Smooth Jazz Vocalist, Rebecca Angel, to Release What We Had on Timeless Grooves Records June 1

Four quick “s” adjectives come to mind when you first hear Rebecca Angel, making for some nice descriptive alliteration: smooth, soulful, sensual and sultry. Listening to her soulfully produced and exquisitely arranged debut What We Had, we can top that off with sexy and unabashedly sentimental as well. The emerging NYC based singer makes every emotionally compelling track an invitation – to dream, to love, to reminisce wistfully about beautiful times gone by which infuse every waking thought of today. With every swaying breeze of her distinctive voice, whether she’s singing romantic lyrics or sharing her artful sense of vocalese, Rebecca tempts us to explore her cool and edgy contemporary update on the deeply exotic vibe of classic artists like Sade and Brazilian greats Bebel Gilberto and Astrud Gilberto.

She weaves this laid back magic over the old school soul, easy funk, ear tingling electronica and infectious grooves created by renowned jazz/R&B producer Jason Miles, who grounds every mix in the shimmering retro sounds of the Fender Rhodes, Vox Continental and Wurlitzer. He brought in some of New York’s finest for the various sessions. Rebecca’s dreamy and sensual twist on Hoagy Carmichael’s wistful (and not frequently covered) “Winter Moon” features acoustic bassist James Genus, percussionist Mino Cinelu and soprano saxophonist Hailey Niswanger. The equally nostalgic title track “What We Had,” a slowly swaying look back at enduring memories of the sensory joys of a past romance, was penned by Rebecca and her father, trumpeter Dennis Angel, with additional lyrics by guitarist Jonah Prendergast. In addition to Miles’ keyboards and percussion loops, it features Christian Ver Halen’s crisp guitar licks and the easy grooving rhythm section of Reggie Washington (bass) and Brian Dunne (drums).  

On the other tracks, Miles leads an ensemble featuring Ver Halen, Dunne, bassist Adam Dorn, and percussionist Cyro Baptista. Special guests include Prendergast, renowned acoustic guitarist Ricardo Silveira and cellist Sebastian Stoger on a playful, spirited cover of the Brazilian gem “Agora Sim,” featuring Miles’ intoxicating electro-percussion. Also featured are Dennis Angel and flutist Gottfried Stoger.

The EP includes two versions each of the rock classic “Stand By Me,” and “(Samba Jazz Happiness (Jet Samba),” the latter of which was a popular radio single for Rebecca, who released the festive, playfully rhythmic track to coincide with the Rio Olympics in 2016. The song, originally penned and recorded as an instrumental by Brazilian composer Marcos Valle, reached high on the FMQB Adult Contemporary chart. The EP includes an “Ipanema Beach” remix featuring danceable, hypnotic and carnivalesque percussion textures. The first version of “Stand By Me” also lends itself to a trip-hoppy hypnosis via electro-percussion behind Rebecca’s wistful vocals. The second, which closes the set, has a more mainstream, seductive vibe, perfect for adult contemporary radio. Rebecca and Dennis also co-wrote the set’s other original, “Feel Alive,” a charming and innocent declaration of love and how it changes the heart, which breezes along like a brisk stroll on a balmy evening without end.

Rebecca recently graduated with a degree in voice from Ithaca College, where she studied with Roseanna Vitro, Cyrille Aimee (whose version of “Stand By Me” inspired Rebecca to record it), Carol McAmis, Kim Nazarian and Maya Azucena; Azucena helped the singer take her vocal on “What We Had” to another level. With her unique vocal timbre, Rebecca could certainly venture into any genre she likes. Those engaging with her artistry for the first time will be glad she’s chosen to go the sophisticated chill samba route.

            "What We Had" will be released on Timeless Grooves Records

 on June 1​.

