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12.29.2010

TC Helicon VoiceJam iPhone / iPad app - Sing. Loop. Share

TC Helicon have just released this very cool iPhone/iPad app. If you've got one of those, check this out!



What if you could create something musically amazing with just your voice? What if you didn't need musical instruments, sheet music, or complicated recording software? What if you could create an entire song with your voice, simulating bass lines, melodies, rhythms and sound effects, all in one pass, without ever stopping to think about it?

If you answered "that would be freaking amazing", then you need to download VoiceJam. VoiceJam is your access to performing, creating, and sharing amazing musical compositions.

http://www.tc-helicon.com/voicejam

Featured Equipment: TC-Helicon VoiceLive Touch

The first vocal processor and looper at your fingertips

Combining best-selling vocal effects, VLOOP™ performance vocal looping and a uniquely addictive ‘touch’ interface, VoiceLive Touch is truly the first instrument for your voice.


See all the details of the TC-Helicon VoiceLive Touch



A revolution in performance for every singer
VoiceLive Touch is the perfect companion for any vocalist whether you sing live or record in the studio. It can easily be mounted on a mic stand or put next to your computer or keyboard. It’s there when you need it for any situation.
  • Vocal harmony & effects
  • VLOOP™ – performance vocal looping of vocals and guitar input including effects
  • Instant touch interface with bright, easy to read, scrolling display
  • Ingenious design allows mic attachment and desktop use for easy access
See all the details of the TC-Helicon VoiceLive Touch

12.22.2010

Featured Equipment: KRK Rokit Studio Monitors

KRK Rokit Studio Monitors

The KRK RokitG2 Series takes value-priced monitors to a new performance level. All of the great stuff that Rokit’s have been known for (front-firing bass port, soft-domed tweeter, glass aramid composite yellow cone) are still there, but the G2 Rokit’s feature refined voicing and a new curved baffle that looks great, reduces diffraction and provides even better monitoring accuracy.
Studio Monitor Series from KRK Systems. For years the Rokit series has been a popular choice for accurate monitoring in studios large and small. Now the all new Generation 2 RoKit provides a new standard for even better performance and accuracy, raising the bar once again.



TOP FEATURES

  • Radically curved front plate design virtually eliminates diffraction distortion
  • Waveguide design provides amazing detail and imaging
  • Front-firing port provides low freq extension without boundary coupling
  • New speaker voicing for even more accurate frequency response
  • 1” Neodymium soft dome tweeter
  • Glass Aramid Composite Cone Woofer
More info:

12.16.2010

Featured Equipment: Primacoustic London 12a Room Kit

Primacoustic London 12a Complete Acoustic Treatment Kit
The simplest way to get effective acoustic treatment for your home studio.
Acoustic treatment kit designed for rooms with a footprint of approximately 120 to 150 ft. square feet (11 to 14 sq./meters). The Broadway London 12A room kit follows a variant of the LEDE concept (live-end, dead-end) whereby the source or transmit section of the room has greater dampening while the receive section is sparsely treated in effort to retain natural room ambiance.
    1: Broadband Panels; qty 2; 24" x 48" x 2"
    2:Control Columns; qty 8; 12" x 48" x 2"
    3:Scatter Blocks; qty 12; 12" x 12" x 1"
    4:Surface Impalers; qty 28
    5:Corner Impalers; qty 8
    6:Wall anchors/screws; qty 100
    7:Drill Bit for anchors; qty 1
London room kits are available in three neutral colors that will easily integrate with the most demanding room designs.

 See all the details of the London 12a Room Kit

12.08.2010

Featured Equipment: Focusrite Saffire Pro 14

Focusrite Saffire Pro 14

The Focusrite Saffire PRO 14 is an 8 in / 6 out FireWire audio interface designed for the modern home studio environment. An unparalleled preamp legacy forms the foundation, with two award-winning Focusrite preamps. Legendary sonic performance and both digital and analogue I/O combine with Focusrite’s established MixControl software to deliver seamless integration, excellent routing flexibility and rock-solid driver stability.
Twenty-five years of mic pre excellence form the foundation of this new interface, with two award-winning Focusrite preamps. Alongside the two high quality mic preamps are two additional analogue inputs, four analogue outputs, S/PDIF and MIDI. Two Hi-Z instrument inputs let you plug straight in without the need to buy additional DI boxes, and two virtual Loopback inputs are also available for routing digital audio between software applications.
Included with the PRO 14 is Saffire MixControl, an 18 x 6 DSP mixer. Offering a level of flexibility that is unparalleled at this price point, the MixControl software enables you to create six separate mixes with ultra-low-latency. Route any combination of input signals and sequencer outputs to any of Saffire PRO 14’s outputs. Intuitive one-click configurations help you track, monitor and mix as quickly as possible.

