Are you worried about mechanical transfer of your gear or your speakers vibrating through your desk wrecking your mixing/mastering environment? Well, Auralex has the solution to get you started to improve transparency to your monitoring/recording situation and quiet some of your gear down through the power of custom foam rubber. Additionally, this is the best price we found on these and since it's directly from Amazon, it's not a special order, includes free shipping, and subject to Amazon's pretty decent return policy. Buy @ Amazon

Here's what each item included does:

• GRAMMA sound isolation riser for combo amps reducing mechanical vibrations.
  
• Xpander™ and Tri-Xpanders™ - Isolate your microphones during the recording process to eliminate external noise bleed and filter those undesirable external overtones from drums and mic stands.
  
• MoPAD monitor isolation pads to eliminate bass coupling (reduce resonance through your mixing desk) and angle your reference monitors at your ears .

There's a lot of offers for this piano and the $100 rebate (ends 3/31/09). However, only American Music Supply is tossing in a free stand and headphones to make this the best deal going with Free shipping. American Musical Supply

Quickie specs:

• 88 keys
• 128 voices
• 256 MB memory
• Reverb, Chorus, 3-band compressor, 4-band Digital Equalizer
• MIDI Support
• WAV, AIFF (44.1 kHz, 16-bit linear), MP3 file support
• 2 SRX expansion slots
• Outputs/connectors: 1/4 inch phone type, XLR, Damper pedal, FC1 pedal, FC2 pedal, MIDI, USB (MIDI, Memory), headphones.

It's Friday again at Amazon and there is some good stuff this time for $5 each (last few weeks have been a bit paltry IMO). Friday $5 deals usually end by the following Tuesday.


Aaaand here they are:

• 2009 Grammy Nominees Compilation - OK, not GREAT, but let's move on to the other entries...
• Paul Simon's Graceland - While the production may be a bit dated (unchecked compression, gating, and reverb through the roof), the songwriting and melodies are a classic.
• John and Yoko's Double Fantasy - Some people just LOVE this album...I could never get past Yoko's voice...but some classic Lennon song's that have made their way onto Lennon compilations.
• Lionel Ritchie's Can't Slow Down - How can you resist song's like "All Night Long (all Night) and the epic "Hello" which the video featured a sculpture of Lionel's head as interpreted by a blind girl who modeled it after a football?
• O Brother Where Art Thou movie soundtrack - T-Bone Burnett produced Blue Grass masterpiece feature generations of blues and Blue Grass artists from the fantastic Cohen brothers flick. "Damn we're in a tight spot!"

Not always the first name that comes up when talking about professional microphones, Sony makes great shot gun mics. Now at B&H, you can get the Sony ECM-673 Short Electret Condenser Shotgun for $259.50 after the $30 mail in rebate (expires 3/31/09) PLUS get a $20 B&H gift certificate. B&H Photo

Quickie specs:

• Sensitivity of -36 dB (0 dB=1 V/Pa) and a low inherent-noise level of less than 17 dB SPL.
• Flat-and-wide frequency response (40 Hz to 20 kHz)
• 7 7/8 inches in length
• Weighs 4.76 oz
• High Durability and Reliability
• Vibration-resistant mechanism
• Built-in two-position (M, V) low-cut switch
• Includes: Windscreen, Microphone Holder, Microphone Spacer,Microphone Cable
  
• 1 Year Warranty

Most people either love trackballs or hate them. Chances are the people who hate them, have only tried to use them in passing on someone else's computer and said many of the common comments "what the...?", "how does this thing work?", "I just want to left click...". I was the same way until I was forced to them when I did radio production at the house I used to work at. After a couple of weeks, I got used to it and haven't gone back.

Let me go over some of the benefits of trackballs for audio folks:

• Relieves repetitive stress on things like highlighting and selecting audio when editing.
• Most have programmable keys for short cuts.
• Zip across large or multiple screens quickly without having to put the mouse speed up to fast, cocaine, crack, or Winehouse.
  
• They are stationary meaning you don't run out of mouse pad space for larger selections.

