Keyboard players and pianists now need only an iPad to play their favorite songs along to real band accompaniments.

As usual, technology is leading the way for hobby musicians who want to expand their playing experience with NoteStar: a brand new and free app that gives keyboardists the power to summon their own backing band at will.

Whilst the hobby guitarist can head off at will with their six-string in hand, the keyboard player is often more limited in their mobility, making casual jamming and band practice with others a chore. Now, with professionally recorded backing tracks and vocals synchronized to the hands-free sheet music on-screen, the band experience can instead be brought to the keyboards.

Another problem often faced by players who do manage to find transport over to practice, is the band politics and power dynamics of the jam room. From the struggle for supremacy between lead guitarists and singers, to unstoppable sax soloists and the bassist intent on pushing their own arrangement upon the ensemble, keyboardists either find themselves shunted to the margins looking for the quiet life or drafted into the role of group diplomat. Of course, if you take away the musicians, you take away the arguments, giving full control to the musician behind the keys, distraction free.

With playback options that include A-B looping, track muting, metronome toggle, adjustable tempo, and managable individual track levels and transposition control, the keyboard player can tailor the accompaniment to their needs and preferences. The app, as you’d expect, displays in both portrait and landscape orientations, and features resizable and scalable text and sheet music size for easy reading.

There are already 200 songs available to purchase through the app at £2.49 each. The catalogue features chart-topping hits and classic favorites, specially selected for keyboard players with 20 new tracks added each month.

NoteStar is available now for free on the Apple app store for all iPad owning keyboard players. Check out the demonstration video below:

Singers and choral music lovers have less than two weeks left to become a voice in Eric Whitacre’s Virtual Choir 3 – the composer’s most ambitious online collective singing project so far.

The 31 January deadline looms large for those wishing to submit their webcam sings of Whitacre’s 1995 a cappella composition, Water Night, available now at musicroom.com.

Following on from his previous two web based mega-choirs, Virtual Choir 3 promises to take the concept further than ever, pushing the envelope for online musical collaboration and the technology behind it.

From an initial 182 voices singing Lux Aurumque in Virtual Choir 1.0, to an incredible 2052 strong rendition of Sleep in its second iteration, Whitacre’s ever-expanding vision for the project, and the fantastic response from the singing public, has seen it grow and progress beyond expectation.

With Water Night, for the first time ever, the online choral phenomenon is expanding into the physical realm too. The finished performance video will be premiered both online and off using video sites and real world installations. In Eric’s own words:

“The final film will exist not only as a beautiful online video but also as a powerful audio-visual art exhibit, placed in cities around the world. Visitors to these installations will get the chance to literally walk through our Virtual Choir, a deeply immersive experience using surround sound and panoramic video, tailored for each venue.

Imagine someone standing in the middle of the Virtual Choir as we sing the line “if you open your eyes”!

The initial inspiration for the Virtual Choir came from one of Eric’s fans, Britlin Losee, who sent the composer a YouTube clip of her singing the soprano line to his choral work, Sleep. Touched by the video, Eric was moved to explore the possibilities of mass musical performance over the web, blazing a trail for online musical innovation and collaboration in choral music.

The Virtual Choir is a modern testament to the awesome power of music and people amplified through the internet; an empowered public coming together to create and share in a beautiful idea that brings people of all backgrounds together to stop, think and enjoy.

Have you taken part in any of Eric’s online Virtual Choirs? Will you be singing for the Virtual Choir 3? Have you ever taken part in your own or similar online musical collaborations? Leave your stories and experiences in the comments box below!

Discover Water Night, Lux Aurumque and Sleep, along with Eric’s other fantastic works at musicroom.com

Focusrite/Novation has landed in York.

We are excited to now be able to offer a wide range of Novation, Focusrite, KRK and Ableton products. This means any budding Rick Rubin’s should make their way to York and have a chat with us about this brilliant new range we have to offer.

So why should you want to buy a Focusrite product?

