Mixdown 2012 Xmas Wishlist

ULTIMATE XMAS WISH LIST W

DECEMBER GIVEAWAY ASHDOWN FIVE FIFTEEN MINIRIG

For full details go to page 6. For review check out page 41: Merry Christmas from good friends D’addario Australia.

SNARK UKULELE TUNER WSN6

oah, that came up quick!

It’s that time of year again where we look forward to a bevy of musical treats under the ol’ Christmas tree (if we’re lucky). If you’re looking for a gift for that special someone or whipping up a wishlist, there are plenty of options for the music-minded out there.

To help you out a little, we’ve reviewed an extensive selection of this season’s most desirable products. We take a look at a huge range of top-shelf stocking fillers and gifts, all priced under the $1000 mark. No matter what instrument you (or the person you’re shopping for) plays, we have you covered – guitars, mics, accessories, you name it. Ain’t no lumps of coal here!

RRP: $19.95

DISTRIBUTION DETAILS DISTRIBUTOR:

PHONE/EMAIL:

WEBSITE:

AMBER TECHNOLOGY AUSTRALIASIAN MUSIC SUPPLIES AUDIO PRODUCTS GROUP CMC MUSIC D’ADDARIO AUSTRALIA DYNAMIC MUSIC ELECTRIC FACTORY JADE AUSTRALIA MAJOR MUSIC NATIONAL AUDIO SYSTEMS RODE MICROPHONES TAG YAMAHA

1800 251 367 (03) 9549 1500 (02) 9669 3477 (02) 9905 2511 (03) 8761 6293 (02) 9939 1299 (03) 9474 1000 1800 144 120 1300 30 66 70 1800 441 440 (02) 9648 5855 (02) 9519 0900 (03) 9693 5111

www.ambertech.com.au www.austmusic.com.au www.audioproducts.com.au www.cmcmusic.com.au sales@daddario.com.au www.dynamicmusic.com.au www.elfa.com.au www.jadeaustralia.com.au www.majormusic.com.au www.nationalaudio.com.au www.rodemic.com www.tag.com.au www.au.yamaha.com

WISH LIST PRICING KEY UNDER $100

$251 - $500

$101 - $250

$501 - $1000

SAMSON CM40 TUNER METRONOME

DISTRIBUTOR: AUSTRALASIAN MUSIC SUPPLIES

DISTRIBUTOR: ELECTRIC FACTORY

RECOMMENDED FOR: Perfect for every ukulele player who wants a quick and easy way to ensure their instrument is in tune and ready to go.

RECOMMENDED FOR: Great for any guitarist or bass player that wants a pocket sized tuner as well as the convenience of a metronome built in for keeping steady time when practicing.

SOUND AND TONE: It’s a tuner and it clips on to your instrument’s headstock, so it does not in any way affect the tone of the ukulele. It can be left on whilst playing without fear of changing your tone.

SOUND AND TONE: The tuner captures the sound through either the inbuilt microphone, or through a jack plug for electric instruments and quickly and accurately responds to changes in your guitars tuning.

PLAYABILITY: A simple one button operation gets the tuner up and running. It detects the note through vibrations in the wood and shows the note and relative tune on a large bright screen.

PLAYABILITY: This is really simple to use. It is fully chromatic, so you can tune to any note, sharp or flat and allows pitch calibration of up to 20Hz. The metronome is loud and audible and has a variety of patterns with varying speed.

CONSTRUCTION: The rocking clip fits onto just about any shaped headstock and the swivel head means you can always see the screen no matter how you mount the tuner.

CONSTRUCTION: A tough little box with strong screen protection. It also features a smart power off function that shuts the unit down when not used for a period of time to conserve battery life.

OVERALL: There are plenty of tuners out there, but this one makes tuning ukuleles quick and easy as it is designed to detect the standard ukulele notes and show you how far out you are at first strike of the string.

SNARK SUPER TIGHT TUNER WSN8

OVERALL: If you need a budget tuner to keep in your case, the CM40 is a great option. Its coloured screen is highly visible in all light situations and the added bonus of a metronome is very handy indeed.

RRP: $29.95

SNARK CHROMATIC TUNER WSN2

DISTRIBUTOR: AUSTRALASIAN MUSIC SUPPLIES

DISTRIBUTOR: AUSTRALASIAN MUSIC SUPPLIES

RECOMMENDED FOR: This is the tuner you want to use when you want really accurate tuning, and fast. It shows minor adjustments to the pitch as soon as it happens, so you do not over tighten the string before the tuner has a chance to show you.

RECOMMENDED FOR: Perfect for every stringed instrument player who wants a quick and easy way to ensure their instrument is in tune and ready to go.

SOUND AND TONE: This little beauty has no sound, nor any tone. But it does ensure you are able to detect when your instrument is not in tune, ensuring you get the best sound from whatever instrument you use it with.

PLAYABILITY: A simple one button operation gets the tuner up and running. There are additional controls on the rear, but what makes this one stand out from the Snark range is the bright screen and the speed with which it shows tuning adjustments.

CONSTRUCTION: The rocking clip fits onto just about any shaped headstock and the swivel head means you can always see the screen no matter how you mount the tuner.

OVERALL: This chromatic tuner allows you to tune just about any instrument in a fast and accurate fashion. With the Super Tight Snark, you have no excuse for playing out of tune.

PG. 38 MIXDOWN NO. 224

DECEMBER 2012

RRP: $28

SOUND AND TONE: It’s a tuner and it clips on to your instrument’s headstock, so it does not in any way affect the tone of your instrument. It can be left on whilst playing without fear of changing your tone.

PLAYABILITY: A simple one button operation gets the tuner up and running. It detects the note through vibrations in the wood and shows the note and relative tune on a large bright screen.

CONSTRUCTION: The rocking clip fits onto just about any shaped headstock and the swivel head means you can always see the screen no matter how you mount the tuner.

OVERALL: Being chromatic, you can tune to any note you like, making it ideal for odd tunings and just about any instrument you can think of, as long as you can clip it on somewhere that is resonant.

RRP: $29.95

ERNIE BALL COBALT STRINGS

RRP: $22.95

ERNIE BALL EVERLAST COATED ACOUSTIC STRINGS

DISTRIBUTOR: CMC MUSIC

DISTRIBUTOR: CMC MUSIC

RECOMMENDED FOR: Anyone who needs a longlife string, but that’s a given. The Cobalt series offers additional output and top end brilliance too, so there’s a tangible tonal benefit as well for all players.

RECOMMENDED FOR: Steel-string acoustic guitarists who need a long-life string for live, recording or even around-the-house playing.

SOUND AND TONE: A great all-purpose string with warm, right bass frequencies and clear, airy highs. They’re not overly harsh in the upper mid-range like some other coated strings.

SOUND AND TONE: Cobalts sound a little bigger, deeper and tougher than regular strings, interacting with the pickups’ magnetic field to give you more punch and articulation. They have a great high end which is bright without being buzzy, and this makes them great for players who predominantly use clean amp settings.

USABILITY: Ernie Ball has engineered these strings for maximum life and tone. After 50 years you can be sure they know what they’re doing!

USABILITY: Honestly? I’ve had a set on my Strat for over six months and they still sound and feel new. Granted I don’t play it every day, but when I’ve worn them out I’ll change them for another set of Cobalts because they suit this guitar perfectly.

CONSTRUCTION: These strings use a proprietary nanotechnology treatment which repels unwanted moisture and oils, while the plain strings have a patented titanium winding around the ball end to reduce slippage and breakage, and to maintain tuning integrity.

CONSTRUCTION: You can feel a kind of silkiness when you unwrap these strings, and it’s also noticeable when performing slides. They seem very well constructed.

OVERALL: Ernie Ball don’t do things by halves, and while these strings haven’t really even been out long enough to truly judge how long they last over extended periods, history tells us they’re gonna live up to their name.

OVERALL: You would think there wasn’t anything new to be done with strings but the Cobalt series really offers something new, with bigger tone and longer life.

WOODIE GUITAR STAND

RRP: $36.95

RRP: $34.95

PEAVEY AMPKIT LINK AUDIO INTERFACE

DISTRIBUTOR: JADE AUSTRALIA

DISTRIBUTOR: AUDIO PRODUCTS GROUP

RECOMMENDED FOR: Those with a flair for design and a need to have their guitars within arm’s reach or at the very least attractively displayed.

RECOMMENDED FOR: Home, practice, studio, recording on the go, tech enthusiasts!

RRP: $59.99

SOUND AND TONE: As an audio interface the AMPKIT Link provides high fidelity connectivity to the AmpKit App without feedback and minimal latency. For those not in the know you can then connect to AmpKit and get 114 amp and pedal models available via AmpKit for everything from super clean American amps to Hi Gain monsters including real brand name amps like the Peavey Classic 30 and Peavey 6505+. Pedal wise you get distortions, EQ, Noise Gate, Compressor, Modulation, Delay, Wah. Minimal latency and the ability to use both wet and dry recordings gives you even more power for recording. Super versatile and the amp and pedal models sound great.

SOUND AND TONE: There’s no tone or sound to speak of here, since it’s a guitar stand, but in terms of versatility it’ll protect your electric, acoustic or bass guitar from falls and scrapes, and it’ll look cool while doing so.

USABILITY: Easy to fold up and stash away, and easy to transport.

CONSTRUCTION: It might look a little bit like a Droideka from Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace, but that’s because the Woodie and the Droideka both have the same purpose, protecting your growing empire.

USABILITY: The Ampkit Link itself is a piece of cake - power, guitar, interface, iPhone/iPad/iPod and you’re done! From there it’s up to you to get anything from basic sounds to crazy setups and recording options.

