ANAHEIM, California – HARMAN’s Lexicon today announced the availability of the individual plug-ins from its popular PCM Native  Effects and PCM Native Reverb Bundles. A total of 14 plug-ins will be  available including Pitch Shift, MultiVoice Pitch, Chorus, Resonant  Chords, Random Delay, Dual Delay, Stringbox, Vintage Plate, Plate, Hall, Room, Random Hall, Concert Hall and Chamber.“Offering  the individual plug-ins from our PCM Native Effects and PCM Native  Reverb Bundles represents our commitment to provide Lexicon users with  greater flexibility and ease to obtain exactly the sound quality they are  looking for from the specific plug-in(s) they need for any project,”  said Rob Urry, Vice President HARMAN Professional Division & GM of  Signal Processing and Amplifier Business Units. The  PC- and Macintosh®-compatible plug-ins are designed to work with  popular DAWs like Pro Tools®, Logic® and Nuendo®, as well as with any  other VST®, Audio Unit™ or RTAS®-compatible host.Each  plug-in can be run in mono, stereo or mono in/stereo out, and on-screen  input and output meters are provided for precise level setting.All  Lexicon plug-ins are Native only, and require iLok2 authorization. The  individual plug-ins will be available in February 2012.HARMAN (www.harman.com) designs, manufactures and markets a wide range of audio and infotainment  solutions for the automotive, consumer and professional markets —  supported by 15 leading brands, including AKG, Harman Kardon, Infinity,  JBL, Lexicon and Mark Levinson. The Company is admired by audiophiles across multiple generations and supports leading  professional entertainers and the venues where they perform. More than  25 million automobiles on the road today are equipped with HARMAN audio  and infotainment systems. HARMAN has a workforce of about 12,500 people across the Americas, Europe and Asia, and  reported net sales of $4.0 billion for twelve months ending September  30, 2011.
Posted 18 minutes 12 seconds ago - 02/06/12 - Full Story

Anvil Studioby Willow SoftwareP.O. Box 60122Shoreline, Washington, USA The free version of Anvil Studio, version 2012.01.01, now acts as a host for VST-Instruments, allowing nearly limitless sounds. Previously, the only software synthesizer available with the free version was the Microsoft GS Wavetable Synthesizer. With an external MIDI keyboard, Anvil Studio can now be used for multi-track sound-on-sound recording, and realtime performance with no delays due to Microsoft GS Wavetable Synthesizer's high latency. Click here to see a tutorial for using VST-Instruments with Anvil Studio. For more details, visit us at www.AnvilStudio.com The latest version can always be downloaded from www.AnvilStudio.com/x/asinstall.exe
Posted 15 hours 29 minutes ago - 02/05/12 - Full Story

Orfeo Accordion is a Multisampled Italian accordion from the 1950s with 5 registers and a separate noise program.All registers have been sampled with belly in/out for all notes, and with release samples. The library contains in total 610 24bit WAV files. Programs: 1 program for NI Kontakt 3, 4 & 5 with scripted GUI 7 programs for NI Kontakt 2 and all versions above 6 programs for NI Kontakt 1 and all versions above 6 programs for HALion 7 programs for EXS24 9 SoundFont program with the release samples in a separate program is available for you who are using other sample formats. Registers:Bassoon Bandoneon Master Celeste ClarinetThe full version of Kontakt 3 4 or 5 is required for the scripted version.Orfeo Accordion not work with the free Kontakt Player#!All formats are included when you buy Orfeo Accordion.Orfeo Accordion costs $49 (+$11 if you want it on DVD). www.precisionsound.net
Posted 15 hours 29 minutes ago - 02/05/12 - Full Story

Strat® players can customize their sound and upgrade their electronics in minutes with our new series of Fully Loaded Pickguards. The Triple Rails Pickguard is locked and loaded for those that play rock or metal using the ferocious Hot Rails for Strat® pickups. The Classic Pickguard features a Custom Stack plus in the bridge, a Classic Stack in the middle and a Vintage Hot in the neck, giving you the sound of a Classic Strat® and then some.  The Bring Your Own Pickups Pickguard allows you to choose your pickup combination so that you can create the tone you desire. Install any combination of pickups in minutes thanks to the Liberator which is installed in the Triple Rails, Classic and Bring Your Own Pickups Pickguard and will allow you to change your pickups in minutes using only a screwdriver. The Antiquity Pickguard features an artfully aged look with true vintage tone and each is personally signed by Seymour W. Duncan.  
Posted 2 days 1 hour ago - 02/04/12 - Full Story

Los Angeles, CA — February 1, 2012Alfred Music Publishing, the official print music publisher of thousands of popular artists, songwriters, and composers, is proud to announce the release of Jim Brickman: Romanza, the album matching songbook of fifteen Italian-inspired original love songs as recorded by the award-winning artist.  Arrangements are transcribed for piano, vocal, and guitar; and piano solo. Jim Brickman sets to transport musicians to romantic Italy with lush interpretations of classic pieces and original, inspiring songs. The playable arrangements for intermediate to advanced players are truly Brickman-esque, including “Romanza,” “Starry Night,” “Venezia,” “Ave Maria,” “Tuscan Dawn,” ‘Café Amore,” and many more. Romanza is perfect for musicians who are fans of Jim Brickman, featuring full-page color photos.Jim Brickman is perhaps best-known for his romantic piano sounds immortalized in his debut album No Words(1994). The Grammy®-nominated, best-selling solo pianist has released nearly 40 albums—six of which have garnered Platinum-selling status—touts 30 charting singles, and is a two-time recipient of the SESAC “Songwriter of the Year” award. His albums often hold top positions on Billboard’s New Age Albums chart, with his latest studio album, Romanza, ranked at No. 2. 
Posted 2 days 1 hour ago - 02/04/12 - Full Story