Focusrite was founded in 1985 by Rupert Neve, who has received a “Lifetime achievement Technical Grammy Award. Focusrite’s first contracts included a commission from George Martin to build extensions to three custom Neve consoles. later Neve’s company ARN designed the ES pickup system for Taylor acoustic guitars. This quality electrical engineering has kept Focusrite in the top studios for over 30 years. This English company has rapidly expanded over the last 10 years and has added the KRK, Novation and Stanton brands to their portfolio.

Focusrite/Novation really is a complete company and has something to offer everyone, from DJ’s to Live Musicians. Also as UK distributors of Ableton’s Live software you can trust them to produce flexible, intuitive and most importantly fully compatible products.      

Alex’s top 3 Focusrite/Novation Products

1. Launchpad. This little box of lights is amazing for triggering clips in Ableton. It’s so easy to use even the guitarists in the shop can be spotted jamming away to techno loops.
2. Ableton Live. This software is amazing and has given me the flexibility to be able to do things with sound I never thought possible. These guys pioneered flexible time, which allows loops to we warped and run perfectly in time at any tempo.
3. Novation Ultranova. Dare I say it, the GAIA killer? The preset sounds are amazing and give a good idea of what is possible with this machine. Also it includes a vocoder and audio interface, what more do I need to say. Buy it now!       

YAMAHA at MUSICROOM PORTSMOUTH - Exciting news from Musicroom Portsmouth.

We have just had an amazing refit within our Digital Piano and Keyboard Department creating a striking and tantalising environment for you to view a wider selection of Yamaha instruments alongside other top brands including Roland, Korg and Casio.

Great prices, knowledgeable and helpful staff together with first class before and after sales service.

Come down to Musicroom Portsmouth and see and experience the improvements.

Music Theory for Beginners for iPad is the ultimate resource for anyone trying to get to grips with music theory.

The App has been constructed and tested by accomplished musicians and theorists, and designed in a way that makes learning fun.

Split into 22 lessons that cover all the major theory topics from reading notes and rhythm to basic harmony, exclusive lessons provide you with all the information you need in order to take on the interactive quiz. The app includes several interactive controls that make learning to read and play music fun and easy!

Take on the quiz and get your achievement badge for each topic in turn. Once you’ve earned your badge for that topic, progress onto the next lesson until you’re a true theory master!

The App contains over 2,000 questions of varying difficulty to test your knowledge. Music Theory for Beginners is quite simply the most comprehensive music theory tool in the App Store.

For more fantastic music Apps, visit www.musicroom.com/iphone.

One of Manchester’s leading music schools, which has helped to shape the history and heritage of the city, has opened a new site in London.

Having invested more than £400,000 transforming a former piano factory in Camden, School of Sound Recording (SSR) has revealed its plans to provide training across a number of disciplines in the capital.

Students will be able to enrol on courses teaching them about audio and sound engineering, music, TV and film production, with the first batch of pupils starting last month and another set due to start this September.

Wendy Breakell, director of education at SSR, told the Manchester Evening News: “We have always attracted a high number of students from the south of England to study in Manchester and therefore it made sense to open a site in the capital.

“The vision for SSR London mirrors our development in Manchester in that we plan to grow by delivering courses that conform to the highest professional standards.”

Indeed, the Manchester-based branch of SSR is considered to be one of the country’s leading music education centres, with more than 300 students studying a wide range of vocational and education courses.

And students already enrolled on the course are sure to be taking advantage of the city’s rich music scene, with PRS for Music recently naming Manchester as home to the most satisfied residents in the UK when it comes to their local music scene.

First established in 1980, SSR has seen bands including The Smiths, Happy Mondays and Stone Roses use its recording and rehearsal facilities.

Furthermore, graduates have gone on to work alongside artists such as Bjork, New Order, Badly Drawn Boy, George Michael, Amy Winehouse and Girls Aloud and for various TV and film companies.

