If it’s an iconic piece of hardware or software, there’s at least a decent chance you could be seeing it in virtual iPad form soon.

Tascam’s Portastudio, released today, is a particularly striking example. The famed, budget cassette multitrack recorder, the box on which countless demos and quick songwriter creations was forged, appears on Apple’s tablet. There’s even a fake cassette tape, which I have to say is a little bit unnerving.

This is all nostalgia, right? Well, no, actually: those big, simplified plastic controls and memorable layout work because they’re so easy to use. The problem with a lot of software design of the past couple of decades is that it’s somewhat inhumane. Given endless space and often-increasing, ever-cheaper system resources, music software has been, charitably, less-than-friendly. Resembling a 70s jumbo jet cockpit, UI controls multiply and shrink to the point that they challenge all but an 18-year-old pair of eyes. Add in clunky default OS widgets, collapsible tabs and dockable windows that add still more complexity, and you wind up with a trainwreck. What these hardware emulations prove is that you could learn something from hardware – even when the need for blank space, big knobs and faders and buttons, limited controls, and standard hardware inputs and readouts is gone.

So, back to the original product, what does $10 get your iPad? If you know how a Portastudio works, you probably already know most of the answer, but here’s a quick rundown:

• Cassette tape-style transport. (Linear transport, I might add. Seriously. You have to rewind and fast forward to get around.)
• Routing to four inputs.
• Mixdown to stereo (via a dialog box, so that’s the point where you break the illusion).
• Simple EQ.
• File sharing, via iTunes or Soundcloud. (This last item is what makes this a useful tool and not just a novelty.)
• Support for ‘a few’ class-compliant audio interfaces, though your mileage may vary.

The development work was done by a well-loved developer, Chris Randall / Audio Damage. (Chris I think does learn hardware’s design lessons in his UIs.) See his blog post:
Hey, Look What I Made…

The bad news: no bounce, which seems a major oversight. Ironically, Tascam also has to admit that they don’t have any class-compliant audio interfaces. (Doh!) In case you’re wondering, they also say flat out in the FAQ, don’t expect versions for other operating systems soon — too bad, as this would seem fairly ideal in a reduced form on iPhone and iPod touch.

But the radical simplicity of this app could be its appeal. I may actually fire this up to use as a recording sketchpad, especially with hardware synths, Game Boys, and so on.

http://tascam.com/product/portastudio/

And forget the app itself: this ought to be a perfect time to look back and remember what made the original PortaStudio great – and wonder why so often those same design principles are lost.

One of the famed Tascam models, the sort that may well bring up fond memories of mobile recording. (Not quite the right model, but you get the idea.) Photo (CC-BY-SA) Lucius Kwok (the developer), via Wikimedia Commons

(Via Create Digital Music.)

There are a lot of guitar simulation plug-ins available for digital musicians these days. Included with Logic 9 is Amp Designer and Pedal Board – a welcome departure from the older Guitar Amp Pro plug-in. They stack up very well against the competition and are versatile in tone, emulation and layout. In my opinion, the clean amps achieve impressive results when compared to their hardware cousins.

Beyond the presets, there’s a lot more you can do with Amp Designer that is apparent. Toby Pitman goes much deeper in his excellent tutorial, ‘Logic 402 – Logic’s Guitar Recording Toolbox’. Packed with tips and tricks and practical step-by-step approaches to using both Amp Designer and Pedal Board.

In this Quick Tip I’m going to highlight 3 useful tips for guitar tone sculpting glory built-in to Amp Designer.

01 – Move the Mic

When recording a traditional guitar amp there are a two important considerations: what type of mic to use and where to position the mic. The resulting tone can be vastly different if the mic is placed dead-center or to the side of the speaker cone.

In Amp Designer you can choose between using a Condenser, Ribbon or Dynamic microphone emulation from the Mic pop-up menu.

