Jasbir Kumar, Author at Metro Sound & Music

Posted on December 22, 2020February 5, 2021 by Jasbir Kumar — Leave a comment

What Are The Different Types of Guitar Pedals?

The world of guitar effects pedals is vast and daunting for beginners. So, where do you start? Let’s go over the different types of guitar effects pedals and give our recommendations for some great pedals to start your collection off.

Types of Guitar Effects Pedals

Guitar effects pedals allow guitarists to change the audio signal of their guitar through circuitry. This gives musicians access to different sounds and textures that are easily controllable via the pedal. For many players, buying pedals to explore new guitar effects is addicting! Let’s go through an overview of the most common types of guitar effects pedals on the market and make some recommendations for each type.

1. Boosts and Compressors

Boosts increase the output level of your guitar without distorting the audio. Compressors ensure each note you play is on the same level, meaning no matter how hard or soft you play a string, the volume will sound the same. Both of these effects are great for tackling solos.

Recommended boosts: TC Electronic Spark Mini, Electro-Harmonix LPB-1

Recommended compressors: Keely Compressor Plus, TC Electronic HyperGravity

2. Delay and Reverb

Delays and reverbs add an echoing effect to your signal. Delays repeat your original signal once or multiple times depending on your settings, transforming your solos. There are digital delay pedals available, as well as analog delay pedals. Digital delay pedals offer longer delay and an exact copy of your original sound, while analogs add an element of slight unpredictability. Reverbs make your sound richer and fuller, as though you are playing in a cave. However, many amps come with reverb pre-installed, so you may not need to buy another.

Recommended reverbs: Electro-Harmonix Holy Grail Nano, Electro-Harmonix Oceans 12

3. Distortion, Fuzz, and Overdrive

If you want to get down and dirty with your sound, consider the family of distortion, fuzz, and overdrive effects. Distortion pedals give your sound power and aggression, bringing chords, solos, and riffs to the forefront. Fuzz models add edge and a raspy sound to your playing, which can be bass-heavy depending on the pedal. Overdrive pedals give your guitar a heavier, thicker sound that pushes your guitar signal.

Recommended distortions: Pro Co Sound RAT2, TC Electronic Dark Matter

Recommended overdrives: Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer, Electro-Harmonix Crayon

4. Harmonizer and Octave

Harmonizer and octave pedals allow you to play frequencies above and below your guitar. For instance, this can let you transform your guitar into a bass or your bass into a guitar.

Recommended harmonizers: Electro-Harmonix Pitch Fork, DigiTech Whammy V

Recommended octave: Electro-Harmonix Micro POG

5. Loopers

Loopers are not effects on their own but allow you to record your notes and then play them back – essentially allowing you to have a jam session with yourself. Loopers are great when you want to layer guitars on top of each other to create the illusion of more than one guitarist.

Recommended loopers: TC Electronic Ditto 4X, Boss RC-300 Loop Station

6. Modulation

The modulation family of effects makes your chords more dynamic. For instance, chorus pedals add warmth and act as though multiple guitars are playing at once. Phasers have a characteristic sweeping sound that has been used in countless classic songs, such as “Breathe” in Pink Floyd’s “Dark Side of the Moon.” Flangers sound more dramatic than the other effects, creating sound effects that have been compared to airplanes. Tremolo alters the volume signal so that it drops and picks back up again at a controllable rate. Vibrato pedals alter the pitch of the notes being played.

Recommended all-in-one modulation: Keeley Super Mod Workstation

Recommended chorus: TC Electronic Corona Chorus, Electro-Harmonix Neo Clone

Recommended phaser: TC Electronic Helix

Recommended flangers: TC Electronic Vortex, Electro-Harmonix Stereo Electric Mistress

Recommended vibratos: BOSS VB-2W Vibrato, TC Electronic Shaker

7. Multi-FX

If you want to try out a wide range of effects but don’t want to buy multiple pedals, there are pedals with multiple effects built into them. However, one thing to note is that they tend to lack the versatility of single effects units.

