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SuperMegaUltraGroovy’s Capo Touch – Review

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SuperMegaUltraGroovy recently made their popular Capo software available for the iOS platform with Capo touch for the iPad and iPhone.

SuperMegaUltraGroovy recently made their popular Capo software available for the iOS platform with Capo touch for the iPad and iPhone.

The popular music transcription software Capo has finally entered the mobile app market with the recent release of Capo Touch for the iPad and iPhone.

In a nutshell, the app is the mobile musician’s best friend. Simply import a song from iTunes into Capo touch and you will be presented with…well, just about everything you need to start working on a tune.

As an example, I had the task of charting 20 cover songs for a duo project where I’m playing acoustic guitar instead of bass. I’m not a great guitarist by a long shot so I can use all of the help I can get when it comes to transcribing guitar parts.

I used Capo touch on my iPad to help me create the charts while I was traveling. Here’s how it worked:

  • I opened a song from my iTunes library in Capo. The app quickly calculated the wave form, beat locations, song key, and mapped out chords for me. In less than 25 seconds I had a workable chord chart.
  • Like most vocalists, there are certain keys that work better for the singer’s range than others. I used the pitch slider to adjust to my partner’s preferred key and all of the chords instantly morphed to the new key.
  • I like to experiment with alternate tuning from time to time. I can change the app settings to go from standard tuning (EADGBE) to drop D (DADGBD), or any other alternate tuning. Capo touch instantly morphs the chords to the new key.
  • With guitar being a secondary instrument for me, I can have Capo suggest alternate chord voicings for will work best for the song and my limited dexterity on the guitar neck. By touching the chord diagram, Capo strums the guitar chord so I can hear it and listen what other voicings may sound like.
  • At this point, I can write out the chart and make my tweaks on paper.
  • I can also save the Capo file and send it to my partner so she can see the final arrangement. Since storage space on my iPhone and iPad is limited, I prefer to use Capo touch’s built-in feature of syncing the file with my iCloud account.
  • Repeat for the other 19 songs.

Once I have every song saved and charted, I can turn Capo touch into a practice tool. I use the looping feature to repeat and slow down challenging sections that I need to get under my fingers.

The heart of Capo touch is the Chord Intelligence engine. Take a minute to think about what this technology does. It analyzes the frequencies at a moment in time and decides what chord is being played. Simple if you have only a bass plucking a C. Add a guitar strumming a CMaj chord (C-E-G) and a CMaj chord will be displayed. Add a singer belting a B and our CMaj is interpreted as a CMaj7 chord. Toss in the harmonics from a snare drum or cymbal and you have now opened up a large sonic spectrum that the app must accurately decipher.

The Chord Intelligence engine relies on a rather enormous sampling of chords that it attempts to match to the song it’s analyzing. Successive chords are analyzed a second time to determine what the likelihood is of the chord movement is. Is a CMaj7 more likely going to an F#sus or a GMaj7? On my iPhone 5C, this musical math is completed in about 25 seconds for a 3:30 song.

And physics being physics, it’s objective. Sometimes your subjective ear may not like what Capo is telling you. The developer, Chris Liscio, is also a musician and took our fickleness into account. We can change the chords. Touch the chord diagram and a screen appears letting us select a new voicing from a list of suggested chords or select an entirely different chord.

For iOS users, the Capo touch app can be a powerful transcribing, charting and practice tool for your musical toolbox. You can learn more about Capo touch at supermegaultragroovy.com/products/capo/ios or download the app for $4.99 (one app works for both iPad and iPhone) at the iTunes store.

Bass Videos

Interview With K3 Sisters Band

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Interview With K3 Sisters Band

K3 Sisters Band Interview…

It is very rare when I talk to a band where all the members play bass. The K3 Sisters Band is a perfect example of a group where Kaylen, Kelsey and Kristen Kassab are all multi-instrumentalists and take turns playing bass.

Hailing from Texas, these three sisters have been playing music since they were very young and have amassed an amazing amount of original music,  music videos, streaming concerts, podcasts, and content that has taken numerous social media platforms by storm. On TikTok alone, they have over 2.5 million followers and more than a billion views.

Join me as we hear the story of their musical journey, how they get their sound, and the fundamental principles behind these prolific musicians.

Here is the K3 Sisters Band!

Photo, Bruce Ray Productions

Follow Online:

k3sistersband.com/
TikTok
YouTube
Instagram
Facebook 

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Bass Player Health

What is a Pinched Nerve? with Dr. Randy Kertz

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Dr Randal Kertz - Bass Player Health - Oct 2022

What is a Pinched Nerve?

In this month’s video, we will cover how to tell if you have a pinched nerve and when to seek professional help.

Dr. Randall Kertz is the author of The Bassist’s Complete Guide to Injury Management, Prevention and Better Health. Click here to get your copy today!

