Peter's Reviews - NAMM 2008

NAMM 2008 - Alesis Introduces The New SR-18 Drum Machine

nospam@example.com (Peter) — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 22:12:01 -0700

Back in the day, Alesis had the best drum machines but then they didn't release any new products for many, many years. Finally, fans of their popular SR16 have a new drum machine to drool over.

Features:

AC and Battery Power capability (6 AAs- not included with product) and AC Adapter
24 voice polyphony
Backlit LCD
MIDI In and Out
TRS ¼ Aux Output
Drum Roll function
Headphone output
Instrument Input
100 Preset Patterns and 100 User Patterns
Tempo / Value dial
Footswitch control- Start/Stop and Count/A-B filla

Click here to read more at Alesis.com

Video: Marcus Miller Live at NAMM 2008

nospam@example.com (Peter) — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 01:34:01 -0700

Don't you wish you could've been there live to watch Marcus Miller lay down some great bass?

NAMM 2008 - The New Larrivée RS-4 Electric Guitar

nospam@example.com (Peter) — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 01:11:15 -0700

Larrivée has made their first electric guitar with the sole desire of creating a superior electric guitar. If it's as good as their acoustic guitars, it's sure to be a winner!

From Larrivée: The core of the guitar is a slim South American Mahogany body, overlaid with the industrys thickest , Flamed Maple carve top (coming in at 3/4 thick). The single piece South American Mahogany neck is attached with an extra-long mortise & tenon joint. The Indian Rosewood fretboard features a specialty spoke nut, truss rod which allows you to adjust the truss rod with the strings at tension (without a special tool). Two body cutouts add comfort and style to the instrument while reducing weight the RS-4 weighs in at about 8 lbs. on average.
Weve selected what we feel is the best available hardware for the guitar, with tone and reliability being our most important considerations. The RS-4 features Jason Lollars Imperial Humbuckers, Schaller M6 Tuners & Schaller Strap Locks, LUXE Bumblebee paper-in-oil Capacitors, Switchcraft Switch & Jack, CTS Pots, and vintage Shielded push-back cloth wire.

Click here to read more at Larrivée's website

NAMM 2008 - Vigier's New Arpege Bass

nospam@example.com (Peter) — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 22:56:11 -0700

Vigier has always made some innovative instruments and their new Arpege Bass line has one feature that I'd love to see in other basses, a carbon reinforced neck for extra stability.

From Vigier: Vigier Guitars has redesigned the elegant Arpege Bass. Benefiting from over twenty years of research and development, the Arpege features a Vigier pioneered, 10/90 carbon-reinforced bolt-on neck with a carbon bar replacing the traditional truss rod. This groundbreaking technology offers the strength and stability of carbon fiber while retaining the natural sound and sustain of Maple. The triple-layered, alder body with a thick maple top and back also contributes to the instruments stability and offers exceptional tonal quality.
Vigier has always created electronic routings that standout, and this one is no exception. The Arpege features a pair of Benedetti pickups with separate Bass and Treble controls for each pickup, making the Arpege Bass unsurpassed in versatility.
The New Arpege bass, with it's exceptional flexibility, stability and tone, is sure to inspire bass players everywhere who seek innovation and perfection from their instruments.

NAMM 2008 - The Tascam DP-02 8-Track Digital Recorder

nospam@example.com (Peter) — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 22:15:46 -0700

I'll never forget my first foray into recording, I think it was on a Tascam 244 4-track cassette recorder. Sure it was primitive by today's standard but it was the only multi-track recorder available at the time. Now we're lucky because we have access to all sorts of digital recorders for the same price we used to buy those old cassette multi-tracks. You can get Tascam's new DP-02 Digital 8-Track Recorder for only $499.

Features:

Two XLR mic/line inputs with phantom power for condenser microphones
Eight-track recording at uncompressed 44.1k/16-bit audio quality
Portastudio-based interface with volume fader, pan, effect send, high and low EQ controls per channel
EQ frequency button to access high and low EQ shelf frequencies
USB 2.0 interface for transferring tracks, mixes and backup files to a computer
Dedicated stereo master track for mixdown
Internal metronome and bar/beat display for song position
Headphone output
Stereo line outputs on RCA analog and S/PDIF optical digital connectors
40GB internal hard drive
Multieffects processor with guitar, bass, vocal and drum programs
Stereo reverb processor with send/return controls for multichannel mixing
Built-in chromatic tuner
Built -in CD-RW burner for CD mastering and song backup

Click here to read more at Tascam's website

Get it now at Musician's Friend

NAMM 2008 - The Tascam DR-1 Portable Recorder

nospam@example.com (Peter) — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 22:05:11 -0700

It seems that just about every company has released a portable audio recorder and Tascam introduced one with a low street price of only $299.