RebeccaAngel.net

Qu-Bit Electronix Nebulae v2 Is Shipping

Nebulae is a granular sampler and DSP platform. Its phase vocoder audio engine provides elastic audio, which can be time stretched, granularized, and mangled to no end. With independent control over pitch and speed, and granular controls such as overlap, window, and density, finding new sonic territory is only a knob turn away. Nebulae can use live audio input, a recorded buffer, or audio files as the source material for its powerful audio manipulations. The live input buffer can record up to five minutes of stereo audio at 48kHz, 24 bit. In addition, up to 75 MB of stereo audio can be loaded simultaneously through the USB port. No naming convention or special formatting necessary; just plug and play.

Nebulae lives a double life as an open source DSP platform with an extensive library of off the shelf alternate instruments. You can turn the module into a lush reverb, spectral delay, or tape-style looper simply by loading a new file onto the flash drive. Do you want to tweak one aspect of an existing instrument, even the default functionality? No problem. No prior coding knowledge is necessary to tweak and refine existing firmware to your liking or start with one of our templates. Alternate firmware files can be written with Pure Data, Csound, SuperCollider, and even bare-bones C programs.




- Granular sampler with time stretching capabilities
- 5 minute stereo recording buffer at 48kHz, 24 bit (In addition to file playback buffer)
- No naming convention or special formatting necessary for file playback
- Supports Pure Data, Csound, and SuperCollider alternate instrument files
- Ships with loaded USB flash drive ready to use
- Black aluminum front panel

PCA Audio Serves a Diverse Clientele with Allen & Heath

From dance shows to marketing meetings to major touring acts,
PCA Audio Design puts Allen & Heath gear to work. 

PCA Audio Design, a New York City production company, used its Allen & Heath GLD-80 digital mixer for FOH and monitors at this year’s “Project Dance” in New York City’s Times Square. PCA President and founder Pat Alapa says his company has provided production audio for Project Dance for over 16 years. The annual event, founded by former Rockette Cheryl Cutlip, features dance groups from all over America. Alapa noted, “I’ve used this particular GLD for four years now and it’s a workhorse for us. The Allen & Heath boards are well thought out and you can get a good mix right out of the gate.”

For a recent Chanel marketing meeting in California, Alapa took good advantage of the GLD-80’s digital features. “I set up scenes during rehearsal for each segment of the meeting,” he said. “We stored EQ, compression, level and routing. That way, I didn’t have to worry as we switched mics during the show.” He also used the GLD’s AMM automatic mic mixer for Chanel panel discussions. “The auto mixer is a big help when you have 6 or 7 people on stage and want to keep the mics up without driving into feedback.” Alapa added, “I’ve got some outboard tube compressors that I really like but, for the most part, I just use the GLD’s internal compressors, gates and other effects. For ease of use and overall flexibility, you just can’t beat the Allen & Heath effects package.”

PCA provides production audio with its Allen & Heath mixers for events ranging from concerts and music/dance festivals to corporate meetings and award ceremonies. At a recent Hayley Kiyoko concert in New York, PCA provided the dLive S Class digital mixing system used at FOH. The dLive will also mix FOH in June for the New Jersey “Anime Next” event where PCA provides sound, lighting and projection services.

Alapa commented, “I’m pretty much an Allen & Heath company. We still own a GL4000, GL3300 and GL4 analog mixer. So, going into the digital world, I stayed with Allen & Heath. I love the sound quality and functionality and the consoles are well-constructed. Allen & Heath has always delivered for us.”
 

Ehrlund EHR-H Handheld Condenser Mic Ships in US

Ventura, California (May 8, 2018) - Momentum Audio Sales, the exclusive US distributor of Sweden-based Ehrlund Microphones, announces the availability of the new EHR-H Handheld Condenser Microphone in the US market.

 

The EHR-H is a handheld condenser microphone that is optimized for live performance. This new mic utilizes the same unique triangular Ehrlund membrane found in their studio microphones combined with their patented phase and frequency linear electronics. The result is a pure and clean sound on stage that Ehrlund microphones have become known for in the studio. 

