TRIAD-ORBIT MIC STANDS Standing apart from the crowd When we saw the Triad-Orbit mic stands at AES, we knew they were going to be a game changer for both recording and live-sound engineers. This modular stand system is made from the highest quality materials, providing extreme placement flexibility and stability. The mechanical limitations of the average mic stand require the entire stand to be moved into position. Conversely, Triad-Orbit stands feature... 

DANGEROUS MUSIC SOURCE Mojo for your monitors  While recording enthusiasts gleefully scarf up pricey mics and compressors, they often skimp on what may be the single most valuable piece of gear in their signal chain—the monitor controller. People often forget that every mic they place, note they play, and track they mix hinges on the ability to accurately hear the audio. With a staggering array of configurations and ganging capacity, the Dangerous... 

RADIAL STAGEBUG SB-1 ACTIVE ACOUSTIC DI Tiny DI with big features Although the Radial Engineering SB-1 is small enough to fit in your guitar case, the company didn’t skimp on features or durability. Built specifically with acoustic guitar in mind, this phantom-powered DI features a phase button for feedback cancellation you can control onstage and a switchable -15dB pad for high-output active electronics. A parallel quarter-inch jack complements... 

PETERSON STROBOPLUS HD STROBE TUNER Fine tuning in the palm of your hand If you’re in the market for a serious tuner, check out the Peterson StroboPlus HD. Although it’s the most feature-rich tuner we’ve seen, the StroboPlus HD is refreshingly easy to operate. You can run it inline like a pedal or use the incredibly accurate internal microphone. There’s a rechargeable lithium-ion battery onboard, a convenient kickstand for desktop use, and... 

DW COLLECTOR’S SERIES CONCRETE SNARE DRUMS Killer sound cannon DW Drums has built an all-star roster of endorsers by crafting a line of drums as versatile as they are roadworthy. The 5.5×14” and 6.5×14” Concrete Snare Drums are the latest addition to the DW Collector’s Series, and they’re more than worthy of the DW badge. We were especially blown away by the outstanding textures, tone and dynamic range the 5.5” model delivered.... 

AUDIO-TECHNICA SYSTEM 10 DIGITAL WIRELESS SYSTEMS Wireless hi-fi mic system to go If you’re in the market for a 24-bit/48 kHz digital wireless system, check out the latest offering from Audio-Technica. System 10 is as easy to set up as it is to use, and offers a combination of frequency, time and space diversity to keep your signal locked in. You can run up to eight systems at a time, each based around the stackable ATW-R1100 digital receiver. Operating... 

DIGITECH WHAMMY FIFTH GENERATION Step up your game  The latest incarnation of DigiTech’s Whammy pedal is the most robust Whammy to date, delivering more interval presets, chordal Whammy pitch shifting and true bypass functionality. If you have yet to join the ranks of illustrious Whammy masters like the Edge, Joe Satriani, Steve Vai and Tom Morello, this Whammy just might have your name on it. The Whammy allows you to control pitch or harmony based... 

CAD MH510 SESSIONS HEADPHONES Wrap your head with studio monitor quality If you’re looking for headphones that hype bass and treble, you can stop here. If, on the other hand, you’re looking for a set of phones that sound like studio monitors—with the added benefit of minimal bleed into the listening environment, read on. Available in four fashion-friendly color schemes, each pair of CAD MH510s comes with a straight and coiled cable as well as... 

TELEFUNKEN M81 DYNAMIC CARDIOID MIC Dynamic mic with maximum versatility The Telefunken M81 is the company’s second foray into the dynamic mic market, and is every bit as inspired as their initial offering. With a bit less high end than the M80, the M81 sounds and feels like the industry’s most popular dynamic microphone on steroids. It’s perfect for vocalists on the “brassy” side, as well as guitars and other dynamic instruments including... 

SONUUS WAHOO Killer analog wah and more with a step The Sonuus Wahoo produces classic analog effects with all the benefits of digital technology. If you’ve been looking for a single pedal that produces killer wah and filter effects, your search ends here. The Wahoo allows you to deep edit, store and share presets—and features 100 factory presets that sound great out of the box. You can also store up to 100 user presets that can be created and... 

