How to Make Your Own Music Beats!!!

Making Beats is fun, but only for those who already know how to do it. When you have your own style and your own sounds, jumping from beat making to producing full tracks is not that difficult.

But getting there can take a long time!

Learn To Make Beats With Sonic Producer!!!

A lot of friends have asked me for an inexpensive and easy way to get started making beats. They would like to have a basic idea of what they're doing before dishing out for expensive programs like Logic or Reason.

There's an internet only package called 'Sonic Producer' which is arguably one of the best.

This program for just $30.00 gives:

-A full music production software
-Samples and instrumentals
-Video tutorials for major DAW's
-PC & Mac compatibility

Most modern music programs operate under the same principles. One might have some piece of candy that the others don't, but when it comes to the meat and potatoes they all pretty much do the same.

Start with something like 'Sonic Producer' and gain some experience by going through the easy tutorials. By the time you decide which music production software you like you'll be a lot more prepared to justify that kind of commitment.

For this amount you can't even get a decent DVD of instruction, much less customer support which 'Sonic Producer' has. And very important:

*This program has a 100% satisfaction guarantee

To Demo This Incredible Software --> Please Click Here!

Best Pro Music Software To Make Beats

The world of modern music production is software driven to a large extent. The quality of music that even a modest home computer can produce could only be imagined 10 years ago.

That being said, investing in a digital audio workstation (DAW) is a big commitment and you should research thoroughly before choosing one.

 Avid Pro Tools Pro Tools is the standard DAW in the professional audio industry. It comes loaded with instruments, presets, loops and samples. All the usual instruments geared towards 'beat making' are included, with plenty of audio processors to craft a mix. Plus, the audio editing capabilities of Pro Tools are unmatched.

Ableton Live Ableton Live is a revolutionary audio production software. It's great for creating loop oriented music. The main weapon of Ableton Live is time stretching, this program is capable of taking any set of musical pieces and playing them in perfect sync. It's not a far stretch to say that Ableton Live is the one program that can completely change the way you approach music production.

Apple Logic 9 This program is one of the most popular DAW's. Comes with a lot of content, a very engaging user interface, plenty of software instruments and very good plug ins. When it comes to electronic music production Logic is pretty much flawless. Logic only works on Mac OS.

Propellerhead Reason Reason is used by electronic musicians the world over. It's great for midi sequencing and creative signal routing. It kind of forces the user to work with a limited set of tools, but it arguably increases productivity. Plus, It can be used within other DAW's like Logic and Pro Tools via a free technology called Rewire.

Image Line Fl Studio If you are starting out and have a PC I highly recommend checking out FL Studio, also known as Fruity Loops. A lot of electronic music producers have cut their teeth with this software. It's loaded with instruments, sounds, samples, presets and everything needed to make beats. For making dance oriented music this might be one of the best to start with.

Steinberg Cubase Cubase is very popular among music producers, especially in Europe and many parts of the United States not related to the major media markets. It belongs to the Yamaha corporation and offers intelligent integration with some of their gear. It offers just as much power as Pro Tools and Logic.

Cakewalk Sonar This program only runs on Windows, Mac OS can run Windows but I don't foresee any beat maker buying a Mac wanting to use it with Sonar. If you own a PC and want a program in the style of Logic this might be the answer. To my style of working though Sonar is not very intuitive.

Making Beats with a Midi Controller 

Even though it's possible to make music with just a mouse there is no progress down that path. A midi controller is a must if you are planning to make music with a computer on a regular basis. You don't have to buy a $500.00 keyboard. Actually, you don't even need keys necessarily, you could used pads. A decent midi controller could be found for less that a $100.00 these days. And even if you play another instrument and just want to make beats to play along with them a midi controller will make the process a lot easier.

