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

 

Akai APC40 with FREE Odyssey Flight Zone Case

As part of its 25th Anniversary Celebration, American Musical Supply is offering the Akai APC40 Performance Controller for Ableton Live at its usual price of $299.99, PLUS a high quality Odyssey Flight Zone case free of charge. This is an excellent deal, as the case usually retails for around $129. So if you have been in the market for this amazing controller now is an excellent time to grab one!


Click the image for more information and to purchase.

Cheap Fares with Cheapo Air for the Holidays!

I normally deal with music and musical instruments on this blog but hey, musicians need to travel too right?




The name may be enough to put some off, but Cheapo Air are proving themselves to be a worthy alternative to Travelocity and Orbitz when it comes to booking commercial travel. Now through the end of the year Cheapo Air are offering great prices on last minute bookings PLUS $10 off of your purchase with the supplied coupon code. Check them out and book a flight to visit family and friends over the holidays!

Pearl Throne Thumper

For all you drummers who just can't seem to hear or feel enough kick drum while onstage, Pearl has come to save the day! Pearl Drum and The Guitammer Company entered into a two year development partnership to bring you the Pearl Drum Thumper, powered by ButtKicker. This new tactile monitoring device clamps to any drum throne and transmits the low frequencies of the kick drum directly to the musician's body.

"The response to the Throne Thumper by our artists has been nothing short of amazing," said Terry West, President of Pearl Drums. Drummers such as Mike Mangini of Dream Theater and Eric Singer of KISS have been using the device on tour this year. "The Throne Thumper can be used anywhere electronic or acoustic drums are played and it is especially suited for the house of worship market where the drummer's sound level and the entire stage volume is very controlled," says West.

The Guitammer Company was first to market with this type of device. Their ButtKicker line was introduced about 15 years ago, and many drummers as well as bass players and other musicians have attested to the ability of the devices to make it easier to 'feel' the music they are playing. The Pearl Throne Thumper is priced a bit more competitively with all levels of musicians in mind.

The Pearl Throne Thumper is powered by a 200 watt ButtKicker amp and is available from Amazon for $299.99. Click the image below for more information and to place an order.

Zoom Q3HD Portable HD Audio Video Digital Recorder

Zoom has been bringing us quality, affordable portable recording devices for quite some time now, and this latest model is arguably their best yet. The Q3HD allows you to not only capture pristine, studio quality audio, but it also throws in the ability to shoot high definition video at either 720p(30 or 60 fps) or 1080p(30 fps).


On the video side, the included 2GB SD card allows you to capture up to 45 minutes of 720p video shot at 30fps. Shooting at 60fps obviously diminishes available recording time, so for those who endeavor to shoot for extended periods of time, investing in a high capacity(SDHC) card will be required. The unit supports up to a 32 GB SDHC card, which will yield 7 hours of 720p video. Pretty awesome for such a small machine. The 2.4 inch LCD display should be sufficient for users to mind what they are recording.

As for the audio end, available formats are: 44.1/48/96kHz 16/24-bit WAV (PCM). It is also possible to record in AAC format audio at 320kbps. As an added bonus, a limiter is included for when you need to capture ideas during those loud rehearsal sessions. Your recordings will always be clear and intelligible, no matter how many decibels the band hits.

The Zoom Q3HD is available now from American Musical Supply for just $299. Free shipping and the always appreciated 3 Payment Plan are available as well. Click the image for more information and to purchase.

What a great stocking stuffer for that special someone(or for yourself)!

The Amazing "Rock Ock" 8 Neck Guitar!!

How many guys does it take to play Crossroads an 8 neck guitar? Well.....8 of course! We've all seen double neck guitars before, but builder Dan Neafsey and artist Gerald Huerta(designer of the infamous AC/DC logo) felt that they could do much better than that.



This monster weighs in at a hefty 40 pounds. It features 154 frets and 51 strings distributed across the 8 necks. The range of distinct instruments featured is impressive:

• 6, 7 and 12 string guitars
• Baritone guitar
• Mandolin
• Eukulele
• 4 string bass
• 4 string fretless bass

For those interested in seeing this musical monstrosity in person, it will be on display at the Orlando Science Center in Orlando, Florida through the end of this year.

