Tag Archives: gear

d:vote 4099
Products

The d:vote 4099 Instrument Microphone

d:vote 4099The d:vote 4099  instrument microphone with stand mount gives users the option of mounting the mike on a regular stand, instead of directly to a specific instrument. The mike’s supercardioid polar pattern for high rejection and superior gain-before-feedback makes it highly uniform. The mount has a 3/8-inch thread and the ability to swivel 360 degrees with a ball joint. Known for discreet size and elegance, d:vote mikes also have a rugged shock mount design. A versatile 5.5-inch gooseneck (plus optional extension unit) and removable cables provide stable repositioning. Its flexible adapter system is compatible with most professional wireless systems.

www.dpamicrophones.com

Cool Tools, Products

Mackie’s ProDX Series Mixers

Mackie’s ProDX series mixers provide complete wireless control in a compact format that’s ideal for solo performers, small bands, venues, and commercial applications. Both the ProDX4 (four-channel) and ProDX8 (eight-channel) provide powerful processing and control through an intuitive iOS or Android control app. Wide-Z mic preamps can handle mic or guitar with no gain adjustments, while the single-knob hardware design allows quick and easy adjustments. An integrated control bridge offers a convenient place to angle a phone or tablet to keep an eye on the mix. Other features include easy-to-use three-band EQ, built-in ReadyFX with 16 effects, and flexible graphic EQ on all outputs.

www.mackie.com

A6021 Deluxe Rigid Cymbal Vault
Cool Tools, Products

A6021 Deluxe Rigid Cymbal Vault

The A6021 Deluxe Rigid Cymbal Vault from Protection Racket takes the storage and transportation of cymbals to another level. It’s made with a fully rigid, polycarbonate frame that is tough and lightweight. Cymbals are protected in Propile fleece and cushioned by Rocket Foam in eight internal compartments for cymbals up to 24 inches, each with fiberglass inserts. Hi-hats and splash cymbals fit snuggly inside case lid pockets. Cymbal Vaults come with sturdy zippers, waterproof luggage tags, Progrip handles, as well as padded shoulder straps.

www.protectionracket.com

Bose F1 Model 812 Passive Flexible Array
Cool Tools, Products

Bose F1 Model 812 Passive Flexible Array

The Bose F1 Model 812 Passive Flexible Array loudspeakers can be configured into four unique shapes to let installers focus sound into target listening areas, offering exceptional power and clarity for any small to medium size venue. The loudspeakers are engineered with an array of eight Bose 2.25-inch drivers, 100-degree horizontal waveguides, a high-power 12-inch woofer, and a lower crossover point. Each speaker is housed in a rugged enclosure with six M8 threaded insert points, combined with a full suite of optional mounting accessories.

pro.bose.com

S104HA
Cool Tools, Products

Sterling Audio’s Four-Channel S104HA

Sterling Audio’s new line of professional headphone amplifiers feature gold-plated inputs and outputs for superior conductivity, power-on status LEDs, and low-noise operation. The four-channel S104HA is designed for personal recording studios or other uses where space is at a premium. Housed in aluminum chassis with nonslip rubber feet, it offers one rear-panel stereo, TRS line input, plus four front-panel stereo headphone outputs, each with a 10-increment level slider. The four-channel S204HA features more flexible inputs and robust chassis. Its front panel offers four stereo headphone outputs and balanced TRS left and right line inputs on the rear panel. For demanding professional applications, the S418HA (pictured) features two stereo main line inputs, eight direct line-level inputs for individual monitor mixes, and eight discrete, stereo headphone amplifiers, each with two headphone outputs in a steel, 1U rack chassis. An elegant faceplate with backlighting enables easy operation in low-light situations.

www.sterlingaudio.net

Zoom’s H4n Pro
Cool Tools

Zoom’s H4n Pro Recorder

Zoom’s H4n Pro

Zoom’s H4n Pro handy recorder delivers high-quality, four-track music recording. Comprising all of the features of the original H4n, the Pro model adds advanced condenser microphones, high performance mic preamps, and an extremely low noise floor (-120 dBu EIN). Locking combo connectors ensure mic cables stay secure, while a headphone/line out jack makes it easy to send high definition stereo directly to a camera. It features three recording modes, built-in studio-grade effects, and the ability to function as a two-input/two-output USB audio interface. The rubberized, ergonomic body adds to its durability.

