Music

Judge refuses to shut down market for used MP3s

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Wired Threat Level:

A one-of-a-kind website enabling the online sale of pre-owned digital-music files got a legal boost late Monday when a federal judge refused to shutter it at the request of Capitol Records.The brief ruling by U.S. District Judge Richard Sullivan of New York did not clearly outline the reason for the decision. But in a transcript of a court proceeding Monday, he said that Capitol is likely to prevail at trial.

“Used MP3s”? Sounds shaky at best…

Jordan Rudess talks iPad, Dream Theater

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There are a handful of musicians that really push the boundaries. For anyone that knows Jordan Rudess, it will come as no surprise that he is one of them! In this exclusive interview with MPVHub Jordan reveals the inspiration behind his popular iOS apps, talks candidly about Dream Theater’s creative process, and explores how music technology has changed the way he approaches the music making process.

I’ve known Jordan for a number of years and have a tremendous amount of respect for him.

Apple pauses push for high-def music says Neil Young

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CNN:

Jobs was personally involved in the high-def initiative, speaking directly to Young about it, the 66-year-old musician recalled. Improving the quality of digital music is a personal mission for Young, who has evangelized for it before.“Steve Jobs was a pioneer of digital music,” Young said. “But when he went home, he listened to vinyl.”

Hollywood still hates you

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Why doesn’t Hollywood get it? The music industry was handed profits from online downloads, but it seems like the movie industry is fighting the inevitable.

Pro Tools 10.0.1

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There are a lot of changes in the latest version. Go get it.

Universal Audio’s Apollo

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Thanks to Universal Audio for sponsoring this week’s RSS feed on The Loop.

Meet Apollo, the first professional, high-resolution computer audio interface that delivers the sound, feel, and flow of analog recording. This 18 x 24 FireWire/Thunderbolt – ready interface combines genuine UA analog design with class-leading 24-bit/192 kHz sound quality and onboard Realtime UAD Processing.

Studio Devil amp modeling software

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I’m working on a review of Studio Devil, but I’m impressed enough with the modeling that I wanted to let everyone know about it now. It’s very accurate and sounds great.

Fender Mustang Floor multi-effects unit

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Mustang Floor features include nine footswitches and a solid aluminum treadle-style control pedal, intuitive Mustang III control panel and LCD window, 12 amp models, 37 effects, 100 onboard factory and user presets, “individual stompbox” mode in which amp models can be bypassed, headphone output and auxiliary input, dual XLR and dual 1/4-inch line outputs with level control (outputs can be programmed for optimal response with PA system, power amp or guitar amp), chromatic tuner, and easy USB connectivity for high-quality low-latency audio output and interface with free Fender FUSE application.

ScoreCleaner offers live scoring for Mac

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Notating music doesn’t get simpler, faster or more musical than with ScoreCleaner. After opening the software, simply connect your MIDi instrument and start playing. The piece you’ve played is notated in the “listening window”. Double click on it and ScoreCleaner converts it into notation, automatically detecting time signature, key, tempo, polyphony, smallest note value, and much more.

Doesn’t get any easier than that.

NAMM music show sets new attendance record at over 95,000

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At show close, NAMM reported 95,709 registered attendees, a six percent increase from last year and representing a new record for the 110-year-old show. International registration also experienced a 15 percent increase from last year to 11,981. The association previously reported strong exhibitor numbers, with 1,441 exhibitors at this year’s show, including 236 new exhibitors.

NAMM is a great show and I had a blast there last week. So many great new products for musicians and audio engineers from every major company in the music business.

Universal Audio’s Apollo [Sponsor]

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Meet Apollo, the first professional, high-resolution computer audio interface that delivers the sound, feel, and flow of analog recording. This 18 x 24 FireWire/Thunderbolt – ready interface combines genuine UA analog design with class-leading 24-bit/192 kHz sound quality and onboard Realtime UAD Processing.

EverTune keeps your guitar in tune, and it works

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For guitar players, keeping the guitar in tune during a performance was nearly impossible, until now. I stopped by the EverTune booth today at the NAMM show and really couldn’t believe what I was seeing. […]

A tour of the Fender Custom Shop

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I spent my first full day of the NAMM music show with friends from Fender at the company’s new visitor center and custom shop in California. […]

Yamaha introduces the THR compact guitar amp

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THR is designed to fit where, when, and how you play when you’re not on stage. With big amp response, incredible effects, and hi-fi stereo sound in a package that’s built to meet all of your off-stage needs, you’re about to begin a new chapter in your playing.

