Studio JTM – The Amp That Started it All Returns

The Marshall JTM returns in a more compact, lightweight package to honour what would have been Jim Marshall’s 100th birthday and to pay homage to the first Marshall amp.

Inspired by the JTM first produced in 1962, the new Studio JTM brings the modern player the same legendary warm, smooth tone that inspired generations of musicians to launch their musical visions onto the world.

The new Studio JTM range includes a 20W head, 20W combo amp, 1 x 12″ and 2 x 12″ cabs. They come adorned with period-correct aesthetics such as the famous red enamel poured “coffin” logo and luxurious fawn fret.

The original JTM45 was heavily praised by Gary Moore, Richie Blackmore and Angus Young for granting more tone, gain and grit to their sound. You can expect that same ethos behind the creation of the Studio JTM, having recreated the sound of the JTM in immaculate detail. Moreover, the Studio JTM range is handmade in Marshall’s world-class UK factory in Milton Keynes.

Terry Marshall, Jim Marshall‘s son and creator of the original JTM45, told GadgetyNews:

When I was demonstrated the Studio JTM, and it took me back to my original JTM45; it was my sound…I feel like it is going to be something special.

Modern Convenience – Classic Sound

The Studio JTM features many of the same components that helped define the iconic tone, from the ECC83 preamp values, 5881 power amp valves, ECC83 phase splitter and G12M-65 Creamback Celestion speakers, resulting in a unique blend of warm, growling and versatile sound.

Marhsall’s new design features a smaller footprint and more lightweight offerings than its historical counterpart without compromising sound quality. This results in easy transportation and more applications for the busy musician, especially as the Studio JTM boasts built-in power reduction technology, allowing players to switch between 20W and 5W settings.

Additionally, you will find an FX Loop and DI out, enabling you to add FX and external recording to personalise your playing experience further.

The Marshall Studio JTM range is available now with suggested retail pricing coming at £1,075 for the ST20H 20W head, £1,279 for the ST20C 20W combo, while the ST112 1×12″ cabinet is priced at £565, and the ST212 2×12″ cab costs £765.

Visit Marshall Amps for more information

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Steinway & Sons’ SPIRIO | r is the pianola of the iPad generation

Steinway & Sons’ SPIRIO | r could well be the most advanced pianola available right now. Alternatively, it could be seen as possibly being the largest hi-res audio player currently available. Either way, we dare to say that it is unique.

Steinway & Sons is a legendary piano maker and has been plying its trade since 1853. Additionally, this renowned company has contributed to many innovative evolutions of piano technologies throughout the years.

SPIRIO | r – The Evolution

This piano-based evolution started back in 2015 with Steinway & Sons’ introduction of SPIRIO, a high-resolution player piano. By simply using an iPad, you could access a vast, ever-growing library of music, virtually indistinguishable from live performances played by renowned international pianists. Naturally, you could always play the piano yourself, too.

The SPIRIO music library currently consists of more than 4,000 pieces, and each month, the content available on the SPIRIO app grows.

With SPIRIO | r, pianists now can record, edit, playback, search and save their performances in Steinway’s proprietary high-resolution format.

SPIRIO | r is designed to give artists and engineers intuitive controls in multiple file formats, including SPIRIO high-resolution, MIDI and MP3 high quality sampled audio. Native to the SPIRIO app, the SPIRIO editor provides the world’s only advanced iPad-based high-resolution editing capabilities to SPIRIO files. We are told that this preserves all the music and enables you to edit every nuance of your SPIRIO recordings.

SPIRIO | r integrates into multiple musical environments through various forms of connectivity, and the flexibility of remote firmware updates enables users to easily add future features as they are released.

SPIRIO | r is available in a model D-274, the concert grand of Steinway & Sons, and model B-211 via the authorised Steinway & Sons dealer family, the latter priced at £127,000. The Limited Edition Black Masterpiece (which has just launched and includes Spirio r technology) costs £262,500.

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Tascam celebrates 50 years of home recording

Tascam is one of those brands that almost every musician of a certain age will recognise. To me and countless others, Tascam will always be synonymous with its 4-track Portastudio. As a wannabe guitarist who later ‘bloomed’ to become a mediocre bass player, the Tascam Portastudio was the stuff of legend. Around the mid-eighties to mid-nineties, the Portastudio was the best way to get demos down. Using mine, I recorded demos to join such bands as Queen Adreena (nearly got that one, too!) and Cradle of Filth, amongst many other more local outfits. 

It’s time to put on your best dancing pants and celebrate the 50th anniversary of Tascam – the company that effectively invented if not revolutionised home studio.