TC-HELICON VOICELIVE TOUCH 2 Bringing the studio to the stage for vocalists Built to bring studio magic to the stage, the TC-Helicon VoiceLive Touch 2 provides four vocal-enhancing functions: processing, effects, harmonies and looping. Processing features such as adaptive EQ, compression and pitch-correction add an air of professional polish to vocals without demanding much in the way of setup. Effects ranging from smooth reverb to intense distortion... 

KINGKORG Digital synth with analog attitude From the sound of it, it’s hard to believe that the KingKORG is a digital keyboard. A testament to just how far Korg’s analog modeling has come? The filter emulation on the KingKORG alone will impress even the most die-hard analog synth nut. Performing keyboardists will revel in its live accessibility. Decades of classic synth sounds spring to life at the push of a button, and a series of dedicated controls... 

FENDER ACOUSTIC CUSTOM SHOP A whole new level of acoustics from Fender Fender unveiled an entirely new division at this year’s NAMM show: the Fender Acoustic Custom Shop. Run by master luthiers Tim Shaw and Ren Ferguson, the Connecticut-based workshop is devoted to combining historical guitar-making tradition, modern artistry along with the finest materials and techniques to create a stunning selection of instruments. Models featuring the earmarks... 

ROLAND BT-1 BAR TRIGGER PAD Ergonomic flexibility is the key With breakthrough technologies such as their dual-mesh head pads and SuperNATURAL drum engine, Roland has long been the leader in electronic drums. But it’s the simple ergonomic flexibility that makes the BT-1 Bar Trigger Pad. The BT-1 mounts easily to the rim of acoustic-style drum shells, right where it’s the most useful. Alternatively, you can stand mount the BT-1 where a cowbell... 

PRESONUS STUDIOLILVE Digital mixer that does it all PreSonus stepped up their StudioLive series with the powerful 32-channel/14-bus StudioLive 32.4.2AI. The 32.4.2AI begins with the same impressive functionality as previous models, and adds a staggering amount of additional horsepower to the mix. Each channel and bus supports complete Fat Channel processing—including full dynamics and a four-band parametric EQ—on top of amazing DSP effects. Integrated... 

BOSS STOMPBOXES Kicking off a new era of guitar effects BOSS has just launched three innovative stompboxes: the DA-2 Adaptive Distortion, MO-2 Multi Overtone and TE-2 Tera Echo. Each features BOSS’s new Multi-Dimensional Processing technology—which splits the signal into separate frequency bands for parallel processing—offering remarkable results. For instance, the DA-2 Adaptive Distortion delivers classic stompbox distortion that holds together... 

M-AUDIO M-TRACK Interface delivering performance and value M-Audio’s M-Track audio interfaces make recording fun, easy and affordable for musicians at every level. Choose from three models: the M-Track, the M-Track Plus and the M-Track Quad. Even the simple two-channel M-Track sports professional features such as separate XLR and TRS inputs and 24-bit/48 kHz digital conversion, and both MIDI and digital audio I/O are available on the more advanced... 

FISHMAN TRIPLEPLAY Guitar MIDI goes wireless The TriplePlay wireless pickup system by Fishman takes guitar MIDI evolution to the next level. Capturing each string separately and converting its sound into MIDI, the TriplePlay goes beyond the limits of conventional hex pickups by transmitting MIDI wirelessly to a USB receiver up to 100 feet away. That makes it easy to connect directly to a virtual instrument rig or DAW. With the capability to split... 

APHEX PROJECT CHANNEL Channel strip with epic tone-sculpting power Aphex’s Project Channel features harmonically rich and musically sweetened sound that’s ideal for studio and stage. A warm Class A mic pre kicks off the signal path with more than enough gain to push the onboard optical compressor. Aphex’s legendary Aural Exciter and Big Bottom processors work together to create a classic tape-like effect, adding air to the highs and low-end... 

PEAVEY VYPYR II VIP SERIES The next step in tonal versatility You can’t beat the versatility Peavey’s Vypyr II VIP Series combo amps offer. Perfect for performing multi-instrumentalists, Vypyr II VIP amplifiers handle electric guitars, basses, acoustic guitars and other acoustic-electric instruments. Powerful onboard DSP provides access to numerous amplifier and stompbox models, and feature superior studio-style effects and processors onboard... 

