On

the road, in the practice room, or in the studio, your

gear needs to arrive intact, and  to sound top-notch when you

get there. That means having quality travel products, especially when travel includes baggage

handlers who get their rocks off using your luggage to punt, pass and kick. Let’s take a look at some new gear from a couple of

cool companies and see how it stands up to the test.

Since

1976, TC Electronic

(www.tcelectronic.com) has been manufacturing first-class products designed for

audio professionals and musicians. From TC Helicon comes Voice Life 2, a

user-friendly, powerful floor processor that offers an array of effects. NaturalPlayTM

gives you up to eight harmony voices controlled from a guitar, MIDI keyboard or

MP3 player—ideal for vocalists who don’t play an instrument. Via stompbox or

preset foot switch, you can layer reverb, tap tempo delay, natural doubling,

T-Pain-like pitch shifting, distortion and megaphone effects and select from

over 250 presets. One-touch Tone controls compression, EQ and de-essing, and

the digitally controlled mic preamp allows singers to set mic gain while

standing. The bright, widescreen LCD makes it possible to view the screen from

that standing position. It’s also easily portable. VoiceLive 2 ships in May for

$995.

For

bass players, TC Electronic presents the RebelHead amp rig: RebelHead450 bass

head ($1395), RebelStack cabinets (210 – $695 and 212 – $845) and RebelControl

($195). TC calls this “a bass rig designed without compromise,” made for

rehearsals, studio and road. 

The

450, with on-board tuner, has traditional tone controls, emulates all of the

characteristics of a traditional tube circuit, and offers the highest-quality

compression. The 450 features three on-board user memories, auto-sensing PSU

for safe plug-and-play in any country, an input socket for audio source

plug-in, and an output digital connection.

The

RebelHead450 is available as a standalone unit or combined with the RebelStack

cabinets. The RebelStack system was designed to optimize live performance

without compromising pitch or low end. The vertical four-driver stacking system

gives you both, along with easy portability.

As

another option, add the RebelControl remote control system, a floor controller

for RebelHead450, with a tuner indicator, three preset foot buttons to change

the three user memories, and a mute button. RebelControl is conveniently

powered from the amp and is a great addition to the system.

The

G-Major 2 is TC Electronics’ multi-effects processor for guitar ($695). G-Major

2 houses effects such as delays, reverbs and modulation, with all-new takes on

Tri-chorus, through-zero-flanger, modulated delays and Univibe. Controls

include Noise Gate, EQ and Compression blocks, as well as the all-new

filter/wah block, intelligent pitch shifting and reverse delay.

G-Major

2 allows users to change patches and presets through MIDI, or to use its stomp

box mode, enabling on/off switching of individual effects. The relay switching

option lets you switch amp channels directly, and in Serial Routing all blocks

are lined as a straight line of pedals. In Semi-Parallel, delay and reverb are placed in parallel, and in Parallel all

blocks except Compression and filter MOD blocks are placed in serial. G-Major 2

offers users easy and convenient editing and storing of patches and pre-sets

through a PC/Mac editor available at www.tcelectronic.com/G-major2.

If you’re going to haul all that gear around, you need a name you

can trust. Ultimate Support (www.ultimatesupport.com) has been in business for over 30

years. They bill themselves as “the Strength of Innovation,” and when you’re up

close and hands on with their products, it’s easy to see why. Ultimate Support

manufactures a very impressive selection of benches, stands, bags and cases so

rugged that they can probably even withstand baggage handlers. Perhaps it’s

time I start checking my essentials in an Ultimate Support case. These durable products look good and feel good, and best of all,

they’re surprisingly affordable. The X-Style JS-500 keyboard stand is $59.99,

the new double-braced X-Style JS-502D is $79.99, the JS-AS100 amp stand is

$89.99, the Z-Style JS-ZS100 keyboard stand is $119.99, and the new

multi-purpose JS-MPS1 mixer/keyboard stand is $129.99.

Me? I’m thinking that one of their kick-ass Hybrid Series cases

might be my next investment. Suitcases and duffels be damned; let’s see you

pummel this piece of checked luggage, Delta Airlines!

Over the years, I have become quite an expert in social media. I’ve had to.

Before I continue with my thesis on social media and the detrimental possibilities for artists, let me explain exactly what this trend is.

Social media are various tools that allow people to share, trade, interact using technology typically rooted in the internet. Basically, you communicate with people using something other than traditional forms such as personal letters or telephones. These social interactions are typically very open for others to see and even allow others to join in the conversation. One friend maintains that social media is a “communication mindset,” apart from the equipment used.

While, I have yet to be christened with any sort of degree in social media, I have been on the cutting edge of just about every emerging social event. Twitter? Twitter.com/chuckcreekmur! Myspace? Myspace.com/jigsawtheone! Facebook? Yes! What else? Yes, that one too! Furthermore, I have talked oh-so-eloquently on several panels regarding the topic and seen AllHipHop.com’s own Ill Community act as a de facto social media destination since its inception many, many moons ago.

Allow me to finally arrive to my point.

New Flash: if you are an artist – new or old – you are probably about to ruin your career if you are investing too much time and energy into social networks like Facebook, Twitter and others.