It is no exaggeration to state that Tascam has irrevocably influenced the way people make music. From the 4-track Portastudio to the Emmy Award-winning DA-88 digital multitrack recorder, on to the company’s Model series recording mixers and beyond, Tascam has redefined audio production at all levels – from the home enthusiast to high-end production facilities and leading installations around the world.

Tascam’s heritage dates back to the late 1960s when the Tani brothers, who were both engineers, and Dr Abe, a senior engineer at TEAC, formed a special R&D group named TASC (TEAC Audio Systems Corp.). TASC’s focus was to research ways to apply TEAC’s recording technology to musicians and recording studios. 

In 1971, Tascam (TASC AMerica Corp.) was established to distribute TASC products in the USA and conduct additional market research. In 1974, Tascam was absorbed by the rapidly growing TEAC Corp. of America sales and distribution company, and Tascam became the official brand name of all TEAC recording products designed specifically for musicians and recording studios.

The Tascam name has a rich history in terms of its technological achievements and the artists and engineers who have used Tascam products. 

For instance, the Tascam 80-8 tape deck was a half-inch, open-reel 8-track audio recorder and was used to record the voices of R2-D2 and C-3PO in the making of the first Star Wars movie, A New Hope, in 1977. 

In more recent history, singer/songwriter/actress Lady Gaga‘s father gifted her a Portastudio when she was around 11 years old. Reflecting on the gift, she said, “I could just sit at the piano and hook up a mic and record by myself. That’s probably the best gift that my dad ever gave me.”

Similarly, Bruce Springsteen used a Portastudio 144 to record what would ultimately become 1982’s album Nebraska. 

Tascam products have literally been used on tens of thousands of recordings and hundreds of gold and platinum records.

Throughout 2021, Tascam users and prospective customers will have much to look forward to. There are various promotions planned where music aficionados will have the opportunity to expand their equipment arsenals. Of course, Tascam will introduce new products in 2021 and beyond that address a wide range of applications. 

From a musician who turns 50 this year to the maker of products that has helped start and shape so many musical careers, happy half-century Tascam!

Check out the special 50th-anniversary page on Tascam’s website for messages and special features.

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miniDSP has teamed up with Dirac to deliver the first consumer-driven, Ambisonic USB microphone for content creators and music makers

The new miniDSP ambiMIK-1 microphone features 3D audio processing from Dirac and is designed to enable AR/VR developers, musicians, podcasters, videographers, and vloggers record immersive, spatial audio.

miniDSP AmbiMIK-1

miniDSP is known for its innovative digital signal processing (DSP) platforms, but the Hong Kong-based developer has announced its ambiMIK-1 Ambisonic USB microphone.

The ambiMIK-1 plugs into a standard USB port and promises to capture lifelike, 360-degree sound. We are told that it can be used for anything from recording music to producing augmented/virtual reality content. Furthermore, you don’t require a sound card, an external preamp, or XLR cables. The bundled Dirac 3D audio software — custom-designed for the ambiMIK-1 microphone — allows you to turn captured 3D sound into binaural audio for immersive listening through standard headphones or VR headsets.

Tony Rouget, Founder and CEO of miniDSP, told GadgetyNews:

With the ambiMIK-1, we have democratised 3D audio recording, playback, and content creation. The ambiMIK-1’s unique combination of ultra-portability, high sample rate, and low price mean virtually anyone can record rich, high-quality, spatial audio, whether they’re capturing the immersion of a live music performance or the 360-degree soundscape of a virtual reality experience.

ambiMIK-1 Bundle

Ambisonic microphones include multiple capsules for capturing sound from different directions. The ambiMIK-1 comes with four 14-millimeter, low-noise cardioid capsules, along with built-in analogue-to-digital converters, an embedded preamplifier, and USB processor in a lightweight aluminium body. It’s capable of recording 32-bit, multichannel audio at sample rates up to 192 kHz.

To create a plug-and-play Ambisonic microphone, miniDSP teamed up with Dirac for the custom virtual studio technology/audio unit (VST/AU) software plug-in. Dirac measured the microphone response in 300 directions (1,200 total measurements) to develop the custom filters required for turning raw microphone recordings into quality 3D audio.

Mathias Johansson, Dirac co-founder & CEO added:

The custom solution we developed for miniDSP draws from our extensive research into 3D audio psychoacoustics and multichannel digital filter optimisation. It leverages our proprietary, dynamic head-related transfer function (HRTF) database to create highly accurate, localised sound for any 3D audio application. With the Dirac-enabled ambiMIK-1 microphone, content creators of all types can record dynamic, spatial sound that can then be experienced by fans over any headphones. It’s a technology once reserved for the professionals, now delivered to the masses.

