12 posts from 2007

Line 6 has just released the Pocket Pod for guitar. The pocket Pod is a pocket sized guitar effects processor and headphone amplifier. Completely portable and compact, it is ready for anything you can throw at it! It also comes with over 300 presets from artists all over the map, Including; Steve Pedulla - Thursday, Randy Torres - Project 86, Bumblefoot, John Lefler - Dashboard Confessional, Tim Wheeler - Ash, Nick Hipa - As I Lay Dying, Phil Sgrosso - As I Lay Dying, Jim Ward - Sparta, Keeley Davis - Sparta, Matt Scannell - Vertical Horizon, John Z - Volto, Tim Mahoney - 311, Marcos Curiel - P.O.D., Bjorn Agren - Razorlight, Dan Estrin - Hoobastank, JT Woodruff - Hawthorne Heights, Jim McGorman - Hawthorne Heights, Joel Stroetzel - Killswitch Engage, James Valentine - Maroon 5 to name a few.

Going back two decades or so, the original Rockman headphone amplifier is where the guitar headphone amplifier started. They were flexible and powerful enough to drive your amplifiers without needing any external effects. You literally could plug into the house PA and do your show. No need for a guitar stack! Many bands utilized the Rockman, which is evident in the sound of the band Boston (they had several hit singles including "More than a Feeling") The inventor and lead guitarist of Boston (Tom Scholz) perfected the Rockman (sadly, their lead singer Brad Delp recently passed on)

The Line 6 Pocket Pod takes the original Rockman into the next generation. It weighs in at about 6 ounces, and is slightly a little larger than a guitar tuner. ( it also has a built in tuner!)

It runs off 4 AAA batteries, or an optional 9 volt AC Adapter can be used. The Pocket Pod includes a USB port for uploading and downloading your own custom sounds. The sounds can be managed from your PC. You can create your own sound libraries using a software program called Vyzex. With the free included software, you can edit and deep dive into all the sounds to customize them. Then upload them to your pc again. The Pocket Pod also has preset sounds for Bass and Vocals.

If you're curious to the types of amplifiers and cabinets that the Pocket Pod has, think again! It's all in your pocket! The cable connections include:

1 USB mini to USB - (cable included) to the USB port on the PC
1/8" headphone/line out - for headphones, or to another amplifier
1/8" stereo in (ipod, cd player etc.) for playing along with the music
1/4" guitar input - or anything that uses a 1\4" mono jack
1/4" mono output - to the amplifier, recording console, or another effects unit
Belt loop hook
9volt AC adapter jack (ac adapter not included)

The Pocket Pod has a LED display and a mini selector switch to select the presets based on a Band type, a music style, or your own creations. Once you havbe selected the preset type, you can then edit and adjust it further.

There are four rotary controls tha double in their functions:
Drive\Bass, Effects\Mid, Delay\Treble, Chan Vol\Reverb

There is a Save button, as well as a Reverb Tap Button\Tuner button. These double as additional settings and options for cabinet selection and uploading and downloading to and from the PC. Unfortunately, it does not support recording signals through the USB. Additional Presets (over 5000) can be downloaded from customtone

Price (MSRP)	$179.95 US
Website	http://line6.com/pocketpod/index.html
Rating	4\5
Comments	Nice and portable, great sounds and many to choose from. Cannot record through USB to PC.

Time to tell the world about your band - and be ready to handle it!

So, you've completed your band lineup. The members all get along (for now) ansd you're making some seriously rocking music. Great! But what now? Well, for starters, you have to complete the rest of the puzzle. What is the puzzle, well let’s briefly examine the pieces of the rock band puzzle:

1)      get a band that can stay together long enough to make some original music

2)      get a band name, logo and website

3)      record and fine tune your music until it's ready to be released

4)      release the music - how, where, what format etc.

5)      promote and tell the world

6)      have the resources to sell the product to the public

The last question is the most important. How do you release your music? What format, how to promote it? The truth is that you are most likely broke from having spent all your cash on the studio and the demo. There is hope! There are many options available for little or no cash! That being said, indie bands are turning towards self publishing and indie releases. Digital publishing is one option, itunes, snocap, nimbit and many other companies will offer to host and sell your product online.

Releasing your products digitally is one option, however there are many that still prefer to purchase CD's. This poses a bit of a problem for the costs of CD pressing and printing are all relative to production volume. Old school mentality was to press hundreds of copies and sell them. Often, with many left over, collecting dust. Many bands vow to put the money back into the band kitty, and use the proceeds to press more copies.