February 2, 2012 (STEVENSVILLE, MD) –Paul Reed Smith Guitars was on site at Daytona International Speedway for the historic 50th Anniversary of the Rolex 24 At Daytona, providing world class  entertainment and awarding several highly collectable instruments to  race fans and race teams alike.Top Notch ConcertsWith  the help of Guitar Center, the world’s largest musical retailer, PRS  hosted three exciting concerts in the Sprint FANZONE during the 24-hour endurance race. Sixteen year old Alex Trimblett, winner of  the In Tune Race to the Stage competition, opened up for guitar  sensation Orianthi on Saturday night. He played with the Rocky Mountain  Stoneflies, a PRS house band comprised of veteran musicians. Orianthi then took the stage, backed by the Paul Reed Smith  Band, and delivered an incredible performance filled with sensational  vocals and impressive guitar solos. To close out the evening, the  Stoneflies returned to the stage and played a set with guest appearances from Paul Reed Smith, Davy Knowles (PRS signature  artist), Jeff Smallwood (GRAND-AM Racing), and Greg Di Benedetto  (Guitar Aficionado magazine). The third concert featured Davy Knowles, a  phenomenal guitarist and vocalist from the Isle of Man. These performances added an exciting new element to the race and  had eyes temporarily glued to the stage.Stunning Race TrophiesThe  overall Daytona Prototype (DP) winner of the high-endurance event,  Michael Shank Racing, took home the PRS Private Stock Custom 24 trophy instrument, which has a retail value of $16,000. PRS President  Jack Higginbotham presented the guitar at the podium in Daytona’s  Gatorade Vistory Lane to Michael Shank who exclaimed, "I've been looking  forward to this one!" In the Grand Touring (GT) class, Magnus Racing took home the first of the 2012 PRS GRAND-AM trophy  guitars with their first ever GRAND-AM win.  The Magnus Porsche GT3 Cup  car has flown PRS decals for two years, making this victory especially  rewarding for the Stevensville, Maryland instrument manufacturer.Lucky Fan Wins BigIn  an effort to bring these experiences to fans, PRS helped sponsor two  promotions in conjunction with the Rolex 24 At Daytona. Guitar Aficionado magazine, Guitar Center’s Platinum Room, and PRS held a  sweepstake to win a VIP racing experience. The winner, Tony Benken from  Nashville, TN, received a replica of the PRS Private Stock Custom 24  trophy guitar signed by a plethora of Rolex 24 champions, meet and greet opportunities with PRS artists, hot laps with four time Rolex  24 At Daytona winner Scott Pruett, a magnum of Pruett's award-winning  wine, and a tour of the paddock by Pruett himself.As  the 2012 season continues, be on the lookout for PRS decals on TRG,  Turner Motorsports, and Magnus Racing racecars and the PRS GRAND-AM trophy that will be presented to the DP and GT winners of each  Rolex Series race. Guitar Center Fan Days will be held in conjunction  with three additional 2012 races - Watkins Glen International,  Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. These events bring fans many unique opportunities, including free  setups on PRS guitars, meetings with product specialists from the PRS  factory, in-depth product demonstrations by PRS staff, the chance to  meet GRAND-AM personnel and experience their interactive mobile display, and the opportunity to purchase a replica of the 2012  GRAND-AM trophy guitar from Guitar Center, the exclusive dealer for  these instruments. Guitar Center Fan Days also host the In Tune Race to  the Stage auditions for teenage guitarists to win a chance to play at a Rolex Series race.“It was an honor to be part of the 50th Anniversary Rolex 24 At Daytona.  We have worked hard for 10 years to bring together the worlds of racing and music and we feel we  accomplished that over the weekend in a way that eclipses our previous  efforts.  Working with DIS, GRAND-AM, In Tune, Guitar Aficionado, Guitar  Center, and all the musicians to pull together each element was enormously gratifying to the entire PRS team,” said  Jack Higginbotham, PRS Guitars President.For more information on PRS Guitars, www.prsguitars.comFor more information in PRS Guitars in the World of Racing, www.prsracing.netFor more information on the In Tune Race to the Stage, www.intunemonthly.com/racetothestageFor more information on GRAND-AM Road Racing, www.grand-am.comFor more information on Daytona International Speedway, www.daytonainternationalspeedway.comAbout PRS Guitars:Paul  Reed Smith Guitars is a leading manufacturer of high quality  instruments in Stevensville, Maryland and has provided some of the world’s most renowned musicians with instruments since 1985. The PRS  team of highly skilled craftspeople produces over 1,000 electric  guitars each month, as well as acoustic guitars and amplifiers, for  worldwide distribution. In the fall of 2011 PRS introduced import acoustic and amplifier lines to complement their import SE line  of electric guitars. Carlos Santana, Linkin Park, Orianthi, Opeth, Tim  Mahoney of 311, Mark Tremonti of Creed and Alter Bridge, Ricky Skaggs,  Cody Kilby, Martin Simpson, Tony McManus, and Warren Haynes are among the artists currently playing PRS instruments. 
Posted 2 days 18 hours ago - 02/03/12 - Full Story

