J A M B U Z Z !!!!

Watching TV at night without disturbing others is probably the prime application for wireless headphones. Not being tied to a headphone cord is one of the biggest reasons for the popularity of wireless headphones. Yet in the past these headphones never really compared with traditional corded headphones in terms of sound quality and reliability. Mostly the transmission technology would degrade the sound and be susceptible to interference. Are new advances in wireless transmission technology able to cope with the drawbacks of the previous generation of wireless headphones? We will take a look at some of the most recent models of digital wireless headphones to see how they stack up compared to traditional corded models.

In this review, we will take a look at the Sennheiser RS180 and the Amphony Model 2500. Both of these models utilize digital audio transmission. Simply put, the wireless signal that is broadcast by the transmitter will undergo a conversion process. Then the resulting information is broadcast to the digital wireless headphones and converted back to audio. Using this new wireless technology, none of these models exhibited the noise that we are used to from previous generation wireless headphones. Both models claim to transmit CD quality audio.

Looking at the headphones, we immediately noticed that the Sennheiser headphones are designed as open headphones which means that sound from the transducers can easily penetrate to the outside while the Amphony headphones are closed. Choosing between an open and closed design is a matter of preference and there is no way to state that any particular design is better than the other. A closed model will tend to reduce the sound level heard by others which is useful when listening at loud volume. At the same time a closed design will tend to attenuate exterior noise more. Both models are equipped with soft velours ear cushions and fit snugly.

The RS180 transmitter acts as a cradle for the headphones while the headphones are not in use. It offers one analog audio input, yet no digital audio inputs. The Model 2500 transmitter offers three audio inputs: one analog input, one coaxial digital input and one optical digital input. This is particular important since most modern plasma TVs no longer have analog audio outs. The transmitter has an auto-switch mechanism which will select the correct audio input depending on which input has a valid signal.

Judging the sound quality of both models, the sound of the RS180 is on the light side with good mid range but a little low on bass. As such we feel the RS180 is suited for listening to vocals and light music. The bass response of the Model 2500 is more pronounced than the RS180 but still well balanced and not overly aggressive in any way. The wireless transmission itself no longer suffers from the drawbacks of previous generation models and the sound quality of both models rivals the quality of corded headphones. One limitation though is since wireless models are battery powered, they will never be able to achieve the same loudness as corded headphones hooked up to a good headphone amp. Having said that, both models achieve plenty of volume though, the Model 2500 more so than the RS180.

The RS180 transmits it’s signal at 2.4 GHz. Up to four headphones can operate simultaneously per transmitter. The Model 2500 transmits at 5.8 GHz and supports an unlimited number of headphones. The operating range of the RS180 is specified by Sennheiser at 300 ft. During our indoor testing we were able to get a clean signal up to around 100 ft with both models which should be sufficient for most users. The Model 2500 transmitter comes with an extension port though that allows connection of secondary transmitters for cases where you really need to have reception all over the house.

The RS180 offers a battery life of 15 hours. The Model 2500 will work around 30 hours per charge. Pricing is around $300 for the RS180 wireless headphones and $200 for the Model 2500.

Popularity: 5% [?]

If you are searching for making beats for rap, techno, hip hop or virtually any other genre of music, then you will need to get some beat maker software to be of assistance!

Beat maker software is made to do what I producer used to do for you, to cause you to the best beats for your style of music!

But unlike a producer, these programs are designed to deliver you these amazing beats quickly, efficiently and cheaply, whilst you remain in complete creative control of the beats you are creating!

If you are searching for making beats cheaply and easily, then beat maker software is definitely for you! To be able to compose beats on your desktop is much faster, cheaper and more convenient than having a studio full of equipment.

Having the beat maker software allows you as the artist to create more beats for less money, and that means you can earn more income for yourself with a fast turnover of great beats!

There are a few important things you should look out for when you’re deciding which beat maker software is most effective for you. In case you are trying to decide on which beat maker software you want, then you may be in the beginning stages and learning making beats online.

If this describes the case you must ensure you choose a good program that will teach you how to compose good beats, and give you all the hints and tutorials you have to develop a really strong skill base.

