Line 6 Multi Effect Pedals: Multi FX From The Original Amp Modelers

It all started at Line 6 with the bean-shaped "pod", but they have seen explosive growth into virtually every category of guitar sounds including effects, loopers, amps, guitars and other electronic interfaces which make our world as a guitarists a lot more fun!
One of their greatest products (I think) is their versatile and advanced range of multi effect pedals. Still using the "POD" name, the new line of effects pedals includes the Floor Pod Plus, and the Pod HD300, HD400 and HD500. These guitar multi effects are designed primarily for stage use, but also work great in a home setting with their computer and mp3/CD connections which will allow you to tweak and play in the apartment without getting a visit from the cops.
With a simple interface, and easily tweakable settings, the Floor Pod Plus is basically a re-designed floor version of the Pod 2.0. The Floor Pod Plus has 32 amp models, 16 modulation effects, 16 classic cab models, 6 types of delay and 2 types of reverb. This is more than enough for most cover band guitarists, and certainly enough for a bedroom player looking for some great new sounds.

The Pod HD effects are the latest and greatest of the Line 6 Multi Effects. The three HD models are obviously siblings by their look and design, and as you go through the chain from the HD300 to the 500, the features start to ramp up. They all contain 16 HD amp models. If they used the name HD to make you think of HD TV quality, they were pretty close, as the sounds of these models are quite amazing. As the pioneers of amp modelling, Line 6 basically took 16 of the greatest amps from manufacturers like Fender, Marshall, Dr.Z, Mesa Boogie, etc.. and digitally re-created them.
The remaining differences include the number of effects (HD300 has 80, while the 400 and 500 have 100 effects), number of preset locations available and number of simultaneous effects available. In addition the HD500 comes equipped with a 48 second looper, while the HD300 and 400 have a 24 second looper. This looping feature, to me, is an essential element if you are considering buying a multi effect pedal as most units available now have them.

If you are searching for guitar effects to create your favourite tones, or invent your own, consider the multi effect pedal. For more information on Line 6 multi effects and others by Digitech, Boss, Vox and Zoom, visi

Guitar Accessories: Effect Pedals and Devices

Electric guitarists seldom just plug into an amp and start playing. Well, they may start out that way, but if you listen to the radio - or any recorded guitar music, for that matter - you quickly notice a lot more going on than just a "straight" guitar sound. At the very least, you hear some ambient treatment in the form of artificially created echo, or reverb, as the effect is known in guitar lingo. You may hear some (intended) distortion, especially in rock and blues music, and you may hear additional effects, such as wah-wah, vibrato, and other electronic manipulations. Welcome to the wonderful, wacky world of guitar accessories known as effects.
Effects are devices that plug in between your guitar and amplifier and enable you to alter your signal in all sorts of creative and unusual ways. Scores and scores of these guitar accessories are available from all different manufacturers and in all price ranges. You can buy them as individual units or as an all-in-one box, called a multieffects processor. But whether you go for the package deal or à la carte, effects can spice up the basic sound of your guitar in all sorts of exciting ways.
Most effects come in the form of foot-accessed pedals, also known as stomp boxes because they reside on the floor and you activate them by stepping on a footswitch. This setup enables you to selectively turn effects on and off while playing the guitar without interruption.

If you plug, say, a reverb device inline (that is, between the amp and guitar), you can make your guitar sound as if you're playing in a cathedral. A distortion unit can make your tones sound like those of Jimi Hendrix, even at low volumes and with your amp set to a clean sound. Dozens of different types of effects are available - more than you could possibly own, not to mention use all at once. The price of these individual units varies, too, with distortion boxes as cheap as $45 and digital reverbs and delays as much as $175 (or more).
Individual pedals are a great convenience because they enable you to buy effects one at a time and use them in a modular fashion - you can choose to include them in your chain or not, and you can rearrange their order to create different effects. But many guitarists opt for a multi-effects unit, which puts all the individual effects into one housing. Multi-effects units are programmable, meaning that you can store different settings in the effects and recall them with the tap of a foot. Multi-effects guitar accessories, like individual pedals, also offer a modular approach to effect ordering, although they accomplish this electronically rather than physically.

Understanding Double Bass Pedals - A Double Bass Pedal Guide For You

Choosing double bass pedals? If you're a little lost, then it's best that you check out a double bass pedal guide first before you do. Besides giving the lowdown on different double bass pedals, this double bass pedal guide also offers basic information about bass pedals in general, which is an ideal place for beginners to start.
Getting started
Double bass pedals are made up of two connected pedals as well as two beaters hooked to a bass drum, designed for making it easier to beat the drum and also for coming up with different playing styles. Depending on what you need, you can get pedals in direct drive, belt drive, and dual cam types.
Types of double bass pedals
Direct drive double bass pedals: With high response rates and seamless pedaling, direct drive double bass pedals feature separate adjustments for spring tension, beater angle, and board height, as well as stabilizer plates made with Velcro strips and quick-release systems. The beaters are also available with nonslip memory locks and two kinds of surfaces.