OVERALL: A very handy little stand for home or stage use.

It’s much more attractive than the average guitar stand, and its low centre of gravity makes it feel much sturdier too.

CONSTRUCTION: Small and solid it’ll sit in your bag, gig bag, laptop case or pocket nicely.

OVERALL: The AmpKit has been an iPhone fave and Peavey’s AmpKit specific interface makes that app even more usable. Awesome!

VOX CLASSIC WAH V845

RRP: $89

VOX STOMPLAB IG GUITAR EFFECTS PEDAL

DISTRIBUTOR: YAMAHA AUSTRALIA

DISTRIBUTOR: YAMAHA AUSTRALIA

RECOMMENDED FOR: Anyone looking for the classic Vox Wah tone in a slightly cheaper package without the bling.

RECOMMENDED FOR: Live guys wanting a multi effects type setup in a small package on a small ish budget.

SOUND AND TONE: Super versatile with 103 built in effects, space for 20 user presets (along with the 100 factory presets), chromatic tuner and stereo outs. Sound wise you can run through modulation effects, reverb and delay and add drive, amp and cabinet models and noise reduction.

SOUND AND TONE: Funky with a nice sweep you get a good clean tone range with a clear quack. Harking back to the classic Vox Wah tone it’s definitely in a similar vein and gets you in the Vox Wah ball park.

USABILITY: Simple. Step on it and rock back and forth.

Other wahs have tried on/off switches and a host of options but this straight forward design is still as popular as ever.

USABILITY: Easy to get a sound out of with a bit of twiddling, look into the IG a little deeper and you’ll get the hang of tweaking sounds/effects to your content.

CONSTRUCTION: Tough both in feel and looks the all black casing and treadle seem ready for some serious use.

CONSTRUCTION: With steel casing and sturdy stomp switches it feels fine under foot. Perhaps not as super bullet proof as some other brands but for the price is well worth it.

OVERALL: Vox have taken their classic chrome top wah, made a few tweaks and put it in all black case at a reduced price here. Still sounds good and costs a little less, sweet!

VOX STOMPLAB IB BASS EFFECTS PEDAL

OVERALL: A cool pedal for live use, scaled down rigs that need mulitple tones/effects, rehearsals, gigs and recording. Pretty sold on this one.

RRP: $99.99

AUDIO TECHNICA ATR2500-USB MICROPHONE

DISTRIBUTOR: YAMAHA AUSTRALIA

DISTRIBUTOR: TAG

RECOMMENDED FOR: Bass players wanting to add some effects to their arsenal be it in the studio or on stage.

RECOMMENDED FOR: This is a wonderful addition to any home studio even when other microphones and pre-amps are already in use. The ease of connection and setup makes it ideal for song writing ideas straight into the computer.

SOUND AND TONE: With quite a variety of effects you’ve got the ability to tweak away for hours - Modulation, Drive, Amp/Cab Models, Reverb, Delay and Noise Reduction. I dug the funk type tones and as you’ve got 20 user presets you can set up an array of sounds to switch between.

USABILITY: As a stompbox it’s fairly user friendly and just a matter of scrolling through presets. For the in depth stuff you need to get into the tweaking possibilities which will take a little stuffing around but then you’re away.

CONSTRUCTION: Tough both in feel and looks the all black casing and treadle seem ready for some serious use.

OVERALL: A compact multi effects pedal in a small package aimed at bass players the StompLab IB has a lot going for it in terms of effects and tones. With the modelling capabilities onboard you can also explore direct uses like recording and straight to FOH.

RRP: $99.99

RRP: $149

SOUND AND TONE: For a microphone that houses a preamp and digital converters, the ATR2500-USB actually has a very nice sounding capsule. You don’t get too much operating noise from the additional internal components.

PLAYABILITY: This is really easy to get up and running.

Once installed, monitoring is offered direct from a headphone output on the microphone so you can, with just a laptop computer and the supplied accessories, get recording without anything else.

CONSTRUCTION: This is a solidly built unit. The capsule is well supported and the controls feel fairly rigid in the fingers.

OVERALL: The idea of the USB microphone is nothing new, but Audio Technica have produced a model that offers excellent quality recording for the price. This is a quick solution to computer recording, and yet, it still offers great results.

DECEMBER 2012 NO. 224 MIXDOWN

PG. 39

YAMAHA NATURAL JUNIOR ACOUSTIC JR 2

RRP: $175

MARTINEZ BABE TRAVELLER GUITAR BZ-MT1C-NST

DISTRIBUTOR: YAMAHA AUSTRALIA

DISTRIBUTOR: JADE AUSTRALIA

RECOMMENDED FOR: Kids, those with smaller hands, travellers and anyone wanting something small and portable to use around the house.

RECOMMENDED FOR: Kids, Adults, those with smaller hands, travellers and anyone wanting something smaller in size and portable.

SOUND AND TONE: Big, clean and full sounding the JR2 has tonnes of volume for a smaller bodied guitar.

Although slightly mid range focussed (as is the case with most smaller bodies) its well balanced and not too super bright in the top end.

SOUND AND TONE: Lively and clean the BZ-MT1C has plenty of volume and a full, slightly mid focused tone.

RRP: $179

USABILITY: Great for a beginner, younger player/student not quite ready for a full sized guitar or for those who enjoy playing something different and need portability.

USABILITY: Compact enough to throw in the car, sit on the couch or take to a mate’s place the JR2 opens itself up to a range of possibilities. I really, really like the fact that it still has a decent sized neck too making it feel more like a serious instrument than just a gimmicky guitar - beauty!

CONSTRUCTION: Typical of all the Martinez gear I’ve seen recently this little acoustic feels solid and well built with a clean, neat finish. Plus, it came pretty well set up with great intonation straight out of the box.

CONSTRUCTION: Looks the goods, feels nice to play and still has that feeling of Yamaha consistency and workmanship.

OVERALL: Another entrant into the mini/traveller/small bodied acoustic market this little Martinez matches up well to its often more expensive peers.

OVERALL: I really dig the JR2. Small bodied yet still plays well and has the tone to back it up.

SX DG1K ACOUSTIC GUITAR PACK

RRP: $199

RECORDING KING RD-04 ACOUSTIC GUITAR

DISTRIBUTOR: AUSTRALASIAN MUSIC SUPPLIES

DISTRIBUTOR: DYNAMIC MUSIC

RECOMMENDED FOR: Beginners, people looking for an inexpensive guitar pack.

RECOMMENDED FOR: Beginner or amateur players. Those after a nice playing, good sounding dreadnought at a super cheap price.

SOUND AND TONE: Clear and lively the DG1K fits the bill for a starter type guitar with a glossy natural finish and even woody tone. It is super responsive with plenty of volume and a nice bit of zing when you dig into it.

SOUND AND TONE: Loud and full tonally I was surprised at the RD-04’s body and overall sound. Plenty of volume, even and balanced with none of that zingy, super bright top end that haunts some cheaper acoustic guitars. A dreadnought shape, the bigger body helps with the balance and woody tone.

USABILITY: A dreadnaught styled guitar the DG1K feels fine to play and the fact that it comes loaded with extras definitely adds to its ‘starter pack’ value. With a gig bag, guitar strap, pitch pipe, guitar stand, plectrums, string winder and a DVD you’re getting a nice little bounty that will more than get you on your way.

USABILITY: Good body and neck size that would suit strummers and play along chord type guys. Obviously the RD-04 is a bigger dreadnought shaped guitar but it still felt comfy both sitting and standing.

CONSTRUCTION: A combination of spruce, basswood, natowood and rosewood it’ll handle some serious bashing no problems.

CONSTRUCTION: Understated and straight ahead the RD-04 isn’t flashy but looks the part and more than meets the mark for its price tag! A combination of maple, plywood, sapele, solid spruce and rosewood work together for a clean finish.

OVERALL: SX have put together a neat package with the DG1K and it’s a guitar that will get you started and have you covered with accessories.

ASHDOWN TOURBUS 10 BASS COMBO

OVERALL: A ripper of a guitar for its price point the RD-04 could be a great beginner guitar, around home basher or holiday sing along axe. Shows that cheap doesn’t necessarily mean nasty.

RRP: $119.99

VOX MINI 3 MODELING GUITAR AMP

DISTRIBUTOR: D’ADDARIO AUSTRALIA

DISTRIBUTOR: YAMAHA AUSTRALIA

RECOMMENDED FOR: Beginners, those after a no-frills small/home/practice amp.

RECOMMENDED FOR: Home, small rehearsals, travelling musicians, those limited by size/space and anyone after a compact, portable guitar amp with extra PA type functionality.

SOUND AND TONE: Ashdown have gone for a 6.5” driver in the Tourbus 10 and whilst it won’t rock Madison Square Garden it’s got a nice little tone with some guts that can be pumped a little via the Bass and Treble controls. Being a small package and damn light it’s just about as portable as you’ll get for a practice amp.

USABILITY: Straight ahead as a guitar amp with the added bonuses of Aux In for plugging in an iPod/mp3 player and a Mic In making the Mini 3 a compact PA type setup too.

CONSTRUCTION: Looks well put together and decent quality. The Logo, white piping and steel corners are nice touches too adding a bit of pro feel to a budget amp.

CONSTRUCTION: Small yet strong and well laid out.

OVERALL: The Mini 3 packs a whole lotta punch into a small package. Cool amp and effects sounds with the option of extra inputs makes it a pretty sweet little setup for jamming, practice, home or small live settings.

