Behringer Xenyx X2442USB Mixer

   If you’re looking for an extremely versatile mixer and you have a limited budget then look no further than the Behringer Xenyx X2442USB Mixing Console. This mixer is ideal for use with your live band or even in your home studio. If you have a band with four or five members then this is the ideal mixing solution for you simply because of the excellent selection of input and routing options.

   The Xenyx X2442USB is the upgrade to the Behringer Eurorack UB2442FX Pro mixer. The mixers are very similar in capability and channel availability and I suggest you read the Behringer Euorack UB2442FX Pro Review to get more of an idea of these mixer’s capabilities. The Xenyx X2442USB has two very important upgrades. First, it has built in compression! This is a major advantage for mixing live vocals as well as live drums. It saves you from having to hook up an outboard compression unit to the mixer. The downside is, it’s only available on channel’s 1-8. Still, that’s generally enough channels for your vocal mics and basic drum mics.    

   The second very important upgrade found on the Xenyx X2442USB is the USB capability of the mixer. You can now hook the X2442USB directly to your computer and have the main mix routed to the computer through the USB. You can also choose to route a two-channel mix from your computer to the X2442USB. This gives you some nice capabilities such as the ability to record your live show directly to a laptop or computer through the USB connection. It also gives you the option to patch in loops or sequences from a computer to the X2442USB and amplify them through the main P.A. system.

   The downside of the USB connectivity is the fact that it’s only a 2-channel send/receive. Upside of course is it’s bi-directional capability. The mixer also ships with some free software to use with your computer and the mixer’s USB abilities. You’ll get Audacity, Podifier, Juice, Podnova and Golden Ear software to use with your mixer. You’ll also get more than 100 virtual instruments and 50 Effect plugins for the software.

   The Xenyx X2442USB is called a 16-channel mixer and sure enough, it has 16 channels worth of inputs. But that being said, not all inputs are created equal. The Xenyx X2442USB has a total of 16 inputs on the channel input section. This doesn’t  mean you have 16 independent mixable channels. The way the inputs are split up are as follows: Channels 1 through 8 contain 8 mono input channels complete with their own separate mic preamp and compression control. Each of these 8 channels is routed through it’s own EQ section, Auxiliary bus, Effects bus, Panning knob and then a master volume fader. On channels 9 through 16 you have four stereo input channels with channels being grouped in stereo sets. For example, channel 9/10 is grouped together with it’s own unbalanced 1/4″ Left and Right input. Inputs 9/10 are then routed together through an EQ section, Auxiliary bus, effects section, L/R Balance section and then through a stereo volume fader which controls both channels simultaneously.  Any of these channels can be used as a mono channel or a stereo channel. Channel’s 9/10 and 11/12 each have their own mic pre-amp as well if you would like to use these channels for microphone inputs. These channels DO NOT have their own compression setting. Channels 13/14 and 15/16 are also grouped together in stereo configuration.

   As you can see, the Xenyx X2442USB does not have 16 identical input channels. The mixer still has plenty of versatility and is just big enough to mix a 4 or 5 person group. Here’s an example of how you can hook up a 4 person group with a guitarist, keyboard player, bass player and drummer in which everyone sings. Channels 1-4 will contain everybody’s vocal microphones. Channel 4-7 will contain bass drum, snare drum, drumset left and drumset right microphones. Channel 8 and 9/10 will contain the left and right stereo guitar microphone inputs. Channel 11/12 will contain the bass guitar input. Channel 13/14 will be the stereo keyboard input. With this setup the singer and drum mics will all be connected to channels with built-in compression for better dynamic control. As you can see, the mixer has more than enough inputs when mixing this type of group. If you use an electronic drum set you will only need a stereo input for the drums which will then free up two more channels for you to hook up whatever you want.

   Another strong feature found on the Xenyx X2442USB is the built in 24-bit dual engine FX processor. This gives you all the standard studio effects for use in either recording or your live mixing. You’ll get all the standard effects such as reverb, delay and chorus. You’ll also get some lesser known effects such as a pitch shifter and detuning. There are some nice combination effects such as Delay + Reverb and Chorus + Reverb. The effects are decent although you’ll want to use good plugins if you’re using the mixer for recording. The built-in effects work plenty well for most live situations.

   The Behringer Xenyx X2442USB has a lot of input/output options as well as sub-mixing capabilities. There is a built-in Phantom power supply so you can use your good condenser mics as well. The mixer has too many mixing options to list in this post so here are links to download both the owner’s manual and the Xenyx series sales brochure. You can get a good idea about the mixers capabilities from these documents:
Download Behringer Xenyx X2442USB Mixer User Manual
Download Behringer Xenyx X2442USB Mixer Brochure

   As with all Behringer equipment I remind you that it is a budget line. I have heard complaints of channels failing on Behringer mixers. I have had a channel fail on my Behringer mixer but was able to fix it by opening the mixer and soldering the input circuit board. If you can purchase this mixer with an extended warranty then I recommend that you do that. I have found that if the channels are going to fail they do fail within the first year. After that they seem to last forever.