The triangular shape of the Ehrlund membrane dissipates resonances faster than a traditional round membrane, preventing the buildup of sound impulses that lead to a "muddy" sound. Once amplified by Ehrlund's proprietary ultra-low-noise amplification electronics, the result is a very open, transparent and real sound, without altering the phase or frequency and without added noise. 

 

Features and specifications:

• Handheld Condenser Microphone for live performance
• Patented triangular capsule design 
• Transparent and natural sound
• Ultra-low-noise performance
• Natural reproduction of fast transients
• Frequency range of 7Hz-87kHz
• Sensitivity @1kHz: -42dBV/Pa (8 mV/Pa)
• Equivalent noise level: <9 dBA
• Signal to noise: 85 dBA
• Dynamic range: 127 dB
• Max SPL: 155 dB
• Low power consumption: ~2.0 mA

The EHR-H is housed in a road-ready aircraft-grade aluminum body that is insulated to effectively suppress handling noise on stage while a hardened nickel-plated stainless-steel grill and windscreen protect the sensitive triangular membrane.

 

The Ehrlund EHR-H is available in the US for $799 MSRP.

 

For more information on Ehrlund Microphones, visit: www.ehrlund.se.

Five Finger Death Punch Premiere New Song “When The Seasons Change”

 

Tonight, Thursday May 3, FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH have released the new song “When The Seasons Change,” marking one of the most infectious and melodic songs in their repertoire yet. “This song is about loyalty, the kind of loyalty that doesn’t crumble in the face of adversity, which we have faced many times throughout our career and in our lives,” explains guitarist ZOLTAN BATHORY. “This is a very human subject everyone can relate to and it is something this world can use more of.” “When The Seasons Change,” is off the group’s forthcoming album AND JUSTICE FOR NONE, which is due out May 18. Listen to “When The Seasons Change” HERE.

 

With their customary airtight riffs, muscular grooves and seismic melodies, FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH maintain their signature intensity, all while pushing themselves into new territories on AND JUSTICE FOR NONE. The album is available for digital and physical pre-order HERE.

 

For AND JUSTICE FOR NONE, the multi-platinum quintet--Ivan Moody (vocals), Zoltan Bathory (guitar), Jeremy Spencer (drums), Jason Hook (guitar) and Chris Kael (bass)--hunkered down in their home base of Las Vegas with longtime producer Kevin Churko (Ozzy Osbourne, Disturbed) behind the board a year after Got Your Six. In the studio, the group collectively stepped up their game as a unit. “We just understand each other so well,” says JEREMY SPENCER. “There’s a huge level of respect on both sides. He gets the best out of us.”

 

FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH’s current single, “Gone Away” (their own rendition of The Offspring’s 1997 hit single) has received over 27 million streams in the U.S., is currently charting at #5 on Active Rock and topped the iTunes rock and metal charts globally. Check out the official video for “Gone Away” and the lyric video. The group has now released three pre-order tracks “Fake” (on 4/6) which generated just under 1 million streams in the U.S. during its first week and made the viral chart on Spotify in multiple countries. Following two weeks later was the song “Sham Pain,”--listen HERE--which  launched to over 1 million streams in its first week of release and now “When The Seasons Change.” Expect an official music video for the song “Sham Pain” to be released next week.

 

5FDP will be hitting the road for a massive series of co-headlining North American dates with Breaking Benjamin this summer, along with special guests Nothing More and Bad Wolves. The summer amphitheater tour, co-produced by Live Nation and Frank Productions, kicks off on July 16, 2018 in Seattle, WA and will make stops in 32 North American cities. For tickets to the biggest, can’t-be-missed rock event of the summer, VIP offerings and more info on the tour go HERE.

