The SoundCloud social music sharing site recently teamed up with Pop/R&B singer Beyonce to host a remix competition for SoundCloud members(http://endoftime.beyonceonline.com/). The contest involves remixing Beyonce's song 'End Of Time' from her most recent CD entitled '4'. Individual stems from the track are being furnished to those who enter the contest. Each user is then given the liberty to cut, paste, rearrange and reinvent the song however they see fit(minus uncleared samples of course).
Yours truly has entered this contest and I just uploaded my entry yesterday. You can check out my 'Driven Remix' of Beyonce's 'End Of Time' here:
http://endoftime.beyonceonline.com/tracks/1538
If you're a SoundCloud user I would really appreciate a 'Yes' vote to help me along in the standings! :-)
I would also encourage others who are into remixing to give this a shot. There is one Grand Prize of $4000 USD plus an opportunity at getting your remix placed on an upcoming Beyonce release.
I hope you will give the remix a listen and vote me up.
NOTE: I was pretty dissatisfied with my mix after uploading so I made a few adjustments. A much improved version will be up on my SoundCloud page in the next couple of days.
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Thursday, February 23, 2012
Monday, February 20, 2012
Ibanez RG3250MZ - 80s Rock Goodness Returns
Guitar makers Ibanez and the legendary Steve Vai were without a doubt two of the biggest influences on aspiring rock guitarists throughout the era of 80s 'big hair' hard rock music. Ibanez had long been the makers of great guitars suited well to rock music, but in 1987 they teamed up with Vai to develop the signature JEM series guitar, with its instantly recognizable 'monkey grip' handle cut into the top portion of the body. This quickly became a much sought after instrument, so Ibanez responded to demand by releasing the RG550 series which featured similar specs to the JEM series.
These guitars featured the very slim Wizard neck which was very popular at the time. Ibanez also offered the instrument in some "oh so 80s" color options like Desert Yellow and Fire Alarm Red. Flash forward to 2012, and Ibanez has reintroduced this instrument in the form of the RG3250MZ.
This incarnation brings with it a host of improvements to the original, chief among them being a much improved neck. The original neck was highly subject to warping due to its narrow design. The new necks are built from a five piece laminate consisting of three strips of hard rock maple and two pieces of walnut. Two titanium rods also bolster the strength of the truss rod, so these necks will be free of the flaw that saddled the originals.
The awesome tremelo system is the new version of the Edge system of old which offered ease of use and facilitated the extreme string bending that was all the rage back in the 80s. Also on board is the ZPS3 string system which allows the user to alter the stiffness of the vibrato system with a set of removable springs. The pickup configuration is the tried and true humbucker/single/humbucker setup by Dimarzio.
For more information and purchasing from American Musical Supply, click on the link below.
Ibanez RG3250MZ Prestige Electric Guitar with Case
These guitars featured the very slim Wizard neck which was very popular at the time. Ibanez also offered the instrument in some "oh so 80s" color options like Desert Yellow and Fire Alarm Red. Flash forward to 2012, and Ibanez has reintroduced this instrument in the form of the RG3250MZ.
This incarnation brings with it a host of improvements to the original, chief among them being a much improved neck. The original neck was highly subject to warping due to its narrow design. The new necks are built from a five piece laminate consisting of three strips of hard rock maple and two pieces of walnut. Two titanium rods also bolster the strength of the truss rod, so these necks will be free of the flaw that saddled the originals.
The awesome tremelo system is the new version of the Edge system of old which offered ease of use and facilitated the extreme string bending that was all the rage back in the 80s. Also on board is the ZPS3 string system which allows the user to alter the stiffness of the vibrato system with a set of removable springs. The pickup configuration is the tried and true humbucker/single/humbucker setup by Dimarzio.
For more information and purchasing from American Musical Supply, click on the link below.
Ibanez RG3250MZ Prestige Electric Guitar with Case
Monday, February 13, 2012
R.I.P. Whitney Houston
So as you may have noticed I've been away from the blog for a while due to a pretty busy schedule, but I just felt compelled to write about the tragedy that unfolded this weekend.