They demoed this for me this morning and it had a great sound. I want one of these.

AmpKit LiNK HD guitar interface for iPhone, iPad and Mac

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AmpKit LiNK HD is based on USB digital audio technology, providing high fidelity while eliminating crosstalk and feedback. It’s perfect for AmpKit’s authentic high gain amps.

Some nice features on the LiNK HD. AmpKit is my goto amp software on the iPhone and iPad, so I’ll be interested to see how this interface does. I’m expecting good things though.

Apple doubles iTunes Match footprint

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MacRumors: But as Apple now details on its iTunes Match availability page, the service actually launched in 19 new countries today, focusing on Latin America, the Baltic states, and the Netherlands. That brings the total to 37, almost doubling the … Continued

Review: Apogee Duet 2

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Apogee updated its $595 Duet audio interface for the Mac, switching from FireWire to USB and updating the interface, while keeping all of the things that made the device a favorite among musicians. […]

Guitar Apprentice

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The “real” Guitar Apprentice takes hit guitar songs and breaks them down into 15 different levels of playing. From the very start, the user is playing great guitar songs with a full band, supplying only a chord or two at first. The user can then work on songs at any desired speed and when it is completed will be playing 100% of the song – including solos. At every level, Guitar Apprentice shows the user visually, exactly what and when to play at the pace he or she desires. Guitar Apprentice includes such iconic songs as “Hey Jude,” “Can’t Buy Me Love,” “Get Back,” “Sharp Dressed Man,” “You Really Got Me,” “Shine,” “Hit Me With Your Best Shot” and many others.

I suck at games like Guitar Hero because I’m always trying to play the real chords. I’m looking forward to trying this out at NAMM next week.

Velvet Revolver reunites for one-off show in LA

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A complete Velvet Revolver – Fender signature artist Duff McKagan, Slash, Scott Weiland, Matt Sorum and Dave Kushner – got back together this week for a one-off performance in support of the “Love You Madly” event, a benefit concert for the late John O’Brien, a longtime friend of Kushner.

You can read more about the show on the official Fender blog. Here’s a video of the band from last night’s show. […]

Review: GuitarJack 2 for iPhone and iPad

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One of the great things about Apple’s iOS devices for musicians is having the ability to play and record our guitar while on the go. When the hardware and software allowing us to do this was first introduced, we gave the companies a little leeway on the quality just so we could play. […]

Charvel introduces the Desolation Series

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Charvel is proud to announce the return of two classic body shapes, both in sleekly modern Desolation series form. New Desolation DST and DX guitars offer a variety of features and finishes prized by discerning players everywhere, and both deadly models deliver the devastating tone, killer looks and high-performance playability that separate the Desolation series from all others.

I have 16 guitars, but sadly not one of them are a Charvel. I’ve always wanted one of these.

Fender Squier Vintage Modified Series

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New to the series is the Vintage Modified ’70s Stratocaster, a sweet-looking model that delivers the distinctive look of the 1970s workhorse Fender guitars. Available in all-Black maple-fingerboard and Vintage White rosewood-fingerboard, both models feature a large headstock, vintage-tint gloss neck and black plastic parts typical of that era.

The Squier line of guitars are typically less expensive than the Fender guitars, but I’ve had a Squier Strat since 1985 and love it. Being less expensive doesn’t mean it’s cheap.

Moron Kanye West says he’s the next Steve Jobs

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Donda will “pick up where Steve Jobs left off,” West said of the late, visionary Apple founder. With 22 divisions of writers, DJs, publicists, designers, musicians, scientists and much more, the company will strive to “make products and experiences that people want and can afford,” West said, “to help simplify and aesthetically improve everything we see hear, touch, taste and feel,” and “dream of, create, advertise and produce products driven equally by emotional want and utilitarian need.. To marry our wants and needs.”

Kayne West is a moron if he thinks that he is anything like Steve Jobs. His name shouldn’t even be used in the same sentence as Steve Jobs. Idiot.

[Via Macgasm]

Destroyer of violins

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Chris Martucci on PayPal making someone destroy a violin to get his money back:

Indeed, the company specifies in its Terms of Service: “PayPal may […] require you to destroy the item and to provide evidence of its destruction.”

So the seller is out $2,500 and a violin that made it through WWII.