OVERALL: Ashdown are covering all bases with their All Access Amp (AAA) range and the Tourbus 10 adds another option for those just wanting a simple, user friendly practice amp. Ideal for beginners and the perfect x-mas present for the aspiring muso.

RRP: $149.99

HAYDEN HGT-P1508 GUITAR AMP

DISTRIBUTOR: D’ADDARIO AUSTRALIA

DISTRIBUTOR: D’ADDARIO AUSTRALIA

RECOMMENDED FOR: Perfect for beginners or as a nice little practice amp.

RECOMMENDED FOR: This is a great amp for someone looking for a low volume practice amp for use at home.

Perfect for the beginner needing an amp that sounds a little better than many of the low priced amps on the market.

SOUND AND TONE: Controls for Volume, Bass, Middle and Treble keep everything fairly stock standard. Enough variation to tweak a little and clean enough for a solid bedroom level and practice tone.

USABILITY: No frills here and super easy to use. The Headphone out and mini jack MP3 input are good additions meaning you can jam with your favourite tunes and not really annoy anyone else.

CONSTRUCTION: Whilst small sized and fairly light weight the cabinet seems solid and the steel corners and black covering look tough. It’s not the kind of amp that you’d be regularly packing in a truck and touring the world with but is well suited to the rough and tumble of home and practice environments.

OVERALL: These small wattage practice amps regularly get over filled with features that aren’t even used so a straight ahead practice amp with headphones out and MP3 input really covers it here. Loud enough, clean enough and built tough.

PG. 40 MIXDOWN NO. 224

DECEMBER 2012

RRP: $129

SOUND AND TONE: Vox have included 11 amp models and 8 effects in the Mini 3 and for 3 watts of power its surprisingly loud and clean. Tonewise you can do super clean through to jangly and saturated metal tones and then add in effects.

USABILITY: Perfect for bedroom or home jamming and again featuring a headphone out and MP3 in, it gets a thumbs up for those into late night practice.

ASHDOWN TOURBUS 15 BASS COMBO

RRP: $199

SOUND AND TONE: This 15 watt amplifier features an 8 inch Celestion speaker which has much more headroom than the speakers in other amps of the same price, giving you a warmer tone and the ability to make use of the full 15 watts with speaker distortion.

PLAYABILITY: The HGT-P1508 has a glassy clean tone and heavy overdrive making it quite usable for a variety of styles.

CONSTRUCTION: This is a simple design; it doesn’t have the biggest transformers, so it is fairly lightweight, with an open back. Because of this, it doesn’t feel as solid as it could but I’m sure this is conscious decision to highlight its practice portability.

OVERALL: You probably wouldn’t gig with this amp, but it will serve the purpose for a brilliant practice at home amp with a variety of tones.

RRP: $199.99

ASHDOWN AFTER 8 BASS AMP

RRP: $249.99

PEAVEY VYPYR 15 COMBO

RRP: $249

DISTRIBUTOR: D’ADDARIO AUSTRALIA

DISTRIBUTOR: AUDIO PRODUCTS GROUP

RECOMMENDED FOR: This little bad boy is perfect as a practice amp or bedroom amp.

RECOMMENDED FOR: Bedroom, practice amp guys that want plenty of features or someone needing a portable small wattage amp with effects, modelling and plenty of i/o.

SOUND AND TONE: A fat, tight low end the After 8 has good headroom and overall volume for a small amp. I really liked the tonal variation and for 20 watts and an 8” speaker you can still get quite a thumping tone.

SOUND AND TONE: 24 amp models, 11 editable rack effects and a heap of parameters to tweak mean you can really run the whole gamut of guitar tones. Clean vintage or hi-fi through to broken British and US sounds and the ultra heavy saturated dirty vibe also.

The effects are cool and tweakable giving you a heap of versatility.

USABILITY: Simple to get started the After 8 also has the advantage of a line in for plugging in a CD/MP3 player or iPod and with a dedicated Headphone Out you can practice at all hours without annoying anyone.

USABILITY: Easy to get your head around. Although it might look a little congested on the front panel Peavey have done a great job of making this logical and concise so that you can program, tweak and save your tones in as much depth as you like. Headphone/ Record out and Aux in give you the ability work silently or direct to a computer/mixer and jam along with your favourite tunes.

CONSTRUCTION: Looks tough and made to last and with the Ashdown brand you’re getting an established name.

OVERALL: Often smaller sized/wattage amps suffer from tiny sound and tinny tones but the Ashdown After 8 is punchy and fat with a great low end response - a pleasant surprise.

CONSTRUCTION: Looks the goods with rugged corners, handle and covering and the grille, faceplate and edgings definitely seems a little more classy than your average el-cheapo practice amp.

OVERALL: Peavey have slammed an awful lot of features into the VYPYR 15 so you’re getting a lot of bang for your buck. The amp models and effects sound cool plus you can save presets - gold!

TC ELECTRONIC POLYTUNE MINI

RRP: $149

VOX LIL LOOPER EFFECT PEDAL

DISTRIBUTOR: AMBER TECHNOLOGY

DISTRIBUTOR: YAMAHA AUSTRALIA

RECOMMENDED FOR: Live and studio guys of any ability wanting a sturdy tuner that won’t take up too much space.

RECOMMENDED FOR: Great for guitar and vocal looping in any existing rig. The Lil Looper gives you looping and guitar effects in one compact unit that can reduce you pedal board needs.

SOUND AND TONE: The best part is you won’t hear the Polytune Mini, you should just hear the results of your guitar being in tune. With true bypass it doesn’t mess with your tone and with a tonne of tuning options you’ll be covered for Drop D, flat tunings, capo and the ‘Poly’ idea where you can strum all six strings at once. Handy for quick assessments of which string(s) are out of tune and tweaking from there.

SOUND AND TONE: The digital looping features give you a precise replication of what goes in. With added guitar effects you can give your loops something extra to really stand out in the mix.

PLAYABILITY: This unit is really easy to get working with you playing style. Its simple layout makes it easy to record loops and engaged playback and overdubbing without putting too much thought into the looping process.

USABILITY: Small in size, so won’t take up too much precious pedal board real estate. Big on features and tuning capabilities but can also be used as a straight up tuner with =/- 0.5 cents accuracy for precise tuning.

CONSTRUCTION: The small frame is ideal for fitting the Lil Looper into existing pedal boards and it feels much sturdier in build to the previous loop pedal from Vox.

CONSTRUCTION: Tough steel casing, bright screen with fluoro colours, solid switch and typical TC Electronic design/engineering - sweet!

OVERALL: This pedal gives you a lot of versatility that is usually found only in larger framed pedal units. It is simple to use and set up and delivers great results when being used on the fly in a live situation.

OVERALL: I’m sold. Compact, accurate, extra bells and whistles or simple if you prefer. Looks trendy and does a great job without colouring your tone – boom!

Thankyou TC.

HIWATT TUBE PHASER EFFECTS PEDAL

RRP: $205

HIWATT TUBE TREMOLO EFFECTS PEDAL

DISTRIBUTOR: CMC MUSIC

DISTRIBUTOR: CMC MUSIC

RECOMMENDED FOR: Classic rock fans, indie players, and maybe even the occasional blues or country electric guitar players looking for something a little bit different.

RECOMMENDED FOR: Classic Rock fans, indie players, and maybe even the odd blues or country player looking for something a little bit different.

SOUND AND TONE: What really stands out about this pedal is its spectacular headroom. It doesn’t distort in that unmusical way that some phasers do when pushed to extremes. Instead it sounds syrupy, spacey and musical.

That 12AU7 tube certainly makes a difference compared to the vast majority of phasers without tubes.

SOUND AND TONE: What really stands out about this pedal is its spectacular headroom. It doesn’t distort in that unmusical way that some tremolos do when pushed to extremes. Instead it sounds deep and musical - an integral part of your sound, rather than something that’s ‘happening’ to your sound.

USABILITY: It’s kind of clunky and heavy and a bit oversized compared to most other pedals but don’t let that deter ya: it sounds great and is easy to use.

USABILITY: It’s kind of clunky and heavy and a bit oversized compared to most other pedals but don’t let that deter ya: it sounds great and is easy to use.

CONSTRUCTION: Built like a tank. Seriously, it looks and feels like some kind of military control box. You could use it to hammer nails and silence enemy combatants.

CONSTRUCTION: Built like a tank it can be treated like a tank...although you should be mindful as you don’t want to break the inbuilt tube that helps to make it sound so good.

OVERALL: Much more versatile than certain ‘one knob’ phasers out there, and capable of delicate subtlety as well as extreme exaggeration.

MXR CUSTOM BADASS MODIFIED OD PEDAL

RRP: $199

SAMSON CS SERIES MICROPHONE DISTRIBUTOR: ELECTRIC FACTORY

RECOMMENDED FOR: This is a great sounding overdrive pedal that offers something slightly different to many others out there on the market. Great for adding a little extra drive to your guitar tone.

RECOMMENDED FOR: When you only want one microphone to take care of a variety of uses, the CS Series allows you the freedom to change how a hand-held dynamic microphone can perform.

SOUND AND TONE: This pedal has a great bite to its tone. It gives you plenty of gain boost and has a 100Hz tone knob for really pushing your sound in the mix. Added with the “Bump” button for extra push, this sounds quite unlike most overdrives on the market.

SOUND AND TONE: For both instruments and vocals, you get a fairly familiar tone that is reminiscent of many similar microphones, but it all comes with the versatility of being in once package.

CONSTRUCTION: Put simply, it’s an MXR. These pedals just aren’t made anyway except well. It is built like a brick and will stand up to anything you throw at it.

