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:

• "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.

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.

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.

• 22-fret maple neck with either a maple or rosewood fingerboard
• a synchronized trem bridge
• American inline tuners
• Chrome hardware

The VG Stratocaster G-5 goes on sale in March so be sure to hound your local dealers until they get them in store. This one should be quite popular.

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!

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

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/

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.

The Orange Dark Terror Guitar Head Giveaway

American Musical Supply is giving away the Orange Dark Terror Tube Guitar Amplifier in its December Gear Giveaway. This head is valued at $649 MSRP, and features:

• High Gain Preamp 3 x ECC83/12AX7
• Valve Driven FX Loop 1 x ECC81/12AT7
• Four Stages of Gain
• 15 Watts Class A, Switchable to 7 Watts
• Weighs in at only 15 lbs/ 7kg
• Includes gig bag

 Click here to enter this sweepstakes.

Judge gives Universal Music 24 hours to explain takedown spree

Judge gives Universal Music 24 hours to explain takedown spree

Guitars And More Brought To You By Room Service!

As part of their new amenity program called The Sound Of Your Stay, Hard Rock Hotels and Casinos are taking hospitality to a new level by supplying guests with custom music playlists and instruments.

The program, which rolls out initially to a select few sites, will be offered at all locations sometime in Q1 of 2012. In total, there are three categories of 'The Sound Of Your Stay':

• Tracks - Guests are given a code upon check-in to download a 15-song playlist compiled by celebrity musicians and other Hollywood luminaries. At any given time there will be a total of three playlists to choose from.
• Picks - Fender has partnered with Hard Rock Hotels and Casinos to bring guests this option. Participants will have the option to pick from an assortment of world famous Fender Strats, Telecasters and basses that they can have delivered to their suites complete with a headphone amp and a pair of Ludacris' new 'SOUL' high definition headphones. They will even, upon request, supply you with video lessons courtesy of Hal Leonard. Makes me want to book a stay right now!
• Mix - The third and final tier of service offered is Mix. Opting for this service grants the guest a chance to be Deadmau5(well, something like that) for a night. If a guest has their Mac or PC laptop in tow they can elect to have their choice of Traktor S2 DJ systems and a 30-day demo of Traktor Pro 2 software brought to them by the good folks at Hard Rock. As with the 'Picks' package, this package also comes complete with a pair of SOUL by Ludacris headphones.

 "Music is the soul of the Hard Rock brand, something that truly sets Hard Rock Hotels apart as a travel destination," stated Brian Klein, Head of Global Marketing, Hard Rock Hotels & Casinos.  "Our new amenity program, The Sound of Your Stay, is intended to enhance and expand the musical dimension of our guests' experience."

For more information on The Sound Of Your Stay and Hard Rock Hotels, please visit  www.hardrockhotels.com