Muse-Tech - AUG-SEPT 2008 Edition

TECH FOR THOSE ABOUT TO ROCK!

pEAVEY

pOWER PA reviewed lay p ith bass listair ndrews w a a

w

a

a

Guitar Rig 3

From N ative Instruments

MY PRIVATE JUNIVERSE P

HOME RECORDING TIPS

WITH

ONATHAN

IKE

GEAR NEWS

SHURE Sm58 PEARL TRAVELER KIT JAM VOX FENDER JOHN 5 TELECASTER

TIPS ON

TUNING YOUR GUITAR

WWW.MUSEONLINE.CO.ZA

WWW.TUERKMUSIC.CO.ZA

three

by damien albetto

P

eavey is one of those brands that you just get to know about once you take an interest in music instruments, PA and all the other bits ‘n pieces that occupies our collective head-spaces in this heady world of music. As we all know; gear, technical info, performance, quality, ease of use, personal preference ... these subjects form part of regular discussions, thoughts and considerations for musicians the world over. And we love it, don’t we?

Now when I think Peavey I always think guitars and guitar amps and then of Joe Satriani (since he is their best known purveyor of their amps.) But when a company has been around as long as these guys they’re bound to have an extended product range, and on review here is a very handy, extremely competitively priced PA package that should interest bands looking to reinforce their gear riders with some good strong Peavey power!

I should make the point though that there are numerous variations to what is on offer, as in bigger mixing desks than the 16FX or smaller power amps than the CS4080. As a band though, the combo that we’re looking at makes for an affordable package that packs a real punch.

So let’s see what we have...

We have the 16FX Mixing desk to plug all your gear and mix into, a CS4080 power amplifier to boost your signal, and a set of SP4 speakers to deliver your sound.

16FX Mixing Desk The 16FX is a featured packed board which gives you 16 channels (including what they call 2 ‘stereo super channels’), is portable enough to carry but is also rack-mountable. The 16 set is made up of 12 mono mic channels with channels 13/14 and 15/16 being stereo mic/line input channels with 1/4" TRS input and XLR. Cleverly the stereo channels have their own gain controls so it is indeed a genuine 16-channel device.

Phantom power is also present on all 16. You will get 3-band EQ per channel with a 75hz low cut filter and sweepable mids.

All the mono channels have inserts, four monitor sends (pre), two effects sends (post), pan, and PFL. Peavey’s Silencer Mic preamps are used on all 12 channels adding a quality that is usually found in way more expensive mixers. You get two DSP processors providing multi-effects which can be assigned to any channel or group; reverbs, delay, compression, de-essing, chorus, and gate/expander are all present with the reverbs standing out as notably good. Now if owning a feature packed high quality mixing desk has already convinced you, they’ve thrown in another feature that simply elevates the 16FX to ‘uber-cool’ status. Dual USB ports! One port is for streaming audio to a USB flash drive (thumb drive) as compressed MP3 files. The second is for connecting to your PC/Laptop which means the 16FX can also feature as a soundcard. Strangely only one of the USB ports can be used at a time though.

CS4080 Power Amplifier Okay so now we have the perfect board to mic up your band we’re going to need something decent to amplify the sound. Enter the CS4080 power amplifier. This power house will push out a hefty 2040 Watts RMS per channel into 4 Ohms (you can halve that for 8 Ohms unless bridged.) Inputs available include XLS and 1.4” connectors with Binding post and Neutrik Speakon output connectors. Three Led indicators per channel for input signal, DDT and power on and gain knobs per channel complete the package.

The key factors favouring this amplifier is power and cost. It really does have a lot of headroom (when optimised into 4 ohm speakers I might add), is very well priced and of course it’s a Peavey so reliability is a well documented fact with their products.

Sp4 Three-Way Loudspeakers To complete the package so we can make some noise you’re going to want to hook up a pair of SP4 speakers, the perfect match for said desk and amp.

