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Audio & music gear
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List of user reviews
Audio & music gear
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Getting Started 
- I wasn't really involved with the installation process concerning the Lexicon Lexiverb as it was already installed on the system that I used it on. In my time using it I can't say that I've had any issues at all with it as it has run flawlessly without errors. The interface of the plug-in is user friendly even though there is a decent amount going on with it. It has the standard reverb parameters like predelay and mix, and also contains some unorthodox parameters like diffusion and spin. While it wouid take too long to list all of the parameters that this plug-in has to offer, after only playing around with the plug-in for a few minutes I was able to figure out pretty much what everything does. I haven't seen or had direct access to the manual, so I can't really say anything about it.
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Suitability/Performance
- I can't say that I've ever had an issues running the Lexicon Lexiverb plug-in. While it doesn't take up too much processing power, I still use in on an auxiliary channel to save processing space as this is what I do with all reverb plug-ins. I have run the plug-in on a Pro Tools HD system that runs on an Apple G5 computer and a Digidesign 192 I/O interface. I'm able to run this plug-in on this system without problems every time as the HD system is very powerful, but this could be a different story if you are running an LE system or an equivalent to it. The plug-in's performance really all depends on what type of system you are running it on.
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Overall Opinion
- The sounds that are possible with the Lexicon Lexiverb are extremely versatile as I would say that this is probably its best quality. All of the unique parameters add up to the possibility to get some pretty awesome tones. This being said you can definitely get some more traditional reverb sounds in addition to the stranger ones. The sounds on this plug-in aren't the warmest sounding reverbs that I've used, but this is to be expected from a company that works in the digital domain and from plug-ins in general. This isn't the most cheaply priced plug-in, but the price is reasonable and is definitely an option for both home and professional studio owners. I'd definitely recommend this plug-in to someone looking to get a great reverb plug-in.
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Characteristics
- The T-Rex Engineering Tonebug Overdrive is the simplest and cheapest pedal that T-Rex has the offer. It has 1/4 inch connections for both input and output and requires a 9 volt power supply. It is an analog unit that definitely has the vintage look and sound. This isn't a rack mountable piece of gear as it is a stomp box.
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Utilization
- The configuration of the T-Rex Engineering Tonebug Overdrive pedal is about as simple as it gets. The pedal has parameters for gain, tone, and level and beyond this there isn't a way to control your tone. For me this is fine as it makes the pedal incredibly easy to use and I don't believe that it sacrifices any versatility. I've never seen the manual for this pedal so I can't say anything about it.
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Sound Quality
- The sound quality of the T-Rex Engineering Tonebug Overdrive is top notch. I love the sounds that I get with it for recording as I find that I can get a number of different overdrive tones that are all vintage sounding and quite realistic. I have used the pedal with a Fender Telecaster and a '65 Fender Deluxe Reverb, and I feel that this is probably the most appropriate setting for this pedal. I can't think of any pedals that I would compare it to tone wise exactly, but I would say that it has a sound some think like an Ibanez Tube Screamer.
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Overall Opinion
- Overall, I'm a big fan of the T-Rex Engineering Tonebug Overdrive pedal. While T-Rex definitely has some better sounding overdrives in their collection than this one, for the price this can't be beat. It is an underrated pedal as I feel that those who know about it often compare it to the more expensive pedals that sound better in the T-Rex line of pedals. However, when compared to pedals in its price range, this is truly a gem. If you are looking for a great sounding overdrive pedal for around $100 USD, definitely keep an eye out for the T-Rex Engineering Tonebug Overdrive pedal.
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Getting Started
- The process of installing the Waves Ltd. Renaissance Deesser wasn't hard at all as it only took a matter of minutes. Just follow the basic steps that are usually seen when installing any type of plug-in, as this plug-in is no different. I didn't have any problems at all relating to compatibility or otherwise and was able to learn how to use the plug-in rather quickly as well. The make up of the plug-in is easy to follow as it simply has parameters for frequency, type, mode, range, and threshold. The interface is user friendly as is the case with the entire line of Waves Renaissance plug-ins and I don't think a manual is necessary because of this.