OVERALL: I love it. The Custom Badass series gives us a great interpretation of drive and distortion pedals. The Modified OD is no exception. It has a great drive tone and the ability to sound unlike any other pedal, depending on how you run it.

RRP: $220

OVERALL: Much more versatile than certain ‘two knob’ tremolos out there, and capable of delicate shimmery subtlety as well as extreme helicopter-chop exaggeration.

DISTRIBUTOR: AUSTRALASIAN MUSIC SUPPLIES

PLAYABILITY: The Modified OD works well to push your valves for extra drive or even when you want to really heat up the signal on top of your existing drive channel.

RRP: $189

RRP: $112

PLAYABILITY: Changing the capsules is quick and easy. It only takes a matter of moments and you have a whole new microphone ready to go.

CONSTRUCTION: The framework as all good, it is a solid build in the handle with a smooth removal and replacement of the capsule on slick threading.

OVERALL: When one microphone isn’t going to cover all your needs, when you want to switch from vocal to instrument microphone applications, the CS Series gives you that versatility without the price tag of multiple microphones.

DECEMBER 2012 NO. 224 MIXDOWN

PG. 41

BLUE MIKEY DIGITAL IPHONE MICROPHONE

RRP: $139

RODE M1 HANDHELD DYNAMIC MICROPHONE

DISTRIBUTOR: AMBER TECHNOLOGY

DISTRIBUTOR: RODE MICROPHONES

RECOMMENDED FOR: This is a great addition to an iPhone or iPad to turn it into a serious audio recording device. Unlike many consumer add-on microphones, the Mikey Digital doesn’t allow the use of an iPhone to bring down the recording quality.

RECOMMENDED FOR: Anyone looking for a rugged live microphone that sounds great, is built tough and works well even on loud stages or with unconventional fold back monitoring.

SOUND AND TONE: This microphone has been modelled around a world famous stage microphone, but it has a slightly improved top end presence than similar microphones and a more level bottom end.

SOUND AND TONE: The condenser microphone capsule delivers crisp high frequencies and a surprisingly solid low end response. It doesn’t sound like a phone, it sounds like a professional recording unit.

PLAYABILITY: With the high gain nature of the capsule, you can push this microphone on loud stages with fear of feedback. It allows you to get maximum volume from your vocals without fear of the PA taking off on you.

PLAYABILITY: Easy to install, the Mikey Digital is up and running in a flash. It has the ability for the capsule to bet set in seven different positions allowing up to 230 degrees of recording scope without adjusting the position of the unit.

CONSTRUCTION: These microphones are built to an amazing quality. You can throw them around, drop them, even give them to the drummer for safe keeping and they will continue to give you great results.

CONSTRUCTION: For what it is, a phone accessory, the Mikey Digital is really well made. When fitted to an iPhone it sits in place firmly and doesn’t feel like it is going to come off easily.

OVERALL: These microphones are amazing value for the price.

They will be appearing on more and more stages as people begin to hear how well they work. Don’t be left behind being stuck with the house microphones, bring your own and make it an M1.

OVERALL: This has to be the best way to get CD quality recording direct to your iPhone or iPad. It s compact, well built and offers plenty of flexibility in audio capture.

RODE M3 CONDENSER MICROPHONE

RRP: $240

ELECTRIX EBOX 44 INTERFACE

DISTRIBUTOR: RODE MICROPHONES

DISTRIBUTOR: MAJOR MUSIC

RECOMMENDED FOR: This is the perfect addition to every studio and live setup. This microphone works well for drum overheads, guitar amps, acoustic guitars and even vocals.

RECOMMENDED FOR: This is a great little addition to any home DJ setup where you want to get your mix from the decks into the computer without too much fuss or large hardware units.

SOUND AND TONE: Being a small capsule condenser microphone, the M3 gives you a sharp high frequency response, but still retains plenty of low end in its audio capture.

PLAYABILITY: The Ebox 44 will run on a machine as slow as a Pentium III and even works on legacy operating systems going back to Windows 98, so it is perfect for turning even you old machine into a recording device.

CONSTRUCTION: The sturdy casing and solid cable connection makes this a tough microphone that will go the distance and continue to give you great results time and time again.

CONSTRUCTION: The sturdy build and firm connections make this a go anywhere USB interface that can take the rigours of club use with a laptop just as well as in the studio.

OVERALL: If you are only going to have one microphone in your home studio this should be it. The M3 does just about everything. I have used it for vocals, guitars, percussion and even upright bass. It’s the Swiss Army knife of condenser microphones.

OVERALL: The Ebox 44 isn’t overloaded with unnecessary bells and whistles, it is designed for a purpose and at a price and it does that well.

RRP: $199

YOU ROCK MIDI GUITAR

DISTRIBUTOR: MAJOR MUSIC

DISTRIBUTOR: NATIONAL AUDIO SYSTEMS

RECOMMENDED FOR: Perfect for live or studio applications, this is the little wonder box that works as a DI, a tube mic pre, a compressor and an audio interface.

All this with two channels and all crammed into one little box.

RECOMMENDED FOR: Home-recording guitarists looking to add some keyboard vibe to their tracks without learning keyboards, or progressive experimentalists who want to explore its more extreme abilities.

PLAYABILITY: There is a lot going on with this unit, you can operate it simply, but you can also delve into all the controls and really change your tone before it gets to tape.

USABILITY: It takes a bit of time to readjust your playing style to get the most out of this guitar, but once you’ve figured it out it can be incredibly expressive and intuitive. Not really a plug-andplay instrument though - spend some time with it before getting up on stage with one.

CONSTRUCTION: Put simply, this unit is built like a brick.

It will work as a studio tool, but could happily be run on a messy stage for live recording. It will take just about any punishment you throw at it.

CONSTRUCTION: It feels like what it is - a computerised guitarlike instrument made of plastic - but the construction keeps the cost down and makes it accessible to more players who might not otherwise be able to experiment with synth/MIDI guitar.

OVERALL: There are few boxes out there that offer so much in such a compact design. The ART USB Dual Tube Pre is very handy tool that should find its way into every engineer’s kit.

OVERALL: A genius tool for unlocking creativity by tapping into a wealth of software instrument sounds while using your existing guitar technique. Every guitarist willing to experiment should have one!

RRP: $399

SX EG1K ELECTRIC GUITAR PACK

DISTRIBUTOR: JADE AUSTRALIA

DISTRIBUTOR: AUSTRALASIAN MUSIC SUPPLIES

RECOMMENDED FOR: Ukulele dabblers as well as folk and bluegrass lifers looking for something that sounds a little bit different to the average ukulele.

RECOMMENDED FOR: Beginners, people looking for a concise guitar pack that won’t break the budget.

SOUND AND TONE: This thing is loud! At first it’s kind of shocking how loud it is compared to other ukes. But once you get used to it it’s a lot of fun to shoot riffs clear across the room with volume, projection and tone.

USABILITY: The tone is distinctive enough to be a featured instrument, and the playability definitely supports that. It has a very comfortable neck which will sustain long playing sessions with ease.

CONSTRUCTION: It feels very well-crafted, with a nice neck, good fretwork and just an overall feeling of quality.

It could have felt like a flimsy toy but instead it has the vibe of a serious instrument.

OVERALL: A slightly quirky offering by some players’ standards, and that works in its favour. A really fun, addictive little instrument whether you’re a regular ukulele player or an occasional strummer.

PG. 42 MIXDOWN NO. 224

DECEMBER 2012

RRP: $299

SOUND AND TONE: As versatile as the sound bank you plug it into - which means super mega versatile. It can sound like anything, from drums to voice samples to full orchestral lines and alien sci-fi sounds.

SOUND AND TONE: ART always offers great tone from their microphone preamps with clear digital conversion as an added bonus.

MARTINEZ BANJO UKE MBU-1-NST

RRP: $119

SOUND AND TONE: This simple device allows line level and microphone inputs to your PC with low latency times for simple and easy recording and DJ interfacing.

PLAYABILITY: With the ability to run on a 9 volt battery, with up to 200 hours battery life, you don’t even need phantom power for this microphone so it can be used in just about any situation, even field recordings.

ART USB DUAL TUBE PRE

RRP: $199

SOUND AND TONE: The EG1K definitely covers all bases in the starter/entry level guitar realm with a good fundamental tone, some good variation thanks to the Strat styled body and 3 single coil pickups plus you get the GA1050 Guitar Amp included in the price (along with heaps of other gear) so you’ll be making noise in no time.

USABILITY: The EG1K itself felt nice to play and the fact that you also get the aforementioned amp as well as a lead, Qwik Tune Tuner, strap, plectrums, gig bag and a DVD means you’re off to a good start.

CONSTRUCTION: Solid Alder body, Maple neck and a Rosewood board gives you a good starting point guitar wise.

OVERALL: This time covering the Electric Guitar ground the EG1K is a great starter package that will get any beginner off on the right foot. A solid feeling Electric Guitar and some snazzy extras makes it awesome value to boot.

RRP: $279

PEAVEY RAPTOR STAGE PACK

RRP: $349

STERLING BY MUSIC MAN SUB SILO 3

DISTRIBUTOR: AUDIO PRODUCTS GROUP

DISTRIBUTOR: CMC MUSIC

RECOMMENDED FOR: Beginners, looking at their first electric guitar.

RECOMMENDED FOR: Beginner to intermediate rockers, or semi-pros looking for a decent axe on a budget to upgrade or as a backup or ‘around-the-house’ guitar.

amateurs,

players

SOUND AND TONE: The Raptor Plus EX guitar is one of Peavey’s takes on that classic shape and it feels good with a comfy medium neck and contoured body. As a guitar you can cover classic type tones thanks to the two single coils and bridge humbucker with the Peavey Transtube Backstage amp giving you clean and overdriven tones.

