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“The iPad Orchestra” – Classical Music Performed on 4 iPads

Big Al — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 23:35:21 +0000

A few days ago I shared a performance of Eye of the Tiger by Survivor all done in iPads.

I received a nice e-mail from Koe Black pointing out a classical music piece where all the instruments are iPads. I’m sure we’re going to see a lot more examples of this. Have a look…

“Sweet Dream” performed live for audience on 20.08.2010 by “The iPad Orchestra” on 4 iPads. Composed by Ilya Plavunov.

“The iPad Orchestra” – Classical Music Performed on 4 iPads is a post from: Home Recording Studio Guru

iTunes Top 10 Selling Singles & Albums of the Week Aug. 30, 2010

Big Al — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 19:50:51 +0000

Once in a while I get curious about the music people find engaging enough to pay for. Here’s what tripping triggers this last week.

iTunes top 10 selling singles and albums of the week ending Aug. 30, 2010:

Singles:

“Teenage Dream,” Katy Perry
“Dynamite,” Taio Cruz
“Just the Way You Are,” Bruno Mars
“Love the Way You Lie,” Eminem
“I Like It,” Enrique Iglesias
“DJ Got Us Fallin’ In Love,” Usher
“Just a Dream,” Nelly
“Magic (feat. Rivers Cuomo),” B.o.B
“Take It Off,” Ke$ha
“Erase Me (feat. Kanye West),” Kid Cudi

Albums:

“Teenage Dream,” Katy Perry
“Recovery,” Eminem
“Burning the Day,” Randy Rogers Band
“Back to Me,” Fantasia
“Sigh No More,” Mumford & Sons
“Versus,” Usher
“All Delighted People,” Sufjan Stevens
“Harmony,” Never Shout Never
“God Willin’ & the Creek Don’t Rise,” The Pariah Dogs, Ray LaMontagne
“Zombie,” The Devil Wears Prada

iTunes Top 10 Selling Singles & Albums of the Week Aug. 30, 2010 is a post from: Home Recording Studio Guru

Three Mic Pres Under $500: Black Lion Audio, True Systems and FMR Audio

Big Al — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 02:02:35 +0000

I included this video as part of another post some time ago. I was reviewing the information again today and thought it really deserved a post of its own.

This comes from Ronan C. Murphy over at Ronan’s Recording Show. Here are some notes on this video from Ronan:

This episode I look at the FMR Audio “RNP”, Black Lion Audio “Auteur” and True Systems “P-Solo” in my quest to find a great mic pre under $500 bucks. It’s pretty long winded but has tips and perspective aimed at beginner recording engineers and home studio recordists about testing gear and avoiding latency in native DAWs.

When I tested the pres almost all the big stores had the P-Solo under $500, but they seemed to have raised the prices when I posted this episode. I found at least one dealer that still sells it under $500 - Zen Pro Audio.

Three Mic Pres Under $500: Black Lion Audio, True Systems and FMR Audio is a post from: Home Recording Studio Guru

Pomplamoose VideoSong Featuring Ben Folds & Nick Hornby

Big Al — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 20:15:07 +0000

I said it before and I’ll say it again, I love Pomplamoose!

If you’re not familiar with this talented home studio duo, you’re missing out. They have taken the art of home studio production to a new level with the integration of Web 2.0 tools and strategies.

Oh yeah, they’re also maddeningly creative and talented.

Check out their latest:

Using a screen reader? Click here for the video.

Here’s on of my all time favorite Pomplamoose performances, Single Ladies by Beyonce. The re-harmonizations in this arrangement make me giggle, “like a little girl.”

Using a screen reader? Click here for the video.

Pomplamoose VideoSong Featuring Ben Folds & Nick Hornby is a post from: Home Recording Studio Guru

TC Electronics PolyTune Guitar Tuner Video Review

Big Al — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 23:22:29 +0000

Back in May I wrote about the release of the then new TC Electronics PolyTune guitar tuner. Feedback from some indicated that they didn’t get what was so special about it. After all, we already have tuners that can recognize what string you’re trying to tune and auto select the proper tuning setting.

It’s the “polyphonic” aspect that seemed to be the most misunderstood. I think this video nicely shows off exactly what this unit has to offer and why you may be interested in adding one to your pedal board.

Using a screen reader? Click here for the video.

Price: $99.00

Click on one of the links below to learn more and/or order PolyTune and support this blog. Thanks!

• TC Electronic Polytune Chromatic Pedal Tuner from MUSICIAN’S FRIEND

• TC Electronic Polytune Chromatic Pedal Tuner from GUITAR CENTER

• TC Electronic Polytune Chromatic Pedal Tuner from MUSIC 123

TC Electronics PolyTune Guitar Tuner Video Review is a post from: Home Recording Studio Guru

Music Tech Guru Says Web Is Not The Enemy

Big Al — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 12:37:03 +0000

This is a very interesting post from Greg Sandoval over at Cnet News.

The Internet is a killer of art–at least that’s how a couple of former rock ‘n’ roll gods see it.

John Mellencamp, known for such ’80s hits as “Jack and Diane” and “Hurts So Good,” last week said the Web is the most dangerous creation since the atomic bomb. Stevie Nicks, the Fleetwood Mac songstress, concluded in an interview this week that the “Internet has destroyed rock.”

