HC News

The Hot-Rod Plexi pedal from Tech 21 is inspired by vintage amps of the same nickname. While those hulking stacks are known to sound best at ear-bleed levels, this pedal can painlessly transform your existing amp without pulling a muscle or mandatory rig cranking. With the Hot-Rod Plexi, you can completely change the personality of a clean amp or use it as an instant mod to a dirty amp. Portions of Tech 21’s all-analog SansAmp technology have been incorporated into the Hot-Rod Plexi to generate the organic tube amp distortion characteristics. In Stock mode, it’s as if you have the signal path from the input jack to the speaker jack (without the speaker emulation) of a stock ‘68 Plexi. Hot engages an extra “12AX7” pre-amp gain stage. With its own level control, Hot can kick in up to 28dB of pre-amp boost --a pretty insane amount of gain. Tone cuts the high end without losing mids or getting muddy and Drive adjusts the overall amount of gain and overdrive. Thump takes care of the low end for the resonant frequency of a 4x12 cabinet. Other features include a high-impedance input, and a silent-switching, custom footswitch actuator. Operable with 9V battery (not included) or optional DC power supply (Tech 21 Model #DC2). Manufactured in the U.S.A. The Hot-Rod Plexi will be available exclusively through Guitar Center and Musician’s Friend during its introductory launch.

Nashville, TN, October 14, 2013 - Epiphone continues its 140th anniversary celebration by putting a spotlight on two of its critically acclaimed trademark archtops – the Sheraton II and The Dot, now featuring Alnico Classic pickups. The Epiphone Sheraton II and The Dot have played an important part in Epiphone’s history. The Sheraton, originally released in 1958, was Epiphone’s first new electric guitar made in the historic Kalamazoo, Michigan factory it shared with Gibson. The Epiphone Dot, modeled after the first generation of late 50s “335” thinline archtops, signaled Epiphone’s re-emergence in the early 90s as the premier maker of professional affordable instruments. The arrival of the modern Sheraton II and The Dot made it possible for anyone to afford a true “335” style archtop electric that was dependable, professionally made, and had all the classic tone of the hard-to-find originals. “Epiphone is renowned for our archtops and both the Sheraton II and The Dot are a vital part of our history,” said President Jim Rosenberg. “No collection is complete without an Epiphone archtop, and The Sheraton II and The Dot are really perfect guitars for beginners and pros.” The Sheraton II has long been an artist favorite. John Lee Hooker described it as an “outdone 335” and today it can be heard on stage with Alabama Shakes, Vampire Weekend and the Kings of Leon, among many others. The Sheraton II features a laminated maple body with a mahogany center block, just like vintage originals, and the hard maple SlimTaper C profile neck is hand glued. The Sheraton II is also a visually stunning guitar with gold pickup covers, gold hardware and gold Grover Roto-matic 18:1 ratio machine heads. The fretboard has Pearloid and Abalone Block and Triangle inlays and the historic Epiphone “Tree of Life” headstock inlay. The headstock, body and neck all have beautiful multiple binding and the bound “tortoise” style pickguard has the classic metal “E” for Epiphone. For those seeking the classic “335” sound with less flash, the dependable Dot has all the same tone, feel and dependability. The Dot is constructed of premium laminated maple with a mahogany center block and a hand-fitted, glued-in 24.75” scale mahogany neck. The Dot also has a classic rosewood fingerboard with traditional "Dot" inlays, a 1.68" nut, a SlimTaper™ “D” profile and the traditional Sloped Dovewing Epiphone headstock. Both the Sheraton II and The Dot feature Epiphone’s premier Alnico Classic pickups with world-famous Alnico magnets, the secret behind all great humbuckers. And both guitars include first-class Epiphone quality electronic parts like full-size 1” 500K Ohm potentiometers, Epiphone's all-metal pickup selector switch and a heavy-duty output jack. And of course, both guitars come with Epiphone’s Limited Lifetime Warranty. Visit Epipohone.com to read learn more about the history of the Shearton II and The Dot and all about Epiphone’s 140th Anniversary Celebration.