Issue 154 Topics     News     User Reviews    Forums     Articles     Videos     Classifieds  Dear Musician: SOPA-riffic! The loose but vocal collective that are the denizens of cyberspace achieved a small and perhaps temporary victory last week when several prominent bipartisan members of Congress—and the White House itself—withdrew their support for the proposed House of Representatives bill known as SOPA (Stop Online Piracy Act). The bill will now have to be re-drafted. All of this was the result of the great hue and cry sounded not just by individual cybercitizens but many big organizations (like Wikipedia and Google), some of whom took their sites offline for a day to register their protest. At issue with SOPA, and its Senate counterpart, PIPA (Protect I.P. Act), is how much power the government should have in punishing those who allow access to websites that engage in piracy (the “P” in SOPA), or the illegal trafficking of copyrighted material, most of which is in the form of movies, TV shows, and music. No reasonable person is in favor of piracy. And many people were reacting to the source of SOPA’s authorship—the entertainment industry—rather than the content of the bill itself. After all, Big Media (including movie studios, networks, and the record companies) are notoriously parochial and primitive in their attempts to deal with the illegal copying and distribution of their properties. But whether you begrudge the entertainment industry their profitability or not, you darn sure don’t want them in control of the Internet, nor do you want them to be the authors of the legislation that enables their ham-handed tactics. (My longtime favorite example of this is the anti-piracy warning that precedes rental videos, where viewers must sit through an insulting and non-fast-forwardable screen—complete with FBI logo—about how you’d better not be stealing this movie.) That doesn’t mean the points raised in the now-scuttled bill aren’t without merit. The movie industry doesn’t profit unless it can make money for its Spielbergs, Lucases, Woody Allens, and Michael Bays—the creators and artists behind the industry. This obviously trickles down to the mere mortals—writers and film score composers, session musicians who play on these recordings, and everyone connected to the entertainment business in which we all strive to succeed. No one wants their stuff given away for free. Not if you hope to be a professional at it. But protecting copyrighted work doesn’t mean that industry-drafted regulations are what’s called for, either. Imagine YouTube not existing because some material wound up being posted that hadn’t cleared the copyright bar. Or shutting down Facebook and Twitter because someone posted a link to a copyrighted video. What next—sanctioning Google for returning a search result that lists a torrent site in Russia? That’s what the broad language in SOPA’s submitted form was calling for. Swift justice for wrong-doers might be appealing, but the other side of that coin is the “law of unintended consequences”—the phenomenon where passing a law to address one problem results in a greater detriment somewhere else. (Consider 1920s prohibition, Africanized bees in South America, and our own vicious political climate, courtesy of Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission.) That’s what people are afraid of here. We need to protect the content producers and their publishers. I don’t want to be in a profession that doesn’t do that. And to be sure, there has been misinformation in the protest language, too. But we musicians—as the ones who are ultimately affected by copyright laws—must be fully informed as to when our rights are being protected versus when our industry overlords are overreaching in their authority. Because one thing’s for sure: that legislation is coming back, just in a different form. And when it does, we need to be ready, and we had better be educated. —Jon Chappell  This Week on HC Announcing the 2012 Winter NAMM Content Extravaganza!Our NAMM coverage is now complete, edited, uploaded, and ready for your delectation. We humbly offer more than 150 videos shot from the show floor (which can be found at our dedicated Official Video Thread as well as on our YouTube Channel and the Video category on harmonycentral.com), hundreds of photos (from the Official Photo Thread and Phil O’Keefe’s Photo Diary and Blog), and numerous discussion threads begun by people looking for specific gear or asking pointed questions related to the show (see our 2012 Winter NAMM main Forum page). You have plenty to keep you busy here, and plenty of media formats to choose from in your quest to learn about all the cool gear released and emerging trends that transpired at the latest NAMM. We’d like to give a shout-out to two significant video pieces hosted by our special guests. Mats Nermark, our Senior Swedish Correspondent, came through once again with his now-famous “Hall E Crawl,” and Reek Havok, musical Renaissance man and percussionist, took us on a walk-though of his own, for which the only appropriate title we could come up with was “Reek Havoc’s Wacky, Wild World of NAMM.” Thank you, gentlemen, for your insight and inimitable takes on this year’s goings-on, and a big thanks to our readers for contributing to our Forum pages and YouTube channels by watching and posting. And remember to check back often, because though we’ve got all the content up, the discussions will go on for some time to come.     Featured Articles_ Technique   Big Sounds with Virtual Stacks By Craig Anderton Use amp sims to create stacks that would be difficult, or even impossible, to do in the physical world      Product Review   Fender Performance Inspired Cables By Jon Chappell  Many guitarists ignore this vital part of the signal chain, but these cables are not only sonically transparent, they won't kink up on you—and that's something everyone will notice       Hot Tip!Have You Adjusted a Pickup . . . Lately?Hotter is not always better, especially when feeding today’s digital effects, amp sims, and other processors. A plucked guitar string generates a major initial transient, and while a tube amp and speaker will tend to “soak up” the transient, digital devices aren’t quite as forgiving—and that transient could produce a nasty spike, overload the effect or sim, and produce digital distortion. Watching the input meter may help, but not always; the response might be too slow to catch really fast transients. This becomes more of a problem with heavy gauge strings, forceful playing styles, and if you’re more into playing rhythm guitar than lead. But there’s a simple solution: Lower your pickups slightly with the adjustment screws on either side of the pickup. A string cutting across the pickup’s magnetic field generates an output voltage, but this is subject to the inverse square law, which means that the output drops off rapidly as you move the pickup further away from the strings. So, lowering the pickup by only a few millimeters might be all that’s needed to give a more input-friendly signal to your effects. What’s more, you may actually find that the sustain increases somewhat with a lower pickup position. And while you’re at it, don’t forget that angling the pickup can help emphasize the lows over the highs, or vice-versa. There are really only two cautions: Use the correctly-sized screwdriver to avoid damaging the screw’s slot (this is particularly important with Phillips head screws), and don’t force the screw further than it wants to go to avoid stripping the threads. Most importantly, feel free to experiment—chances are a little time spent adjusting pickup height will help improve your tone. — Craig Anderton   Featured Industry NewsThis week's pick hits from our News section Lace Music Products Releases S-100 Lace Sensor Single Coils PreSonus Ships BlueTube DP V2 and TubePre V2 Tube Preamps Allen & Heath Launches Two New ZED Models New! Daring Audio Introduces Bass and Guitar Pedal: a Harmonic Exciter and Natural Overdrive, the Edge Activator HD Mojave Audio Announces New MA-301fet Condenser Microphone Introducing the VHT Special 12/20RT New "Dangerous Source" Monitor Controller Announced at NAMM Propellerhead Releases Ryan Greene Alt Drums ReFills for Reason Fret-King Black Label Unveiling Helps Make 2012 the Best NAMM Show Yet for JHS MOTU Introduces MicroBook II Audio Interface  Forum WatchA few of this week's top discussions from our ForumsThe Official NAMM Show Video Thread: Over 150 Videos from the Show Floor!Quite a few people find it easier to browse our videos in the Harmony Central forum format than on our YouTube channel—and this is the official thread where you’ll find all our latest NAMM show videos. Sonuus WahooThe Effects forum discusses the new Sonuus Wahoo dual analog filter pedal that was recently introduced at the NAMM show. Come check out the videos, and join into the discussion regarding this innovative new pedal. Is There a Guitar(s) You Own that You'll Never Sell?If you’re a certified guitar geek, the pictures alone are worth it. This Piece of Music Moves Me in Ways I Cannot ExplainWe don’t get a lot of classical music threads around here, but this one is really quite interesting—and makes a good case for seeing an orchestra in person while there are still orchestras to be seen. Do You E-Bow?Greg Heet’s E-Bow has been around for decades, and accumulated a devoted group of fans. Find out why they like their E-Bows, and how they use them. Multiband CompressionA discussion on multiband compression—how long it has been around, some of its strengths, and how and where to use it. Recorded Covers that You Thought Beat the OriginalsIt should come as no surprise that the majority of opinions in this thread come down on the side of the cover versions. And that’s without considering any Bob Dylan–penned songs! Fishman Solo Performance System?The OP wants to downsize. Fishman Solo Performance System? Bose L1? Something else altogether? The Solo and Duo Acts forum speaks from experience. Fixing the Output Jack of a Semi-HollowbodyA semi-hollowbody guitar presents the worst of both worlds for internal fixes: too skinny to work within the cavity, yet not offering strategically placed access points the way a solidbody does. It’s real ship-in-a-bottle work, so check out how these contributors brainstorm to help a fellow forumite fix a problematic output jack. DI Box Suggestions?Using DI with bass is a common technique, both live and in the studio. But which DI? The Bass Forum definitely has some favorites.    This newsletter was sent by Harmony Central. Harmony Central respects your privacy and will never ask for personal information in a newsletter; for more information, read your privacy rights.To ensure delivery, please add harmonycentral.com to your address book.Editorial  Craig Anderton, Editor in Chief • Jon Chappell, Senior Editor • Phil O’Keefe, Associate Editor • Chris Loeffler, Reviews Editor Advertising  adsales@harmonycentral.com 
Posted 2 days 18 hours ago - 02/03/12 - Full Story