Hover your mouse over the cabinet on the right of the interface (above the Mic pop-up menu) and the Speaker Adjustment graphic is displayed. Drag the white dot to adjust the placement of the mic. Generally, for Rock and brighter guitar tones place it to the side as shown below.

02 – More Equalizers

There are plenty of Amp types and presets. If you still can’t create quite the guitar sound you’re looking for you can mix and match the Model, Amp and Cabinet to build your own custom amp! This incredible… but one lesser known tip is you can choose different EQ types per amp.

Mouse over the word ‘EQ’ and click to display the EQ pop-up menu. From here you can choose between Bright British, Vintage, U.S. Classic, Modern and Boutique.

I find myself tending towards the Vintage and U.S. Classic more often than not.

03 – More Reverb

Rather than insert an instance of Space Designer (or other reverb plug-in) on your guitar channel strip to add space to your sound, you can set the reverb levels directly on the Amp Designer interface. Like the EQ, Amp Designer comes with more than one Reverb type.

Click on the Reverb label (top, middle of the amp) to display this Reverb type pop-up menu.

You can choose between Vintage Spring, Simple Spring, Mellow Spring, Bright Spring, Dark Spring, Resonant Spring, Boutique Spring, Sweet Reverb, Rich Reverb and Warm Reverb.

It’s well worth checking these types out on your guitar sounds. The change to your sound can be dramatic and save you from using a separate reverb plug-in!

Check out Toby Pitman’s Logic 402 – Logic’s Guitar Recording Toolbox to learn much, much more about how to get the best out of Amp Designer, Pedal Board and Logic’s other built-in tools for guitarists.

(Via Software Video Tutorials – macProVideo.com.)

Check this out, Dunlop have made a 25 minute documentary about one of the most greatest effect pedals ever invented the Cry Baby Wah!

Cry Baby: The Pedal That Rocks The World tells the story of the wah wah effect pedal, from its invention in 1966 to the present day. Musicians, engineers, and historians discuss the impact of the pedal on popular music and demonstrate the various ways it has been used, as well as how its evolution has improved the ability of artists to express themselves musically. The film features interviews with Brad Plunkett, the inventor of the pedal, plus many other musical luminaries such as Ben Fong-Torres, Eddie Van Halen, Slash, Buddy Guy, Art Thompson, Eddie Kramer, Kirk Hammett, Dweezil Zappa, and Jim Dunlop. These professionals explain how a musical novelty transcended convention and has become timelessly woven into the fabric of modern pop-culture.

For more info keep an eye on www.crybabydoc.com

Back when it was nothing but a small, tiny speck of the internet, Google launched its over-the-air voice calling service called Grand Central. The service was supposed to provide tools and features that you might otherwise have to pay for, like unlimited voicemail, unlimited nationwide calling, unlimited texting and voicemail transcription, but for absolutely free. The service took off, and now Google’s VoIP service is a hit. Everyone and their grandmother has the feature enabled on their mobile phones because of its easy set up, whether they’re using a Smartphone or dumb phone, iPhone or Android phone.

But what if there was more from Google Voice than its advertised features? We’ve got 14 awesome tips and tricks to get Google Voice working like a boss, and more than just another free phone-over-the-internet service. Read on for tips on how to do things like send free text messages, block calls, and set up different voice messages for different people.

First things first: If you have a Google account, then you have a Google Voice account by logging in at Voice.google.com.

1. Make and receive calls from within Gmail

In recent weeks, Google has offered voice calling right from within Gmail. This feature allows you to call using your Google Voice Number without the need to pick up a phone.

To get started, log in to your Gmail email and locate the Chat box in the left-hand sidebar. From there, you should see a new contact called Call phone; click it.

A small box will popup on the right-hand side of your Gmail window displaying a dial pad. You may be prompted to download and install a small plug-in that will enable you to make a phone call. You wil also be able to dial a number or type in a name from your Google contact list to call. Make sure the Sound settings on your Mac are set up correctly.