The Bassist’s Complete Guide to Injury Management, Prevention & Better Health

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This Week’s Top 10 Basses on Instagram

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TOP 10 Basses of the week

Check out our top 10 favorite basses on Instagram this week…

Click to follow Bass Musician on Instagram @bassmusicianmag

FEATURED @colibriguitars @adamovicbasses @brooksbassguitars @lecomptebass @mgbassguitars @mauriziouberbasses @jcrluthier @biarnel @officialibanezguitars @chris_seldon_guitars

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Gear News

New Gear:  Ashdown ORIGINAL-EVO-C112T-300

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New Gear:  Ashdown ORIGINAL-EVO-C112T-300

Introducing the Original-EVO-C112T, a ground-breaking innovation in the realm of bass amplifiers. This exceptional amplifier redefines the standards of power, portability, and precision, offering musicians an unparalleled experience in amplification technology.
 
Weighing in at a mere 13.5kg, the Original-EVO-C112T packs an astonishing 300 watts of unadulterated Ashdown bass tone into a compact and lightweight package. Say goodbye to the days of lugging around heavy and cumbersome gear – this amplifier is designed for the modern musician on the move.

Introducing the Original-EVO-C112T, a ground-breaking innovation in the realm of bass amplifiers. This exceptional amplifier redefines the standards of power, portability, and precision, offering musicians an unparalleled experience in amplification technology.
 
Weighing in at a mere 13.5kg, the Original-EVO-C112T packs an astonishing 300 watts of unadulterated Ashdown bass tone into a compact and lightweight package. Say goodbye to the days of lugging around heavy and cumbersome gear – this amplifier is designed for the modern musician on the move.

Designed to accommodate global touring, the Original-EVO-C112T features auto-protect voltage support and an adaptive temperature-controlled fan for optimal performance in any environment.
 
In summary, the Original-EVO-C112T is a game-changing amplifier that combines power, portability, and precision. It’s a testament to innovation and quality in the world of bass amplification, deserving attention from musicians looking to take their music to the next level.

Product Specification-

Power Output: 300 Watts
Power Requirement: 115-230 Volts
Speaker Configuration: 1 x 12” + Horn
High Instrument Input: Impedance 3.9m Ohms, Input range 150mV – 20mV p-p
Low Instrument Input: Impedance -1M Ohms, Input range 150mV to 10V p-p
Line Input: Impedance 10k Ohms, Input range 300mV – 40V p-p
DI Output: 600 Ohm balance / Level -20dBu nominal
Minimum Impedance: 4 Ohm
Headphone Output: Yes and safe for silent practice
EQ: Bass +/-15dB @ 100Hz, Lo Mid +/-15dB @ 220Hz, Middle +/-15dB @ 660Hz, Hi Mid +/-15 dB @1.5kHz, Treble +/-15dB @ 7kHz
Effects Send: Impedance 22k Ohms / Level 0dBu nominal
Effects Return: Impedance 22k Ohms / Level 0dBu nominal
Dimensions (H x W x D in mm): 470 x 606 x 381
Weight: 13.5kg

For more info please visit www.ashdownmusic.com

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Gear News

Tech 21’s SansAmp Bass Driver DI Celebrates 30th Anniversary

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30th Anniversary Limited Edition SansAmp Bass Driver DI

Tech 21’s SansAmp Bass Driver DI Celebrates 30th Anniversary…

The SansAmp Bass Driver DI has been an arsenal staple for players and studios almost since the day it was introduced in 1994. To commemorate its 30th anniversary, Tech 21 is issuing a limited edition with an anodized precision-machined aluminum billet housing and all metal knobs.

This all-analog multi-function, multi-application pedal dials up big vintage tube tones, bright modern slap sounds, gnarly distortions, and all in between. There are three different outputs to drive power amps, recording desks, PA mixers, or simply enhance your current rig. Controls include Presence for definition and upper harmonic content; Blend to combine the ratio of direct signal and SansAmp circuitry; and active 3-band EQ with 12dB of cut or boost.

The 100% analog SansAmp Tube Amplifier Emulation technology encompasses the entire signal chain, from pre-amp to power amp to speaker simulation. An integral part of the circuitry, the individually-tailored SansAmp speaker simulation will complement any type of bass speaker cabinet system.

It is rare an electronic music-related product can withstand such a test of time. The SansAmp Bass Driver has been used for every kind of music style from death metal to commercial jingles, in countless studios, and on tours around the globe. In fact, many mammoth stage rigs you see are actually driven by a SansAmp nestled behind the backline. It has defied the odds and to this day, SansAmp remains the standard of the industry.

Anticipated Availability:  May/June 2024

For more information, visit online at tech21nyc.com/products/sansamp/bass-driver-30/

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