GEORGE JONES’ SHOES  So let’s ask the question, even though we’ve been told time and again in the days following the death of the great George Jones that the answer is “no one,” “Who’s gonna fill his shoes?” Actually, his funeral, if not offering a direct answer, put up several artists who at the very least should be standing beside him now in the Country Music Hall of Fame. Starting with Tanya Tucker, who was spectacular in opening... 

ASCAP Expo Day 3 The Chambers Group’s Chris Chambers, ASCAP’s Nicole George-Middleton, Sweeny, Johnson & Scares, LLP’s Matthew J. Middleton, Esq. and ICM Partners’ Robert Gibbs ASCAP’s Nicole George-Middleton moderates the panel Building Your Team for Success, with The Chambers Group’s Chris Chambers, ICM Partners’ Robert Gibbs and Sweeny, Johnson & Scares, LLP’s Matthew J. Middleton, Esq. EXPO attendees cheer during the Interactive... 

Toontrack releases three preset packs simultaneously Umeå, Sweden, April 23, 2013 Today Toontrack Music announced the immediate release of three individual collections of presets for the Superior Drummer library and the SDXs in the New York Studios suite. The presets were all specifically designed to showcase the incredible ambience in three of the world’s most renowned recording rooms: Avatar Studios, Allaire Studios and the Hit Factory. This... 

ASCAP Expo Day 2 PHOTO CREDITS, PICTURE GROUP SOCAN CEO Eric Baptiste and PRS for Music CEO Robert Ashcroft during their panel Think Local, Act Global: PROs and Digital Rights Licensing ASCAP’s Andrew Sparkler moderates the panel Laying Down the Law: A Legal Q&A for Music Creators with Ken Abdo, Esq.; Steve Butler, Esq.; and Zeina Grenier, Esq. SACEM’s Cecile Rap Veber, ASCAP CEO John LoFrumento, SOCAN CEO Eric Baptiste, PRS for Music... 

ASCAP Expo Day 1 ASCAP’s Brendan Okrent, Katy Perry, ASCAP’s Loretta Munoz and Sue Drew Judy Collins, John Lind, Gretchen Peters and Randy Goodrum perform at the “I Create Music” Center Stage Judy Collins, John Lind, Gretchen Peters and Randy Goodrum perform at the “I Create Music” Center Stage Performers at the “I Create Music” Center Stage Gretchen Peters, John Lind, Judy Collins and Randy Goodrum Stargate’s Tor Hermansen... 

BOSTON Reach Out and Touch (Somebody’s Hand) Amazing how programmed we are to expect or seek out music to go with every major (and minor) event in our lives—and how bad it so often is. MSNBC is particularly bad during the day, mostly in trying to be hip. I’ve actually heard Elvis Costello and the Sex Pistols coming out of Morning Joe commercial breaks—my fault for falling asleep watching the channel the night before. Yesterday, predictably,... 

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LES BLANK A National Treasure Les Blank died last Sunday at 77. Taylor Hackford called him a “national treasure.” “Although his films are not well known at the moment, they’ll take their place,” he told The New York Times. “Films are great when they live a long time, and I think Les’ will live.” Blank was quietly renowned for intimate documentaries exploring comparatively unknown music genres and regional cultures (Cajun/Zydeco titles... 

Merle Kilgore, Cindy Walker, BMI’s Frances Preston SONGWRITER MERLE KILGORE The Tall Texan Merle Kilgore with Elvis Presley Hard to believe that it’s been eight years now since we lost that cuddly bear Merle Kilgore, best known at the end for being Hank Williams, Jr.’s longtime manager/cheerleader—though he had also worked with Hank, Sr., carrying his guitar at the Louisiana Hayride when he was 14. But Kilgore also had great success as a... 

Two decades into his superstar career, Tim McGraw is still hungry for new musical adventures Tim McGraw is a man in motion. Twice a day, even while on tour, he hits the gym—lifting weights in the morning and devoting a couple of hours to a grueling CrossFit regimen in the afternoon. The concept of constant movement is also the driving force behind his creative philosophy. “I’m always looking for something that propels me forward and makes me... 

