REVIEW TREEDIX USB CABLE TESTER III

Previously High on Technology has written about USB-C cables and the various permutations of the connectors, conductors and wires. Now we’re going to look at a USB cable tester capable of analyzing what is going on inside your cable. This product integrates the basic function testing of data cables, internal cable construction testing, internal resistance testing, and Type-C eMarker reading. How many conductors are wired to the plethora of connection-contacts? Power handling, data handling and more can all be tested but it requires more than a DIY battery and LED combination. There are at least two Treedix models I found, in this review we’ll be looking at the more expensive model which has a tiny CPU for doing the heavy lifting. Ready for some surprises?

LINE 6 SPIDER V60 REVIEW: Practice Amp Shows Its Age in 2026

It’s been a while since High on Technology reviewed any guitar amps, here’s an interesting addition to our flock of studio guitar amps. The Line 6 Spider V 60 dropped back in late 2016 (officially announced September 27, 2016) as part of the new Spider V modeling amp lineup. It was marketed as an easy-to-use, self-contained combo loaded with 200+ amp, cab, and effect models, plus built-in looper and drum tracks. Does it succeed in the burgeoning 10” or 12” self contained guitar amp category?

FISSION MAC AUDIO EDITING SOFTWARE BARGAIN by Rogue Amoeba

Fission by Rogue Amoeba: The Fast, Lossless Audio Editor Every Mac User Needs

Click the pict to enlarge

In the world of Mac audio software, Rogue Amoeba stands out as a developer that consistently delivers high-quality, focused tools that just work. While their flagship apps like Audio Hijack and Loopback grab a lot of headlines, Fission is the quiet powerhouse that audio enthusiasts, podcasters, and everyday Mac users keep coming back to. If you’ve ever needed to trim a track, split a long recording, or convert formats without destroying quality, Fission is the app you’ve been looking for. 

APOGEE ELECTRONICS AQUIRED, you know, expensive DAW converters?

APOGEE ELECTRONICS ACQUIRED

Dirk Ulrich and his Rockforce Tech Holding Company have acquired Apogee Electronics located in Santa Monica, California. This is the same investment entity that recently acquired Manley Laboratories.

REVIEW PRISM SOUND OVER-KILLER: Passive Peak Limiter, but is it good?

I was excited to finally find a product by Prism Sound that I not only wanted, but one I could actually afford. Just reading the ads on retailer web sites, the Over-Killer seemed like such a simple device, why is nobody else doing something like this?

REVIEW BEHRINGER GO MIDI INTERFACE: Add USB MIDI to older synthesizers

Got an old synthesizer like a DX7 which you’d like to connect to your DAW? Maybe the MIDI-out port on your DAW already has a synth plugged in, but you’d like to connect another old synth that does not have USB out, how are you going to connect it?

REVIEW SHURE MVX2U XLR TO USB ADAPTER: Do not buy for Apple MAC Processor

I wanted to love this little Shure XLR to computer, digital audio interface. I’m a Mac user and Apple Silicon is powering almost all my current fleet of Macs. I’m glad I read the manual for the product, I did not need to read much, “Not recommended for ARM-based PCs”. It gets worse, much worse for current Mac users.

BEHRINGER VS SSL DAW SHOWDOWN: U-Phoria UMC1820 vs SSL 2+, same price

Podcasters, content creators and recording musicians all need reliable good sounding DAW interfaces, so we’re pitting Behringer — known for their extreme low prices — against SSL, a pricey brand known for their large, expensive, mixing consoles. Both of them use surface-mount construction, both of them have design engineers in the UK, and both products are entirely made in China. Is one noticeably better than the other?

REVEIW, BARGAIN, AFFORDABLE APPLE MAC DAW, BUT HURRY, WON'T LAST LONG AT THESE PRICES

APPLE MAC PRO

Apple Computers declared the small shiny wastebasket Mac Pro (often referred to as 'Late 2013'), End-Of-Life back in 2017. These computers were still being manufactured as late as 2017 and the year of manufacture can be determined by the serial number. 

These Mac Pro models were powered by Intel multi-core processors which came in four, six, eight and 12-core models. The computers were built in an assembly facility in Texas with the four core model selling for around $3100 in 2016; I know because I bought a new one in April of 2016 and it has been my main DAW up until April of 2023 when I replaced it with a Mac Studio.

