AmpliTube iRig overview

IK Multimedia has made available the iRig guitar and bass interface adapter for iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad. The new iRig interface allows guitar and bass players to plug their instruments directly into the headphone/microphone input jack on their mobile Apple device and access the new world of mobile guitar and bass tone — AmpliTube for iPhone.

Native Instruments Traktor Kontrol S4 review

Time to exhale; the Traktor Kontrol S4 four-deck controller for Traktor Pro is here, and we have a full review. Native Instruments’ first all-in-one, 4-channel controller/soundcard for Traktor Pro comes with the specialized Traktor Pro S4 software, as well as some lofty expectations. Let’s find out where the S4 lives up to the hype, and where it may fall a bit short.

Reviewed: Native Instruments Kontrol S4 Price: $999 (MSRP), $899 (common retail price) Communication: MIDI over USB (requires power supply)  /  (Mac and Windows).

SE Electronics Reflexion Filter Ambience Control overview

The Reflexion Filter is basically a portable device for recording live sound sources with reduced room ambience. It is an advanced composite wall which is positioned behind any microphone by means of a variable position stand clamp assembly which ships with the product. The main function is to help obtain a ‘dry’ vocal or instrument recording. This is especially useful in studios without proper acoustic treatment, but can also be used to help record takes in control rooms, where the performer also has to operate the recording device, or in rehearsal studios to reduce ambient noise.

Buy SE Electronics Reflexion Filter Ambience Control on Amazon

Rock House's Lead & Rhythm Techniques overview

Rock House released Lead & Rhythm Techniques, a two-DVD set featuring Ozzy Osbourne and Firewind guitarist Gus G. Learn the natural minor and Phrygian major scales, patterns, scale sequences and full neck runs he uses to form leads that rip into shred masterpieces. Learn diminished sweep and chromatic arpeggios, emotional bending techniques and how to create a minor 3rd harmony lead. Gus reveals the chords, voicings, syncopated, pivoting staccato, interval and clean-picked rhythms that enable him to take control of the fret board and form his style.

Buy Lead & Rhythm Techniques on Amazon

Alfred's The Complete Idiot's Guide for Guitar overview

Alfred Music Publishing introduced a way to master guitar with three new books for acoustic, classical and rock guitar inside the Complete Idiot's Guide series: The Complete Idiot's Guide to Playing Acoustic Guitar, The Complete Idiot's Guide to Playing Classical Guitar and The Complete Idiot's Guide to Playing Rock Guitar. It offers a short refresher course in the basics of music theory and simple, yet authentic, arrangements of popular songs. The Complete Idiot's Guide series features hits by Led Zeppelin, Joni Mitchell, The Eagles, Pink Floyd, Harry Chapin, Plain White Ts  and more.

Buy Alfred Complete Idiots Guide For Acoustic Guitar on Amazon

Fishman Loudbox Mini Amp overview

Fishman's Loudbox Mini Amp features a compact size and 60W power output. Weighing 20lb, the Mini is the company's lightest and most portable amp, delivering tonal quality. Equipped with two channels and Fishman's preamp and tone control designs, the Mini also includes 'high-quality digital reverb and chorus for the instrument channel," and reverb for the microphone channel. The Loudbox Mini also features an MP3 input and balanced XLR D.I. output. It is housed in a chocolate brown textured tolex enclosure with brown grille cloth and beige faceplate.

Pioneer HDJ-500 Overview

Pioneer Electronics Inc.'s Professional Sound and Visual Division introduced its HDJ-500 series headphones, delivering fidelity, style and comfort. Available in red, black and white, the headphones suit any type of use, from DJing to casual listening. The HDJ-500 DJ headphones adapt the styling and performance cues of Pioneer's HDJ-2000 headphones. By combining 40mm diameter drivers, thick 19μm (micrometers) diaphragm and a copper clad aluminum wire (CCAW) voice coil, the headphones can reproduce the lower frequency audio range.

Buy Pioneer HDJ-500 Headphones - Black on Amazon

Buy Pioneer HDJ-500R Headphones - Red on Amazon

Avid Mbox, 3rd generation - Overview - (Avid, Digidesign, Pro Tools)

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Avid recently released their new Pro Tools Mbox 3 Family (Mbox 3 Mini, Mbox 3, and Mbox 3 Pro). This is their first Mbox release since they changed their brand name from Digidesign to Avid.

While it is still project studio interface it has some major upgrades from the previous versions.

Click the pictures to get more information about each one of the new Avid Mbox series products.

Native-Instruments Traktor Kontrol S4

We just received an e-mail that Traktor Kontrol S4 is coming out on November 1st. You can pre-order it now from Native Instruments' site!

Native Instruments has finally come up with their own DJ-style controller for their Traktor Scratch virtual DJ software. They've collaborated with Vestax to make VCI-100, a controller that came with Traktor Scratch. But when Native Instruments wasn't interested in making VCI-300, it was obvious that they are planning something else. And it's almost here, the new Traktor Kontrol S4. It comes with a lot of new features specifically prepared for use with the new controller. But for now that's enough. You'll familiarize yourself with the features once you get the controller.