2. Send and receive free, unlimited text messages

Text messaging has become extremely popular over the past few years, and for good reason. However, one big annoyance is that it can be expensive to sign up for a plan that gives you unlimited messaging. Fortunately for smartphone users, there’s a way around all of that.

Open Voice.google.com in your mobile phone’s web browser and sign in. You should be presented with the dialer, but tapping on the small new message button will bring you to a page where you can type in a phone number, or choose a contact from your address book. You also have a message box where you can type in your text message body. You can then send or discard the message.

When you receive a response back, it will be in your Gmail’s inbox. Tapping on any message will allow you to see all of the messages in that thread. You can then text reply, call, or archive the message by pressing the appropriate buttons at the bottom of this page.

3. Set up voicemail transcriptions

When someone calls your Google Voice number, you can have the message automatically transcribed into text, then emailed to your mobile phone.

To turn on this useful feature, visit the Google Voice settings by clicking Settings > Voice Settings from the menu in the upper right-hand corner. From there, select the Voicemail and Text tab. Under the Voicemail Notifications section, check the box labeled Email the message to, then select the appropriate email account from the drop-down box. You can also add a different email address, or have Google Voice text message your mobile phone when you get a new voicemail. Then, you need to check the box labeled Transcribe Voicemails under the Voicemail Transcripts section, then click Save changes.

Now whenever someone calls your Google Voice number and leaves a message, you will get an email at the specified address, allowing you to instantly see what the person said. There will also be a link where you can listen to the actual voicemail. Granted, the transcription system doesn’t always get the words right, so, as they say, your mileage may vary.

4. Set up a blocked calls list

Sometimes, you may need to block people from calling your Google Voice number. Google makes this extremely simple.

From any recent call, text message, or voicemail, simply select the more option, then select Block caller.

A pop up window will ask if you’re sure that you wish to block the caller and will allow you to listen to the message that blocked callers will receive when trying to call your number. Note that this feature will only block calls coming in through your Google Voice number. If someone knows your actual home or cell number, they can still call that number.

All blocked calls, voicemails, and text messages will end up in the Spam folder in your Google Voice account. If you no longer wish to block someone, you can visit the Spam section, select the more option again, and choose ‘Unblock caller.’ This will restore the message to your inbox and unblock the caller.

5. Customize voicemails for different people

With Google Voice, you can have different voicemail greetings for different callers. Say, when a work contact calls they get a more professional greeting, but when your friends or family calls they get something silly. This is accomplished by specifying Groups for your different contacts.

To do this, head over to Settings > Groups. From this screen, you can manage your groups and contacts using the Manage Groups link. When you’ve finished creating and managing the groups through that link, return to the Groups settings and click the edit button under the appropriate group.

From the edit page, you will be able to set which phones the call gets forwarded to, and under the section labeled ‘When people in this group go to voicemail’, you are able to select or record a new voicemail greeting. When done, click the save button to automatically have anyone in that group receive the specified voicemail when they call your Google Voice number.

6. Record your phone calls

Occasionally, you may want to record personal, business, or conference calls for later reference, and Google Voice can happily oblige. Simply press the number 4 when you first accept a call, or anytime during the call. When you want to stop the recording, press 4 again. A voice will audibly note whether or not the call is being recorded.

Please note that Google does not allow you to record calls that you make, only calls you receive. There are also some state and Federal laws that may apply to recording phone calls–so, y’know, don’t try to go all FBI on us and record your super secret conversations.

After you have finished the call, the recording will be available in your Google Voice account by clicking on the Recorded section in the left-hand sidebar. You can listen to a previously recorded call by pressing the small play button located underneath the date and time stamp information.

7. Embed recorded calls and voicemails onto webpages

With Google Voice, you can embed voicemail and recorded calls onto any webpage just as you might with a YouTube video. To do this, simply navigate to any voicemail or recorded call and select ‘Embed’ from the more drop-down menu. This will popup a box with the embed code and a box that will allow you to type in a caption if wanted.

