Looks like the Akai MPD32 is the one for me

March 31st, 2008

While my search for a USB midi drum pad/controller continues, I think I've narrowed down my options to one.

I'm strongly leaning toward the new Akai MPD32. Why? It's modelled on the Akai MPC series, which I've always wanted to own. The pads are the genuine MPC style pads. It also has a grand total of 75 assignable controller options, which is more than enough for me.

They've just started popping up on eBay so I'm definitely going to keep a look out for the lowest price and snap one up when the time is right.

The MPD32 is Akai Professional's ultimate velocity-sensitive pad controller for musicians and DJs. Modeled after the industry-standard MPC series, the MPD32 delivers the most expressive software beat control available. Sixteen velocity and pressure-sensitive genuine MPC pads provide the industry's finest feel and expression.

Four selectable pad banks for a total of 64 playable pads, eight assignable faders, eight assignable switches and eight assignable, knobs for transmitting MIDI Control Change data, all combine for unprecedented creative freedom. Three selectable control banks extend the number of available faders, buttons and knobs to 24 each. Two assignable footswitch inputs and an expression pedal input takes the total assignable controller count to 75 – the most by far in any pad controller.

The MPD32 also features transport controls for interfacing with DAW/sequencing applications. The MPD32 is a fully programmable controller and multi-functional control surface that fits perfectly within any production or performance environment.

Specs & Features

• MIDI synced note-repeat with MPC swing
• 16 full-sized, genuine MPC pads with velocity and pressure-sensitive response
• Assignable switches, sliders and endless knobs for a total of 72 controllers
• 2 assignable Foot Switch inputs
• 1 assignable Foot Pedal controller input
• Large, easy-to-read custom LCD display
• 30 user-definable Presets for various DAW and software applications
• MMC/MIDI Start/Stop transport buttons

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Leave Comment » | Posted in DJ Stuff, Gear

How to create a song in Reason in less than 20 mins

March 6th, 2008

Reason is one of the coolest, user friendly, bits of software available for song creation. Even so, the number of features available can make it a little daunting to get started.

Here's a tutorial that should help you get the ball rolling.

It's called "How to create a song in Reason in 20 mins" and is presented in two parts... for the record, the combined running time is a little under 20 mins, but that's splitting hairs.

Part 1.

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Part 2.

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1 Comment » | Posted in Reason, Tips and Tricks

The AKAI MPD24 or the M-Audio Trigger Finger?

March 5th, 2008

I'm currently considering picking up a midi controller for programming drums and beats to use with Reason. I've narrowed it down to two, the Akai MPD24 and the M-Audio Trigger Finger. Price wise (according to ZZSounds) the Akai is around $50USD more expensive than the M-Audio, however the Akai seems to have a couple more features that are adding to its appeal. I like the fact it supports REW, FF, STOP PLAY and REC buttons that would theoretically work with Reason.

At the moment I'm leaning toward the Akai. What do you think?

Here are the feature lists for both units.

AKAI MPD24 Features:

  • 16 MPC-style velocity and pressure sensitive pads
  • 4 selectable pad banks for a total of 64 pads
  • 6 assignable Faders for transmitting MIDI Control Change data
  • 8 assignable 360 degree knobs
  • REW, FF, STOP PLAY and REC buttons that transmit MMC (MIDI Machine Control) messages to DAW/Sequencing applications
  • Backlit, easy to read LCD display
  • MIDI and/or USB operation
  • USB powered (or powered via optional AC adaptor)
  • Included Editor Librarian software (Mac and PC)
  • MPC 16 Levels and Full Level feature
  • Includes a customized version of Fxpansion's BFD Lite

M-Audio Trigger Finger Features:

  • 16 velocity and pressure-sensitive pads
  • individual assignable pressure on each pad
  • 8 assignable knobs, 4 assignable faders
  • pre-programmed maps for Live, Reason, GM Drum, XG Drum, and iDrum
  • powered from USB connection or optional DC power supply
  • includes Ableton Live Lite music production software
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2 Comments » | Posted in Gear

Two new Fender Telecaster Signature models

February 27th, 2008

Fender have recently released a few new 'signature' model guitars. The one that really caught my eye was the Jim Root Telecaster. Jim Root is the guitarist from both Slipknot and Stone Sour, both hard and heavy rocking bands. The Jim Root Signature model Tele features a mahogany body, maple neck and fingerboard, EMG pickups and a single simple, but effective, volume control.