Studio, microphones, vintage desk, pristine drum kit, drummer with a bit too much energy - all check! Drum roll please…introducing Essential Studio Drums, the percussive smash that's waiting to kick in your tracks and unleash their fury! Tired of the same old drum machine sounds? Looking for a phat live sound specially engineered to work seamlessly with electronic music? Then step right this way and pump some lethal percussive adrenalin into your productions. Don't get beaten down by the same old rhythms - hit back with the ultimate live drum collection! Recorded in a purpose-fit studio, complete with Neve channel strips, Thermionic Culture compressors and Prism Sound converters, Essential Studio Drums draws its influences from the sickest live beats in the game - whether you're smashing Rock snares, riding Pop hi hats or bouncing off of some Dance kicks, we've hammered all angles into one neat, dynamic live loop pack. Fix up any genre with our specially crafted drum sound, created using a classic Pearl Export kit and a whole lot of sweat! Designed for maximum impact, this collection is inspired by only the hardest-knocking tunes in Dance, Rock and Pop today, from Daft Punk and Prodigy to The Chemical Brothers and beyond. This powerful live library weighs in at over 420MB and lands in the form of expertly played live grooves and drum fills, pre-mixed and mastered so you can throw them into your production and get going straight away. Loops are arranged into 4 folders by tempo, including 100, 110, 120 and 128 Bpm. We’ve also tossed in a folder of live drum one-shots for good measure, so you can construct your own live rhythms at the drop of a hat! [attachment=141953:name]From the thick, rock-solid groove of 'Full Fat' and the speedy, fidgety twitch of 'Breakneck', to the urgent swing of the funky 'Disco', there's a wealth of phat, bullet-proof beats to suit your tunes. On top of these, the variety of fills on offer, from the bouncing live toms of 'Rolling' to the snare crushing 'Slam', will give your beats that uplifting edge and momentum - you couldn't ask for a more reliable, straight-up groove arsenal! Working with these live drum loops is outrageously easy - just drag your chosen loop into any DAW and it'll sync with the Bpm of your project instantly. Bounced at 24bit, the gleaming, contemporary sound of Essential Studio Drums will be more than a match for any musical material you care to throw at it. The drum beat is the backbone of every song, so add some spine-quaking live elements to your next tune withEssential Studio Drums - we've broken sticks, split skins and busted rims to bring this live drum sample pack to you and it's all yours, 100\% royalty free, so get busy creating some drum mayhem! Product Link: http://primeloops.com/essential-studio-drums.html Soundcloud Link: http://soundcloud.com/primeloops/essential-studio-drums-sample Prime Loops Release 'Dubstep Conspiracy' Pack Dark secrets are swarming beneath the surface in 'Dubstep Conspiracy' - what will you uncover with our latest Dubstep sample pack? This mysterious new sound library has leaked straight from Prime Loops' covert sound lab, concealed inside a maximum security bunker miles beneath East London's cracked concrete pavements. This top-secret material has been smuggled out and tampered with to blend the best of today's popular music scene in to one deadly sample pack - tune in at your own risk![attachment=141954:name] We've infiltrated Dubstep's inner circle to bring you 'Dubstep Conspiracy', hi-jacking and fusing sounds from the Trap and Drumstep worlds to give you musical weapons to fight in every corner. The bass, drum, synth and SFX loops included in this pack are finally ready to see the light of day, so throw them into only the most sinister Dubstep productions for addictive effect. Plot your audio heist now and grab this pack quickly before it disappears back underground! We've infiltrated Dubstep's inner circle to bring you 'Dubstep Conspiracy', hi-jacking and fusing sounds from the Trap and Drumstep worlds to give you musical weapons to fight in every corner. The bass, drum, synth and SFX loops included