Fender announced a significant milestone in its evolution of creative tools bringing PreSonus Studio One Pro and its renowned recording interfaces together under the Fender name. Studio One Pro becomes Fender Studio Pro, while the Quantum and AudioBox lines transition to the Fender Quantum Series and Fender AudioBox. You’ll recall Yamaha recently did a similar rebrand of their audio interfaces. The Quantum LT2, LT4, and LT16 each provide 75dB of gain and retail for $149.99, $199.99, and $499.99 respectively. I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the AudioBox Go rebrand which clocks in at just $99.99. However it has a gain range of 50dB and is 24-bit 96kHz as opposed to the aforementioned Quantum LT line that is 24-bit 192kHz. They also relaunched the HD series of interfaces but that appears to be a simple reskin with no noticeable improvements in look or performance. The UT Vintage87 large-diaphragm condenser microphone from United Studio Technologies has an instantly recognizable vintage sound, and a cardioid polar pattern. It has a 24K gold sputtered dual diaphragm/dual backplate K87-style capsule. It has a frequency response of 20Hz-20kHz, a sensitivity of -34dB, and a max SPL of 117dB. It comes equipped with a -10dB pad switch, an 80Hz high-pass filter, and of course it requires 48v phantom power. The UT Vintage87 has a suggested retail price of $399.00. https://unitedstudiotech.com/en/products/ut-vintage87 Reports of a scaled down version of the RODECaster Video called Core have begun to surface. It is believed to be an entry-level video switching system that integrates with the RodeCaster Pro 2 and the Duo, adding full video switching capability to what was previously an audio-only production platform. The hardware is said to feature three HDMI inputs, one HDMI out, and a couple of USB-C ports for webcams or connecting to a computer. It is said it will also support NDI for PTZ camera control. Reports indicate that the unit's enclosed design is a departure from the RODECaster Video series with no buttons or screens on the unit. The device is believed to have a built-in 20GB hard drive and the ability to record to an external hard drive. The device should come in under $500 and should hit shelves by this summer. Once the official info has been released, check the Free Podcast Tools YouTube channel for all the official details. https://www.microcenter.com/site/mc-news/article/ces-2026-best-creator-gear.aspx Not to be outdone, Yamaha released the URX44V USB-C audio and video interface. The URX44V has 1 HDMI input and 1 HDMI pass-through meaning you can use your camera, gaming console, or other media devices. The 4 combo jacks offer 78dB low-distortion gain and 32-bit/192kHz of high-quality audio. The device has dual USB-C ports labeled sub and main, a 4.3-inch touchscreen interface for real‑time control, built-in DSP mixing tools and FXs, dual headphone outputs, plus dedicated headset and AUX inputs. The unit also provides a microSD card slot, and seamless integration with Elgato, OBS Studio, and Stream Deck controllers. With a retail price of $799.99 it could offer some stiff competition to other similar devices. IMPORTANT NOTES: USB MAIN: 18-track recording & playback - USB SUB: 2-track recording & playback. Of the four combo inputs 2 appear to be mic/line level while the other 2 provide Hi-Z along with mic/line level. The microSD allows you to record up to 16 tracks of audio and play back 2 tracks directly from it. The HDMI ports - Capture: 4K/60fps, 1080p/240fps - Pass-through: 4K/60fps, 1080p/240fps. Audio only versions of this line are $499.99 and $399.99 respectively. SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL: https://youtube.com/@FreePodcastTools PROMO: If you would like to support Podcast Gear News, I have individual & business level Patreon, and also PayPal links in the description. Your support is greatly appreciated. FREE PODCAST TOOLS DONATIONS PAGE (PAYPAL): https://freepodcasttools.com/support/ PATREON BUSINESS SUPPORT TIERS: patreon.com/freepodcasttools PATREON INDIVIDUAL SUPPORT TIERS: patreon.com/freepodcasttools2 The microAUDIO series brings KORG’s professional-level sound directly to your desktop. The streamlined microAUDIO 22 delivers pure, essential performance with simplicity and clarity while the microAUDIO 722 takes it a step further, incorporating KORG’s legendary analog filter to provide a rich, expressive sound. Both units offer two combo inputs. The 22 retails for $199.99 and the 722 comes in at $269.99. At roughly 31 inches wide by 31 inches high, and 31 inches deep, the desktop soundproof microphone shield claims it is useful for decreasing noise while recording. It's made from polyester fiber and high density sound-absorbing cotton. It comes in grey, yellow, blue, purple, green, red, and lake blue. At roughly $350 dollars, this desktop solution doesn't come cheap. Please note that anything you need to view will need to sit inside the product as it covers a good deal of desk space. https://amzn.to/49pBz7I (affiliate link) ISOVOX® introduces WorkSpace as a studio desk add-on for PA speaker stands, creating compact and ergonomic setups for recording and mixing. WorkSpace will be available to order in Q1 2026 — alone as an add-on in either a black or white finish with a MSRP of $599.00 USD or bundled with TriPod for $629.00 USD https://youtu.be/mwpBwoZGfXg?si=hP5LXuNt8D5O2V2z COMING SOON: I’ll be comparing two sub $160 microphones that punch well above their weight! Plus, there will be a lot more news coming out of the trade shows that I’ll be covering. SUBSCRIBE/SHARE: PODCAST: https://feeds.captivate.fm/podcast-gear-news/ YOUTUBE: https://youtube.com/@FreePodcastTools ON MY YOUTUBE CHANNEL: I challenged the “you get what you pay for” expression by comparing a $50 mic and audio interface setup to a $1300 professional setup. The link for my YouTube channel is in the description. https://youtube.com/@FreePodcastTools ERRORS OR OMISSIONS: If you’re a product manufacturer and I got something wrong, feel free to use the contact email in the podcast feed or my contact on the freepodcasttools.com website. Thank you for listening to Podcast Gear News. I’ll catch you next month.
