Gear Reviews
PreSonus, Studio One 3 Professional Review
Studio One 3 Professional from PreSonus has got to be the most complete and robust DAW that I have ever come across, and that goes without mentioning all the hardware that PreSonus has that works with it perfectly.
From just starting out with creating a new song or project to those that have been doing it for years, Studio One 3 Professional is a workhorse and has everything you need to get your productions done without using extra plugins, loops, or software instruments. Alone, there are 44 tutorials covering every aspect of Studio One that you need to get you up and running in no time.
When creating a new song, you have an abundant amount of templates to choose from or you can create your own. What’s great about the style templates is that, say for instance, you load the House/Techno template, it opens up with a house/techno sample song complete with tracks and basically all you really need to get started to create your production.
Virtual Instruments
Studio One 3 Professional has five virtual instruments which include Impact, Mai Tai, Mojito, Presence XT, and SampleOne. Impact is a drum machine with 45 kits and 34 MVP Loops, which contains kits and special effects. Mai Tai is a synth with two oscillators, 2 LFO’s, filter and envelope controls, modulation, delay, and reverb, and noise control. Mai Tai has patches for bass, bell, drum, FX, Heavy Artillery, leads, pads, poly, strings, and templates to get you started on creating a synth of your own.
Mojito is another synth with 59 patches and the ability to create your own patches. Personally, I think Presence XT is the coolest synth in Studio One 3 Professional. Presence XT includes virtually all instruments such as guitars, keys, organs, percussion, bass, effects, strings, brass, and woodwinds. I noticed some of the instruments have key switches, especially within the orchestral ones. SampleOne, as the name implies, is a sampler. SampleOne lets you import loops and will even let you import an audio file, either part or whole, into SampleOne right from the audio track. SampleOne even reads rex files that are widely used with reason. Having not used SampleOne before, I was up and running fairly quickly. If you have used samplers before, SampleOne really is a breeze.
Arranger Track and Scratch Pad
There are lots of tools and effects within Studio One 3 Professional to help you create your song the way you want it. The Arranger Track feature allows you to rearrange your song by copy and paste, moving sections, and deleting sections. The Arranger Track helps you organize your song into sections like Intro, Verse, Chorus, and so on. You can then click on a section and move it to anywhere in the song where you want it place. I have found that the Scratch Pad feature works great with Arranger Track. It let me create something, not being sure if it worked or not, and not messing up my creation, to experiment.
When creating the scratch pad, you can drag it over the original arrangement to the place where you want to try something different, and from that point, you can drag whatever you want from the original composition to the scratch pad. When you achieve want you want in Scratch Pad, you can drag it back to you original composition on Arranger Track. These two tools combined work great together.
I’ve been taking an EDM class, and one of the assignments was to create a track that is only 20-24 seconds long, a full composition, then break that down into different parts and make an entire arrangement out of that creation. This has and will make future compositions easier for myself and everyone else as well! You can create as many Scratch Pads as you want in a song, so the possibilities are endless, and even more fun for doing remixes.
Midi Effects
Diving into midi effects, I want to start off with Note FX, which is new to Studio One 3 Professional and is found under the Instruments tab. Note FX is used to help change and or make midi data easier to work with tools that you may be familiar with such as arpeggiators, input filters, repeaters, and chord tools.
What I found with the Arpeggiator was that the presets seemed more lifelike and not robotic as with some other DAWS. With having up to 32 note lengths for the Arpeggiator, the options are almost endless, but I think you may find yourself using the really cool presets more than creating your own and manipulating them in some form. It can do single note arpeggios or even add some cool rhythms to chords in chord mode, and of course, there is a user input mode. The Arpeggiator has nine presets.