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Suitability/Performance
- I've never had any problems with the performance of the Waves Ltd. Renaissance Deesser plug-in. It isn't a plug-in that will take up much processing power at all and for this reason as long as you have a decent system to run it on, I don't think you'll have any problems. I currently have the plug-in running on a Mac Book Pro that has a 2.2 Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo processor and 4 GB of RAM. I run the plug-in in Pro Tools LE 7.4 that runs with a Digi 002R audio interface and it runs the plug-in quite well overall. I've never had any lag or latency of any sort with this plug-in and don't expect that I will in the future.
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Overall Opinion
- The Waves Ltd. Renaissance Deesser is overall a great sounding deesser plug-in. I've used a number of these types of plug-ins in my day and this is up there with the best of them. I got the plug-in in the Renaissance bundle, so I'm not sure if and how much they charge for the plug-in on its own, but I would say it is worth it either way. The Renaissance plug-ins are a great collection, so if you are looking for a number of high quality plug-ins at a great price, definitely check out this bundle as you'll be getting this great deesser in addition.
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Characteristics
- The Universal Audio UAD-2 Solo/Laptop is a device that allows your laptop to run plug-ins off of your computer. This helps the processing of these plug-ins and the overall performance of your system is better because it is under less stress from plug-ins. Think of it as a mini HD system where your plug-ins are no longer restricted by your computer. It is a simple device that fits right into a jack on my Mac Book Pro.
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Utilization
- Using the Universal Audio UAD-2 Solo/Laptop isn't hard at all. I run this with a Mac Book Pro that has a 2.2 Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo processor and 4 GB of RAM. I run the plug-ins in Pro Tools LE 7.4 that runs with a Digi 002R audio interface. With this device, I can run Universal Audio plug-ins a whole lot faster than I could without it and it also leaves room for my other plug-ins to run faster on my computer. I haven't experienced any latency issues or any problems at all as it has only helped out the way that my system runs.
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Getting Started
- There isn't too much involved with the installation process of the Universal Audio UAD-2 Solo/Laptop. I simply followed the instructions that are in the manual, and probably could have figured it out on my own as the software is self explanatory. It only took about five to ten minutes for me to have this installed and running with a few plug-ins.
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Overall Opinion
- I would absolutely recommend the Universal Audio UAD-2 Solo/Laptop for anyone mixing on a lap top. It offers the high quality signal processing that Universal Audio is known for without all the processing power that would be taken up on your computer. If you are looking to expand your plug-in collection but find that the more you run plug-ins on your machine, the slower it gets (which is going to be the case for most LE users), then the UAD-2 is the cure that you are looking for. The price isn't too expensive, but also isn't cheap so keep this in mind. All in all, I would definitely say the price is worth it as it helps my lap top run plug-ins exponentially better and is a whole lot cheaper than getting an HD system!
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Characteristics
- The SE Electronics SE4 Stereo Pair are a set of small diaphragm condenser microphones that are designed for use in the studio. Since my main focus is on recording, I've only had the chance to use these microphones inside the studio. The mics have an interchangeable capsule including ones for cardioid, hyper cardioid, and omnidirectional polar pick up patterns. The mic also has a -10 db pad and a high pass filter on it.
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Overall Opinion
- I've used a pair of the SE Electronics SE4 for recording in a home studio and was definitely happy with the sounds that I was able to get from them. I only used them for two applications during recording - one being for recording drum overheads and the other was for recording an acoustic guitar. I found that they worked great for getting a stereo spread of both applications, but they excelled better as drum overheads. As would probably be the case for all small diaphragms, I found that they didn't pick up enough low end and low mids of the acoustic guitar. I usually will use a small diaphragm in tandem with a large diaphragm for recording acoustic guitar, but thought that this would be cool to try with these mics. Even though I didn't get the exact sound that I was after, I would bet that just having one of them in tandem with another microphone to pick up more of the low end would definitely be a good combination. As drum overheads, the SE4s did an awesome job of getting a wide sound. Although they don't sound as great as a pair of Neumann KM184s, they will cost you a lot less and still have a very acceptable sound. If you are home studio owner looking for a very reasonably priced set of small diaphragm condenser microphones, definitely look into trying or buying the SE Electronics SE4 Stereo Pair.