Jim Root Signature Model

Another release could be filed under "What were Fender thinking?" Proving that you don't need to be a recognized guitarist to have your own signature model, Fender have released the Avril Lavigne Telecaster. Highlights include Avril's signature on the head stock, the star logo inlay on the fingerboard, and the checkerboard pickguard. Why Fender? Why?

Avril Lavigne Signature Model

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Leave Comment » | Posted in Gear, Guitar

Guitar Center Coupon Code save 10%

February 23rd, 2008

Here's a quick deal that popped up in my inbox this morning.

If you're looking to buy anything from Guitar Center, now is the time to do it. Follow the link below and get 10% off any qualifying order over $300 until 3/8/2008. I would love a PRS CU24!

Save 10% off any qualifying order over $300 with Code: SAVE10. Expires 3/8/2008

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Leave Comment » | Posted in Gear, Guitar

How to program a snare roll in Reason 4.0

February 18th, 2008

It's been a while since I posted a useful tip on this blog, that's largely due to me not being able to spend enough time with my music related stuff, as well as not finding anything useful enough to post! :p

In any case, this 'How to' clip for Reason 4.0 should go some way toward making up for that. The snare roll is something you'll hear quite often in electronic dance based music, and when it's done properly it can sound awesome. Truth be told, it's something I've been wanting to learn for quite a while, and I have to say the following clip was quite useful!

So, here it is, How to program a snare roll in Reason 4.0.

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Leave Comment » | Posted in Reason, Tips and Tricks

Download a free album from Tasmin Little

January 16th, 2008

It seems to be becoming more common for music artists to release entire albums for free download. There's no doubt that it is a good way to introduce your music to the masses but does it pay off in the long term? And does it devalue your work in the short term? All very deep questions, but for those on a budget, there's probably nothing better than free legal downloads of albums.

One of the latest artists to offer a free download of an album is violin soloist Tasmin Little. Tasmin is inviting listener to download and listen to here interpretation of works by J.S.Bach, Paul Patterson and Eugène Ysaÿe. For those who have limited exposure to classical music, this might just be the perfect introduction, and let's face it, after listening, if you decide classical music is not for you, what has it cost you?

To download the tracks from Tasmin's album visit here "Free CD" page here.

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1 Comment » | Posted in Free Downloads, Music news

Jeff Tweedy from Wilco pedal board

January 4th, 2008

For fans of the band Wilco, here's an image of guitarist Jeff Tweedy's pedal board. The angle is not that great, but never the less, you can probably make out most of the pedals onboard.

From what I can tell, there are a couple of Ernie Ball volume/expression pedals up the far end. There's also a Moogfooger, Boss Chromatic Tuner, Electro-Harmonix Holy Grail Reverb as well as a Crowther Prunes and Custard. There are three other pedals there that I'm not sure of. If you know what they are, please leave a comment.

Jeff Tweedy Pedal Board

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Leave Comment » | Posted in Gear

The guitar gear of Steven Wilson from Porcupine Tree

December 19th, 2007

Steven Wilson is the vocalist, guitarist and producer for the prog-alt-metal band Porcupine Tree as well as projects such as Blackfield, No-Man and Bass Communion. He's also famous for working with the who's who of prog-metal acts, such as Opeth.

In terms of guitars, Wilson predominantly plays Paul Reed Smith guitars, including PRS Custom 22's, Singlecut and the Modern Eagle. In the studio he has also been known to use Gibson Les Pauls in the studio. Before the release of the In Absentia album, he was often spotted playing a ESP Stratocaster.