January 30, 2012: Voxengo is pleased to announce the release of CurveEQ version 3, a spline equalizer plugin for professional music and audio production applications, available in AudioUnit and VST plug-in formats (including native 64-bit support), for Mac OS X (v10.5 and later), and Windows computers. CurveEQ shows you the actual filter response you are designing by means of a spline (a smooth curvy line), so you can actually see what the EQ is doing with the sound. This, in turn, allows you to get the best from your mix and your tracks. CurveEQ perfectly suits the needs of mastering, and in some cases CurveEQ is suitable for use as an in-track equalizer. CurveEQ implements spectrum matching technology that allows you to transfer spectrum’s shape of one recording to another. In other words, this allows you to “copy” frequency balance of existing time-proven mixes so that other mixes that are still in the works may have a chance to sound better. This technology also greatly helps in music mastering since using it allows you to easily lessen any dramatic differences in the area of frequency balance between various tracks. CurveEQ’s filters can be switched between linear- and minimum-phase modes. CurveEQ also features a deeply-customizable spectrum analyzer like the one found in Voxengo GlissEQ and SPAN plug-ins. You may also display, save and load static spectrum plots for comparison and matching purposes. CurveEQ features: * 3 EQ curves per channel group * Linear- and minimum-phase filtering * Spectrum matching * Freeform EQ curve drawing mode * Real-time FFT spectrum analyzer * Stereo and multi-channel processing * Internal channel routing * Channel grouping * Mid/side processing * 64-bit floating point processing * Preset manager * Undo/redo history * A/B comparisons * Contextual hint messages * All sample rates support * 53 ms compensated processing latency CurveEQ 3.0 added the following features since version 2 (version 3 can be used in projects alongside version 2): * 3 EQ curves per channel group * Spectrum display zooming * Window resizing * Up to 96kHz spectrum range * Multi-channel support * Multi-platform support * Routing matrix * Preset manager * User interface re-scaling * Channel grouping * Plug-in instance naming Introductory price of USD 79.95 will be effective for three weeks from now, which is 20% off the regular price of USD 99.95. Upgrading from the previous version costs USD 39.95 if previous version was purchased earlier than 180 days from now: otherwise the upgrade is free during this grace period. Demo version of CurveEQ can be downloaded freely at the Voxengo web site: http://www.voxengo.com/product/curveeq/
Posted 2 days 18 hours ago - 02/03/12 - Full Story

Brooklyn, NY (Feb. 2, 2012) –  TuneCore, the world’s largest distributor of music, today announces a  groundbreaking agreement with simfy, one of the top music services in  Europe, that ensures TuneCore artists and songwriters will be paid for the use of their music. The deal is groundbreaking as under the agreement, simfy will obtain the  rights to both the recordings and songs (aka the underlying  composition) represented by TuneCore and pay both sets of royalties  directly to TuneCore, as opposed to paying third party collection agencies that take significant percentages of the money and in some  cases years to pay it out. The deal allows TuneCore to pay its artists  and songwriters/publishers more money more quickly with unprecedented  transparency than via any other entity in the world. Says TuneCore CEO and Founder Jeff Price: “Simfy is a visionary music service for fans. It is also a music  industry leader that pays all royalties for the music in its service.  Music fans can now choose to use simfy not only for its great experience  with access to over 16 million songs but also because simfy will pay artists and songwriters all their royalties.” The deal with simfy is one of many direct partnerships that TuneCore’s  Global Songwriter Publishing Administration has forged with the leading  digital music services. With the click of a button, any songwriter can  have songwriter music publishing administration via TuneCore’s Songwriter Service that collects money, registers  copyrights, polices rights globally and issues licenses. About Simfy Simfy gives music fans access to  over 16 million songs in the cloud. Users can listen to music, create  playlists, and share them via social networks. A number of service  options are available including free advertising-financed and subscription based premium services. Launched in 2010, simfy has  rapidly grown to become one of the leading music streaming providers in  Europe. About TuneCore TuneCore (www.tunecore.com)  is the largest distributor and has one of the highest  revenue-generating music catalogs in the world. In the past two years TuneCore Artists have sold over 500 million units  and generated over $250 million dollars in gross music sales and  songwriter revenue. In fall 2011, TuneCore launched its separate  groundbreaking Global Songwriter Publishing Administration Service, providing any songwriter global songwriter publishing  administration which registers their copyrights, collects money that is  rightfully theirs, protects and polices their copyrights and songs, and  issue licenses. TuneCore is a low, flat fee service that distributes music to iTunes,  Spotify, eMusic, AmazonMP3, Nokia and many other major download and  streaming sites while taking no rights and no revenue from the sale of  the music. Artists are building careers, selling significant volumes of music and generating revenue through TuneCore.  Since its launch in 2006, TuneCore has more than 700,000 account  holders, including Grammy winners and unsigned artists alike. TuneCore  artists include Drake, Beck, Lil’ Wayne, Jay-Z, Aretha Franklin, Keith Richards, Public Enemy, Nine Inch Nails, Ricky Skaggs,  Paul Westerberg, The Civil Wars, Willie Nelson, They Might Be Giants,  Donna Summer, MGM Studios, Warren G, Bjork, Moby, High School Musical  cast members, Girl Talk, Brian Eno, Starbucks and hundreds of thousands more.
Posted 2 days 18 hours ago - 02/03/12 - Full Story

