NAMM 2009 TOP 10 Products Review |
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| I just returned from NAMM 2009, the annual January show for musical products in Anaheim, California. No time for Disneyland, but I did walk past miles of costumed figures and musicians as giddy as children to bring you what I think are the most exciting home recording products for 2009. So here are my top ten with the main reasons why I think we should care as studio owners. Many of these products were announced but not yet shipping. Make sure you check out the links if you are interested in learning more or always feel free to shoot us an e-mail with comments and questions - sales(at)revolutionaudio.ca | ||
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10 |
The Warp Lever on the new Cakewalk / Sonar V-Studio 700 I know they call it a "T-Bar" and it's used for useful things like controlling surround sound mixes, video or fading in your effects. And I know it's attached to an amazing motorized console that is perfect for integrating with Sonar. But when I checked out this T-Bar lever on the V-Studio 700, I felt like I was able to push it forward and take us all into warp speed. And anything that makes me feel more like the captain of the enterprise deserves a place in my studio and a mention in my top 10. Shipping / Pricing TBA |
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9 |
M-Audio Axiom Pro These new Axioms don't just have a cool new look. They have an upgrade touch sensitivity and a technology called "hyper-control" which I thought was really cool. Other keyboard controllers have preset maps, but this one senses your DAW and automatically maps the controls (on Pro Tools, Cubase, Logic and Reason so far). Available in three sizes - click here for more information! |
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8 |
MXL Gold 35 Microphone You can't hear a thing at NAMM. So for my selection of the coolest microphone this year, I had to work strictly from looks. This MXL Gold 35 Mic was stunning. Yes that is real gold plating. They say it sounds as great as it looks... |
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7 |
IK Multimedia Stealth Pedal Combining a 24bit USB interface with a wah pedal type guitar controller was a very good idea. It can be used as an interface and/or controller. The Stealth Pedal has a rugged feel and comes packed with some great sounding software like Amplitube 2 Live. Availability TBA |
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6 |
UAD-2 SOLO/Laptop Effects Card I've been a big fan of the UAD cards for quite a while. They combine great, classic sounding effects with DSP power (so they do not bog down your computer CPU). At NAMM they announced a UAD-2 SOLO laptop card for Mac or PC. Now you can take the extra processing power and amazing effects on the road with your portable DAW. Available Spring 2009 Prices TBA. |
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5 |
Steinberg Cubase 5 For most users, here are the biggest upgrades for Cubase 5: 1. It's 5 and not 4 and so it must be at least better by 1. That's a 20% increase right there. 2. Some cool new tools for Beat Creation and Loop Mangling (see video #1) 3. Vocal editing and pitch correction built in - saves you from having to add a 3rd party plug-in and works like Melodyne in a drag-and-drop way or in keyboard style like the classic Antares Autotune (see video #2) 3. Integrated Convolution Reverb 4. Better hardware integration 5. Groove Agent One included * Note some of these features are only available in the Full version of Cubase 5 and not Cubase Studio 5 Click here for a complete comparison chart between Cubase 5 and Cubase Studio 5 Shipping in Canada early Feb 2009 |
Click for our exclusive web video reviews from NAMM 2009 
Cubase 5 Video Review Pt. 1 - New Features
Cubase 5 Video Review Pt. 2 - VariAudio - Built in Pitch Fix
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4 |
Pro Tools 8 For me, the biggest upgrade in Pro Tools 8 is the ability to edit MIDI in a separate window. For Cubase and Sonar users, they have had this feature for about 15 years, but Pro Tools has finally become a full fledged MIDI editor in version 8. Marry this with built in Sibelius note editing, this new software is a big upgrade from 7 in the MIDI department. They have also upgraded the new version to 48 tracks and added a number of new MIDI and audio plug-ins. Click here for more info on Pro Tools 8 - now shipping with all new Digidesign Hardware and as standalone Pro Tools 8 M-Powered for use with M-Audio hardware interfaces like the Profire 610, the Profire 2626, and the Fast Track Ultra. |
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3 |
Recoil Stabilizer While not a brand new product, EQ magazine said about these simple devices "..they could be the most cost effective upgrade you can make to your monitoring setup." The recoil stabilizer decouples your monitor in such a way that tightens up the bass and helps with detail on the high end. Plus they are a Canadian company, which is an added bonus. I say if they are good enough for Daniel Lanois.... Available soon! |
