Tag Archive for electronic effects

birdlandmusic | February 28, 2011
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Why Harmonicas Make Playing Music So Much Fun!

The harmonica, also known as the French harp, is a small wind instrument held in hand while playing. It can be played by inhaling and exhaling through several air slots. Kids love playing these because they’re easy to learn and provide fun entertainment and lively music. Also, harmonicas are small so they can easily be carried in a shirt pocket or pants pocket. Many adults love them for these same reasons!

The most common key on the harmonica is C. Harmonicas that are played in the Appalachian South only play a diatonic scale, but not chromatic intervals that are between diatonic scale tones. Therefore, these harmonicas are typically sold in various models based on keys. For instance, there are G-harmonicas, D-harmonicas, C-harmonicas, and so forth.

Harmonica Construction and Sound

In the past, harmonicas were usually made of wood. Today, many harmonicas are constructed from injection-molded plastic. There are also high-end harmonicas that are built from metal alloys, silver, or Lucite. The harmonica’s sound is often based on the materials it is made of, with each material giving its own unique sound. For example, blues harps or marine band harps are made of soft wood that resists moisture and create a rich, unique sound.

Types of Harmonicas

Harmonicas come in many different types and styles. These are often chosen by players according to the type of music they would like to play. Some harmonica players enjoy performing at events as soloists or with a group or band. The cross harp is often used in blues music, but can also be used in many types of music. It is a diatonic harmonica that is played in a key that is actually seven half-steps up from the harmonica’s main key. For example, if the harmonica were tuned in C, it would actually be played in G.

A diatonic major harp is the most common type of harmonica. It has all the “Major Scale” notes such as C, D, E, F, G, A, B. The chromatic harmonica has the same notes as the diatonic major harp, but with a half-step between each major note.

Different styles of orchestral harmonicas are also available for those who perform with orchestras.

Find Harmonicas and Accessories Online

There are many harmonica resources online today that sell harmonicas and accessories. There is free tablature (with tabs and symbols) to help beginners and experienced harmonica players learn new songs. Accessories such as amplifiers, cases, sheet music, microphones, CDs, and more are available online at reasonable prices. Beginners can research online to find out how to care for their harmonica. From tuning to cleaning, there are a few definite “dos and don’ts” to follow.

The beautiful music that flows from the harmonica can never be matched. Harmonicas are so diverse that they can be played alone while sitting on a porch swing, at a family gathering for singing and fun, or in a professional concert. They can be played around the world no matter what the country. These hand-held instruments bring joy to any setting!

Category: amplifiers, DJ Equipment, double bass, modern music, music for beginners, music for the blind, musical instrument, musical instrument for a child, popular instruments, popular music, Powered speakers, right instrument, Virtual Band, Zeta Strados and Jazz Fusion Violins | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
birdlandmusic | January 31, 2011
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How to Play Drums: Beginner

Drums are the basic of modern instrument that can be learned for a beginner musician. If you are interested in playing drums, you should like the beats and rhythm of the drums. Drums can be learned if you have the urge to learn and you are patient.

There are many types of drums that you need to know. Types of drums include the:e tom-toms, snare, bass drum, floor tom, cymbals, and also hi-hats. Remember that all types of drums have different roles in producing the rhythm and beats. The Bass drum or kick drum is used to produce the bass sound which surely brings the main beat and tempo. This is an important part of a drum which gives the sound of the drum soul.

You have to keep in mind that your task is to make sure that every player is on time. Timing must be considered as the important thing in making a good song. You are not just playing with the beat but also playing with the time and management so that everyone can follow the rhythm. You also need to add the groove on the song to make it livelier.

You will need to learn all types of drums in order to master it. You will find many different types and sizes of drums. Drum sets include sticks, tunings, bass drums, cymbals, snare drums, and tom toms.

Practice properly if you want to be a good drummer. You can put the metronome at slow speed to make you feel relaxed. You can count when you are playing the drum. Listen to the sound of your drum to know your progress. If it is possible, you can record your music by yourself so you will notice your progress.

If it is possible, you can also ask somebody else who can play other instrument to work with you. This will make you able to perform with a band. It is very good to have companion while you are practicing.

Category: amplifiers, DJ Equipment, double bass, modern music, music for beginners, music for the blind, musical instrument, musical instrument for a child, popular instruments, popular music, Powered speakers, right instrument, Virtual Band, Zeta Strados and Jazz Fusion Violins | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
birdlandmusic | January 24, 2011
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Using the Phonic Helix 18 Universal with Windows Vista

As the digital recording world makes its move from stand alone recorders to PC based systems most musicians are faced with the somewhat mixed bag of blessings and curses when it comes to recording projects using PCs and USB interfaces.

We recently purchased a Phonic Helix Board 18 universal for our own studio. This mixing board also comes with Cubebase LE and drivers made to make your PC work with the board. The Phonic mixer seems to work very nicely, the board is quite and the knobs seem to do something when you turn them. The mic pre amps are good as are the sliders built in effects and all the other features. In addition Cubebase LE is rather intuitive. Musicians who are used to working with computers can use the program with out needing to read much of the manual.

The real difficulty in using the system comes in the set up and getting to work for the first time. The computer we hooked it up to which happens to be our most advanced is a duo core processor with vista and a 32 bit operating system and 3 GB of ram. I would think that you would be better off with a newer system than this. It has USB 2 which is mandatory, and it has “enough ram and a modern enough processor to handle the recording”. Perhaps, though it has “just enough to get itself into trouble”.

