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.
In addition to keeping your music in place, the Musicmaide Sheet Music Holder Portfolio has a built-in handle and is capable of holding up to 40 sheets of music. Adapters are available for more than 40 sheets or a thicker book. An attached elastic cord keeps the portfolio from blowing off the stand. Included are adjustable sliding/tilting transparent plastic music clips. A great solution for piano and keyboard players. Two units can be set side-by-side to hold four pages.
D’Addario’s Tour-Grade Power Base is designed for the touring musician in constant transition between the stage and the road. It has five standard-spaced outlets and three transformer-spaced outlets and features a low, wide footprint in a sturdy metal housing that remains anchored in place. The Power Base also features an integrated cable management system that allows you to wrap the six feet of cord around the base for convenience while traveling. It includes surge protection with indicator light.
The Electro-Harmonix Switchblade Pro is a compact switching pedal with advanced features: True mechanical bypass, soft switching, high-quality/low-noise buffers, volume controls for all input signals, and high headroom. Switch between amplifiers or turn both on at once. Mix and switch between three instruments/audio sources with individual volume controls sent to one amplifier. True bypass helps avoid “tone suck” and noise from vintage pedals placed in the Switchblade Pro’s FX loops. It provides an adjustable volume boost with up to 6dB of gain for each input.
The JBL 104 compact powered desktop reference monitors combine powerful 4.5-inch low-frequency drivers with coaxial .75- inch soft-dome tweeters, potent 60-watt amplification, and innovative acoustic design to provide exceptional imaging, neutral frequency response, and crisp detail. They are ideal for home recording enthusiasts, podcasters, and video producers, as well as professionals seeking accurate portable reference monitors.
DPA Microphones’ new d:fine CORE 6066 Subminiature Headset Microphone is made for performers who want freedom of movement on stage. This one-size-fits-all headset is also secure thanks to a three-point spring mechanism that helps it grip below and over the ears as well as behind the ear. It has a fully adjustable boom and a redesigned cable attachment that allows the cable to run down the wearer’s back. Measuring just three millimeters (0.12 inches) in diameter, 6000 series capsules are 60-percent smaller than the company’s existing 4000 series, but equally as powerful because they all incorporate CORE by DPA microphone amplification technology that reduces distortion and increases dynamic range.
Flock Audio’s new Patch System offers an advanced, digitally-controlled, 100%-analog patch bay routing system. The combination of software and 64-point connection work together in perfect harmony, allowing anyone to easily control analog audio routings without having to resort to the use of manual patch cables. The Patch hardware features 32 channels 48V phantom power, four front panel connections, and advanced multing capabilities. Create, store, and recall your routings. No label templates required; no patch cables required.
The MeeBlip geode synthesizer lets you plug in a box and dial in edgy, cutting, grimy sounds you won’t mistake for anything else. Building on the MeeBlip line’s digital sound features and unique Twin-T analog filter, geode adds more control, more sound twists, and now both USB MIDI and MIDI IN operation. One control per function means no shift, no nonsense, no presets.
The TremLord 30 is Orange Amplification’s very British take on the 1950s amplifier. It’s a 30-Watt, 1×12 all valve guitar combo with two footswitchable valve-driven tremolo speeds and a two-spring reverb tank. Italian speaker designer Lavoce delivers a unique speaker able to deliver more headroom and the smoother top end required for the unique vintage tones of this amplifier. The carefully chosen EL84 output valves enable Orange’s unique British tone.
PRS Private Stock McCarty 594 “Graveyard II Limited” guitars have maple tops made from trees found on the outskirts of a nineteenth century graveyard. These tops feature medium-wide to wide curl in an iridescent flame. The ebony and faded grey maple fretboard with ebony “ravens in flight” inlay, raven headstock veneer, and raven’s heart high-gloss nitro finish were all inspired by the story of these maples. Only 60 of these guitars will be made.
The new Yamaha CP series stage pianos—the 73-key CP73 and the 88-key CP88—feature three main sections that can quickly be split or combined as desired: Piano, Electric Piano, and Sub. Selectable damper resonance adds even more realism to piano voices for solo passages. All sections are arranged into a one-to-one user interface that eliminates deep menu-diving, allowing the player to maneuver on a dime. Independent sound selection, volume, tone, on/off, split, and octave-shift controls make creating performance setups easier. In addition to ¼-inch outputs on the rear panel, balanced XLR outs allow connection to a mixer or stage snake without direct boxes. Left and right inputs have their own gain control, bringing a second keyboard through the CP’s main outputs without the need for a mixer.
