Rockstarist – Musicians resources

ShoutOmatic Brings Voice and Sound to Social Media

shoutomatic

Celebrities, companies and social media fans embracing “audible Tweets and Facebook status updates”

ShoutOmatic (www.shoutomatic.com) is breaking the social media silence by allowing users to create and post “audible Tweets and Facebook status updates” thereby opening an untapped vein of social media potential. Using the free web client or iPhone app, people can now do things like sing a personalized “Happy Birthday” on their friends’ Facebook walls, reporters can file audio reports on their Twitter streams from around the world, musicians can give fans a sneak preview of their newest song, and celebrities can show fans they are real by answering questions in their own voice. While the world will ultimately define how ShoutOmatic is used, giving Facebook and Twitter users the power to post self-generated audio quickly and easily is a clear step in social media evolution.

ShoutOmatic Key Features Include:

• Users can record and upload their own Shouts directly to Facebook and Twitter
• Users can purchase Shouts from their favorite celebrities
• Free to use
• All Shouts are limited to 30 seconds for brevity
• Web client, phone-in, Facebook application, and an iPhone application makes Shouting possible anywhere
• Shouts can be embedded on websites, blogs and other social media outlets
• MP3s can be automatically merged with users voice in Shouts
• Brands, charities, and foundations can receive custom-made ShoutOmatic pages

A privately-held start up founded by Norm Levy, ShoutOmatic has seen early adoption with a number of celebrities and brands. For instance, hip-hop legend Chuck D Shouts his daily “This Day in Hip-Hop and Rap” series on Twitter and wireless carrier Boost Mobile recently launched a consumer-focused promotion with motorsports favorite Travis Pastrana.

Letting users record and broadcast audible “Shouts” in their actual voices helps add authenticity, emotion, and tonality that is just not possible in the short form, text-based world of social media networks. In addition, the ShoutMarket allows the growing list of celebrity Shouters to sell personalized and instant Shouts to fans. Musicians have embraced ShoutOmatic as a way to bring their music to everyday social media, and features such as automatically merged MP3 files and Shouts allow artists to connect to their fan base about new songs in a powerfully engaging way.

“Social media has been expanding rapidly, but individuals and brands are looking for ways to move beyond the traditional text status update,” says ShoutOmatic founder Norm Levy. “ShoutOmatic brings a new level of engagement to the realm of social media by making voices and sounds easy to post. Musicians, comedians, marketers, and social media fans are embracing this method of self-expression.”

About ShoutOmatic

ShoutOmatic removes the text-based limitations of social media by allowing users to stop typing and start Shouting. From the ShoutOmatic website or the iPhone application, users can record and upload their own voice to ShoutOmatic. Shouts can be automatically uploaded to Twitter and Facebook, and can be embedded on all other social networks and web spaces. This unique mode of expression lets individuals and brands share their message with an authenticity, emotion, and tonality that is not possible with other social networking mediums. Founded by new technology pioneer Norm Levy, ShoutOmatic is the next step in the expansion of social media. For more information, visit www.shoutomatic.com

Three Synthesizers Featured in Just Released SynthStation App Update

akai synthstation

Cumberland, R.I. (July 5, 2011) – Akai Professional, the name synonymous with music production, announces the release of SynthStation v2.0, an updated version of the original SynthStation music production app for iPad, iPhone and iPod touch in the iTunes App Store.

Featuring CoreMIDI support, real-time recording capability, a customizable metronome, sound-preview ribbon and numerous stability improvements, SynthStation v2.0 contains the most requested enhancements and capabilities from SynthStation enthusiasts everywhere.

SynthStation v2.0 works with any CoreMIDI compatible device, meaning users can employ SynthStation v2.0 on their iPad, iPhone or iPod touch as a virtual synthesizer <http://media.ne.cision.com/l/oyeviaqg/www.akaipro.com/miniak>  module for CoreMIDI compliant controllers or integrate it with CoreMIDI compliant hardware and software sequencers. With the new real-time recording capability, users can now record as they create tracks directly on their iPad, iPhone or iPod touch or when controlling SynthStation v2.0 with the SynthStation25 portable controller. SynthStation v2.0′s metronome is now fully customizable with adjustable volume and the ability to use any sound as the click track. A new preview ribbon on the sounds page allows users to preview any sound before assigning it.