TOP FEATURES

  • Two high-quality award-winning Focusrite preamps
  • High-quality 24-bit/96kHz FireWire interface
  • Total I/O count of 8 inputs and 6 outputs
  • Saffire MixControl ultra-low-latency DSP mixer/router
  • Focusrite VST/AU Plug-in Suite, for use in the mix
  • Xcite+ Software Bundle
  • Two Hi-Z instrument inputs
  • Bus-powered for a tidy mobile recording rig
  • Dedicated front-panel headphone bus
  • Tactile Monitor dial
  • Switchable phantom power
  • Software PFL 
See all the details on the Focusrite Saffire Pro 14

12.06.2010

Mackie Now At Revolution Audio

Revolution Audio is proud to announce Mackie products are now available in our online store.


Mackie audio interfaces, mixers and monitors will begin to appear on the site this week.


See all Mackie products in the Revolution Audio store

12.03.2010

TC Electronic Now At Revolution Audio

Revolution Audio is happy to announce the arrival of TC Electronic computer recording products.


TC Electronic makes some really cool and unique home studio products with exceptional quality. The Computer Recording products will be added to the webstore immediately, the entire TC family (guitar pedals, voice effects, bass amps) will be available as special order, just email us.

See all TC Electronic products in the Revolution Audio store

Home Studio Tip of the Month - Back it Up!

Home Studio Tip of the Month

Back it up!Last weekend I did something really dumb. If you tried to visit the Revolution Audio site you may have noticed it wasn't working right, well that was my fault. I was trying to improve an admin feature without backing up the files correctly. When I tried to revert the changes, I made things worse. I had backed up the wrong files and really made a mess. Oops.

The same thing can happen with your recording projects. In the summer I had an artist coming to me for mixing. He had to cancel due to a faulty hard drive and lack of backups. He lost a good chunk of his album because he didn't have a good backup routine.
External Hard Drive
Backups go on a separate drive
What is a good backup routine?
You NEED to get in the habit of making a copy of everything important. How often is personal preference, I do weekly backups for my system and daily for important projects. What you back up is also up to you. Some back up all the data on all their drives to a new location, I'm a little more specific. I back up my documents, photos, recording projects and a few other folders to an external firewire hard drive. Just what is important and irreplaceable.

Backup options
I use a program called Acronis True Image Home to do my backups. What I like about Acronis is it only updates the files that have changed since the last backup, which makes it much more efficient than the one built into Windows 7. It also doesn't complain if forget to turn my external drive on time for my backup, it just starts whenever it's available. The Win7 backup function required me to manually reset the backup settings, eventually it stopped working all together so I really can't recommend that one.
Mac users have the brilliant Time Machine backup utility included with OSX 10.5+. This works extremely well and if you need to dig into the backups it's easy to see each version of a file chronologically. I have Time Machine set to manual because it can interfere with recording, but I wouldn't recommend disabling it completely unless you have another backup scheme.

If it's irreplaceable - back it up!

12.02.2010

Featured Equipment: Lauten Audio Horizon Tube Condenser Microphone

The Horizon Tube Microphone will help you get the sound you've been looking for. You won't find another microphone that can match the component quality, sound, and value on the market today.

“If you’re in the market for a condenser mic in this price range, I would give the Horizon serious consideration, as it delivers a sophisticated richness that I associate with mics many times the price.” - Allen Farmelo - TapeOp Magazine


TOP FEATURES
  • Hand tuned large diaphragm capsule
  • Internal shock mount
  • NOS (New-old-stock) military grade vacuum tube
  • High resolution capacitors
  • Robust body milled from solid brass
  • -10 & -20dB pad
  • Custom wound output transformer
  • Low self-noise
Find out more about the Lauten Audio Horizon

11.24.2010

Featured Equipment: AVID Pro Tools 9

The New AVID Pro Tools 9 - More open, more capability.