I highly recommend this one:
-->Akai Professional Mpk61 Usb Midi Keyboard Controller

Monitors for Music Production

Consumer speakers are not recommended for music production, especially for mixing. They tend to negatively affect the reproduction and perception of extreme low and high frequencies. Audio monitors designed for music production give a more realistic image of the sounds being produced. My favorite entry level monitors are the M Audio BX5's, by official records these are the best selling of their kind in the world. They have a very good sound, especially for hip hop and dance music.

 -->M-Audio BX5 D2 Studio Monitors

LTD EC 401 Review

ESP LTD EC 401 vs Gibson Les Paul Studio Faded

This is the kind of decision that more and more players are facing these days. A lot of the most popular Asian made guitars are coming out with a high level of quality, but now you can also find American made electric guitars for less than a thousand dollars.

 LTD EC 401 Review


 

Sound: 4.5/5
Playability: 4/5
Construction Quality: 4/5
Finish: 4/5
Overall Value: 4.5/5

As most of us know what makes a Les Paul guitar special is its combination of features, not necessarily the name. The market is flooded with clones, some are horrible, some are great. But some are really good, like the ESP LTD EC-401.

The differences between a Les Paul and this guitar are minimal. The neck and body are thinner than in a Gibson, and there's only one tone knob.

The Seymour Duncan pickups featured on this guitar, the JB and the 59', are two of the most popular after market choices available. I'm really glad ESP chose to go with the 59' and not the Jazz model for the neck, for the sake of Rock n' Roll this is a better choice.

Another feature that stands out from this instrument is the finish, this sunburst is probably one of the best available in the industry. The Japanese ESP guitars that come with these kind of finishes look a little more upscale, I won't deny that, but this LTD version looks very good.

For more detailed info about this guitar please visit my Squidoo page
-->LTD EC 401 Review



 Gibson Les Paul Studio Faded Review


 


Sound: 4.5/5
Playability: 4.5/5
Construction Quality: 4.5/5
Finish: 4/5
Overall Value: 5/5

One could easily argue that what most of us know as a Les Paul electric guitar has a piece of maple on top of a thick piece of mahogany. But this is mainly a product of tradition.

It's documented that Les Paul often preferred an all mahogany Les Paul Custom. The absence of a maple top makes what already is a meaty sounding guitar even darker.

There are still some all mahogany Gibson Les Paul Custom electric guitars available, but their price is steep.


The Gibson Les Paul Studio Faded is a Les Paul stripped to the bone. The all mahogany body and neck are substantial. After years of playing mine the back of the neck has naturally smoothed in a way that makes it really comfortable.

The most exciting feature of the Gibson Les Paul Studio Faded is the choice of pickups, the Burstbucker Pro. These are the high end pickups that Gibson uses for some of their most expensive Les Paul guitars.

The sound is unbelievable, the first time I played out with this guitar I was complimented on the sound of my palm mutes. It's rock sound at its best, and the dark tonality of the all mahogany body makes the neck pickup perfect for more jazzy stuff or Santana like tone.



PRS SE Custom Review


 

Sound: 4/5
Playability: 4/5
Construction Quality: 4/5
Finish: 4/5
Overall Value: 5/5


The PRS SE Custom is one of those guitars that I consider blend perfectly the best attributes of the Les Paul and Stratocaster design.

The materials mainly follow the formula of a Les Paul guitar: mahogany body, maple top, mahogany neck and humbucking pickups. The neck, which is offered with 22 or 24 frets, is more on the thicker side, but not as much as some other PRS guitars.

They call it wide/thin but don't be fooled, it's not an Ibanez. The perfect 25 inches of the freatboard is a feature unique to PRS guitars and give the guitar a special feel.

PRS has the luxury to own the design of many excellent pickups that only come with their guitars. The humbuckers featured on the SE are versions of American made PRS models.

They sound very good, especially for hard rock and blues, and keep good definition even with distortion. Something I appreciate from PRS is having the nice touch to offer an original gig bag.

In a sea of guitars that either imitate a Les Paul or a Stratocaster, the PRS SE stands out. Its sound and playability, given you're not looking for super thin necks, are very good.