   The Behringer Xenyx X2442USB is a fine mixer with excellent mixing capabilities. When you look at how affordable the mixer is it’s really hard not to recommend buying this mixer. I feel like it’s an unbelievable bargain for a mixer with this much capability.

Behringer XENYX X2442USB USB Mixer with Effects The Behringer X2442USB mixing console takes the 2442FX up a notch, providing all the same great features, plus Behringer’s 24-bit, dual engine FX processor, with 16 editable, studio-grade presets including reverb, chorus, flanger, delay, pitch shifter and multi-effects. User-definable parameters include reverb time and brilliance, delay room size and repetitions, modulation depth and speed, and much more. The audio mixer’s time-based functions can be addressed via a handy Tap button. The most recent parameter settings are always stored in memory. The USB mixer also features 8 studio-grade compressors with super-easy one-knob functionality and a control LED, so you can take your vocals and instruments to a professional level.

BEHRINGER XENYX X2442 USB 24 INPUT PRO AUDIO MIXER W MULTI FX & USB INTERFACE US $349.95 Auction Ends: Wednesday Feb-08-2012 1:06:07 PST   | Watch this Item

Behringer XENYX X2442USB 24 Channel 4/2 Bus Mixer w/XENYX US $380.99 Auction Ends: Wednesday Feb-08-2012 11:58:07 PST   | Watch this Item

Behringer XENYX x2442USB US $249.99 (0 Bid) Auction Ends: Wednesday Feb-08-2012 19:26:52 PST   | Watch this Item

Behringer XENYX X2442USB USB Mixer with Effects US $380.99 Auction Ends: Thursday Feb-09-2012 14:27:57 PST   | Watch this Item

Behringer XENYX X2442USB USB Mixer with Effects US $380.99 Auction Ends: Friday Feb-10-2012 11:52:47 PST   | Watch this Item

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Behringer Xenyx X2442USB Mixer Review

iRig for iPhone, iPod and iPad

   I’m always looking out for tools to help me practice or to help me out in my live band.  One of the coolest things I’ve seen lately is the new Amplitube offering from IK Multimedia for the Apple iPhone, iPod and iPad. In a nutshell it will give you the ablility to plug your guitar into your iPhone, iPod or iPad and use it as a guitar amplifier. You’ll be able to make your guitar sound like a multitude of famous guitar amplifiers.

   If you’re unfamiliar with Amplitube it’s basically a software based guitar amplifier simulation that takes your guitar signal and processes it to sound like one of many different famous guitar amplifiers. Your guitar will sound like it’s being played through a Fender blackface amplifier and with the press of a button your guitar can sound like it’s being played through a full Marshall stack. You’ll get bluesy tones, metal tones, country tones and jazz tones using Amplitube’s guitar processing.   

   IK Multimedia has released an iTunes App featuring Amplitube that you can run on either your iPhone, iPod or iPad turning it into a guitar signal processor. The only additional piece of hardware you’ll need is the Ik Multimedia iRig audio interface adapter so you can plug your guitar into your Apple device. That’s it, with just the App from the iStore and the iRig adapter you’ll be able to use your iPhone, iPod or iPad as a guitar amplifier!

   This App is incredibly full featured and has a lot to offer any guitarist. For practicing your guitar it has a speed trainer which allows you to speed up or slow down imported songs from %50-%200 without affecting the pitch of the song. It’s a great way to learn how to play tough guitar parts and solo’s. You can also import backing tracks for you to play along with on your guitar. The Amplitube app is filled with excellent guitar effects as well such as Chorus, Delay, Compression and Distortion. You are free to mix and match effects and amplifiers at will to create your own custom sounds.

   There is also a built-in single track recorder for recording your musical ideas. You can also buy an add-in app that will give you a full featured 8-track recorder as well. You can use the iRig interface to record vocals as well as guitar using Amplitube as an effects processor.

   So, if you’ve been searching for an excellent way to make practicing your guitar more enjoyable then the iRig and Amplitube app may be perfect for you! In a pinch at a live gig, you could probably make it through a gig with just your iPhone if your amplifier dies. It would be incredibly handy to have an iRig interface and Amplitube along for emergencies at any live show.

