incredible Microphone for $49!

This incredible inexpensive mic blew my socks off! I have a hefty collection of microphones i would say this mic is a STEAL for the price.

I own a two Nueman 105 microphones (retailed for $1000) and they have a ‘sound’ to them, but for most people i would say it covers maybe 60% of things. This MXL 990 is ‘not in the class’ when it comes to PRICE, but i would say if you want a sm57 . . skip it and get this mic! why? this mic has amazing sound. alright it isn’t the classic 57, which i would really say consider the e609.

But in podcast land, this mic is awesome! most microphones i have just don’t work for my voice as they just simply don’t have the bump in EQ at the right spot, or clarity without sounding fragile. nor do they have the low end in balance.  This microphone dare i say has clarity and tightness without sounding brittle. it has an air about it that sounds like a classic mic and not crappy. sounds amazing in the digital recording realm.

I can’t stress enough that even without hearing one for yourself, $49 is a steal. WORTH IT!

the only draw back is that it requires condenser standards (if that is a problem). What i mean is that you have to have some phantom power to power this mic, if you don’t have that you will need that to power it up, otherwise I really have not issue with it.

it also comes with a shockmount and case! yes $49.

I don’t have any stock in MXL or do i work for them, in fact most deals at $49 suck, but this mic. . . is a STEAL. trust me worth your money!

Having moved on from the Mackie HDR24/96 i have to wonder did i make a mistake? This seems nuts to say. I suppose it is all in what you do. Now being in the 21st century and hard disk recorders are more for the field then in the studio, i have kinda bounced around . . . litterly ( no pun intended or is it?) to find the right DAW for me. Everyone works different.

This review and suggestions are from my own experience and doesn’t’ include the no hands on for protools, sonar, neuendo or cubase. why? because i am not spending money on DAWS i don’t use. I am sure they can be fine too, but perhaps this review of what i have noticed can help you decide what you like or don’t like.

I haved used these softwares in tracking sessions, mixing sessions, creative creation sessions and quick recording to remember. some DAWS are better for the creative process then others, as other are better for those doing tracking or mixing. But all do some of the jobs. really if you have a mac Logic isn’t a bad choice only if you are seeking a all in one box for $500. it has it all. though glitchy in not show stopper ways, but annoying, it has a score ability for your tunes to be printed out (no more finale). Logic also can do tabliture. I have had a long history of using this software from way back before it was even avaliable on pc . . it was on atari. Even though the program goes way back, it was because it when mac only i trashed it and moved on. but since i have become a mac person, i tried it again. it is the least of the stable of the three, but still is very good.

click on the pics to see what i broke down the things i felt were not always stated in the ad’s for the programs and stood out for my experiences. you can save those pics as well.

Happy DAW hunting.

Fender Jaguar Bass 2009

Fender Jaguar Bass 2009

First introduced in 2006, this Japanese made bass has features you won’t find on any other bass. For styles of music it can ANY style and do it well! the amount of different pickup selection and change up on this bass blows away anything on the market.

If you worry this instrument is for those looking for a gimmick, this bass it NOT a gimmick! Right now Musician’s Friend (November 15th 2009) has this bass going for a steal of a deal! $600. Worth every penny. You would find this bass for $1000 elsewhere. it is on clearance for some reason, and is well worth it!

What Styles can this bass do?

This bass can do it all. Jazz, rock, acid rock, hip hop (i kid you not, this thing can put out the power! very powerful active pickups), grunge (nirvana style) to your amazing Radiohead (paranoid android). I don’t believe there is anything this bass can’t do.

What is the unique features of this bass?

* Two Vintage single-coil Jazz Bass pickups with active/passive, series/parrallel switching.

* Pickup Switching – two on/off slide switches, one for each pickup, 1-series/parallel slide switch (operates only when both pickups are on)

* Preamp treble control wheel, bass control wheel, and on/off switch

This beast of a selection control allows for the bass to have grit sounding rip to tight powerful, deep, solid bass for those kick your ass sounding low bass riffs (ala Hip Hopish sub bass)

The scale length is 34″ but it feels a lot more comfortable then the Geddy Lee or a standard precision. It has been noted that the C Neck really seems to feel right in your left hand as you play.

for sounds check ‘you tube’ and features. It’s counterpart the Fender Jaguar Deluxe Guitar is amazing as well. Though it is not on sale at Musician’s Friend like this bass.