SOUND AND TONE: The stock pickups are a little warmersounding than you might expect, which makes them good for heavy rock rhythm and blues lead, but a pickup upgrade will take advantage of the impressive unplugged tone.

USABILITY: Peavey have put together a good starter type package here with the Raptor Electric Guitar, Backstage amp, gigbag, strap, tuner, spare strings, lead, plectrums and a DVD. Everything is self explanatory and made for ease of use.

USABILITY: This is a very playable little axe, and it certainly feels reminiscent of the Ernie Ball Music Man model that inspired it.

CONSTRUCTION: Although these models come in at a very wallet-friendly price, the construction quality is a lot higher than you might expect for the cash. Definitely the kind of guitar you can begin learning on and then keep throughout your playing life.

CONSTRUCTION: Although firmly set for the starter/ beginner/introductory market it should last and carries the Peavey name proudly for a solid product in general.

OVERALL: A great introduction pack for those wanting to get into the electric guitar, taking most of the decision work regarding amps, accessories and the like out of the equation.

All at a decent price with the Peavey name to stand behind it you can’t go wrong with the Peavey Raptor Stage Pack.

STERLING BY MUSIC MAN SUB AX3

OVERALL: A really great beginner’s axe which captures the general feel and vibe of Ernie Ball Music Man instruments.

But also a worthy instrument for more experienced players too.

RRP: $495

VINTAGE VXP6BK

RRP: $499

DISTRIBUTOR: CMC MUSIC

DISTRIBUTOR: NATIONAL AUDIO SYSTEMS

RECOMMENDED FOR: Hard rockers, blues-rockers and even country players. It has a history which dates back to a certain famed virtuoso, but is versatile enough for a wide range of players.

RECOMMENDED FOR: Rock, metal, Classic Rock, stoner rock, blues-rock... generally heavier styles.

SOUND AND TONE: The humbucker tones are perfectly usable and the Ernie Ball Music Man Axis model this is based on lends itself very well to single coil tones. Really enjoying the depth of tone on this one USABILITY: The maple neck features an asymmetrical carve which is more rounded on the bass side, sloping down on the treble side, which orients the fretting hand more ergonomically.

Very clever. The non-locking two-point fulcrum vibrato bridge stays in tune surprisingly well.

CONSTRUCTION: Their are a few minor things I’d like to see improved with regards to the fret ends needing a better file and the tone pots being a little sticky, but for the money and the intended market it’s quite a bargain.

OVERALL: This guitar doesn’t claim to be a $1200 or $3500 instrument but it definitely punches above its weight. It will make one damn fine first instrument for beginners and a great platform for new pickups down the road.

RRP: $395

SOUND AND TONE: This guitar has a naturally dark tonality so it’s not suited for everything. It’s pretty narrow in its sonic scope, but the sounds that it does produce are quite useful. The darker voicing makes it great for really filling out a mix without overpowering vocals. And the neck pickup sounds quite vocal and juicy.

USABILITY: It’s heavy, it’s awkward and you’re probably going to ding and scratch it within the first week of owning it if you’re not careful, but that’s part and parcel of owning a guitar with such an angular shape.

CONSTRUCTION: The fret ends feel a bit rough and it’s quite neck-heavy, but playability is good and everything is where it should be.

OVERALL: It’s not for everyone, but if your heavy music tastes lean more towards stuff produced in the 1970s and you get your gain from overdriven power tubes or a pissed off fuzz box, you should check this out.

6XPPHU 'UXPPLQ DrumCraft Series 4 Kit with SABIAN B8 Performance Set

999

$

Save $539

DrumCraft Series 4 offers an inspiring instrument that will keep you focused on the fun of playing drums. Don’t think about quality and features – we’ve already done this for you.

Combined with the SABIAN B8 Performance Set, cymbals with excellent balance and responsiveness so every thing you need is right there.

drumcraftdirect.com.au

Available from Australia’s leading Drum retailers:

facebook.com/DrumCraft.Australia

facebook.com/SABIANCymbalsAustralia

DECEMBER 2012 NO. 224 MIXDOWN

PG. 43

SUB RAY-4WS BASS GUITAR

RRP: $495

BLACKSTAR HT-1 ELECTRIC GUITAR COMBO

DISTRIBUTOR: CMC MUSIC

DISTRIBUTOR: NATIONAL AUDIO SYSTEMS

RECOMMENDED FOR: Beginners, weekend warriors, those on a budget and guitar players who need a bass for the occasional homemade track but wish to save their cash for more six-strings.

RECOMMENDED FOR: Pretty much anyone except extreme death metal bands. Blackstar amps are typically very flexible and this one is no different.

SOUND AND TONE: Snappy country tones, smooth jazz, gritty blues, screaming hard rock and even heavy-hitting metal. It doesn’t sound like a top-dollar boutique amp, but it certainly packs a punch for the price and wattage.

SOUND AND TONE: This bass already sounds really nice when you play it unplugged, and this natural tone comes across loud and clear through an amp. It sounds natural and full, and the bass and treble boost/cut pots give it the flexibility to go from rock to funk to R&B to dub easily.

USABILITY: Playability was exceptional, which isn’t always easy to achieve on an entry-level bass.

USABILITY: Crazy simple to use. Pick a channel, set the Gain control to taste, dial in the EQ via the patented ISF control and rock. And the speaker emulated output means it’s great for silent recording at home too.

CONSTRUCTION: The fret ends are finished surprisingly well - much better than you’d expect at this price. This certainly helps with the playability and the overall finish was superb.

CONSTRUCTION: It’s lightweight and feels reasonably strong. The compact size means you might accidentally bump one knob while turning another, so just be extracareful there.

OVERALL: The S.U.B. Ray4 is a far better bass than you would expect at this price range, especially in playability and construction. The sounds too, are better than you could honestly expect at this price. Top Job!

OVERALL: A great all-rounder for home use or even small gigs, whether you play blues, country, jazz, rock or most metal genres.

ASHDOWN PERFECT 10 BASS COMBO

RRP: $299

RRP: $299.99

VOX AGA 30

DISTRIBUTOR: D’ADDARIO AUSTRALIA

DISTRIBUTOR: YAMAHA AUSTRALIA

RECOMMENDED FOR: Home players, small rehearsals, schools, anyone after a portable combo with a little extra oomph.

RECOMMENDED FOR: Acoustic guitarists, singer/ songwriters, duos, cafe musicians and buskers.

RRP: $349.99

SOUND AND TONE: The AGA 30 will give you anything from a smooth, mellow jazz-like voicing to a much more aggressive and driving country or rock sound. Because there are two channels you can set the both for very different sounds, and you can really tailor the amp’s response to the individual instrument.

SOUND AND TONE: The 10” speaker gives you that added depth and range for a tight, defined tone. Plenty of volume available here and will definitely do the job at home or school as a practice amp and still compete for smaller rehearsals.

USABILITY: Will suit a range of settings and is straight forward when tweaking your tone. The added tube emulation means you can also get a little gnarly for even more variation. Like its little brother you again get Line In and Headphone Out, meaning you can practice quietly and jam along to your favourite tracks.

USABILITY: With two channels (one of which is tubedriven) you can amplify guitar and voice at the same time, or use a mic and a direct signal from the guitar at the same time. And the effects are simple to use.

CONSTRUCTION: Feels a little plastic but not enough to be seriously concerned about.

CONSTRUCTION: The over sized cab feels tough and the steel corners, rubber feet and construction give the heavy duty vibe.

OVERALL: A great little acoustic amp for a huge variety of players in a huge variety of applications.

OVERALL: Taken off where the After 8 left off the Perfect 10 ups the ante thanks to its 10” speaker and extra wattage. If you want something still portable and handy but need some extra headroom, the Perfect 10 may well be the go.

HAYDEN HGT-P2008 ELECTRIC GUITAR COMBO

RRP: $419.99

ASHDOWN FIVE FIFTEEN BASS COMBO

DISTRIBUTOR: D’ADDARIO AUSTRALIA

DISTRIBUTOR: D’ADDARIO AUSTRALIA

RECOMMENDED FOR: Home, practice, small rehearsal, beginners, amateurs, bedroom enthusiasts, studio.

RECOMMENDED FOR: Rehearsal, home, school. Players needing a larger practice amp or smallish rig with 15” speaker for extended bass response.

SOUND AND TONE: 20 watts, clean and dirty channels and reverb let you go from clean and sparkly to smokey overdrive and darker full gain tones. Both channels have independent EQs meaning you can tweak each to your liking without compromise.

SOUND AND TONE: Clean and fat this All Access Amp from Ashdown sounds darn good for something that’s considered to be part of the ‘practice amp’ gang. The Five Fifteen benefits from the single 15” speaker for some extra clarity and low end response handling 5 string and lower tunings.

USABILITY: Could sit in a range of styles and although only 20 watts, it will work at smaller rehearsals as well as home practice. Line in/outs give you extra flexibility for jamming along with tunes, sending to recording devices/ mixers and a headphone out for no noise practice.

USABILITY: Perfect for home or small rehearsals the Five Fifteen features Ashdown’s retro styled EQ controls with a combination of typical control knobs and sliders for extra tweaking. These really add to your options and only take a few minutes of trialling to get sorted.

CONSTRUCTION: Designed and engineered in the UK and assembled offshore the HGT-P2008 feels tough and solid.

CONSTRUCTION: Tough looking and tough feeling the Five Fifteen is the first step in the All Access range that really makes the jump from practice amp vibe to something more serious.