IK Multimedia iRig – Audio Interface Adapater for iPhone, iPod, iPadThe IK Multimedia AmpliTube iRig combines an easy-to-use instrument interface adapter with guitar and bass tone software for your favorite Apple mobile device. With AmpliTube iRig, you can plug your guitar into your iPhone, iPod Touch, or iPad and jam anywhere with top-notch guitar and bass tone right in the palm of your hand. Plug iRig into your mobile device; plug in your instrument; add headphones, amp or powered speakers; install the AmpliTube app; and start rocking.The IK Multimedia iRig is the ideal companion not only to the mobile AmpliTube app, but it also works with any other recording, processing, or tuning app. Plus, you can also use the iRig adapter with line level signal sources such as synthesizers, keyboards, or mixers.AmpliTube for iPhone At the core of the AmpliTube iRig System is AmpliTube—a leader in gear modeling software for professional recording studios. AmpliTube for iPhone gives you the same incredible ultra-realistic sound and modeling accuracy of its Mac/PC applications in a convenient mobile platform app.With AmpliTube for iPhone, you’ll have an entire guitar/bass rig at your fingertips, comprised of 3 recombinable simultaneous stompbox effects, an amp-head plus cabinet and a microphone. With AmpliTube for iPhone fully loaded, you will be able to choose between 5 amps (clean, crunch, lead, metal, bass) with full controls, 10 stompbox effects (delay, flanger, phaser, overdrive, distortion, filter, wah, fuzz, octaver, chorus), 5 cabinets and 2 microphones (dynamic and condenser).Plus, AmpliTube for iPhone features a chromatic digital tuner and a metronome. You can also import and play with songs or backing tracks with realtime effects; and create, save and recall up to 36 presets on the fly.

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Turn Your iPhone, iPod Or iPad Into A Guitar Amplifier

Cakewalk UM-2G 2X2 Midi Interface

   When I’m not out playing in my live band I’m usually working on writing and recording music in my home studio. I use a lot of MIDI equipment and several computers so I’m always looking out for convenient MIDI interfaces. Today I’m going to tell you about the Cakewalk UM-2G 2×2 USB MIDI interface for the Mac and PC computer.  

  The UM-2G is a very basic and easy-to-use MIDI interface. It’s as easy as plugging the interface into a USB port on your computer, loading the correct driver for your operating system and plugging your keyboard into the interface with a MIDI cable. There is a CD-ROM included with the UM-2G MIDI interface that has all the driver software you will need to get the interface up and running quickly on your computer.

   There are a couple of features I really like on the UM-2G MIDI interface. I like that fact that it has two MIDI In/out ports built into it. That means you can hook up two separate MIDI device’s directly to the UM-2g interface. It’s convenient when you want to leave your main MIDI controller keyboard hooked up to your computer and still be able to hook up something like an effects unit to upload or download sound patches. Having that second MIDI port on the interface saves you from some hassle of having to plug and unplug MIDI cables at least.

   The Cakewalk UM-2G also has a switch on the side labeled “Advanced Driver” which you can use to enable Cakewalk’s Fast Processing Technology (FPT) which is built into the interface. According to Cakewalk, Fast Processing Technology “allows for high speed, high resolution MIDI data transmission by a combination of driver and hardware improvements to take advantage of the high-speed extensive transmission capability of USB.” I use the interface with the switch on and it seems to work really well.

   The Cakewalk UM-2G is a very well built MIDI interface and it works perfectly with any Cakewalk software. It’s reasonably priced and extremely easy to use. I recommend it if you’re looking for a good MIDI interface for your home studio.

Cakewalk UM-2G 2×2 USB MIDI Interface The Cakewalk UM-2G is a compact 2-In/2-Out USB MIDI Interface designed for easy connection of multiple MIDI Keyboards. The UM-2G interface is also great for connecting sound modules, control surfaces, and other audio devices to your computer. The UM-2G interface provides 32 channels of MIDI and hardware control. It’s an ideal I/O option for musicians, producers, or recording engineers with more than one MIDI device in a small studio or portable MIDI configuration. USB-powered, the Cakewalk UM-2G MIDI interface is compatible with USB 2.0 ports and works as a USB 1.1 device without changing the specifications and performance. Cakewalk made the UM-2G audio interface compatible with both Mac and PC computer operating systems.

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Cakewalk UM-2G 2×2 USB MIDI Interface For Mac And PC

Shure SE115 Sound Isolating Earphones

   I like to protect my ears from excessive noise when I’m listening to my personal music for pleasure. Having an excellent pair of sound isolating earphones is essential to protecting my hearing which I’m sorry to say isn’t so good after all my years playing in a live band. Still, I’m extremely picky about how my music sounds and I like to hear it warm and clear when I’m listening for pleasure. Sound isolating earphones are important for me because I can keep the volume at a reasonable level and still hear every detail of the music.

   I own a high end pair of Shure SE530 sound isolating earphones that I use for personal monitors with my live band. I also use them when I travel or simply want to listen to music when my Sennheiser headphones aren’t around. The thing is, they’re so expensive that I’m extremely careful with them and I don’t like to go running, biking or hiking with them. I love to be active and I’m a very serious runner so I wanted a really good pair of headphones that had high end sound but that didn’t cost $300.  