The Chorder is another tool that creates chords from single notes and if you are like me, well, I can do okay on piano, but if I can play chords using one note, then that is what I’m going to do. There are presets to use or you can create your own to use. I like the fact that it is really quick to create your own chords in Chorder, especially if you want to use extended chords like maybe a C Major 11 for example. Chords can be transposed an octave up or down. The default range of Chorder is C2 to C4, but the range can be adjusted to be larger or smaller. The presets are divided into three sections, Chord Groups, Chord Types, and Intervals. Chord Groups has ten presets including Neo-Soul, EDM, and Rock. Chord Types has nine presets for Augmented, Diminished, Major, Sus Chords, and more.
Intervals has five presets including octaves, thirds, fourth, and fifths. I combined the Arpeggiator and Chorder on a piano track using the Piano in Presence XT and came up with some really cool ideas for future tracks.
Input Filter is a tool I will probably be using a lot. It helps to define the key range and velocity of your midi data. Sometimes when creating a new song, I find myself adjusting velocity for each note, which can be time consuming, Input Filter will help speed up this process so you can spend more time creating new music. The last tool in Note FX is the Repeater. The Repeater can create echo and delay effects, adjust pitch and velocity, and note length. In a way, this may seem similar to the Arpeggiator, but it isn’t. A lot of different patterns can be created from this with dynamics and velocity being a big part of the patterns. I think I had the most fun combining the Chorder and Repeater and taking the presets and manipulating them. It came up with some really cool chord changes and rhythms with being able to adjust pitch and velocity for each step, having a total of up to 32 steps. You can also adjust the note length from quarter note to a 1/64th triplet note. The Repeater can also transpose down 70 semitones or up 120 semitones for each individual step. Not only does it make for some nice chord changes, it can be used to create some groovy bass lines too!
Extended FX Chains
Extended FX Chains allow you to be more creative with effects and can be any combination of serial or parallel effects. Each channel in the Mix console has a channel editor, which also allows you to do routing of the effects, with basically just drag and drop into the channel editor. You also have the option of using a splitter within the channel editor, which allows you to expand the routing of effects even more with being able to do up to 5 connections with the splitter. You can also mute any of the effects and have options for split mode to include normal, channel, or frequency split. In normal mode, the signal is sent to all devices on the splitter, in channel mode, say if you have 2 effects on the splitter, one will go to the right channel, the other to the left channel. In frequency mode narrows or widens the frequency range to the effects. You can even use splitters within splitters, so the amount of effects that you can use is practically limitless!
Multi Instruments
Another cool feature of Studio One 3 Professional is Multi Instruments. This, as the name applies, lets you have multiple instruments on one track and allows you to record and play them as a single instrument. Basically, this works very similar to the FX chains, just drag and drop an instrument on a track, then add another to the same track. When you drag another instrument onto the track, choose the option to combine instead of replace. You then get a window where the multi instruments are displayed. From this point, you can edit the instruments in the Multi Instrument window changing the many options that are available, adding NoteFX, with a minimum of 3 instruments, setting the range, transpose, panning each instrument individually, and more. You also have the option to save these instruments as presets and there are a lot of Multi Instrument presets already provided for use. All VST and AU instruments will work as Multi Instruments. Once you have your multi instruments set up, you can add and remove different instruments right into the multi instrument window, instead of dragging them to the track and adding them that way. More options include control knobs to control parameters and effects of the instruments. I suggest taking a look at the multi instrument presets to get an idea of how powerful this is.
Mastering
Studio One 3 Professional is packed full of everything you need, from starting and building your song, all the way down to final mastering. Studio One 3 Professional includes all the tools needed to master your project or song, no matter what level you are at. Studio One projects are built for mastering and it has four workspaces. You start out by placing the songs you want to master in the track column or project page. Studio One 3 Professional can also mix down your song for you automatically. Each track can be modified separately for your project. VST and AU effects and tools can be used along with the mastering tools already found in Studio One 3 Professional. The mastering section has everything you need to finish your project including compressors, limiters, EQs, spectrum analyzers, ability to place your tracks in different order and even crossfade tracks. I can see where crossfading tracks would be exceptionally beneficial with doing film scoring.