The Ukulele has been enjoying a recent resurgence in popularity, the prominence of acts such as The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain and comedians like Frank Skinner has led to rocketing sales of the four-stringed instrument. Even Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder is due to release his own solo Ukulele album!

Well now it’s your turn, with the great new Ukulele Songbook for iPhone and iPad. Musicroom brings you the perfect songbook to build up your library of songs.

This brand new App includes over 40 all-time favourites for you to get strumming with. Each song includes full lyrics & chords and features an enhanced chord library where you can view large chord diagrams and photos of each chord shape.

This beautifully presented App contains 40 classic songs, including House Of The Rising Sun, Amazing Grace, Greensleeves and more. Ukulele Songbook als comes with some great other features such as a Ukulele tuning page and a short history of this unique instrument.

For more fantastic music Apps, visit www.musicroom.com/iphone or get the latest Apps news on the new Facebook page MusicRoom Apps.

What is the biggest selling rock album of all time?

Who had a pet chimp that drank whisky?

This Day in Music is a companion to the highly successful site Thisdayinmusic.com which is also available as a best selling book.

Your daily guide to the facts, the figures, the dates, the times and the places, and most of all the stars, that made rock and pop the most vibrant art form of the 20th and 21st centuries, this app contains over 5,000 music facts as well as hundreds of exclusive images, making it a must for any music fan.

The app comes with various great fun mini-games:

- ON THIS DAY
Major music happenings 365 days of the year.

- MUSIC QUIZ
A very addictive music quiz, with hundreds of questions which will test the brainiest of music buffs! Who were The Fir Trees? How did Metallica get their name?

- BIRTHDAY #1
See what song was #1 on the charts on the day you were born.

- WHICH STARS SHARE YOUR BIRTHDAY?
See which pop stars were born on the same day as you.

- MUSIC TRIVIA
Things you didn’t know, hundreds of music trivia facts to impress your friends!
Like: Did you know in 2006, a new water bear species, ‘Echiniscus madonnae’ a microscopic, water-dwelling, animal with eight legs was named after the singer Madonna?

This Day in Music has already been Top 10 on the iTunes music charts in over 30 countries! If you love music, make sure you pick up this must-have app today.

For more fantastic music Apps, visit www.musicroom.com/iphone or get the latest Apps news on the new Facebook page MusicRoom Apps.

Freestyle is a writing, recording and sharing mobile application for songwriters, MC’s and poets on the move. Be prepared whenever and wherever inspiration strikes.

Reengineered from the ground up, Freestyle records your vocal perfectly over the beat. Now with improved sharing features.

Never be lost for words with Freestyle’s enhanced notepad containing Schirmer’s Complete Rhyming Dictionary, an industry standard including over 96,000 rhymes.

Record your rhymes over a selection of exclusive beats included in the app, or Download the hottest beats from the labels you love. You can even record over tracks on your iPod. Share your recordings with the world by embedding them on any Social Media site, or emailing them to friends.

Get your ideas down fast. Craft the perfect rhyme. Show the world your skills. Or simply record a demo to work on when you’re back at the lab.

* Top 10 in the iTunes music charts in 43 countries!

“Great app! – Love it, Love it, and I Love it!!!”

For more fantastic music Apps, visit www.musicroom.com/iphone or get the latest Apps news on the new Facebook page MusicRoom Apps.

The Beatles music was recently made available on iTunes, and now the songbooks are available for iPhone too!

Four decades after their break-up, The Beatles remain the most critically acclaimed act in the history of popular music. The Beatles had more number one albums on the UK charts, and held down the top spot longer than any other musical act in the history of popular music.

The Little Black Songbook Of The Beatles includes complete lyrics and chords to over 160 Beatles classics, and not only this; each song has its own chord library where you can view enhanced details and play audio samples of all the chords used, making it quick and easy to learn every song.

