BC Rich to premier new guitars online

BC Rich Guitars celebrates its 40th Anniversary in 2009, and is hosting an online ‘Grand Unveiling’ featuring all of its new guitar models for 2009.

These new models have not yet been seen by anyone outside of BC Rich headquarters.

You can get information, photos and video on all of new BC Rich models for 2009. Registered consumers will be able to view these new models even before music retailers and press see them at 2009 NAMM, the trade show held in California in mid-January.

For access to the preview, go to www.bcrich.com and sign up by the end of 10 January, 12 midnight Eastern Standard Time (EST). Every person who signs up by the deadline will be given private access to the Grand Unveiling at 12am, 12 January EST.

Models due to be unveiled include

- New 40th Anniversary models
- New models from BC Rich’s Handcrafted shop
- Four new Kerry King models
- A new BC Rich body shape
- A return of the Seagull, BC Rich’s first body shape

To view current B.C. Rich Models Click HERE

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Free Holiday Song Tracks and Guitar Tab Downloads From Line 6

Thanks to Line 6 you can unleash your holiday spirit! Play along with these traditional tracks - free downloads of Deck the Halls, the Nutcracker March and Silent Night, in a variety of styles.

Its easy and fun! So get to downloading and impress all of your relatives with your very own rendition of some classic holiday tunes.

You can click to download all the versions and tablature in one 43.82MB ZIP file. Just right-click (PC) or control-click (MAC) on the DOWNLOAD ALL button. Then select the Blues, Country, Rock, or Modern style.

Posted in General | 1 Comment »

New Midas PRO6 Live Audio System Is In Stock!

We were one of the few dealers to get there hands on the Midas PRO6 Live Audio System and judging from the initial reaction from Los Angeles touring and sound house companies, tour riders around the world will soon be spec’d with the PRO6.

This unit is as good as it gets and is the second networked digital audio system from Midas. Employing technologies developed from the class-leading XL8, the PRO6 offers the same exemplary sample - synchronized audio performance in a compact package.

Front of House Engineer Nigel Paul, whose credits include progressive rock luminaries Dream Theater, guitar virtuosi Steve Vai and Joe Satriani, and Avenged Sevenfold, amongst many others. Paul offered some thoughts on the new Midas: “Finally, after several years of treading digital water, I can fully embrace a digital console with a clear conscience.

With the PRO6 I know I’m not surrendering even half-a-percent of the sound quality of my long-favored XL4 for all the functionality that I acquire from a digital mixing system. Sonically, operationally, ergonomically, and aesthetically the PRO6 Live Audio System is a masterpiece. Plus, it’s a Midas, offering everything the name implies in terms of reliability, engineering, design excellence, factory support, and musical pedigree. My sincerest congratulations to everyone involved in the creation of such a landmark product”.

Having raised the bar with the flagship XL8 system, the introduction of the PRO6 brings Midas digital technology to a more compact size and price point. The PRO6 has been introduced to the world as “digital, with Heritage”, invoking the legacy of its industry-standard analog predecessor the Heritage 3000 while taking Midas deeper into the digital realm.

Check out the Midas PRO6 Here

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Schecter Guitar Research Now Available at Pro Audio Land

In an effort to bring you the finest guitars & basses on the planet we have recently added Schecter Guitar Research to our already stacked line up here at proaudioland.com. From the Diamond series to the Custom shop and artist models Schecter sets the bar high with over 30 years of creating quality guitars for musicians, and they boast an impressive list of professional players who love their instruments.

Artists who play Schecter Guitars include Pete Townsend of the WHO, Jerry Horton of Papa Roach, Eddie Veder of Pearl Jam, Adam Gontier of Three Days Grace, Robert Smith and Simon Gallup of The Cure, and Jeff Loomis of Never more.

Checkout the full Schecter Guitar Research Line Available on Pro Audio Land

Posted in Guitar News, New Products | 1 Comment »

Eddie Van Halen Wolfgang Guitar Arrives In January 2009

Eddie Van Halen has launched the all-new EVH Wolfgang electric guitar and it will be available worldwide beginning Jan. 2009. The EVH Wolfgang guitar represents Eddie’s 35 years of experimenting with guitars, over two years of intense research and development, and a full year of brutal road testing during the top-grossing Van Halen 2007-2008 tour.

It was during the massive 2007-2008 Van Halen tour that the all-new EVH Wolfgang guitar went through extensive live “road testing” performance trials. The tour kicked off in fall 2007, and Eddie punished early versions of the new Wolfgang each night; playing every updated prototype onstage under the full, unfiltered spotlight of his fans. The results are reflected in the EVH Wolfgang guitar; produced to Eddie’s exact specifications and with features identical to the Wolfgang guitars he records and performs with.

“A guitar is a very personal extension of the person playing it. You have to be emotionally and spiritually connected to your instrument. I could have just stayed at home and built this guitar for myself. I do this because a lot of people ask if they can get what I use. Well, yes you can and what you get is identical to what I use,” commented Eddie. “From the basics of the guitar to painstaking aspects like the binding and everything else—we re-did everything on this guitar.”