How easy is it to maintain?

The best part of this bass is that is active OR passive. when active it requires a 9v battery which can be easily added or removed from a very well made little flip panel on the back of the bass. quite impressive actually. no taking off the front plate or anything strange to get to the battery (major awesome).

Standard strings work well. i haven’t put any flat wounds on this bass due to the fact that i can get so much style out of the standard round wounds. Fender always suggests their strings if you are new and unsure what strings work for it. (see specs on fenders site: Super Bass 8250M NPS p/n073-8250-006)

Of all your basses where does this one rank?

Well next to the Geddy Lee Bass, this is number one. the Geddy Lee Bass is nice, and has ‘that sound’ but for the cost i would suggest the Jaguar for player whom wants a smorgasbord of sounds and taste. and this instrument is high quality.

I would part with the Geddy Lee Bass before i would part with this one. I would even get rid of the unique Epiphone Viola to keep this bass. This is THE bass. and for musicians friends price right now, it is a STEAL.

I got some more strings, a tweed case and this bass for under $1000! this is a KILLER deal , check it if you want quality for price!

Good Video Reviews [hand picked by me]:

* Gearwire.com – Fender Jaguar Bass (quick overview and taste of the bass)

Musicians Friend 2009 Fender Jaguar Bass

http://bass-guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Fender-Jaguar-Electric-Bass-Guitar?sku=511959

Nothing is like a real piano, i can admit, though i believe there is one piano that rises above most others. This is the Yamaha P85 Digital Piano. I own a P200 which is the big brother to the p85. The p200 has built in speakers and is made for NON portable means.

So what is the big deal?

Dynamic Range and natural chorus sound of multiple keys played on a piano.

It would seem today that a lot of digital pianos (namely Casio) seems to have little dynamic range. The expression of the instrument is key to having the element of ppp to FFF.

Reasons to get the Yamaha p85:

* 88 keys
* less then 25lbs
* Dynamic Range (soft to loud, adjustable via curves)
* Portable
* 2 headphone jacks (for instructor or duetists)
* Lightwieght
* Midi in/out
* metronome

I got this instrument for my Nephew because he is working on majoring in music performance. Requiring a lot of piano work, this allowed him to put this in his dorm room and play with dynamic range and practice when everyone has to sleep. Most students have to book days and weeks in advance for their room at the auditorium.

official stats on this baby:

* 64 note polyphony
* less then 25lbs
* Record your own performance! You can capture your own playing with the song recording feature, then play it back for studying or accompaniment. There’s even a built-in metronome for practicing and recording in perfect time.
* built in speakers and amplifier

there is a stand and pedals you can get as well.

CLICK on companies to go to website to BUY the p85 at these links:

Full Compass

http://www.fullcompass.com/product/350446.html

Sweetwater Sound

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/P85/

Musicians Friend

http://keyboards-midi.musiciansfriend.com/product/Yamaha-P85-Contemporary-Digital-Piano-?sku=703096

What constitutes an instrument? i suppose these days it is a bit like trying to consider what is considered art. Being the 21st Century, we as a world have thoughts what the 21st century was suppose to be. 2010 is but less then a few months away and we don’t have flying cars or personal space craft and well, synthesizers and AI hasn’t exactly been HAL 9000. But one thing that is 21st century is the thinking of our world has changed.

What is new? computers have invaded the music realm to such a degree that one button pressed in a ‘performance’ can do it for you in such a degree the band in a box theory is now boring to watch on stage. often we find the guitar, bass, drums, and singer traditionally have survived for the feeling of expression one can give and natural way of expressing music. i feels right. well, mainly because we are just use to seeing it that way.

Musical instruments in the 21st century has been modifications old theories. Pianos are synthesizers that are controlled mainly by keyboards, mice, and well piano looking controllers. buttons. When you think of what gives us a hint at the 21st century instruments what would they be? Would you really think is of Jabba the Hutt’s musical group in his palace would really be the future? well, yeah i would. and do actually.

