I don’t know how many of you are into computer based recording. But my favorite magazine is Computer Music.

I usually buy mine at Barnes and Noble because it is a UK magazine and costs an “arm-and-a-leg”. But it always ships awesome samples, loops, demos, and full-software. Just a couple of months ago I got an issue that was nothing but how to record Metal music. They also have a a full suite of recording software applications called “CM ware” that get’s you started right out of the box with multi-tracking and VST applications.

A special issue is on the stands now that is also particularly good. It is called a “Musician’s Guide to the Internet”. Check it out!

http://www.computermusic.co.uk/

http://www.computermusic.co.uk/page/computermusic?entry=computer_music_special_success_online

Dan

I have been a huge fan of Mackie products since the mid 90's when I had the opportunity to use their 1604VLZ-Pro mixing board in extensive gigging applications. Their products are of extremely good quality and sound, yet are affordable to almost all players. This is why I contacted Mackie when we started GuitarGearHeads.com, and started building a relationship with them. We have reviewed many of their products on our site over the last five years, and will continue this year with some new product they have introduced.

The thing that has always amazed me with Mackie's products is the quality of sound and ease of use all packed in a rugged yet very affordable package. I have never found any products over such a diverse line that meet these requirements at this price point. Sure, there may be more expensive and better sounding products on the market, but the price point puts them far out of my reach, and the sound quality difference is minimal at best for my applications, and for the needs of most live sound and studio application of the home studio owner. In fact, some of the biggest names in the industry are touring with Mackie products in their every night rigs. That should be a strong testament that more expensive equipment is not always better.

My personal collection of Mackie products that I have acquired over the last few years includes a pair of HR824 Studio Monitors, a 1604 Onyx mixing board with firewire card, a Control Universal pro, a C4 Pro,  2 Control universal Extenders, a FR-1400 power amplifier, a Quad EQ, a Quad Comp, and many other items. I really enjoy the ease of use, and compatibility of all these products, and I am looking forward to continuing to work with Mackie for many years. Their products as good as they are, seem to improve with every new generation, and they are truly innovative in their product development.

Gary Allen 

Right now I’m taking a pretty hard look at Mackie Tracktion 3.

A couple of years ago (wow has it been that long!) I did a review that was pretty well received by the Traction 2 community. In that review I gave myself one hour to build a song and export it to .mp3. Here’s the link to the old article:

http://www.guitargearheads.com/news/article.php?storyid=152

I really liked Traction 2 because it is powerful and easy to use. It had sort of a “Star Trek” interface with I thought was very hip. But in fairness, even though I used it a lot for recording, it was missing a few key features that made it difficult to use as an all around application.

Recently, Mackie release a new version 3 of Tracktion which adds a number of features, including those that I felt were missing. Ease of use shouldn’t be a problem since apparently, even a cat can use it:

New Features:

Loop support
Time Stretching and Pitch Shifting
More powerful MIDI Editor
Rewire 2.0 support
Quicktime Video Integration

I’m pretty excited about Tracktion 3 and can’t wait to bring you the review. But hey, you don’t have to take my word for it. Mackie is giving a away a free demo. Check out the product page for a video tutorial. Just come back and tell us what YOU think!
Product Page: http://www.mackie.com/products/tracktion3/

Demo: http://my.mackie.com/products/tracktion/demov3.asp

Dan

EDIT: I found a cool Tracktion 3 video on YouTube…check it out!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SyJiGenLy2c

At the 2008 NAMM show I was browsing around almost walked right by the Acoustica booth.  I probably would have missed it if had not been for some enterprising young fellow who shoved a demo disc of Mixcraft 4 into my hands.

I’ll admit that I haven’t had a chance to load this software up on my computer yet - but from the demo at NAMM and the product specs, it might be a solution that I’ve been looking for.  I like both Sony Acid(tm) and Garage Band(tm) for their ease-of-use and abilty to quickly create songs using high quality loops.

I’ve often wished I could get Garage Band on the PC and also often wished I could use ACID loops in other programs.  Well, I’ll keep you posted, but Mixcraft looks like the read deal.  At a street price of only $65, that’s a real value considering that it has some pretty high end features.

Features:

- Clear, colorful, and intelligently designed interface to streamline your work.
- Custom loop library includes hundreds of royalty-free sounds in dozens of musical styles.
- Works with Acid(TM) and Apple Garage Band(TM) loops.
- Record multiple MIDI and audio tracks simultaneously.
- Piano roll to view and edit MIDI.
- Includes a General MIDI library, two sampled grand pianos, Hammond B-3(TM) emulator, MiniMoog(TM)       emulator and a polyphonic synthesizer.
- Includes 18 high quality effects.
- Create mega presets that layer and split multiple virtual synthesizers and effects.
- Add unlimited VSTi(TM) instruments, VST(TM) and DirectX(TM) effects.
- Mix down to MP3, WAV and other audio file types.
- Burn CDs of your mix with just one click.

That is an impressive feature set for a $65 dollar program.  Go to the website and grab the demo (same one that I have) and let me know what you think since it may be awhile before I get a review out since I have Riffworks and Mackie Tracktion 3 to review first…

Dan

I don’t want to steal too much thunder away from my upcoming review, but I felt the need to throw some spotlight on these monitors.  This was one of the coolest demo’s I saw at the NAMM show.  I didn’t even know there were “back rooms” at NAMM but KRK had one and Gary and I were offered a spot among a select few media and studio VIPs to hear a side-by-side sound test.  They compared the full range of KRK VXTs to the highest end montor in the comparable class (e.g., 4″, 6″, and 8″).  So keep in mind that these were $500 street KRKs versus $1,200 or $2,000 street competitors.  It was clear that KRK had done their homework on these monitors - because the KRKs were very very close - and in some factors superior to their high priced cousins.  I came away impressed.

I’ve been reconfiguring my studio in order to test the VXT6s that I just recieved and in terms of an early impression, I’m pretty hooked on these monitors.  I compared them to some TAPCO 6″ monitors - and…well…the KRKs win hands down.  Showing some respect to the TAPCOs - they are like $299 for the pair - so in terms of value they still win as a superb value for the money.  Overall the KRKs though have greater fidelity - especially at the high and low ends.  Plus the yellow Kevlar woofer just looks cool.

So as for early impressions I’m giving the KRKs a nod.  Check out their product page for more info.

HOMEPAGE: http://www.krksys.com

PRODUCT PAGE: http://www.krksys.com/products_vxt6.php#

In this new section, I’m going to write an early impression of gear that I have received for review or otherwise find interesting.  Unlike our full reviews, this will provide a quick snapshot of new items of interest.

Today I received Notion Music’s Progression software, and I must admit it strikes a great balance between power and ease of use.  What is even better is that it takes it from the realm of simple practice tool to a real composition platform for guitarists.  It looks absolutely fantastic and sounds great.

Here’s the features in a nutshull:

- Write in tab or notation
- Automatic updating between tab and notation
- Record and enter from a MIDI guitar or keyboard
- Supports custom tab and alternate tunings
- Interactive fretboard and chord library
- Dozens of drum patterns
- Audio file export
- Integrated audio mixer
- 1.5 GB sample library
- MIDI file import, export, and output
- Real-time tempo control with NTEMPOTM feature
- Built-in amp simulator and VST effects support
- Velocity overdub

Check out their website for some really cool videos and examples.  More to come as I get a chance to really sink my teeth into this product.

Check out their website for some really cool videos and examples.  More to come as I get a chance to really sink my teeth into this product.Here’s the product page:

http://products.notionmusic.com/progression/

Dan