in this pack are finally ready to see the light of day, so throw them into only the most sinister Dubstep productions for addictive effect. Plot your audio heist now and grab this pack quickly before it disappears back underground! [attachment=141955:name]Follow the deceptive wobbles to uncover over 470MB of fresh sounds, with over 200 audio files arranged into 6 folders of Basslines, Drum Loops, Synth Leads, Mixed One-Shots, Instrumental Loops and SFX Loops. Delve deep into the murk that is 'Dubstep Conspiracy' and you'll find a host of cocky, daredevil basslines designed to drive any mix to new levels of intensity, maniacal percussive impacts programmed at that foot-stomping half-speed swagger and a wide array of synths from the sordid to the sombre. Each sample inside 'Dubstep Conspiracy' arrives in pristine 24-bit High Definition clarity and will sync automatically with any pre-existing mix - that means it'll adjust to mirror the tempo of any existing tune you insert it in! Starting from scratch? You can adjust the tempo of any sample simply by altering the main tempo of your project. Are you ready to challenge the dark forces of Dubstep? Take control from inside the system with 'Dubstep Conspiracy'and spread the truth in your tunes! This pack is supplied entirely royalty free, keeping those disturbing sample clearance forms at bay and proving that Prime Loops is your ally. All that is left to do now is grab this pack and start making tunes before this message self-destructs...time is ticking! Product Link: http://primeloops.com/dubstep-conspiracy.html SoundCloud Link: http://soundcloud.com/primeloops/dubstep-conspiracy-sample-pack

Weighing in at over 16GBs, MORPHESTRA™ GENERATIONS is a collection of 1600+ morphed Instruments & Multis derived entirely from true orchestral recordings. Created in association with Kirk Hunter Studios, MORPHESTRA™ GENERATIONS brings the original MORPHESTRA™ into a whole new generation of sound, creating a modern day virtual instrument that transcends ANY morphed orchestral/effectual sample library ever created. Geared for film, TV, and game composers, MORPHESTRA™ GENERATIONS includes amazing ready-to-play psycho-acoustic sampled symphonic winds, strings, and percussive instruments and morphs them into a world where music and sound design collide. If you already own the original MORPHESTRA™, you can easily upgrade to MORPHESTRA™ GENERATIONS, which also includes all the original instruments and multis from MORPHESTRA™ 1.0. Re-defined, Re-mastered, Re-mutilated, Re-morphed Sample Logic has gone above and beyond the traditional performance practices and recording techniques to create the new diverse instruments included in MORPHESTRA™ GENERATIONS. Strings, Brass, Woodwinds, Symphonic & World percussion, Voices, Guitars, Waterphones, Animals, Warehouses, Tools, Machinery, and a number of unique World instruments were recorded in the studio and as field recordings then manipulated using Sample Logic’s proprietary morphing and synthesis techniques to create new organic “never-before-heard” instruments and ensembles. All recordings were manipulated, morphed, and processed throughout the various stages of production, including the sampling phase, programming phase, and via MORPHESTRA GENERATIONS’ real-time customizable user interface effects and parameters. How MORPHESTRA™ GENERATIONS is organized MORPHESTRA™ GENERATIONS is intuitively and meticulously organized into unique categories, such as: Atmospheres, Instrumentals, Percussives (all with numerous descriptive sub-categories) and three categories of over 90 customized Multis ready for instant production. 
 Instrument Categories ATMOSPHERES - Continuously sustained soundscapes that are static or full of organic motion. INSTRUMENTALS 
Arpeggiated – Customizable tempo-synced arpeggiator driven impact loops. Bells – Mallets – Sounds derived from recordings of bells and mallet instruments. Keys – Sounds similar to traditional keyboard instruments.
Loops – repeating sequenced instrumental recordings.
Strings – Sounds derived from recordings of stringed instruments.
Synths – Sounds similar to electronic synthesizers.