Steel corners, dark grille and white piping and solid handle make for looks and brawn.

OVERALL: The 2x8 setup of the HGT-P2008 is a cool take on the smaller wattage guitar combo and with two channels you can cover a few bases. Still a smallish cabinet you’ll have no problems throwing it in the car or moving it around the house. Another cool design from Hayden that could fit into a few different musical situations.

PAISTE PST5 CYMBAL PACK

OVERALL: A jump up in power for the All Access practice amps the Five Fifteen gives you 100 watts in a combo with a 15” speaker. More guts, still quite portable and a good, solid tone.

RRP: $399

MORPHEUS CAPO PEDAL

DISTRIBUTOR: YAMAHA MUSIC

DISTRIBUTOR: MAJOR MUSIC

RECOMMENDED FOR: Beginner to intimidate drummers that need a good price point but some half decent cymbals. These have the prerequisites and that name!

SOUND AND TONE: These Paiste’s have full tone and project well. The crash speaks well but needs a fair whack to get going due to its thickness. This is followed by a fairly rapid decay. The ride is a bit of a beast with a very pronounced bell and a lot of stick definition on the wash. The hi-hats are crisp and full.

RECOMMENDED FOR: Perfect for use when you want accurate capo style performance from a pedal that won’t pull your strings out of tune.

USABILITY: Not to beat around the bush, these are aimed to be beginner cymbals but in the market segment, they will prove to be good sellers. The hi-hats are especially usable with a nice chick, particularly when played with the foot. The wash will suit a load of styles of music and they blend well with the crash and ride.

CONSTRUCTION: The cymbals are made of Paiste’s CuSn8 Bronze alloy and certainly look the part. The 20” ride is thick with a medium bell, the 16” crash is again on the thicker side and the 14” hi-hats have a super thick bottom and relatively thin top.

They feature a brilliant finish and some unique hammerings.

OVERALL: These Paiste’s won’t win awards against the top cymbals but for anyone getting in the game, they’d be great. For me, the hats are the winner of the trio as the ride and crash have a slight ‘gong’ undertone, but even then, add some screaming guitars - you won’t hear it and you’ll be happy with the projection.

PG. 44 MIXDOWN NO. 224

DECEMBER 2012

RRP: $499.99

SOUND AND TONE: The Capo pedal tracks instantly once initiated, giving you precise pitch adjustment to the desired increment.

PLAYABILITY: So simple to use. Just select the amount you want to shift the tuning with one button, and then turn it on with the next. There is also a non latching button to allow you to drop the pedal in and out of your signal chain for shifting individual notes or phrases.

CONSTRUCTION: A solid, low profile build with silent switches that feel great under the tap of a toe. A large frame makes it easy to read the display and keep the three buttons well apart.

OVERALL: This is a great pedal all round. It actually does the job of a capo in an instant and with better results. But, at low volumes, it can be disconcerting when you actually hear your guitar at regular pitch and the amplified sound pitch shifted. So, turn it up!

RRP: $299

VOX DELAYLAB GUITAR EFFECTS PEDAL

RRP: $349.99

MORPHEUS BOMBER EFFECTS PEDAL

DISTRIBUTOR: YAMAHA AUSTRALIA

DISTRIBUTOR: MAJOR MUSIC

RECOMMENDED FOR: Anyone who doesn’t mind rolling up their sleeves and getting into the particulars of their delay sound. Set-and-forget players might dig it too, but tweakers will get the most out of it.

RECOMMENDED FOR: Primarily guitarists who need to shift between different lowered tunings (or even higher ones, especially if they’re starting out low-tuned).

SOUND AND TONE: Drop the pitch by a second, fourth, fifth, octave, or two octaves, or up a second, fifth, octave or two. There are some audible artifacts if you’re playing unaccompanied, but nothing deal-breaking.

SOUND AND TONE: Way too many sounds to go into here, but there’s all of your digital and analogue classics as well as some unusual modulated delays and Distortion Delay, and a very handy stereo looping function with a high level of control.

USABILITY: Very simple to use. There’s a footswitch for mode select, another for effect on/off and an expression pedal for shifty effects. Handy input trim pot too.

USABILITY: There are 30 delay types but they’re easy to access, and you can dip into even more parameter control with an optional expression pedal.

CONSTRUCTION: An extremely roadworthy pedal that lives up to its name and is thoughtfully laid out.

CONSTRUCTION: It looks a little plastic, almost like it’s made of bakelite, but doesn’t really feel like it. Everything’s laid out thoughtfully and it doesn’t take up too much pedalboard space, all things considered.

OVERALL: A great way of experimenting with lowered and raised tunings without hassle, which makes it great for live guitarists or experimentalists who want to explore new musical horizons by exploiting the expression pedal to its furthest degrees.

OVERALL: A very useful, versatile delay pedal with some great tricks and stunts up its sleeve for those who want to explore them. You probably won’t use every feature or mode but it’s nice to have them there when you want them anyway.

TC ELECTRONIC FLASHBACK X4 DELAY PEDAL

RRP: $449.99

TC HELICON MIC MECHANIC VOCAL EFFECTS PEDAL

DISTRIBUTOR: AMBER TECHNOLOGY

DISTRIBUTOR: AMBER TECHNOLOGY

RECOMMENDED FOR: Live and studio guys. Players wanting a flexible delay with the ability to save presets.

RECOMMENDED FOR: The perfect addition to any vocalist’s live setup, giving the singer direct control over the effects on their voice, rather than leaving it up to the engineer to decide when to turn them on or off.

SOUND AND TONE: As a whole I reckon the Flashback x 4 sounds great. I particularly liked the Tape, 2290 and Analog settings and found all of the Delay types pretty cool in their own right. With slaps and slight echo through to spacey, warbled goodness and ambient smudge you can work the Flashback x 4 as little or heavy into your sound as you like. Plus you get Tap Tempo, presets, Midi and a heap more.

USABILITY: I love the fact that this little blue box can be set really simply as a few different delays with a Tap Tempo almost instantly for those that don’t need anything too righteous and with minimal programming. Conversely you can then link it to Midi to sync with various units/songs/other effects, control with an expression pedal, run in stereo, run as a looper and get as nitty and gritty as you can conjure up - killer!

CONSTRUCTION: Feels tough under the foot and looks the goods.

OVERALL: You need to check it out for yourself but just know that TC make good gear and they’re on the money with the Flashback x 4 and a thumbs up to the Toneprint concept too!

RRP: $359

RRP: $269

SOUND AND TONE: For subtle reverb and delay, the Mic Mechanic sounds great. The voice correction feature tames your pitch slightly and the tone button adds some warm EQ, compression and de-essing control that make your vocals jump out.

PLAYABILITY: This is so easy to set up. Once in place, the one and off feature can be engaged by pressing the pedal or even controlled by a button on the microphone if using TC Helicon’s MP-75 vocal microphone.

CONSTRUCTION: This pedal is built tough. It is ready for the rigours of live use with a soft touch button that is quick and easy to engage.

OVERALL: The Mic Mechanic is the simple option to quality vocal effects that has been lacking for so long. It isn’t complicated, nor does it need to be, it just does the job and does it well.

DECEMBER 2012 NO. 224 MIXDOWN

PG. 45

PRESONUS AUDIOBOX STUDIO PACKAGE

RRP: $299

SAMSON STUDIO GT MONITORS

DISTRIBUTOR: NATIONAL AUDIO SYSTEMS

DISTRIBUTOR: ELECTRIC FACTORY

RECOMMENDED FOR: This is the perfect starting point for anyone wanting to set up a home studio from scratch.

All you need is a computer and some creativity to go with the Audiobox Studio and you are on your way.

RECOMMENDED FOR: These little monitors will fit into just about any home studio setup, no matter how much space you have. Their compact design is perfect for use with laptop based recording systems.

SOUND AND TONE: Quality microphone preamps and digital conversion are combined with a condenser microphone to take care of vocal and instrument recording in the home studio.

SOUND AND TONE: The Studio GTs give you a clear reproduction of your sound. They suffer from a lack of bottom end, not being very flat, but this is the trade off for the size of the system.

PLAYABILITY: With the included Studio One software, it doesn’t take long to get your head around the recording process. A simple to learn package, but one that offers plenty sonic capabilities.

PLAYABILITY: Unbelievably easy to setup. No audio interface is needed as they connect via USB to your computer for direct audio playback monitoring.

CONSTRUCTION: The Studio GTs are built into a sturdy, compact shell that sits solidly on just about any surface, with an easy cable run to minimise clutter on your desktop.

CONSTRUCTION: The Audiobox unit is, like all Presonus hardware, built to last. A sturdy casing with solid connections and controls.

OVERALL: These monitors make hearing your recordings so simple. You don’t need an additional interface and they are quick and easy to install. Running from a USB audio connection, you don’t even need to worry about unbalanced cable issues causing interference in your audio signal.

OVERALL: This is a great package. Headphones, condenser microphone, interface and software all in one box. It serves as an upgrade to many existing setups, or the perfect starting point for a new recording concept.

YAMAHA HS80M MONITOR SPEAKERS

RRP: $399

SAMSON AURO D412S PA

DISTRIBUTOR: YAMAHA AUSTRALIA

DISTRIBUTOR: ELECTRIC FACTORY

RECOMMENDED FOR: The HS80Ms bridge the gap between professional studio and home studio, with a classic Yamaha look and bi-amplified power section for use when you want quality studio monitoring on a budget.

RECOMMENDED FOR: Perfect for DJs and small bands or acoustic duos looking for a big sound without the attached price tag or weight to lug around.