In the studio Wilson is said to rely quite a lot on the Line 6 POD for a lot of the guitar tones. On the Fear of a Blank Planet album he is quoted as saying that he also used the Bad Cat Hot Cat, as well as a Diesel head, straight into a generic 4x12 Celestion Greenback Marshall cab mic'ed with a 58 and a 414. He's also a big fan of plug-ins, as he points in a MusicPlayer.com interview:

There’s a suite of plug-ins [Digidesign’s D-Fi collection] of which one is called Lo Fi, which is fantastic. I love Lo Fi – it’s the kind of thing that Trent Reznor uses a lot where he gets those really fizzy digital f**ked-up sounds. It basically enables you to take a sound, not just a guitar sound but any sound, and reduce the bit rate and the sample rate until you get that kind of wonderful quantization noise. Well, it’s not always wonderful, but it can be wonderful used in the right way, so I used that a lot to get really fizzy kinds of sounds, almost digital distortion sounds, so that’s one of my favorites.

I love the Line 6 Echo Farm, which is the old kind of tape delay simulator – that’s wonderful. I’m using that all the time. I like being able to add things like warble and tape hiss and stuff to the signal – it just makes it sound more organic somehow. And, I’m a big, big fan of the Focusrite EQ and the Focusrite compression, the D2 and the D3. They’re, I think, probably my favorites.

In terms of playing live, his onstage rig has changed a bit over the years. Where once he used to play through a substantial effects rack, he has now gone to a more stream lined floor based system, as a result of the cost implications associated with lugging around the rack units. As you can see from the picture of one of his pedal boards below, his rack gear has essentially been replaced with the TC Electronic G-System effects unit. There are also a couple of Boss volume/expression pedals as well as what looks like a Dunlop Crybaby. Although it is hard to make out a couple of the pedals, this board also seems to feature a Carl Martin compressor, Boss pedal (perhaps the Boss Distortion?), Bad Cat two tone distortion and what could be a GigRig midi switching system.

Steven Wilson Pedal Board

The second board pictured below again includes the GigRig switching system as well as an Ernie Ball Volume pedal, Boss DD-20 Delay, Boss RT-20 Rotary Twin, Boss Chromatic Tuner, Analog Man Sun Face and what looks like a Dunlop Crybaby Wylde Wah. There are three other pedals on there as well, but I can't make them out. One is a Boss pedal of some sort, with four knobs, so that rules out a Boss DS-1.

Steven Wilson Pedal Board


Just as an added bonus, here's a short clip of the making of Fear of a Blank Planet.

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Download!

If you've never heard of the Porcupine Tree before, I'd highly recommend picking up In Absentia, one of my favourite albums of all time.

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6 Comments » | Posted in Gear

Jack White and his pedal boards

November 29th, 2007

Here is an image of what is said to be Jack Whites (of the White Stripes) pedal board. I guess given their style you'd expect a fairly minimalist setup, so perhaps you might be surprised at the number of pedals on display here.

I'm not 100% sure of what all the pedals are. The first (far right) is clearly something from Analog Man, then into what looks like a EHX Big Muff (painted red), "Muff" is also written on the power supply. Then there's the EHX POG (Polyphonic Octave Generator), which I'm guessing is used to provide some substitute bass style tones, then into a killswitch.

Jack Whites Pedal Board

Here's another picture of Jack White's pedal board, I'm just not sure whether this is older or newer than the first one pictured. Some of the pedals here are a little harder to make out.

Jack Whites Pedal Board

Once again there is the red painted Big Muff, as well as the EHX POG and the killswitch. Other additions include the Boss TU-2 Tuner (which you can also use as a killswitch of sorts), as well as the Digitech Whammy. From what I can gather from the web, the Whammy is set to the Octave down setting, to create the bass like tone you hear in tracks like "7 Nation Army".

Apparently for solos he has been known to switch the whammy to 2 octaves up and use it in conjunction with his Big Muff. There's also the MXR Microamp in there as well. Not sure what that's used for, but if I had to guess, he may have it on 99% of the time to counter act the drop in signal you can get with the Whammy in your signal chain. But, I might be wrong.

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6 Comments » | Posted in Gear, Guitar

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