Winds – Sounds derived from recordings of wind instruments. PERCUSSIVES 
Big Ensembles – Multi-voice percussive hits
Impact Sequences – Multi-hit percussive instruments
Impacts – One-shot percussive hits
Kits – Drum set-like instruments
Loops – Sub-categorized percussive sequences
Transitions – Strategic rhythmic gestures for blending and bridging events and musical ideas Multi Categories MULTIS – Powerful templates combining various MORPHESTRA™ GENERATIONS instruments into all-in-one presets. Construction Beds – Various instruments types mapped out across the keymap in zones.
 Instrument Stacks – Several instruments stacked on top of one another, sharing the same keymap range. One Note Glory – Several instruments stacked on top of one another, sharing the same keymap range, to be performed by playing one note. Mind-blowing User Interface MORPHESTRA™ GENERATIONS’ spectacular user interface was designed with the composer and sound designer in mind, providing effortless control for complete real-time customization. The core of MORPHESTRA™ GENERATIONS is focused around the user experience, providing the freedom to infinitely transform samples into awesome twisted evolving instruments with endless possibilities. The interface includes: "Multi-core Effect Sequencers" for real-time effect automation "Triggers" - 48 unique effect chains "Arpeggigater" - sequencer based gate effect “LFO” section to make things wobble “Wave” - additive synthesis engine "Pitch" sequencer for quick and easy pattern based transpositions on the fly "Multi Script Macros" for real-time sequencing of instrument parameter controls TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS 17GB free disk space for MORPHESTRA™ GENERATIONS sample content Over 1600 Instruments and Multis delivered at 44.1k/24-bit. Just over 16GB sample library using Kontakt’s lossless sample storage compression Native 64-bit support System Requirements & Compatibility Requires Kontakt 5.2 Player free from Native Instruments Mac OS X 10.7 or 10.8 (latest update), Intel Core Duo, 2 GB RAM (4GB recommended) Windows 7 or 8 (latest Service Pack, 32/64 Bit), Intel Core Duo or AMD Athlon 64 X2, 2 GB RAM (4GB 
recommended) For more info visit: http://www.samplelogic.com/products/morphestra MSRP: $599.99 Customer upgrade for original MORPHESTRA customers $99.99

Phoenix Audio is pleased to announce the Nicerizer Junior summing mixer. This is 16 input and 4 output Class A discrete active summing mixer and amplifier, based on the hugely popular Nicerizer 16 mk2. This product was designed to offer high quality analogue summing to clients where sonic quality is imperative whilst still being aggressively priced to appeals to lots of customers. The original Nicerizer 16 and Nicerizer 8 summing mixers were release initially in 2003 and Phoenix Audio was one of the first companies to recognize this market and release a product to cater for the demand for analogue summing and tone as a repost to the cold lifeless sound offered by DAW computer systems. The Nicerizer Junior has 16 inputs containing 16 of our Class A discrete input buffer amps, 4 outputs containing our well renowned DSOP2 Class A discrete output amps and 4 custom wound transformers, each channel has panning with detented/stepped control and an 8db level boost. Phoenix Audio is a US manufacturer of high end professional Audio equipment for recording and live purposes, we are based in Costa Mesa, CA. The new Phoenix Audio Nicerizer Junior will be displayed on the Phoenix Audio booth 3157) at the AES 133rd New York convention.

Future Loops has just released Rennie Pilgrem - Godfather Of Breaks, a multiformat collection of samples by breaks legend Rennie Pilgrem. With a rich career of over 20 years, Rennie started playing on funk bands and producing acid house and techno in the early 90s. Together with Ellis Dee they formed Rhythm Section and later Rennie created Thursday Club Recordings (TCR) on which he has released over a hundred tracks and singles. Rennie is considered responsible and the biggest influence on the nu skool breaks scene and has remixed all the big names of electronic music: Arthur Baker, Easy Rollers, Elite Force, Afrika Bambaata, Meat Katie, Timo Maas, Ferry Corsten, BT, Filter and many more. Rennie Pilgrem – Godfather Of Breaks features sharply produced breaks in many different tempos (from 100Bpm to 150Bpm) and styles ( from live drums to programmed breaks ). Included are also Bass, Guitar, Piano, Synth, FX, Percussion, Pads, Chords, Strings, Vocals & Drum One-Shots. With over 670 loops & one-shots, Godfather Of Breaks is offered in WAV & REX format and is 100\% Royalty-Free.