That was old thinking. Current thinking is to sell on demand. Which is to print, press and ship the cd on demand.  One of the newest companies to offer such a service is called sessionsound.  Each artist completes an online profile complete with photos, a gig listing, song library. None of these features are different from most other services, however they have one nice feature. As an artist, you may specify how your music is sold. Fans may purchase a single mp3, or the album - digitally (download) or purchase the actual CD.

Sessionsound will manufacture and ship the cd directly to the customer. The artist pays sessionsound $5 for the service. You can sell the cd for whatever price you like.

No upfront charges, no hidden fees, and your work remains yours alone!

As the old saying goes, if it’s too loud, you’re too old! Loudness is not always a good thing though, and if you have the right equipment, you don’t need excessive volume. v-moda has released the Vibe series of hi definition luxury earphones. These are the first “high definition” luxury earphones. Quality over quantity in this case, and a little eye candy can’t hurt either.

The earphones themselves are all metal construction, and come in a variety of colors, including silver, gunmetal, mocha and red. A color for every wardrobe - almost.

Features include;

- Premium metal composition and superior technology for a sculpted response curve (for the discerning audio enthusiasts)

- Precisely balanced for rich bass and warm mids

- V-MASQUE dynamic driver technology to achieve a precise yet natural soundstage in comparison to other high-end earphones.

- BLISS (Bass Level Isolating Soft Silicon) technology further reduces outside noise for a precise and rich bass response

- Frequency response of 12Hz to 22Hz

- Gold Plated connectors

- Three sizes of ultra-soft silicon fittings in both clear and black colors

- Fit securely and comfortably and won?t jar loose during exercise.

- Modawrap cable manager adjusts length of the sport-optimized lightweight cables

- Elegant gold leather travel and storage gold pouch

As a unique added bonus, customers receive VIP card access to exclusive V-MODA modcasts, music and other gear along with their purchase of VIBE.

Price (MSRP)	$101 USD
Info	www.v-moda.com
Rating	4/5
Bottom Line	Nice product for discerning audio enthusiasts, a little bulky.

the rockstarist blog is at http://www.rockstarist.com/blog/

Please visit that link!
thx!

I do hope this is a worthy contest! I’m sorry I can’t offer anyone an ipod!

anyways..

I recently received some Energizer Energi to Go Cellular phone quick chargers that I could not use on my tech blog, so I thought I’d give them away! I’d say they are worth about $20 - $25 in the stores. They come with 2 AA Lithium batteries, and the charger pack itself. I have a Samsung, a Motorola, and a USB Mini (most likely can be used on some other devices)

These products are AA powered cellular phone quick chargers (they may power other devices as well) Energizer’s Energi to Go details are here.

The catch? help me promote this blog! either by word of mouth, SEO tips, any way you can to help me out, and I’ll send you one of these chargers. I’ll also throw in the shipping - (as long as it’s reasonable)

Suggestions:

- SEO improvement for my site
- referrals, links, clicks, traffic, traffic!
- advertising dollars?
- whatever you can think of to help this blog get going!

Your comments and suggestions are always welcomed!

To enter, leave a comment with your tips, advice, or offers etc. on the blog (Don’t forget to mention what model you want) - Samsung, Motorola, or USB Mini

I’ll draw 1 name each for these based on the whatever helps the blog the most.

I’ll draw the names on July 31, 2007.

thanks for reading!

Seagate FreeAgent Go

This is a portable storage device like no other! This is not just a hard drive, “plug and go-do what you will” solution, but rather a portable datacenter!

The Seagate Free Agent Go combines the best of portable storage, personal preferences, and portability. There are several models with 80Gb, 100Gb and 120 gigabytes of storage. There is also a home solution of 320Gb, 500Gb and 750Gb. The portable product line works on PC’s and MAC’s, however the bundled software called Free Agent Tools is only Windows compliant. Mac users can use the format utility to enjoy the storage space only.

Originally, this review was written up for the musician and recording artist (www.rockstarist.com/blog/). Try tracking your band and taking those tracks with you. USB memory sticks just don’t have enough space to be practical. You may even have been forced to dither, or reduce the sample rates, or worse, convert your data to less popular format.

Well, not any more! This has plenty of room to store all your tracks, your plug-ins and license keys. Ok, one last time, best of all – Install your applications right on the Free Agent Go and use them wherever you like! Never forget a plug-in again!

