http://www.sourceaudio.net/site.php/blog/ Expressive Guitar Effects en salesinfo@sourceaudio.net Copyright 2008 2008-08-27T07:43:00-08:00 http://www.sourceaudio.net/site.php/blog/post/kid-beyond-hot-hand-demo-at-harvard/ http://www.sourceaudio.net/site.php/blog/post/kid-beyond-hot-hand-demo-at-harvard/#When:06:43:00Z Kid Beyond's demo of the new Soure Audio MIDI controller. This demo features Kid Beyond's use of the Source Audio MIDI contoller with Ableton Live:  Please check out the youtube video here - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PcpRj9Bir80 Artist / Heroes 2008-08-27T06:43:00-08:00 http://www.sourceaudio.net/site.php/blog/post/return-to-forever-live/ http://www.sourceaudio.net/site.php/blog/post/return-to-forever-live/#When:23:42:01Z This is another report by the elusive, intrepid and fearless CEO of Source Audio, Roger Smith.Return to Forever – Bank of America Pavilion – August 6th, 2008  This is the best show I have seen this year, and perhaps the best of the past two years……I see so much live music that it is hard to keep track -  but this was really special.  RTF was a certified super-group during a time when progressive jazz/fusion had a big following.  Featuring Chick Corea on keys and synths, Stanley Clarke on Bass, Al DiMeola on guitar, and Lenny White on drums, these guys we not only phenomenal on paper, but released 4 albums, 3 of which are epic.  A simple visit to Wikipedia is a reminder that Chick and company are the real deal.  RTF recently toured for the first time in 25 years.  Each member has gone on to significant fame as a solo artist - yet the questione remained - could they get back together and do something worthwhile?   Back in April, I purchased 2 VIP packages for an amount that is almost obscene.  Daniela is my local friend with the greatest ability to grasp this special music, so she got the invite.  We arrived for the backstage tour and party at 3:30 in a driving rain.  Our group was then led to the stage where we saw each rig up close and got a full description from all four techs.  Al’s rig was the most interesting.  He has a smaller Fuchs amp in front, with a larger Mesa amp right in back.  The Mesa amp actually drives sound into the Fuchs cabinet to provide natural acoustic compression.  It was a very interesting concept and it sounded great. What a treat to see the live rigs of these stellar players up close!  As the tour guide pushed the group along, we introduced ourselves to both Al’s and Chick’s techs (who have been with them for years).  Needless to say, we were asked to stay on stage and tell both of them all about Hot Hand and Soundblox.  It went very well and we could be working with each of them in the future.  Bela Fleck and the Flecktones took the stage first and delivered a great set.  Bela has used Hot Hand from time to time with the banjo, and Victor Wooten is currently testing out a prototype of our Multiwave Bass Distortion.  These guys are top musicians, but are also very engaging and entertaining.  Bela closed the set by announcing that if not for RTF, there would be no place for a band like his.  I am not sure I agree, but it was a very respectful comment!  RTF launched right into "Vulcan Worlds" and it was clear from the beginning that the band was right on their game.  We had front row center seats and luckily had a great sound mix.  We were then treated to the one of Chick’s most intense compositions, "Song of the Pharaoh Kings", which they nailed.  We then went into material from Romantic Warrior, No Mystery, and then back to Romantic Warrior for the finale.  I was reminded what amazing music these guys play and how it is unlike anything that came before or since.  Each band member took turns addressing the crowd, and we learned from Chick that Al was recruited by the band when he was studying at Berklee at just 19 years of age.  There are no gratuitous solos or special tributes to the solo careers of any member.  The material was not note for note off the albums, but was thoughtful and creatively interpreted.  In short, this reunion tour was the perfect reincarnation experience of one of the best bands I have ever cared to comprehend. They have got to release a live CD (or especially a DVD) of this tour.The tour is now over, but I hear they will take the show to Europe in 2009.  RTF at the Milkweg would be awesome!  