Recommended multi-FX: Vox SL2G StompLab2, Boss ME-80

8. Wah

The wah pedal is nearly synonymous with the electric guitar and is heard on classics such as Jimi Hendrix’s “Voodoo Child” and Metallica’s “Enter Sandman”. As its name implies, the wah-wah pedal creates a distinctive sound mimicking the human voice saying the onomatopoeic name.

Recommended wah: Dunlop Cry Baby 535Q Multi-Wah

Welcome to the wonderful, addictive world of guitar effects pedals. While we have only scratched the surface of pedals, we hope that this article will give you some guidance into your guitar effects journey. We recommend that, if you’re not able to sample your effects pedal in person, you at least look up a video of someone playing with the pedal to get a better understanding of the effect you’ll achieve.

Find the perfect guitar effects pedal for your sound in our large collection.

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Posted on December 11, 2020December 17, 2020 by Jasbir Kumar — Leave a comment

6 DJ Effects to Transform Your Venues

Adding lighting and effects to your stage gives your crowd an immersive and fun experience. Give your audience a night to remember with our choice of DJ lightings and effects.

1. American DJ Vertigo HEX LED Rotating Moonflower Lighting Effect

The Vertigo HEX LED from American DJ creates a unique rotating moonflower effect with 20 multi-colour beams. The unit is easy to set up and use and is automatically designed to move to music’s sound. The Vertigo HEX LED is perfect for clubs, bands, or on-the-go entertainers who want an effect their audiences will love.

2. American DJ Quad Phase HP LED Lighting Effect

The Quad Phase HP LED from American DJ shoots dazzling beams of light in up to fifteen colours. There are four channels to customize your audience’s experience, including colour, rotation, strobe, and stutter. This effect is great for performers looking to fill clubs, wedding receptions, parties, or dance stages with streaks of colour.

3. American DJ UV Cannon 400W Black Light

Bathe your venues in fun black light with the American DJ UV Cannon. Designed for large venues, this unit will transform your venue’s environment and provide the mood you’re after. Designed for ease of operation, the UV Cannon is a must-have for performers.

4. American DJ BubbleTron

Create an exciting bubble display with the American DJ BubbleTron. With easy setup and use, hundreds of bubbles can be produced each minute, creating a fun experience for your audiences. Pair with lighting effects to bring the atmosphere to the next level.

5. American DJ Sweeper Beam Quad LED Lighting Effect

The American DJ Sweeper Beam Quad LED lightning effect produces sweeping beams that bathe your audience in colours. Hook this unit up to easily create an immersive experience for your audience.

6. American DJ Fog Fury 3000 1500W Fog Machine

Provide a dynamic experience for your crowd with the American DJ Fog Fury 3000. This unit generates high outputs of fog and doesn’t require any warm-up time before use. Your production may be foggy, but the choice is clear – add the Fog Fury 3000 to your effects arsenal today!

Take your venues to the next level with any of these DJ effects. Want to do some more browsing? Check out our full collection of DJ lighting and effects.

Posted on December 7, 2020April 15, 2021 by Jasbir Kumar — Leave a comment

6 Best Power Amplifiers for Live Sound

Musicians need to ensure that they have the right power amplifier for their performance to give their audience clear sound quality. Need help choosing the right one for you? Well, then check out our list of 6 of the best power amplifiers for live sound.

1. Behringer EP2000

The Behringer EP2000 is a great all-around choice for musicians, delivering superb sound quality, durability, and reliability. It can provide 2 x 1,000 watts at 2 ohms, 750 watts at 4 ohms, and 2,000 watts at 4 ohms in bridge mode. It has precise power, signal, and clip LEDs to allow you to monitor performance, and its XLR and 1/4″ TRS jacks allow for compatibility with any source. Also, the selectable low-frequency filters let you remove distracting infra-sound frequencies, and the independent DC and thermal overload protection on each channel prevent your amp from overloading. For musicians looking for a high-quality, reliable amp, the Behringer EP2000 is an excellent choice.