Setting up the Free Agent Go is a snap. It includes a special USB cable, and a to the point instruction booklet and even comes with some friendly hello stickers on the wrappers (a friendly touch). The majority of the installation is the software portion itself. Note that the USB cable is a special type of USB cable, which requires 2 USB ports on the PC. It converts into a small USB connector on the drive chassis. This is also fully USB 2.0 compliant. Drive specs were not available at present time

For those of you that are familiar with the U3 standards in USB memory sticks, the included Free Agent Tools software is very similar. The installation process starts immediately. Initially, there were some program updates which were installed automatically. Included is a software suite called Ceedo, which allows you to import your user profile, your preferences, bookmarks, files, applications and take them with you to another pc. The keys being portability, and security. Ceedo offers a complete suite of applications, games and utilities that can be added to any portable storage device. Once you unplug the drive, all your personal data is removed from the host computer. A desktop in a box essentially.

Seagate’s drive itself is ultra compact, with the front portion illuminated in a dim orange glow. This is a nice touch and quickly lets you know that the drive is powered on and working. Of course, you’d already know that because your computer will detect the usb device upon its connection o the pc, regardless, the orange light is a nice touch. The amber light actually pulses while you are accessing it!

Portable USB memory storage is nice and compact, but it remains expensive. You may get 10 or 20 gb worth of storage but if will cost a lot. Here, we have 120Gb in something in a small package, just slightly larger than a tin of mints. (Actual dimensions are 4.8”x 3.9” x .7”) Also, a great 5 year (limited) warranty!

Price	(US) $80 GB - $109, 100 Gb - $139, 120 Gb $159
More info	TBA
Support	discsupport@seagate.com (www.seagate.com/contact)
Rating	4 out of 5
Bottom line	Portable storage with plenty of features and included software. Secure and convenient. Too bad the USB cable requires 2 ports.

I was given this info today about the announcement of the first "Social music player, and radio service"
Microsoft has a nice free offer for 6 months service as well. See below for the press info.

Pricing and Availability
Mercora M v2 is available to consumers starting today at leading mobile commerce sites and www.mercora.com/M. The M v2 is offered for Windows Mobile users worldwide at an introductory price of $4.99/month. Subscription packages for M v2 are as follows: $14.99 for three months and $49.99 for a one-year subscription.

Mercora Launches M v2 – The First Social Music Player and Radio Service for Mobile Phones
One-of-a-Kind Software and Service Allows Mobile Operators and Device Manufacturers to Deliver Next-Generation Music Player and Radio Capabilities with their 3G Offerings.

Mercora, Inc. today announced the worldwide launch of Mercora M v2, the industry's first and only social music player and mobile radio service for 3G-enabled mobile devices.

In connection with this launch, Mercora is also today announcing an agreement with Microsoft(NASDAQ:MSFT) Windows Mobile® to provide users with a 6-month complimentary subscription to the M v2 service, available at www.windowsmobile.com/DoMore.

"Mobile convergence is a reality - the mobile phone is rapidly becoming the MP3 player, radio and media consumption device of choice," said Srivats Sampath, president and CEO of Mercora. "The M v2 transforms the standard mobile phone into a social music and radio player with music features far more sophisticated than what's available on current mobile offerings or, for that matter, Apple's upcoming phone and music device."

Key features of Mercora M v2 include:

• Personalized Digital Radio - Over 100,000 high-fidelity music channels searchable by artist, genre, and subgenre, making the M v2 the largest radio service available on any mobile device.
• Streaming Music Player - M v2 allows wireless users to browse and listen to music libraries stored on their PCs, or optionally on Mercora servers, requiring no side-loading or synchronization.
• Socially Networked Listening - With the M v2, consumers can use their mobile devices to discover and listen to music, playlists, and listening histories from up to five of their friends and family, anywhere in the world.
• Support for Podcasts - One-click access to constantly updated and popular podcasts from CNN, MLB, NCAA, NPR and other established news outlets provides M v2 users with continuous access to breaking news and information.

Mercora M v2 also features state-of-the-art audio quality based on a high-performance version of the Ogg/Vorbis audio codec which is optimized for streaming over wireless broadband networks such as EDGE, EV-DO, UMTS and HSDPA. The M v2 integrates with A2DP Stereo Bluetooth to provide a seamless transition from listening on-the-go, in-car and at home, which eliminates the need to carry multiple proprietary listening devices. Currently, the M v2 is compatible with Windows Mobile Smartphones and Pocket PCs, support for additional platforms is anticipated for later this year.

More can be found here

Ok, so I know about codecs and MPG’s, what about DVD Problems in general?

You have just purchased a new dvd movie and want to watch it on the computer. You insert it into the cd rom and nothing happens. What do you do now?

You may not have noticed the Windows Auto Insert box has launched and is sitting behind your open windows. To verify this, click and hold ALT, then press TAB. This opens the task switcher. Hold the ALT key and press TAB again to cycle the open programs. If you don’t like the fact that there are no text descriptions in the tasks, you can download the Microsoft Power Tools replacement called Alt-Tab Replacement.