• Award-winning Scroll Ring around the trackball makes scrolling quick and easy.
• Largest ball of any of the mainstream, consumer devices
• Great momentum and virtually frictionless rotation
• Detachable wrist rest cradles your hand in comfort, Windows or Mac compatible

Show your love for the woman who makes funky R&B and soul and stuck it the record industry in the doc Before the Music Dies. Here's a review of the album from Metacritic. Amazon

Thanks to Unidentified Sound Object (a fav of ours) for pointing us to it:

zZounds, through amazon is offering the KH202 Kirk Hammett Signature Model Electric Guitar (Black) for only $429 plus free shipping. On the zZounds site it goes for $469. This is by far the cheapest price we found for this piece. Group therapy not included. Amazon




Quickie specs:

• Construction: Bolt-on
• Scale: 25.5 in.
• Body: Basswood
• Neck: Maple
• Fretboard: Rosewood
• Inlays: Skull & bones with model name at 12th fret
• Pickups: EMG-ESP LH301
• Electronics: 2 volume, tone, 3-way slotted
• Hardware: Black
• Bridge: Floyd Rose licensed
• Frets: 24 XJ

Have you ever wondered how 17 year old models get recording contracts when you're other busting your hump getting beer bottles thrown at you honing your craft? How about how music is chosen to be played on corporate radio forcing you to use places like Ioda and Tunecore because you know you music will never get picked up? How about why record companies love bands that look like dusche bags?

Before the Music Dies answers all those questions with interviews from the guy who wrote many of Jewel's songs, Dave Mathews, hilarious-but-honest commentary from Erika Badu, Eric Clapton, Elvis Costello, Ahmir "?uestlove" Thompson and many others. Great intro with Ray Charles and Billy Preston. Narrate by Forrest Whitaker.

Music 123 is having a sale featuring guitar accessories and, of course, guitars and amps. Many of the accessories are focused on Coffin brand (those guys have their version of the Suicide Girls - Betty Page haircuts galore), goth inspired guitars, pickups, some black drum kits, and even microphones. Music123

It's always hard to tell what an artist is like with only 30 second samples, but I'm pretty confident that this is a solid crossover attempt for Alt-Adult-Contemporary. Acoustic, diary based - storytelling lyrics about pals and ladies. Out here in the SF Bay Area, I'm pretty sure the will end up on Alice @ 97.3. Amazon

Fleet Foxes are going back into the barn to record a new album...or a chapel...or...hm. Anyway, while the "recording in a chapel" thing has been done many times over to the point of being cliche, they plan to add a theater and a water chamber among locales to get true ambient qualities in their recordings.

Out of all the bands out there right now, Fleet Foxes seem to have the best grip on adding space to their records. Sure the Arcade Fire built their studio into a chapel with the old pipe organ, but the Foxes ambient recordings make their music more than just bearded folk music, it brings a unexpected sense of grandeur.

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audioMIDI is offering a 30% discount on all Camel Audio plug-ins, sounds, and instruments. Bone up your sample and beef up your sound apps with some fresh tools and sounds from Absynth or by themselves. All OS platforms supported. audioMIDI

We updated this post from 1/30/09 for the free AKG D5 mic rebate at Guitar Center. The Omega is an awesome starter system, well reviewed for the price, and has a small desk footprint for any room you have a computer and want to do a quick recording. Guitar Center




Quickie specs:

• 6 channels of 24-bit streaming audio via USB (4 record, 2 playback)
• Seven analog audio inputs
• 8x4x2 USB I/O mixer
• Cubase LE
• Two XLR mic inputs with extremely low noise dbx preamps
• Four 1/4 inch analog RF filtered TRS active-balanced line inputs
• One 1/4 inch ultra-Hi-Z analog instrument input
• Two 1/4 inch analog TRS servo-balanced, active line outputs
• S/PDIF coaxial digital input and output
• 1/4 inch TRS insert on each mic input
• MIDI In and Out
• +48V phantom power
• 24-bit A/D and D/A converters, supporting sample rates of 44.1kHz and 48kHz
• Zero-latency analog record monitoring with adjustable balance between input and playback
• Stereo and Mono input source monitoring

As the media has been flooding with fervor, today is the 50th anniversary when a plane carrying Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and the Big Bopper crashed killing all three. I wasn't alive then, but I can only imagine how immense it could have been for the youth. Imagine your three favorite artists that are a constant presence on your radio or MP3 player just disappearing. Pretty heavy.

Of the three, my favorite was Buddy Holly who was so far ahead of his time musically and production wise. While the Blues is credited for invented rock n' roll (namely Ike Turner's "Rocket 88"), I think Buddy Holly can take punk and modern rock and roll arrangements along with him. How many times have we heard a bridge like Peggy Sue today?