   I tried a lot of sports earphones because I need and earphone that will stay put in my ear while I run. Most of them wiggle loose and fall out and I’m constantly having to push them back into my ear. I knew my Shure SE530′s stayed perfectly still in my ear so I decided to look at some of the lower end of the Shure SE product line. That’s when I came across the Shure SE115 sound isolating earphones.

   The ergonomic design is almost exactly the same as my high end SE530′s and the SE115′s have expanding foam tips that conform to the shape of your ear canal. The foam tips give you a virtual custom fit to your ear and you get almost perfect sound isolation with them. They come with several different types of tips so finding tips that feel good in your ears while giving you excellent sound isolation is very easy. When I have the SE115′s in my ears they don’t move at all when I run. I can lift weights, run or do the stairmill and the earphones do not budge!

   The only thing I don’t like about the ergonomics is the cable design. The earphones have a very short cable attached to them that plugs into a longer extension. This leaves you with a big plug that bounces on your chest while running. The cable is long which is nice for setting the iPod on a table and listening but it can be unweildly when your MP3 player is in an armband.

   As for the sound, they are better than any headphone that I tried in their price range. Do they sound as good as the SE530 earphones? No they do not but they sound about 60% as good and cost 1/3 the price so I think that’s an excellent deal! The difference between the SE115′s and the SE530 is in the speaker design. The SE530 earphones have a triple-speaker configuration with two woofers and tweeter in each earphone for excellent detail and bass. The SE115′s have a single speaker called a Dynamic MicroSpeaker II by Shure in each earphone.

   The sound of the SE115′s is warm with good deep bass. They don’t have a lot of air, or extreme high end detail. That’s fine for me because I listen to a lot of rock and pop when I’m running and I prefer the warm sound for guitars and heavy bass beats. The SE115′s really put the music up against your eardrum and it takes a few minutes to get used to the sound being right in your head like that. The lack of an airy high-end does make you aware that you’re wearing earphones for a few minutes after you turn them on.

   Bottom line is, I’m very satisfied with them 90% of the time. I do sometimes wish they had the airy quality that the SE530′s have but when I’m running and working out, I really don’t miss it at all. I absolutely love how well they stay in my ears when I’m working out and they sound many times better than any earphone in the $20-$100 range. I recommend the Shure SE115 sound isolating earphones for anyone that wants excellent sound while they’re active. They would make an perfect solution for any drummer looking for in-ear monitor earphones that will stay put while they’re drumming.

SHURE SOUND ISOLATING CLEAR EARPHONES SE115-CL US $109.99 Auction Ends: Wednesday Feb-08-2012 9:09:14 PST   | Watch this Item

Shure SE115 Sound Isolating Earphones with Dynamic Microspeaker II (Red) US $85.00 (0 Bid) Auction Ends: Wednesday Feb-08-2012 11:02:34 PST   | Watch this Item

Shure SE115-BLU Sound Isolating Earphones Blue NEW US $116.99 Auction Ends: Saturday Feb-11-2012 6:35:38 PST   | Watch this Item

SHURE SE 115 SOUND ISOLATING EARPHONES - BRAND NEW UNOPENED IN BOX US $20.00 (1 Bid) Auction Ends: Monday Feb-13-2012 7:11:58 PST   | Watch this Item

Shure SE115CL SE115 Sound Isolating Earphones US $79.39 Auction Ends: Monday Feb-13-2012 7:56:29 PST   | Watch this Item

★NEW★ Shure SE115 Sound Isolating Earphones Pink SEALED US $77.99 Auction Ends: Wednesday Feb-15-2012 12:38:29 PST   | Watch this Item

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Shure SE115 Sound Isolating Earphones Review

Line 6 POD Studio KB37

   A while ago I wrote a review on the Line 6 Toneport KB37 Audio Interface and MIDI Controller. I really love this little audio interface and it’s been an invaluable tool for my music recordings. I have a larger setup in my main studio but the KB37 goes with me when I need to work on my recordings while on the road. That being said, I have to admit that I use the KB37 in my big studio a lot of the time because it’s so simple to use.

   When I got my KB37 it was called a Toneport and came with basic Line 6 amp simulation software. I had to purchase Reason 4.o and Sony Acid separately to get my portable recording setup running with the KB37. That added up to quite a few dollars to get a decent mobile audio workstation going.  

  Line 6 recently upgraded the KB37 package and renamed it the POD Studio KB37. Several new additions to the KB37 package have really upped the value of this excellent audio interface. It comes with all the guitar, keyboard and multi-track software you’ll need to start recording right out of the box!

   The software that comes with the POD Studio KB37 includes the POD Farm plug-in, Ableton Live Lite Line 6 Studio Edition which can record 16-tracks and Reason Adapted which is a very functional yet limited version of the Reason 4.0 music sequencer. It’s just a fantastic package becuase you get the guitar software, keyboard software and multi-track studio software right with the KB37 audio interface.