Conclusion
Studio One 3 Professional is the complete package, from start to finish for your songs and projects, no matter what the genre. Over the past few months, I have learned a lot about Studio One 3 Professional and still have a lot more to learn. There is so much that it can do that it is almost impossible to cover everything. From a basic standpoint, it is a DAW that allows you to create, produce and master your creations, whether it be EDM, or just doing tracks for others.
From a bigger perspective, it is everything you need in one package. I used it for quite a few airgigs and my clients were very pleased. I’ve used it in combination with Notion 6 and I’ve also used it to create EDM, beats, etc, and it does it all. As a matter of fact, with everything included in Studio One 3 Professional, you don’t need anything else.
Studio One 3 Professional also works great with other tools from PreSonus such as the Faderport series and PreSonus audio interfaces. It’s pretty cool how the Faderport works along with Studio One 3 Professional really giving you the feeling and control of something bigger than a home studio.
Check out Studio One 3 Professional online at presonus.com or at a PreSonus dealer near you.
Disclaimer: This pedal was kindly provided by Joyo for the purpose of this review. However, this does not influence our opinions or the content of our reviews. We strive to provide honest, unbiased, and accurate assessments to ensure that our readers receive truthful and helpful information.
Introduction:
The Joyo Monomyth bass preamp pedal is designed to offer bassists a comprehensive range of tonal options, combining modern features with practical functionality. With independent channels for EQ and overdrive, as well as useful additions like a cab sim and DI output, the Monomyth aims to be a versatile tool for both live performances and studio sessions. This review will delve into the pedal’s specifications, controls, and overall performance to determine if it lives up to its promise of delivering quality and flexibility at an affordable price.
Specifications:
– Dimensions: 130 * 110 * 50 mm
– Weight: 442g
– Working Voltage: DC 9V
Controls:
The Joyo Monomyth is equipped with a comprehensive set of controls designed to provide maximum tonal flexibility:
– Voice: Adjusts the character of the overdrive, from distortion to fuzz.
– Blend: Balances the dry and effected signals, crucial for maintaining low-end presence.
– Level: Sets the overall output volume.
– Drive: Controls the amount of gain in the overdrive channel.
– Treble Boost: Enhances high and mid frequencies for clarity in complex passages.
– Gain Boost: Adds extra gain, particularly effective at low gain settings to enhance the low e.
– EQ Function Controls: Features a 6-band graphic EQ plus a master control for precise nal shaping.
– Ground Lift Switch: Helps eliminate ground loop noise.
– Cab Sim Switch: Activates a simulated 8×10″ cab sound.
– LED Light Control: Customizes the pedal’s ambient lighting.
Performance:
The Joyo Monomyth shines in its dual-channel design, offering both a transparent EQ channel and a versatile overdrive channel. The 6-band EQ allows for detailed tonal adjustments, preserving the natural character of your bass while providing ample flexibility. The voice control mimics the functionality of the Darkglass Alpha Omega, shifting from distortion to fuzz, with a sweet spot around the middle for balanced tones.
The blend control is essential for retaining the low end when using distortion, ensuring your bass remains powerful and clear. The treble and gain boosts, available on the overdrive channel, further enhance the pedal’s versatility, making it suitable for everything from subtle drive to full-blown fuzz.
Outputs are plentiful, with a DI and XLR out for direct recording or ampless setups, and a headphone out for convenient practice sessions. The cab sim switch adds a realistic 8×10″ cab sound, enhancing the Monomyth’s utility in live and studio environments.
Pros:
– Versatile Control Set: Offers a wide range of tones, from clean to fuzz.
– Blend Control: Maintains low-end presence.
– Robust Outputs: DI, XLR, and headphone outs make it adaptable for various setups.
– Affordable: Provides high-end functionality at a budget-friendly price.
– Sturdy Construction: Durable build quality ensures reliability.
Cons:
– Plastic Knobs: May feel less premium compared to metal controls.
– Boosts Limited to Overdrive Channel: Treble and gain boosts do not affect the EQ channel.
– Cab Sim only on the XLR out: how cool would it be to also have it on the headphone out?
