All posts by JenThorpe

Epiphone Presents the New Emily Wolfe Sheraton Stealth Classic Guitar

Information

Epiphone presents the new Emily Wolfe Sheraton Stealth electric guitar. The Sheraton Stealth is created by singer-songwriter-guitarist and producer Emily Wolfe and the luthiers at Epiphany in Nashville, TN, and marks Wolfe’s first Epiphany signature guitar. The Epiphone signature guitar. The Epiphone Emily Wolfe Sheraton Stealth is available worldwide now.

“My Sheraton is more than a guitar, it’s an extension of me and somehow has the same magic that a rare vintage instrument has, in that songs flow out of it every day,” explains Emily Wolfe. “There’s no barrier between my creativity as an artist and the audience because my Sheraton so easily becomes a part of me.”

Wolfe lent her creativity and worked with Epiphone luthiers to develop her first-ever signature guitar, the Emily Wolfe Sheraton Stealth. Available in Black Aged Gloss, the Emily Wolfe Sheraton features an Indian Laurel fingerboard with 22 medium jumbo frets and mother-of-pearl block inlays with abalone lightning bolts. The headstock comes in the popular 60s Kalamazoo shape with Emily’s Wolfe logo – a mother of pearl tree of life – inlay on the front, and a black gloss Emily Wolfe “Stealth” signature on the back.

The Sheraton Stealth is outfitted with Grover Rotomatic tuning machines and a GraphTech nut, an Epiphone LockTone Tune-O-Matic bridge and Stop Bar tailpiece hold down the other end of the strings and contribute to the impressive sustain of the instrument. The electronics include full-sized Epiphone Alnico Classic PRO hum bucker pickups that are paired with CTS potentiometers for smooth control over individual pickup volume and overall tone.

PreSonus Added Nearly 10 GB of New Samples to PreSonus Sphere

Information

PreSonus announced the immediate addition of 19 new sample and loop libraries to PreSonus Sphere. Since launch, PreSonus has consistently added at least one new library or Studio One Add-on Presonus Sphere every single month; however, the addition of more than 9.7 GB of libraries at once represents by far the largest expansion of PreSonus Sphere content since the global online community was launched in July 2020.

The new libraries are royalty-free. All include Audioloops construction kits, compatible with Studio One Prime, Artist, and Professional version 3.5.5 and higher; and Impact XT kits, which are compatible with Studio One Artist and Professional version 4 and higher.

PreSonus Sphere members can download any and all of these libraries from their PreSonus Sphere accounts:

  • The 4 Forty library brings an electric mix of modern drum sounds, lush sounds, dramatic piano riffs, funky baselines, and more, in the styles of Jay-Z, J.Cole, Kendrick Lamar, and other hitmakers.
  • Afro Pop is equal parts pop sensibility and exotic percussion mixed with infectious grooves in a Caribbean-inspired cocktail that will put a smile on your face.
  • Changes is a great choice for lovers of old school R&B, with 808 kicks, slow synth grooves, and ear-catching beats.
  • Core Drum Kit construction target modern genres with punchy kicks, booming 808s, cracking snares and claps, clean percussion, silly smooth hi-hats and cymbals, and inspiring melodies.
  • Loaded with moody keys, dope synths, crips drums, and booming sub-basses, Dark Moon delivers just the right amount of alien textures to make your grooves stand out.
  • Dream presents today’s drama-drenched, Top 40-inspired, uplifting sounds, with bold paint melodies, strings, huge synths, leads, basses, and cracking drums – perfect for collaborations of hip-hop and R&B.
  • Loaded with slick synth melodies, punchy kicks, theatrical orchestra hits and more, Drip is perfect for modern productions with the ears of Music Supervisors in mind.
  • Feelings delivers lush pads, dreamy piano leads, hot drum patterns and moving baselines all designed to inspire your next creation.
  • Harlem 72 is loaded with disco beats, funky baselines, and a string section ready for its guest-starring role in Shaft, delivering the authentic sound of the ‘70s.
  • Latin Trap combines catchy Latin dance-inspired melodies with hard-hitting trap drums and 808s that will make your walls shake.
  • Add positive vibes to your high-energy EDM productions with Lights, featuring four-on-the-floor kicks, uplifting arpeggiated synths, driving baselines, drops, sound effects and more.
  • Lust and Loyalty will turn up the romance and the heat in your R&B and modern ballad productions, with soft piano melodies, lush strings, silky-smooth basslines, and slow synth leads that will keep you creating all night.
  • Loaded with radio-ready melodies, hard-hitting drums, lush synth pads, and stabbing leads, Mainstreams provides a flexible mix of loops and samples that will inspire just about any production, from ambient house to pop ballads, EDM to trap.