   I just can’t say enough about this excellent studio package from Line 6. I have been extremely happy with my KB37 and that’s why I’m recommending it again on Live Musician Central. You can purchase it using the links below or I also have it available in the Live Musician Central Store in the Keyboard Gear section.

Line 6 POD Studio KB37 USB Audio Interface with POD Farm Plug-inThe Line 6 POD Studio KB37 is a USB audio interface and MIDI controller keyboard with Pod Farm Plug-in. The KB37 boasts incredibly low noise for recording guitar, and 12dB more dynamic range than similar USB audio interfaces for clear and dynamic recordings. Plus, the POD Studio KB37 interface’s exclusive Line 6 ToneDirect monitoring virtually eliminates latency, so you record amp and effect modeling without sacrificing tone or feel. Half rock-solid guitar interface, half feature-packed MIDI controller, the Line 6 KB37 is as versatile as it is powerful. It features 37 full-sized velocity-sensitive keys, a pitch bend wheel, octave up/down buttons, and a set of software-assignable controls including a mod wheel, sound select next/previous buttons, five transport buttons, 4 knobs, and more. Its comprehensive I/O boasts a 1/4-inch guitar input (normal or pad), two balanced XLR inputs with high-quality mic preamps, phantom power and trim knobs, a 1/4-inch stereo monitor input, two 1/4-inch line inputs, two balanced 1/4-inch line outputs, S/PDIF digital output, a 1/4-inch stereo headphone output with level control, and a pair of assignable VU meters for a truly pro recording experience.Public Service Announcement: Latency Kills Recording with latency is like driving with your eyes closed. Line 6′s ToneDirect monitoring allows you to record and monitor a fully processed tone while virtually eliminating latency and taking all the guesswork out of recording great-sounding tracks.What’s latency? Latency is the delay caused by the time it takes your guitar signal to travel all the way through your hardware interface, through your computer’s processor, through your plug-in software, back through your hardware interface, and out of your speakers or headphones. This delay is heard in your monitoring signal and makes recording almost impossible. With a POD Studio KB37 interface, latency is something you won’t have to worry about. Start Recording Right Out of the Box POD Studio KB37 includes POD Farm plug-in, Ableton Live Lite Line 6 Studio Edition 16-track recording software (ideal for guitarists), and award-winning Reason Adapted production software featuring a sought-after sequencer and tons of stunningly lifelike instruments. This sample collection of studio-standard hardware and software provides instant pro recording, right out of the box.

Line 6 TonePort KB37 Digital Recording Interface!!! US $229.99 Auction Ends: Thursday Feb-09-2012 10:54:25 PST   | Watch this Item

Line 6 Toneport KB-37 Recording and modeling interface new/old stock kb37 US $11.61 (3 Bids) Auction Ends: Saturday Feb-11-2012 13:55:56 PST   | Watch this Item

Line 6 KB37 USB Audio MIDI Controller US $149.00 (0 Bid) Auction Ends: Sunday Feb-12-2012 21:19:18 PST   | Watch this Item

Line 6 Tone Port KB37 Digital Recording Interface Keyboard Controller US $0.99 (1 Bid) Auction Ends: Monday Feb-13-2012 15:28:06 PST   | Watch this Item

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Line 6 POD Studio KB37 USB Audio Interface Review Update

Audio-Technica CP8506 4ch Phantom Power Supply

  If you play in a live band then chances are you most likely have a modest home studio setup as well. Every musician needs a way to capture creative ideas and having a home studio setup is the best way to do that. Most musicians have at least a basic mixing console but a lot of these consoles don’t come equipped with Phantom Power. Why do you need Phantom Power? To power your large diaphragm studio microphone such as the Audio-Technica AT2050 microphone.   

   So you’re faced with the dilemma of either spending big bucks on a mixer that’s equipped with Phantom Power or you’ll have to find some way to power your large diaphragm studio microphone. Well, there’s a very easy way to power your studio microphone and it’s ideal for the single-user home studio. I had the very same problem and I solved it by purchasing an external phantom power supply to power my Audio-Technica microphone.

   The supply I got is the Audio-Technica AT8801 Phantom Power Supply and it has worked perfectly for me powering my studio microphone. It’s every affordable and it works like a charm. All I had to do to use it with my microphone is have two XLR mic cables. I just plugged one cable from my microphone into the phantom power supply and the other cable from the phantom power supply into my mixer. My studio mic sounds fantastic and I didn’t have to buy a pricey mixer or computer interface that was equipped with phantom power.

   There are also external phantom power supplies that can power multiple microphones simultaneously such as the Audio-Technica CP8506 4CH Phantom Power Supply . These are great for powering multiple condensor microphones when recording a drumset or guitar amplifier.