With a nominal impedance of 4 Ohms (you will get max power out of your CS4080 with this) these three-way full range loud-speakers pack quite a punch.

Housing two 15-inch woofers they can handle a constant input of 2000 watts with a peak rating of 4000 watts. It’s a speaker that achieves what not many full range systems often do... you don’t find yourself wishing for a sub! Yes, more bottom end is always lekka but EQ'd correctly this package is pretty damn loud and is best described as direct!

It’s an Ideal setup for band practice rooms or for small to medium sized gigs, ‘cos they pack the ‘vooma’ to make you rock!

NEWS

Four

GEAR

Shure SM58 still the popular choice!

F

or the second year in a row, the Shure SM58® won the MI Pro Retail Survey “Best Live Microphone” award. With 45 percent of the votes cast by leading UK retailers, the Shure SM58 and the Shure PG58 beat several competitors to take first and second place, respectively, for the Best Live Microphone. MI is established as one of the largest market research surveys in the UK MI market and the Pro Retail Survey looks at the top selling products and market trends of the past 12 months. The survey was conducted through a series of interviews with 100 retailers, which included all major UK chains and leading independents. The retailers were asked about their choice for the best live microphone. Shure came out on top in the Live Microphone category and was also positioned in the top five in the Best Studio Microphone category with the Shure Beta58A. LEGENDARY PERFORMANCE

T

JamVOX

T

TM

John 5 Telecaster

he Fender John 5 Telecaster Electric Guitar was designed in collaboration with John 5, the highly regarded guitarist for Marilyn Manson, K.D. Lange, and David Lee Roth (yes he of Van Halen fame). Needless to say this ‘Tele’ covers a wide range of music genres. It is equipped with an Enforcer humbucking bridge pickup and a Custom Shop Twisted ‘Tele’ neck pickup, separate volume controls for each pickup, a 3-way selector, and a 3-over/3-under tuner array. It also has a radically different headstock design and chrome pick-guard to give it a distinctive look. Fender John 5 Telecaster Electric Guitar in a nutshell ... n Bound ash body n Maple neck with rosewood fingerboard n Matching black headstock n 3-over/3-under tuner array n 22 medium-jumbo frets n Chrome pick-guard and hardware n Enforcer humbucking bridge pickup n Custom Shop Twisted Tele single-coil neck pickup Independent volume control for each pickup n 3-way toggle pickup selector n And there’s more...

Includes a Fender deluxe gig bag... (nice, Ed) n

- plug into your favourite band!

echnology ... Damn I love it. Especially when something special and unique comes along that cleverly uses the resources at hand and develops and packages this into a product that is really useful. Vox have done this with their newer than new jamming and practice tool. Jamvox consists of a software application called GXT (Guitar Xtracktion) and a USB monitor speaker with guitar and mic inputs. The software includes 19 guitar amp models and 54 effects to create almost any famous guitar sound and has what looks like a really userfriendly GUI. GXT has an isolator which allows one to isolate the guitar on any piece of music, and either amplify this so one can hear it clearly and thus learn the piece (which you can also slow down without pitch change to help you), or remove it so that when you do play along you’re filling in the guitar part yourself.

Clever neh? You can record yourself too and import any MP3 library playlist from your I-tunes or Media player folder, or simply extract the song from a CD to play along to. The monitor is also a USB audio interface that supports ASIO/CoreAudio compatible software.

Sounds like the perfect beginners and hobbyists tool. You heard it first at Muse magazine! Not even the SA distributors were aware of this product yet.

Should be in SA by Christmas!