The Next Generation of Pro Audio Production
Open yourself to the possibilities. Pro Tools 9 redefines the world’s most popular, most advanced music and audio production platform with a completely re-architected, open version of Pro Tools software, giving you what you asked for—and so much more.

Work with ANY audio interface. Create bigger, better-sounding mixes with more tracks, Automatic Delay Compensation, and other pro features included as standard. Open your workflow to projects created in other audio and video software—and to the entire Avid Artist Series and Pro Series (formerly Euphonix) console/controller line. With Pro Tools 9, you can compose, record, sequence, edit, and mix the way you want—in more ways than ever.




WHAT'S NEW IN PRO TOOLS 9
Work the way you want

Get the flexibility of using Pro Tools 9 with your favorite Avid audio interface or third-party Core Audio- or ASIO-compatible interface—or use Pro Tools 9 completely standalone for easy on-the-go creation.

Create bigger, better mixes
Develop larger, more complex projects, with up to 96 or 192* simultaneous audio tracks, 128 instrument tracks, 512 MIDI tracks, 256 internal busses, and 160 aux tracks. See all track specifications.

Be more creative with coveted professional tools
Work efficiently and get the best sonic results with Automatic Delay Compensation, multitrack Beat Detective, full Import Session Data dialog, DigiBase Pro, and other separately priced add-ons—now standard.

Collaborate with others more easily
Team up with other creators, editors, and mixers easily—with built-in OMF/AAF/MXF file interchange support, you can exchange projects created in other audio and video software with Pro Tools and vice-versa.

Get more options to grab hold of your mix
Along with C|24 and ICON*, you can now use Avid Artist Series and Pro Series consoles and controllers to enhance your editing and mixing workflow, thanks to added EUCON integration.

Work with picture in more ways
Expand your post production capabilities with powerful features now included as standard, such as the Time Code Ruler, OMF/AAF/MXF interchange, variable stereo pan depths, and updated 7.1 surround panner*.

Boost your power with Complete Production Toolkit 2
Get the Pro Tools HD software feature set**—without a Pro Tools|HD or Pro Tools|HD Native system—with the Complete Production Toolkit 2 option.

Pro Tools 9 (for new users, includes iLok)
Pro Tools 9 crossgrade for LE users
Pro Tools 9 crossgrade for M-Powered users
Pro Tools 9 upgrade for HD Users

11.17.2010

Featured Equipment: AVID Pro Tools Mbox

The all new Pro Tools Mbox
Professionals around the world have long been using Pro Tools® systems to create award-winning music and sound for film and TV. Now you can get the same world-class results in your personal studio with Pro Tools Mbox®—a complete, integrated, computer-based music creation and production system.
Designed by the same engineering team responsible for the high-end Pro Tools|HD systems, the Mbox hardware interface features a premium analog signal path and high-performance converters for exceptional sound. The included Pro Tools LE® software is the same platform used in commercial facilities around the world—ensuring pro studio compatibility and delivering everything you need to compose, record, edit, and mix music. Mbox also provides third-party drivers for rock-solid integration with nearly every popular audio recording application.
Get all the info on the New Pro Tools Mbox


Features
* Compatible with most major audio software (Pro Tools LE®, Logic, Live, Cubase, and more)
* Bus-powered USB 2.0 connection for maximum mobility
* Professional-grade circuitry and converters deliver exceptional audio performance
* Up to 24-bit, 96 kHz sample rates
* Soft-clip limiter lets you track hot signals without clipping—providing a classic overdriven tape saturation sound
* Built-in guitar tuner
* Onboard DSP offers flexible cue mixing and reverb effects
* Assignable Pro Tools multi-function button on interface gives you fast access to software functions
* Hardware configuration:
o 4 x 4 simultaneous channels of I/O
o 2 XLR mic/line combo inputs with 48 V phantom power
o 2 1/4” DI inputs on front panel for easy access
o 2 balanced 1/4” monitor outputs
o 1 1/4” stereo headphone output with volume control
o Stereo S/PDIF digital I/O
o 1 MIDI input, 1 MIDI output
o Monitor control section with Mono and Dim controls
o Dedicated monitor volume knob

Get all the info on the New Pro Tools Mbox

11.10.2010

Featured Equipment: IK Multimedia Amplitube iRig

The new iRig interface adapter is the easiest way to get your instrument’s signal into iPhone/iPod touch/iPad. Simply plug iRig into your mobile device, plug your instrument into the iRig, plug headphones or amplifier to the output and you are ready to rock!