Conclusion:
In conclusion, the Joyo Monomyth stands out as a versatile and powerful bass preamp pedal, offering a range of features that cater to both traditional and modern bassists. Its dual-channel design, comprehensive control set, and robust output options make it a valuable tool for achieving a wide spectrum of tones, from clean and warm to heavily distorted. For bassists seeking flexibility, reliability, and excellent value, the Joyo Monomyth is a top contender.
For more information, visit online at joyoaudio.com/product/267.html
Review of the Joyo Double Thruster…
Disclaimer: This pedal was kindly provided by Joyo for the purpose of this review. However, this does not influence our opinions or the content of our reviews. We strive to provide honest, unbiased, and accurate assessments to ensure that our readers receive truthful and helpful information.
Introduction: When it comes to bass distortion, finding a pedal that delivers a wide spectrum of tones while maintaining the essential low end can be challenging. The Joyo Double Thruster, a modern bass distortion pedal designed to cater to the diverse needs of bassists was a pleasant surprise that we had the opportunity to review. From subtle overdrive to full-on fuzz, the Double Thruster delivers with versatility and affordability.
Specs: The Joyo Double Thruster is compact yet robust, making it ideal for both stage and studio use. Here are its key specifications:
Dimensions: 109 * 72 * 48 mm
Weight: 250g
Working Voltage: DC 9V
Controls: The Double Thruster features a comprehensive control set that allows for precise tonal sculpting:
Tone: Adjusts the overall tonal character of the distortion.
Blend: Critical for bassists, this control blends the dry signal with the distorted signal, ensuring the low end remains intact.
Volume: Sets the output level of the pedal.
Gain: Controls the amount of distortion, from mild overdrive to full fuzz.
Gain Boost Switch: Provides a noticeable boost, especially at lower gain settings, enhancing the low end and adding depth to the tone.
Mid Boost Switch: Boosts mid frequencies, helping the sound cut through the mix with greater clarity and definition.
LED Light Control: Customizes the ambient lighting of the pedal.
Performance: The Joyo Double Thruster excels in delivering a range of distortion tones while retaining the essential low end that bassists need. The blend control is particularly useful, allowing users to mix the clean and distorted signals to maintain clarity and punch. The gain boost switch adds a pleasing depth to the low end, especially noticeable at lower gain settings, while also compensating for low end loss at higher gain levels. The mid-boost switch enhances the pedal’s ability to cut through complex mixes, making it ideal for intricate playing.
In terms of versatility, the Double Thruster can emulate a variety of distortion sounds, from subtle warmth to high-mid, djenty grind. This makes it an excellent tool for bassists exploring different genres and styles.
Pros:
- Blend Control: Essential for retaining the low end in a distorted signal.
- Size and Weight: Compact and sturdy design.
- Rugged Construction: Durable build quality.
- Gain and Mid Boosts: Adds versatility and clarity to the tone.
- Affordable Price: Offers excellent value for money.
Cons:
- Plastic Knobs: May feel less premium compared to metal controls.
- Comparison to High-End Pedals: While close, it may not fully match the tone of more expensive pedals like the Darkglass B3K, and that’s ok. The Double Thruster is a great pedal on its own!
Conclusion: In conclusion, the Joyo Double Thruster stands out as a versatile and affordable option for bassists seeking a wide range of distortion tones. Its thoughtful design and comprehensive controls make it a great tool for achieving everything from mild overdrive to full fuzz, all while maintaining the crucial low end. For bassists looking to expand their tonal palette without breaking the bank, the Joyo Double Thruster is a must-have addition to their pedalboard.
Visit online at joyoaudio.com
Minuendo Lossless Earplugs Live 17dB…
Minuendo Lossless Earplugs Live 17dB – Hearing protection has always been front and center on my mind because I love music so much, I cannot imagine my life if I were unable to hear.
You might remember back in 2021, we had a good look at the Minuendo Lossless Earplugs featuring adjustable protection. This system has a lot of very good features but there was always the question of how much sound attenuation to choose.