From Catalinbread Founder Nicholas Harris- In the late 1980s my grandfather was diagnosed with a form of cancer that sometimes even doctors don’t realize is possible for a male to get. Breast cancer. It was quite a shock, luckily my grandfather had some of the best healthcare available to him at the time. He was able to find a doctor who could perform the mastectomy without promising him the loss of his entire arm. He’s lived a full life since then, cancer free. Myself and my family have been blessed with his presence. Fast forward a quarter century there is still no cure. Nearly every electronics device you could fit into the trunk of your car back then is an app on your smart phone, but still no cure. Many people have had their lives completely changed in this time. And not everybody is fortunate to have the healthcare that my grandfather had available to him. So when I decided to release 4 Catalinbread pedal models in pink for Breast Cancer Awareness Month I knew that I needed to choose a charity who provides resources to the less fortunate and pushes forward toward a real cure. I chose a charity that provides screening and treatment for breast cancer. Therefore, I called Komen Oregon to ask how Catalinbread and our fans can help in October! We’re offering 4 of our top selling pedal models in pink! Each pedal will be hand signed, dated and numbered X of 25. Our goal is to raise $5,000, but with your help I think we can do a bunch more! Catalinbread will contribute 50\% of each sale to Komen Oregon. Please join us! http://www.catalinbread.com/breast-cancer-awareness.html - Nicholas Harris, Founder

SCOTTS VALLEY, CA • October 10, 2013 — For over 40 years, API mixing consoles have become synonymous for audio excellence and multi-platinum recordings. From the Foo Fighters to Fleetwood Mac’s classic Rumours, API mixing desks are legendary for their colorful punch and warm analog detail. Now Universal Audio is pleased to release the API Vision Channel Strip Plug-In for the UAD Powered Plug-Ins platform and Apollo audio interfaces. Featuring five API modules — the 212L Microphone Preamplifier, 215L High/Low Cut Filters, 235L Gate/Expander, 225L Compressor/Limiter, and 550L 4-Band Equalizer — the API Vision Channel Strip plug-in allows owners of Apollo audio interfaces and UAD-2 DSP Accelerator hardware to impart their tracks with the same focus, punch, and harmonic detail as its high-end hardware counterpart. Available for purchase via UA's Online Store for $299, the API Vision Channel Strip Plug-In is part of the new UAD Software v7.3. API Vision Channel Strip Plug-In — $299 Faithful channel strip emulation from API's flagship Vision analog console Comprised of five distinct modules: 212L Mic Preamp, 215L High/Low Cut Filters, 235L Gate/Expander, 225L Compressor/Limiter, and 550L 4-Band Equalizer Models custom 2520 API op-amp and transformers with circuit nonlinearities Allows recording in real time via Apollo interfaces (sub-2ms latency) and/or mixing workflows via UAD-2 hardware More than 70 artist presets from Joe Chiccarelli, Neil Dorfsman, David Isaac, Nathaniel Kunkel and John Paterno Requires UAD-2 DSP Accelerator Card or Apollo Interface, available from authorized dealers worldwide.