Originally released in 2010, SynthStation transforms iPad, iPhone, or iPod touch into a portable music production <http://media.ne.cision.com/l/oyeviaqg/www.akaipro.com/synthstation>  studio. While SynthStation is powerful enough for professional musicians, virtually anyone can use it to easily create music. Featuring three synthesizers <http://media.ne.cision.com/l/oyeviaqg/www.akaipro.com/synths>  for creating melodies, chords and bass lines, SynthStation also contains over 50 drum kits with all the classic sounds of the past, legendary MPC samples and most popular modern samples.

“The SynthStation app has had a profound impact on how music is created,” said Glen Darcey, Akai Product Manager. “It is affordable, powerful, and now with v2.0, SynthStation has the capabilities that will solidify it as a standard tool for musicians and producers everywhere.”

SynthStation v2.0 is available now from the iTunes App Store for $1.99 US or as a free update to current SynthStation users. To learn more about SynthStation v2.0, please visit the iTunes App Store http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/synthstation/id373969724?mt=8. <http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/synthstation/id373969724?mt=8>

iPad, iPhone, iPod touch and iTunes are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries.

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About Akai Professional

Since 1984, Akai Professional products have been a staple of modern music both in the studio and on stage. With intuitive design and cutting edge features, Akai Professional is one of the world’s most influential manufacturers of musical electronics. For more information, visit www.akaipro.com <http://www.akaipro.com/> ; images are available at http://www.akaipro.com/media.

The first of an ongoing video documentary of Canadian musician Rikki C. Ricci as he takes us on his “Rockin’ Adventures” with various tribute, cover and original bands. Catch the action, live and unscripted from various gigs through Canada! We hope you enjoy it and come back often!

Rockin\’ Adventures By Rikki C. Ricci (Part 1)

New Mobile Application Transforms Every Guitar Player into a Rock Prodigy

The iRockstar Is Born!
Interactive App Teaches and Hones Skills Using a Real Guitar, Any Guitar

LOS ANGELES (Jan. 12, 2011) – All guitar players, from beginner to advanced, can now reach prodigy status with the launch of a new mobile application, Rock Prodigy™, that teaches users how to play a real guitar, any guitar, with the help of an Apple® iPhone®, iPad® or iPod® Touch. Using polyphonic pitch-recognition, Rock Prodigy allows all guitar players to learn, experience and absorb the music from legendary rock guitarists including James Hetfield of Metallica, Jerry Garcia of Grateful Dead and Joe Trohman of Fall Out Boy.

The app immerses users in original master recordings of popular guitar-centric songs, while simultaneously providing real-time feedback as players strum along with a real guitar. The interactive app also has the ability to auto-pause and uses tab-like performance cues for all four levels of play, which show precise rhythm, timing and note durations with real-time interaction and performance evaluation.

Allowing players to learn on the go, Rock Prodigy requires no additional hardware as guitarists can play directly into their mobile devices using the built-in microphone, a standard headset with microphone or a basic line-in guitar input adapter.

“Rock Prodigy was truly created for musicians by musicians,” said Harold Lee, co-founder of Rock Prodigy and CEO of The Way of H, Inc. “By combining mobile technology, modern apps and a guitarist’s favorite bands, Rock Prodigy offers a solution to the usual hang-ups of learning guitar. Guitar masters can also learn a thing or two.”

Fusing mobile technology with a real guitar, Rock Prodigy is available for free in the iTunes App Store, with premium feature packs starting at $9.99. More information at RockProdigy.com.

iPhone version:

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/rock-prodigy/id407303228?mt=8&ls=1

iPad version:

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/rock-prodigy-hd/id406963466?mt=8&ls=1

About The Way of H, Inc.