“Every aspect and component of this guitar has been examined and upgraded to the highest standards possible: stainless steel frets, double-potted custom-wound pickups, five-piece binding on the matching body and headstock, custom-made signature tuning machines and Floyd Rose® bridge, new low-friction pots, and the list keeps going … we left no stone unturned,” said Eddie. “Everything that I’ve built, destroyed, stumbled onto, learned and experienced is in this guitar.”

When Eddie Van Halen made his debut into the rock music scene in 1978, he did so with a homemade guitar (later known as “Frankenstein”). At a time when his monster technique and tone demanded a high-performance, indestructible guitar, he created his own to reach his own seemingly impossible standards. For over 35 years, he has continued to examine and improve every variable within the instrument, all culminating with the new EVH Wolfgang guitar.

In 2007, Eddie Van Halen and Fender collaborated to launch the first EVH brand high-performance products, including the all-new EVH 5150III amplifier and 5150 speaker cabinet and the limited run of Eddie Van Halen Frankenstein replica guitars and an array of high-quality EVH brand accessories.

Check out the EVH 5150III amplifier and 5150 speaker cabinet here on Pro Audio Land and if you want to find out more info on how to pre-order the new Wolfgang guitar call us toll free at 1-877-671-2200.

Posted in Guitar News, Your Favorite Artists Tone and Gear | No Comments »

DJ’s Rejoice! Serato and Ableton announce creative partnership

DJs, remixers and producers on the forefront of technology, watch out. Serato and Ableton are happy to announce a partnership which will pave the way for the future of Digital DJing. With shared artist rosters from hip-hop (DJ Jazzy Jeff, DJ Nu-Mark, A-Trak) to electronica (Paul Van Dyk, DJ Sasha), both Ableton Live and Serato Scratch Live are renowned as the premier performance platforms in clubs around the globe. While Serato’s Scratch Live excels in vinyl emulation, music library control and lightning quick hands-on scratching, Ableton Live provides the tools for production, on-the-fly remixing and beat creation.

“Ableton and Serato take different approaches to modern musical performance,” says Ableton CEO Gerhard Behles, “But both companies live by the philosophy that software should be straightforward, easy to use, and most importantly, reliable and stable onstage and in the studio. Ableton has never had an answer for the DJ who wants vinyl control, and rather than try to emulate what Serato do so well, we simply make sure that our products work well together.”

Serato Audio Research CEO Steve West agrees. “After years of talking together, we’re thrilled to be working with Ableton. It’s exciting to think about what we can offer to DJs and producers: the ability to go beyond just spinning records and add a personal stamp to the music they play.”

Just where this Serato and Ableton collaboration will take us has yet to be seen but one thing is clear: the worlds of DJing, remixing and production for artists worldwide have changes ahead.

About Serato

Serato Audio Research has been recognized as the market leader in time and pitch adjustment since its inception in 1999. Serato formed a product partnership with Rane Corporation in 2004 with Serato Scratch LIVE. Scratch LIVE is a revolutionary DJ product that enables DJs to control digital audio files on their computer. Serato has since expanded its reputation for excellent pro DJ products with the release of Video-SL and ITCH DJ Software in 2008.

While we wait for the collective of Rane and Ableton to change the dj world. We will still keep using the standards in live DJ production tools which you can see at the links below.

Check Out Serato Scratch LIVE

Check out Ableton Products Here

Posted in Music Industry News | No Comments »

Kanye West Loves Antares Auto-tune And So Should You!

Kanye West has reacted to criticism of his heavy use of Auto-Tune on new album 808s & Heartbreaks, claiming that the software has actually made him a better singer.

“I get a lot of backlash for using [Auto-Tune] because it’s a tool people use when they can’t sing,” says West. “What it does for me, if I sing off-key, it really points that out. It points out the bad notes. So what I have to do is sing more perfect”.

Whether West is implying that he re-records parts “more perfectly” once Auto-Tune has made him aware of their imperfections isn’t clear, but this seems a strange argument when you listen to the way that he uses the software.

Rather than going for straight pitch correction, West frequently employs Auto-Tune as a clearly audible effect; whereas some artists might try and hide the fact that they use it, he makes it obvious.

As its name indicates, Pitch Correction is designed for those times when you need to get a dodgy vocal recording into shape. It works by tracking the pitch of a vocal and comparing it to the notes in a user-customizable scale.

Vocal Effect is the more creative mode – it enables you to create that ubiquitous Cher-style effect that’s also being heavily used by Kanye West just at the moment.

Bottom line Auto-Tune Evo is a great tool that will help shape your vocal tracks or completely push them over the edge. What you do with the tool is up to you and taste is a matter of opinion of course.

You can check out more details about Antares Auto-Tune Evo Here

Posted in Your Favorite Artists Tone and Gear | 2 Comments »

Watch the New T-RackS 3 Video Tutorials!

Beyond Mastering

T-RackS 3 is IK’s high-end deluxe mastering and mixing software suite of 9 dynamics/EQ processors with analog modeled, vintage and digital gear.

Watch Video Demos to learn more about T-RackS 3, its new features and modules. For advanced tricks and tips check out metering, chain set up, and getting an in depth look on the new modules.