zoom-na.com

Dean Zelinsky Johnny Winter Signature Guitar
Cool Tools, Products

The Dean Zelinsky Johnny Winter Signature Guitar

The Dean Zelinsky Johnny Winter Signature Guitar is the instrument Winter had been playing and touring with in the three years prior to his death. This collector’s guitar features custom-engraved flame maple top; ultra-thin mahogany body; a 25 ½-inch scale, a 24-fret maple neck; brushed satin nickel hardware; locking tuners; and custom humbuckers that provide the hot and bright Johnny Winter signature tone. The guitars come with a Tweed Tolex hard case.

www.deanzelinsky.com

Cool Tools, Products

Genelec 8430 Smart Active Monitoring

CT-Genelec-9a78keGenelec 8430 Smart Active Monitoring (SAM) studio monitor enables direct monitoring of audio-over-IP stream content. It is the culmination of years of research that included feedback from engineers and producers, and is the first studio monitor on the market to support both AES67 and RAVENNA standards. Features include Genelec MDE and DCW technologies, a flow-optimized reflex port, very low distortion, high SPL and wide bandwidth, and uncolored response in a compact enclosure. Its intuitive Genelec Loudspeaker Manager (GLM) control network and software allow adjustments to all aspects of monitor settings and full multi-loudspeaker system control.

www.genelecusa.com

korg stageman 80
Cool Tools, Products

Korg Stageman 80 is a portable PA amp

korg stageman 80 It is equipped with a large number of high-quality rhythm patterns that exploit Korg’s advanced sound engineering technology, plus EQ, reverb, tuner, audio recording and playback, as well as overdub functions. An adjustable stand allows it to be tilted upward for better sound dispersion. It is powered by either the included adapter or six D batteries that allow 20 hours of continuous operation.

www.korgusa.com

Cool Tools, Products

Are you still reading music on paper?

Article sponsored by Newzik.

The Digital Revolution has deeply transformed the press and book industries. Nowadays, you check the news on your smartphone and read books on your tablet. This isn’t true for all industries, however; the world of sheet music is only now beginning to move towards digitalization. Musicians who use sheet music reading applications are still considered to be pioneers of a new technological trend by some, pure geeks by others, and the majority of them are still using the traditional paper-based approach. That is, until now.

Newzik

Robben Ford of Local 47 (Los Angeles, CA), John Jorgenson of Local 7 (Orange County, CA), Jean-Félix Lalanne, and Ron Thal rehearsing with the Newzik app.

Replacing paper sheet music with applications on tablets is the next step in the global digital trend to make musicians’ lives easier, more convenient, and more efficient. With dematerialized scores, there are no more heavyweight sheet music issues. You can gather and organize your library in a light tablet however you wish. This new technology does the same to the music industry that computers did to the workplace, creating useful shortcuts to improve efficiency and allows you to focus only on your work instead of lingering on pointless time-consuming details. Besides, digital scores are eco-friendly and allow the rise of new educational concepts, not to mention the major improvements in terms of content security and backup.

Technology is only starting to disrupt the sheet music market because of the specific and demanding requirements of the music industry. A musician cannot take the risk of bombing rehearsal due to technical issues such as low battery, or having his tablet crash. Musicians expect this technology to solve their problems, not bring new ones to the table. But this argument is no longer valid: technology has proven its unquestionable reliability.

“Digital scores are the next revolution in the music industry. It allows you to focus on music, and music only!” —Ron Thal

Today, not only is digitalization solving your paper sheet music issues, it is also opening a wide range of new features. Some apps focus on a single specific target in the market. For example, with Yousician guitar beginners can benefit from a tailor-made training program to learn the songs they love. Some other apps like Newzik, on the contrary, chose to reach a larger audience by being a universal sheet music reader. Newzik reads all the music standard formats: Sheet Music, Lyrics & Chords, Lead Sheets, etc. This versatility allows musicians to transpose all their scores, turn pages with a Bluetooth foot Pedal, and much more.

When the first personal computers got released, musicians would either show reluctance to this new technology or enthusiastically adopt it. You can witness the same phenomenon happening with sheet music reading technology. And yet today, can you name a single musician that does not use a computer?