The iRig is the ideal companion not only to the mobile AmpliTube app, but also works with any other recording, processing or tuning app. Plus, you can also use the iRig with line level signal sources such as synthesizers, keyboards or mixers.

Order the iRig: Amplitube iRig


AmpliTube iRig
* Works on iPhone/iPod touch/iPad
* 1/4” female mono input jack connector
* 1/8” female stereo output mini-jack connector
* Connect electric guitar and bass
* Also works with line level signals from synthesizers, keyboards, mixers
* Output can be connected to headphones, amplifiers, powered speakers, mixers

AmpliTube for iPhone / AmpliTube for iPad
* Real time guitar and bass mobile multiFX app
* Full rig made of 3 (AmpliTube for iPhone) or 4 (AmpliTube for iPad) recombinable simultaneous stompboxes + amp + cabinet + mic
* 11 Stomps, 5 Amps, 5 Cabinets, 2 Mics available
* Import and play with songs or backing tracks with real time effects
* 36 presets can be saved/recalled on the fly
* Includes tuner/metronome

Order the iRig: Amplitube iRig

11.08.2010

SONAR X1 - Free upgrade when you buy SONAR 8.5

SONAR: Reimagined
SONAR has evolved and so can the way you make music. Imagine the power and maturity of an industry standard DAW combined with the cutting edge creative tools essential for today's music - all wrapped up in one of the most modern and (dare we say) beautiful user interfaces available.




Learn more about SONAR X1

Buy SONAR 8.5 today and get SONAR X1 FREE*
If you don't already own SONAR 8.5, now is the perfect time to purchase your upgrade:

* Buy SONAR 8.5 Producer get SONAR X1 Producer FREE
* Buy SONAR 8.5 Studio get SONAR X1 Studio FREE
* Buy SONAR Home Studio 7XL get SONAR X1 Essential FREE

SONAR X1 is coming December 8 2010
We'll have the full details and purchasing options on the Revolution Audio store as soon as possible.

11.05.2010

Featured Equipment: Extreme Isolation Headphones

Extreme Isolation Headphones

Need heavy-duty headphones?
The Extreme Isolation headphones are ruggedly designed for the most demanding of situations. Drummers will love the tight fit, and high level of sound attenuation. Available in either 25 or 29 decibels of sound attenuation.
  • Blocks external sound with 25 or 29dB of sound attenuation
  • Powerful 40mm drivers
  • 9ft cable
  • Tight fitting
Get the Extreme Isolation EX-25 Get the Extreme Isolation EX-29

3.01.2010

Mississauga Songwriters: Enter the Port Credit 175 Anniversary Song Contest

Port Credit in Mississauga is celebrating it's 175th anniversary in 2010. The PC175 Committee is looking for a theme song that captures the Port Credit spirit.

They will be holding a special "TOP EIGHT" evening in Port Credit in May. The eight top artists will be asked to perform their song in front of judges, Dave Antonacci producer, song writer (Marineland, Auto and Boat Show), Terry Brown producer (RUSH, Max Webster, Klaatu) and two more special judges TBA shortly. Please note, this contest is open To Mississauga residents only.

The winning song will be be placed in a time capsule and the winning artist will be asked to play the winning song during the Canada Day celebrations in Port Credit. It will be used during all PC175 activities after it is announced on Canada Day.

The winning artist will also receive a prize package from Ghost Rider Studios, the Guitar Shop and a home recording package from Revolution Audio. The home recording package will include a Yamaha Audiogram 3 USB Audio Interface with Cubase AI recording software, MXL 770 Condenser Microphone, 15' Marshall Electronics XLR cable and AKG headphones. Click here to enter the contest online at Sonicbids or drop your entry with contact details at Revolution Audio - The Deadline is extended until April 30th, 2010

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2.24.2010

Izotope Alloy / Ozone 4 Mixing Video

iZotope Ozone 4 has been a standard around our studio for mastering. We are very excited about iZotope's new mixing plug-in suite "Alloy." Here's a cool video iZotope just posted showing how to mix and master with Alloy and Ozone 4. (Best viewed by selecting "full screen" and 720p)

Click here for more information and to purchase iZotope Ozone 4 Online here in Canada

More info and online purchase link for iZotope Alloy coming soon....