 

Catch FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH on tour in the following cities:

 

Five Finger Death Punch Spring Festival Dates 

5/5/18 – Carolina Rebellion – Concord, NC

5FDP / Shinedown Spring US Tour Dates

5/6/18 – Bridgestone Arena – Nashville, TN

5/8/18 – Rupp Arena – Lexington, KY

5/10/18 – BOK Center – Tulsa, OK

5/11/18 – Westfair Amphitheatre – Council Bluffs, IA

5/12/18 – Eagles Ballroom – Milwaukee, WI *

5/14/18 – Salem Civic Center – Salem, VA

5/16/18 – Legacy Arena – Birmingham, AL

5/17/18 – Ford Center– Evansville, IN

5/18/18 – Mark of the Quad – Moline, IL

5/20/18 – Alerus Center – Grand Forks, ND

5/30/18 – Casper Events Center – Casper, WY

 

Five Finger Death Punch

5/29/18 – Red Rocks Amphitheater – Morrison, CO

6/1/18 – Deadwood Mountain Grand Hotel – Deadwood, SD 

6/2/18 – KQRC Rockfest – Kansas City, MO

6/14-6/16– Montebello Rockfest – Montebello, SC

 

Five Finger Death Punch + Breaking Benjamin Summer Tour Dates:

* - 5fdp & Bad Wolves only/ ** - 5fdp, Breaking Benjamin & Bad Wolves only

7/16/18 – White River Amphitheatre – Seattle, WA **

7/18/18 – Spokane Arena – Spokane, WA **

7/20/18 – Taco Bell Arena – Boise, ID

7/21/18 – USANA Amphitheatre – Salt Lake City, UT

7/24/18 – Shoreline Amphitheatre – San Francisco, CA

7/25/18 – Mattress Firm Amphitheatre – San Diego, CA

7/27/18 – FivePoint Amphitheater – Irvine, CA

7/29/18 – Isleta Amphitheater – Albuquerque, NM **

8/1/18 – Austin360 Amphitheater – Austin, TX

8/3/18 – Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion – Houston, TX **

8/4/18 – Starplex Pavilion – Dallas, TX

8/6/18 – BankPlus Amphitheater at Snowden Grove – Southaven, MS

8/7/18 – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre – St. Louis, MO

8/9/18 – Heritage Park Amphitheatre – Simpsonville, SC

8/11/18 – MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre – Tampa, FL

8/12/18 – Verizon Amphitheatre – Atlanta, GA

8/14/18 – KeyBank Pavilion – Pittsburgh, PA

8/15/18 – BB&T Pavilion – Camden, NJ

8/17/18 – The Pavilion at Montage Mountain – Scranton, PA

8/18/18 – Xfinity Center – Boston, MA

8/20/18 – Budweiser Stage – Toronto, ON

8/22/18 – Lakeview Amphitheater – Syracuse, NY **

8/24/18 – Jiffy Lube Live – Bristow, VA

8/25/18 – PNC Bank Arts Center – Holmdel, NJ **

8/28/18 – Riverbend Music Center – Cincinnati, OH

8/29/18 – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre – Chicago, IL

8/31/18 – Ruoff Home Mortgage Music Center – Indianapolis, IN **

9/1/18 – DTE Energy Music Theatre – Detroit, MI

9/3/18 – Darien Lake Amphitheater – Darien Center, NY

9/6/18 – Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater – Wantagh, NY **

9/7/18 – XFINITY Theatre – Hartford, CT

9/9/18 – Blossom Music Center – Cleveland, OH **

Introducing ALK2 Sequenced Looper

The only looper that lets you pre-arrange your loops for live performance

Berlin, Germany (April 26, 2018)  - zenAud.io, a creative powerhouse and music software developer, has introduced a new concept for music creation and performance: arranged live looping. The company recently released ALK2, a unique cross between a looper and a sequencer.

For the first time, musicians can control what gets looped, and when -- all within the familiar DAW timeline paradigm. Instead of an error-prone series of pedal presses, ALK2 empowers the musician to concentrate on their music, and let the software take care of the operational details.  During a gig, ALK2 follows the arrangement you rehearsed, pressing the necessary virtual pedals to arm channels, trigger effects, record and play loops at the right time -- allowing the musician to focus on the performance, rather than on a pedal. Clips are recorded live and looped to create layers of sound, like a traditional looper, but, like in a sequencer, the loops can be drawn, moved, copied, cut and pasted in a musical arrangement.