For more detailed info about this guitar please visit my Squidoo page
-->LTD EC 401 Review



Oceanic Reviews Privacy Policy

Yamaha Stagepas Review

Yamaha Stagepas vs Fender Passport


The Yamaha Stagepas is in my opinion the best sounding and most versatile portable PA in its size. I've encountered many different situations when this product met the needs at hand better than any other of the competing choices.

Yamaha Stagepas Review

The Yamaha Stagepas is a self contained PA system that comes with a power amplifier, a mixer and 2 monitors. Included are the cables to connect the monitors to the power amp.

The design is very clever, the mixer and amplifier are packed in the same unit like a mini powered mixer. They come attached to the back of one of the monitors or can be taken out. 2 single twist screws hold them perfectly in place.

Have in mind that the powered mixer can be used independently from the speakers, as long as you make sure that power handling is correct you can plug any speakers you want.

The same for the speakers, you could use them separate as monitors. It comes in 2 options, a 300 and a 500 watt version. I've always liked how Yamaha has made it really simple for the layman to estimate their power needs. They recommend to consider a watt per person.

So if you need to address between 300 to 500 people the Stagepas 500 is the correct choice. Also consider this one for smaller outside gatherings as well. The Stagepas 300 comes with a 8 channels mixer. 4 channels feature a mic pre and a mono line input, 2 channels are stereo, one stereo input has a pair of 1/4'' line inputs and a pair of RCA inputs, the other has a pair of RCA inputs only.

All channels feature a 2 band EQ and the first 4 channels have a master reverb button which can be controlled by a single knob. Also a limiter is included to prevent the speakers from overloading. The Stagepas 500 mixer includes a second stereo line input with 1/4'' connections, phantom power and a compressor on the first 2 channels.

Have in mind that in both options in the first 4 channels you have to select between the mic or the line input. To make it more gig friendly you might want to consider the optional accessories, the very comfortable carrying case with wheels and the mic stand adapter for the mixer. Also a pair of speaker stands.

For more detailed info about the Yamaha Stagepas 300
please -->Click Here


For info about the Yamaha Stagepas 500
please -->Click Here


Also consider these accessories,

-->Yamaha YBSP300 StagePas 300 Transport Bag


-->Yamaha Rolling Case for Stagepas 500



Fender Passport Review


The Fender Passport in my opinion has always looked more attractive for speech applications. Also home entertaining situations like karaoke. The design of the package itself makes it very portable.

A full PA system is included in 3 options, a 150, 300 and 500 watts version. The newer Passport Pro is more robust and very well suited for music applications. Also in the new Pro version is the capability of recording directly to a USB drive.

The old Passport can still be found in a 250 and 80 watts version but these might not be available for long. But I would highly recommend considering the new Pro version.

As I stated before, in my opinion for music purposes I've always preferred the Yamaha Stagepas, the speakers are constructed out of a harder material. But in the new version the Fender Passport has gotten a lot more solid and defined.

The layout of the mixer is very similar to the Yamaha Stagepas with the nice addition of a dedicated reverb control knob and a pad to lower the input via a single button per channel. The older Fender Passport 250 can still be found with a pair of microphones included.

For small gatherings, speeches, presentations, traveling expositions and many more other applications the Fender Passport is an obvious choice. Its compact and portable design makes it very attractive due to the fact that you don't need and extra carrying case.

For more info about the Fender Passport Pro 500 please -->Click Here


For more info about the Fender Passport Pro 300 please -->Click Here




Oceanic Reviews Privacy Policy

Fender Stratocaster Mods

Modifications For Fender Stratocaster Guitars

The Fender Standard Stratocaster is probably the most modifiable guitar made. Every single part of this instrument is available in multiple choices. To the point that you could easily put one together from scratch with the same quality as any American made Stratocaster.

In this review I'll explain some of the most popular modifications that my experience has taught me for Fender Stratocaster guitars. It's impossible to cover them all, but I consider myself lucky to have interacted with a good amount of Fender fans and I always admire how passionate most of these are about their instruments.