1. Introduction: What’s new about T-RackS 3?

Get to know all the T-RackS 3 tools that you need to create superb, tube-toned or digital-tuned, mixes and masters.

2. Getting Started 1: How to Navigate on Standalone Mode

Video Tutorial on Standalone mode operations

3. Getting Started 2: Get to Know the General Controls of T-RackS 3

• 12 Parallel/Series Processors
• Compare Function
• Loading a Preset
• ABCD Configuration Settings
• Preferences: Lowest Latency, Oversampling, Oversampling + Linear Phase, D/A Distortion Protection and Clip output to 0dB

4. Getting Started 3: More General Controls

• Player – Editor
• Snapshots

5. Metering: Advance Tutorial Video

• Peak Meter
• Perceived Loudness Meter
• RMS Meter
• Phase Scope
• Phase Correlation
• Spectrum Analyzer

6. Chain Set Up: Mastering Tip

• Simple Mastering Chain – A great chain to start with
• Advanced Mastering Chain – Highest versatility
• Two Compressors – More level consistency without pushing one single compressor too much
• Parallel Compression – Character and musical feel plus signal dynamics

7. New Processors: Sample Settings

• Vintage Compressor Model 670 – based on the Fairchild 670 compressor/limiters.
• Vintage Program Equalizer EQ-1A - Based on one of the best and most musical program EQs ever made, the Pultec EQP-1A
• Opto Compressor – The purest analog modeled compressor of T-RackS 3
• Linear Phase Equalizer – Can be sonically compared to high-end digital equalizers used in mastering studios everyday
• Brickwall Limiter – Selectable algorithms to match the best limiting style for each program type

We sell T-RackS in all versions available including Full, Academic & Crossgrade. You can buy the New T-RackS 3 Deluxe HERE or checkout the New T-RackS Standard HERE

Posted in Tech Tips, Tutorials | No Comments »

SENNHEISER’S MUSIC INDUSTRY DIVISION NAMES L.A. MUSIC SERVICES, INC. (PRO AUDIO LAND)”DEALER OF THE YEAR”

Sennheiser MI Division names L.A. Music Services, Inc. “Dealer of the Year.” (Left to right) Kenny Andrews, Southern California Music Industry Representative – Sennheiser; Michel Monsalve, CEO of LA Music Services and Thom Salisbury, western regional sales manager, Sennheiser.

To express its thanks, Sennheiser Electronic Corporation will make a generous donation to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure organization in the name of L.A. Music Services to support breast cancer research. Sennheiser has previously shown support for this organization by donating ten-percent of the proceeds from each pair of Sennheiser CX 300-Pink earphones sold.

“I am truly thrilled to present the entire L.A. Music Services team with this honor,” said Jeff Alexander, vice president of sales and marketing for Sennheiser’s professional products division. “L.A. Music Services has continued to meet and exceed our mutual goals year after year, and I believe their hard-earned success will be instrumental in further growing our business together in the future.”

For over twenty years L.A. Music Services has specialized in the sale of audio equipment to contractors, venues, music stores, and the end-user. In 2003, L.A. Music Services created a new division called Pro Audio Land, Inc. From this new division, ProAudioLand.com was born. “Over the last five years, we have seen tremendous growth in sales due to ProAudioLand.com” said Mike Monsalve, CEO. “With our recent move to a larger facility, and a new five-year business plan, we expect to continue this high rate of growth over the next five years.”

Check out all of Sennheisers products HERE

Posted in Music Industry News | No Comments »

Green Day’s Working On A New “Power Pop” Album

Billie Joe Armstrong has hinted that their forthcoming new Butch Vig-produced album could take a “power pop” direction.

The frontman did not reveal song titles or details of the songs they are currently working on in the studio, but name-checked The Creation, The Who, The Beatles, Cheap Trick and The Jam as possible influences.

“I really like f**king with arrangements,” Armstrong told NME. “I always try to look at the possibilities of how you write power-pop music.

“How do you take something - and it could be anything from The Creation and The Who to The Beatles to Cheap Trick to The Jam - and try to expand on the idea of what is supposed to be three-chord mayhem?

“How do you do it in a way where the arrangements are just unpredictable? So I’m pushing myself to be progressive in songwriting and being a songwriter.”

The frontman went on to discuss working with Vig, who produced Nirvana’s seminal grunge album ‘Nevermind’ in 1991. “He doesn’t take for granted what we have here [in the studio],” he said, “but he uses everything to the best of his knowledge and the best of his ability.

“I mean, he gets psyched on a f**king microphone! That’s inspiring. That’s amazing. He’s not a cheerleader type of producer; he’s just a very hard-working, straightforward guy.

“He’s very Midwestern, too. For example, he’ll turn around when you’re working on something and just go, ‘That’s badass.’ And you’re like, ‘What do you mean, ‘badass?’ Is that more bad, or is it, like, ass?’”

Need help finding your Green Day sound? check out some of the badass signature basses from Mike Dirnt!

Like the FENDER  Mike Dirnt Precision Bass

or FENDER SQUIER  Mike Dirnt Precision Bass

Posted in Artists & Musicians | 2 Comments »