February 1, 2012 – Markbass unveiled its new products for 2012 at a press conference at the NAMM show in Anaheim, California on January 19th. Included are three new heads and four new effect pedals. Here’s an overview:  Big Bang – a 500W microhead, 4.7 lbs, with a solid-state preamp and a  cutting-edge new design of digital power amp that delivers the warmth of analog; aux  in, headphone out with level control, and footswitch-controlled mute and  EQ filters. TTE 800 – an 800W version of the popular TTE 500 Randy Jackson signature head, with tube preamp, tube compressor, tube-driven colour (VLE) contour and  Tube Technology Emulator power amp. Rich, tubey, vintage tone with less  weight, less expense, and more reliability! MoMark Black 500 / MoMark Black 800 – a sleek black tube preamp head with a choice of either 500W (analog) or 800W (digital) power amps, four-band EQ with  two bands of semi-parametric mids, mute switch, VLE and VPF filters and a  natural-sounding bi-band limiter. MB7 Booster – 7-band graphic EQ and clean boost of up to +20 dB; runs on 9V or 12V or 9V battery; true bypass. MB7 Distorsore – distortion with 7-band EQ for customizing your distorted tone. Runs on 9V or 12V or 9V battery; true bypass. MB Mini Boost – slim-design clean boost pedal (up to +20 dB) with VPF (low and high boost, mid cut), true bypass; runs on 9V or 12V, fits on any pedalboard! MB Mini Dist – in the same compact design, a distortion pedal with two tone controls for a wide variety of sounds. True bypass, runs on 9V or 12V.www.facebook.com/markbassamps
Posted 2 days 18 hours ago - 02/03/12 - Full Story

Super bright and easy to control – DMF-10 SUNRISE, Fla. – CHAUVET®, a leading manufacturer of LED lighting,  announces its new high-powered moonflower effect light, DMF-10. Fitted  with a 28-watt quad-colored LED, DMF-10 fills the dance floor with  extremely bright, razor sharp rotating beams that spin  and oscillate at mesmerizing speeds. To achieve #additional effects, set the mirror dish to static or rotate.   Use the pre-programmed, built-in automated and sound-activated programs  or DMX control to manage each color separately for customized looks and  unique combinations. Or power link a few together for a larger,  coordinated show that also saves you time running  cables and extension cords.
Posted 2 days 18 hours ago - 02/03/12 - Full Story

A world-class solo violin for the most demanding virtual orchestrations  Hollywood, CA  (February 2, 2012) – EASTWEST, the industry leader in virtual software instruments, continues their success in producing the most realistic and  critically acclaimed virtual orchestral instruments with the release of QUANTUM LEAP SOLO VIOLIN. Produced by Nick Phoenix, Quantum Leap Solo Violin is a virtuoso solo violin recorded at Remote Control Productions, a film score facility in Santa Monica, California run by veteran film composer Hans Zimmer and home to the scores of many of today’s top films. Quantum Leap Solo  Violin includes 5 passes of true legatos sampled intervals, Legato soft, legato forte, expressive legato, portamento and fast legato/ trill/ run. Quantum Leap Solo Violin features round robin up and down bowing on most  articulations and is the first violin virtual instrument that can handle very  fast playing and live trill playing with ease.  All of the basic articulations  were sampled as well as various expressive articulations, vibrato styles, and  non vibrato. Quantum Leap Solo Violin has a sound and character  ideally suited for film and classical work. Quantum Leap Solo Violin includes the latest version of EastWest's PLAY software featuring 2 new solo violin reverb impulses designed to make Quantum Leap Solo Violin blend well with other EastWest/Quantum Leap collections.   EASTWEST/QUANTUM LEAP Solo Violin is now available exclusively as a digital download for $99.00 USD from  http://www.soundsonline.com/QL-Solo-Violin for USA and the World excluding  Europe, and http://www.soundsonline-europe.com/QL-Solo-Violin for Europe. 
Posted 4 days 37 minutes ago - 02/02/12 - Full Story

Equinox Sounds has released  'Minimal FX Vol 1', a downloadable  collection faturing 300 Minimal and  Tech FX loops that will be a perfect addition for all producers looking  to add that extra polish to their ongoing Minimal, Minimal Techno,  Tech, Tech-House, Techno and Tech-Trance productions. The loops are available in 48 kHz /  24-Bit WAV and Apple Loops formats. These FX loops have been composed using a hybrid of vintage analogue and  cutting-edge digital synthesis and they are all delivered at 125 BPM to  ensure easy integration into common Tech and Minimal genres. You'll get a nice dose of glitch loops, high frequencies,  pseudo-rhythms, modular noises and much more. These sounds will be  perfect for your articulated Minimal and Tech rhythms. 'Minimal FX Vol 1' is an indispensable archive that stands as a  benchmark source for FX loops that will fit seamlessly into virtually  every genre of Minimal and Tech productions. Features:  • 300 FX loops in WAV format • 300 FX loops in Apple Loops format • The loops repeat seamlessly and are marked with the BPM Specifications: • 125 BPM • 48 kHz / 24-Bit • 318 MB Uncompressed • 100% Royalty-Free Formats: • WAV • Apple Loops Price and Availability: 'Minimal FX Vol 1' is currently available for $29.95 as a download. More  information and demo available from the Equinox Sounds website: http://www.equinoxsounds.com/
Posted 4 days 15 hours ago - 02/01/12 - Full Story

