But hey, after all the hell I've been through with this and the hours I've wasted I need to let somebody know.
M-Audio Projectmix I/O (PMIO)
Just look at this thing! I'm so angry at it I can't even write right now.
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Sound Gadget of the Week
I'm starting to quickly lose faith in M-Audio gear. Ok, from the very first sentence you're going to be tell this is going to be more of a rant then a review.
But hey, after all the hell I've been through with this and the hours I've wasted I need to let somebody know.
M-Audio Projectmix I/O (PMIO)
Just look at this thing! I'm so angry at it I can't even write right now.
But hey, after all the hell I've been through with this and the hours I've wasted I need to let somebody know.
M-Audio Projectmix I/O (PMIO)
Just look at this thing! I'm so angry at it I can't even write right now.
Monday, May 10, 2010
Sound Gadget of the Week
This week will I'll be reviewing the MXL 992 Large Diaphragm Condenser mic... right after I finish my exams.
Recording a new group - Breaking into the industy?
It seems like months... well, it's been months since I've written in this blog. Lately, I've been incredibly preoccupied finishing school and prepping myself to join the sea of 9 to 5 drones. The prospects of it all is certainly daunting and lately I've been mulling over any ideas to successfully post-pone having to submit. My thoughts? Why not mix business with pleasure and use my hobby as a service?
Well, I've got my first paying gig.
After a couple late nights drafting logos, organizing my gear, updating my software, and a multitude of redbulls, I've managed to patch together a fine little recording group. I'm still working out the finer details, but I'll be bringing on a couple friends of mine and were going to start a business.
Without much effort we're already lined up to record an extremely talented and expert group that's just hitting the scene. To no avail they've been desperately trying to get some sort of demo out for their open mic shows and so that they might be able to book some shows at larger, yet more exclusive, venues.
The idea is nothing too competitive, but I'm really excited about getting it off the ground. Personally, the larger, more equipped, studios are great! I mean, having a couple friends deeply vested in such ventures, I certainly understand their value. But, I think for quick and dirty demos I might have something here for this booming amateur environment.
Well, I've got my first paying gig.
After a couple late nights drafting logos, organizing my gear, updating my software, and a multitude of redbulls, I've managed to patch together a fine little recording group. I'm still working out the finer details, but I'll be bringing on a couple friends of mine and were going to start a business.
Without much effort we're already lined up to record an extremely talented and expert group that's just hitting the scene. To no avail they've been desperately trying to get some sort of demo out for their open mic shows and so that they might be able to book some shows at larger, yet more exclusive, venues.
The idea is nothing too competitive, but I'm really excited about getting it off the ground. Personally, the larger, more equipped, studios are great! I mean, having a couple friends deeply vested in such ventures, I certainly understand their value. But, I think for quick and dirty demos I might have something here for this booming amateur environment.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Sound Gadget of The Week
The OSP DD-502 MkII
The OSP DD-502 -- this little ugly goes by many names and is relatively indistinguishable from certain ION, Koncepts, Yoki, and Legend sets, sharing similar frames, brains, triggers, and design. This kit is to say bluntly - quite a piece. It serves it's purpose and does it to the minimal degree.
At first glance this e-set looks like it could be comparable to a Simmons or Alesis, but upon further inspection its flaws become wildly apparent. After only a short time of playing the single-zone cymbals snap at the neck. These are easily replaced by a pair of Pintechs and your back to banging away. Next roadblock? The bass drum input failed on the module. Ok, no problem I wanted to upgrade anyways. Why? Because the module in the first place has wimpy fake sounding samples full of noise and no sensitivity adjustment. Why is sensitivity adjustment important? If you ever plan on using better quality Roland pads you're going to need it. I promise because the Roland KD-7 does not work with this brain.
Alright, enough lets get down to a more objective review:
Pros: Price! Price sells this set. I bought this set for $275, but it runs in most retail stores for about $400-500. Compared to its more pricey cousins, the OSP DD-502 is quality for its price. If your looking for a practice set or something of similar caliber this set is well within your price range. Also, the samples on the DD-502 module isn't the worst I've ever heard. There are couple realistic sounds hidden deep inside and with a little tweaking can produce a sound that passes for 5 year-old's starter set.
Cons: To justify the price the manufacturers obviously had to cut down on production costs: incredibly feeble design - pads tend to dent and dimple easily, cymbals break, and little things often tend to fail; poor sample reproduction, and limited features. The midi songs that come with the unit are boring and ill-composed. The pads that come factory are obnoxiously loud and over-bearing, not too much off hitting a muted acoustic. Snare triggers are weak.
Hope is still to be had!
To fix a lot of these problems you can pay $50 more and replace your cymbals with a pair of cheap Pintech TCs.
To fix the sound problem there is a nice tutorial to replace the horrible rubber heads with very nice cheap mesh ones: http://electricdrumsetblog.com/uncategorized/osp-dd502-electronic-drum-set-kit-mesh-heads
And his video:
Everything else calls for replacing the module itself. You can simply and easily fix the sensitivity problem by buying a brain only one tier up - such as an Alesis or Roland brain. Compatibility problems are a thing of the past! Doing this will also make a world of difference in the sound!