2. Behringer NX4-6000

Need something ultra-powerful? Then, consider the Behringer NX4-600. It is a 6,000-watt (4 x 1,600 watts at 2 ohms; 2 x 3,000 watts at 4 ohms) 4-channel Class-D power amplifier. All of this punch is packed into a lightweight (13.4 lb / 6.1 kg) and rack-mountable powerhouse. Thanks to its reliable overload protection and SmartSense Loudspeaker impedance compensation, you can run this amp at full-power for hours-on-end. For musicians wanting to go all-out, consider the Behringer NX4-6000.

3. QSC GX5

The QSC GX5 is ideal for musicians who require maximum performance and portability. The 2-channel amp delivers the right amount of power to the most popular speakers entertainers use. Also, adding a subwoofer is simple with the crossover switch to allow for louder playing. Its built-in GuardRail protection prevents overloading while delivering peak power, avoiding unprofessional distortion levels and shutdowns. If you want a power amp with a dramatic appearance, easy set-up and adjustments, and excellent quality, the QSC GX5 is an outstanding option.

4. Behringer KM750

The Behringer KM750 is a professional two-channel 750-watt (750 watts in bridge mode; 2 x 400 watts at 4 ohms; 2 x 200 watts at 8 ohms) stereo power amplifier. Behringer’s Accelerated Transient Response technology perfectly synchronizes your speakers with the power amp’s signal. This feature provides your sound with the ultimate punch and clarity every time. Also, the LEDs and controls make operation simple. Need a reliable, robust, and responsive unit? Consider the Behringer KM750.

5. QSC RMX 1450a

A compact amp delivering clean sound quality, the QSC RMX 1450a is excellent for touring acts. With two channels delivering 400 watts per channel at 4 ohms, the unit incorporates renowned QSC designs. The features include a dual mono, high-current power supply, clip limiters, selectable low-frequency filters, and signal and clip LED indicators for performance monitoring. For those looking for QSC quality in a compact package, check out the RMX 1450a.

6. QSC GX7

The GX7 provides power, portability, and professional sound quality. The GX7 can operate in stereo or mono modes and has a 2RU chassis for installation in any standard equipment rack. The GuardRail protection lets you go all-out without any overloads. And since the crossover switch allows you to add subwoofers, the GX7 is a superb choice for any musician looking for reliability and great sound.

Each of these amps is an excellent choice for today’s musicians. Be sure to look over each of these amps to find the right one for your demands. Need to do more research? Check out our full selection of power amplifiers for live sound.

Posted on December 3, 2020December 4, 2020 by Jasbir Kumar — Leave a comment

The Best YouTube Channels for Guitar Lessons

There are many resources available on YouTube to help you learn to play guitar. Everything from tuning, finger position, theory, and song tutorials are available. With so many options available, how do you know which are the best? You’re in luck: we’ve compiled a list of some of the best channels for guitar lessons.

JamPlay

Mark Lettieri is the man behind JamPlay and has collaborated with artists such as Snoop Dogg and David Crosby. Together with his team, Lettieri provides a wide array of guitar lessons on his YouTube channel and offers detailed courses on his website. JamPlay provides various tutorials to guitarists of any skill level, meaning any musician can find something to learn on their channel. However, the videos aren’t full explanations of the concepts but rather previews of what the complete courses offer. Despite this, you will learn something from JamPlay’s channel.

GuitarJamz

For the absolute beginner, there is no channel better suited than GuitarJamz. Mark Schwartz provides comprehensive lessons that explain and demonstrate things slowly. He also answers common questions guitarists may have throughout his videos. Marty also has a great sense of humour, so his lessons are delightful. However, his patience level is great for beginners looking to learn the ropes, but the pace may be frustrating for more advanced guitarists. If you want to learn how to play a particular song or mimic an artist’s style, Marty provides videos on these topics as well.