There are plenty of different beat maker software available online and they range quite significantly in prices. The thing to remember however is that a lot of the software, regardless of how inexpensive they are, most of them have the same functions.

You must ensure that the software gives you access and good instructions to be able to discover ways to develop good baselines, audio loops and midi drum loops. Necessities such as three main factors in creating a good beat.

The software needs an easy to use interface so that you can don’t need to spend too much time flicking between different options, you’ll need to be able to use the program quickly to help you take your time and energy creating great beats.

You should also be aware to see if the beat maker software has a good support line, you’ll need to be able to contact someone if you come into any issues with the program or if you can’t learn how to do something that you want to do.

I’d suggest you look into using the DUBturbo software, which you’ll want to buy for only $29.95 USD. It is rather affordable and a great user friendly program that gives you access to all you need.

It is great tutorials permit you to learn quickly all the tricks in order to create great beats with little stress or effort. You can communicate directly with the creator and support staff and they will reply within 24 hours via email and answer any queries which you might have.

 Knowing you have on hand help with your beat maker software takes the pressure off you and tells you that you have someone there to support you anytime you need it.

You can test, view and download the software at www.music-beat-maker.com.

Popularity: 4% [?]

It is not uncommon for guitar players of all abilities to have old guitar masters that they look up to and try to emulate.

Given the numerous possible combinations at play when generating sound from an electric guitar, replicating an individual player exactly is virtually impossible.

What exactly contributes to the sound and tone of a player is a multitude of elements including the style of guitar being played, the type of pickups, the guitars tone and volume settings, the guage of guitar strings used, and of course the type and settings for the amplifier – and this is even before considering the actual guitarist and how they bend the strings.

Two legends of guitar at once come to mind when one considers the Blues style of guitar playing and those guitarists are John Lee Hooker and BB King.

The Epiphone BB King Lucille electric guitar  is a classic blues masterpiece designed initially by Gibson and used by BB King for many years now.

As well as being absolutely stunning to look at, it also has some very groovy features such as stereo and Varitone .

Playing nearly every night of the week while being well into his seventies in my mind makes BB King one of the ultimate entertainers of the past 50 years.

You can’t help but be inspired by his commitment to the blues tradition and to his avid fans around the globe. Follow BB’s lead and we can continue performing for audiences at your rest home!

A second fantastic guitar for blues guitarists is the Epiphone Sheraton II  as used by John Lee Hooker .

John Lee’s life is the stuff of blues legends  –  having grownup in a family of poor farmers in the South he survived through some of the harshest periods in US history  –  the Depression followed by WWII before landing in postwar Chicago where he worked at Ford during the day and played in clubs at night.

Featuring in the movie “The Blues Brothers” was a change from his musical performances and he then reached international fame with his hit album “The Healer” released in the late 1970’s.

Sadly John Lee Hooker died in 2001.

In the early part of his career John Lee predominantly played acoustic guitar but he moved to electric in the late 1940’s and began playing the Epiphone Sheraton guitar  in the mid 6o’s.

Reissue guitars, being those that are copies of ones used by past guitar legends are generally of excellent quality given they bear the name of a great guitarist.

Being the owner of such guitars gives a guitar player an opportunity to get a feel for the tools of the trade that the blues masters used.



Popularity: 3% [?]

Compared to other bands, Bring Me the Horizon hasn’t been around for very long. Nonetheless, it is obvious that like any other band, this one from Sheffield, Yorkshire aspires to launch an international music merch invasion. The may be on the right track to it.

The band’s name isn’t a complete unknown. Movie fans would recognize it as a line from Captain Jack Sparrow, “Now bring me that horizon,” from the popular movie Pirates of the Carribean: The Curse of the Black Pearl. For a metalcore group, the name seems a bit whimsical but fans don’t even seem to care.

Band History and Studio Albums Released

The story behind Bring Me the Horizon is neatly divided into three parts. The first part is from 2004 to 2007 and marks their early years. The group came to be in 2004, after members of local music groups came together. Oliver Sykes took on lead vocals. He was joined by Matt Nicholls on percussions, Lee Malia on lead guitar, Matt Kean on bass guitar and Curtis Ward on rhythm guitar. When Ward decided to leave the group, Jona Weinhofen filled in and also handled vocals, programming and keyboards.

