Get The Jazz!

At the NAMM Summer Show recently held in New Orleans, EMG launched two new products: the RPC (Resonant Peak Control) and the new Jazz Bass Pickup.

The RPC shifts the resonant frequency of the sound of the guitar, thereby offering both single and dual coil sounds. The idea behind the RPC to create a control that could not only be used for guitar but also bass.

What the guitarist will hear is a sweep through the high mid range to the high end range with some loss of low end. For example, it will give you a Duane Eddy sound to a Stratocaster. The RPC is also great for bass players who want to pop and slap.

The RPC is an extremely small control (potentiometer) that draws very little current — around 200 micro-amps. It will be available in split and solid shaft box, so it can be used for both bass and guitar.

The new EMG Jazz Bass pickup has a single pole and can be used for five and six string basses, simultaneously offering the same response from all of the strings in preference to a hot E and A string. In the majority of Jazz Bass type instruments, the E string tends to die in certain areas, as does the G string, and the only way to get the same dynamic response out of all the strings is to have them all under the same pole.

With the new EMG-Jazz Bass pickup, the magnet is curved like a crescent for radius fingerboards.

The new EMG-J is also available in a flat version for flat fingerboards. The package retails for £175.55 inc VAT.

For details contact Max Kay, (Contact Details).

A New Mike For Shure

No doubt in answer to the influx of foreign competition, microphone manufacturers Shure continue to increase their focus on the lower/middle end of the market with the new SM48 unidirectional dynamic which currently has a US price of $120.00. It's basically a not-so-rich man's SM58 with a similar physical construction and that characteristic mid frequency boost for increased vocal intelligibility.

Noise Annoys

It wasn't until after the September issue had gone to print that we were made aware of a few points regarding Malcolm Hill's PA at the Live Aid concert: Firstly, all soundchecks and alignments had been carried out with an average SPL of around 118dB at the control tower, and things were apparently sounding very good. The very last moment the Council stepped in with a level meter, a chart recorder and a limit of 100dB at the desk! Also, all checks had been done in ignorance of the painted gauze which, again at the last moment, was hung in front of the PA towers, thus drastically attenuating HF. Another helpful little issue was over the delay system mounted at the rear of the control tower. Those in power had refused permission for this until the Friday, and it wasn't until the Saturday morning that it could be fully tested. Hill would have much preferred a larger delay system. Oh well, it was all in a good cause.

Harman Bargain

Due to the healthy state of the pound and the charitable disposition of Teac agents Harman UK, the cost of the new Tascam 388 eight-track portastudio (see review in August issue) has been dropped by a £300 yielding a final price of £2,450 and making it substantially more attractive.

Special K

Busker Drums of Fulham Road, London have announced details of an opportunity to obtain the genuine original K Zildjian cymbals, produced by the Zildjian family in the now defunct Turkish factory. Busker have by chance located what is probably the last batch of pristine K-Z's in a European warehouse.

These hand made cymbals favoured by the Jazz fraternity are highly prized for their unique tonal characteristics. As such, the original K-Z's are already collectors' items.

Busker have only limited quantities of these Istanbul-made cymbals. As each one has an individual sound, they are happy to provide extensive trial facilities for the discerning drummer.

For further information contact: (Contact Details).

A Matter of Course

Gateway announce the launch of a new synthesizer course. It is possibly the most comprehensive course of its kind and covers every aspect of synthesizer and sequencer programming. The planning of this new course heralds the joining to the Gateway staff of Steve Howell who will be teaching not just the synthesizer courses but also Gateway's Primary Recording Course.

Topics covered will be analogue synthesis using modular and programmable systems; sequencers using analogue and digital sequencers and MicroComposers and the interfacing of 'conventional' cv/gate synths, MIDI synths, drum machines and sequencers and the use of sync codes. Probably for the first time, in the UK, FM synthesis will be taught using the Yamaha range of FM synths. Also covered will be MIDI, sampling, the use of effects (MIDI and non-MIDI), recording synthesizers and using synthesizers live. There will also be a brief examination of more advanced systems such as the Oberheim Xpander and the Matrix 12, the PPG Waveterm, the Synclavier and other computer based systems.

The course presupposes no previous knowledge of synthesizer or computer technology although we imagine that most students will have had some experience and the course is designed to take the complete novice through to a point where he or she can achieve positive programming results with practically any synthesizer or sequencer.

The course runs for five days (Mon-Fri) and is split into three sessions per day where each topic will be discussed in depth. At the end of each morning and afternoon, there will be an opportunity for the students to have 'hands-on' experience, split into several small groups, using Roland System 100M modular synthesisers as well as Yamaha DX's, Prophet 5, Juno 106 and other items. There will be full interface capabilities for sequencing and the control devices will include an MSQ700, and MSQ100 and a Roland MC4B MicroComposer with various CV-MIDI and MIDI-CV converters.

Steve Howell has had many years of experience in synthesis both in his own computer and synthesizer studio, (where he composes and records music for TV, film, video, etc and many other studios. He has also had much experience in lecturing and private tuition, has run courses in Bristol and Wales and has acted on a consultative basis for many universities, colleges and studios in the UK.

As with all other Gateway courses, the synthesizer course is supported by Roland, Bandive, Fostex Corporation, Rebis, Soundcraft, Tannoy, Teac, Bell, Drawmer & Yamaha-Kemble (UK), who have generously supplied much of the equipment that will be used.

So, at last, here is a course where people can learn about all forms of synthesis and all applications of modern music technology. There is no other course available in the UK that offers such a complete and thorough coverage of the subject.

The cost of the course which begins on September 30th is £200 (plus VAT) and further details can be obtained by writing to the Gateway School of Recording & Music Technology at (Contact Details).

From Leeds with Love

John Hornby Skewes' R & D department have had a busy month producing two completely new ranges. The first is a pair of mixing consoles that come under the Bandstand brand name. The model PDM8:2 retails at £475 and the PDM12:2 is £575.

The second is a range of effects pedals bearing the JHS name. The budget-priced range includes Compressor, Super Distortion, Hand Clap, Analogue Delay, Stereo Flanger, Overdrive, Phase and Superphase. Prices are between £22 — £75.

Further details are available from JHS, (Contact Details).

A Treat For Engineers Ears

The K240DF professional stereo headphone providing broadcast and recording studio engineers with studio loudspeaker monitoring conditions, has been introduced by AKG Acoustics. The K240DF, featuring an acoustically diffused field equalisation design which simulates listening conditions in an idealised monitoring suite, eliminates at the same time the unavoidable individual room acoustics with which engineers are often obliged to contend.

The advanced specification K240DF was developed by AKG engineers in response to a proposal by the Institute of Radio Technology of Munich, for an international standard for an acoustically diffuse field equalisation design headphone.

So that engineers can use them for long working periods in comfort, the K240DF features a padded and self-adjusting headband and large circumaural padded earpieces. Connector by standard ¼" stereo jack plug.

For further information contact Keith Ellis, AKG Acoustics Limited, (Contact Details).