Until next time! Artist / Heroes, Music Reviews 2008-08-18T23:42:01-08:00 http://www.sourceaudio.net/site.php/blog/post/soundblox-distortion-review-in-premier-guitar/ http://www.sourceaudio.net/site.php/blog/post/soundblox-distortion-review-in-premier-guitar/#When:21:56:00Z We are always proud when we get a nice review - and especially so if the reviewer really understands the purpose of the pedal!Here's what they wrote:Review: Source Audio Soundblox Multiwave Distortion by Gary Guzman Distortion like you've never heard before Are you looking for that traditional distortion pedal with classic rock tone? If so, the new Source Audio Multiwave Distortion pedal is NOT for you. Yep, you read it correctly. The folks at Source Audio are taking a fresh new approach to distortion and inventing some unique sounds. They’re not looking to emulate or duplicate any distortion pedals of the past — the end result is a pedal that produces a variety of tones that, chances are, you’ve never heard before. They are certainly tones that I’ve never heard before. The Multiwave Distortion pedal is part of Source Audio’s new line of Soundblox pedals. It features the SA601 56-bit Digital Signal Processor with 24-bit A/D D/A converters that provide excellent sound quality. There are controls for Sustain, Drive, Output and Effect Selection, and this pedal can also be used with Source Audio’s innovative Hot Hand motion sensor controller (which I will get to shortly). The box itself is sleek, sporting a modern design and a cool turquoise finish. With a 4”x7” footprint, the pedal is a little larger than the average stompbox. It also features an active analog bypass, which is fully routed around the DSP and guarantees no signal loss. Their secret recipe in this distortion pedal incorporates algorithm types that are very different from the standard set. There are 21 varieties of distortion in this pedal, offering diverse and unusual sounds. The Soundblox Multiwave distortion involves a technique that divides the guitar signal input into multiple frequency bands, distorts the bands separately, and then recombines the signal. The result is a distorted guitar tone with an incredible amount of clarity between the notes. I was eager to try out this Multiwave technique. The traditional rock sound is typically achieved by playing fifths with a distorted tone. I have always tried to incorporate more complex chords into rock guitar playing, but often get frustrated, since these chords are usually reduced to mush when using distortion. The Multiwave Distortion definitely solves that problem. I pulled off a complex G7b13+9 chord through distortion with unbelievable clarity. Not a traditional rock chord by any means, but that’s the point — a pedal like this allows you to carve out your unique sound. The Effect knob lets you choose effects within Multi Band and Single Band distortion setting banks, which are then divided between Normal, Foldback and Octave. The settings in the Normal section are similar to standard distortion, especially in the Single Band, while distortion in the Multi Band allows the best clarity of individual notes. Foldback is another algorithm that creates distortion differently than traditional distortion pedals. Standard distortion signals clip and hit a wall, which squares off the tips of the sound waves; this creates the character of the standard distortion sound. A foldback curve has waves that are pulsing, and the output increases and decreases. This process creates a fresh, different kind of distortion that is its own beast – it is white noisy, yet musical, with both squishy and edgy overtones that range from laser-like to phat wall-of-sound, depending on how your string attack. It also provides a lot of control over the sound which, like the Multi band settings, results in exceptional clarity. >>> Listen to an example* The Foldback and Octave selections offer a variety of unique unique varietites of distortion, and I had fun playing and experimenting with these sounds. Everything from heavily saturated fuzz to synth-like sounds can be achieved. In the Octave section, second order harmonics are created, with notes added an octave higher. Backing off a little on the Drive and Sustain also produced a really funky wah effect that I loved. It definitely wasn't what you would expect from a standard distortion pedal. >>>Listen to an example* If all that wasn’t enough, you can have additional fun with this pedal by plugging in a Hot Hand motion sensor. Source Audio introduced the Hot Hand motion control device originally with their Wah Filters and Phaser/Flanger, which were the first effects that could be controlled by hand and body movement. The sensor itself is a ring that you wear on your picking hand (or any other part of your body!) and the movement actually works as an expression pedal. For the Multiwave distortion pedal, the Hot Hand controls the amount of Drive in the effect. The Hot Hand sensor is sold separately, and comes in either a wired or wireless version. I have a wireless sensor that needs to be charged before use. It takes about an hour and the ring will operate for about 8 hours on a full charge. Only two additional components for the distortion pedal are needed for Hot Hand control: the sensor ring and a small RF receiver module that plugs into the pedal. After plugging