(Nashville, TN October 8, 2013) Epiphone’s year-long celebration of its 140th Anniversary continues with an amazing October giveaway, featuring the Ltd. Ed. Brendon Small "Thunderhorse" Explorer Outfit, a one-of-a-kind signature electric guitar from one of the most eclectic and challenging artists working today. Brendon Small is the co-creator and comedic and musical imagination behind Dethklok, the virtual metal band featured in the hit animated program Metalocalypse produced by Adult Swim. And now with the "Thunderhorse" Explorer Outfit, Epiphone and Brendon have collaborated to create the ultimate six-string weapon packed with exclusive features only found on Epiphone. "We at Epiphone are great fans of Brendon. His talent, his sense of humor and his willingness to always give his fans the very best never ceases to amaze us. Brendon designed the ‘Thunderhorse’ with the same attention to detail he brings to Metalocalypse. We think the ‘Thunderhorse’ is an instant classic and we can’t wait for fans to play it.” The Ltd. Ed. Brendon Small "Thunderhorse" Explorer Outfit giveaway begins October 1, 2013 and ends October 31, 2013. Fans can easily enter the giveaway on Epiphone.com. The Ltd. Ed. Brendon Small "Thunderhorse" Explorer Outfit was designed by Brendon Small and Epiphone luthiers at the new “House of Stathopoulo,” Epiphone’s state-of-the-art design and distribution center in Nashville, TN. The guitar features a striking Silverburst gloss finish on a classic Explorer profile. Both the body and neck are mahogany. The 24.75" scale neck has a 1960's SlimTaper™ 'D' profile and is hand-set and glued-in for incredible resonance and sustain. The super-smooth and super-fast phenolic fingerboard – which can only be found on the Epiphone "Thunderhorse" – has a 12" radius, 22 medium jumbo frets, a 1.68" nut, and pearloid dot inlays. The guitar has single ply cream binding on the body top and along the fingerboard. The classic Explorer truss rod cover on the Exporer headstock is black with "Thunderhorse" in silver silk print. The "Thunderhorse" is powered by Gibson USA’s famous BurstBucker™ pickups. The neck features a Gibson USA BurstBucker™-1 humbucker and the bridge position features a Gibson USA BurstBucker™-2 humbucker that is slightly overwound to emulate the legendary hand-wound PAF humbuckers produced at the historic Gibson-Epiphone factory in Kalamazoo, Michigan in the late 50s. BurstBucker™ pickups are made with unpolished magnets and non-potted coils, just like the originals. This combination gives players subtle tone variations that make each Gibson USA BurstBucker™ humbucker – and your guitar – absolutely one-of-a-kind. And you'll get even more power from the BurstBucker™ experience, thanks to push/pull coil-tapping controls on the Neck Volume and Bridge Volume knobs, also an Epiphone exclusive. The Ltd. Ed. Brendon Small "Thunderhorse" Explorer Outfit comes with a premium fitted gigback and three Dethklok stickers. The U.S. MSRP is $999.00. Visit Epiphone.com to enter the contest and learn more about the Ltd. Ed. Brendon Small "Thunderhorse" Explorer Outfit.

SUNRISE, Fla. - CHAUVET® DJ announces the release of the versatile and uniquely shaped Wedge™ Tri wash light. Designed to warm triangular truss systems from most manufacturers, Wedge Tri is a triangle-shaped, remote-controllable wash light that allows you to easily create glowing columns of colorful light. The fixture fits perfectly inside the TRUSST® Arch and Goal Post Kits and clamps to its 35mm truss using built-in M10 or M12 threaded rig points. For added flexibility, Wedge Tri also fits standard 50mm truss systems and features a sit-flat housing design that includes power and DMX outlets on the side of the unit. Wedge Tri is a lightweight and impressively bright fixture housed in a compact, 1.4-pound casing and powered by three three-watt, tri-color LEDs. It is fitted with flicker-free LEDs making it perfect for on-camera events, while power linking capabilities ensure a tidy and organized setup. For simple point-and-shoot-operation, use the included IRC remote to control static colors and automated programs, or create any color without DMX by using the built-in digital display. To create customized light shows and match the theme of any event, control the wash light in 3- or 8-channel DMX mode. For safe and secure transport from gig to gig, Wedge Tri fits best in the CHS-40 VIP Gear Bag.