Pickups


One of the most immediate ways to improve the quality of the Fender Standard Stratocaster, or customize the sound of the American, is to replace the pickups. There are literally hundreds of choices, they cover the whole gamut from super clean vintage style single coils to heavily distorted humbuckers.

There are different designs of pickups that fit in this guitar, regardless of it being the classic 3 single coils, the HSS or the HH version. For the most popular version, 3 single coils, there are plenty of choices. There are humbuckers made in the size of a single coil, as well as the stacked design that cancels the hum of single coils while still retaining most of their sound.

Here are some of the most popular replacement pickups available for this guitar:

-->Seymour Duncan SHR-1 Hot Rail


-->Fender Hot Noiseless Set


-->Fender Custom Shop '69 Strat Pickup Set


Pickguard


When changing the pickups is always a good idea to consider changing the pickguard also. For one because they're cheap and the one that came stock is going to have to be taken out anyways. With 9 to 11 screws holding it in place it's not the kind of thing you look forward to try a few to see how they look.

Another thing is that they give the guitar a more personal look. There are many colors to choose from, some of them with very interesting designs. Also have in mind that there are pickguards with pickups already installed. In the case of EMG pickups, these being active, they normally require more technical wiring, having them pre assembled makes it very easy to install.

-->Fender American Standard Strat 11-Hole Pickguard


-->EMG EMG-GC21 SA Prewired Pickguard Set


-->DiMarzio FG2108 HS Setup Prewired Strat-Style Pickguard



Control Knobs


This is mainly cosmetic but is a little step that can make this guitar look more your own. There are many different designs to choose from, some are very conservative like the vintage looking cream knobs, others are all out there with LED lit skulls and fancy stones on the top.

-->Q Parts Shell Dome Knobs


-->Fender Strat Cream Knobs



Potentiometers

There are 2 features of these electronic components that affect the sound of electric guitars. One is their overall quality, we all have played guitars with volume knobs that are very unresponsive, jumping from loud to quiet in a snap. Or tone controls that jump from overly bright to super dull.

Another is their electric resistance, measured in ohms, the most used values in electric guitars are 250K, 500K and 1 Meg Ohms. These are available in push/pull configuration as well. With these kind more advanced pickup settings can be wired in the guitar.

-->Fender 250K Split Shaft Potentiometer


-->ToneShaper Stratocaster SSS-1 Control Knobs and Switch


Saddles 


One modification that I was very impressed with when I tried it in one of my guitars is these graphite saddles. The properties of graphite are well known for absorbing the vibrations of the strings very well while not wearing them out much.

I immediately noticed more sustain as well. Also the black color looks very cool in my opinion. After getting to the point of trusting them so much I got a lot more aggressive with my playing.

-->Graph Tech String Saver Saddle

Locking Tuners

Depending on how much the tremolo bridge is used the tuning of this electric guitar can be inconsistent. Some measures can help stabilize the tuning, like installing more springs in the back of the guitar or tightening the screws on top of the machine heads.

One easy way to fix this problem for good is to install locking tuners, these as their name implies lock the machine head. That way the tremolo bridge can be used and abused while the tuning is consistent.

-->Fender Schaller Locking Tuners



Nut


A problem with inexpensive plastic nuts is that strings can get caught up when being bend and snap out of tune all of a sudden. And the material of the nut is yet another feature that has an effect on the sound of electric guitars.

Some of the most popular materials used for this part are graphite, bone and brass among others. All these share the property of being hard surfaces that absorb the vibrations of the strings very efficiently, allowing them to sustain longer. In the case of brass it also makes the guitar sound a little brighter.

This new nut by Fender is really cool in my opinion, it features rolling edges.
-->Fender LSR Roller Nut


This can fix some of the problems in plastic nuts.
-->Big Bends Nut Sauce Tuning Lubricant



For a review of the American Standard Stratocaster please visit my Squidoo page -->Fender Stratocaster Review




Oceanic Reviews Privacy Policy