the receiver into the pedal, powering up the sensor and placing it on the ring finger of my picking hand, I got the hang of the technique in no time. I had tons of fun experimenting with it. For example, after strumming a chord, I did a quick up and down motion as if I were tapping on the guitar. The sensor controlled the amount of gain and produced a really cool tremolo effect. The Drive knob on the pedal determines the maximum amount of gain you can get. I loved having the freedom to precisely control the speed of a vibrato-type effect in real time while playing, that’s something you can’t do with a standard tremolo. >>>Listen to an example* I continued to play around with different combinations of effect settings and motion sensor techniques, and the various sound possibilities were seemingly endless and unlike anything else. There were so many different sounds pouring out of this unit that I concluded there was only one drawback to using it: other players will think you’re using multiple effects and you’ll want to brag that all of these sounds are coming out of one box! Source Audio has a fresh, unique approach to effects and looks to the future instead of recreating the past. I was impressed enough with the Multiwave Distortion as a stand-alone effect unit but was pleasantly floored and inspired creatively by the possibilities that are involved when you combine this pedal with the Hot Hand sensor. Gear Reviews 2008-08-09T21:56:00-08:00 http://www.sourceaudio.net/site.php/blog/post/umphreys-mcgee-live-at-fenway-park/ http://www.sourceaudio.net/site.php/blog/post/umphreys-mcgee-live-at-fenway-park/#When:23:45:01Z This is another report by the elusive, intrepid and fearless CEO of Source Audio, Roger Smith.Another beautiful day/night at the Bank of America Pavilion in Boston!    This venue is one of the most attractive outdoor places to see live music.  It is right on a pier in Boston Harbor and offers views of financial district buildings in one direction and the harbor and ocean beyond in the other.  There is a huge tent covering the seating, and then concession stands around the edge.  This is what it looks like when you are on stage (that would be me). They recently started serving Stella, and there are a bunch of nice seafood places right nearby to hit before the show.  So far this summer I have seen Widespread Panic, STS9 and Umphrey’s McGee in a double bill, and Sheryl Crow and Toots and the Maytals in a double bill.  Next week we have Return to Forever and Bela Fleck and then in September My Morning Jacket.  In many cases these are Source Audio artists, or they want to meet with us to see what we are up to.STS9 and Umphrey’s have been artists working with us for quite some time.  In addition to shooting some video at the show (this is the link to the YouTube vid), we also gave Hunter Brown and David Phipps of STS9 a run through with the Multiwave Distortion.  Hunter tells me that it has subsequently been integrated into his rig and it now used regularly.  They were seeking a palate of new distortion sounds, and the Multiwave seems to have fit the bill.After the sound check I drove the members of Umphrey’s to their first to Fenway Park and the Red Sox experience.  The UM organization are big baseball fans (some Cubs some White Sox), and they have sung the National Anthem multiple times at Wrigley and the new Comiskey Park.  In an amusing moment, the Red Sox organization tipped the cap to the visiting artists from Chicago…..but they did not get the spelling quite right.  (See below)Until next time! Artist / Heroes 2008-08-04T23:45:01-08:00 http://www.sourceaudio.net/site.php/blog/post/pat-metheny/ http://www.sourceaudio.net/site.php/blog/post/pat-metheny/#When:01:04:00Z I read a great quote by Pat Metheny in the September 2008 edition of Guitar Player Magazine. Editor Jude Gold poses the question, “what advice do you have for guitarists who aspire to have a long and fruitful career playing jazz?” To which Metheny replies: “Always try to be the worst player in every band you are in”.   To tell you the truth, I thought it was a joke at first, as Pat seemed slightly annoyed by his decades-old comments about Kenny G, which Gold brought up a few questions earlier.   But once a minute rolled by, and the words sunk into my feeble brain, I realized what a gem Metheny had just spoken.   He is basically telling us to surround ourselves with greatness – with people who know more than we do, so we can symbolically “stand on their shoulders” and fill ourselves with knowledge and experiences. It's also quite a brave statement. We are bound to occasionally fail when we are truly tested - but we have to but those feelings aside if we want to reach our true potential. In a safe environment, we can control our failure, as it were - but we also can never grow in that setting.   