Great for hip hop, pop, trap, soul, funk, R&B, and more, Modern Melodix XXL captures the diversity of the Los Angeles music scene, with growling basslines, snapping grooves, Afro-pop guitars, rocking B3s, and Latin percussion.

Purple 6 is a collection in the styles of multi-platinum artists such as Drake, Future, Travis Scott, and more, with synth leads, sub-bass lines, punchy strings, and glitchy drums.

Smoke Shop delivers the sounds of the West Coast classics with a modern edge in the style of Kendrick Lamar, SchoolboyQ and YG, with one-shots, riffs, full mixes, and drum and instrument mixes.

Sound Mob Live Edition Vol. 2 is a comprehensive and unique library for modern hip-hop, rap, R&B, and soul productions, including a live one-shot drum kit and drum rolls, live guitar, live bass, keys, strings, and live percussion.

Street-ready and full of grit, Trap Moves is loaded with haunting melodies, rapid-fire drum rolls, and 808’s that will make the earth shake beneath your feet.

Packed with unique pop melodies that are a must-have for big songs, Urban Paparazzi includes big keys, synths, basses, and unique drum patterns.

With these new products, PreSonus Sphere members now have access to 73 sample and loop libraries, every PreSonus add-on for Studio One and Notion®, online collaboration tools, and exclusive monthly livestreams and master classes, plus licenses for both Studio One Professional and Notion. PreSonus Sphere memberships are available for $14.95/month or $164.95/year.

BOSS Announced TU-05 Clip-On Tuner

Information

BOSS announced the TU-05 Clip-On Tuner, the latest addition to the company’s industry-leading lineup of instruments tuners. BOSS’s famous tuner range includes numerous solutions for all types of musicians and educators, from handheld and clip-on designs to the pedal-based TU-3 used by top touring professionals around the world. Designed for guitar, bass, ukulele, and other stringed instruments, the TU-05 delivers the best-in-class performance and the latest BOSS tuning features.

The TU-05 features a large color display with super-high contrast, offering easy visibility for quick tuning in any environment. A rugged clip provides secure mounting on an instrument’s headstock, and the display can be swiveled for optimum viewing. Four tuning models include chromatic, guitar, bass, and ukulele, and the calibration can be adjusted from 431 to 449 Hz. Flat tuning over a range of three semitones down is supported, perfect for players who like to tune lower than standard pitch.

The TU-05 has a built-in rechargeable battery that provides up to 10 hours of continuous use, and there’s an auto-off feature to conserve battery life. A cable is included for charging via a standard USB power adaptor.

Yamaha Rolls Out Support for SMPTE ST2110-30

Information

Yamaha releases regular software updates to continue giving sound engineers constant access to high-quality, user-friendly functions. At the same time, Dante studio networking continues its growth in popularity throughout all professional audio markets. The latest update allows Yamaha CL/QL Series digital mixers and R Series I/O racks to support SMPTE ST211-30 in combination with standard Dante functionality.

SMPTE ST2110 is a suite of standards for media over IP networks finding rapid adoption within the professional broadcast community, while ST2110-30 defines the audio part of the set. CL/QL Series digital mixers are already used at numerous broadcasting stations and outside broadcast vehicles, ensuring the wide acceptability of Dante throughout the industry,

Audinate’s Dante Domain Manager software package now allows Dante devices to run “SMPTE mode”. In this way, simultaneous compatibility between ST2110-30 devices and all regular Dante devices is not only maintained, but system setup is simplified and security enhanced.

“Obviously, it is extremely important for digital mixes to be able to connect with other equipment and networks,” comments Motome Tanaka, Yamaha Group Manager of the PA Marketing & Sales Group. “The new support for SMPTE ST2110-30 will help systems that already include CL/QL Series mixers to integrate with wider media networks, confirming their place in future IP-based designs.”

Yamaha strives constantly to listen to customers and give them what they need for more responsive, convenient mixing experiences.

Sony Announces New 4K Live Production Switcher XVS-G1

Information

Optimized for live production needs including news, entertainment, sports as well as houses of worship, corporations and educational institutions, the XVS-G1 system is intended to be a perfect fit for small to mid-size studios, outside broadcast vehicles, and fly pack systems. With many options, this switcher offers its versatility to various production environments and levels of operational expertise.