ALK2 boasts many innovative features - all packed into an attractive and intuitive user interface.

Key Features:

• Full featured VST/AU host with support for audio and MIDI looping using your favorite plugins, along with built-in quantization and beat repeat
• If you make a mistake, the panic function allows you to recover gracefully by crossfading the current take with its reference version
• Automation assignments are dynamic and can also be sequenced, allowing you to easily switch encoder mappings
• Hover auditioning is an elegant and ergonomic way of handling monitoring during production: simply hover your mouse over the track you want to hear

With traditional loopers, it's easy to get caught in an endless stacks of loops that go nowhere, and eventually collapse under their own sheer weight and tedium. Using ALK2, you can create dextrous transitions between different chord changes and musical sections, keeping your tracks light, fresh, and engaging throughout.

zenAud.io ALK2 runs on macOS 10.10 (Yosemite) or higher, on any Mac.

Pricing & Availability

Available at zenAud.io for EUR199 (30 day free trial)

Loopcloud 2.0 has Arrived – Audition Millions of Sounds Directly in your DAW

Loopcloud, the cloud-connected application for browsing, streaming and importing your samples, loops and sounds effortlessly into your DAW just got better. 

Audition Millions of Sounds

Loopcloud 2.0 is out now, and it lets you audition the award-winning Loopmasters catalogue in your DAW, in perfect sync with your projects, for free! Now you can preview millions of sounds made by the world’s top artists – whether you own them or not – straight from the cloud. Only pay for what you need when you’re ready to commit and drag directly into your project.

Buy Individual Samples, Selections or Whole Packs

The world of music is changing, and so is Loopmasters. Loopcloud 2.0 makes it possible to buy just the individual samples you’ve auditioned, as well as full packs or folders of sounds. You can now preview sounds right inside the app – no need to open a browser or download and unzip.

Auto Keymatch and Better Tagging

With comprehensive updates to tagging and navigation, Loopcloud 2.0 makes it even easier to find the sounds you’re looking for. With the new Auto Keymatch function, any sample can be automatically transposed, making it fit your host project whatever its original key. 

Works Better and Quicker

Loopcloud 2.0 now connects to your DAW automatically, updates on its own and works 4x faster. Improved optimisations across the board make Loopcloud more intuitive, inspirational and speed up your workflow. 

Free Sounds for Everyone

Every week, each user gets a healthy dose of track-making material added to their collection, just by launching Loopcloud. 

Pricing and Availability

No subscription required - individual sounds, folders and packs are purchased with credits. All users will be given 500 free credits to get started. Until August 1st, all users will receive double credits on their first purchase.

New and existing users can download Loopcloud 2.0 for free from loopcloud.net.

New Features for Loopcloud 2.0

– Audition the entire Loopmasters catalogue in your DAW

– Stream millions of samples whether you own them or not

– Buy individual sounds, folders and packs directly from Loopcloud

– Sounds match your project’s key automatically for easy auditioning

– Loopcloud automatically connects to any DAW via the Loopcloud plugin

– Tagging is improved to help you choose from millions of sounds

– Upgraded GUI and graphics, and general optimisations

– Software updates are performed automatically 

Recent Updates (Version 1.4)

– Drag pitched, time-stretched and sequenced audio directly to your DAW

– History navigation: never lose the files you found, and repeat custom searches easily

– Improved file searching and retrieval

– Audition and export your files in half time and double time

Original Loopcloud Benefits

– Get 150 sounds every week just by opening the app

– Instantly search through a library of samples tagged for genre, key, type and more

– Timestretch and pitch-shift audio to audition with your project

– Audition one-shot samples with preset rhythms in time with your project