PLAYABILITY: Setup of the D412S is pretty simple. The operate best with a small mixer running into them at line level to give you more control over you sound, but can be used as a pre-amp and power-amp combination too.

PLAYABILITY: Being powered monitors, you only need to run audio levels into these speakers and allow the internal crossover to handle the distribution. With the large 8 inch drivers, you really don’t need a sub to compliment these monitors.

CONSTRUCTION: Being a plastic box, you get a very portable speaker cabinet that doesn’t weigh too much.

That said, they are still very solidly built, ready for the rigours of live use, week in, week out.

CONSTRUCTION: As with anything Yamaha, the HS80Ms are built to a high quality. The cabinet is firmly constructed and sits solid on your desktop to reduce unwanted vibration when in use.

OVERALL: In a market that is flooded with powered PA bins, the D412S cabinets give you a reliable unit that sounds pretty good. But best of all, it doesn’t come with an overwhelming weight or cost.

OVERALL: These are a great near/mid field monitor for the home studio. The rear porting commands they be situated out from a wall slightly, but this does offer plenty of volume to allow you to find the right listening level.

FAITH GUITAR FKV VENUS NAKED ACOUSTIC GUITAR

RRP: $799

PEAVEY AT-200 ELECTRIC GUITAR

DISTRIBUTOR: AMBER TECHNOLOGY

DISTRIBUTOR: AUDIO PRODUCTS GROUP

RECOMMENDED FOR: Fingerpickers, arpeggiators, folkies, and one-person orchestras.

RECOMMENDED FOR: Ideal for cover bands, down-tuners, and budget-conscious folks who need multiple tunings without the cost of multiple axes.

SOUND AND TONE: Unplugged, the FKV has a quite midrange-heavy, treble-attenuated tone which makes it a good all-rounder and an especially good solo instrument.

Plugged in, the treble can be restored and the mids can be reigned back for more of a dreadnaught-like sound.

But the natural character of the guitar remains.

USABILITY: The autotune mechanism is a bit fiddly - you assign different tunings by barring the strings or fretting odd chord shapes then strumming, which resets the ‘open string’ pitches.

But once you’ve got it nailed it’s very easy to use. And if the battery goes flat, the passive pickups kick in.

CONSTRUCTION: A solid Engelmann Spruce top and solid Mahogany back and sides. The body and neck are all finished in a two-stage satin which keeps costs down and seems quite durable. It also allows the woods to resonate more freely than a thick finish would. Really nice!

CONSTRUCTION: Construction quality is good, the only qualm you might find would be the fact that in terms of it’s visual aesthetics it doesn’t have much individual character, but this is because it’s a workhorse not a show pony.

OVERALL: A huge leap forward for self-tuning technology, great news for overdubbers and an unstoppable tool for working guitarists in cover, wedding and corporate bands.

OVERALL: A great option for those who like to get into the finer details when they play: walking basslines, on-thefly harmonies, harmonics and arpeggios.

RRP: $899.99

TIMBERIDGE ACOUSTIC BASS TRBC-4SB

DISTRIBUTOR: YAMAHA AUSTRALIA

DISTRIBUTOR: JADE AUSTRALIA

RECOMMENDED FOR: Travellers, home players, those who need to play guitar in a busy household, and anyone who likes instruments that are a little quirky.

RECOMMENDED FOR: Live, studio, beginner, amateur, pro or anyone looking for an acoustic bass with A pickup that won’t break the bank.

SOUND AND TONE: It doesn’t sound like micing up a perfectly-constructed dreadnaught but this Silent Guitar actually sounds really freaking good when plugged in. It’s recording-ready and most definitely great for headphone jamming. Nice ambient effects too.

SOUND AND TONE: Big and bold the TRBC-4SB definitely isn’t lacking in guts! Thanks to the body design you get a beautiful clear tone when played acoustically and the ability to amplify thanks to B-Band A3T electronics.

CONSTRUCTION: It feels like a full-sized guitar, and part of the illusion is in the removable side pieces, which are held under tension to give the impression of an acoustic instrument vibrating naturally.

OVERALL: A surprisingly great guitar that will keep family members happy while also providing some killer tones whether in the bedroom, studio, stage or in a hotel room.

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RRP: $899

SOUND AND TONE: The versatility you have here is off the chart as the guitar uses autotune technology to keep intonation perfect and to provide alternate and dropped tunings in an instant. The tone is a little too polite for full-on metal, but great for softer styles that require a warmer, smoother voice.

USABILITY: This guitar has great fretwork and it comes straight out of the box with very playable low-medium action, which invites you to wander all over the neck.

USABILITY: Though primarily marketed as a silent guitar for home use, it’s much more than that, and is quite capable of holding its own on stage. And of course it’s extremely portable too.

RRP: $474

SOUND AND TONE: These speakers have a big PA sound. They don’t have that hi-fi tone that you get from small portable PA speakers, but a full range with a lot of bottom end without the need for additional subs.

SOUND AND TONE: These monitors have the ability to be adjusted to suit the room they are situated in with mid, high and low ranges adjustable on the rear panel to ensure they sit flat in your playback.

YAMAHA SLG110S ACOUSTIC GUITAR

RRP: $374

USABILITY: Plays a treat and easy to get your hands around. The acoustic bass is something that isn’t always used but definitely fills a void in the bass arsenal and fits the bill when needed.

CONSTRUCTION: Nice attention to detail, good intonation and setup straight out of the case - a solid bass all round.

OVERALL: Always wanted an acoustic bass in your collection but couldn’t justify big bucks? Well, this new Timberidge model might just be the ticket. A great sounding player, this could work for anyone from the beginner through to pro and has the looks and sound to back it up.

RRP: $699

SPECTOR LEGEND 4 CLASSIC BASS

RRP: $999.99

DISTRIBUTOR: D’ADDARIO AUSTRALIA RECOMMENDED FOR: Amateur through to Pro players after a 4 string with a modernish vibe.

SOUND AND TONE: Fat and punchy thanks to the Spector TonePump Jr electronics you can go from round, old school thumping tones to tighter modern sounds.

Thick, clear mids really get your sound heard in the mix and I could see the Legend 4 Classic working in a range of musical settings.

USABILITY: Feels great and the deeper cutaways let you zip around the neck right up to the 24th fret with ease.

Spector’s pickup/electronics choice add some extra grunt to your tonal palette too.

CONSTRUCTION: Killer finish, good intonation and setup straight out of the box. Despite the Legend 4 Classic coming from more of the mid level entry level of instruments the workmanship and construction is top notch.

OVERALL: A great option for players looking for something a little different in looks and tone that can still handle old school sounds. Killer price for an instrument with the Spector name and build quality too!

ASHDOWN FIVE FIFTEEN MINI RIG

RRP: $599.99

DISTRIBUTOR: D’ADDARIO AUSTRALIA RECOMMENDED FOR: Home, practice, rehearsal, small gigs. Those looking for a little extra oomph than a practice amp without jumping into the big leagues.

Are your wireless mics ready for the Digital Dividend ?

SOUND AND TONE: Based on the Five Fifteen combo the head and cab setup gives you 100 watts through a 2 x 10 speaker box. Bass, Middle and Treble EQ controls are accompanied by sliders for targeting specific frequencies - handy for some extra notching and work nicely in conjunction with the standard controls.

USABILITY: A good mix of tones from round and grindy through to clean and a little more hi-fi. The 2 x 10 cab comes into play for adding some extra spread and means this little rig can do the home thing as well as rehearsals and small gigs.

CONSTRUCTION: Solid and leaning more towards the pro/ heavy duty end of things as opposed to a practice amp.

OVERALL: An interesting setup I could see the Mini Rig being a winner for home jamming and practicing but also having that little bit of extra grunt for rehearsing and smaller gigs. The head and cab vibe feels a little more pro but is still portable. A cool take on the mini rig.

HIWATT T20 ELECTRIC GUITAR COMBO

OURS ARE !

RRP: $695

DISTRIBUTOR: CMC MUSIC RECOMMENDED FOR: It’s similar to the hand-wired 20 watt Custom, so think Classic Rock, punch, clarity and fullness.

By the end of 2014, all analogue TV transmitters will be turned off and all digital TV transmitters will have changed frequency.

SOUND AND TONE: The cleans are suitable for everything from smooth jazz to jangly indie and roots rock. It can be made to break up in that classic Pete Townshend way, and is a great platform for effect pedals. The overdrive channel is capable of quite a lot of gain but it sounds best at around 9 o’clock, where it sounds creamy and smooth.

Higher settings bring on an almost fuzz pedal-like quality which is also a lot of fun.

The band between 694 MHz and 820 MHz will be cleared of all users so it can be used for mobile data services.

USABILITY: The T20 is much more versatile than it looks, although it’s definitely most comfortable around the Classic Rock genre. You can get stoner metal tones out of it pretty easily, but it’s not a metal amp.

Check your wireless microphone systems now ! If they operate between 694 MHz and 820 MHz you need to start planning to operate between 520 MHz and 694 MHz before the end of 2014.

CONSTRUCTION: A very sturdy amp which does indeed feel quite a lot like the higher-priced Hiwatts.

OVERALL: The T20 is not the be-all and end-all of Hiwatts, but it does its stated job of introducing Hiwatt virgins to the overall vibe of the brand admirably well. It’s loud enough for stage use and flexible enough for most styles.

Make certain your systems are ready!

EGNATER TWEAKER WITH 112 CAB

RRP: $850

DISTRIBUTOR: CMC MUSIC RECOMMENDED FOR: Guitarists. There’s no better way to say it other than this amp is ideal for anyone who plays guitar.