Welcome The Eigenharp Alpha. When i first saw this instrument (Sonicstate.com’s first look)i thought great, another expensive controller. but if you take the time to get beyond the look of a large bass oboe , you see what this instrument really can do. Truly a controller in a classical element. If you haven’t seen this instrument it can tell you what is possible. Skeptical? I am sure all instruments as they were created were looked upon as such. If you look to the history of the saxophone you will see the same theory of thought (people wondering what this strange thing was).

With the music of this current age lost for new expression on stage, this unit does it all. sequencer (called the arranger), breath controller, keytarish, oboe looking, yeah, you look strange at it at first. you still are hitting buttons like a keytar, but it all comes down to what is an instrument? what makes an instrument stylish?

Think of Benny Goodmen, or Fats Domino, or Mozart conducting his music in a live setting. What makes these ‘performances’ worth the entertainment value? For some it is the energy. This is why drummers on drumsets are so fun to watch live. The physical energy and pulse of the instrument is well expressed in it’s large frantics movements, in heavy rock. in Jazz on the drums you have a style that is quite different. the Cool cat on the drums with that grace. Perhaps it is seeing someone express such a tune on an instrument that awe’s you because it is beyond what you understand you could do. Seeing Jimi Hendrix rip on his guitar is not the same as keytarian, which you may have missed (which was an 80’s thing really).

So what can the Eigenharp Alpha do? well it is best explained by performance of the instrument. Some links to what this thing can do is at the bottom of this post. but in quick, it is a sequencer (they call the arranger), a digital controller with breath control, a sample playback controller stick. It is hard to explain. why? well it fits the new method of thinking.

But what is cool, really is how you use your instrument. Whatever it may be, an instrument is really a musical expression in a degree that allows you to perform your art as expressive as you can.

the Eigenharp Alpha is just that. In practical terms, it is a controller with performance for a crowd look (keytar/guitar) and yet even more practical for bringing controller-ism to the for front with breath control and modeled instrumentations!

The downside is the cost. Coming in at nearly six thousand dollars this instrument isn’t for those with just a little cash. But you can get a mini version called the Eigenharp Pico which is really just a mini controller.

In respect to new approaches, this is something worth looking into for those that want to play with technology in the 21st centruy and play traditional music as well. This isn’t like Moog’s approach to a new guitar. Like an Ebo it is more like a very expensive and not worth the sound guitar. it is still a guitar and doesn’t really change the way we approach music. This Eigenharp does.

So what is it?

The Keys

It is 133 keys large. These are broken down to 120 keys on the main keyboard and 12 percussion keys on the lower part of the instrument. One key for muting. The amazingly expressive part of the keys is that they have a after touch sensitivity on them. Direct pressure and lateral. This allows for the instrument to act like a trumpet player whom uses the valves as a vibrato or a guitarist with his butterfly pulls.

The Breath Controller

The breath controller that looks like a bass oboe neck extending to the mouth piece. The mouth piece can be removed and replaced so you can have your own piece (like a traditional mouthpiece for a instrument).

The Micropone Preamp

There is also a Microphone input/preamp that allows one to sing into the instrument. 24 bit @ 96k A/D. has a 48v phantom power on it. Also has a 26db pad for those heavy yellers i suppose. The catch though of the preamp is it only allows for certain mics and requires custom wiring for each micrphone.

Strip Controller

On each sides of the instrument is a 480mm long strip controller. this allows for those long expressions perahps for shutting down a filter or bringing one up.

The Base Station

A black box that sits on the floor. This is the unit that the Eigenharp connects to. it has a USB 2 interface to connect to your computer for control much like any controller on the market. It also has two inputs for foot switches. The video on the websites shows how these foot controllers can be used.

the instrument stands upright like a upright bass combined with a bass oboe. It comes with a leather strap so you can use it much like a portable guitar/bass. It also has a 300mm retractable floor spike with removable rubber foot, should you use it like a upright bass.

Sounds or in this case soundfonts

Apparently you can load your own sounds into this unit which is described as AU plugins and midi instruments but it comes with its own software instruments that model a cello, clarienet and a Synth engine. See the website for more information.

it wieghs in about 6 pounds and is 48 inches and 3.14 inches wide.

http://www.sonicstate.com/news/2009/10/06/eigenharp-officially-relased-first-look-video/
http://www.eigenlabs.com/alpha/