This isn’t exactly a new product, but since I invest in a Boss RC-2 loop pedal, I figured I’d share my thoughts with you. The RC-2 records short recordings from an instrument input and then plays them back as loops so you can play or sing along with them. This makes jamming solos over top of a chord pattern very easy.
In my case, I used the RC-2 with my acoustic guitar, a Takamine Martin knock-off, circa 1980, with a Dean Markley pickup. Recording the loops is no sweat–the pedal provides a kick-snare timekeeping beat to help you line the phrases up correctly so that they loop without stuttering. You can store up to eleven phrases this way and the play them back. Phrase playback has its own volume control, though you’ll still need to adjust your main instrument volume apart from the pedal, since no input trim is provided.
Generally, I had only intended this for one-shot loops, for live performances where it’s just me and my guitar. But I’ve had a hard time getting the one-shot loops recorded and playing back during performance of a song. It’s just a lot to manage, and I haven’t gotten used to it yet. For $170 new, this pedal is fun, but I haven’t decided if it’s a keeper yet.
It’s been quite a while since I did a recording/music blog. But check this out. I’ve had this track setting on my Maxtor outboard drive for a few months. It’s a pop rock arrangement that was done to test my then-new microphone setup. Here are the techniques I used:
- Recorded two acoustic guitar tracks with XY close condensers. One pointed at the neck, the other at the bridge. One acoustic has a capo so it has that mandolin-ish sound.
- Recorded the drums on stereo track with four mics: XY overhead, inside kick, and close snare (AKG D88).
- Added software-generated keyboard pad.
- Added electric guitar and bass guitar tracks, direct to the mixer.
- Minimal compression on everything except the drums (hence the cymbals sound a little “dark”).
- A little reverb on the master track.
Tell me what you think after you have a listen.
I jumped on iTunes to snag a copy of Crystal Gayle’s song “Turn my Brown Eyes Blue” for an upcoming performance (no, I’m not singing it–just accompanying somebody who is) and I was informed by my beloved iTunes client that this track is available as an “iTunes Plus” track. Meaning no DRM, 30 cents more, and higher encoding rate. I went ahead and downloaded the 99 cent track. Sorry, Steve. Not parting with an extra quarternickel for a throw-away track.
What better place to tune your instrument that on your mobile phone. It has a microphone and sound-processing capability, and since most mobiles are highly programmable, why not use the one thing you take everywhere on the gig nights when you forget to bring your Korg pocket chromatic? Here are some mobile phone guitar tuners you can download:
Nokia
PocketPC / W Mobile
Nokia #2
Check out this video of a Japanese guy, Zack Kim, playing two guitars at the same time. His chosen piece is the theme from Super Mario Brothers, and it’s awesome.
… and a movie about it. “Yeah, Air Guitar is fun, but it’s not funny,” one participant says. If you like guitars of the wood or air variety, then you’ve got to check this out. They had an actual air guitar world championship in Finland and made a documentary about it. Hey, what can I say–I’ve played air guitar a few times myself… and air drums, too.
I wonder if anybody plays air tuba?
I just saw the movie Flight 93 and I it was the most devestating thing I think I’ve ever watched in a film. I just can’t imagine what the people onboard that flight went through in reality and I hope so much that the man that orchestrated it is found and dealt with, soon. God Bless the victims and their familes.
From Behringer’s official product description for the new USBB guitar:
You have a great song in mind and want to record it straight to your PC. You want all your amps and stomp boxes in your workstation so you can jam like you’re in the studio or on stage. With the BEHRINGER iAXE USB-Guitar you’re just a cable away.
The iAXE comes with loads of great-sounding virtual amps and stomp boxes powered by state-of-the-art modeling software. Jam along with your MP3, WAV and AIFF songs or backing tracks on your Mac® or PC. We even included multi-track recording and editing software so you can record your music on the spot.
The high-quality electric guitar comes with a fantastic maple neck and its screaming tone sings through 3 single-coil pickups with 5-way switching. A built-in connector allows you to connect your headphones straight to your guitar so you can jam with your favorite band.
Cool, isn’t it?
I’ll say it’s cool. For the record, it’s Windows and Mac compatible. I wonder how the guitar feels. Check it out here.