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Getting Started
- I can't say anything about the installation process with the Antares Systems Auto-Tune Evo as the one that I have used was already installed on the studio's computer. I don't think that there were any issues related to installation, but can't say for sure as I wasn't the one installing it. Since it does work with the system that I've been using it on, I do know that we didn't have any compatibility problems. The interface of the software isn't hard to follow and is very similar to the last version of Auto-Tune and other versions as well, so if you have any experience with other Auto-Tune editions, you should be able to catch on to this one quickly. The manual is put together well, but I didn't need to look at it much as I was familiar with previous versions.
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Suitability/Performance
- Since I have been using Antares Systems Auto-Tune Evo on a Pro Tools HD system, this plug-in has run flawlessly. I can't say how well it would run on a Pro Tools LE system or something equivalent, but I do know that I have been able to run previous versions of the plug-in well on an LE system and this version isn't all that much different. I have only used one of these plug-ins at a time in a single session, but I think it will run fine granted that you can already run plug-ins well on your system and have an overall adequate system. I only first used this version of Auto-Tune a few months ago, but feel I've been able to adapt quickly to the new interface.
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Overall Opinion
- Overall, Antares Systems Auto-Tune Evo is the best version of Auto-Tune to date as it sounds cleaner than its predecessors. While I generally prefer using Melodyne to tune vocals as I think it sounds smoother overall, for using auto mode this plug-in is the way to go. The price isn't unreasonable and is definitely affordable for both home and professional studios. If you are looking to get your first tuning program, I would suggest trying out both Auto-Tune Evo and Melodyne to see what will best suit your style and preference. All in all, this is a powerful plug-in that is definitely worthy of being using if you are looking to tune.
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Getting Started
- The Princeton Digital 2016 Stereo Room is a software reverb plug-in compatibility with a variety of systems and interfaces. I was able to install the plug-in in only a short while and was able to figure out the interface in an even quicker amount of time. The interface is straight forward as it has a variety of knobs including sections for level, reverb, and EQ. The level section has parameters for input and mix, the reverb section has parameters for predelay, delay, position, and diffusion, and the EQ section has a two band EQ, each with parameters for frequency and gain. That is pretty much all that there is to know about using the software and most will be able to figure out how to use it rather quickly, so I don't think that a manual is necessary.
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Suitability/Performance
- I can't say that I've had any issues with the Princeton Digital 2016 Stereo Room plug-in as it has run flawlessly since I installed it. I am currently running it on a Mac Book Pro that has a 2.2 Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo processor and 4 GB of RAM and I run the plug-in in Pro Tools LE 7.4. I run Pro Tools with a Digi 002R audio interface or a Digidesign Micro Box depending on where I am. I'm able to run a few of these within a single session if I choose to, but most of the time I only use one or two. As long as you have a system that you are currently able to run some plug-ins on pretty stably, I'd say that you won't have any trouble with this 2016 plug-in.
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Overall Opinion
- I've been running the Princeton Digital 2016 Stereo Room plug-in for a few months and I'm definitely an advocate for it. I like the way that it sounds a lot and I love having control over a number of aspects of my sound within a single plug-in. It also makes it possible to get a wide array of different sounds, all of which are quite realistic sounding. It doesn't come off too digital sounding like most software EQs to, but also isn't the warmest sounding reverb plug-in that I've got in my pallet. The price of this plug-in is somewhat expensive, but I would try out a trial version of it to see if you like it because if you are looking for a great sounding digital reverb plug-in, definitely check out the Princeton Digital 2016 Stereo Room plug-in.
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Overall Opinion
- The Yamaha C3 is a grand acoustic piano that has all the modern features and design that a great acoustic piano should. It has 88 keys, three pedals, and is quite large in size overall. I have used this piano in my school's recording studio for doing overdubs and I love the sound that this piano has. It is easy to play as it feels good the fingers and a I feel confident while I'm playing it. I'll usually get a stereo spread of the piano using a pair of large diaphragm condenser microphones and this gets me an extremely wide piano sound. It is actually pretty easy to get a good sound from the Yamaha C3 as it has a full sound that is suitable for a variety of different genres. I've used the piano for recording rock, pop, and folk music for the most part as that is what I play, but I definitely think that it would make for a great piano for recording classical and jazz music as well. I assume that if you are thinking about buying a grand acoustic piano that you understand you will be paying a decent amount of money as any good piano like this will. This being said, when compared to some of the other acoustic pianos out there in this quality range, this is actually a great deal. Since Yamaha is such a large company they can afford to mass produce these pianos and sell them at an extremely low cost like this, even if it seems like a lot of money to those unfamiliar with the world of acoustic grands. Yamaha definitely knows what they are doing as they got their start making pianos, and the C3 is a great example of the quality of work that they are capable of. This piano is worth a look for anyone who wants an acoustic grand piano!
