Korg's Kaossilator Pro

The Kaosilator Pro by Korg is the grand daddy to the Mini Kaosillator.  This synth is a good resource for sound effects to fill out a song or make it more interesting.  The Kaossilator is a good option for someone who needs synthesizer sounds but does not necessarily want to lug around a full blown keyboard setup or hire a keyboard player.  Although the Kaossilator Pro does not have as many controls as most synthesizers, it utilizes a touch pad with an x and y axis that is manipulated with with your finger.  The sound generated will depend on your hand's placement within the x and y axis.  The Kaossilator Pro also offers a little of the more popular effects and vocoding that are available in the Kaoss Pad 3, but if you're mainly after effects, I would recommend getting the Kaoss Pad 3, because you will feel dissapointed if you were mainly after vocoding and effects when getting the Kaossilator, the Kaossilator is prodominately a synth.  Besides these functions, the Kaossilator Pro also features a 4 track loop sequencer.  The sequencer is easy to use, and once you know where the buttons are, is so easy that you don't even need to look at the module. There is a tap tempo which can slow down or speed up a synth part once it has been recorded. The Kaossilator Pro is a good place to go to when you've finished a song and need a couple extra sound effects to spice things up, or even as a good starting place for writing a song.

(reviewed by Dylan) 


Available at rock n roll rentals for rental or sale!

Adam A7 studio monitor customer Review

Adrian Benavides was the first to rent our new Adam studio monitors.  Here is what he thought ...

 

"The A7s sound great! I'm using them as a second set next to my JBL LSR 2325Ps and KRK10s sub. They fill in the blanks and compliment the JBLs nicely in my room. Very upfront and great for hearing what low mids and mids are doing since my JBLs seem to scoop these just a bit being 5" speakers. The A7s are a good test for vocal placement and checking if the kick thumps enough without a sub : )"

 

We got blogged! Rental Pros!

Last week, Jason Bliley from DirectProAudio.com stopped in to exchange ideas and see how we do rentals in Austin Texas. He wrote a blog entry on his visit, read it here.

Direct Pro Audio is a nation-wide leader in internet music retail, and after meeting Jason, I can see why. They approach their business in an open-minded and fresh way. If you don't live in Texas, I would recommend buying on line from these guys.

He offered to give us any advice on installs as they are well established in that field as well. We wish their rental division, Omaha Audio Rentals, the best of luck in expanding their rental program.

Rock n Roll Rentals started our rental program modeled after the great Jack Long's rental program used at the Long & McQuade music stores in Canada. The basic idea is to make it so affordable that it makes sense to rent it, especially on monthly rentals. We use Yorkville equipment (Jack Long's company) as the backbone of our rental inventory. Their 2 year "even if you break it" warranty is the best in the business. They also manufacture great instrument amps (keyboard, guitar and bass) under the name Traynor amps (named after Pete Traynor who designed amps for Jack.) In Rock n Roll Rentals' formative years, Yorkville provided great support to Jim Norman as he expanded Rock n Roll Rentals in the recession of the early '80's. There are not many other businesses in the USA that rents music or AV equipment as affordable. One notable exception is the Doo Wop Shop in Kentucky, so if you are ever in Kentucky, look them up.

Api 500 series

I brought one of these home a few weeks back. Hearing for years about how great the eq and pre's were, I was exited to hear what everyone was talking about. Part of me wanted to think it was over priced hype. Within minutes, I was trying to imagine how I could buy one. You know, like what could I sell and do I really need a car or a kidney..etc.
Even at full gain the mic pre's were super quiet and sounded great. I'm kind of a compression junkie and I got a great fix. Its the most transparent sounding compressor I've heard. Not at all "effecty" - even at full squish.
Api eq is legendary. Its easy to see why. I found myself reamping older tracks like kick drums and vocals just to get some of that sugar. Really amazing stuff, so musical.
In the end, its so inexpensive to rent that its really ideal for any recording project. Its so portable too. I'm sold. Anybody need a third kidney?
Gary

available for rental @ Rock n Roll Rentals (only in Austin, TX!)

Peluso P28 pencil tube condenser mic

I got bored with my mics and my same old setup for my little room jams that I write and record, so I rented the Peluso P28 from RnR Rentals to try and kick up the warmth action a bit. I chose a small diaphragm so I could get the the clarity of a condenser but also the the focus of a pencil mic as I record primarily within thinly blanketed square walls. I found that the mic was great on the octave off axis of an acoustic (an old fender, and new gibson). It delivered nice warmth from the tube and was largely flat in response. Then I stuck a tambourine on it, and to me, that's where the mic shined (I know, tambourine). It gave me a nice fat darker tone, kinda reminiscent of a ribbon but using half the gain. Worked well with the tune at hand. Finally, I got curious and cut a couple of vocal takes with it and to my surprise it sounded really good. I was in my living room about 4.5 feet back from the mic and it let in just enough of the room to flatter without giving away that I have no rug on the tile floor and that my old furnace wouldn't shut up. Very warm. I'm curious to see how a couple of these would sound as drum OH's or on an electric cab. Maybe next time... -Rene

Movie Night

For entertainment at a neighborhood BBQ, I picked up a 2600 lumens Optoma projector and 6' X 8' screen from Rock n Roll Rentals. The kids (natives) were getting restless, and we (adults) turned on a seasonal Charlie Brown movie as the sky began to darken. The wild things sat at attention on blankets in the backyard glued to the action on the screen. The picture was very bright and clear. We have tried projecting on a sheet before, and I must say the screen makes all the difference. It took about 10 minutes to set up the screen, and about 5 minutes to find the best place for the projector. It plugged into the VGA display out of my computer and I used a speaker system that hooked up to the audio output jack. Very little investment for something that entertained so many people. Can't wait for the next neighborhood get together.

by Craig Rock

See projector rental rates and screen rental rates here.
Here is a sample package that is popular.
These great prices available in Austin TX only.

Electroharmonix Memory Toy vs. MXR Carbon Copy

The Memory Toy is an analog delay pedal made by Electroharmonix. It is one the Nano series pedals so you can expect it to be pedal board friendly. It also runs on the standard 9V power supply, which given the history of Electroharmonix power supplies, is a plus. It is similar to the MXR M-169 Carbon Copy Analog Delay pedal. I happen to have a Carbon Copy in my arsenal of pedals and had the privilege to do a shoot out with both pedals. Both have the same simple controls and are easy to dial in: Delay, Mix/Blend, Regen/Feedback, and Modulation. Both of these pedals have a great analog warmth that will make you forget about ever using a digital delay pedal ever again. I will have to say that the MXR Carbon Copy does offer a bit more clarity and warmth. Where the Memory Toy does win is in the price. It is about half the price of the Carbon Copy. For those musicians who are financially challenged, which most of us are, it is a small sacrifice in sonic quality for a great analog delay pedal.

by: Oscar Reyna

note: both pedals are available at Rock n Roll Rentals for sale and/or rental