   So as you can see, it’s very affordable and easy to power your high quality studio microphones. It’s always nice to have one or two high quality mics in your home studio to capture vocals, drums or amplifiers.

Audio-Technica AT8801 Phantom Power SupplyThe Audio-Technica AT8801 Phantom Power is a line-powered device that allows the use of remote-powered microphones with systems that don’t provide phantom power. A highly regulated power supply provides constant voltage even with a heavily loaded input. The Audio-Technica AT8801 is nternally protected to prevent overheating and damage due to shorts. The heavily enameled case shields the interior from electrostatic interference. 48V ± 2V DC. Includes AC adapter.

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Get An External Phantom Power Supply For Your Studio Microphone

Digidesign Mbox-2 Mini Recording Bundle

    Not only do I play professionally in a live band but I’ve also been a home recording enthusiast for many years. My first piece of recording equipment was my good old Tascam Portastudio 4-track which came with microphone, mic cord and a box of good cassettes. I made a lot of great recordings on that old Tascam and eventually wore the recording heads out. After the Tascam died I moved to a Fostex hard disk based recording setup that I built up to create a 24-track studio. But to get in line with the rest of the recording industry I had to build a Digidesign Pro Tools based recording studio.

   I now have a Digi 003 rack system running Pro Tools LE in my home studio. It has been a great system to work with and I’ve become really good with computer based audio editing. It would be really difficult to go back to editing tracks without the ease of being able to edit audio on the computer. Pro Tools is a very powerful program that is fairly easy to learn but can be a challenge to master. If you’re going to get into home recording, I recommend starting with an entry level Pro Tools LE system.   

   Today I’m going to recommend a home studio recording package that is based around the Pro Tools LE software. This package includes everything you’ll need to get your home recording studio up and running. This package includes a Digidesign Mbox-2 Mini computer interface, a pair of M1 Active 320 USB Studio Monitors, an MXL 990 condenser microphone with shock-mount, 20′ mic cable, tripod mic stand, and a 3 meter RCA-to-1/4″ dual patch cable.

   Not only do you get all that hardware but you get a fully functional copy of the new Pro Tools 8 LE software. This software will give you up to 48 simultaneous stereo audio tracks. You’ll also get a professional MIDI sequencer with a dedicated MIDI Editor window. To take a look at all the amazing features in this version of Pro Tools, just click this link -> Pro Tools 8 Upgrade. The bottom line is, you’ll be using the same brand of software that all the worlds major music studios are using.

   If you’re just getting into home recording I highly recommend this package. If you’re moving from a traditional standalone workstation based recording system to a computer based system, I highly recommend this package as well. Just follow the link below and get a Digidesign Mbox 2 Mini Recording Bundle today!

Digidesign Mbox 2 Mini Recording BundleStudio package includes a Digidesign Mbox 2 Mini, M-Audio M1Active 320 USB Studio Monitor Pair, MXL 990 condenser microphone with shockmount, 20′ microphone cable, tripod microphone stand, and 3m RCA-1/4″ dual patch cable.Digidesign Mbox 2 Mini Audio Workstation The Mbox®2 Mini is the world’s smallest, most affordable Pro Tools LE™ recording, editing, and mixing system ever. Whether you’re a singer/songwriter who’s new to recording or a seasoned pro on the go, Mbox 2 Mini packs professional features into a robust, ultra compact, easy-to-use audio workstation to record and mix music wherever your inspiration takes you. And with its diminutive size, Mbox 2 Mini literally puts the power of Pro Tools in the palm of your hand.Like its siblings, Mbox 2, Mbox 2 Pro, and Mbox 2 Micro, Mbox 2 Mini delivers superior sound quality and includes plenty of powerful creation tools for composing, recording, and mixing music. It comes with award-winning, easy-to-use Pro Tools LE™ software, which provides you with many of the same tools the pros use on major recordings and in films. And because Pro Tools is the industry standard, you can use your Mbox 2 Mini-recorded sessions in any Pro Tools-equipped studio around the world.M-Audio M1Active 320 USB Studio Monitor Pair Alesis monitors connect via USB to your laptop or computer for plug-and-play listening. These compact speakers are equipped with I/O for connecting a keyboard, mic preamp, guitar effects, mixer, and other audio components for easy computer recording.M1Active 320 monitors deliver 16-bit/44.1-48kHz audio quality through a USB 1.1 port-without the need for special drivers. A Bass Boost switch increases the low-end for monitoring in big spaces. Besides the USB cable, the I/O includes quality 1/4″ plugs and standard RCA jacks, a TRS headphone output, two unbalanced 1/4″ phone jacks inputs, a stereo 1/8″ mini-jack input, and stereo RCA inputs. Another nice benefit is that each speaker is magnetically shielded, so you won’t have to worry about placing them near TVs or computers.MXL 990 Condenser Microphone The MXL 990 Condenser mic has a silky, sweet high-end while retaining tight, solid low and midrange reproduction. The 3/4″ gold-sputtered diaphragm creates a professional sound suited for digital and analog recording. Attractive vintage body style with champagne finish. 30Hz-20kHz frequency response. 130dB maximum SPL. Includes custom shockmount, mic stand adapter, and case.

