8, KOMPLETE 8 ULTIMATE and KOMPLETE ELEMENTS.

• Native support for the new 'NIS' NI sound format - browse and load the presets of all KOMPLETE 8 Instruments and Effects directly from MASCHINE's hardware browser


• One instrument and up to 4 effect plug-ins can be opened in each sound slot - 16 sound slots are available in each of the 8 groups


• Real auto-map: MASCHINE automatically maps the plug-in parameters to the controller knobs


• Get started using the new hosting possibility with the included REAKTOR, KONTAKT and GUITAR RIG PLAYER plug-ins and sounds from KOMPLETE ELEMENTS

Sample Library and Browser

A sophisticated and easy-to-use browser lets you tag your own imported samples and gives you instant access to any sound from the extensive MASCHINE library.

• Over 6 GB of sounds including 18,000 samples, 7,000 one-shots, 400 loops, 300 drum kits with 1,400 patterns, 388 sampled instruments, 170 FX/multi-FX presets, and 60 demo projects


• Contains multi-sampled acoustic instruments of all genres such as pianos, organs, strings, brass and much more


• Browse and load projects, patterns, kits, sounds and effects conveniently from the hardware, including all KOMPLETE 8 presets without touching your computer's keyboard or mouse


• Swap kits while keeping patterns: try out your beat with new sounds

EffectsMASCHINE's built-in effects section contains a powerful arsenal of studio-quality effects to shape and supercharge your sound.

• 22 high-quality effects - from standards such as reverbs, filters and EQs to creative tools like grain-delay, ice verb, freq shifter


• Convenient automation and editing of all parameters


• Chain up to four effects at once, or select a sampler or VST /AU instrument, followed by three chainable effects


• Easily use NI or 3rd party VST /AU effect plug-ins within MASCHINE, e.g GUITAR RIG PLAYER amps and effects

Studio Integration

Produce the whole instrumental track in MASCHINE and then move it in seconds to your DAW for final arranging and mixing.

• As a plug-in, MASCHINE retains all of its capabilities including total recall and routing up to 16 stereo outs to your host's mixer


• Drag and drop of audio or MIDI files directly to DAW, or drag samples directly from your computer into MASCHINE's sound slots


• Export note events as MIDI files


• Import projects, REX files and MPC programs


• Group Macro Controls: Assign any parameter of the dedicated group (f.e. filter, envelope, any effect parameter) to the 8 knobs on the hardware or to your host sequencer for automation


• Instant navigation: Open several instances of MASCHINE in your host sequencer and easily switch between them using just one controller


• Add MASCHINE MIKRO to your setup in parallel with MASCHINE - for additional hands-on control of your DAW


• Conveniently bounce songs or individual patterns as 8, 16 and 24 Bit WAV files, or drag and drop them directly to your DAW

Price: $669.00

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Native Instruments Maschine MK2 Groove Production Studio, Black

The ultimate performance tool for creative musicians just got upgraded! Among the best updated features of the Native Instruments Maschine MK2 Groove Production Studio are the multicolored pads that will greatly improve your workflow. Assign colors to the groups, sounds, patterns, and scenes, and see the pads and group buttons light up in the same colors. With the increased sensitivity of the new pads, you also have a new level of precision at your fingertips! Maschine MK2 is a groundbreaking instrument that combines a pattern-based sequencer, professional sampler, multi-effect unit and VST/AU plug-in host with tactile control. Experience a fully creative workflow with the integrated hardware/software system, combining the flexibility of computer-based music production with straightforward control for composing, performing, sampling, slicing, and tweaking effects.

Price: $669.00

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Texas Instruments expects revenue hit from earthquake damage to Japanese manufacturing plant

Chip maker Texas Instruments Inc. said Monday that "substantial" damage to one of its major manufacturing plants near Tokyo in last week's earthquake will result in extra costs and lost revenue in the first half of this year. The Miho plant, which produces mostly analog chips but also makes digital light processing technology used in televisions and projectors, won't return to full production until mid-July. It handled about 10 percent of the semiconductor company's output by revenue last year. A second plant was damaged less severely.

The Dallas-based company has arranged to shift about 60 percent of Miho's production of silicon wafers to other plants. The company is looking to shift even more production. Texas Instruments didn't estimate the hit to revenue or the extent of costs in the first and second quarters. It will provide details when it reports first-quarter results on April 18.

The plant, located 40 miles northwest of Tokyo, will be returned to service in stages beginning in May. Full shipments will resume in September. That plan could be delayed if power is interrupted or other complications ensue. Japan began rolling blackouts to conserve power Monday as it tried desperately to stabilize nuclear reactors at risk of meltdown in the aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami.

Texas Instruments said the building is sound but warned that it will take about three weeks to repair systems for delivering chemicals and other supplies. Goods under production were damaged, although the company said it could salvage about 40 percent. A second plant, at Aizu-wakamatsu, about 150 miles north of Tokyo, was not as heavily damaged. The company said equipment is being restarted and full production is estimated by mid-April. A third plant about 500 miles south of Tokyo escaped damage and is running at normal capacity.

Japan is home to a number of chip factories, with Japanese chipmakers alone accounting for about 20 percent of global semiconductor capacity. Earlier Monday, Barclays analysts said uncertainty around available chip supply could drive hoarding of certain chips, pushing prices higher. The shares rose 17 cents to end regular trading at $34.56, but they fell 76 cents, or 2.2 percent, to $33.80 in extended trading on the news. Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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