Archive for the 'Music Technology' Category
Boy, NAMM looked boring
yawn
maybe tomorrow will be better.
Amp Modeling hell
The IK Multimedia/Ampeg thing never saw the light of day, unfortunately.
I’m left with 3 choices: IK Multimedia’s Amplitube, Native Instruments’ Guitar Rig and Line6’s TonePort. My take on each of these below…
Amplitube 2.0
Pros: Works as a plug-in, Most powerful emulation (pre-amp, power-amp, speakers, microphones, stomp boxes), Cheap upgrade from any IK product until end of 2005
Cons: IK Multimedia is jerky about authorizations and user support. No bass amp models
Guitar Rig:
Pros: Bass amp and cabs modeled, NI product quality and support, works as a plug-in, hardware controller available, more effects than amplitube
Cons: very Expensive (even software-only as an upgrade for a NI customer), not as powerful as amplitube
TonePort:
Pros: Line 6 has been doing this longer than anyone else, inexpensive (most expensive version same price as Amplitube 2.0 upgrade including audio interface), Pre-amp modeling for vocals, includes audio interface, nice expansion possibilities through inexpensive model packs.
Cons: audio interface works as a dongle, can’t use software without it; software will not function as a plug-in (need to go to back to analog to process existing tracks); no mic modeling; can’t use pre-amp models with amp models
Now when I do comparisons here, I’m doing it on a price and feature basis. I assume that given these companies lineage that they’ll each produce something of comparable quality. I’m also not that concerned with the accuracy of the models. I don’t need to A/B each model with the real thing, because I’m not really that interested in exactly duplicating the sound, I want a sound shaping tool. If I really wanted the exact sound of a particular head, I’ll buy / borrow / rent it. This whole modeling movement in audio software is getting goofy, it doesn’t make that much sense to me. I never had a fetish for old gear, my interests are in new sounds, not old ones.
Finally, IPod as field recorder?
* Low (22.05 KHz, mono)
* High (44.1 KHz, stereo)
Belated AES roundup
Sony’s PCM-D1 field recorder: Kudos for the swank microphones, titanium shell and sweet specs. $2000 retail isn’t crazy for something like this, but it does mean that most field recordists won’t be buying it anytime soon. Here is what MusicThing thinks
Guitar Rig V2: Bass cabs and mics FINALLY, but just a single Ampeg head modeled? Add a Sunn, SWR and GK head or two and I’ll buy it right now.
ProjectMix I/O: sweet. If I was just starting out buying equipment, this would be my first purchase. If they come out with a ProjectMix (without the I/O) I might finally replace my PC 1600 X
Novation ReMOTE SL: I didn’t see this covered anywhere but on createdigitalmusic which is weird, ’cause this thing looks awesome. Not sure if it will replace the X-Station at the top of my gear lust pile, but it if it is affordable, I might actually buy it instead of just lusting after it.
CDM also has a nice shootout between Amplitube and Guitar Rig, but I’d also like to see how TonePort compares as well.
No commentsfrom the other music blogs
CDM also has a nice roundup of music-tech podcasts and an update on Fats Domino and Irma Thomas.
I’m waiting for the OS X version of SampleRobot, but until then at least I can download their free samples of the Oberheim Xpander.
AudioMastermind has a link to Tristan Perich’s CD case glich synth.
GetLoFi has an interesting item on Gameboy Artist-6955