P

Drum Kits

earl, the world’s number one name in drums, has completely revamped the 2008 line up. Featured here is Pearl’s Rhythm Traveler Kit, the ground-breaking concept kit that’s easy to transport and easily transforms from a silent practice kit to a great-sounding acoustic kit, now comes fitted with black drum hardware. Combine that with the slick Jet Black finish, and this kit has black-on-black attitude! This complete 5pc kit includes professional quality 2-ply ProTone heads, a pair of 13 inch hats and a 16 inch crash/ride. To switch from live to silent practice, a full set of included mesh drumheads and plastic cymbals turn this kit into the perfect option when sound levels are sensitive.

six Alistair is a professional bass player, music technologist and producer. He specialises in 6 and 12 string bass (preferably fretless). He has performed with international greats such as Phil Driscol, Efrain Toro, Alvin Dyers, Winston Mankunku, Merton Barrow, Errol Dyers, Robbie Jansen, Harold Jephta and many more. He also lectures music technology with one of Africa's top Jazz and African music programs at The University of Cape Town. Alistair endorses WARWICK Basses and strings, MEC pickups, SWR amplification and DIGITECH effects. He also runs the high-tech & digital section at Paul Bothner Music. http://www.alistair.co.za | http://www.myspace.com/alistairandrews http://www.warwick.de (click on ARTIST then on INTERNATIONAL)

with Alistair Andrews MODES OF THE MAJOR SCALE Let's kick things off by talking about modes. It is a very important tool for creating interesting bass lines and solos. There are modes for Major Scales, Minor Scales, Pentatonic Scales, Blues Scale etc.

Here are all modes for the C major scale: 1.

Ionian: C•D•E•F•G•A•B•C Let us start with the Major scale 2.

Dorian: D•E•F•G•A•B•C•D C·D·E·F·G·A·B·C 3.

Phrygian: E•F•G•A•B•C•D•E This collection of notes, played in this fashion, is a mode of the C 4.

Lydian: F•G•A•B•C•D•E•F major scale and is called Ionian. However, you don't necessarily 5.

Mixolydian: G • A • B • C • D • E • F • G have to play the notes from C to C. 6.

Aeolian: A•B•C•D•E•F•G•A If you play A to A as you can see it will be called the Ionian mode.

It is also called the Pure or Natural Minor Scale.

You could play them from D to D. In this case, the notes to play are: D · E · F · G · A · B · C · D This scale is still comprised of notes from the C major scale, but it has a different sound because we started on D instead of C. This scale is the second mode of the C major scale and is called Dorian.

5th FRET (You can work out the patterns for the other 3 modes by yourself.) nThe

5th FRET You could also play them from G to G. In this case, the notes to play are: G · A · B · C · D · E · F · G. This is the fifth mode of the scale and is called Mixolydian.

C Ionian Mode can be used over the following chords: Cmaj, Cmaj7, C6, Cmaj9, C6/9, etc nThe D Dorian Mode can be used over the following chords: Dmin, Dmin7, Dmin6, Dmin9, Dmin11, etc nThe E Phrygian Mode can be used over the following chords: Emin, Emin7, Emin9, Emin11, etc nThe F Lydian Mode can be used over the following chords: Fmaj, Fmaj7, Fmaj9, Fmaj7#11, etc nThe G Mixolydian Mode can be used over the following chords: Gmaj, G7, G9, G11, G13 etc nThe A Aeolian Mode can be used over the following chords: Amin, Amin7, Amin9, Amin11, etc nThe B Locrian Mode can be used over the following chords: Bdim, Bmin7.

Dmin7

........................................................................................................

Although I have done the modes over one octave only, it goes without say that one has to know them over two octaves as well. If you use a six string bass then three octaves will become a necessity. It obviously has to be practiced in all the keys as well.

G7

Cma7

The above exercise is an example of how to use the modes. The chords Dmin7-G7-Cmaj7 as you know is a ii-v-i progression. You can make up you own lines and get them “under your fingers”. I used different intervals, but started with the root of the chords. It will obviously also work for Dmin-G-C. G

Emin

Amin

D

........................................................................................................