Buy Traktor Kontrol S4 on Amazon

Pioneer CDJ-2000 review

Overview:

Everyone who has been in or around the DJ industry for the past 10 years or so should know that ever since Pioneer produced their first CDJ players, they have been known to the world as the Industry Club Standard. Almost all other DJ equipment manufacturers have tried time and time again to come up with a product that could match the versatility, reliability, and sales numbers of the Pioneer CDJ lineup and to this day; they have been unsuccessful. I’m not saying that in that ten year time period, there weren’t some very worthy (or even better) CD based decks out there, but none have come to live up to the same expectations as the Pioneer Series. Fast forward to 2010 and Pioneer is still providing DJ’s with club standard CDJ decks that promise to put the competition to shame. The new Pioneer CDJ-2000 is one of their newest decks on the market that is advertised as their flagship deck and greatest CDJ offering to date. For review purposes, the CDJ-2000 shares many of the same attributes and functions of the CDJ-900; therefore the reviews will be almost identical with the CDJ-2000 review having a bit more information pertaining to the additional features that the CDJ-2000 possesses. The CDJ-2000 enables playback of MP3, AAC, WAV and AIFF audio files on CD, DVD-ROM, SD cards, and USB memory devices.

Native Instruments Traktor Kontrol X1 Effects Controller review

Overview:

The Traktor X1 is a device that allows DJs to control the Tracktor Software as well as other program such as Serato. Rather than use your laptop and mouse, core functions of the software are controlled via the buttons and knobs on the X1.

First Impressions:

The Traktor X1 resembles a very large TV Remote Control. It has various different buttons and knobs, each labeled with a primary and secondary function. The device is relatively light but it feels extremely sturdy. When plugged into your laptop the buttons on the device light up in different colors which makes it look like a high tech control pad. It certainly turned a few heads when I started using it. Also worth noting is that the X1 also comes with a cutout that lays over the device and re-labels the buttons to correspond with functions on Serato.

Setup:

For this review I am using the X1 along with an Acer AS1410 laptop, Traktor Pro Software, 2 Tech 1200s, and a Vestax Pro-5 mixer. The X1 can also be used with other software programs such as Serato. If you do not have your own decks, you have the option of using the X1 as a standalone with the software (using the software's internal mixer) or with any external mixer.

In my case installation was a breeze. I simply installed the drivers that came with the X1, plugged it into my laptop and it was ready to go. It took me about five minutes.

Vestax Typhoon DJ MIDI Controller review

Overview:

The Vestax Typhoon is the newest Vestax all-in-one controller which allows DJ’s to create, manipulate, and mix audio files from their computer with one simple to use machine. I personally never had the pleasure of actually using a Vestax controller (i.e. the VCI series), but after viewing the unit on youtube, I had to check it out for myself! Vestax is marketing this unit as a super-affordable controller that is perfect for beginner DJ’s and people who just want to mix and play without all the extra gadgetry and money involved. (note: The Vestax Spin seems to be an identical unit that is only compatible with MAC while the Typhoon is compatible with Windows and MAC.)

Pioneer HDJ-2000 Reference Pro DJ Headphones

Pioneer has a real treat for DJs in the HDJ 2000 DJ headphones

Pioneer is nothing short of a DJ brand legend, with many of their DJ dedicated line of products being revered by working DJs all over the world. The best part is that this still happens as we speak, and Pioneer constantly comes out with new and improved DJ products, after which DJ equipment reviews will follow. This is the point of this post, which is going to be about the latest DJ product to join the Pioneer DJ headphones line, the HDJ 2000. The work that’s gone into the HDJ 2000 and the quality of the whole DJ product just oozes out of any DJ product review about them, and working DJs will be happy to know that even Pioneer, who came up with some great DJ equipment over the years, refers to the HDJ 2000 as the "ultimate professional DJ headphone".

Archos 5 500GB Internet Tablet

Overview

Media players have gotten a lot of extra functionality over the last couple of years; Bluetooth, touchscreens, better video support and even more recently apps or widgets through special SDKs or flash. Perhaps the single most advanced media player on the market today is the Archos 5 Internet Tablet which runs the Android operating system on hardware that has more specs than half a dozen other players combined and that can run thousands upon thousands of Android apps, compared to other apps capable non-iPod players that can only show for a few apps. However, a player's ability to work well can't be read from specs alone. Read on for a full, very long review of the Archos 5 IT.

Native-Instruments Maschine review

Although Native Instruments has produced hybrid hardware/software products in the past (notably Kore and Guitar Rig), Maschine represents an ambitious step forward.

With every feature of the software built into the impressive MPC-like desktop controller, it's easy to forget that the real power of Maschine lies at the other end of the USB cable within your computer. So, is Maschine hardware and software in perfect harmony?

Digidesign Eleven Rack

Series of videos about Digidesign's standalone guitar effects processor Eleven Rack.

Digidesign Digi 003 Control Surface & Audio/MIDI Interface [Mac/PC] review

Digidesign's LE range has received a comprehensive overhaul in the last year, and the new flagship 003 and 003 Rack incorporate many improvements over their predecessors.

After many rumors, Digidesign recently announced the replacements for their popular 002 and 002R interfaces. The new models are called, perhaps unsurprisingly, the 003 and 003R. As with the M Box 2, it's clear that these are not intended to provide anything radically different from their predecessors. There are some new features and many improvements, but the basic functionality or philosophy behind the products hasn't changed, and of course they still come with the highly respected Pro Tools LE DAW software. Like the 002, the 003 combines a multi-channel audio and MIDI interface with an eight-fader control surface, while its rackmount sibling includes the interface without the control surface. Most of the enhancements that have been made thus relate to the 003, as the 002 had more features than the 002R to start with! However, there are some improvements that apply to both models.