Los Angeles, CA – What is an Origin Guitar?  Many of those who attended the 2012 Winter  NAMM show at the cavernous Anaheim Convention Center during the Jan 18 –  Jan 22 confab were  overheard whispering just those words.  The two founders of Origin  Guitars, Lucian Tu, formerly manager of Ibanez Electric Guitars, and  former head of Industrial Design at Line 6 and Rob Nishida, the former  head of Artist Relations for Ibanez Guitars, carefully  selected four NAMM booths, all owned by their industry friends, to  display Origin Guitars. The idea was to get some quick recognition for  the brand name before launch by having the guitars used as NAMM booth  demo guitars for Rivera Amplification, Jet City  Amplification, Brunetti Amplification and Eventide.Origin Guitars is a small, three-man operation in  Southern California, where all of the instruments—down to the truss  rods, are designed and hand built in the Origin shop.  Only the pickups,  tuners, bridges and miscellaneous hardware are carefully  selected and sourced.  Origin Guitars is launching with one model  called the Convergence, which speaks to the convergence of Tu and  Nishida’s ideas to create their idea of the perfect metal guitar.  Available as both a 6-string and a 7-string, the  Convergence is an ergonomically sculpted shred machine for the  discriminating metal player.  The key to the Convergence sound is  centralized in the neck joint, where a proprietary ALT5, 4mm  thick military grade aluminum neck plate is imbedded into the all  mahogany body, securely locking down the oil finished 3-piece maple neck  with 5 bolts.  This unique neck joint not only gives the guitar the  resonance and sustain duly amplified through two  EMG active pickups, but allows for superior accessibility to the 24  frets on rosewood or maple fingerboards.  Hardware choices include a  Floyd Rose locking bridge or Tone Pros fixed bridge.   Guitars start at  $2,499.99 for fixed bridge, hand rubbed oil finish  6-string models.
Posted 4 days 15 hours ago - 02/01/12 - Full Story

Learn to make electronic dance music with the innovative application that started the revolutionMontclair, NJ (February 1, 2012) – Hal Leonard Books, the musician’s best source of books on the music business, audio technology, instrument history, and more, has published Producing Music with Ableton Live ($16.99) by Jake Perrine. This exciting new title is designed to get readers producing their own music from the ground up!Ableton Live is a groundbreaking program whose unique nonlinear, incredibly flexible features set it apart from all the other digital audio applications. It is equally at home with making beats, remixing, live recording, DJing, live looping, sound design, electronic music, hip-hop, and much more.Unlike other books about Live that simply explain its features like a second  manual, this hands-on-centric book contains a series of exercises that will walk readers through all the features they need to make an actual track from start to finish. Also included are audio content for use in the Ableton Live exercises contained in the text and screen-cast videos of the exercises, so readers can actually see how many of the features described by the author work.A substantial appendix section offers discussions of important non-Ableton-specific topics, including digital audio basics, components of a producer's studio, considerations when buying a DAW computer, and more.In addition to over 20 years of making electronic music, certified Ableton trainer Jake Perrine has over a decade of experience teaching audio production, so not only does he know what he's talking about, he knows how to make sure the reader know what he's talking about! Whether it’s DJing, making mashups and remixes, playing with a band, or building epic dance anthems from scratch, this book has all the step-by-step details achieve it with Ableton Live.About the Author:Jake Perrine began making bloops and bleeps with computers on an Apple II+ when he was 12. He has been an audio engineer for RealNetworks and a mastering engineer at RFI/CD, and has taught professional audio production for over a decade at the Art Institute of Seattle. He has written and directed a rock opera entitled Vamp, releases his own solo electronic music under the name of Spire, and is one half of the electropop duo Bloom. (More information about Perrine can be found at www.jakeperrine.com.)Producing Music with Ableton LiveHal Leonard BooksJanuary 2011182 pages, 8.5” x 11”Paperback with DVD$16.99, ISBN 9781458400369www.halleonardbooks.comwww.onstageandbackstage.wordpress.com
Posted 4 days 23 hours ago - 02/01/12 - Full Story

New Flagship V-Drums with SuperNATURAL Sounds Los Angeles, CA, January 19, 2012 — Roland is pleased to announce the TD-30KV  and TD-30K V-Pro® Series V-Drums®,  the new flagship kits in its industry-leading lineup of V-Drums  electronic percussion. Featuring SuperNATURAL sounds with Behavior  Modeling technology, improved V-Hi-Hat® and V-Pads™, and many more  enhancements, the TD-30KV and TD-30K kits offer serious players the  ultimate V-Drums experience for stage, studio, and beyond.   V-Drums  have long been recognized as the world’s most natural playing and  expressive electronic drums, thanks to patented mesh-head pads, advanced  triggering, and  a sound engine driven by Roland’s COSM modeling technology. Now, the  TD-30KV and TD-30K kits add in SuperNATURAL sounds and advanced Behavior  Modeling resulting in an instrument that reacts and responds to all the  subtleties, nuances, and dynamics of a drummer’s  technique. First developed for Roland’s synthesizers and pianos, these  leading-edge technologies deliver a quantum leap in realism in both  sound and expression for digitally emulating drums, percussion, and  other traditional instruments.  At  the core of the TD-30KV and TD-30K kits is the TD-30 Drum Sound Module.  It’s loaded with brand-new sounds produced with the SuperNATURAL sounds  and Behavior  Modeling, including an ultra-realistic ambience feature that emulates  overhead mics and room sounds. There are 1100 instruments and 100 drum  kits onboard the TD-30. Like all Roland TD series modules, all internal  drum kits are user programmable for creating  customized settings and kits. The  TD-30 features the familiar, intuitive V-Drums V-Edit interface, and  includes metallic parts on the panel to enhance visibility in low  lighting. The rear panel  is stocked with trigger inputs for the pads, along with multiple audio  outputs and MIDI I/O. Two different USB ports allow users to play audio  files from convenient flash media, as well as connect directly to  computers for MIDI over USB.      Designed  as the ultimate V-Drums stage kit, the TD-30KV offers unprecedented  playability with enhanced pads and cymbals, as well as striking  onstage presence with new Black Chrome shell wraps. The snare and four  tom V-Pads (PD-128S-BC; PD-128-BC x 2; and PD-108-BC x 2) feature updated  rim sensors for ultra-accurate  dynamics detection and rim shot depth, while a new V-Hi-Hat (VH-13-MG)  brings high-resolution sensing for improved playability. The VH-13-MG,  along with the  CY-14C-MG and CY-15R-SV V-Cymbals, come in an attractive new metallic  gray finish. Rounding out the TD-30KV is the KD-140-BC V-Kick and  MDS-25 chrome-finish drum rack. Equipped  with standard pad components, the TD-30K gives drummers a pro-level  recording set with the expressiveness of the new TD-30 sound module. The  kit’s three  toms feature the new PDX-100 V-Pad, which offers a 10-inch mesh head  with a shiny metal hoop, vertical and horizontal mounting options, and a  lightweight yet durable design. Other components include the KD-120BK  V-Kick; PD-125BK V-Pad  for the snare; VH-11 V-Hi-Hat; CY-12C, CY-13R, and CY-15R V-Cymbals;  and the new MDS-12V drum rack, which includes an internal cable  management system for  a clean, professional look.  The TD-30KV and TD-30K V-Pro Series V-Drums will be available in April 2012. For more information, visit www.RolandConnect.com.
Posted 5 days 3 hours ago - 02/01/12 - Full Story

