Five Star Music Makeover

The independent artist's guide for singers, songwriters, bands, producers, and self-publishers

Montclair, NJ (March 31, 2016) - In order to achieve success in today's music industry, artists must first do a great deal of work on their own. Learning the required skills can take years of real-life experience, and hiring personal coaches, studio professionals, and consultants can be costly. But now, for the first time, there's an invaluable resource to help them meet these challenges:

Five Star Music Makeover

 is an engaging all-in-one guide designed specifically for aspiring artists. Written by five experts with over 100 years of collective experience, both on and off the stage, this unique book covers five key skills every musician needs to succeed: 

• Improving vocal production/technique
• Writing memorable and marketable songs
• Recording your ultimate EP
• Navigating the publishing world
• Promoting music effectively

Also included are insiders' stories and anecdotes, helpful tips, creative exercises, celebrity interviews, and all the practical expertise necessary to develop a successful music career. 

Five Star Music Makeover is a complete and practical career guide - a resource that transforms artists from good to great.

Glitchmachines PARALLAX - Sample Pack

Parallax is a new sample pack by sound designers Ivo Ivanov and Alex Retsis, featuring over 1300 raw sound effects inspired by old school video games and vintage computer technology. Designed primarily with electronic musicians and sound designers in mind, Parallax is organized in various focused categories including CHIP, BENT, DATA, MODULAR, NOISEKIT, SFX and more. This highly specialized pack invites you to explore an action packed soundscape, bursting with rad digital oddities.

Parallax was designed with a plethora of unconventional tools including vintage video game chips, noise kits, modular synths, circuit-bent hardware instruments and custom computer apps. We have carefully left every sample completely raw, leaving it up to you how to further process and adapt these effects to your projects. Whether you are working on an electronic track that needs a lofi edge or designing an indie game, Parallax will deliver a dose of pure fun and sonic nostalgia.

PARALLAX is available now for $39

http://glitchmachines.com/products/parallax/

New Manuel Rodriguez Guitars Factory Tour Video Demonstrates A 110 Year Commitment To Craftsmanship

BLOOMFIELD, CONNECTICUT, March 30, 2016 — To help support the launch of its expanded United States sales and marketing program through KMC Music (www.kmcmusic.com), Manuel Rodriguez Guitars (www.mrguitarras.es), the world’s second oldest line of guitars, today announced that it has produced a compelling six-minute video that takes the viewer through the entire production process of a guitar line known around the world as “Brand Spain.”

According to third-generation CEO Manuel Rodriguez III, the production of the new video also coincides with the recent completion of a substantial factory expansion and remodeling program that allows the company to increase its production capacity to meet a global growth in demand for the Manuel Rodriguez line of hand-made guitars.  “We felt it was important to show our distributors, dealers, and, most importantly, our customers where and how we design and make our unique line of instruments.  Our Spanish roots, the cradle of the classical and flamenco guitar, are key for the quality and beauty of our products.  This new video vividly showcases the passion, care, and commitment to quality that goes into the production of our guitars — a commitment that goes back to 1905.”

According to KMC Music Product Manager Rodney Washburn, the new Manuel Rodriguez Guitar video has been distributed to all KMC Music dealers to help with in-store presentations to their customers.  “The reaction of our dealers has been nothing less than enthusiastic,” he explained.  “The video details every step of the production process, from the sourcing of raw materials to the stringing of the finished guitars.  It really demonstrates the value built into every one of these fine iconic guitars.”

 To watch the Manuel Rodriguez Guitars factory video, click here.

Native Instruments introduces RISING CRESCENT MASCHINE Expansion

Berlin, March 30, 2016 – Native Instruments today introduced RISING CRESCENT – the first MASCHINE Expansion to explore the sounds and rhythms of the modern orient. RISING CRESCENT pulls from musical cultures in and around the Mediterranean and combines them with modern bass production techniques. The expansion is aimed at producers of all genres in search of fresh, non-western flavors to add to their music. RISING CRESCENT runs in the latest MASCHINE software on MASCHINE STUDIO, MASCHINE, or MASCHINE MIKRO and is available exclusively at the NI Online Shop. A compact version for iMASCHINE is also available via the iMASCHINE in-app store.

RISING CRESCENT comprises a sample library of expertly recorded instruments from the Aegean, the Balkans, the Middle East, and India. The sample set includes instruments such as the darbuka, daouli, hand drums, micro-percussive cymbals, rare Cretan lutes, and more. Complementing this more traditional sound set are new presets for NI's renowned MASSIVE, REAKTOR PRISM, and MASCHINE Drum Synths, adding the deep low end and synthetic textures contemporary bass music for an exotic new hybrid flavor. RISING CRESCENT was produced by John Valasis, creator of the hardline techno-influenced GREY FORGE MASCHINE Expansion.

A compact version of RISING CRESCENT is also available as an iMASCHINE Expansion, for creating beats on the go. Tracks can be exported to MASCHINE STUDIO, MASCHINE, and MASCHINE MIKRO for completion.

RISING CRESCENT is available now at the NI Online Shop for $49 / 49 € / £44 / ¥ 6,820 / AU$ 79 and runs in the MASCHINE 2 software.

The iMASCHINE expansion is available at the iMASCHINE in-app store for $0.99 / 0,89 € / £0.79 / ¥ 100 / AU$ 1.29.

Additional information on RISING CRESCENT is available at:
www.native-instruments.com/risingcrescent

More information on John Valasis is available at:
www.johnvalasis.com

Mr. Bill & Au5 - Shlappy

Mr. Bill & Au5 have released Shlappy! 

Recommendation rating: 

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