To look at it another way, what is the alternative? To surround ourselves with mediocrity? With players without a thirst for knowledge? In that environment, what could we possibly ever learn?   We could also interpret that as immersing ourselves with what is new and challenging. New guitar tunings, new guitar and amplifier sounds, new effects, new song structures, new ways of looking at music. Learn. Don’t ever stop. 2008-07-29T01:04:00-08:00 http://www.sourceaudio.net/site.php/blog/post/guitar-player-reviews-for-soundblox-pedals/ http://www.sourceaudio.net/site.php/blog/post/guitar-player-reviews-for-soundblox-pedals/#When:00:09:00Z This is another report by the elusive, intrepid and fearless CEO of Source Audio, Roger Smith.Inside Scoop: Review to come in next Guitar Player Magazine If you read this blog, you will sometimes be the first to know some cool things! The next issue of Guitar Player Magazine will have 2 nice reviews of Source Audio products. The first is a detailed look at the Soundblox product line-up by Matt Blackett.  Matt is a great player, a nice guy, and perhaps the most fluent Spinal Tap fan I know.....and I know a lot of them!  In the review he runs through all of the products with a special focus on the breakthrough Multiwave Distortion.  Matt and Senior Editor, Art Thompson, have a depth of experience in tone assessment that is second to none in the industry.  We can't wait to see what they say! The second piece is a first look at the Hot Hand MIDI-EXP product by Michael Ross.  Michael has not only been writing about guitars and effects for many years, but he also writes for Electronic Musician and is fluent with effects devices with a bit of complexity.  This product is an extremely powerful means of controlling virtually anything which can be controlled via MIDI or and expression pedal signal via Hot Hand.  Use any expression you like (Hot Hand on Steroids, Hot Hand Gone Wild....etc.), but this product is REALLY exciting.  We can't wait for this one either. Be sure to check out the next issue of Guitar Player Magazine! And while you are here, check out these reviews in Keyboard Magazine. Keyboard writer Eric Lawson wrote " I had a blast with the Hot Hand pedals". We find it very encouraging that the wireless controller has such positive results for BOTH keyboardists and guitarists.     Gear Reviews 2008-07-24T00:09:00-08:00 http://www.sourceaudio.net/site.php/blog/post/dragonforce-heroes-of-our-time/ http://www.sourceaudio.net/site.php/blog/post/dragonforce-heroes-of-our-time/#When:22:47:01Z Check out the new clip from DragonForce's latest, Ultra Beatdown - Heroes Of Our TimeAnd hey - what's that cool looking ring that Herman is wearing?That's right - it's our Wireless Motion Controller. Herman loves it - and we're very happy about that! Artist / Heroes 2008-07-13T22:47:01-08:00 http://www.sourceaudio.net/site.php/blog/post/inspirations-on-guitar/ http://www.sourceaudio.net/site.php/blog/post/inspirations-on-guitar/#When:03:08:00Z Who Inspires You?  We all have defining memories of great guitar sounds and great players – that not only inspired us in terms of how to play music, but on how our own music should sound.  I remember getting a haircut in 6th grade, in front of a television, and seeing Led Zeppelin play The Immigrant Song – now, whether that single memory alone caused me to be a fan of Led Zeppelin for decades, I am not sure – but that was indeed the start.  Listening to “Machine Head” made me dream about Stratocasters and tube amps, as “Beck’s Bolero” made me want a Sunburst Les Paul. Same story with so many other recordings, from the 1970’s to this day: hearing Robert Fripp gave me endless desires for fuzz tones with long sustain  -  and I had quite a few that broke down, from MXR to Dallas Arbiter; Steve Howe made me want a Ramirez Flamenco, as well as an ES-5 Switchmaster (and so many other great guitars that Steve Howe played).   “Selling England by the Pound” gave me a good reason the buy a volume pedal and put it in front of my delay pedal – so I could cascade notes atop one another while the echoes from the preceding note played on; and that same record, Mike Rutherford’s playing forced me to buy a Rickenbacker 12 string, and to start using alternate tunings – a big part of my guitar explorations to this day. And of course, practically every guitarist alive in the 1980's had to have a custom Strat with one humbucker and a Floyd Rose, in their quest to out-Van Halen Van Halen.  What is still true to this day, is that when I hear a sound that I am attracted to – I need to know how it was constructed. What playing techniques? What chords? What guitar, amp, cabinet, speakers, effects or recording techniques???????  