Let me clarify.

Most of you have no idea how to make social media outlets work for you.

Let me clarify further.

Most artists, rappers in particularly, get on something like Twitter at the urging of somebody that heard from somebody else that Twitter was something that everybody should be on. Twitter is “hot.”

But, these handlers never explained why it was worthy of the artist or rapper’s time. They only said that this particular outlet was a good way to get the word out about an upcoming project, album or you can speak directly to the fans.

What if the artist is unable to effectively communicate with his/her fans? This notion many seem absurd to those that feel that ONLY connecting with fans is important. Not true. Like anything else, fans seek to have a positive experience with their favorite star.

I will never forget when a certain rapper dissed me in public for no reason other than he was an idiot. Never did have any sort of affinity for that person ever again (aka I no longer supported their efforts). Then there was a gangsta rapper that I did have respect for and he turned out to be one corny Son of a Gun. Another R&B artist that I thought was deep was just…dumb, even though she was immensely talented. These are just my one-on-one experiences, but imagine presenting this to thousands every time an artist opts to “speak.”

With social media outlets like Twitter, Facebook and even Myspace, artists are continually showing who they really are. Often this is bad news for an industry where an artist’s image is meticulously crafted. One tweet and its over. A lot of people don’t want to know that they are actually corny/insecure/mean/wack/human just like the rest of us.

Aside from changing perception, here are some other mistakes artists make on social networks.

Arguing with every hater: Social media is a two way street so, if the artist can talk to the people, the people can talk back. And the people TALK! So-called haters permeate the internet in every facet and some of them are meaner than a shark with an empty stomach. A lot of artists want to tee off on everybody that says something slick. This is a bad move and it only degrades the artist’s image.

Tell fans everything: Entertainers have the ability to tell everything, but that doesn’t mean you have to do so. Honestly, there is this thing called T.M.I. (too much information) and also, it detracts dramatically from the super-power called mystique that most artists have. You don’t have to tell us that you are on the toilet. That’s been done and it’s always nasty. A number of artists have cashed in through social media for a quick publicity, but probably missed bigger press opportunities later down the line. Keep the people wanting more by giving less.

Diss other artists: Well, we all know artists hate on each other more than the fans. Wait. No, we all didn’t. But the artist with diarrhea of the keyboard lets it be known. And, nobody likes a hater, not even a hater. Recommendation: put a lid on it.

With all of this said, what can an artist do to save himself?

First, consider what you are really on these social outlets and ask, “How is this really helping my career?”

Think on this and answer it honestly. (If the answer to the question is “because everybody is on these social networks,” please stop here and log off. Or simply get your handlers to promote your interests without a tinge of personality.)

After answering the question, look around a bit and see who is successful in the social media space and why. What works for Diddy isn’t likely to work for most people – sorry. Diddy’s followers follow him and his Twitter persona gels with what we know his real persona to be. Yung Berg is reestablishing his career and did a mixtape via Twitter using beats from his followers. Not a bad idea. Rhymefest asks his followers their opinions on everything. 50 Cent has a great team that advances his agenda. Recognize what you want to project and what will reinforce your ultimate goals and brand.

When talking to fans/haters, don’t be a jerk, or a stronger epithet. Being a jerk can cause you to lose a fan and being gracious can cause you to convert that non-believer.

Here is a note to the new/unsigned or emerging artists. It is even more important for you to be mindful of how you make your way through these social media networks. You don’t have the luxury of years in the game or million of fans. Established artists can probably take the loss of a follower or 500 – you can’t. There are a number of younger rappers that impulsively blogged something stupid, revealing how (fill in the blank) they are. Also, don’t go constantly doing press stunts to get the attraction of the media, because eventually the media and the fans will tire of your Wolf cries.

Fans want to know the real you, the artist, but they also what to buy into the person that is presented to them on that CD cover or Mp3. The real you farts and has a nagging spouse and other decidedly human activities. They want to know that you appreciate them as their fans.

So, the real title of this piece should have been “Twitter Will End Your Music Career If Not Used Properly,” but you get the idea. Right?

Right?

Comments from peers who either agreed or disagreed with this editorial.

“If we look at old school media, the channel of communication was limited to letter to the editor. So if you hated something your voice was lost in a void of paper mail which no read. Things are different now. Social Media opens up the lines of communication between consumer and creator. If used correctly you can dramatically change your business by having instant feedback, an instant group to test new products or music on, and an instant mean to increase sales.”

– Social media expert

“I have to say. I don’t follow [music mogul] because he annoys me as a person. I love [soul singer’s] music but since I’ve been following her I’m like wow. She’s not so interesting. I follow [hardcore NY rapper] because he is raw or seems raw. [Alternative neo-soul singer] isn’t that interesting either and [conscious rapper] is on way too much. As was [Hip-Hop musician] so I had to cut him off my follow list.”

– A television producer.

“Really the mutterings of random celebrities already over-convinced of their own importance is boring. Make some damn music so I think you’re really deep. You might be f**king your brand up if I realize your music is truly a gift from God that you didn’t deserve and was somehow channeled through your dumb a**.”

-Veteran writer