Ahh, it’s so great to see that there are so many women making exciting music and thinking much more forward in terms of performance that just make you sit back all impressed. Like this lady for example. Watch her astonish us here:
Dave Smith Instruments have just unveiled the new Mopho Keyboard. See a quick first glance from current Winter Namm 2010 Show here:
It’s cute, and it’s exactly adding those features that would have ever stopped me from getting the original box: Knobs, switches, keys, a classy, black finish and wooden side panels. Can’t wait!
It’s already looking great, seems to be easy to use and considering how his earlier synths sound, I would expect nothing less than really fantastic stuff to come out of it: Urs Heckmann’s new plug-in ACE (Any Cable Everywhere). I guess, I will have to get myself a copy as soon as it will be released! See more on the extra website here:
I just purchased a wonderful – beautiful – new instrument. This time it’s nothing about computers or electronic devices at all. Instead, I found something on eBay that I had on my wishlist ever since I thought about guitars: A Fender Japan ‘66 Reissue Jazzmaster Left Hand.
Actually, it’s only Fender Japan, who build those classic models in left hand editions. Fender USA does not seem to think it’s necessary to serve those musicians – unless you’re Kurt Cobain or so… Anyway, here she is – and I can already confirm that she sounds great too!
Not that I would really need it, but I’m already quite excited about purchasing Apple’s new Logic Express 9 very soon. It’s not as big a change as the step from 7 to 8 had been – considering the complete workplace overhaul – but it features a couple of very interesting new functions.
First of all, the new “Flex Time” will probably bring Logic on top of the list again together with its competitors Live, Cubase, and Pro Tools. I guess, it’s something a lot of Logic users have been waiting and yearning for a long time.
Then there are all these new guitar amps and effects. I am using Logic quite a lot for creating both classic and rather creative guitar sounds, which is something I really like about it. And it’s so easy to use – just grab a preset and tweak it with whatever settings and effects. So, now we can probably go even further with some “classic” amp simulations.
And finally, some of the new production features, especially the improved EXS24 integration, will be much appreciated by many users.
Why am I only talking about Logic Express and not Logic Pro or even Logic Studio? Simply because I only use the Express version, since the only differences to Logic Pro are the absence of surround sound capability, Space and Delay Designer, the Sculpture synth, those vintage instruments EVD6, EVB3, EVP88, and that massive collection of Loops and further presets. Which I have not missed yet, since the available functions, effects and instruments in Logic Express are already more than I could fully explore and use yet.
Anyway, if you’re interested in a first review of Logic Pro 9, you can read a very first verdict at musicradar.com.
Oh dear, I knew that this would happen rather sooner than later… But I have to tell you about these: I recently purchased the fantastic MPD32 (http://www.akaipro.com/mpd32) “Performance Pad Controller”, which I am really happy with, even though I haven’t yet explored it very much.
But now, there is something brand new from Akai that seems highly recommendable already before anyone has seen those devices in real life: The LPD8 “Laptop Pad Controller” (http://www.akaipro.com/lpd8) and the LPK25 “Laptop Performance Keyboard” (http://www.akaipro.com/lpk25). Of course, this is only relevant for all those mobile musicians out there, but since I am only having very little space in my bedroom home studio, I would certainly also like to see them there. And both the keyboard and the pads look much more convincing than Korg’s recent approach to ultra-mobile musical controller devices (http://www.korgnano.com/). What do you think?
So, vrpr.org is online again. After some months without a proper home for all my thoughts and activities, I will continue with this site. I plan to share any news about my band Everpure, any other music I might be involved in, and a lot of other stuff that I might find interesting enough to tell you about. Feel free to comment, share and spread the word!
All the best, Henry