DIDO A soulful synth-pop hit-maker turns up the electronic heat Dido took her time making her latest album—five years, in fact. But the deliberate pace allowed her to develop a more ambitious sound for her fourth record, Girl Who Got Away. Although Dido has always favored acoustic backbones surrounded by delicate synths, Girl reflects a bold expansion into electronic production. Since she first made waves with her 1999 debut No Angel, the 41-year-old... 

THE JOY FORMIDABLE The ambitious indie rockers explore a bolder, broader range of textures  After spending years refining their debut album, Welsh rockers the Joy Formidable wrote their follow-up, Wolf’s Law, on a much shorter timeline. Though the writing process started off in a familiar place, they didn’t let that limit them. “We went back to the basics of songwriting, which was me and Ritzy with a guitar, jamming vocal ideas over it, or... 

ROBYN HITCHCOCK   The enduring godfather of alt-rock is still full of sonic surprises  By Russell Hall  If Robyn Hitchcock never again hears the word “quirky,” that’ll be just fine with him. “I think what people mean is that, for me, an idea can come from anywhere,” he says. “They come from under the table, from behind the sofa, or from the back of a cupboard. They’re not the first places everybody looks. I suppose you could call... 

THE GAME A chart-topping rapper takes on the concept of religion  “I just feel free,” says the Game. “I’ve got good friends, I’m eating right, working out, doing my music. That’s how I feel.” That’s pretty good for the Compton, Calif., native, who was nearly shot to death when a drug deal went awry in 2001. Even after being signed by Dr. Dre in 2003, the artist born Jayceon Taylor feuded with 50 Cent, Jay-Z and Dre, leaving the... 

ERIC BURDON One of rock’s most distinctive voices gets personal with a new album   Ask Eric Burdon what’s on his mind and he says, “Being successful at my next gig.” After a half-century of lending his voice to hits, including “The House of the Rising Sun,” “It’s My Life,” and “Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood” for British Invasion band the Animals, and offering funk icons War their first taste of stardom in 1970 with “Spill... 

RICHARD THOMPSON The British folk-rock hero makes an Americana connection on his latest Richard Thompson is not content to stay in one musical place. Since the 1960s, when his ace guitar skills led Fairport Convention into the rarified league of groundbreaking musicians who invented British folk rock, he’s been something of a human prism, shifting and turning his talents to spotlight musical beauty—sometimes in the unlikeliest of places, as when... 

AARON NEVILLE An American treasure revisits the music that honed his otherworldly vocals   Aaron Neville has sung R&B, gospel and country, everywhere from Bourbon Street to Sesame Street, but now he’s returning to the street-corner sounds he’s loved since boyhood with his doo-wop record, My True Story. For the new album, Neville’s first on Blue Note Records, he called label president Don Was, who in turn reached out to longtime doo-wop... 

KRIS KRISTOFFERSON On his new album, a legendary storyteller sizes up a life well lived  At 76, Kris Kristofferson is as focused on his art as he was four decades ago. “For me, the creative part is when I write it and get it on tape,” he says. “After that, I really don’t have anything to do with the business part of it. Let the others do the hard part.” Kristofferson—whose résumé includes Grammy award-winning singer-songwriter, actor,... 

WAYNE SHORTER The trailblazing saxophonist waxes philosophical about the future of jazz By Jeff Tamarkin   Those who’ve heard Wayne Shorter blow a solo know the legendary jazz saxophonist seems to reside in a world of his own creation. Burrowing deep inside of a melody, he finds a nugget that intrigues him, grabs it and runs with it—the music twisting, turning, climbing, falling and ultimately journeying to a place far from where it began …... 

MADELEINE PEYROUX The jazz-pop vocalist’s new collection reimagines a country classic For many artists, a covers album often becomes a mishmash of haphazardly chosen songs that suit the singer’s voice better than they suit each other. But on The Blue Room, jazz singer Madeleine Peyroux not only interprets the work of other artists, she also pays tribute to one, Ray Charles, and his pioneering album Modern Sounds in Country  and Western Music. “Something’s... 