With the Dirac-enabled ambiMIK-1 and its native support for binaural output, musicians can easily create recordings of performances that can then be experienced by fans through any headphones. Podcasters can record interviews with groups and, when played back, their voices will sound like they’re coming from different positions in space for a more realistic-sounding conversation. Amateur videographers and vloggers can add a more professional, cinematic 3D sound experience to their films and shorts. And because the Dirac-based ambiMIK-1 also supports Ambisonic (B-format), engineers can use the microphone to capture audio that they can then adapt to VR, gaming, and 360-degree video content.

Price and availability

The ambiMIK-1 microphone comes with a license for the custom Dirac VST/AU plug-in, a shielded USB cable, a mini tripod, and a wind screen. It is available now for $349 US.

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Blue has announced Ember, a premium, cardioid XLR condenser microphone designed for the perfect capture of vocals and instruments. Ember is ideal for music applications like SoundCloud, capturing professional sound for YouTube video production, and live-streaming.

Ember’s tight pickup pattern helps reduce room and background noise. Featuring premium components and precision design, Ember is perfect for on-camera applications.

Tommy Edwards, director of product management at Blue Microphones told GadgetyNews:

Ember is designed to help video creators, podcasters, and musicians deliver professional productions from their home studios with superb detail and depth. Its precise cardioid pattern and ability to handle loud sound sources delivers clear and focused sound, while the sleek design ensures optimal placement or low profile for on-camera productions. Ember is perfect for home studio creators who want their productions to stand out with rich, professional-quality audio.

Featuring a proprietary, hand-tuned custom condenser capsule, Ember delivers superbly clear, open, and detailed performance for recording or streaming a wide variety of voices and instruments.

Furthermore, the tight cardioid pickup pattern focuses on the sound source directionally in front of the mic. As this minimises room noise, the result is a clean, up-front sound with excellent isolation. Also, Ember’s sleek form factor and compact side-address design make it perfect for placement in tight spaces.

Custom-designed phantom power circuitry and a precise cardioid polar pattern ensure remarkably consistent frequency response with minimal noise. Clean, high-output gain provides impressive headroom for even the most dynamic speech and instruments.

Finally, Ember comes with a mount for any standard microphone stand and is also compatible with Blue’s S3 Shock suspension mount and Compass boom arm accessories.

Pricing and Availability

Ember will be available in February at authorised Blue Microphones dealers at an RRP of £99.99.

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Roland has announced the GO:MIXER PRO smartphone audio mixer and Virtual Stage Camera app. This pair of powerful new tools makes it easier for musicians make better videos to share on their socials.

The GO:MIXER PRO and Virtual Stage Camera offers a convenient and integrated solution that makes it easy for you to create engaging, high-quality video content. All you have to add is a smartphone and a smattering of talent.

Roland GO:MIXER PRO

It’s true, your phone will probably be pretty good at capturing video; most are. But the built-in microphone isn’t going to cut it if you’re intending on uploading some polished content that stands out from the crowd.

However, Roland’s GO:MIXER PRO combines multi-channel mixing, sound monitoring, and more in one affordable, palm-sized device.

The compact device enables you to connect and mix up to nine audio sources at once. This means it will handle pro-quality powered microphones, guitar/bass, and line-level gear like keyboards and drum machines. Furthermore, the unit’s dedicated controls provide easy volume adjustment.

The resulting stereo digital audio output is then sent to your smartphone for capturing in a video or audio app.

Additionally, you can power the mixer by the smartphone connection or via four AAA-size batteries. A great option to save you from a dead phone

Monitoring and more

Also, there is a headphones output. This has its own level control so that you can monitor the mix as well as hear backing audio. You can even route the backing audio to the capture app along with the live audio inputs via a dedicated Loop Back panel switch.

The Center Cancel function enables you to create karaoke-style tracks on the fly too.

Finally, when it’s not being used to capture content on a mobile device, GO:MIXER PRO doubles as a standalone battery powered mixer for practice and on-the-go performing.

Virtual Stage Camera

The new Virtual Stage Camera App helps you to quickly create fun and attractive videos. The free app removes the background from a performance video in real time and replaces it with movie footage or stills stored on the smartphone.

This can put you in any location – want to play in the mountains, on Sunset Strip, in outer space? Well, this app can put you there.

Additionally, the app can also instantly produce a blue/green screen background in a video for later manipulation in a video editing app.