The App features timeless Beatles songs from all their classic albums, ‘A Day In The Life’ from Sgt. Peppers, ‘You Never Give Me Your Money’ from Abbey Road, ‘Good Day Sunshine’ from Revolver, ‘Get Back’ from Let It Be, ‘Dear Prudence’ from The White Album and many more from the Fab Four’s 12 original albums released from 1963 – 1970.

As well as this, the App contains 30 professionally recorded backing tracks to play along to, including ‘Drive My Car’, ‘Eight Days A Week’, ‘Help!’, ‘Nowhere Man’, ‘Paperback Writer’, ‘Yesterday’, ‘Ticket To Ride’ and ‘I Saw Her Standing There’.

Also included are a few instructional video lessons to help you learn songs like ‘And Your Bird Can Sing’ and ‘Day Tripper’, plus the app has a built in tuner so you can play along with the backing tracks and video lessons.

The Little Black Songbook Of The Beatles is a brand new fully licensed App, and is a must-have for any fan of the Fab Four.

These app is also available in two great smaller volumes: Volume 1 and Volume 2.

For more fantastic music Apps, visit www.musicroom.com/iphone or get the latest Apps news on the new Facebook page MusicRoom Apps.

A Lite version of the popular quiz app Pop Phrase is now available for free on iPhone, iPod Touch and iPod – the ultimate visual quiz for music enthusiasts, it’s a race against the clock to guess the song title from the picture on screen!

See if you can name the tune in less than 45 seconds with this new App, the ultimate visual quiz for pop music lovers.

The concept is simple – a picture flashes up on screen, and your job is to decipher it and guess the song title.

It’s a race against the clock to guess the correct song title in time, the quicker you are the more points you get! If you get stuck all is not lost – press the ‘hint’ button to hear an audio sample of the song in question to help you guess the right answer.

The lite version of the game contains a selection of easy questions for you to answer. By getting the full game, you unlock hundreds of questions split into three difficulty levels so you won’t get bored easily! You can then post your score to the interactive leaderboard and see how your score compares to other players around the globe.

Think you’re a Pop Music wizz? Then this is the game for you!

The full version is available here.

For more fantastic music Apps, visit www.musicroom.com/iphone or get the latest Apps news on the new Facebook page MusicRoom Apps.

Musicroom Exeter would like to say a big thank you to everyone who attended the A2D event in Exeter on Saturday 19th March, we hope you found our UK launch of the new V-Drums Kits both exciting and informative!

We would like to thank all involved from Roland UK and Korg UK for their support and dedication, and also to Jim and Maria from the Sound Gallery for being excellent hosts!

We hope to be back again next year even bigger and better than before!

We have added a couple of images from the event here, but you can see our full gallery on our Facebook pages.

If you’re a guitarist looking for an amp, here are ten reasons why you should check out Roland’s new CUBE XL range of amplifiers:

1. Powered by BOSS effects
2. COSM technology recreates the worlds finest amps
3. Louder and clearer than comparable amps
4. JC-120 clean mode (20XL upwards)
5. Sealed cabinet, not open back: protect your assets
6. Metal speaker grill prevents speaker damage
7. Knob shafts and housings are metal, not plastic
8. Highly-visible top-mounted controls
9. Edge protectors instead of corner protectors
10. Virtually zero failure rate

Pure, authentic tone
If you’re looking for tone then the CUBE XL series delivers, as they’re powered by industry-standard BOSS effects. It’s like having a load of BOSS compact effect pedals included, so you can create the tones you need. Also, Roland’s renowned COSM technology recreates a host of classic amps and effects to give you some of the best sounds from the past few decades. And from the CUBE 20XL up, the JC-120 mode gives the classic smooth, warm tone that guitarists have loved since its introduction in 1975.

Practise? Perfect!
CUBE amps are ideal for practising, since they’re lightweight and easy to transport but go very loud when you need to crank it up. In fact, they’re much louder and clearer than other practice amps and because they come with useful practise features like a built-in guitar tuner and a looper function (40XL and 80XL), they’re perfect for anyone learning guitar.