Gibson Guitar Purchases Stanton Group

As of December 5th, Gibson Guitar owns Florida-based Stanton Group, which encompasses a wide range of new products. The Stanton Group is comprised of:

• Cerwin Vega - a professional and home loudspeaker manufacturer
• KRK Systems - makers of quality studio monitors
• Stanton DJ - makers of turntables and other DJ equipment and accessories

Through this acquisition, Gibson has formed a new division called Gibson Pro Audio, and are poised to further expand their market share. “Right now we have an extremely powerful brand that people recognize, but the musical instrument category is inherently limited because people who (buy) instruments also need to know how to play them,”, says Gibson Guitar Chairman and CEO Henry Juszkiewicz. He went further to say that the new audio division “expands our reach to fellow music lovers and allows us to access 20 of 20 consumers instead of the one in 20 we currently hit,”.

Gibson is currently involved in litigation involving alleged violations of international law pertaining to imported woods. Their Nashville facility has been raided twice in as many years. Gibson however flatly denies any involvement with such illegal activity.

A Tribute to Jaco Pastorius

Yesterday would have marked the 60th birthday of bass great Jaco Pastorius. The man was an inspiration not only to bass players, but to musicians in general. His approach to the instrument was truly one of a kind. He proved that the bass could singularly provide rhythm as well as melodic support within a song and not be overbearing. Every note, slide and chord that he played on his numerous recordings was played with a level of panache and soulfulness that had rarely been heard before. We celebrate the life of Jaco and what he contributed to the music industry and to the world.

Here is a clip of Youtuber Les July performing an awesome tribute to Jaco. Be sure to check out Les' Youtube channel @ http://www.youtube.com/lesjuly




The bass Les is playing is a Fender Squier Vintage Modified Fretless Jazz Bass. Surprisingly this bass sells for less than $300! It comes standard with 2 Duncan Designed Single Coil JB pickups, which give the bass a terrific tone. Right now, American Musical Supply is offering this bass for $274.99 with a $25 instant rebate. In my eyes this is a steal for such a good sounding bass. Click the image below for more information.


dreamhost coupon code

Sting - 25 Years[3CD + DVD Set]

I'll be honest. I almost passed on this one. Being a long time Sting fan, I have collected just about every one of his CDs and live concerts(on both VHS and DVD). I often feel that I have contributed to Sting's considerable wealth more than any one human should. With that said, when I got wind of this new collection I instantly said to myself, "I'll Pass!". However, I eventually caved and indulged once more. I'm glad I did!



(click the image above to purchase online from Amazon)


The first disc starts off with the uber familiar "If You Love Somebody Set Them Free". What I heard come through my headphones was somewhat surprising. The song had been remixed from its original presentation on The Dream Of The Blue Turtles album. Gone was that huge 80s reverb and sheen that I was expecting to hear. Several of the instruments and background vocals had considerably more presence and definition. Not a knock against that 80s sound; in fact I love that sound. This was just different. A more modern mix of a classic. Old, yet new at the same time. I thought this was very cool, as it was almost like hearing a rough cut of a tune I'd heard hundreds of times already. This treatment is more evident on some songs than others, and will probably go unnoticed by many. It's safe to say that laptop speakers will not do it justice. However, my $350 Pioneer headphones delivered every nuance, and I marveled at how well I could hear Sting's and Darryl Jones' basses on many of the songs. Do yourself a favor and play this on a good sound system. Any true blue Sting fan will be pleased!

Once you wade through the 3 CDs  filled with songs remixed by Sting himself and other artists, there's the DVD that features 10 live performances. It was great to see songs like 'Synchronicity II' and 'Heavy Cloud, No Rain' as they are two of my favorites. And of course, what would a live Sting set be without the inclusion of 'Roxanne'? WINNING!!

All in all, you could do much worse with your hard earned $120. It is a pretty sizable investment, but true fans will come away feeling as though it was money well spent. For the uninitiated, this is a golden opportunity to discover the genius that is Gordon Sumner aka Sting!

Jeremy Ellis on Maschine And Maschine Mikro......WOW!

This has got to be some of the most impressive use of Maschine that I have witnessed so far!

Fender American Deluxe Jazz Electric Bass

 As any Fender Jazz owner(myself included) knows, this instrument is a musical 'chameleon'. Not many instruments fit so well into so many different genres of music. The J-Bass is as much at home in an Alt-Metal band as it is in a laid back Smooth Jazz situation. The balanced and powerful, yet subtle and soulful tone of these instruments falls into any mix so perfectly and deliver the goods so well that one is often tempted to ask him/her self if any other bass is needed in their arsenal.


The latest model in the ubiquitous line of instruments from state-side manufacturer Fender brings with it a few brand new and very welcome bells and whistles:

• N3 Noiseless Pickups - these offer increased headroom and tighter low end response
• An Active/Passive toggle switch
• A new Passive mode tone control(VERY NICE!)