While enjoying a restful Saturday afternoon, I decided to check my Facebook feed as I routinely do throughout the day. What I would see populate a large percentage of that feed I would have never expected in a million years. "R.I.P. Whitney Houston" - these words were echoed by several people on my friends list. My first thought was "please let this be a hoax". I then checked Yahoo which is always on top of all things newsworthy. There was nothing there. I immediately thought to myself people should really stop with the fake celebrity hoaxes. Somewhat relieved, I returned to Facebook and considered posting my disdain. Then I read a post that announced that her death was confirmed by CNN. This was when I tuned in and the truth set in. We had indeed lost another treasure of the music industry.
Although most of her fans did not know her personally, we all felt some sort of connection to her; this as a result of the more than two decades that she spent sharing her voice, her experiences and even her life with us through her music. She was such a major influence on so many singers and musicians that it was heart wrenching to say the least to see the various images of her displayed repeatedly as the anchors and industry personalities weighed in on her career and immense talent.
As the news reports speculating on the cause of her death begin to swirl, I for one will choose not to focus on the negative, but to remember this great person for the music and joy that she brought to my life and the lives of countless others. I can only ask that you would do the same and keep the family she has left behind in your prayers. These are real people with real feelings.
R.I.P Whitney. Thanks for sharing your gift with us.
While enjoying a restful Saturday afternoon, I decided to check my Facebook feed as I routinely do throughout the day. What I would see populate a large percentage of that feed I would have never expected in a million years. "R.I.P. Whitney Houston" - these words were echoed by several people on my friends list. My first thought was "please let this be a hoax". I then checked Yahoo which is always on top of all things newsworthy. There was nothing there. I immediately thought to myself people should really stop with the fake celebrity hoaxes. Somewhat relieved, I returned to Facebook and considered posting my disdain. Then I read a post that announced that her death was confirmed by CNN. This was when I tuned in and the truth set in. We had indeed lost another treasure of the music industry.
Although most of her fans did not know her personally, we all felt some sort of connection to her; this as a result of the more than two decades that she spent sharing her voice, her experiences and even her life with us through her music. She was such a major influence on so many singers and musicians that it was heart wrenching to say the least to see the various images of her displayed repeatedly as the anchors and industry personalities weighed in on her career and immense talent.
As the news reports speculating on the cause of her death begin to swirl, I for one will choose not to focus on the negative, but to remember this great person for the music and joy that she brought to my life and the lives of countless others. I can only ask that you would do the same and keep the family she has left behind in your prayers. These are real people with real feelings.
R.I.P Whitney. Thanks for sharing your gift with us.
Monday, January 23, 2012
NAMM 2012: Digital Performer Comes To Windows
MOTU's flagship digital audio platform has enjoyed many years of success, being recognized as a leading DAW for Mac users. Now with the release of Digital Performer 8, PC users can for the first time share in the gloating with their Apple counterparts. DP8 brings with it all of the things long-time users have come to love and appreciate about the software, plus several new enhancements which are sure to both facilitate ease of use and inspire even deeper levels of creation.
The new features for Digital Performer 8 include:
Digital Performer 8 will run in 32-bit or 64-bit environments and will be available for Windows 7 and Mac beginning Spring 2012.
The new features for Digital Performer 8 include:
- "Punch Guard" - this feature records an extra 4 seconds of audio at the beginning and end of punched in parts, eliminating lost or 'clipped' sound resulting from prematurely terminated recording. This allows the user to go in and manually trim the punched in audio to their liking.
- Themes - Allows the user to alter the appearance of DP8. A set of 14 brand new themes is included; offering such variants as "Hi-Fi", "Arctic" and "None More Black".
- 15 New Plug-ins - A variety of plug-ins is also included; ranging from amp and cabinet models to spatial enhancement and instrument specific plug-ins such as the Subkick kick drum enhancer.
Digital Performer 8 will run in 32-bit or 64-bit environments and will be available for Windows 7 and Mac beginning Spring 2012.
Friday, January 20, 2012
NAMM 2012: Alesis AmpDock for iPad
As if there weren't already more than enough reasons to grab Apple's massively successful tablet, Alesis comes through and gives us yet another. The AmpDock, slated for release this July, allows the user to slide the iPad device into its shiny red casing and call up a wide assortment of famous amp models.