Once you have located the Auto Insert prompt, you can then select from the various menu options. Of these options, are default associations to programs. One program you may use is a Media Player to play the DVD. One problem, Windows Media Player 6.4 and upwards to 9 do not include a DVD decoder. They cannot play a DVD movie without the help of another DVD decoder program. Most of these are available in a trial mode, and some are included on the DVD itself. Interactual DVD player seems to be included on most retail dvd’s and will attempt to automatically install on your system when you initially insert the dvd. Of the many DVD players, Interactual often causes more problems and requires many updates. Search Google for DVD player software and you will be inundated with choices. Power DVD is one you may investigate.

What happens if the dvd doesn’t play and it just spinning with the read light flashing endlessly? Chances are that you have some fingerprints or dirt on the surface. The best way to clean a cd or dvd is to treat it as you would your eyeglasses. Use a non abrasive cloth and wipe away from the centre in a straight line towards the outside. It’s not recommended to wipe in a circular motion. Repeat the process until the surface is free of any oils or dirt. If that doesn’t work, you can use some water to slightly dampen the cloth. Make sure there is no water or any dampness on the dvd before you try it in your drive.

Removing scratches from cd and dvd’s is often a matter of cleaning, however in more severe cases, you may be able to use some of the products on the market to repair scratches. Deeper scratches may require a resurfacing of the dvd, and honestly is a 50/50 chance. Solvents such as denatured alcohol may be used to try to clean the surface of embedded dirt. If the dvd shows signs of damage on the label side, such flaking or missing portions, you can try a black permanent sharpie to cover up the spots. This technique should only be very small areas, and should be used in moderation. Unless it is absolutely necessary. Again, no guarantees if this will work, but it may help.

If you're looking for a quick solution to most DVD playback problems, you might try a different player. such as VLC.

Codecs that always seem to fix the problem:

xvid

divx

Today, a new Indie music "1 stop shop" service launches. This is not your average sell your song and get a cut of the proceeds type of service. The new service called nimbit has all the bells and whistles to get your indie product noticed!

The competition such as itunes, snocap, napster, cdbaby, indie911, tunecore and musicane all fall a little short in comparison of features and offerings.

To compare, check the screenshot below;

Breaking down the list in comparison to services, there are some excellent offerings! In particular, eTickets, merchandising, and the option to pre-sell your next releases. These alone will give you a great advantage, especially in merchandising.

In case you weren't aware, most of the revenue your product will generate comes by way of merchandise. Shirts, hats, and other general swag are the bread and butter of any touring acts. Nimbit fees average 20% or less, depending on  what  options you specify.  Expect a press release and  much more promo  today, and in the coming weeks as they are launching today.

Finally, a portable recording solution that integrates into your everyday life without any extra gadgets or power supplies and cables! For the commuter, the public transit user, or the “quick…record it before I forget it” like me, the XtremeMac Ipod recorder is a welcomed innovation! Can you tell I love it? even before I’ve used it? Not at all obvious!

The recorder plugs into the bottom of the ipod (with video, and nano 2G) and seamlessly integrates with it. It has a built in speaker, as well as a standard 1/8” mini (3.5mm) stereo jack. Included is a flexible mini goose neck type microphone that can be detached from the unit. You may choose to use a line in signal from your computer sound card, or from any other low level input source. There is a line and mic input selector switch to handle the impedance and input levels. You may also purchase a lapel microphone, or use a different condenser microphone. I find it especially useful for recording a band, my lyrics or memo’s. The included mic can be easily propped up and ready to record anything.

The included microphone records in mono with two quality settings;

                                              

                                                                Low Quality                              High Quality
Bit Rate                                                     352 kb/s                                  1411 kb/s
Sample Rate                                             22 .05kHz                                 44 .10kHz
Recording Times 1min\1hour(MB)               2.6\156                                     10.3\618
Recording Capacity (Hours)30\60\80Gb      192\384\512                               48\98\129
File Format                                                                          WAV
Ipod Versions                                                             Video and nano 2G.

To record with a mic in stereo, you will require a separate powered microphone. The built in line in will accept stereo recordings from your computer however. Your recordings will be saved as voice memos on your ipod and will automatically be imported into itunes on your next synch. The controls are adapted to use your ipod’s menu and selector wheel to start, play pause and delete the recordings.

Retail price(USD) $59.95 MSRP
Manufacturer’s website

Comments: Great innovation! Solid construction, great gadget for musicians, writers, memos. I wish it could record in stereo through the mic.