Now, the great folks at Minuendo have come up with a new version of their earplugs that has a set 17dB noise reduction. You still get a lot of the great features of the adjustables but you just don’t have to think about the specific sound level. In addition, this new version of earplugs comes at a very attractive price point.
For more information, visit online at Minuendo.com
Joyo Tidal Wave Preamp: A Tribute to 90’s Iconic Sounds
Disclaimer: This pedal was kindly provided by Joyo for the purpose of this review. However, this does not influence our opinion or the content of our review. We strive to provide honest, unbiased, and accurate assessments to ensure that our readers receive truthful and helpful information.
In the realm of bass preamp/DI pedals, capturing the essence of iconic tones from the 90s can often feel like an elusive pursuit. However, the Joyo Tidal Wave Preamp emerges as a great option for bass players seeking to replicate the signature sounds of that era, particularly the revered tech21 SansAmp. With its robust feature set and compact design, the Tidal Wave offers a faithful homage to classic rock tones and low-gain distortions, all while providing modern conveniences for today’s bassist. Let’s delve into why the Joyo Tidal Wave stands out as a versatile and budget-friendly tool for both stage and studio.
Specs:
Measuring at 130 * 110 * 50 mm and weighing 442g, the Joyo Tidal Wave strikes a balance between portability and durability, making it ideal for gigging musicians and studio enthusiasts alike. With a power consumption of just 100 mA and a working voltage of DC 9V, the Tidal Wave ensures reliable performance in a variety of settings.
Controls:
At the heart of the Tidal Wave’s versatility lies its comprehensive control set, allowing bass players to sculpt their tone with precision. Key features include:
– Level: Sets the overall output volume of the pedal.
– Blend: Blends the dry signal with the cab-emulated signal, offering seamless integration of the pedal into any setup.
– Presence: Controls the dynamics of the high upper-mids, crucial for shaping drive tones.
– Drive: Introduces low-gain distortions and classic rock sounds into the clean tone.
– Treble, Middle, and Bass: Provides a 3-band EQ with frequency selectors for bass (40Hz – 80Hz) and mids (500Hz – 1KHz), offering ample control over tonal shaping.
– Middle Shift and Bass Shift: Allows for further fine-tuning of midrange and bass frequencies.
– Ground Lift: Helps eliminate ground loop noise in certain setups.
– DI Attenuation Switch: Adjusts the level of the DI output signal.
– LED Light Switch Control: Allows users to customize the ambient lighting of the pedal.
Performance:
True to its inspiration, the Joyo Tidal Wave excels in delivering classic rock tones and low-gain distortions reminiscent of the tech21 SansAmp. Whether you’re seeking gritty overdriven sounds or pristine clean tones, the Tidal Wave offers unparalleled flexibility and sonic versatility. The inclusion of a headphone out, XLR DI out with cab simulation, and throughout for the original bass sound make the Tidal Wave a versatile tool for both stage and studio applications. From practicing silently with headphones to crafting quality recordings in an ampless setup, the Tidal Wave delivers on all fronts with clarity, definition, and unmistakable character.
Pros:
The Tidal Wave boasts an array of advantages that set it apart from its direct competitors:
– Headphone Out: Transforms the pedal into a convenient practice tool.
– Size and Weight: Compact and lightweight design for easy transportation and setup.
– Rugged Construction: Durable build quality ensures longevity and reliability.
– DI and CabSim: Offers professional-grade direct recording capabilities with authentic cab simulation.
– Familiar Tones: Faithfully replicates the classic rock sounds of the tech21 SansAmp.
Cons:
While the Tidal Wave excels in many aspects, it does have a few drawbacks:
– Plastic Knobs: Knobs may feel less premium compared to pedals with metal controls.