Designed to be used – day in, day out
The controls on a CUBE XL amp are tough and durable. The shaft underneath each knob is made of metal so you can rest assured that they won’t snap. Also, the controls are top-mounted, so you can always see your settings whether you’re standing or sitting: essential for those long practise sessions.

Built to last
If build quality is important to you, then the custom-designed cabinet in each CUBE XL amp brings several notable benefits. The baffle board slots into the sides of the amp, rather than being screwed and glued in, meaning that the amp’s speaker cone can handle whatever you throw at it. Test it by cranking your CUBE XL amp up to full blast. You won’t hear any distortion at all, because the speaker housing is so secure, it doesn’t vibrate within the amp. The edge protectors then protect the whole side of the amp rather than just the corners, adding to the strength of the amp.

Your amp needs to handle any accidental mishaps, so Roland CUBE XL amps have a metal grill to protect the speaker, and it helps to project the sound. The sealed cabinet design also helps protect the insides of the amp. Finally, the thinking, design and workmanship that goes in to CUBE XL amps means that they hardly ever go wrong: they have one of the lowest failure rates in the industry.

The range comprises the CUBE-15XL, CUBE-20XL, CUBE-40XL and CUBE-80XL and whether you’re looking for a practice amp or an amp for gigging, a CUBE XL amp will exceed your expectations.

Don’t miss our Line 6 in store extravaganza on12 March 2011
We’ll have new product demonstrations and fantastic offers including 10% off Line 6 effects pedals on the day.

Running on 12th March from 9.00am  – 5.00pm, we will have Paul Hindmarsh with us to answer questions and showcase all the latest hardware including the HD500, HD300 and POD X3 guitar processor.

If you would like an individual appointment with Paul, please phone the store to book a slot on 01789 268515

Look forward to seeing you there!

Rebecca
Store Manager

Now available for iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad – Blues Writer is the essential App for Blues lovers and musicians alike.

The Blues has been a major influence on countless major artists such as Eric Clapton, Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix and Fleetwood Mac.

Blues Writer is a writing, recording and sharing mobile application for songwriters, singers and musicians. The App is beautifully and thoughtfully designed to aid & assist the songwriting process.

Never be lost for words with the enhanced notepad containing Schirmer’s Complete Rhyming Dictionary, an industry standard including over 96,000 rhymes.

Once you’re ready, select from the 10 professionally recorded blues tracks included in the App, and record your song, live! You can then post your recording online and share it with friends, family and online community.

With its superb set of tools, the Blues Writer App – which is compatible with iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad – is all you need to create stunning blues tracks in a flash.

Now more than ever people are being empowered with the freedom to record their own songs in the comfort of their own home, all because these days it’s so easy to get great results without spending a fortune.

I myself have had roaring success recording my bands material in my home studio, having spent less on it than Justin Beiber does on maintaining his hair for a month. The virtues of such an enterprise speak for themselves:

- Doing things in your own time is great, being on the clock at a hired studio is expensive and gives rushed results, and I’m sure you’ll agree that music shouldn’t be rushed, but painstakingly perfected because you love it.

- It keeps you out of trouble. Next to writing and recording music, raising merry hell is my favourite past times, but thanks to my studio I don’t have time to.

- Finally it’s easier than you think! If a simple Australian guttersnipe like I can do it, then so can you, and without burning a hole in your pocket. Yamaha, M-Audio, Line 6, and Samson have a superb range of equipment that makes having a home studio an achievable and affordable goal, all available at Musicroom.

I recommend for a beginner :-

Yamaha Audiogram 6 4 input USB interface that comes with the Phenomenal Recording software Cubase AI5, all for £129.

Samson C01 Condensor Microphone gives amazing fidelity and clarity as both an instrument and vocal studio mic for only £59 The USB version is only £69

Samson MediaOne 3a Active Monitors allow you to know exactly what you are recording, so that when someone else plays it back on there sound system it’s faithfully recreated the way you recorded it. If you don’t use proper monitors you run the risk of it sounding bad on everything but the speakers it was recorded with in the first place. A matched pair these only cost £89

Staring up a home studio is the best thing I ever did, so what are you waiting for?