Remember that the modes are only one of the tools and it is important to have as many “weapons” in your playing “arsenal” as possible. I wrote out the exercises in standard notation instead of TAB, because it is important to read music. How else would I be able to write down the rhythms of the funky bass line?

Till next time “Keep on GROOV'N!!”

an INCREDIBLY VERSATILE

mixer

PACKED WITH FEATURES

that delivers

SUPERIOR SOUND QUALITY

with a

SOLID CONSTRUCTION

identical to the build quality and design of Allen & Heath’s pro-touring range

But we expected that... It’s an Allen&Heath!

Imported and distributed by AUDIOSURE/ FIRST TECHNOLOGY:

JHB: Tel: 011 790-4600 | CT: 021 529 5599 DBN: 031 569-9260 | BLOEM: 051 430-4455 sales@audiosure.co.za | www.audiosure.co.za

Professional gear

at an unbeatable price.

PRO MIXING DESKS & EQUALIZERS CITRONIC Ultima Live CL82DSP

CITRONIC Ultima Live CL124DSP 12-Channel Professional Mixer

8-Channel Professional Mixer 4 Mic channels

24-bit DSP multi-effect processor

2 Stereo in channels Built in digital multi-effect

Developed using SMT LCD display &

processor

Gooseneck lamp

3-band equalizer Built-in digital effector

Monitor function Standard double 12-band level meter

CITRONIC CQ215

CITRONIC Ultima Live CL82DSP

2 x 15-BAND EQUALIZER

20-Channel Professional Mixer 20-channel mixer 24-bit DSP multi-effect processor

2 x 4 LED VU-meters

Ultra low noise SMT technology

2 x 15-band graphic equalizer Low cut filter <40 Hz

Constant Q

Volume controls (L/R)

Balanced and unbalances XLR/Jack in- and outputs

DSP 12-4 can be installed in the standard 19" rack mounting +48V Phantom power Developed using SMT With LCD display With gooseneck DJ lamp

CITRONIC CQ231

Monitor function

2 x 31-BAND EQUALIZER

Standard double 12-band level meter

Built on service A track-record of international excellence 2 x 4 LED VU-meters

Ultra low noise SMT technology

2 x 32-band graphic equalizer Low cut filter <40 Hz

Constant Q

Volume controls (L/R)

Balanced and unbalances XLR/Jack in- and outputs

DISTRIBUTED BY SKYTRONIC

AVAILABLE AT A DEALER NEAR YOU Unit 11, Hitec Village, Superior Rd, Midrand Tel: +27 11 805 9910 | Fax: 011 805 9930 | Email: sales@skytronic.co.za

Ten

YOUR

private universe

Jonathan Pike currently works as an Audio engineer and instructor at Cape Audio College. He has also in the past managed a theatre and worked as a Lighting and Sound engineer at the University of Kwazulu Natal Pietermaritzburg.

with Jonathan Pike

VOCAL RECORDING TECHNIQUES FOR THE HOME STUDIO

T

he importance of a good quality vocal recording is paramount to getting a great-sounding mix.

There are a number of ways to achieve good results when recording vocals at home, with limited equipment.

The most common mistake made is to record them either too softly or too loudly. If your recording is too soft, you will end up boosting noise and room ambience in the mix. If it is too loud, you will end up recording distorted audio that is irreparable in the mix.

The secret to overcoming this? Record vocals with a compressor. This will help to control the dynamics of the human voice.

The recording location is something that needs to be addressed too. This area should be as isolated from unwanted sound sources as is possible (kid sisters, Oprah on the TV, manic dogs).

The mic should be placed away from any walls to avoid unwanted reflections reaching the microphone. The area directly behind the vocalist should be non-

reflective. In the absence of foam tiling, a duvet (doesn’t matter how old) can be used to provide adequate absorption.This type of absorption tends to only be effective above 300Hz, so frequencies below this can still be a problem. However, this can be overcome by adding some reflective scattering surfaces, to balance out the lowend frequency response.