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2 |
Native Instruments Maschine This integrative hardware / software beat production tool is going to blow away anyone who is into making beats. It's like a computer based MPC and 808 all in one device. You just have to check out the video. Availible soon! |
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Melodyne Editor - the First Melodyne with DNA Melodyne's DNA first made waves at Music Messe in Germany. It is the first commercial software that is able to extract individual notes from a stereo file. You just have to check it out. The video does not show the whole process, but the individual notes from the guitar where extracted from a simple stereo file before he started manipulating them. It is amazing. Shipping in spring as a plug-in. Shipping Spring 2009 - free upgrade for anyone who purchases Melodyne now |
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1.26.2009
TOP 10 New Home Recording Products from NAMM 2009
12.16.2008
Music is for Uploading - Top 5 sites to share your music online
Have you made some music in your home studio? I hope you have. Why not share it with the world? It's amazing these days: Free distribution worldwide is just a click away on the internet. Here are my top 5 picks for sharing your music online for free:
#1: Myspace.com Still the top website for distributing music for free online is Myspace.com . Sure, we all like Facebook for keeping up with our friends, but every musician should have a presence on Myspace. If you signup, make sure you click here and signup for a Band account so you can upload your music. The interface is easy and myspace is a great place to connect with other bands as well. Click here for a free article by Ty Cohen on 5 Ways to promote yourself on Myspace as well as a link for a special ebook full of myspace music secrets.
#2: Garageband.com This has no connection to the music software by the same name, but it is a great place to put your music into circulation and get feedback on your tunes. Enter the contest and work your way up the charts to fame and fortune! Well...at least fame.
#3: iSound.com A clean, music-only site makes this a nice stop for a hosting your mp3's. It's highly searchable by google. It's a good idea to get a place holder at a number of these sites even if you don't use them primarily for your music. You can see my own personal isound site here for an example: Jason Paul Johnston on iSound
#4: iLike.com You can give away your music or include a link for purchase. Listeners can use iLike to dedicate your song to people on facebook for some viral marketing of your music. Forget being big in Japan - how would you like to be big in Facebook?
#5: C|Net's Download.com It's not just for shareware and demo software anymore. Download.com features over 111,000 (legally) free mp3s for downloading from independant artists. And, with music being uploaded at 192Kbps, it offers a higher quality than most of the other sites.
So, don't let lack of opportunity keep you from sharing your music with the world. The internet is waiting for you! If you would like to learn more about Music Distribution in a Digital world, please attend my workshop at Revolution Audio on January 31st, 2009. Click here for more information or to signup. This is part of an entire month of classes we call Operation Indie Music :: Click here for info on all our Indie Music Month Classes
12.11.2008
T-RackS 3 Mastering Software : Free 1 to 1 software until Dec 31st
IK Multimedia T-Racks3 Deluxe |
IK Multimedia T-Racks3 Crossgrade - save 40% |
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* 9 processors comprised of 3 new analog and vintage emulations (including models based on the Fairchild 670 and the Pultec EQP-1A), 2 new digital processors as well the 4 classic, award-winning T-RackS processors
* New configurable mastering/mixing chain run up to 12 parallel/series processors
* New complete built-in metering section with Peak, Perceived Loudness, Phase, and RMS meters, plus a Spectrum analyzer with Peak, RMS and Averaging indicators
* New standalone and plug-in versions available in the same package for use in all the most popular native DAWs
* New high-fidelity oversampling with crystal clear transparency, for high quality audio processing throughout the entire signal path
* New SCC technology coupled with IK's unique DSM technology provides the most realistic software emulation of vintage gear to date
* Extremely easy to use, with style-based presets, full chain visualization, one-click single module or chain bypass, compare function, multiple audio processing in standalone mode and much more
Click here for more info on T-Racks3 and also some special video tutorials showing how to use T-RackS. And from now until December 31st 2008, every time you purchase an IK product you will receive one product of equal or lesser value free! If you purchase T-RackS 3 Deluxe, you can get one of the following for free:
AmpliTube 2
Ampeg SVX
AmpliTube Jimi Hendrix
AmpliTube Metal
Miroslav Philharmonik
Miroslav Philharmonik Classik Edition
SampleTank 2.5 XL
SampleTank 2.5 L
Sonik Synth 2
SampleTron
SampleMoog
Classik Studio Reverb (CSR)