Gear Review: Blackstar HT Dual "Pure Valve Distortion" pedal

    This pedal is part of Blackstars HT range of tube driven effects pedals. The HT-Dual is one of seven distinct drive pedals in the range and sits in a position that makes it probably the most versatile of the bunch. Similar to the HT-Metal, it is a two channel, foot-switchable, distortion pedal; with a drive circuit that is powered/flavoured by a standard 12AX7/ECC83 pre-amp valve.
   I've been using for about a year now in a whole host of environments and usage scenarios so I thought I'd share my experiences.

Gear Review: Lovepedal Redhead

    The Redhead is a limited run pedal which re-releases an older Lovepedal design, the Superlead, in a new shell and with a tweaked EQ/Tone control circuit. The circuit isn't completely original, it is said to be derived from something like an old Marshall Guv'nor circuit, but with simplified tone shaping controls. Some would question why you would pay the kind of money you do for boutique effects, when you could effectively build them yourself for a fraction of the cost; I say who cares. This thing looks good and sounds great, and it wasn't built by me, a second rate solderer at best.

New Audio Stuff: iZotope Ozone 5 and RX2

   I took the plunge a few days ago and decided to actually spend some money on the activity I like to call my profession. Based on a wide selection of reviews and from speaking to fellow "sound guys" I bought iZotopes Ozone 5 mastering suite and RX 2 noise reduction software. I decided that I couldn't afford the Advanced versions but the lower priced standard editions are still incredibly powerful tools.

Go to the iZotope website for more information on them and their advanced bretheren:

Ozone 5
RX2

   My initial impressions are extremely positive. Even though I'm no expert at operating them, the various presets are actually very good and work as excellent starting positions for most work you'd care to do in them.

Gear Review: AKG K271 MKII studio headphones

     The AKG K271 mkII headphones are the, closed-back, bigger brother to AKG's own K240 mkII headphones. They feature very similar design aspects, but have a few little tweaks to make them much more suitable in use as your go-to set of professional cans. Keen readers will know that I reviewed the K240 mkII's last year, and that I liked them quite a lot; but they weren't without their flaws (not least their open backed-ness).

Music: New original track by me "Supernova"

I've been off work and ill since Friday, but I haven't wasted my time in front of the TV or playing video games... I've wasted it making music! Well maybe not wasted, but used for extra curricular pursuits. I've been toying with idea of writing an album/EP for a very long time, and I've always had a few little ideas which needed turning into bigger ones to make something worthwhile (longer than 1minute 30 anyway).

I had a little idea at the start of January. Just a lick over a little melody. It lasted maybe 10 seconds. It's become a monster 3:30ish song with at least two parts of a song structure! I'm relatively pleased with it in it's embryotic state. Have a listen


http://soundcloud.com/churst/supernova-full-wip-1st-draft