TO BE CONTINUED!
The OSP DD-502 -- this little ugly goes by many names and is relatively indistinguishable from certain ION, Koncepts, Yoki, and Legend sets, sharing similar frames, brains, triggers, and design. This kit is to say bluntly - quite a piece. It serves it's purpose and does it to the minimal degree.
At first glance this e-set looks like it could be comparable to a Simmons or Alesis, but upon further inspection its flaws become wildly apparent. After only a short time of playing the single-zone cymbals snap at the neck. These are easily replaced by a pair of Pintechs and your back to banging away. Next roadblock? The bass drum input failed on the module. Ok, no problem I wanted to upgrade anyways. Why? Because the module in the first place has wimpy fake sounding samples full of noise and no sensitivity adjustment. Why is sensitivity adjustment important? If you ever plan on using better quality Roland pads you're going to need it. I promise because the Roland KD-7 does not work with this brain.
Alright, enough lets get down to a more objective review:
Pros: Price! Price sells this set. I bought this set for $275, but it runs in most retail stores for about $400-500. Compared to its more pricey cousins, the OSP DD-502 is quality for its price. If your looking for a practice set or something of similar caliber this set is well within your price range. Also, the samples on the DD-502 module isn't the worst I've ever heard. There are couple realistic sounds hidden deep inside and with a little tweaking can produce a sound that passes for 5 year-old's starter set.
Cons: To justify the price the manufacturers obviously had to cut down on production costs: incredibly feeble design - pads tend to dent and dimple easily, cymbals break, and little things often tend to fail; poor sample reproduction, and limited features. The midi songs that come with the unit are boring and ill-composed. The pads that come factory are obnoxiously loud and over-bearing, not too much off hitting a muted acoustic. Snare triggers are weak.
Hope is still to be had!
To fix a lot of these problems you can pay $50 more and replace your cymbals with a pair of cheap Pintech TCs.
To fix the sound problem there is a nice tutorial to replace the horrible rubber heads with very nice cheap mesh ones: http://electricdrumsetblog.com/uncategorized/osp-dd502-electronic-drum-set-kit-mesh-heads
And his video:
Everything else calls for replacing the module itself. You can simply and easily fix the sensitivity problem by buying a brain only one tier up - such as an Alesis or Roland brain. Compatibility problems are a thing of the past! Doing this will also make a world of difference in the sound!
TO BE CONTINUED!
2 out of 5 Stars
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
My New Electronic Drumset
So I needed a drum set.
Living in an apartment I needed a drum set that did NOT make noise.
Options? An electronic kit is the only thing that comes to mind.
But that's so expensive! Well, here's the deal: Craigslist. I have waited and waited and waited and waited for something in let's the < $300 range. On any normal day that wouldn't happen. The lowest of the low of e-kits runs about 300 and for semi-decent at least 500. What is a musician to do? Before I go any further allow me to illustrate what the tiers of the major e-kit brands are as I understand them:
Top of the line: Roland, Yamaha, Simmons
Middle of the bunch: Alesis, OSP, Yamaha, Simmons
Bottom of the barrel: Ion, Koncepts, OSP
Ok, so under normal circumstances I would never even consider being a bottom feeder but as the accounts have dictated and under the strict advisory voice of the economy I say, ok.
So what I finally found on a lucky day was this:
This my friends is a frankenset. It's a SME-359 Koncepts kit with a OSP DD-502 MkII brain, a Roland KD-7 kick drum, and 2 Pintech TC Series Cymbals. -- all for the grand price of $275!
More pictures of the new set:
Now to test this out... back with more details later...
Living in an apartment I needed a drum set that did NOT make noise.
Options? An electronic kit is the only thing that comes to mind.
But that's so expensive! Well, here's the deal: Craigslist. I have waited and waited and waited and waited for something in let's the < $300 range. On any normal day that wouldn't happen. The lowest of the low of e-kits runs about 300 and for semi-decent at least 500. What is a musician to do? Before I go any further allow me to illustrate what the tiers of the major e-kit brands are as I understand them:
Top of the line: Roland, Yamaha, Simmons
Middle of the bunch: Alesis, OSP, Yamaha, Simmons
Bottom of the barrel: Ion, Koncepts, OSP
Ok, so under normal circumstances I would never even consider being a bottom feeder but as the accounts have dictated and under the strict advisory voice of the economy I say, ok.
So what I finally found on a lucky day was this:
This my friends is a frankenset. It's a SME-359 Koncepts kit with a OSP DD-502 MkII brain, a Roland KD-7 kick drum, and 2 Pintech TC Series Cymbals. -- all for the grand price of $275!
More pictures of the new set:
Now to test this out... back with more details later...
Friday, August 14, 2009
RIP Les Paul
As probably every music and musician blog is has done today, it is more than just my duty to pay tribute to legendary guitar virtuoso Mr. Les Paul, the "Father of the Electric Guitar". He lived to a quite an impressive age and with this time used his talents to help define rock music as we know it today.
Thank you for everything Les, we honor you. Your influence on the music world can never be forgotten!
Thank you for everything Les, we honor you. Your influence on the music world can never be forgotten!
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