Using either the included Alesis software or any other currently available amp modeling app from the App Store, the user can connect the AmpDock to their physical amplifier of choice and instantly call up a wide assortment of amp models and effects. The package also includes a 4 button footswitch with assignable volume/expression pedal. The AmpDock is expected to release in July for roughly $299 and is compatible with all generations of Apple's iPad device.
Using either the included Alesis software or any other currently available amp modeling app from the App Store, the user can connect the AmpDock to their physical amplifier of choice and instantly call up a wide assortment of amp models and effects. The package also includes a 4 button footswitch with assignable volume/expression pedal. The AmpDock is expected to release in July for roughly $299 and is compatible with all generations of Apple's iPad device.
NAMM 2012: New "Fenderoland" VG Stratocaster G-5
Roland and Fender have partnered to introduce the new VG Strat G-5. Fusing the best qualities of the classic Fender Strat and the Roland V guitar synthesizer, this instrument brings you the proven sound and build quality Fender has been synonymous with for the last 50 years plus the flexibility and broad range of guitar sounds offered by Roland's famous VG-99 and GR-55 guitar systems.
The instrument features the usual 3 single coil pickup setup plus a deftly placed GK-3 divided pickup located just north of the bridge. Immediately adjacent to this pickup are the familiar Volume and Tone knobs. In addition to these are two slightly smaller knobs which control the various parameters of the built-in VG system, offering up tonal variations such as pickup type, body type, tuning and various other things sure to wow and amaze the player's audience. In total there are 20 different sounds available, not the least of which are Telecaster, humbucker pickup, 12 string, acoustic and all sorts of alternate tuning setups.
The axe itself is instantly familiar to any Strat fan.
The instrument features the usual 3 single coil pickup setup plus a deftly placed GK-3 divided pickup located just north of the bridge. Immediately adjacent to this pickup are the familiar Volume and Tone knobs. In addition to these are two slightly smaller knobs which control the various parameters of the built-in VG system, offering up tonal variations such as pickup type, body type, tuning and various other things sure to wow and amaze the player's audience. In total there are 20 different sounds available, not the least of which are Telecaster, humbucker pickup, 12 string, acoustic and all sorts of alternate tuning setups.
The axe itself is instantly familiar to any Strat fan.
- 22-fret maple neck with either a maple or rosewood fingerboard
- a synchronized trem bridge
- American inline tuners
- Chrome hardware
It's NAMM Time! We're Back!!
After a brief hiatus following New Year festivities, we're back on track with tons of coverage and features from NAMM 2012! Stay tuned over the next several days as we will be spotlighting several new gear announcements from the show floor in Anaheim, CA!
Monday, January 2, 2012
Artist cTrix Rocks Out With The "gAtari"! Must Be Seen To Be Believed....
I'm going to file this one under my "never would have thought possible" category. I love to see people think of creative ways to hack and exploit technology. To take an already exceptional piece of hardware and make it do things that it was never intended to do is a testament to human ingenuity and is also rather inspiring. When done to benefit the people instead of for self aggrandizement or twisted notoriety, hacking can be wonderful.
The artist cTrix has found a way to forge a classic Atari 2600 video game console into a musical instrument ready to set ablaze dance floors and living rooms worldwide. cTrix took an Atari 2600 as a base and through some fancy reprogramming of EPROM chips and circuitry modifications with stomp boxes has created the "gAtari". This is the instrument that Scott Pilgrim and Sex Bob-omb would have used to defeat some of the Seven Evil Exes had it been available to them. Check out the vid below to see the gAtari in action.
When you're done dancing check out cTrix's Facebook page at: http://www.facebook.com/pages/cTrix/118258328189500
The artist cTrix has found a way to forge a classic Atari 2600 video game console into a musical instrument ready to set ablaze dance floors and living rooms worldwide. cTrix took an Atari 2600 as a base and through some fancy reprogramming of EPROM chips and circuitry modifications with stomp boxes has created the "gAtari". This is the instrument that Scott Pilgrim and Sex Bob-omb would have used to defeat some of the Seven Evil Exes had it been available to them. Check out the vid below to see the gAtari in action.