Gaithersburg, MD - The DC Voltage Company introduces the P3 Signature Series David Barber Overdrive Pedal.  This pedal combines the legendary tone of the Barber Overdrive circuit with P3 Technology that's built into a professional-grade pedal.  P3 Signature Series Pedals start with audio circuitry licensed from known designers and combine it with patented P3 Technology. With softer midrange and wider frequency response than typical overdrive pedals, David Barber's overdrive circuitry includes 4558 op-amps.  A toggle switch on the top surface of the pedal allows easy control of the unique Boosted Bypass feature: toggle it on and the bypassed signal is also boosted cleanly by an amount set with the Drive knob; toggle it off and the bypass signal passes through untouched.  This unique feature offers a fantastic way to prevent "tone suck" when driving long cables or low impedance pedals.  This is the world's first pedal to include this selectable and adjustable Boosted Bypass feature, also known as David Barber's killer “B-Buff”. Remotely supplying abundant, regulated power via standard cables, P3 Technology completely eliminates the need for 9-volt batteries, cuts power cabling, cumbersome wall-warts, and the need for AC mains at the pedalboard; stabilizes tone while greatly suppressing if not entirely eliminating ground-loop hum; stops voltage droop and resulting signal loss or degradation; and makes the dreaded "dead on arrival" of drained batteries a pain of the past. The P3 Signature Series David Barber Overdrive Pedal, priced at US $149 and available directly from http://dcvoltage.net/p3/overdrive, includes comprehensive instructions, full support ...and a 9-volt battery.  P3 Technology allows the battery to remain installed yet electrically disconnected, ensuring it does not accidentally discharge and is available in an emergency or when P3 Power is not available. When set to use P3 Power, P3 Pedals actually reverse the purpose of their DC barrel connectors, making them into 9-volt power sources, perfect for daisy-chaining, or “Power-Chaining”, to stock pedals.  This uncommonly useful benefit reiterates the highly-adaptable versatility of P3 Technology. As with all P3 Technology -- called "a pedal junky's best friend," and "a godsend for professional musicians" -- power flows one way and signal the other over a single cable, while power problems and concerns essentially vanish.  Jason Robling, President of DC Voltage Company, summarizes the P3 Signature Series David Barber Overdrive Pedal as "legendary overdrive plus boostable bypass meets the definitive end to pedal power problems.”
Posted 5 days 3 hours ago - 02/01/12 - Full Story

New Ultra-Responsive Amp Models, Updated Effects, Dual Displays, and More  Los Angeles, CA, January 19, 2012 — BOSS is proud to introduce the GT-100  Amp Effects Processor,  the latest addition to the popular GT-series lineup of floor-based  multi-effects units for guitarists. Driven by a powerful new BOSS DSP  engine, the GT-100 is the most advanced GT ever, loaded with newly  developed, ultra-responsive COSM® amps, updated effects with enhanced  real-time control options, dual displays for easy sound programming, and  more. BOSS  has completely remodeled all of the COSM amps in the GT-100, distilling  decades of sound research to create the best-sounding guitar  processor the company has produced to date. Reaching far beyond  conventional vintage amp modeling, the GT-100 includes a host of all-new  amps that deliver amazingly transparent clean tones to ultra-high gain  modern sounds and everything in between. At  the core of the GT-100 is BOSS’ new proprietary DSP chip, a  blazing-fast processor that provides unparalleled muscle for COSM amps  and  effects. Thanks to this powerful new chip, the GT-100’s COSM amps sound  better than ever before, with a dynamic touch and response that truly  captures the feel and expressiveness of the world’s finest tube-based  amplifiers. The  GT-100 is also a powerful multi-effects processor packed with a huge  array of effects, including overdrives, distortions, delays, pitch  shifters, modulation, reverb, and many more. The newly developed ACCEL  pedal lets players creative explosive effects in live performance by  adjusting multiple effects parameters in real time with one simple foot  press.   The  GT-100’s user interface has been completely redesigned as well,  offering easy, intuitive operation that greatly improves on previous  designs. Dual displays make navigation simple while programming tones,  with intuitive parameter adjustment via easy-to-grab knobs. The GT-100  also includes the acclaimed EZ TONE, which gives everyone from beginners  to pros the ability to dial up world-class  tones with just a few tweaks. AMP CUSTOMIZE and OD/DS CUSTOMIZE functions, which enable to create original amps and OD/DS, are newly added to EZ TONE. Housed in a road-tested, all-metal GT chassis with a sleek  black finish, the GT-100 is ready for action on stage and in the  studio. Eight onboard foot switches provide control over patch  selection, as well as immediate access to the built-in Phrase Looper and  ACCEL functions. The integrated heavy-duty expression pedal  offers foot control over volume, wah, pitch effects, and more.  Additionally, the new quick-access Manual mode instantly transforms the  GT-100 from a patch-based multi-effects unit to a pedalboard full of  legendary stomps with individual on/off control. The GT-100 will be available in February 2012. For more information, visit www.RolandConnect.com.
Posted 5 days 19 hours ago - 01/31/12 - Full Story