GuitarLessons & The Guitar Fam

Nate Savage is the man behind both GuitarLessons and The Guitar Fam. He has been creating online guitar lessons for more than ten years, so he is an experienced tutor who knows how to create valuable lessons. GuitarLessons was his original channel; however, he recently moved to The Guitar Fam with his partner, Chelsea Amber. GuitarLessons still has its videos listed, however, so you can take a look through its extensive library. His channel is straightforward to navigate and covers mostly beginner topics, including playing chords and holding the guitar. So, if you want videos that cover beginner essentials, check out these channels.

Justin Guitar

Justin Sandercoe covers everything you want in a guitar channel, including acoustic guitar lessons, electric guitar lessons, and ukulele lessons. He also provides plenty of videos to improve your music theory and general guitar knowledge, meaning that guitarists of all levels can get something out of his channel. Justin also has an amiable, inviting attitude that reflects in his videos. No matter your skill level, Justin Guitar will surely teach you something.

Rick Graham

For those looking to play riffs, look no further than Rick Graham. Although he plays extremely difficult rifts, he breaks them down into digestible chunks. He also goes over the techniques he uses to make the riffs easier, meaning that his viewers can perform their stunning versions with practice and guidance. Guitarists of all levels can learn something from Rick Graham.

Each of these channels can teach you new guitar knowledge. Take a look at their channels and learn something new!

Related readings:

Posted on December 2, 2020December 4, 2020 by Jasbir Kumar — Leave a comment

8 Surprising Benefits of Playing Instruments

There are many reasons why you should pick up an instrument today. Not only is learning an instrument fun and rewarding, but there are several surprising benefits of playing instruments. Here are eight of them.

1. Reduces Stress

It’s only natural that doing something you love can help lower your stress levels. When you’re practicing your instrument, you forget about the worries of everyday life. If you need to let go of stressful emotions, there is no better reliever than unwinding with your favourite instrument.

2. Allows for Socializing

If you play an instrument, you will likely have opportunities to connect with fellow musicians and make friends. Joining a music group puts you in a situation with people that at least have one thing in common with you – you both play instruments! There are many chances to socialize with other people when playing music, for instance, in online music forums, bands, classes, and groups.

3. Develops Time Management Skills

Putting time aside to practice your instrument takes time management and discipline skills. Not only does learning music take practice, but it also takes routine and consistency! So, if you’re serious about learning your instrumental device, you must set and keep a practice routine in your busy schedule. Those who do this develop excellent time management skills.

4. Improves Listening

You have to listen to many factors when performing music – for instance, notes, timing, and tuning. Focusing on these small details improves your listening skills, which translates into everyday life as well.

5. Allows for Creative Expression

Playing an instrument turns you into an artist, allowing for self-expression to flow through your device. Performing music allows you to express your emotions and feelings and inspire other musicians in their journey. There is no limit to your creative expression with your instrument.

6. Increases Your Confidence

You may not be an outgoing person, but playing an instrument can help boost your confidence. As a beginner, you must work through a mountain of mistakes, errors, and uncharted territory to master your instrument. However, as you overcome each obstacle, your confidence will grow. Each song learned and note mastered only further instills a sense of achievement.

7. Better Coordination

Playing an instrument requires a lot of hand-eye coordination while remaining conscious of playing correctly. This is a skill you develop over time, but your motor skills will be refined as you practice and play.

8. Playing is Fun

Okay, this one is not surprising, but it needs to be said. Above all of the previously mentioned benefits, the most important takeaway is that music is fun! Most people pick up an instrument for this reason – because they think playing is enjoyable! So, creating music is a fun, active, beneficial hobby to pick up that is much more engaging than watching TV or scrolling through social media.

Ready to Play?

Check out our large selection of instruments to see which one is right for you.