When you're done dancing check out cTrix's Facebook page at: http://www.facebook.com/pages/cTrix/118258328189500
Thursday, December 22, 2011
QuNeo Multi-touch Software/Hardware Controller
As an avid user of DAWs and software synthesizers, I can personally attest to the power and flexibility they offer to users. This is the stuff I learned on and I swear by it. There is, of course a very substantial segment of musicians and recording engineers who still stand firmly by the hardware units of yesteryear. Many companies such as Akai and Novation have been quite successful at bringing products to market that bridge the gap between analog and digital and make the transition from the former to the latter a lot less painful. There is now a plethora of portable USB powered controllers that boast any number of pads, sliders and buttons that can be tweaked and MIDI-mapped just about any way we see fit.
Keith McMillen Instruments, known for producing a string a very innovative musical devices and controllers, is set to introduce a new controller in March of 2012 called the QuNeo. This device(pronounced kew-nee-o) comes loaded with 16 trigger pads, 9 sliders, two rotary controllers and 17 switches; all of which are velocity and location sensitive. Each sensor on the device also provides light feedback via LEDs which react according to velocity. The tactile functionality also allows users to use pinch and draw gestures on the surfaces, very similarly to the way you would operate a touch screen smartphone. This opens up a myriad of possibilities for expression and precision.
iPad users will appreciate the QuNeo, as it possesses approximately the same dimensions as the Apple tablet, so any iPad accessories like cases and mic stand holders can be used with the QuNeo. The controller also works with USB, MIDI and OSC to facilitate communication with most other devices. The brave coding types out there will appreciate the fact that the unit is open source, as they will be able to use the dev kit and API to bend the code to their will and make the unit behave exactly as they wish. I personally can't wait to see the custom patches and setups that will surely make their way to the forums and user groups once released.
All in all, the QuNeo is shaping up to be the must have controller of the new year. While it is not yet available, the developers are accepting 'pledges' of $10 or more at their Kickstarter web site . Pledging at least $200 nets you a QuNeo plus some other swag before the unit hits stores in March. Several musicians and other industry notables are already endorsing this product and pitching in with pledges of their own. Those attending NAMM in January should be in for a treat when they get to try this thing out for the first time.
For more information on Keith McMillen Instruments, please visit their website at http://www.keithmcmillen.com/
Keith McMillen Instruments, known for producing a string a very innovative musical devices and controllers, is set to introduce a new controller in March of 2012 called the QuNeo. This device(pronounced kew-nee-o) comes loaded with 16 trigger pads, 9 sliders, two rotary controllers and 17 switches; all of which are velocity and location sensitive. Each sensor on the device also provides light feedback via LEDs which react according to velocity. The tactile functionality also allows users to use pinch and draw gestures on the surfaces, very similarly to the way you would operate a touch screen smartphone. This opens up a myriad of possibilities for expression and precision.
iPad users will appreciate the QuNeo, as it possesses approximately the same dimensions as the Apple tablet, so any iPad accessories like cases and mic stand holders can be used with the QuNeo. The controller also works with USB, MIDI and OSC to facilitate communication with most other devices. The brave coding types out there will appreciate the fact that the unit is open source, as they will be able to use the dev kit and API to bend the code to their will and make the unit behave exactly as they wish. I personally can't wait to see the custom patches and setups that will surely make their way to the forums and user groups once released.
All in all, the QuNeo is shaping up to be the must have controller of the new year. While it is not yet available, the developers are accepting 'pledges' of $10 or more at their Kickstarter web site . Pledging at least $200 nets you a QuNeo plus some other swag before the unit hits stores in March. Several musicians and other industry notables are already endorsing this product and pitching in with pledges of their own. Those attending NAMM in January should be in for a treat when they get to try this thing out for the first time.
For more information on Keith McMillen Instruments, please visit their website at http://www.keithmcmillen.com/
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Musicians use both sides of their brains more frequently than average people
Musicians use both sides of their brains more frequently than average people
Interesting article written by Melanie Moran at Vanderbilt University.
Interesting article written by Melanie Moran at Vanderbilt University.
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