SOUND AND TONE: Ridiculously, almost offensively versatile. There’s nothing it can’t do, and that even includes some pretty aggressive metal tones. The 6V6 power tubes give a punchy, powerful articulation to whatever you play, whether it’s country, jazz, blues, rock, metal, indie, stoner, grunge - whatever you throw at it.

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USABILITY: It can take a while to wrap your head around the various additional switches, so don’t forget to stop experimenting and start playing once in a while.

CONSTRUCTION: A very classy-looking and quite roadworthy-feeling amp and matching cabinet. Everything’s laid out logically and it’s small enough to carry in the front seat.

OVERALL: A brilliant little amp. It does a little bit of everything exceedingly well. Its various tones may not all be as distinctive as dedicated one-sound amps, but it can get you close enough to so many tones that it earns the right to be your only amp if you need a whole bunch of quality sounds fast and on a budget.

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HAYDEN HGA20 ELECTRIC GUITAR COMBO

RRP: $899.99

MARKBASS LITTLE MARK 250 HEAD

DISTRIBUTOR: D’ADDARIO AUSTRALIA

DISTRIBUTOR: CMC MUSIC

RECOMMENDED FOR: Studio, live, amateurs through to pros wanting a multi-channel switching combo to cover a range of tones.

RECOMMENDED FOR: Pros, semi pros, amateurs, those after a high quality head that don’t need massive wattage.

SOUND AND TONE: The LM250 sounds killer. Gain and Master Vol controls let you go from super clean to grindy and the EQ range is enhanced with MarkBass’ patented VLE and VPF filters for extra tone shaping (Vintage Loudspeaker Emulator and Variable Pre-shape Filter).

SOUND AND TONE: Fat cleans, semi broken over drive and saturated distortion plus the option to operate the amp at 3 watts or 20 watts which is awesome. Hints of British crunch and broken tones and definite US styled cleans and lead tones should cater for many players. The onboard digital reverb is subtle and tasteful too.

USABILITY: At 250 watts it’ll handle rehearsals and small gigs easily. As a smallish unit in size and weight you can take it anywhere. You then have Line Out and Pre/Post EQ capabilities for sending to a desk or recording for more flexibility.

USABILITY: A little playing around and you’ll have the swing of things with channel switching either via the amp push buttons or foot switch. Channel and Master volumes mean you can set different levels for solos and boosting.

CONSTRUCTION: Bullet proof. Tough casing, super MarkBass quality testing and production means you are buying a serious amp that will last.

CONSTRUCTION: Feels and looks tough with a rugged black covering and handle being up for plenty of gigging. Hayden incorporate the same philosophies of design and production in these amps as they do in their UK handmade models for a solid amp at a reasonable price point.

OVERALL: Classic MarkBass tone in a slightly lower wattage amp that’ll still handle a range of gigs and musical settings. Distinctive MarkBass looks and features that really work plus the peace of mind that this brand is built to last. Killer little amp!

OVERALL: Hayden have been kicking it up a notch of late with some new models and designs and the HGT-A20 really is a cracking amp with usable features, plenty of juice and a decent range of tones.

HAYDEN HGA40 ELECTRIC GUITAR COMBO

RRP: $999.99

D-TRONIC Q2P ELECTRONIC DRUM KIT

DISTRIBUTOR: D’ADDARIO AUSTRALIA

DISTRIBUTOR: AUSTRALASIAN MUSIC SUPPLIES

RECOMMENDED FOR: Studio, live, amateurs through to pros wanting a multi-channel switching combo to cover a range of tones.

RECOMMENDED FOR: Beginner/Intermediate level players, hobbyists or anyone looking for a reliable electronic kit for practice and light gigging.

USABILITY: The Q2 comes preset with 177 voices, 25 different kits, five customisable user kits, 30 song styles and two demo songs. Add a tap-tempo metronome (with eight time signatures), real time recording with live playback, reverb and chorus effects and the ability to adjust sensitivity, threshold, velocity and crosstalk controls of each of the pads and you have a kit that backs itself.

USABILITY: A really good variety of tones can be pulled here for a range of styles such as blues, rock, country, funk and heavier if desired. The advantage of including 3 channels really add to its usability and flexibility here and will ensure many players will love this model.

CONSTRUCTION: Well made, heavy duty with a tough exterior, this is built like a tank and will tour easily.

CONSTRUCTION: The Q2 comes on a pre-assembled rack with one 8” dual zone snare pad, three 8” natural rebound tom pads, two 10” round cymbals and one 10” round hi-hat. It also features a hi-hat controller and bass drum pedal controller.

OVERALL: The bigger brother to the 20 watter you get some extra clean headroom and overall volume with this 40 watt Hayden but still with the ability to drop it to 3 watts for quieter settings, recording and the like (where you want juicy tone without the louder volume levels). A very cool offering!

OVERALL: For the coin, the D2 is a great starter kit for the beginner/intermediate requiring a sturdy, reliable kit for practice.

Headphone input, stereo master ¼” output, auxiliary input for MP3/CD play along and a USB port seals the deal. The D-Tronic even comes with a drum throne, headphones, drumsticks and stick bag!

RRP: $569

DISTRIBUTOR: AUSTRALASIAN MUSIC SUPPLIES

RODE NT1A STUDIO CONDENSER MICROPHONE

RECOMMENDED FOR: The perfect home studio upgrade when you want a quality condenser microphone with all the required accessories. The pop filter, cable, suspension cradle and cover are all included.

SOUND AND TONE: Being TC Helicon, you can expect very high quality effects, especially with the new updates to the system. The vocal harmonies are spot on too, they sound like there are additional vocalists on stage.

SOUND AND TONE: The NT1A definitely has its own tone.

It has a crisp top end and a subtly round lower mid range that works well for vocals.

PLAYABILITY: This unit is so easy to operate. It reads the note information from you guitar and sets the vocal harmonies to work with the last note played from the guitar.

Plus, the addition of guitar amp modelling means you can run straight into the PA without the need to lug around an amp.

PLAYABILITY: With everything included, even a cover so you can leave it set up ready to record in your home studio; the NT1A makes it easy to pull a great sound time and time again.

It just requires some experimenting to get the right position for each sound source.

CONSTRUCTION: The unit itself is built really well. The buttons all feel like they will go on and on and the inbuilt reference microphones are recessed to stop any unwanted damage.

CONSTRUCTION: Made in Australia, the NT1A has been put together to last it’s longer than normal warranty period. This is a microphone that should outlast most of the gear in your studio.

OVERALL: This is the perfect accompaniment to any singer/ guitarist. It brings your guitar to life and makes your vocals jump out like you had backing vocalists on stage to help.

OVERALL: There is a reason why this is the most popular studio microphone the world over. You simply do not get a studio condenser microphone of this quality from anyone else in this price range.

RRP: $940

ALLEN & HEATH ZED 60-10FX MIXER

DISTRIBUTOR: RODE MICROPHONES

DISTRIBUTOR: TAG

RECOMMENDED FOR: The NT2A offers the user more options than many other microphones in this price range and now includes a pop filter, cable, suspension cradle and cover at no extra charge.

RECOMMENDED FOR: This is a great mixer for small project studio set-ups or for live environments when you need a fully featured mixer with effects in a compact design.

SOUND AND TONE: This microphone allows you to sculpt the sound you are looking for in your sound source. The selectable polar patterns allow for figure-of-8, cardioid or omni use of this microphone.

SOUND AND TONE: Like any Allen & Heath console, the mix bus is of an excellent quality, giving you quiet channel summing and great sounding microphone preamps.

PLAYABILITY: With a three part low pas filter and two separate levels of pad settings, it is easy to set this microphone up to work with a variety of sound sources, even high SPL recordings, like guitar amps.

CONSTRUCTION: The construction from this Australian made microphone is brilliant for the price. The switches are all very sturdy and the nickel casing is very rugged. You shouldn’t have any issues with the build of this microphone for studio use at all.

OVERALL: This is probably my favourite microphone from Rode’s selection of studio condenser microphones. It has a stylish design and a well rounded sound that makes it very usable for a variety of applications.

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RRP: $520

DISTRIBUTOR: RODE MICROPHONES

RECOMMENDED FOR: This is ideal for guitarists who also sing, like in acoustic duos, who need backing vocal harmonies and guitar effects all crammed into one tidy pedal.

RODE NT2A STUDIO CONDENSER MICROPHONE

RRP: $549

SOUND AND TONE: This latest offering from D-Tronic offers value for money and some welcome features at this price point.

The built-in kits aren’t exactly life changing samples but really, are quite passable and with the adjustment available, will please the player.

SOUND AND TONE: Again working on the 3 channel setup this 40 watter has a dedicated clean channel that can be anywhere from grimy through to sparkly and bright.

Channels 2 and 3 share the same EQ but with independent Volume and Gain controls for setting as dirty/clean/saturated making this super appealing.

TC HELICON VOICEPLAY GTX EFFECTS PEDAL

RRP: $950

PLAYABILITY: This is really easy to set up. You can run four microphones and two stereo line inputs with plenty of routing options including effects sends to an in built digital effects unit and a USB output for recording set-ups.

CONSTRUCTION: The mixer is no cheap toy. It is built to an exacting standard like all Allen & Heath mixers and just feels good under your fingertips. The faders move smoothly, the pots have a good rotation and all the buttons are firm yet easy to engage.

OVERALL: I can see a lot of small home studio set-ups benefiting from a little mixer like this. At the same time, I know a lot of musicians who are always looking for a small mixer for use with a portable PA that meets their needs.

This could well be the one.

RRP: $599