The Big Bopper was just the guy you wanted at the party and hope he left your girlfriend alone...but you couldn't invite him because the party would suck and NO girls would come. Probably one of the best descriptions of how wonderful women truly are and how they turn us guys into raving idiots.




I couldn't find a great video of Ritchie Valens, so this will have to do. While most notable for "La Bamba", he also had two other major hits "Oh Donna" and "Oooh My Head"; the later Led Zeppelin covered on Physical Graffiti and in a stunning change of events, credited the original artist - though indirectly. Listen to that snare...it's like a rifle shot. Sorry for the song cuts off :^( But note the chickies. I think that's what the Big Bopper was singing about.




And, yes, we couldn't have these three guys without this song...some guy actually put together a little sappy youtube tribute with some facts about that day and the crash and some really hokey images, but hey you can just listen...

There was no way to not have that be an overly dramatic title. But, yeah, I could have used a better picture.

Brian Eno has requested that Chris Martin let the band create on their own for the first two weeks of recording their next album. Which one is the control freak? Who knows. But the decision is a good one from a producer's stand point as the lead singer (and usually the lead song writer) can often stray the band into familiar territory of past albums. By banning Martin, the other band mates are allowed to experiment freely without worrying about the singers vocal range or lyrical presence and creating a far more msuical record than some hook laden radio pop album.

This maybe the first Coldplay album I'll purchase.

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If you're looking for a quiet and fast hard drive, this is a great deal. While I have been using Western Digital SE16's (also very quiet), I was looking to upgrade and came across this deal for those of you who are running SATA compatible machines. Free shipping. If you live outside of California enjoy this item tax free. NowDirect


Quickie specs:

• 300GB
• 4.2 ms access time
• 10,000 rpm
• 5 year warranty
• 16 MB buffer
• 300MBps maximum external transfer rate
• SUPER quiet
  

As many of you know, India is hap-hap-happy about the multiple nominations for Slumdog Millionaire. Despite Jan Wahl's review* it's supposed to be a fantastic film and regrettably haven't seen it yet. Sure, we could post about Ben Burtt and Randy Thom all day, but rarely do we get to hear about sound designers off U.S. shores, so here's an interview with Resul Pookutty's where India seems to be about at lea ts 25-30 years on set:

“More than recording the sound, I always endeavour to design a sound that suits the correct ambiance. I am doing sync sound, which is new in Indian cinema.”

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*Jan Wahl is an SF Bay Area music critic who rates her movies with hideous looking hats. OK, we all need a schtick. But she also has a panache for rating popular movies as "disturbing" and "disgusting" and that being the basis of the whole film and her review. This has lead to The Dark Night (rated 1 less hat than Mama Mia!), Slumdog Millionaire, and in famous pan of No Country for Old Men to be nominated or win Oscars. If you prefer more intelligent reviews in the SF Bay Area, stick with Mick LaSalle.

Looking for a good portable system that is light weight, has power, AND can entertain your audience during intermission or bar runs? This sucker may be it. Perfect for small engagements or cafe scenarios, it only weighs 41 lbs and sports a place for an iPod to keep the audience entrained during bathroom breaks. DJ Deals



Quickie Specs:

• Free shipping
• High power Mountable 2-way speaker system
  
• Built-in 12 hour rechargeable battery with level indicator
• Separate XLR and 1/4" connectors
  
• 150 foot audible range
  
• Enhanced bass output
  
• Professional quality microphone included (
  
• Heavy-duty aluminum construction
  
• Two-wheel system with retractable handle for easy portability
  
• 1-3/8" PA speaker stand mountable
  
• TransActive Mobile Weights: 41 lbs
  
• TransActive Mobile Dimensions: 18.25" x 14.5" x 21.5"

If you're a fan of MGMT and want to hear a good example of self production versus studio production on an album this is may be an interesting buy for you. The EP include he singles "Time to Pretend" and "Kids" from Oracular Spectacular, but the different between the layering in the synths and the voices are a good example of multitracking similar parts and adding a boat load of reverb really adds depth to a song. One thing that you pick out is how much Ben Goldwasser sounds like Mick Jagger at times...Amazon

Here's a live performance of "Time to Pretend". Nice to see them performing with a whole band and not just dancing in front of some synths...the crowd is awesome in this one...