It’s generally best to record in an ordinary room at home with a carpet on the floor and a duvet hung behind the vocalist.

So your bedroom should do; or the lounge if there’s no book club happening.

If necessary, more absorption can be hung to either side of the vocalist, but it’s rare that you would have to go farther than that to ensure a nice sounding vocal room.

It is very important to do a preliminary vocal test take, to hear if your set-up is sounding good - and if necessary you will need to move the mic around relative to the walls of the room; until you get the right feel.

The next important choice is what microphone to use. A vital thing to remember is that each person’s voice has a different fundamental frequency, so a mic that sounds good on one person’s voice might not work at all for someone else.

With this in mind, the best choice for a vocal mic is a large diaphragm condenser mic, as they are more sensitive than dynamic mics and have a better high frequency response, so you will get a much brighter sound.

It is always best to use a shock mount with these microphones, to avoid any structural noise entering your recording. A pop shield is also essential, as it will prevent those explosive sounds like “B” and “P”, as the air released by these sounds hits the diaphragm. The pop shield should be

placed about 5cm from the mic and the singer should be around 15 to 20 cm away from the pop shield.

A good quality pre-amp is also essential for decent vocal recordings, as it will boost the signal and retain the quality of sound that you are getting from the microphone. Compression is also important in vocal recordings, as the voice is very dynamic; however one needs to be very careful with pre-tape compression, as it cannot be undone!

A good guideline is to set a compression ratio of around 4:1 and then adjust the threshold to get no more than 6dB of gain reduction on the peaks. Set the attack and release to around a quarter of a second or so; you want them to respond fairly quickly. Too much compression at this stage can leave you with lifeless vocals that cannot be fixed in the mix, so discretion is advisable.

A point to remember is that compression will bring up the room ambience in quieter sections, so if your room is a little noisy you might push up that noise with compression. So, with these guidelines in mind, there is no reason why you can’t get a decent quality vocal recording at home. Just bear in mind that you need to take some time to ensure your levels and all your settings are to your satisfaction. This is important, because the human voice is so unpredictable, and when a vocalist moves around in relation to the microphone, you will probably have to take some time to re-set your compressor and pre-amp.

And always remember; be wary of nearby noise sources that could interfere (like that damned cat).

Gerhard Van Der Merwe Professional Sound Engineer Graduate of ASE

Clayton Robbatze DJ at Jacaranda FM Student of ASE

Thoban Jappie 5FM Freelance Sound Engineer Student of ASE

DIPLOMA IN

SOUND ENGINEERING Why ASE? By far the most experienced and respected sound engineering educators in the country Housed in the SABC Buildings, with world class facilities Genuine links to the local and international entertainment industry (live tours and studio)

AFRICA'S ONLY

PRO TOOLS

Without doubt, the finest and most up-to-date equipment (hardware and software) of any South African audio college

Tel: 011-482 9200/8884

Fax: 011 482 9203 | E-mail: georgej@ase.co.za | www.ase.co.za

twelve

NI GUITAR RIG 3

W

hat do you expect from a good software amp simulator? For most guitarists there should only be one answer: a good amp simulator is one that sounds, and responds, exactly like the amps it simulates.

We’ve been using Native Instruments’ Guitar Rig amp simulator at Calahari Cosmos studios for almost everything and it rocks! What makes a software amp so useful is that it allows one to do things that are impossible with hardware, whether it’s automating knob movements in real time, routing three different amps in series, or putting a glockenspiel through a Marshall stack.

Its unique modular design makes it easy to construct bizarre and electrically unsound combinations of virtual gear from the safety of your laptop and/or music computer. I even use Guitar Rig as simply a distortion effect when producing more

TIPS ON TUNING YOUR GUITAR

I

t’s best to use an electronic tuner, pitch pipe, or piano, to tune a guitar, however sometimes you need to do a quick check and you don't have time to use these things. You have to see very quickly during a performance or something which string is giving you trouble. Try this...