– Cab Simulation Only on XLR Output: Limited cab simulation functionality may require additional routing for certain setups.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, the Joyo Tidal Wave Preamp stands as a testament to the enduring legacy of classic rock tones from the 90s. With its faithful homage to the tech21 SansAmp, comprehensive control set, and modern conveniences like headphone out and XLR DI with cab simulation, the Tidal Wave offers bassists a versatile tool for sculpting their sound with precision and finesse. Whether you’re seeking to replicate iconic tones from the past or forge new sonic territories, the Joyo Tidal Wave Preamp is sure to inspire creativity and elevate your playing to new heights.
Available online at Amazon.com
Joyo Scylla Compressor: When Quality meets Budget-Friendly
Disclaimer: This pedal was kindly provided by Joyo for the purpose of this review. However, this does not influence our opinion or the content of our review. We strive to provide honest, unbiased, and accurate assessments to ensure that our readers receive truthful and helpful information.
In the diverse landscape of effects pedals for bass guitar, finding a compressor that strikes the balance between performance, versatility, and affordability can often feel like a daunting task.
However, amidst the sea of options, one pedal stood out as a true diamond in the rough – the Joyo Scylla compressor. Despite its wallet-friendly price tag, the Scylla boasts a great array of features and controls typically reserved for pedals with much higher costs. Let’s take a closer look at why the Joyo Scylla is turning heads and earning praise among bassists on a budget.
Specs: The Joyo Scylla compressor measures in at 109 * 72 * 48 mm and weighs a mere 234g, making it both compact and lightweight – perfect for gigs or studio sessions where space is at a premium. With a power consumption of just 100 mA and a working voltage of DC 9V, the Scylla is efficient and versatile, compatible with a wide range of pedalboard setups.
Controls: What sets the Scylla apart from its direct competitors is its comprehensive control set, offering bassists a good amount of flexibility in shaping their sound. With six knobs, the Scylla allows for a very precise adjustment of key parameters:
- Input Gain: Adjusts the amount of signal being fed into the compressor.
- Output Volume: Controls the makeup gain after compression, ensuring consistent output levels.
- Compression Ratio: Unlike traditional compressor pedals with preset ratio options, the Scylla features a continuous knob, allowing for seamless adjustment from subtle compression to limiter-like effects.
- Attack and Release: Determine how quickly the compression engages and releases, offering a range of tonal possibilities from punchy and aggressive to smooth and subtle.
- Output Tone Control: A unique feature not commonly found in compressor pedals, the tone knob adjusts the coloration of the compressed signal, adding warmth or brightness to your bass tone.
- LED Light Switch Control: Allows users to customize the ambient lighting of the pedal, adding a touch of visual flair to their setup.
- Performance: In practice, the Joyo Scylla delivers where it matters most – in sound quality and performance. Whether you’re aiming for a tight, punchy bass sound or smooth, sustained notes, the Scylla excels in providing transparent compression that enhances your playing without sacrificing dynamics. The granular control offered by its knobs allows for precise tailoring of compression settings to suit a wide range of playing styles and musical genres.
- Pros: The Scylla’s strengths lie in its granular control, versatility, and compact design. Its sturdy build quality and diminutive size make it a welcome addition to any pedalboard, occupying minimal real estate without compromising on functionality. However, perhaps the most impressive aspect of the Scylla is its price point. Despite offering professional-grade features, the Scylla remains accessible to bassists of all budgets.
- Cons: While the Joyo Scylla excels in many areas, it’s not without its drawbacks. One notable omission is the lack of metering, which may pose a challenge for users seeking visual feedback on compression levels. Additionally, the plastic knobs, while functional, may feel somewhat less premium compared to other pedals.
- Conclusion: In conclusion, the Joyo Scylla compressor emerges as a great option in the world of budget-friendly effects pedals for bass guitar. Its comprehensive control set, transparent compression, and compact design make it a compelling choice for bassists seeking professional-grade performance without breaking the bank. From its intuitive interface to its thoughtful touches like the tone knob and customizable LED lighting, the Scylla delivers a level of versatility and functionality that belies its modest price tag. For bassists looking to elevate their tone without compromising on quality or affordability, the Joyo Scylla compressor is a clear standout.
For more information, visit online at joyoaudio.com/product/265.html
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