And of course, these new items that I bought were not just ashtrays or decorations for around the house – they made me PLAY differently. The real question is: what similar memories caused you to create your musical identity? Is your current gear helping you - or keeping you in a creative "holding pattern"? Chances are, if you are not creating your best music, you could use a fresh look at your tools.If you look at some of the top players and bands of today – quite a few are using and touring with our Hot Hand and Soundblox pedals in their pro pedalboards – and if you’ve gone to see Umphrey’s McGee, moe, DragonForce, Galactic, Soulive, Gwen Stefani or Vernon Reid, you have heard our products. Have a look at our YouTube Channel and get a taste of how we can help you forge your musical identity! Artist / Heroes 2008-07-07T03:08:00-08:00 http://www.sourceaudio.net/site.php/blog/post/summer-namm-2008-news/ http://www.sourceaudio.net/site.php/blog/post/summer-namm-2008-news/#When:23:49:00Z Summer NAMM 2008 Report  This is another report by the elusive, intrepid and fearless CEO of Source Audio, Roger Smith. After a bust in Indianapolis and some highs and lows in Austin, Summer NAMM came back to Nashville to make a final stand to remain relevant.  From our perspective, it seems to have been a success.  It was relatively crowded, and we had fun!   This time we had Daniela, Shaheed, Jesse, Hunter, Chris from Berklee, and Brett.  We ate lots of BBQ and saw lots of live music each night in all kinds of honkytonks.  Nashville is a very fun place.  We will be back next year for sure!  In addition to the original Hot Hand products and the newer Soundblox line, we also previewed a couple of other cool new things at the show. The first is the Soundblox Multiwave Bass Distortion.  Based on the Multiwave guitar unit, all the effects have been modified and adjusted for bass guitar.  There is also a blending knob so that the "clean” signal can be blended with the distorted signal and varying amount.  This is vital for bass where preservation of the low end is important.  Lots of people checked it out, including Victor Wooten, who came by to visit with us.  Victor is a very nice guy. Tell me there's a more amazing musician on the planet - I dare you!  The second preview was the Hot Hand MIDI-EXP box.  This device allows the user to develop sophisticated MIDI or Expression control signals while using the Hot Hand motion sensing ring.  Chris from Berklee was doing some incredible demos, which will be up on our YouTube channel shortly.  This box is Jesse’s creation and it clearly takes Hot Hand control up to the next level.  Turn effects on and off without being near a footswitch, and initiate a ramp with the flick of the wrist.  These features allow you to control your effects like never before.  This is Hot Hand with afterburners, and it is really cool. We will be doing a bit more work on these devices and hope to have them in production in the late fall.  Stay tuned!!!!!!!!Check out these pics Daniela with Victor Wooten   Roger with Jesse Bond, Kanye West’s guitarist Roger with Reeves Gabrels and Audley Freed (Black Crowes) News 2008-06-26T23:49:00-08:00 http://www.sourceaudio.net/site.php/blog/post/concert-for-george-harrison/ http://www.sourceaudio.net/site.php/blog/post/concert-for-george-harrison/#When:18:10:00Z Have you seen this event on dvd?  If not, you owe it to yourself to check it out immediately.  This monumental concert took place at London’s Royal Albert Hall, featuring friends and family of George, with Eric Clapton as Musical Director.  Ravi Shankar’s daughter Anoushka opens the concert, playing sitar and then conducting an orchestra – and the music is fantastic. Improvisational in nature, the players seem to know what each other is doing at all times – and the interplay will blow your mind.  The Monty Python troupe also assembles to perform some old favorite skits (does anyone still use that term?). Next is a band setting, led by Eric, which features Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Jeff Lynne, Gary Broker, Ring Starr, Paul McCartney, George’s son Dhabi (who resembles a young George to a tee). The songs, of course, are George’s, with some of his old favorites thrown in. The amazing thing is that the great songs just keep coming – whenever you think it will end – out comes another gem which you might have forgotten about. Sir Paul tells a hilarious story about how they used to joke around after having dinner, and the ukuleles would come out for everyone to play and sing – and then, Paul launches into a Hawaiian version of “Something”, which morphs beautifully into a full band version.  Eric also plays a great interpretation of his ground-breaking solo on “While My Guitar Gently Weeps”, which was indeed a thrill. A Strat on the neck pickup never sounded better!   Seeing and hearing the great musicians of the sixties, who would you say are the greats of today? Artist / Heroes 2008-06-15T18:10:00-08:00