We have to be free enough with our music to permit people to adapt it for their own purposes. - Jack Holzman (Credit: Warner Music Group)
Jac Holzman, the man who discovered The Doors, founded Elektra Records, and nudged the big recording companies into adopting the compact disc, considers the Web and says: “I think the music industry has a bright future.”

Wow, that’s quite a contrast in views. The difference is Holzman has witnessed most of the industry-shaking technologies during his six decades in the music business–and he’s not panicking.

This year, the 79-year-old celebrates Elektra’s 60th anniversary, and at a life stage when Holzman’s biggest trouble might be choosing the right 9-iron, he’s helping to search for answers to the music industry’s burning digital questions. He has said in the past that there were those in the record business who didn’t think he was relevant any longer, but Holzman is back in the thick of it. Warner Music Group CEO Edgar Bronfman Jr. sought him out, hired him as a senior adviser, and sees value in the context Holzman can provide.

“I love the way Jac approaches the intersection of music and technology–through the lens of opportunity,” Bronfman said.

At spotting opportunities, Holzman has a notable record. As a 19-year-old, Holzman started Elektra with $300 he received at his bar mitzvah. The label would later go to sign such acts as Queen, Judy Collins, The Stooges, and Jim Morrison. After Holzman sold Electra to Warner Communication (a forerunner of Warner Music Group and Warner Bros. Pictures), he became WCI’s chief technology officer. In that role, he helped oversee some of the company’s film and TV ventures.

When Jack Valenti, the chief of the Motion Picture Association of America, was trying to kill video recorders and comparing them to the Boston Strangler, Holzman was pushing WCI leaders to embrace the home-video market. With cable TV he recognized its potential early and contributed to the development of pay-per-view programming.

In music, Holzman saw the rise of the LP, 8-track tape, DAT, compact disc, MP3, and BitTorrent. After all that, new technologies don’t spook him. On the contrary, he says many of these technologies helped make a lot of artists and industry people rich. When it comes to the Internet and digital distribution, Holzman is confident music labels can capitalize on them too. He says they really don’t have a choice.

Read the rest of the article here…

Music Tech Guru Says Web Is Not The Enemy is a post from: Home Recording Studio Guru

Pro Tools Grabber Tool Shortcuts

Big Al — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 10:09:43 +0000

Everything you’ve ever wanted to know about the Grabber tool in Pro Tools (and more!) from Brent Heber of ProtoolsProfessional.com.

Pro Tools Grabber Tool Shortcuts is a post from: Home Recording Studio Guru

Could This Be The Ultimate Band Equipment Van?

Big Al — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 15:48:48 +0000

I’ve ridden in a lot of different vehicles on the way to the gig and on tour, some more normal than others.

However, while not entirely legal in all states, this could possibly be the ultimate equipment van for your next gig!

What’s your best equipment-moving vehicle story? Tell me in the comments!

Could This Be The Ultimate Band Equipment Van? is a post from: Home Recording Studio Guru

Figuring Out Speaker Polarity

Big Al — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 15:34:57 +0000

Q: “What is the best way to make sure that the polarity on multiple speaker pairs are in phase when the wiring is all in-wall and the cable is not marked?”

A: First, shame on whomever put the wiring in without marking it. There are a variety of small (and not so small) commercially available devices that do a great job of testing speaker polarity among other things.

Many use a very fast “click” input to the signal path and then measure the results from the speakers. There is, however, a very workable “poor-man’s” solution. Disconnect the speaker cables from the amplifier(s) and connect a small battery to the end of the cables. The DC voltage from the battery will cause the woofers to jump forward or backwards depending upon the polarity of the battery with respect to the cables and speakers.

The DC voltage is handy because once the speaker moves it will stay in that fixed position until the voltage is removed. This is usually best done with the help of an assistant who can apply and remove the battery voltage while you watch the direction of cone movement. Basically you just have to get everything wired so that all the drivers move in the same direction, then decide which is positive and connect them that way to the power amp(s).

A 9-volt battery usually works best for this (it causes the most cone movement), but don’t leave it connected to small drivers for a long time. A little 9-volt battery can produce a surprising amount of current into a near dead short (which is how it sees the speaker).

The battery trick, as handy as it is, is not effective for horns and other high frequency drivers because it’s almost impossible to see the driver movement (we don’t recommend 9 volts of DC be applied to them either). In situations where the high frequency driver is part of a cabinet with other drivers this is not a problem.

If the woofers are in polarity then you can assume the horn is too. If you have a system where the high frequency driver is a completely separate component you now have to fall back on plan B.

Plan B is to disconnect the speaker wire on both ends. Tie an additional length of labeled wire to one end so that it can reach to the other end, sort of forming a loop. Do not tie them together. Now you can use any standard volt/ohm meter to see which lead is which and get them labeled.

Original post from Sweetwater InSync

Figuring Out Speaker Polarity is a post from: Home Recording Studio Guru

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Band Performs Eye of the Tiger Entirely on iPad Instruments

Big Al — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 21:24:47 +0000

Yep, a complete production all with only iPad apps. All instruments were played using iPad applications downloaded from iTunes. Check it out:

Using a screen reader? Click here for the video.

For more on this and for a list of the apps used, click here.

Band Performs Eye of the Tiger Entirely on iPad Instruments is a post from: Home Recording Studio Guru