Fender was even gracious enough to supply flat-head screws for the battery compartment, so that if a screwdriver is not readily available in an emergency, a pick or some other flat utensil may be used to swap out a dead battery. HUGE plus in my opinion! Other enhancements include rolled fingerboard edges, a genuine bone nut and  a Stealth A String retainer.

Fender has once again succeeded in making a truly incredible Bass even better. List price for this instrument starts at $2249(click the picture below to see models available starting from $1699 courtesy of our affiliate partner) . Yes, Fender has raised the stakes for these fine instruments as a result of today's economy, but the new features combined with the ever-consistent build quality justifies the price hike.

Thanksgiving Day Was Awesome!

Spent the day with family in Chicago and indulged in my fair share of turkey, dressing and desserts! Hope you all enjoyed your 'Turkey Day' as well. I'll be back on Monday with some new updates on some hot gear!

F Sharp Productions Personalized Cables

As musicians, while striving for that oh so elusive sonic nirvana from our setups, we tend to put just about all of the emphasis on our instrument and/or amplification. However, the right interconnect can take the quality of your sound up or down a few notches depending on the quality. I once underestimated the value of a good cable in my setup, many times opting for the typical 'Bargain Basement' cables found on a large spindle at the local music shop. Those cables get the job done, but that's about it.

Enter F Sharp Productions Personalized Cables. Not only do these cables look amazing, but they sound wonderful. I purchased two of these cables earlier this year(see pic below) and I am very pleased with the full range tone and clarity I get with them. In my opinion they stand up quite well next to offerings by Monster Cable and the like. The price(about a dollar a foot) was also a plus. These cables can be custom made to your liking, and they are delivered in a timely fashion. Options include: length, color, mesh covering or standard and you can even opt to have your personal or corporate entity name printed on the cable end shielding. F Sharp Productions also offers headphone extension, speaker and midi cables, and a lot more! Click the link to check out F Sharp Productions Facebook page and give 'em a 'Like'!

American Musical Supply Outlet Zone

As an advertising affiliate of American Musical Supply I am able to post links to special promotions that the company is offering. Check out this link for some deep discounts on all sorts of gear. Find that perfect gift for yourself or your favorite musician!

Special Price On A Subscription To Bass Player Magazine

Take advantage of this low price for a one year subscription and save $30!!

TuneCore Music And Video Distribution

Here on the blog I will primarily be covering musical instruments and supplies. I will additionally include posts featuring other services and products that singers and musicians will find useful and interesting. The advent of the internet brought along with it a new era of convenience and accessibility. Many things that were once off limits or extremely difficult to do are now just a few clicks away. This includes getting your music out there to the masses.

TuneCore is an online media distribution service that allows musicians and vocalists to get their projects on iTunes, Amazon and other digital outlets. At only $9.99 to start this is an excellent service.

Avalon VT737SP Class A Tube Channel Strip

You'd have to try awfully hard to NOT get a good sound out of this box! I have run my bass through one of these personally in the studio and with very little effort was able to get a rich, warm tone that really cut through in the mix. All the dynamics processing you need in one double rack space unit! Tube preamp, opto-compressor, sweepable EQ, output level and VU metering. A must have for instruments and vocals alike.

Korg M50 88 Key Synthesizer Keyboard

The Korg M50 88 Key Synthesizer Keyboard captures all the sonic firepower of the M3, distilled into a performance instrument that is second to none.

Ludwig Black Magic Snare Drum

This snare drum from Ludwig has striking looks and a timeless sound sure to please just about any drummer! As always free shipping is available when ordering from American Musical Supply!

Ahead 5A Aluminum Drum Sticks

Wow! When I played drums MANY years ago I seem to remember aluminum sticks coming on the scene but not really catching on with most people. These new sticks by Ahead look pretty cool; and from the description they look to trump the old offerings from years gone by. However, THEY AINT CHEAP! Maybe they'll work for you?

Hartke HyDrive 210C Bass Guitar Combo Amplifier

The new Hartke HyDrive bass amplification line really packs a punch. This particular model uses two 10-inch HyDrive neodymium hybrid cone drivers to push 250 watts of power. Add to that a laundry list of ins and outs and you have one heck of an amp for $569!

Universal Audio UAD 2 Duo Flexi DSP Card

This card allows you to run large mixes on your computer by taking the load off of your CPU. As if that alone doesn't warrant a purchase, it also comes with a $500 plug-in voucher!