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The Cheapest Way To Get Into A Pro Tools Recording Setup

Sennheiser HD380 Pro Headphones

   I’m not only a live performing musician but a studio musician and producer as well. I have tried dozens of different headphones over the years and almost invariably breathed a sigh of relief when an old pair died just so I would have an excuse to buy another pair. It seemed like finding the perfect pair of headphones was like searching for the holy grail. To be honest,  I still haven’t found that perfect pair of headphones but I have found a couple headphone solutions that have kept me satisfied for a while now.

   In an earlier post I told you about my Shure E530PTH sound isolating earbuds which I use with my live in-ear monitor system. I really like the Shures but they make it difficult to communicate in the studio because they are difficult to keep taking out of my ears to talk to the other musicians I’m working with. I really need a great pair of closed-back headphones to use in the studio simply because of the years of using that type of headphone in studio situations has made me used to being able to take them off when I need to communicate. When my last pair of Sony studio headphones came to an untimely demise (the cord got tangled and tripped over) I had another excuse to go looking for a great pair of studio headphones.

   While doing head to head comparisons at the local audio shop of several different types of headphones from various manufacturers I finally tried the Sennheiser HD380 Pro headphones and I was taken aback by how rich and full they sounded! The first thing that hit me was how good the bass sounded. The bass response of the HD380 Pro headphones is deep but not mushy. You can hear the attack of the bass drum very well and then a full blossoming of bass frequencies behind it. It’s really hard to describe in words as it’s just something you have to hear. The overall sound of the headphones is warm without being overly bright or crisp. I hate it when headphones have too much sizzle to them which other headphones are prone to do with cheap drivers. The HD380 Pro’s have very smooth frequency response and seem to slightly favor bass frequencies but in a well balanced way. They do seem to be more suited to rock and electronic music than orchestral or classical music. That makes them perfect for the rock music that I love.

   The next thing I noticed right off was how comfortable the earpieces are. They enclose my entire ear and are padded with a pillowy foam cushion that never makes my head sore even after a 3-hour recording session. The entire design of the HD380 Pro’s allows you take the headphones completely apart, piece by piece if you want. This makes it easy to replace worn out parts like the cable or earpads. Remember the cord tripping incident that killed my Sony headphones? Well the same thing happened to the Sennheisers but the cord just popped out of the Sennheiser headphones and I was able to plug it in and keep my headphones going without any grief. I did wear one cable out because I rolled a studio chair over it too many times but I like these headphones so much that I just bought a replacement cable for them. Replacing the cable was as easy as unplugging the old cable and plugging in the new one. You can also replace the headband cushion and driver elements as well.

   Another thing I really like about the HD380 Pro’s is their sound isolating capability. When you put some music through them the pads really seal out all external sounds. It’s really surprising how well they sound isolate from the microphones as well. I can crank them up as much as I want and I don’t ever pick them up through the microphone. They are rated at 32dB of external sound attenuation which is about as much as those yellow foam earplugs you see at concerts. The Sennheiser HD380 Pro headphones come with a 3.2 foot single-sided coil cable which extends up to 9.8 feet, a 3.5 mm stereo mini jack with a screw-on 1/4″ adapter as well as a very nice carrying case to store them in or take them with you. With a frequency response of 8Hz to 27KHz and and Sound Pressure Level of 110 dB they truly do sound fabulous. I highly recommend the Sennheiser HD380 Pro headphones for your studio or just casual listening whenever you want the best sound.

Sennheiser HD 380 PRO HeadphonesSave BIG when you buy today!

SENNHEISER COLLAPSIBLE HEADPHONES HD380PRO US $199.99 Auction Ends: Wednesday Feb-08-2012 10:03:57 PST   | Watch this Item

Sennheiser HD380 Pro HD 380 Monitoring Headphones NEW US $199.95 Auction Ends: Thursday Feb-09-2012 0:45:14 PST   | Watch this Item

Sennheiser HD 380 PRO US $156.99 (0 Bid) Auction Ends: Friday Feb-10-2012 13:58:53 PST   | Watch this Item

Sennheiser HD 380 Pro Headphones US $199.95 Auction Ends: Saturday Feb-11-2012 8:04:41 PST   | Watch this Item

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Sennheiser HD 380 PRO Stereo Over Ear Headphones HD380 US $172.90 Auction Ends: Sunday Feb-12-2012 2:11:23 PST   | Watch this Item