The Way of H, Inc. is a music technology company based in Los Angeles focused on changing the way people learn, play and interact with music. Rock Prodigy, the company’s first product, is a revolutionary interactive music app powered by patent-pending polyphonic pitch-recognition technology that allows musicians of all skill levels to use any instrument and provide instant performance feedback to accelerate learning. For more information, visit www.RockProdigy.com.

The Complete Idiot’s Guide(r) to Guitar starts the guitarist at the very beginning, learning how to hold the instrument. It covers everything from reading tablature, bar chords, and strumming techniques, to playing the blues and rock riffs. Each chapter has practice songs, and the guide includes a play-along CD, so learners are playing guitar from the very first chapter. With over 350 pages of  instruction, and a suggested retail price of $22.95 USD (ISBN-10: 1615640215) The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Guitar is the perfect companion! With it you also get;

• Fun To Follow lessons that teach top guitar techniques
• Instruction on reading and playing rhythms
• Complete tutorial om building chords and scales
• Advice on creating chord-melody arrangements
• Techniques for playing rock, folk, jazz, and blues guitar
• Easy and popular practice songs with a play along practice cd

Every Guitar God has To Start Somewhere

This is the second book by author David Hodge, the first being The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Playing Rock Guitar which also comes very highly recommended. For those starting their journey to play guitar, this book will become your best friend. Like having a guitar tutor sitting next to you, this book will also get you playing guitar right away. The contents of the book include; tuning, chords, rhythmic values, strumming, playing eighth notes, triplets, double stops, arpeggios, bends, slides, major scale, triads, barre chords, playing with a capo, drop D tuning, fills and riffs, to basic travis picking and so on.

The Complete Idiot’s Guide(r) to Guitar also offers plenty of exercises and short song tracks to learn. The book also covers many musical genres like, country, folk, blues, rock and classical. There is also a further study section at the back.

The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Guitar Exercises starts out with endorsements from some of the best musicians in the music business:

complete idiot's guide to guitar exercises

“In these pages, Hemme outlines many different exercises and I would encourage you to find the ones best suited to your ability and playing character. Happy strumming!”
-Alex Lifeson (Rush)

“Working on a wide variety of exercises on the guitar gives you the facility to pull off any wacky idea you can think of, with room to spare! Hemme’s book takes the guesswork out of what to work on to gain that facility.”
- Jennifer Batten (Michael Jackson, Jeff Beck)

“I’m sure that with Hemme’s knowledge and your time and patience, you, too, will become a better guitar player.”
- Mike Mushok (Staind)

“Hemme has put together a great book to help the player along the way. He did a wonderful job of transcribing a book of mine awhile ago so I’m happy to recommend this one.”
- Albert Lee (Eric Clapton, Emmylou Harris, The Everyly Brothers, Grammy-Award- winning session guitarist)

“The Complete Idiot’s Guide(r) to Guitar Exercises” is a great book for guitarists on every level. Hemme’s book will help you a lot!”
- Mike Stern (Jazz Guitarist Extraordinaire)

The Complete Idiot’s Guide(r) to Guitar Exercises provides new and experienced guitarists with practice you need to take your playing to the next level.

MSRP $21.95 USD, 264 pages
ISBN-10: 1592579728

• Exercises designed to build strength, endurance, dexterity, and technique

• A wide variety including single note, string-to-string, minor and major scales, harmonic and melodic minor scales, major and minor pentatonic and blues scales, chord progression exercises and melodic patterns

• Bonus chapters include fingerpicking, fingerstyle blues and Travis picking exercises

• Written using both standard notation and TAB

• Accompanied by an audio CD featuring over 150 samples of the exercises featured in the book

Praise for this book by:
Randy Bachman (The Guess Who, Bachman-Turner Overdrive, and Ringo Starr’s All- Starr Band)
Jennifer Batten (Michael Jackson, Jeff Beck)
Peter Frampton
Steve Howe (Yes, Asia)
Albert Lee (Eric Clapton, Emmylou Harris, The Everly Brothers)
Alex Lifeson (Rush)
Mike Mushok (Staind)
Mike Stern (Jazz Guitarist Extraordinaire)

The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Guitar Exercises takes you far beyond single-note diatonic sequences. It offers loads of spidery chromatic exercises, chordal exercises (including seventh chords), jazz chord-melody, Travis picking, and fingerstyle blues. The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Guitar Exercises also includes in-depth presentations on the music theory behind the exercises. All the exercises are meticulously fingered. In addition to left-hand fingerings, the book offers right-hand pick directions; many of the exercises also include right-hand fingerings for fingerstyle players.

