Dan Higgins is one of my favorite sax players. Or anything players.
Tag: guitar
Pitch Axis Theory
Chordal instrument players are good to follow for figuring out how to solo to chord changes. Here is a little intro to what guitar players call “Pitch Axis Theory”. To me, it’s more of soloing to tonal centers, but potato or po-tat-o….
Playing With Effects Pedals – Dean Mongerio
Sometimes, I find things that are just totally cool. This is one of them. Florida based Saxophonist Dean Mongerio showing off his pedals and stuff. Here is what I saw that he is using.
1. BBE SupraCharger Power supply
2. Eventide PitchFactor Harmonizer
3. Q-Tron (older model?)
4. Troop Bypass looper
5. Keeley 4 Knob Compressor
6. MXR M169 Carbon Copy Analog Delay Guitar Effects Pedal
7. MXR M-108 Ten Band Graphic EQ
8. DigiTech Hardwire Series RV-7 Reverb Guitar Effects Pedal
9. Radial ProDI Passive Direct Box
I’ve always loved effects on saxophone since hearing those amazing Brecker Brothers albums in the 70s. I have been experimenting with pedals using software on my iPad and EWI (working on an article/review) which is actually quite useable. Plus, the iRig also works with a dynamic mic like a Shure 57 Beta. So you can pipe your Sax into the iRig and run it through Ampitude on your iPad or iPhone.
EDIT: Upon further testing, the iPad/iPod/iPhone iRig and EWI is very cool. Though it does work with a microphone like a Shure 57, it sounds like crap and picks up way too much other noise to be practical.
But here is Dean doing it to more old fashioned and probably better way……
Part One
Part Two
Misa Guitar
Ok, forget that Eigenharp Alpha. What Akai needs to do for the next EWI is something like the Misa Guitar.
Engadget describes it as “Essentially a MIDI controller, the Misa guitar has 24 frets and a large multifunctional touchscreen, which you can use to interface with the appropriate software on your pc.”
Ok, now someone get on putting a large, 10 inch by 2 or 3 inch touch screen on something you can blow into. That would be amazing I think.
Guitar Wizard
I’m sure all of you have seen or played Guitar Hero. Or perhaps the bigger, and some say better, Rock Band. Here is something even better. Guitar Wizard. I believe it is a new, way better version of this. Done right, it would be very cool. Could be a new way to learn an instrument. Naturally, the company could apply this to any and all instruments, including saxophone. Check out a video of it with the HOT Veronica Belmont.
Tuning Nightmare
This is from Create Digital Music. A tuning nightmare for Van Halen. Seems that they had backgrounds recorded at 44.1Khz, and then played them back at 48Khz. Ouch. Heed this performance when using digital equipment and make sure you know what the heck you are doing.
Gibson Launches Self Tuning Guitars
Engadget is reporting that Gibson has launched a line of self tuning guitars.
Gibson’s Powertune system has been in the works for quite awhile, and although there are other axes out there that claim to tune themselves, only a Gibson will do for some. Reportedly, the firm is readying a “new line of instruments” that are equipped with the system, which includes “an additional set of pickups mounted underneath the strings that are used specifically for the tuning process.”
Whoa. That is pretty neat stuff. Wonder if Steinway will do something like that with pianos….