1.27.2010

Free UAD-2 Solo PCIe Card with Twin-Finity purchase

Purchase a New Universal Audio710 Twin-Finity Tone Blending Microphone Preamplifier / DI Box, and get a free UAD-2 Solo PCIe card!

Purchase a New 710 TwinFinity Preamp/DI from an authorized Canadian UA dealer like Revolution Audio by March 31st 2010, then fill-out this form. Next, mail it to HHB along with a copy of your receipt, and they will send you at no charge a Universal Audio UAD-2 Solo PCIe DSP card (a $670 value!).

Click more info on the Twinfinity or to purchase online

Click here for more information on the UAD-2 Solo PCIe Card

Great Recording Classes available at Number 9 Audio

Number 9 Audio is a top notch professional studio and training facility located at 222 Gerrard Street East (Cabbagetown) Toronto. Revolution Audio has had their head engineer, Bernie, out to teach a number of times at Revolution Audio. If you are looking for deeper or full-time studies in Audio Recording, we would highly recommend Number 9's hands-on, 1-on-1 training. They offer both an introductory 101 and a complete recording course that rivals any full time studies on Recording in the country. And their training hours are flexible so it can adapt to your life and schedule.

Click here for more information on the Number 9 Audio School. Let them know Revolution Audio sent you and receive a 5% discount off their hands-on 101 or Complete recording course.

Click here for more info on their 101 Course
Click here for more info on their Complete Recording Course

Take the February RPM Recording Challenge!

RPM Challenge 2010

The RPM Challenge is simple: record an album in 28 days, just because you can. That’s 10 songs or 35 minutes of new material, written and recorded during the month of February. Many Revolution Audio customers are taking part. It's a great opportunity to challenge yourself just to get back in the studio a record something with a deadline.

This year, RPM celebrates its 5th anniversary and looks forward to its biggest year yet. Musicians across the globe are signing up now at www.rpmchallenge.com to participate in this year’s challenge. More than 6,000 bands from all seven continents have joined in since 2006, resulting in the creation of an astonishing 20,000+ new songs. Their music spans every genre imaginable—from electronic to experimental, from hip hop to heavy metal—and represents the work of all types of musicians: aspiring stars, working bands, hobbyists, students, and closet musicians.

While the annual challenge doesn’t begin until February 1, musicians who come aboard early can share their thoughts and trade ideas with an enthusiastic and tight-knit RPM community online. And local scenes band together to lend a solo, an amp, or a little peer pressure as they help each other to the finish line.

Visit www.rpmchallenge.com to sign up - it's free. Artists must postmark their RPM 2010 CDs by March 1 to the RPM office at 10 Vaughan Mall, Suite 1, Portsmouth, N.H. 03801. For more information, to see the participating bands, or to read the whole text of the challenge, go to www.rpmchallenge.com .
 If you do the challenge please let us know via e-mail or to our facebook group.

1.21.2010

New Cubase 5 Trial Version Download

Now Available - a New Free Cubase 5 Trial Version

See more details below, but a Free Cubase 5 trial version is now available for download. Every wonder if it is worth the upgrade? Want to switch from your current recording program? Now is the change to check it out. The only catch is you either have to already own a Steinberg e-licence USB key or buy one (click here to view or purchase). But, it's better to spend just a few bucks and see if Cubase 5 if right for you or not. More details:

Cubase 5 Trial is a free trial version of the renowned music production software from Steinberg. The trial version comes with the same range of functionality as the full version — including all instruments, effects and sounds — and may be used without limitations for 30 days.

Get your version of Free Cubase 5 Trial

1. Request a download link and activation code from within MySteinberg. (Free signup if you don't have an account)
2. Download and install Cubase 5 Trial
3. Activate the trial license on the USB-eLicenser using the activation code.
Enjoy your Free Trial!

Note: The US and Europe have stated that they will credit you the amount of the Steinberg key if you purchase Cubase in the end, but no news from Steinberg Canada at this point to give the same offer. So, we have decided if you buy the USB key from us (Revolution Audio) for the free trial between now and March 1st, 2010, we will personally credit the USB key price towards purchase of a full version of Cubase 5 or Cubase 5 Studio.