Situations where this might come in handy: an over-the-phone engagement, a crank call to the local pizza joint, or if someone posts a celebrity’s phone number on the internet and you want to prove to all the world that, yes, you did talk to Dylan McDermot on the phone for half a second.

8. Switch phones while in a call

Something that you can’t do with a standard phone is switch from a mobile call to a landline call, but Google Voices does this! Simply press the star (*) key while you’re in a call and all of your other phones connected to Google Voice will ring. Simply pickup a ringing phone and your call will be instantly re-routed.

Unfortunately, this feature will only work when someone calls you, not when you make an outbound call.

9. Set up a virtual PBX (Private Branch Exchange)

A PBX phone system is the lifeline of many companies, but smaller companies might not be able to afford the luxuries that these phone systems can provide, such as extensions, multiple voicemail boxes, etc. With Google Voice, however, you can create your own private, virtual PBX system.

You can simply register all of your personal (or company) phones, then when someone calls, all of your available phones will begin to ring, allowing you (or another person/employee) to answer any phone. You can then transfer the call to another person by pressing the * key like we showed you in step 8.

When you’re closed, or no longer taking calls, you could then enable Google Voice’s ‘Do Not Disturb’ feature that will automatically send all calls to voicemail, without ringing any of the phones.

To enable this feature, navigate to the Settings > Calls tab. Check the box labeled Enable Do Not Disturb. You can optionally set an expiration time in minutes, hours, or days. When you’re done, click Save to have all calls directed to voicemail.

10. Screen a call before answering

Sometimes you may want to know who is calling from a particular number before answering. Well, there is a nifty feature named Call Screening that will allow you to listen into a call even while someone is leaving a message. This will allow you to determine how to handle the call: answer, send to voicemail, or record it.

To enable this feature, visit the Settings > Calls tab and ensure the On box is selected under the Call Screening section. Optionally, you could have Google Voice ask unknown callers to say their name when calling your number. When you’re done, click the Save button.

11. Integrate your Google number with other phone systems

There are many instances where you may need to have a phone number, but don’t necessarily want to give our your mobile phone number. Enter Google Voice.

Our own Roberto Baldwin uses Google Voice to control his apartment doorbell system. When someone buzzes the doorbell, it will ring all the phones in his account, allowing him to answer and let someone into his apartment no matter where he’s at. Try doing that with a regular phone number. Plus, you have the ability to turn off forwarding when you don’t want to be disturbed.

12. Set up one phone number to rule them all

The number that Google Voice assigns you can be used for life. It’s the only phone number you’ll ever need because when you get a new cell or home phone number, you can just register it in Google Voice and delete the old one.

However, there are times where you may require a new Google Voice phone number because you’ve moved and perhaps want a new local number. For a $10 one-time fee, you can change your number.

From the Google Voice main page, click your phone number in the upper right-hand corner of the screen (or navigate to Settings > Phones). Once there, click the Change link beside of your Google Voice number. A screen will popup that will walk you through the number changing and checkout process. Note that your old number will continue to forward calls to your new number for 3-months after you change numbers. This extra bit of time will allow you to notify your existing contacts that your number has changed.

13. Create a voicemail-only number

Google Voice is great when you want a single interface to control all of your calls, but some people are more than happy with their existing phone number. But you can still put your Google Voice account to good use by turning it into a voicemail-only number. By doing this, people can call your Google Voice number to leave you a voicemail in your roomy, unlimited voicemail inbox.

To do this, navigate to Settings > Phones and uncheck the box under the Forwards to section for all of the phones associated with your account. By doing this, no phone will ring when someone calls your Google Voice number. After a few rings a caller will be directed to your voicemail, allowing someone to send you a voicemail only.

14. Create call widgets for your site

If you run an online business, or just want people to have a quick way to get in touch with you via a phone call, a call widget on your website can help. To embed a call widget on your website, navigate to Settings > Call Widgets.