During this period, their debut album Count Your Blessings was released in October 2006 and August 2007 in the United Kingdom and United States, respectively. Bring Me the Horizon also toured with I Killed the Prom Queen, Lostprophets, The Haunted, The Blackout, and Killswitch Engage in addition to playing at the 2007 Download Festival.

The second period of the band’s history from 2008 to 2009 saw some major changes to the group’s lineup. In 2009, Curtis Ward went his own way and Jona Weinhofen jumped onboard two months after. This was supposed to be a temporary arrangement for a couple of months but Weinhofen was eventually recognized as an official band member in mid 2009.

Around this period, the group came up with the second Bring Me the Horizon album. The release of Suicide Season met with better reception than the first release. This was mainly because the second album took on a more metalcore approach than the first one. It went on to take the 28th slot in the Australian ARIA Albums chart.

In November 2009, the remixed version of the album, Suicide Season: Cut Up!, was released. It featured many musicians and producers like Ben Weinman, Sonny Moore and Shawn Crahan, thus, giving the remix version diverse sounds from hip hop to electro.

The group’s third period spans 2009 to the present and, hopefully, the release of the third Being Me the Horizon album. It is slated for release in the summer of 2010, an event that many fans are eagerly awaiting for.

Band Awards

The group has been recognized on several occasions for their music. The most notable recognitions for Bring Me the Horzion include the 2006 Kerrang! Award for Best British Newcomer, Rock Sound Best British Band and Best Album. Barely two years later though, music listeners seemed to have turned against the group voting it the Worst Band of 2008 in the Kerrang! Reader’s poll. Suicide Season was subsequently named the Worst Album.

The band members will plow on because their brand of music is still the thing that matters the most. That’s why we want to bring them on the stage and immortalize them on band posters again and again.

Popularity: 4% [?]

Learning the piano is difficult, so to help you learn as quickly and easily as possible then you need to make sure you have a good tutor. Just like with any profession, then there are vastly different skill levels between people, and they will each have distinctly different personalities and teaching styles. You need to consider these things when you are choosing which tutor you want to study with.

Don’t be afraid to book an introductory lesson with a few different tutors, then compare each one based on that lesson to choose the one you want to continue with. If you only go with one tutor based on a recommendation from someone or an advert etc then you can’t compare them to anyone else and you don’t know if another teaching style would help you learn better, so make sure you shop around a bit.

Below we discuss 3 things you should be looking for in a good piano tutor:

Patience: This may seem like a trait that most people would ignore as long as the tutor is experienced and can teach you well, but I think it is important to the learning process. You will find that an impatient tutor is quite tough to work with, they will always be pushing you to make progress (which can be a good thing) and they will get frustrated when you cannot proceed at their pace or you make mistakes. This means you will probably start to be afraid of making mistakes as you don’t want your tutor scolding you, so you will dread your weekly lessons and stop going, unless someone like a parent is forcing you to go, in which case you will hate going and won’t absorb the lessons anywhere near as well.

Connection: Again this is something that people will sacrifice if they find a tutor with lots of experience, but it is really important. We work a lot harder for people we like and have a connection with, and we listen more to them and want to do well by them. So if you can find a tutor who you get on well with then you will push yourself harder to make them happy, and you will do it willingly instead of doing it out of fear like you would with an impatient tutor. It also means your lessons will be enjoyable so you will look forward to going to them and will stick with them for a lot longer.

Experience: This is something which people look for first and seem to think is the only important thing for a tutor to have, but I think it is only as important as the two other items above, because if you don’t like your lessons and give up on them then it doesn’t matter how much experience the tutor has. If they do have a lot of experience that means they can help you to develop quicker because they will know the answers to any problems you experience, and they will have a wide range of skills they can teach you as you get better and better.

If you would prefer to learn from a course rather than getting lessons then check out this Learn and Master Piano review.

Popularity: 3% [?]