Get your recording knowledge off on the right track with FREE  Recording Made Easy classes every Saturday morning, 10-11am. Every month we  present a series of four classes that show you how to take your ideas from basic  tracks to finished songs with an Apple computer and Apple's powerful GarageBand®  software. Take one, take all four; come back the next month and take 'em  again.REGISTER NOW - AVAILABILITY IS LIMITEDAll classes are available at ANY Guitar Center  location, Saturday mornings from 10:00 - 11:00 AM.FEB4Learn about computer recording followed by a  brief overview on studio setup and capturing audio.Register NowFEB11Learn about computer recording followed by a  brief overview on working with virtual (software) instruments & Apple  loops.Register NowFEB18Introduction to computer recording with a brief  overview on EQ, compression, reverb and guitar amp simulation.Register NowFEB25Introduction to computer recording with a brief  overview on mixing and publishing.Register  NowFREE AKAI APC20 WITH ABLETON LIVE 8 SUITEGet a Free Akai APC20 When You Buy Ableton Live 8  Suite!A $199.99  ValueIn-Store OnlyAbleton Suite is a complete software studio. Suite 8 gives you an  incredible set of features, with a radically new Library packed with beautiful  new sounds and a wealth of useful resources.Suite 8 contains 11 Ableton  instruments and effects including synths, a sampler, electric and acoustic  drums, mallets, numerous sampled instruments, the new, reworked Operator and amp  modeling effects. Two completely new instruments, Collision and Latin  Percussion, round off the set. Ableton Suite 8 is a complete package: the tools  and the sounds.In store only. See your Recording Made Easy  Representative for details.Find a  StoreIK MULTIMEDIA AMPLITUBE JIMI HENDRIX OR METALIK Multimedia AmpliTubeBuy 1 for $39.99 or Both for  $79.98In-Store  OnlyVisit your local Guitar Center on February 3rd, 4th or 5th and get IK  Multimedia's AmpliTube Jimi Hendrix OR Metal guitar simulation software for only  $39.99 courtesy or Recording Made Easy. Just ask for your Recording Made Easy  Presenter!AmpliTube Jimi HendrixThe first authentic software  recreation of the complete guitar amp and effects rig of Jimi  Hendrix!AmpliTube MetalIK Multimedia AmpliTube Metal is ab  amp and stompbox modeling software dedicated entirely to heavy metal gear with  over $30,000 worth of amps, cabs, and effects alone!
Posted 5 days 19 hours ago - 01/31/12 - Full Story

—Sasha Soundlab offers samples and instruments direct from the legendary DJ—STUDIO CITY, CA—January 30, 2011 — AudioRaiders announced the release of Sasha Soundlab, a unique library of samples and software  instruments for DJs, dance-music producers, and composers. The  AudioRaiders team spent weeks listening to sounds in Sasha’s studio, and  the result is this surprisingly affordable collection, which contains over 4,000 individual sounds. Included are lead, pad and  stab synths; synth basses, drum and percussion kits, customizable loops  and grooves and custom effects banks. Sasha Soundlab is the first  product to capture the soul of one of dance music’s most iconic producers.  “It’s definitely a treasure trove,” says Sasha. “You can produce a  record from top to bottom with it. You can make your beats in it—you can  do everything from within this Soundlab.” There  are an astounding 220 fully customizable software instruments in Sasha  Soundlab. The instruments all sampled from vintage analog  synthesizers—some quite rare—and custom programmed by Sasha, himself. Included are 20 analog basses, processed  through tube gear to give them maximum depth and punch; 26 classic  synths; and seven stab and chord banks, featuring over 152 of Sasha’s  signature sounds. You  also get 69 drum-and-percussion sample banks, comprised of over 950  individual hits. Pre-compressed and production ready, the samples  include kicks, hi-hats, toms, percussion and glitches. In addition, over 100 loop instruments are provided,  featuring not just drums and percussion, but also rhythmic beds, bass,  and heavenly melodic phrases. All of the loop instruments are spread  over an octave so they can be easily played in any key. To  top it off, the Soundlab lets you tap into Sasha’s prodigious effects  collection, with 11 custom FX banks, containing over 400 stunning,  boutique effects that utilize guitar pedals, circuit bent toys and a wide range of processors. The sonic  possibilities are endless. Sasha  Soundlab is the first product of AudioRaiders’ Soundlab Series, with  more sound collections, from other influential artists and producers, to  come. Sasha Soundlab is available now for $99. DJ Sasha Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWRKdWaNuBM&context=C36ba24aADOEgsToPDskLJ-KJh01um2LY4508hRdWK About AudioRaiders   AudioRaiders  was founded by a team of DJs and producers who’ve performed all over  the world, released tracks on influential labels and shared the stage with the biggest acts in dance music. When they’re not on the  road, they’re in the studio working on tracks and remixes. The mission  of AudioRaiders is to break down barriers so that users can access the  sounds, studios and secrets of influential artists. The recording and performing experience of the AudioRaiders team has  given them access to the studios and sounds of a range of influential  musicians and producers. When putting together products for the Soundlab  series, the team spends weeks in an artist’s studio, sorting through hours of audio files and hand-picking the best  ones. Once the sounds have been chosen, they’re brought to AudioRaiders’  Los Angeles-based development team, who spend many long nights making  sure the samples are properly sliced and balanced. Then they use the power of the Native Instruments Kontakt engine to  incorporate each sound into a customizable software instrument. Find out  more at www.audioraiders.com.
Posted 5 days 19 hours ago - 01/31/12 - Full Story

The  industry standard loop slicer receives a complete interface overhaul,  workflow enhancements, Mac OS X Lion compatibility and more.Stockholm, Sweden, January 31, 2012 — Propellerhead has released ReCycle version 2.2 for sale—an update to the industry standard tool that  creates REX files. Sporting a completely overhauled graphical user  interface, ReCycle 2.2 adds new key commands, workflow enhancements and a  new Online Help system—making Recycle even faster and easier to use. Version 2.2 is a 64-bit compatible application with  full support for Windows 7 and Mac OS X Lion operating systems.  About ReCycle An  industry standard, ReCycle is the fastest way to make sampled material  your own. ReCycle lets you do with sampled loops what you can do with  beats programmed from individual drum sounds—like alter the tempo, or replace sounds and  process them individually. Producers use Recycle for making loops  tempo-independent, for quick editing of sampled parts, chopping up  riffs, remixing and doing mash ups  Load any loop or musical phrase into ReCycle. The program will look at  the file, analyze it, and slice it up into its rhythmic components. The  file can then be rearranged, pitched or have its tempo freely adjusted.  Artists have full control over the individual slices and can alter the timing or even quantize the groove, keep the  feel of the loop and replace the sounds with their own. Or load the file  into a software sampler and trigger the individual parts from a MIDI  keyboard to turn the sampled material into a completely new performance.  A favorite among sound designers and producers, ReCycle’s REX file  format is supported by all major music software titles including  applications such as Apple Logic, Avid Pro Tools, Steinberg Cubase,  Cakewalk Sonar, Ableton Live, MOTU Digital Performer and Propellerhead Reason, as well as software instruments such as Native  Instruments Kontakt and Spectrasonics Stylus RMX.  www.propellerheads.se/recycle
Posted 5 days 19 hours ago - 01/31/12 - Full Story