The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Guitar Exercises is appropriate for guitar players of any level. Beginning students will easily understand the contents without the aid of a teacher. The book is thorough, and explains simple concepts such as how to hold the pick! Readers will see and hear the mystery of guitar as it starts to make sense.

The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Playing Rock Guitar is more than just a couple of chapters on power chords and rock guitar scale. The author talks you through technique after technique in a non-song specific manner. Note the book is not a ‘how to learn rock riffs xx” or “XX Rock Licks” like too many other websites. Instead, The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Playing Rock Guitar teaches the techniques to perform the “riffs” and “licks” so often heard. All of a sudden, songs like “La Grange” by ZZ Top or “For Whom The Bell Tolls” by Metallica, start to make sense.

complete idiot's guide to playing rock guitar

The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Playing Rock Guitar is 304 pages, ISBN-10: 1592579639, with a MSRP of $22.95 USD.

Essential learning material that will be music to any aspiring musician’s ears. CD included!

The Complete Idiot’s Guide(r) to Playing Rock Guitar is for the beginner guitarist who wants to get up to speed quickly playing rock music. The earliest exercises up to the more advanced are all focused on the rock genre, not classical as in other books.

• Teaches all the techniques, sounds, tricks, modes, styles, and gadgets
• Covers anticipations and improvisations, unlike the competition
• The accompanying CD has 70 play-along tracks

The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Playing Rock Guitar’s method of teaching music theory is easy to read and understand. All music education books must tackle music theory in some manner. It’s an absolute must to play a music instrument, and to play music. The music we play is based the ‘heavily avoided by guitar players’ music theory. The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Playing Rock Guitar book does an amazing job of making the music theory being taught relevant to the discussion’s current topic whenever possible – which is often – often having to remind the student that what was just learned was actually some music theory.

No matter if you want to play Rock, Hard Rock, Punk, Metal, Blues, or even some Jazz, you can do worse than to add this book to your tool box. After all, guitar playing techniques are more often shared between genres with the slightest of differences. Once you’re done with the The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Playing Rock Guitar, it will continue to serve as a musical reference.

Once again the Idiot’s Guide series of books has released another excellent resource. This time for the music lover, fan, musician and general public. The ‘Complete Idiot’s Guide Music Dictionary’ (ISBN: 978-1-59257-997-6) MRSP – $16.95 US is a 300+ pages resource dedicated to the music industry, business, profession, art and general information. Music explained in the simplest terms.

The Complete Idiot's Guide Music Dictionary

The ‘Complete Idiot’s Guide Music Dictionary’ is filled with the most common terms from classical, rock, pop, jazz, and even music theatre. There are also entries from other music genre’s that are found only here. In addition to simple terms, there are illustrations, brief biographies of famous composers and performers.

‘A must have music reference that’s just your speed’ that includes;

• Nearly 2000 jargon free definitions of the most common music terms and concepts
• A visual index of musical notations even if you don’t know its name.
• Clever explanations of all music theory
• An introduction to the major works in every genre, both secular and sacred.
• Biographies of music players from classical to jazz to pop

Anyone involved with music needs to know dozens of terms and concepts, yet definitions in a traditional music dictionary can overwhelm and actually confuse the beginning musician. The concise and easy to follow format gives you everything you need to know and is the perfect alternative to the traditional music dictionary.

To use this dictionary, simply look for the term or symbol you need the definition of. No need to search through irrelevant terms to find what you need. Thick dictionaries mean more time searching and less time finding. The ‘Complete Idiot’s Guide Music Dictionary’ makes music easier, not harder!