Note though that this method only works after the regular tuning is done.

These pitches will sometimes be an octave or two higher than the lower string being checked. The lower strings should not be overly tightened to get to the same octave as the note being played on the 'High E' or other higher string. This is a fine tuning pitch check in different octaves with the exception of the 'B' string.

It's usually pretty easy to tell if your first or 'High E' string is in tune by listening to other instruments or if playing solo, in tune with yourself, and the intonation on most guitars is usually pretty accurate on that string because of the small diameter so start with that one.

hing Teac& ing Rocfkor ars 10ye

CONNECT YOUR GUITAR TO YOUR COMPUTER TODAY!!!

Electronic based music too; or for spicing up the simple, but effective ... Slayer VST. At the core of this great piece of software from Native Instruments, is the Rig Kontrol hardware unit, which is a DI box, audio interface and foot controller.

Other welcome additions include LED input and output level meters.

The Guitar Rig 3 Kontrol Edition in full consists of the software, which is also available separately and can be used as an Audio Units effects plug-in, and the Rig Kontrol 3 pedal, which combines full switching and control of any and all of the software’s many modules and features with a complete analog-digital interface.

The converters have also been improved, and it certainly sounds very clean, but then to be honest, so did its predecessor.

Guitar Rig remains one of the most flexible amp simulators we've encountered to date. The foot controller makes Guitar Rig 3 an excellent live rig, capable of far more than any traditional hardware-based system can achieve.

“Now featuring authentic emulations of 12 amps, 17 guitar and 6 bass cabinets, four rotary speakers, nine microphones and 44 effects - the multi award-winning guitar studio sets the tone for excellence.”

– NI

says Johan Schreuder, Calahari Cosmos "Sonically, Guitar Rig has always been capable of ranging from classic traditional sounds to experimental exotica and the added models will add even more scope from one end of that range to the other. It's an excellent cost-effective package and thanks to the Rig Kontrol facilities, is still the single product of all those available that most successfully integrates the act of playing guitar with a computer." -Choice Award! | Guitarist, UK, 01/2008

First, play the 'High E' string open and check your 'Bass E' string open.

Second, play an 'A' on your 'High E' string to check your 'A' string.

Third, play a 'D' on your 'High E' string to check your 'D' string.

Fourth, play a 'G' on the 'High E' string to check your 'G' string.

Lastly, play a 'B' on the 'High E' string to check your 'B' string.

If you have time, one last check for an even better fine-tuning ...

after you struggle through it once or twice, you'll see it's very easy. The positions are very easy to remember.

Another Tip: When you tune a guitar string, always start below the desired note and tune up to pitch not down to pitch. This will help prevent the string from going flat during play.

Very quickly after some practice of course, play some octaves: Play 'G' on your 'High E' string to check the 'G' string once more.

Play 'D' on your 'B' string to check your 'D' string.

Play 'A' on your 'G' string to check your 'A' string.

Lastly, play 'E' on your 'D' string to check your 'Bass E' string.

Now play a couple of test chords and you're ready.

This may seem complicated reading it for the first time but

JAMROCK Music School Ph: (021) 981-1313 jamrock@telkomsa.net | www.jamrock.co.za Shop 57, Brackenfell Shopping Centre (Next to Action Cricket)

TUITION IN: Guitar Bass Guitar Drumming Keyboard Vocal Training Sound Training

Accomplished tutors All Ages & levels Wide array of music styles Learn with songs of own choice

We also offer TRINITY ROCKSCHOOL grades

fourteen

GAMING REVIEWS

ENEMY TERRITORY - QUAKE WARS

By Paul Blom

(X Box/PS3)

The first person shooter genre took a whole new direction in the early 90s with the PC release of Doom.

