Now is the right time to become an American Federation of Musicians member. From ragtime to rap, from the early phonograph to today's digital recordings, the AFM has been there for its members. And now there are more benefits available to AFM members than ever before, including a multi-million dollar pension fund, excellent contract protection, instrument and travelers insurance, work referral programs and access to licensed booking agents to keep you working.
As an AFM member, you are part of a membership of more than 80,000 musicians. Experience has proven that collective activity on behalf of individuals with similar interests is the most effective way to achieve a goal. The AFM can negotiate agreements and administer contracts, procure valuable benefits and achieve legislative goals. A single musician has no such power.
The AFM has a proud history of managing change rather than being victimized by it. We find strength in adversity, and when the going gets tough, we get creative - all on your behalf.
Like the industry, the AFM is also changing and evolving, and its policies and programs will move in new directions dictated by its members. As a member, you will determine these directions through your interest and involvement. Your membership card will be your key to participation in governing your union, keeping it responsive to your needs and enabling it to serve you better. To become a member now, visit www.afm.org/join.
Yamaha’s DTX920K electronic drum kit provides the feel and playability of acoustic drums, combined with add-ons that only electronic drums can provide. It features exceptionally authentic acoustic sounds, plus the DTX900 Drum Trigger Module to provide a collection of sounds to cover just about any music style. The three-zone DTX-PADs used for snares and toms, as well as three-zone cymbal pads, produce different sounds depending on where they are hit.
The Vintage Viator Paul Brett 12-string electro-acoustic travel guitar features a solid spruce top with sapele back and sides, plus nato customized v-shape neck with rosewood fingerboard. The rosewood bridge with Graphtech Nu-Bone nut provide superb tonal transfer and sustain. It features a Fishman Sonitone pickup system with handy USB output for recording on the go. Built for small spaces, the Viator 12 is a perfect travel companion and comes with a padded carry bag.
Chad Smith’s Red Hot Bell is welded by hand in the USA to produce the legendary LP tone. Crafted from heavy-gauge steel, the eight-inch monochromatic red cowbell has Smith’s signature and is currently being used on the Red Hot Chili Pepper’s The Getaway world tour. A special high-impact plastic striking surface at the mouth saves sticks and adds projection and volume. The rear of the bell is welded with a v-clamp mount that allows it to maintain a strong hold on most popular rod diameters from 9.5 mm to ½-inch.
Soundelux USA U195 cardioid FET P48 microphone, featuring a
one-inch dual symmetrical backplate K67 capsule, is capable of
handling a wide range of studio chores. It provides fullness, presence, and low background noise for everything from acoustic instruments to guitar cabinets and drums. It features a pad switch, lo-cut switch, and “fat” switch low-frequency control and comes with a metal threaded stand mount.
Mitchell’s MD400 series guitars are designed for heavy and hard rock players seeking a contemporary look and punchy, aggressive tone. The carved, double cutaway mahogany body and one-piece mahogany set neck offer optimum tone and sustain. A rail-style alnico V humbucker in bridge position and a mini-rail humbucker in the neck position combine to deliver a full-range, aggressive sound. Locking tuning machines and reduced friction nut enhance tuning stability. The Mitchell MD 400 series is available with a wide range of features and in a variety of finishes.
Hafler’s P3100 two-channel amplifier offers high quality at an affordable price for both studio recording and audiophile listening. It produces 150 watts per channel into eight ohms, 200 watts per channel into four ohms, and may be bridged mono to produce 400 watts. Due to extensive heat sinks on both sides, the P3100 does not need a noisy cooling fan. In addition, a thermal sensing network monitors the heat sink temperature and shuts down to protect the amplifier from excessive operating heat. Plus, a sensing circuit monitors output and shuts down operation if it detects a short on the output, eliminating the need for internal fuses. The front panel features individual trim controls and an elaborate LED display for precise monitoring. The rear panel sports a choice of balanced XLR and quarter-inch TRS inputs for professional use, along with gold-plated unbalanced RCAs for audiophiles.
Harbinger VâRI 2200 Series two-way powered loudspeakers are an excellent choice for a variety of applications and venues. VâRI series come with two full-range speakers and a subwoofer. They feature built-in three-channel mixer and two-band EQ, plus defeatable, front-mounted LED clip indicator clearly indicates overdrive. V2212 features a 12-inch low-frequency driver ideal for vocals, acoustic instruments, and exceptional articulation and detail, while the V2215 full-range system, with 15-inch woofer, delivers deep bass for full bands. The lightweight 2200 series is equipped with balanced top and side handles, heavy duty casters, rugged protective steel grill, and 1 3/8-inch pole mount.
Pearl Microphones’ PML Clarity small membrane condenser mic produces excellent results for both live and studio recording. It’s flexible enough for orchestras, choirs, all kinds of instruments, even as an overhead on a drum kit. Clarity has a low noise transformerless preamplifier that can be used with two different capsule heads—cardioid and omni. Both heads will fit in its shock-proof carbon tube. PML Clarity can be ordered with either head or both. It comes with an 1820-T clip, plus a windscreen and shock mount are available.
Roland’s FR-4x and FR-4xb V-Accordions provide a full selection of traditional accordion sounds from around the globe, 163 orchestra sounds, three drum sets, and 32 organs, plus four expansion slots to load additional tone libraries. Chorus, reverb, and rotary effects are built in. Compact and lightweight, they feature pressure-sensing bellows, built-in speakers, and USB song playback. Line out jacks allow direct connection to a PA or recorder, while a headphone jack allows quiet practice. Both models are equipped with 120 left-hand buttons. FR-4x (pictured) has 37 right hand keys, while FR-4xb has 92 right hand buttons. Both models can be powered with the included AC adapter or 10 AA batteries.
This book is designed to teach musicians and budding audio engineers how to take advantage of the latest digital technology to unleash their creativity. Readers, whether independent learners or in a classroom setting, will quickly learn how to record and mix music with a digital audio workstation, understand basic audio principles, and hone their music production skills. It provides examples, practice exercises, activities for all levels, and complete mix sessions through supporting media available online. Most exercises can be done using the free version of Studio One from Presonus, but the concepts and techniques also transfer seamlessly to any modern DAW, such as Logic or Pro Tools.
Getting Started with Music Production, by Robert Willey, Hal Leonard Corporation, www.halleonard.com.