Specifications:

Portable, Handheld Recording
Built-in High-quality Stereo Condenser Microphone
Variable Angle Microphone Mechanism with A/B Configuration
48 or 44.1kHz 24-bit Recording Resolution
MP3 and WAVE file Recording and Playback
Switchable Low Cut Filter
Analog Auto Gain Control
Analog Limiter
Rechargable Lithium-Ion Battery
USB 2.0 Connection to Computer
Built-in Tuner and Vocal Cancel Features
Overdub Feature to record narration, singing or instruments over an existing recording
Dimensions (not including protrusions):

70 (W) x 27 (H) x 135.3 (D) (mm)

2.8 (W) x 1.1 (H) x 5.3 (D) (inches)

Weight: 208 g (including battery)

Click here to read more at Tascam's website

NAMM 2008 - TC-Helicon Introduces 3 Vocal Pedals

nospam@example.com (Peter) — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 22:45:23 -0700

TC-Helicon was the first company to give vocalists true control over their instruments with some serious vocal processing tools! Before, singers had to rely on their sound man (something that's scary 90% of the time) but now you can do awesome effects that are more than just cheap tricks.

The TC-Helicon Voicetone Double adds the most used recording effect of doubling vocals but live!

Features:

- Creates up to four virtal overdubs of a performers voice in real time
- 10 doubling banks with 3 patches each
- Uses advanced Inflection and FlexTime blocks to create a multitracked overdub sound
- Additional effects include emulations of classic microshift, chorus and detune
- Get creative and control the pitch, timing and levels of each patch
- Access two customized patches during performance with A/B parts
- XLR Mic level I/O in stereo and mono
- Clean, studio quality mic preamp with phantom power

The TC-Helicon Voicetone Harmony-G lets guitarists sing harmony vocals with no programing. Just play your guitar, sing and the Harmony-G will read the chord changes from your guitar and make the appropriate harmonies to your vocals. I totally want this one!

Features:

- Two voice 4th generation intelligent harmony
- Separate Double effect using overdub algorithm
- Tone switch engages adaptive Live Engineer Effects
- 6 reverb/delay combinations for vocal and guitar input
- 10 presets each with A/B location
- Harmony Arrangement algorithm listens to guitar and voice
to follow your music
- Selectable harmony voicing including unique Bass setting
- XLR mic level I/O in stereo or mono
- Clean, studio quality mic preamp with phantom power
- Guitar input and pass-thru for separate amp
- Guitar Tuner

The TC-Helicon Voicetone Harmony-M lets singing keyboard players add easy harmony to their vocals (shouldn't it be the Harmony-K?).

Features:

- Two voice 4th generation intelligent harmony
- Separate Double effect using overdub algorithm
- Tone switch engages adaptive Live Engineer Effects
- 6 factory reverb/delay combinations for rich vocals
- 10 presets each with A/B location
- Harmony Arrangement algorithm listens to MIDI input and voice to follow your music
- Flexible harmony voicing including unique bass setting
- Includes classic Notes and Chord harmony control modes
- 1⁄4 TRS mic level I/O in stereo or mono
- Clean, studio quality mic preamp with phantom power
- MIDI input
- Input for optional footswitch allows Harmony-M placement on keyboard

NAMM 2008: Peavey Introduces Riff Master Game Controllers

nospam@example.com (Peter) — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 01:20:49 -0700

If you're into games like Guitar Hero and always wanted a better controller, wait no more. Peavey just released their new Riff Master game controllers that feature real wood guitar bodies and parts to make your friends embarrassed about their lame plastic guitar controllers.

Click here for more info at Peavey's official website

Video: David "Fingers" Haynes Jams at NAMM 2008

nospam@example.com (Peter) — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 01:11:24 -0700

David "Fingers" Haynes is the most amazing drum machine drummer. The fact that he's using an old Alesis HR16 makes this even more impressive!

Click here to see another drum solo with David "Fingers" Haynes

NAMM 2008: The Line 6 Micro Spider Guitar Amp

nospam@example.com (Peter) — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 00:53:15 -0700

Line 6 decided to relase a sweet little battery-powered guitar amp with their POD 2.0 amp modeling DSP. This amp is looking so good that it might make me give up my Roland Micro Cube!

From Line 6: Four Spider III amp models, a new acoustic guitar model and six Smart Control FX give Micro Spider a wide tonal range and real sonic versatility. And with POD® 2.0 -style direct out, Micro Spider is ideal for practicing with headphones and hassle-free direct recording.

NAMM 2008 - The Boss GT-10 Guitar Multi-Effects Floor Processor

nospam@example.com (Peter) — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 00:38:21 -0700

Boss just released their new flagship guitar multi-effects unit, the Boss GT-10. They're using a brand new DSP chipset so look for improved effects. The GT-10 features Roland's famous COSM modeling but they're also introducing "EZ Tone" which promises to give players great sound with less knob tweaking and a more intuitive, user-friendly interface.

Bass players can look forward the the Boss GT-10B which sports the same processing power if it's guitar counterpart.

Click here to visit the official Boss website

NAMM 2008 - The Roland Micro Cube Bass RX

nospam@example.com (Peter) — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 00:32:31 -0700

Finally bass players get a cool battery-powered practice and travel amp. Roland worked hard to make a small amp that could actually make a bass sound good.

Features:

Clean sound
Digital effects
Battery-powered

Click here to visit Roland's official website

NAMM 2008 - The Roland Micro Cube RX

nospam@example.com (Peter) — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 00:26:31 -0700

Following the success of Roland's popular Micro Cube series comes the new Micro Cube RX. My Micro Cube is one of my favorite amps and is great for practice so I might be picking up the RX.

Features:

Battery powered
Amp modeling
4 speakers and stereo effects
Click here to visit Roland's official website