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Posted on December 1, 2020December 4, 2020 by Jasbir Kumar — Leave a comment

Open-Back vs. Closed-Back Headphones

Over-the-ear headphones come in two main types: open-back and closed-back headphones. So, before you drop your paycheque on a nice pair of headphones, you should know the difference between the two kinds. The distinction comes from how the housings are constructed.

Open-back headphones have gaps in the outer ear covering that let air and sound pass through freely. On the contrary, closed-back headphones have a solid outer shell without holes of any kind. While their names effectively describe their design, they don’t exactly tell each’s usage and benefits. So, let’s take a look at the differences between these two varieties.

Closed-Back Headphones

Closed-back headphones block sound and air from escaping, which provides a degree of noise cancellation. Also, unless you have the volume cranked up, it’s harder for other people to hear what you’re listening to. So, closed-back headphones are appropriate for public listening and professional studios where paying attention to the music’s technical aspects is essential. Furthermore, if you’re using a microphone, you want to use closed-back headphones to avoid creating feedback that the microphone picks up. Despite the benefit of enhanced sound isolation, there are some drawbacks to consider. One downside is that closed-back headphones can be more clunky than open-back headphones, so if the style is essential to you, it may be something to consider. Another con is that there can be pressure built-up in the cups that could cause discomfort, especially if you wear them for long periods.

Open-Back Headphones

Since open-back headphones have perforations, air and sound can pass through freely. This means that there is no pressure build-up and discomfort from wearing them. Open-back headphones are ideal for at-home and private listening for long periods. They provide a natural listening experience, bringing the songs into your environment.

You don’t want to wear these headphones in public settings unless you wish for looks from strangers. Since the housings have perforations, anyone within proximity can hear what you’re listening to. And strangers probably don’t share the same love for the bands that you do, so out of consideration for others, avoid wearing open-back headphones in public. However, if you’re an at-home or private listener and want to feel like the band is playing in your environment, consider buying open-back headphones.

Which Should I Buy?

Now that you know the difference between the two varieties, it’s time to decide which is right for you. Although you can base your decision on preference, the most significant factor should be where you plan on listening. Closed-back headphones are the way to go for public listening. There’s just no debate that listening to open-back headphones in public is a disturbance to other people. After that consideration, you should base your decision on the type of listening experience you want. Do you want to feel as though you’re in a studio booth with the band, isolated away from the rest of the world? If so, choose closed-back headphones. Otherwise, if you want to feel as though the band is playing in your room, open-back headphones are what you should consider.

Made your decision? Great, now for the exciting part – shopping for your new pair! Please look at our large selection of headphones and find one for every style and listening preference.

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Types of Guitar Effects Pedals

1. Boosts and Compressors

2. Delay and Reverb

3. Distortion, Fuzz, and Overdrive

4. Harmonizer and Octave

5. Loopers

6. Modulation

7. Multi-FX

8. Wah

1. American DJ Vertigo HEX LED Rotating Moonflower Lighting Effect

2. American DJ Quad Phase HP LED Lighting Effect

3. American DJ UV Cannon 400W Black Light

4. American DJ BubbleTron

5. American DJ Sweeper Beam Quad LED Lighting Effect

6. American DJ Fog Fury 3000 1500W Fog Machine

1. Behringer EP2000

2. Behringer NX4-6000

3. QSC GX5

4. Behringer KM750

5. QSC RMX 1450a

6. QSC GX7

<img decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-26177" src="http://metrosoundmusic.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/QSC-GX7-P.A.-Amplifier-e1600298925223.png" alt="QSC GX7 P.A. Amplifier" width="400" height="111">

JamPlay

GuitarJamz

GuitarLessons & The Guitar Fam

Justin Guitar

Rick Graham

1. Reduces Stress

2. Allows for Socializing

3. Develops Time Management Skills

4. Improves Listening

5. Allows for Creative Expression

6. Increases Your Confidence

7. Better Coordination

8. Playing is Fun

Ready to Play?

Closed-Back Headphones

Open-Back Headphones

Which Should I Buy?