Since these Mac Pro models are powered by Intel processors there will be very limited software for them in the future because Apple has shifted all their design focus to their Native, in-house processor designs. While the new Apple Silicon models offer a great deal of power they don't come cheap. Musicians are notoriously tight with their money which makes these older, discontinued Mac Pro models a veritable bargain. 

WHY AN OLD MAC PRO?

The answer is, LOW total purchase cost for a powerful, stable DAW that will provide several years of use. We'll examine complete system purchase price later in this review. 

REVIEW SSL 2+ DIGITAL AUDIO INTERFACE, IT'S COMPACT, IT'S BUDGET PRICED, IS IT GOOD?

There are lots of two-channel digital audio interfaces to choose from for your personal studio needs. UK based SSL (Solid State Logic) is one of the oldest pro-recording brand names with roots stretching back to 1969; they are best known for their big, mega-expensive, studio mixing consoles which dominated pop music throughout the 1980's. Several of those big, heat producing beasts are still making hit records by producers like Chris Lord-Alge and Vance Powell. 

So when a company like SSL decides to release a comparatively inexpensive 2-channel digital audio interface, we've got to know, is it any good?

KEEPING OLD MAC COMPUTERS ALIVE, LEGACY PATCHER

This post is for a piece of software that purports to keep older Mac computers running, even after Apple drops support for them. Use it and explore it at your own risk.

Legacy-Patcher

I have read good things about this software and may set up an old Mac to test it out. I'll report if I get around to it. Check it out if you've got an old Mac you want to keep alive using newer OS versions.

Good Music and Happy Computing To You!

MAC STUDIO 20 CORE DAW REVIEW, REAL STUDIO PERFORMANCE

 THE ADVENTURE BEGINS

New Mac Studio 20 Core with 128GB DRAM and 4TB SSD

UPDATE: It is now eight-months since the Mac Studio 20-core machine arrived here at High on Technology.  To stress the internal 4TB SSD I've ordered and installed some additional big applications. Superior Drummer from Toontrack was recently joined by the gigabyte-sized Orchestral collection and the hefty East West Choir library along with the revised Arturia V-Collection X and new virtual-synthesizers by GForce. This computer continues to turn in excellent reliable performance. 

As I've noted in other reviews, with this machine adjusted to just 32-samples (1.1ms of latency) I can easily run 20-different synthesizers, all live (no frozen tracks), and move between them while composing without fear of crashes or system problems. No need for tricks or short loading instruments, I simply load and go, the system just works. 

The Mac Studio combined with the Presonus Thunderbolt converters continues to deliver incredible realtime audio throughput across the 32 audio outputs. Virtual instruments on this system feel "realtime" meaning you push the key down on the keyboard and instantly hear the sound without latency or delay effects (just like playing my DX7 or Prophet 6 hardware synthesizers).

The 20-core Mac Studio with extra DRAM and SSD were unquestionably the most expensive computer I've ever purchased for myself but this hardware has opened the doors to so many new composition ideas I have to say, it was worth the cost. 

Additional update tidbits are scattered throughout this review.

ORIGINAL REVIEW STARTS HERE

For my DAW I've been using an Apple Black Cylinder computer since April of 2016. I ordered it from Apple and it has been a reliable digital servant since its arrival in my studio. 

I've just ordered a new Mac Studio, 20 core model with 128GB of DRAM and 4TB internal SSD. It won't be here for 2-3 weeks but it will be the exact configuration I've been dreaming of. In this REVIEW I'll take you along for the whole experience. 

• Will Apple deliver on time as promised? 
• Will the machine be great? 
• How will I connect all the older USB things like dongles, keyboard and mouse? 
• What about an external hard drive or SSD for music projects to live on? 
• How will it perform on my virtual synthesizers?
• Which Mac OS will be installed? Monterey OS12 or Ventura OS13?

Come along for the upgrade ride and find out the answers to these questions and more.

Projected delivery date from my order

REVIEW PRESONUS QUANTUM 4848 WITH THUNDERBOLT 2, AMAZING INTERFACE WITH UNIQUE FEATURES

 IS PRESONUS QUANTUM 4848 GOOD?

I’ve been using the Presonus Quantum 4848 audio interface for over a year and I’m very impressed with its performance. Presonus has created an extraordinary interface with unique and unmatched features. Their engineers have optimized the Thunderbolt connection so you don’t need a DSP mixing layer for monitoring latency-free while recording tracks.