Belt drive pedals: Consisting of four interchangeable cams, belt drive double bass pedals come with adjustable toe clamps and belt drives and increased traction.
Dual cam pedals: With separate adjustments for beater angle, board height, and spring tension as well, dual cam pedals offer powerful, solid pedaling. Along with beaters with nonslip memory locks and two available surfaces, they also have stabilizer plates with a quick-release system and velcro straps.
Buying tips
What's a double bass pedal guide without a few buying tips? Here are some for you to consider:
Belts - when it comes to belts, go for those made from plastic and then embedded with steel cables for durability and stretch resistance.
Adjustable drives - adjustable drives are ideal because they allow changes in footboard angles, which makes playing more comfortable for you.
Traction - rubber discs offer the best traction and control, preventing your feet from slipping.

Important information

Don't Make A DIY Pedal Board Case

Why making your own case is a bad idea
Would you make your own case for your guitar?... Would you make your own case for your amp? Probably not and why not? Because they are expensive, easily damaged and they are valuable to you, that's why you invest in a case that will keep it in good condition. So why would you make a DIY pedal board case instead of investing in a quality soft case?
I have spent the time reading about various guitarists/bassist who are trying to or looking for advice on making their own DIY pedal board case. As you probably know, musical equipment is expensive and you don't want to repair it too often, this includes effects pedals, which on average range from $100 - $400 per pedal. If you have half a dozen pedals in your set up, that's worth a bit of money.
It amazes me that people spend hundreds of dollars buying effects pedals for their guitar/bass and then they do not want to buy a proper case that will protect it, instead they try to make their own DIY pedal board case for it and if this is not made correctly, it can end up damaging their pedals. If you just got a brand new Gibson you wouldn't try making a case for it would you?you would just invest in a case that would keep it in mint condition!
Alternative Cases
From what I have read, one of the main reasons musicians try to make their own DIY pedal board case is because its cheaper. However, if you take into consideration the price of buying all the materials and spending the time trying to make a DIY pedal board case, a quality soft case/gig bag would not be much more expensive and it would give far better protection and security for your pedals. Unlike a DIY pedal board case a soft case is much more durable, easy to transport around and you wont be worrying about fixing your case all the time, as it will probably break often

If you are still considering making a DIY pedal Board Case, I would suggest that you spend some time researching the internet for other options before you decide. Although you may have the ability to construct your own case from scratch, it will probably not be anywhere near as good as a case made by a professional company like Gater, Pedaltrain, Odyssey etc.
What I use
I use a 24" Gater soft case for my boss GT8 and I have used it for the past year. I gig most weekends and it's still does a great job, no complaints! I would strongly recommend investing in a quality soft case to protect your pedals because lets face it they don't come cheap and its well worth protecting them in the long run, to prolong their life and keep them in mint condition so you can re-sell them.

Beware of Copyright Infringement When Recording Sound Effects

Copyright is a set of rights assigned to the owner/creator of a piece of original work. Those rights are assigned automatically upon creation of the work. For the sound recordist and designer, these rights are essential in order to give control over any sound recordings created and how they can be used. It's fair to say they are the lifeblood of our work.
Copyright must be respected and considered at all times when recording sound effects. It's easy to overlook possible copyright infringements when out in the busy world recording. We are bombarded with recorded sound on a daily basis and it has become an ingrained part of our lives. From advertising and television and radio programmes to toys and ringtones, copyright material is everywhere and it's very easy to accidentally capture sound under copyright in a sound effect recording. If you do, it renders that sound effect unusable with the possibility of serious legal action being taken against you.
So just how easy is it to accidentally capture copyright material in a sound effect recording? The short answer is very easy. On many occasions I have been in the studio editing down recordings I have just made and realised I captured a ringtone of a passing person's phone or music being played in a passing car. It may sound insignificant, but those ringtones or that music is under copyright and it's illegal to record or distribute copyrighted work without permission from the copyright owner.
I have compiled a list of just some of the copyrighted sounds we hear regularly and may accidentally capture when recording sound effects:

1. Music - music is everywhere: on the radio; television; stereo system; background music in shops; restaurants and bars; computer games; toys; gadgets; sporting events and more.
2. Ringtones - most modern cell phones have a range of recorded ringtones available and many are under copyright. Even that old sound of a 'Bell' telephone is probably a recording and under copyright.
3. Toys and Games - electronic toys and games often use short audio recordings. From an action figure's spoken catchphrase to the buzzer on a board game, they are probably under copyright.
4. Computer Games - It's almost a certainty that the audio in any computer game is under copyright, including amusement arcade games.
5. Software - All those interface beeps, button clicks, musical signatures etc. are all likely to be under copyright.
6. Recorded Announcements - These can be some of the easiest copyright infringements to make. Recorded announcements can be heard in: train stations; airports; bus/coach terminals; sporting events; trains; aircraft; busses; ferries; elevators; shops and many more places.
So remember to always consider what and where you are recording. Take time to listen to the surroundings of where you are going to record to establish the risk of recording copyrighted material. It won't only be a waste of your time if you do but can land you in serious legal trouble.

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