Alternatively, you could also just live stream your video.

More video options

GO:MIXER PRO also works seamlessly with Roland’s 4XCAMERA. This other free video app makes it easy to create split-screen music performance videos. Projects can be shared online among 4XCAMERA users, enabling collaborations with other musicians in any location.

Virtual Stage Camera and 4XCAMERA are compatible with iOS mobile devices from Apple, and are available as free downloads from the App Store.

Price and availability

The GO:MIXER PRO is available now for £150.

For further information about the device, Virtual Stage Camera, and 4XCAMERA, visit the GO:MIXER PRO website.

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The London Tube map has been immortalised on a new special edition Stratocaster guitar through a partnership between Fender and London Underground.

The Tube map is an iconic symbol London. Designed by Harry Beck in the 1930’s, as well helping people navigate the capital, it has become an emblem of British culture. Furthermore, it was recently voted one of the top transport ‘Design Icons’ of all time. This makes it a perfect partner for another design classic – the Fender Stratocaster.

Signal to noise – TfL Strat

Many guitarists will swear that a tube amp gives them the perfect tone. So, why not add a tube guitar into the mix?

The new partnership between Fender and London Underground has produced a limited edition Strat.

Limited to 100 pieces, the special edition guitar is available exclusively from the London Transport Museum shop. Each instrument features a serial number denoting it as one of a hundred. Additionally they all display the TfL logo on the back of the headstock.

Finally, they come in the classic Strat configuration of three single coil pickups and that comfortable maple neck.

Price and availability

You can buy the limited edition Tube Map Strat right now from the London Transport Museum shop.

Also, it is available online priced at £699.99

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Remember the Essential PH-1, the Android handset that was the first phone with the notch? Well, it’s just added Master-Quality Audio to its feature-set.

Essential Products was founded by Android co-founder Andy Rubin. The company has now partnered with MQA to deliver Master-Quality Audio (MQA) studio quality sound to the Essential Phone.

This boost to the handset’s audio capabilities follows Essential’s commitment to deliver new software features and updates to its community.

Essential MQA

Essential customers will be able to stream MQA music via TIDAL. The number of ‘Master’ quality tracks on the streaming service is ever growing.

The decision to add the ability to a phone falls in-line with a recent study by IFPI. Their recent Music Consumer Insight Report “Connecting With Music” shows that 90% of paid audio streamers use a smartphone for music listening.

Words

Mike Jbara, MQA’s CEO stated,

This partnership sees MQA working with a truly innovative tech team. Our goal is to deliver the best audio quality to as many music fans as possible, and this collaboration with Essential represents a further step towards this ambition.”

TIDAL Chief Operating Officer Lior Tibon added,

TIDAL is proud to partner with a company that values superior sound quality. We strive to provide fans with elevated listening experiences, and our partnership with Essential illustrates how we’re committed to this mission.”

Price and availability

The Essential PH-1 costs $499 direct from their website. You get 3 months free TIDAL access after which you will have to subscribe. TIDAL Premium costs £9.99 per month but for high fidelity lossless, including ‘Master’ quality, it’s £19.99 per month.

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You will recall the news of the new PEEX interactive live music platform. Well, now Elton John has announced his exclusive partnership with PEEX.

The new and revolutionary live music platform that allows concert-goers to experience live music like never before, launches today with an exclusive Elton John partnership ahead of the start of the music icon’s final global tour Farewell Yellow Brick Road.

Elton John and PEEX

To mark the launch, PEEX is offering music fans the chance to purchase and download five never-before-released recordings of classic Elton John shows via the free PEEX app through the PEEX RELIVE offering. With the mixing desk in the app, fans can boost Elton’s vocals, turn up Davey’s guitar solos and tailor their sound to their preference during playback. PEEX RELIVE will also be releasing additional live shows from Elton John’s archive on an ongoing basis.

The PEEX app is currently available to download for free in the UK, US, Netherlands, Germany – from Apple’s App Store (iOS) and the Google Play Store (Android).

Fans will be able to access a complimentary demo track of the classic ‘Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting’.

Additional countries such as Australia and Canada will be added throughout summer 2018.

Elton John tour

From September 2018, PEEX will be powering select dates of Elton John’s tour, which kicks off in North America on September 8th, with the PEEX LIVE experience.

Through the PEEX rX, you will be able to control the way you hear live music as well as enjoying the highest quality audio in the venue. Additionally, PEEX will also be recording the shows on Elton John’s Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour. These will then be available in the PEEX RELIVE store, so you can relive the experience in the same 5 channel, mixable format.