Disproving the theory that less is more, the Nord Electro 3 has been presented with a leading industry award during the recent NAMM 2011 show in California.

Packed full of exciting new features and gizmos, the versatile modelling keyboard has won a Technical Excellence & Creativity (TEC) Award in the Best Musical Instrument Technology/Hardware category.

Voted for by members of various professional organizations and audio industry websites, the nominees for the awards are originally put forward by a panel of industry professionals.

Nord’s Electro 3 series features a modelled organ section, fantastic pianos, which are compatible with the Nord Piano Library and a selection of extremely versatile effects, a feature that allows the Electro 3 to use any samples from the Nord Sample Library.

“The demands from a performing keyboard player haven’t really changed all that much, good quality never goes out of style. We just want to offer you some of the best stuff we have, in an affordable and easy-to-use instrument. We hope that you will have as much fun owning and using the Electro 3, as we have had developing it,” Nord explains.

Musicians will find that they are able to get the Electro 3 in a 73-note or 61-note version, both of which feature the semi-weighted ‘waterfall’ keyboards.

The TEC Awards are a major awards scheme acknowledging the achievements of audio professionals. It aims to recognise the contribution made by individuals, companies and technical workers behind the sound of recordings, live performances, films, television, video games and other media.

Meanwhile, another winner in the TEC Awards was Solid State Logic which picked up two accolades in the Large Format Console Technology category and the Small Format Console Technology category.

The MIDI-harp, a “revolutionary” new digital musical instrument, was premiered at a special event earlier this week.

Harpist Sioned Williams and the BBC Symphony Orchestra performed a specially-commissioned concerto to showcase the innovative new instrument at the BBC Maida Vale Studio 1 on January 26th.

The performance is due to be broadcast on BBC Radio 3′s Afternoon on 3 programme on February 1st.

No Doubt, a concerto written by composer Graham Fitkin, showcased the features of the MIDI-harp, which allows players to play natural sounds that trigger simultaneous recorded sounds including dialogue.

Ms Williams, principal harpist with the BBC Symphony Orchestra for the last two decades, played in the performance, which includes dialogue from former US president George Bush.

Mr Fitkin told the BBC that the ability of the instrument to draw on recorded samples and MIDI effects means the “archetypal western perspective of the harp and its associated heavenly docility can be turned on its head”.

The BBC Symphony Orchestra is set to perform a number of concerts next month as part of the 2010-11 Barbican Season. The run will see the Silk Street venue in central London play host to a number of performances showcasing a catalogue of pieces from top composers.

Wednesday February 2nd will see the orchestra take to the stage to play numbers composed by Mahler and Mozart, while February 11th will see the ensemble return for the Sibelius and Detlev Glanert concert.

A performance of Tchaikovsky and Schnittke’s Faust Cantata, will then take place on February 18th and the month’s proceedings will be brought to a close on February 26th when the orchestra returns to the Barbican for the Total Immersion: Brian Ferneyhough concert.

New high-performance headset microphones unveiled at 2011 NAMM show.

Line 6 Inc, an industry leader in digital technology for musicians, performers and audio professionals, announced today the expansion of its XD-V line of digital wireless microphone systems to include XD-V70HS and XD-V30HS, a pair of high-performance headset microphones with beltpack transmitters.

The new headsets deliver the hallmark XD-V qualities including superior vocal reproduction, exceptional wireless performance and four-times the signal reliability of other wireless systems.

“The headset mics are a natural addition to our XD-V line of digital wireless mic systems,” commented Don Boomer, Wireless Sales Engineer at Line 6.  “They offer the sonic clarity and simple setup Line 6 digital wireless mics are known for, and the hands-free designs required by professional presenters, singers, and performers of all kinds.”