Category: musical instrument | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
birdlandmusic | December 13, 2010
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Advantages of Using Powered Speakers for your PA rig

Most working musicians who have been responsible for bringing a sound system have struggled with making decisions on getting the best gear for their budget which will fit into their vehicle or trailer and not require an army of people to carry the PA gear.

Often over looked by many performing musicians are powered speakers. At one time, power amps that made enough power to work well were heavy and once added to the weight of a speaker and made transporting the unit a difficult task. However, with the modern power amps, put into light plastic molded enclosures, often the weight of the speaker is almost the same as a non powered version. Especially when you consider many speakers are now made with neodymium magnet structures which are lighter than the traditional steel.

So what are the advantages?

  • First most good powered speakers are already Bi-amped which means they have a power source for the low end being the main speaker and a power source for the horn. For those of you who do not understand bi-amplification, this process is simply sending all the sound below a certain frequency to the main speaker and above to the horn which adds clarity and definition increasing the quality of sound. To accomplish this with non powered speakers would require a crossover, more speaker cable, connections to make and several power heads for even a small stereo application.
  • Second, most powered speakers come rated at fairly moderate to high power ratings depending on the price point you buy, often exceeding what you would get with a powered mixer or stand alone power head. However the real beauty is in the ease of use. One simply needs to run a XLR cable or 1/4 line cable out of the mixer and plug in the cable and power cable. Several wire solutions are available making the cable runs for both the signal and power a simple matter. CBI makes a Multi-Outlet Extension Cord that will offer plug outlets at various points along the cord. In addition CBI makes the CBI Power and Audio Cable XLR and IEC 50 Foot combining both xlr and power cords in one wire for powered speakers making for a simple one wire grab and plug in.
  • Third the flexibility of powered speaker systems are great. For example a very small room for a gig as a solo or duo, you may only need one powered speaker. While a full band situation out doors you could bring as many as you have for the main mix and monitor mix with out worrying about impedance loads on your power amps. -A simple connection of xlr cables daisy chaining the speakers on the correct left or right main runs and monitor runs you are using. While many performers are getting away from stage monitors preferring in earmonitor systems, those who still use or prefer the stage monitor will like powered speakers because you can have as many separate mixes as your mixer will allow because each speaker is powered.
  • Lastly, gigs which require Subs, can simply be added to this system. As many Subs these days are also powered with built in filters or cross crossovers no extra gear is needed to fill out the bottom end.

In summary, a band or musician, may own several mixers, a simple 4-8 channel mixer for small jobs and then perhaps a larger 16-24 channel mixer in a rack case with 31 band equalizers for larger jobs. Most mixers large or small these days come with some decent digital effects.

All of speaker manufacturers these days make a variety of powered speakers to do the job. Some of the more popular manufacturers include EV, JBL, Mackie, Peavey, Phonic, QSC, and Yamaha. You will also find that many of these speakers are designed to run as mains or stage monitors making them easy to configure to satisfy any job requirement.

If you are considering a new sound system or outfitting yourself or band with gear the idea of powered speakers is certainly worth considering.

Written by

Bill Trotman

Category: amplifiers, Powered speakers | Tags: , , , , , , ,
birdlandmusic | December 6, 2010
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Era of Electronic Effects

This is an era of technical and scientific advancement. Everybody wants to make maximum use of technology. Like all other things, music is also becoming technology oriented. And that is why every musical instrument is getting more and more touch of electronic effects.

Electronic effects are developing the quality of instruments like guitar, synthesizers, drums etc. They are becoming more and more user friendly and powerful and improved sound renders in recent times.

The electronic effects of guitarhave given this instrument a good mileage. Acoustic guitar has a pick up system that enhances the sound of the instrument and creates a new tone. This tone is not very much different from the unplugged tone.

But electric guitar has a varied range of such effects. It has got distortion, which has always been the most popular guitar effect. Apart from this, overdrive distortion, crunch, fuzz, hi gain, tremolo, reverb, loop etc are also very popular and useful effects.

These effects offer the guitarist a huge option to improvise and experiment with the sound.

Synthesizers probably contain the maximum scope for electronic effects. Synthesizers have a long list from where you can choose as many effects you want. You can even mix those effects and create an effect of your own. It has got some non-musical effects also like the sound of a baby crying.

It is possible to synthesize a full song now. And to do this, electronic effects are very much important. Without them this job cannot be done.

For drums, you need to look for the electric drums or pads to find this kind of effects. Pads curtail down the set up of acoustic drums. All the effects of an acoustic drum are available in a small pad.

Not only the guitars, synthesizers or drums have these facilities but also some other instruments are offering these effects. Mandolins, violins have started taking this route, but they are not that much satisfying. They still need to be evolved further.

Music is changing slowly. The old form of music has gone. New style is emerging. And in this new era of music, electronic effects are playing a vital role.

Today music has become electrical. Acoustics are slowly losing their ground. Actually with the emergence of rock, pop, hip-hop kind of music genre, it has become necessary to go electric. These kinds of music highly demand electronic effects.

Today people always want something new. They want new songs, new arrangements, and new techniques. And to fulfill their demands, these effects are necessary.
An electronic effect can change a whole song. It can make the song interesting, stylish and trendy. It can even give a very ordinary song a good shape.

It is really true that emergence of such effects has changed the sound of the modern music. Today we can listen to sounds that we have never expected to listen.

Many famous musicians have experimented with these effects and it gave birth to a lot of good music. The band, Pink Floydprobably had used these effects like magicians. So, it can be said that without the electronic effects, today’s music cannot move even an inch.

Category: modern music | Tags: , , , , , , , ,