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Getting Started
- The TC Electronic M30 Reverb is a software plug-in that is compatibility with a variety of interfaces and systems. I didn't have a problem at all installing the plug-in as I went through the simple prompts that always come up when you are installing a plug-in. It was also easy to download from the website, as I got this plug-in as a free download during a 72 hour period (which is still going on as of today) that TC Electronic offered up this plug-in for free. I had the plug-in downloaded and up and running within a few minutes. The interface of the software is also simple enough to follow as there isn't anything complicated going on here. The plug simply has knobs for pre delay, decay time, hi color, mix, and a mode section. Everything is straight forward and easy to understand, so although I haven't seen the manual for this plug-in, I don't think one is necessary as everything is self explanatory.
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Suitability/Performance
- I am currently running the TC Electronic M30 Reverb on a Mac Book Pro that has a 2.2 Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo processor and 4 GB of RAM. I run the plug-in in Pro Tools LE 7.4 that runs with a Digi 002R audio interface. Thus far I haven't had an issue with the plug-in, although I haven't been using it for very long. I have run it only on a auxiliary channel and sent buses to it, as this is what I always do with reverbs and delays to save processing space. While I've only downloaded and been using the plug-in for the last day or so, I haven't encountered any problems with it related to performance.
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Overall Opinion
- In the short time that I've been using the TC Electronic M30 Reverb plug-in I've been pretty impressed with it. While I probably wouldn't have bought the plug-in, since I got it for free I have been able to try it out in my configuration. I've been impressed with gear made by TC Electronic and this is no exception. The plug-in offers up a very realistic sounding reverb in a variety of forms. Even if you don't get this free plug-in in time before the free download expires, this is a cheap enough plug-in that it would be worth a trial to see if it something that you might want to be, as it really has a great tone. I'd definitely recommend this plug-in for any home studio owner looking for a good sounding reverb on the cheap, or anyone in the next few days of this review as you can get it free!
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Characteristics
- The Fender Jaguar Bass is an electric bass guitar that has two single coil pick ups and a variety of setting controls. The guitar comes in a few different versions, but the one that I have used was made in Japan. This guitar takes the basic make up of the Jaguar guitar and applies it to the bass, offering up the ability to change the tone of the bass sound in a lot of different ways. The neck is made out of maple and has an overall great feel to it.
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Utilization
- The configuration of the Fender Jaguar Bass is a bit more complex than most electric basses, but it is worth it to learn what everything does as all of the tone control settings can really be helpful. The bass has knobs for overall volume and tone, and also has a series of pick up switches and sliders to control your tone in a variety of ways. The weight is average for a Fender bass guitar and the feel is perfect as it is easy to follow all up and down the neck. Getting a good sound isn't hard at all as this is a versatile bass that is capable of getting tone for a variety of different genres.
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Sounds
- The tones possible with the Fender Jaguar Bass are versatile and are overall great sounding. I find it easy to get all sorts of different tones with this bass and for this reason I love using it in the studio. It makes it easy to switch from one type of tone to another without having to switch a bass or something else manipulating the sound. I have only used the bass for recording and generally use both an amp and a direct input box when trying to get a sound down, as this gives me options when I go to mix down. Although I haven't used it for any live shows, I can tell that this would also be a great bass for this application since it is so easy and quick to change tones.
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Overall Opinion
- I've used the Fender Jaguar Bass for about a year for recording and have to say that it is one of my favorite basses to record with because of its elite sound quality and versatility in terms of tone. The price is about right for a top tier bass, but is still aimed at those looking for a top notch bass as this isn't cheap. If you want a very cool looking and sounding electric bass guitar, definitely consider the Fender Jaguar Bass.