Since then many different takes on the style and genre has seen the light, the Quake series being one of them. The latest chapter on the new generation platforms throws you into its realm with brilliant detail and furious tactical, as well as brute force action. As a part of the military force (deploying a range of personnel trained to perform specific tasks), you have to take on the invading alien forces across many locations (from Africa and North America, to North Europe and the Pacific). You can jump into instant action or a full-on campaign, taking on the vicious enemy with high-tech weaponry, deployment of turrets, hacking systems, placing explosives, or ducking behind walls and structures to avoid your ass getting blown off! When it does, medics come racing to your aid, and if you run out of ammo you can request troops to supplement you. Your support team can help a lot in containing serious situations and the online function allows many players to co-operatively crush the invaders. - 8/10

ECHOCHROME

(PSP)

It’s always a pleasure when a game comes along defying genre expectations - you can only race so many cars and fire so many weapons… The concept of Echochrome seems so simple, but has endless possibilities. In a linedrawn environment your figure walks along platform pathways resembling geometric shapes.

You have objectives to reach like meeting up with other figures.

They don’t make it easy for you though, as these platforms are separated and contain gaps, holes or designated jumping areas. The world of Echochrome is an illogical one - you can rotate your perspective, and this is where the fun and cranial exercise comes in – when a gap, hole or jump spot is covered up by a piece of the structure in the foreground, it does not exist, and you can cross it! If the view is adjusted so that two separated levels seem merged, then it is!

Echochrome joins the ranks of classic games like the timeless Tetris or Kula World and Kurushi, tapping into analytical brain tweaking as opposed to blind mayhem. At first it looks like a breeze, but once they start throwing what seems like impossible challenges at you, things can get frustrating. The convenience of this PlayStation Portable title makes for quick, fun, anywhere, anytime gaming. - 7½/10

For more on these and other games check out www.flamedrop.com

GRAND THEFT AUTO IV (PS3/X Box) Controversy aside, one has to admire the scope and quality of this series, reaching its most vivid realization yet of Liberty City’s seedy underworld. In this chapter the lead character is Niko Bellic arriving from Eastern Europe to live the American Dream. With his low down taxi driving cousin spinning yarns about how great things are, Niko is soon faced with the harsh reality.

The large, free roaming city area is a great combination of various gaming styles, from driving to shooting and fighting. You can spend hours driving around causing havoc but will soon realize you forked out cash on this game and want to get its full potential. Concerning the violence and nasty narrative attached to these titles, remember that this is for mature gamers (often a contradiction in terms, I know!), and is not meant for young players who may either be disturbed by it, or (god forbid) try and re-enact it. Like adult themed movies with violence and sexual content, it is up to the parents to ensure their kids are not exposed to material which may have an adverse effect on them. I wasn’t inspired to become a gun-toting drug dealer after seeing Scarface, nor after playing this, so let’s hope that’s true for all who find this to be gritty entertainment, and nothing more. - 9/10

MARIOKART Wii

(Nintendo Wii)

The folks at Nintendo designed a steering wheel to house your Wii control – so, no more pretending your remote turned on its side is the real thing as you’re now armed with a fully functioning cordless steering wheel! This innovative little piece of hardware comes with the MarioKart game, which has already been a popular Nintendo DS portable title. Mario and his chums (like Luigi, Toad and Bowser) hit a range of tracks in various vehicles (like hotrods, racing cars, motorcycles and even ludicrous baby stroller racers!). Courses cover traditional circuits, as well as dirt tracks and more odd ones like shopping malls and platforms raised above water. It’s not just straight racing, as you can pull tricks when ramping and collect over a dozen items to strategically release to the detriment of your opponents (incl. banana peels, bombs, lightning or POW blocks).

If you want to, you can stick to the sideways remote method, use the Classic Wii remote, combine your Wii remote and Nunchuck attachment, or hook up your Gamecube control. But hey, when you get the steering wheel housing with the game, why on earth would you bother with those primitive methods?! - 8½/10