THE MAVERICKS Serving up a fresh helping of their distinctive Tex-Mex-via-Miami magic  The Mavericks—one of the more dynamic acts on the 1990s country scene—are back with their first full-length album in nearly a decade. “We hadn’t been in the same room together in that time, much less made music together,” says frontman Raul Malo. “There was talk of a reunion tour, but that wasn’t reason enough to bring back the band. The Mavericks... 

JOHN CORBETT Proving his musical mettle with a laid-back, Texas-tinged new album John Corbett made his name in Hollywood, but when it comes to music he’s no poseur—and latest album Leaving Nothin’ Behind offers proof. “The fact is, I have more of a pedigree to play this kind of music than guys with No. 1 hits right now,” says the West Virginia native who’s been playing country music since he was a kid. “The good news is that when people... 

JOSH ROUSE The pensive singer-songwriter strikes an upbeat tone on his latest effort     For Josh Rouse, family played an important role in the writing and recording of his 10th album, The Happiness Waltz. In 2006, Rouse moved from Nashville to Spain with his wife, and the couple now has a young child. He’s settled happily into fatherhood and married life, but his newfound responsibilities make for a delicate balancing act. “Before I was just... 

KEITH STEGALL Artist, songwriter, producer—he’s seen success from all sides By Michael Gallant When it comes to country music, few producers have made as profound a mark as Nashville’s Keith Stegall. The multitalented studio master has produced more than 20 platinum albums and sold more than 70 million records. His résumé includes 50 No. 1 hits, four Country Music Association Awards, 10 Academy of Country Music Awards—and the list goes... 

ASHLEY MONROE HOMETOWN: Knoxville, Tenn. INFLUENCES: Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris,Patsy Cline ALBUM: Like a Rose, out now WEBSITE: ashleymonroe.com A publishing deal as a Nashville songwriter helped Ashley Monroe land a major record deal in 2006. Although the deal fell through, she remained undaunted, scoring cuts with Jason Aldean and Carrie Underwood, collaborating with the Raconteurs, Ricky Skaggs and Trent Dabbs, and lending her voice to projects... 

ROZZI CRANE HOMETOWN: San Francisco, Calif. INFLUENCES: Lauryn Hill, Outkast,Destiny’s Child ALBUM: Rozzi Crane EP, out now WEBSITE: rozzicrane.com Rozzi Crane began performing while she pursued her degree at University of Southern California’s Thornton School of Music in L.A. “I’d play anywhere they’d let me,” she says. “Whether it was a dorm Christmas party or a formal USC event, I’d do it, because I love performing.” After earning... 

SPENCER DAY HOMETOWN: East Layton, Utah INFUENCES: Joni Mitchell, John Lennon, Paul Simon ALBUM: The Mystery of You, out now WEBSITE: spencerday.com Modern jazz singer and pianist Spencer Day learned the power of music during his troubled childhood. He grew up in a strict Mormon household in small-town Utah, and his parents divorced when he was young. His mother, a classical opera singer turned teacher, encouraged his love of music as a means of... 

LYDIA SALNIKOVA The former Bering Strait vocalist does it all to keep the music playing   Born and raised in Obninsk, Russia, Lydia Salnikova grew up idolizing American music. The classically trained pianist wasn’t alone, and joined five other like-minded local musicians to form Bering Strait. It was an unusual grouping—a band of Russian teens obsessed with American bluegrass and country, in a city 60 miles outside Moscow. But over the next... 

BMI’s “Powered By” Campaign Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI), a global music rights organization, announced various new technical upgrades and highlighted its new corporate positioning campaign at a “Powered By” focused press briefing at the annual South by Southwest (SXSW) Music Festival in Austin. The briefing featured not only BMI executives, but also top-earning BMI Live singer/songwriter Granger Smith, who has benefited directly from the... 

Peter Henderson EZmix Pack Grammy Award-winner featured in new EZmix Pack Peter Henderson EZmix Pack Umeå, Sweden, March 26, 2013 Today Toontrack Music released Peter Henderson EZmix Pack – a new expansion for the company’s widely popular multi-effe’ct mix tool EZmix 2. The pack comes with custom settings designed by Peter Henderson, who started his career training exclusively with engineer legend Geoff Emerick (The Beatles) at the...