Once there, click the Add a new Call Widget link. A new page will allow you to specify a name, pick a style, and choose whether or not to ring a phone or send the call to voicemail. You can also select a greeting or record a new greeting. The call presentation section lets you set whether or not you want to have Google Voice ask callers for their name when calling.

When you click the Save button, you will be taken back to the Call Widgets settings page where you will be presented with the embed code for your website. You can place this code anywhere on your website, just as you would embed a voicemail or YouTube video. When someone clicks this button on your site, they will be asked to enter their phone number and Google Voice will connect the two calls.

(Via Mac|Life all.)

If you’re already have a strong interest in playing the guitar and happen to own an iPad, iPod Touch or iPhone (or all three), then the iRig might make for a prudent investment. What, another purchase in these economically trying times? Well, the iRig guitar accessory from IK Multimedia alongside the accompanying AmpliTube iPad and iPhone software will help you make music in a new way. You will have to hook the iRig adapter up to an iDevice and guitar, where the output of the iRig will be connected to a pair of headphones or an amp, where you can then launch the AmpliTube software to play around with a range of effects, amps, mics, pedals, and cabinets right from the comfort of your fingertips. Layer effects and amplifier change can be done with but a touch. Meant to work with an electric guitar, it will also play nice with just about any 6-string with a decent pickup. If you’re interested in expanding your musical repertoire, the iRig can be yours for $39.99 a pop. We don’t think a professionally cut album will feature this anytime soon though, but that’s a nice thought if it happens.

(Via Ubergizmo.)

Sometimes creative minds need collaboration, and musicians are no exception. You might have come up with the perfect riff, but can’t come up with the complete song. That’s where YouPhonics comes in.

YouPhonics, currently in private beta, is an online meeting place for musicians to share snippets of music, recorded and uploaded to their free accounts. Other members can then link their own snippets, and in so doing, possibly create a virtual song. Read on if you want to find out how to get in on the private beta.

YouPhonics is a slick website, and couldn’t be easier to use. Once you’ve signed up, you can either go ahead and upload a piece of music, or stem, you would like to share with the community, or look for other stems to collaborate on.

If you want to start with a stem of your own, there are two ways to get it onto the website. You can play it while recording it directly to YouPhonics – but this requires Flash Player 10.1 to be installed. For the less daring, you can upload your piece of pre-recorded music.

The only limitations placed on uploaded files is a maximum file size of 10MB and it has to be an MP3. After you’ve added your stem, you can then name and tag it. Make sure to put the relevant tags that will help other musicians find it.

There’s no limit to the kind of creations you can upload to YouPhonics. If you have some lyrics and a melody, go ahead and upload that for others to create the music around it. If you have a guitar riff, upload, and someone else can add another instrument, and so forth.

If you’d rather find a song to collaborate on – there are a couple of ways to find the music that suits your style. The easiest way to do this is using the search function.

You can filter search results by stems, tags, and users.

If you’re not sure what to look for, you could always take a look at the recommendations and featured artists, as well as the most listened to stems, on the home page.

To add a stem to an already existing piece of music, open it up in the Sound Room. Hover over it and click the New Stem button. From there you can also give the piece of music the thumbs up, add your own tags or even download the MP3.

The magic on YouPhonics happens in the Sound Room when you play several stems at once. For example, someone has uploaded a piece of music, and someone else has attached the accompanying vocals. Play the two stems together by clicking each of them once, and they will play simultaneously.

YouPhonics is of course a social network in its own right. You can message other users, as well as become their fan. Your profile features your fans, members you are a fan of, your stems, and stems you have bookmarked, or essentially, added to your favourites. You can also include a bit of personal information such as your location, website, and a short bio.

To get in on the private beta sign up using the secret code MAKEUSEOFYOUPHONICS, which expires a week from today.

(Via MakeUseOf.com.)