Alongside the XD-V70HS and XD-V30HS headsets, the robust XD-V family includes two handheld microphone systems and two beltpack systems with lavaliers.  Each system features exclusive Line 6 digital technologies and a 2.4GHz broadcast to ensure license-free use worldwide and freedom from ever-changing FCC regulations.

Now in its fourth generation, Line 6 digital wireless technology has streamlined wireless setup and operation and provided superior audio specs to everyone from professional front-of-house engineers to house-of-worship volunteers.  These advances in wireless technology led XD-V70, the digital wireless handheld microphone system, to take home the “Best Audio Product: Wireless Microphone System” award at the 2010 Worship Facilities Conference & Expo (WFX).

XD-V30HS and XD-V70HS ship March, 2011. Learn more about Line 6 XD-V digital wireless systems at line6.com.

Our new iPhone App can help users visit the site of the first Sex Pistols gig or retrace the steps of The Beatles in A Hard Day’s Night.

Rock Music Landmarks of London is the essential tourist guide for all music enthusiasts, allowing users to visit all the historically significant music venues that London has to offer, and hear the stories that go with them.

With exclusive narration by DJ ‘Whispering’ Bob Harris, you can listen to the musical stories of years gone by. For example, the day that Led Zeppelin set fire to a pile of money in The Speakeasy, or when Jimi Hendrix visited Ronnie Scott’s just hours before his untimely death..

With the enhanced map search feature, you can search for the nearest venues to you and let the App take you right to the doorstep.

With photographs of each landmark and the personalities that go with them, Rock Music Landmarks of London is a beautifully presented App that is optimised for iPhone 4 retina display.

A must-have tool for any visit to the capital, the Rock Music Landmarks of London App – which is compatible with iPhone and iPod Touch – is £1.19 and can be accessed via Musicroom.com.

AmpliTube iRig Wins MusicRadar’s Best Guitar Accessory of the Year Award!
“AmpliTube for iPad and iPhone has the best sounds”

MusicRadar has scanned through all of the products that they have reviewed in the past 12 months and chosen their ten absolute favourites out of the finest and ‘droolworthy’ products that have arrived over the year. Sections include best accessory, best guitar, best bass, best amp, best effects and more.

AmpliTube iRig was their definitive choice as the Best Guitar Accessory of 2010 and we were delighted to be the recipients of their annual award in this category.

MusicRadar’s spokesperson said: “It might seem unremarkable in the last days of 2010, but if someone had said 20 years ago that soon we’d all be carrying around telephones that also contained our record collections, a fully-featured suite of guitar amplifiers and effects and a multi-track recorder, we’d probably have wondered if they’d mistaken a sci-fi movie for a documentary.”

They continued: “2010 saw IK Multimedia to be the first to really nail the physical hardware that allowed you to plug your guitar into your iOS device… For our money AmpliTube for iPad and iPhone has the best sounds and the addition of a multitrack recorder in version 2.0 gives you a recording studio in your pocket. Amazing times.”

Source: IK Multimedia

Roland V-Drums have long been a favourite of Channel Five’s team at The Gadget Show. They have made an appearance at the Gadget Show Live events, and in one episode were even used by Suzi to recreate the show’s theme music.

However, the show went one step further last night in it’s Christmas Special by declaring that Roland’s HD-1 V-Drum Lite kit is the number one ‘Gadget For Boys’ beating off competition from lots of other cool ‘tec’ (as they call it), including an intriguing rocking scooter.

All the equipment was put through its paces by the guys from the popular group, Scouting For Girls, but it was the show’s own Jon Bentley who awarded the final positions.

If you are feeling inspired to spread a little Christmas cheer, then the Roland kit is sure to deliver and we have them in stock now!

As an affordable ‘all-in-one’ Electronic Drum Kit, it is ideal for a first-timer or casual player. Forged from the same ground-breaking technology as its V-Drum predecessors, but much simpler to use, it’s price is also more accessible to musicians (or their parents!) on a tight budget.