Sennheiser HD 380 PRO Studio Headphones *BRAND NEW-MAKE OFFER!!* US $199.95 Auction Ends: Sunday Feb-12-2012 7:27:12 PST   | Watch this Item

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Sennheiser HD 380 Pro Headphones Review

Reason 4 Power

   Last week on Live Musician Central I did a series of features on the incredibly powerful Propellerhead Reason 4.0 music production software. Reason 4.0 is an amazingly powerful music program that will let you fully explore your creative impulses. As I’m sure you’re aware, the documentation that comes with most of these great pieces of software is basic at best. There are so many devices available for you to use in Reason 4.0 that it can easily overwhelm you without some direction. That’s why today I’m going to point you to an excellent guide that will help you get up and running quickly with Reason 4.0. That guide is called Reason 4 Power and is written by Michael Prager, a 15 year veteran in the music technology industry. His credentials are too numerous to list but if you want to read them check out the Reason 4 Power product page. Needless to say, he knows what he’s talking about when it comes to using music production software.

   As I said, Reason 4 Power is an extremely comprehensive guide to this powerful software but the book is very easy to follow and understand. It begins with the basics such as “What is Reason 4.0?” and a brief explanation of digital audio and Reason which covers analog sound as well as digital audio and sampling. Reason 4 Power then walks you through installing and configuring Reason on either a PC or a Mac. The book then gives you a basic overview of all the various components in Reason 4.o which includes the synths, sounds, beats and treats. It covers the real-time effects, the combinator and then gives you an introduction to the Reason Sequencer. All of this happens in the first 3 chapters and by chapter 4 you are ready to create your first Reason song.

   It’s so easy to get started with Reason 4.0 by using Reason 4 Power you’ll be thanking your lucky stars you bought this book every time you open it up. As the book continues it takes you very in-depth into all aspects of the Reason 4.0 music production software. Each device is discussed in detail as well as the sequencer, mixer and MClass mastering suite. The book also covers using Reason 4.0 as a ReWire device for your Pro Tools studio which is how I use Reason 4.0.

   Reason 4 Power is  664 pages long but you don’t need to read each and every page in order. You can simply use the book as reference when you have a specific question about a device or an application. I highly recommend Reason 4 Power if you want to get the full potential out of your Reason 4.0 software.

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Reason 4 Power The Comprehensive Guide

Reason 4 Introduction part 1 of 2

Reason 4 Introduction part 2 of 2

Propellerhead REASON 4.0 Music Production SoftwareStronger, swifter, and smoother to work with, Reason 4 music production software will alter the way you create your music. It comes in the familiar shape of a classic studio rack, packed with all the gear you could possibly need: samplers, analog synths, graintable synth, vocoder, mixer, step-time drum machine, arpeggiator, compressors, EQ, and effects. A realtime multitrack sequencer provides full control over every detail, letting you create and edit your music quickly and intuitively. Reason 4.0 also has a massive sound bank full of sounds, loops, and patches for all possible styles of music. The devices and features added to Reason 4 software will not only inspire you to produce great tracks, they will provide you with new ways of doing so.Sequencer Dedicated to turning your ideas into great music, Reason 4′s sequencer is swifter, stronger, and more intuitive than ever with a whole new look, tons of fresh features and a completely new way of handling sequencer data. The key word here is workflow. A sequencer device or instrument now gets its own dedicated track, with separate lanes for note, performance, and automation data, opting for a better overview and less clutter. All sequencer data-notes, automation, the works-is now housed in clips, musical building blocks that can be opened, sliced, or moved. When a clip is moved to a new location, all its internal data follows right along with it, ending up exactly where you intended for safe, speedy sequencing. The Tool window is an ever-present floating window that provides lightning fast access to those detailed editing functions you use all the time; quantize, transpose, note velocity, note length, and legato.RG-8 Arpeggiator Reason 4 ships with RPG-8, a unit dedicated to the art of arpeggiation. Some arpeggiators are quite content with simply transforming chords into wandering, rhythmic melody lines. The RPG-8 monophonic arpeggiator isn’t. With a range of on-panel controls and mode selectors, a pattern section for muting selected notes in an arpeggio, and a large display showing values and positions, this device gives you full creative control over your arpeggios.Although very hands-on and user friendly, the RPG-8 boasts some very advanced features under the surface that will change how you play Reason’s instruments. The Single Note Repeat function engages the arpeggiator only when two or more simultaneous notes are held down-letting you add sudden bursts of arpeggio to your melody lines. The Manual mode will arpeggiate notes strictly in the order they were input, for realtime arpeggio control. Try arpeggiating your breakbeats, orchestra samples, or ReCycled vocals for more dramatic flair.ReGroove Mixer If you want your tracks to flow with a less rigid, less programmed feel, a regular shuffle control just doesn’t cut it.

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Propellerhead Reason 4 Introduction Video