One of its distinguishing features is its hybrid structure which pulls together a central processing unit (CPU), with a graphics processing unit (GPU), and a field-programmable gate array (FPGA). This combination delivers high performance and reliability, with no compromise on visual processing enhancements.

FPGA hardware enables high-speed processing at high resolution 4K(UHD) and wide color gamut, high dynamic range (HDR) imaging, and ultra low latency. High-density, high-resolution video processing using the latest software technology provides versatility and expandability while enhancing creative possibilities.

Key Features of the XVS-G1 include:

A Creative and High-potential Platform Enabled by GPU Options: The graphics processing engine enables multiple creative functions as it is enhanced with features like a built-in chip player, 3D digital multi-effects, multi-viewer to enable the displaying of multiple types of information such as the audio level meter, and multi-layer captions overlay. Multiple HDR format conversion options are available as well as compatibility with the Sony SR live workflow.

Built-in Clip Player: The XVS-G1 system comes with an optional clip player, for the first time in a Sony live production switcher. There are four channels in HD mode and two channels in 4K(UHD) mode. Widely available AVC codec files in MOV or MP4 container format are supported.

The switcher is designed to easily and instantly load media files into the internal SSD storage device directly from a menu directly from a menu display on a PC or tablet device.

New Menu GUI and Control Panels Provide Sophisticated Operation in Any Production Environment: The user menu is based on a newly designed web application. Quick access to desired items is achieved through easier navigation of the menu structure to reflect live operation workflow and setup. Wireless operation can be done via Wi-Fi and a PC or tablet device, and the structure allows quick access to the desired menu.

A range of four control panels derived from Sony’s user-friendly ICP-X7000 Series ensure compact, easy, and safe operation. The switcher inherits many features of Sony’s XVS high-end switchers and shares the same benefit of steady status recognition, confidence in button-push accuracy, and speed in mission-critical production scenes.

The XVS-G1 is planned to be available in North America during the summer.

Jackson Releases the Pro Series Signature Brandon Ellis Kelly

Information

Jackson announced the release of the Pro Series Signature Brandon Ellis Kelly.

The Black Dahlia Murder guitarist has been captivating the metal realm since taking over lead guitar duties on the band’s 2017 album Nightbringers. Jackson is proud to honor the incredible talents of the self-taught axe ace with a signature model that seethes with metal sophistication, while also delivering massive sound and high-performance efficiency.

“This is my first signature guitar and it’s a huge honor to me to work with Jackson and to offer this as a production model,” said Ellis. “It’s based on my custom shop Kelly, which is the guitar I ordered when I first teamed up with Jackson, and I really wanted to represent that. The sharp contours really embodies the whole attitude that I like to put into my guitar playing. It looks pure metal.”

This instrument features the lightweight and resonant poplar body-wings and a through-body maple neck with graphite reinforcement and scarf going for enhanced sustain, stability and comfort. Built for pulverizing speed, a 12”-16” compound radius bound ebony fingerboard hosts 24 jumbo frets and reverse pearled shark inlays.

Ready to roar, this sig model is also equipped with a single Seymour Duncan Parallel Axis bridge humbucking pickup. This humbucker rips with plenty of over-wound attitude for bright, expressive high-end and endless sustain, while a Floyd Rose 1000 Series double-locking tremolo system provides exceptional dynamic response and reliable tuning stability throughout extreme pitch changes.

“I have never seen this pickup offered on a production guitar so that’s really cool,” said Ellis. “It’s designed specifically for guitars with Floyd Rose tremolos. On each side of each string, there are actually two pole pieces that run parallel, which creates a really precise magnetic field and you just get a really high-clarity, hifi kind of sound out if it.”

Ellis also elaborated on why he skipped a neck pickup.

“I’m really going for that heavy metal, rich overtone, searing harmonics thing and the bridge pickup is where I find my tone,” he explained. “I’d also be lying if I didn’t say it was paying homage to Eddie Van Halen. If Eddie didn’t need it, I don’t want it.”

Other features include a single volume control, Donlop dual-locking strap buttons and Jackson sealed die-cast tuners.

As distinctive as its namesake, the Pro Series Signature Brandon Ellis Kelly comes in a standout Green Crackle finish with black hardware and a reverse pointed 6-in-line black headstock with green Jackson logo.

HOFA has a Sale on the IQ-Series Reverb

Information

HOFA has a sale on the IQ-Series Reverb V2 with all IR-Packs. The bundle is 36% off right now. It is unclear how long this sale will last.