After years of development and testing at over 60 live shows with A-list artists and over 14 venues, PEEX is now launching in the UK, US and Europe, creating the ultimate personalised music format for new and past live shows.

Words

Sir Elton John said,

Throughout my 50-year career, playing live has always been so important to me. I am passionate about giving my fans my best possible performance and making sure they get the best possible experience. Over the last 3 years I’ve been working with the talented team at PEEX, who have developed an incredible new technology that will revolutionise the way fans listen to live music. Make sure you check it out.”

Price and availability

Each Elton John unreleased show will cost £19.99 and includes all tracks and encores.

For more information go to https://www.peex.live/

Elton John’s Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour will start September 2018 and conclude in 2021, taking in over 300 shows across five continents. For more information go to www.eltonjohn.com.

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PEEX is a brand-new pioneering live music platform. It has been designed to improve the connection between fans and has just now been revealed.

This has piqued (or, PEEXed) my interest as I have been in live bands consistently for the past 30 years (gulp!).

PEEX promises to make live music more interactive and personalised. Although, actually being at a gig/concert is pretty interactive and personal.

However, PEEX offers a two-part way of achieving more interaction. First, PEEX LIVE enables music fans to create their own enhanced 5 channel mix of the live concert sound. They will remain truly immersed in the energy of the performance via wearable technology, the rX, and an easy-to-use app.

Additionally, PEEX RELIVE will provides a forum for the musicians to sell audio downloads of past and future live shows. This will, of course, be rendered in PEEX’s unique 5 channel interactive audio format.

This, at least on paper, seems a more friendly way than MQA Live, for instance, for the actual content creators to reach their audience.

PEEX new experiences

I have been told that PEEX offers new experiences, content and business opportunities for the whole of the music industry.

Global music ticketing revenues are predicted to hit $24.6bn (more if you include unscrupulous vendors engaging in ‘reselling’) by 20211. The new platform is poised to grow this number further, providing new commercial opportunities for artists, labels, and venues. Moreover, it will generate additional revenue from live shows that have previously gone uncaptured.

The tech bit

To enable the PEEX LIVE experience, the PEEX team collaborates with artists to take an audio feed from their production. They then separate the multi-channel mix into five separate stems that are transmitted to the audience. The transmitted signal is in a proprietary and encrypted format.

A fan-owned wearable PEEX rX picks up that signal and synchronises with the PA system ensuring no perceptible delay in the two sound sources. The connected Bluetooth app then provides fans the ability to personalise the experience via a 5 channel mixer set up by the musicians and instruments.

The 5 channel in-app mixer splits the sound into five adjustable channels, such as the piano, bass, vocals, etc. This enables fans to be able to control and set up their preferred multi-mix of the sound.

The rX blends the live sound with a personal digital mix. Thus creating the perfect concert experience for you anywhere in the venue.

Distracting?

According to the company, this tech has been carefully designed to ensure you’re not isolated from the concert experience.

The rX is provided with a set of earbuds that allows some ambient sound to still be heard. However, should you prefer to use your own headphones you can do via the standard 3.5mm jack.

Additionally, after the show, you can relive your favourite moments via PEEX RELIVE.

We are promised the same 5 channel mixable format and high fidelity via the same in-app interface. PEEX is currently partnering with selected artists in order to offer download sales of some of their iconic previous live show recordings, all in their proprietary 5 channel format.

Words

Graham Tull, Chief Technology Officer and co-founder of PEEX, comments:

We’re delighted to unveil PEEX. Through focussing on adding genuine value both to music fans and the music industry ecosystem, we’ve invented new music technology that we’re all very proud of and believe will revolutionise the live music experience. Artists, labels and venues will all benefit from a closer dialogue with their audience via the PEEX app. We’re looking forward to putting PEEX into action with our upcoming partnerships including A-list talent – it’s sure to be a game-changer for fans, artists, and the live music experience.”

Mike Dawson, CFO of Rocket Music Management, added

Over the last three years, Rocket has worked closely with the team at PEEX as they’ve developed their technology to improve the fan experience at live gigs, and we’re eager to see it go to market. In our partnership with PEEX, we see a disruptive technological breakthrough that has incredible potential to generate new income streams for musicians, artists, venues, and labels alike. All of us at Rocket love PEEX and we are genuinely excited about how it’s going to change the experience of live music for the fans.”

Price and availability

The free PEEX app, enabling PEEX RELIVE, will be available to download soon from Apple’s App Store (iOS) and the Google Play Store (Android).

To find out more information and to keep updated please visit the website. You can also follow the team on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

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