The IQ-Series Reverb V2 with 4 IR-Packs includes:

IR-Pack Magic Plates: This large collection of legendary, established and innovative plate reverbs offers you extremely dense reverb structures with a highly musical tone that should not be missing in any production!

IR-Pack Professional Post-Pro: Within this pack you will find impulse responses from various indoor and outdoor locations for film, radio play, game sound design – and music productions too, of course.

IR-Pack Halls & Churches: You like it all big and mighty? Cathedrals, churches, concert halls and venues in all shapes and colors were assembled for this premium bundle.

IR-Pack Binaural Spaces: Coming soon: This IR Pack contains a collection of 236 binaural reverbs that will add a whole new dimensionality to your mixes!

Features of the IQ-Series Reverb V2 include:

On of the world’s largest collection of reverb sound: Find the perfect reverb for mixing, sound design and post-pro. Choose from hundreds of natural, real rooms and classic vintage equipment – or completely new and innovative reverb designs.

Smart Browser: More than 1,500 different reverbs and effects – and which one fits best? Our fast and intelligent browser helps you to make the right choice quickly and shows you interesting alternatives. Among other attributes, you can filter and sort by brightness, RT60 and application range of an IR.

Crazily Creative: Don’t you sometimes want to distort, gate or modulate a reverb and do anything else you can think of? This plugin gives you impressive options for creative work. This also includes the possibility to lengthen or shorten frequency components of the impulse responses directly in the 3D view.

6 at a time: Only the IQ-Series Reverb V2 lets you mix up to six reverb sounds. You have access to several special effects and even an excellent algorithmic reverb for your very personal blends.

iZotope Offers Free Download of Vinyl Plug-In

Information

iZotope pointed out that vinyl is a nearly century-old format with a firmly solidified place in the era of modern music. With today’s fast-paced advancements constantly pushing innovation in the world of music creation and consumption, the presence of this timeless physical format provides a sense of comfort, familiarity, and groundedness.

Even its “imperfections” (surface noise, clicks/static, warp) have become accepted as inherent characteristics that define the sound of the vinyl format as opposed to flaws.

Isotope’s free Vinyl plug-in celebrates this by allowing creators to manipulate these unique vinyl characteristics and apply them into their own productions. One of the parameters found in the plug-in is the Year settings, which models the sound of vinyl records from different decades using various filter responses.

And what better way to study these Year settings than by taking a musical trip through each decade: 1930’s, 1950’s, 1960’s, 1970’s 1980’s and 2000s. Start by downloading the latest Vinyl update for free from the iZotope website. Start your listening journey by switching from one Year setting to the next as you go through each decade. Keep in mind that the sound of the vinyl format is significantly determined by many extraneous factors so variations in the sound are to be expected.

Nikon is Developing The Nikon Z 9 Full Frame Flagship Camera

Information

Nikon Inc. is pleased to announce the development of the first flagship model for which the Nikon Z mount has been adopted: The Nikon Z 9. The full-frame (Nikon FX-format) mirrorless camera is scheduled for release in 2021, and represents a significant leap in technology and performance.

The Z 9 brings together Nikon’s groundbreaking technologies to deliver the best still and video performance in Nikon history, meeting the needs of professionals in a wide range of genres. It utilizes a newly developed FX-format stacked CMOS sensor and new image-processing engine. In response to the growing needs of professionals, advanced enthusiasts and cinematographers, it includes support for 8K video recording as well as various other video specifications that fulfill diverse needs and workflows. The Z 9 embodies ultimate usability as a tool, offering users an unprecedented imaging experience from capture to workflow exceeding that of the previous digital-SLR and mirrorless cameras.

Information regarding the release of this product will be announced at a later date.

BOSS Announces BAS-1 Amplifier Stand

Information

BOSS announced the BAS-1 Amplifier Stand, the latest addition to the company’s industry leading lineup of accessories for guitarists and other musicians. Featuring heavy-duty steel construction, and wide adjustability in a portable design, the BAS-1 works with a variety of combo guitar amplifiers, including the Katana and Nextone models from BOSS and Blues Cube and other models from Roland.

With its tilt-back configuration, the BAS-1 cradles a combo guitar amp at the perfect angle for monitoring and sound projection at home, on stage, or in the studio. The strand collapses for easy travel, with a locking cam and quick-release lever for fast set up and tear down. Adjustable feet ensure wobble-free stability when using the stand on slightly unlevel surfaces

Thanks to its unique telescoping support arm, the width of the BAS-1 can be adjusted to support combo guitar amps of various sizes. Users can quickly adjust the arm by pulling out the spring-loaded handles and setting the width as needed.