Keyboard Magazine

Sound Reinforcement Stores

Audio engineers use sound reinforcement systems to distribute sound throughout a varied space distance. The process of mixing live sound wouldn’t be accomplished without sound reinforcement speakers, microphones, signal processors, amplifiers and loudspeakers. Please scroll down for more information and access to the sound reinforcement stores in Los Angeles, CA listed below that will have all your sound reinforcement and PA system needs.

Recording Equipment Stores

Music matters and having the right recording equipment makes a huge difference on sound quality. Here you will find info on all the latest power amplifiers, CD recorders, audio mixers, music production software, studio monitors, headphones, microphones, signal processors, recording studio accessories, audio interfaces, MIDI interfaces, MIDI controllers, multi-track records and more. All you need to do is click on any of the recording equipment stores in Los Angeles, CA listed below.

Print Music Shops

Not all musicians can play by ear. Most need sheet music from songbooks to get started. Get motivated enough to create your own music composition by using music books as an inspiration guide. Please scroll down for more information and access to the print music shops in Los Angeles, CA listed below that will have all your solo and ensemble music, vinyl records, LP’s, CD’s, out of print music, method books, sheet music and songbooks available.

Electronic Keyboard Stores

Local resource for electronic keyboard stores in Los Angeles. Includes detailed information on local businesses that provide access to electronic keyboard stores, electronic keyboards, digital pianos, synthesizers, keyboard amps, pro electric keyboards, portable electric keyboards, sound modules and drum machines, as well as advice on all the latest electronic keyboards, equipment and accessories.

DJ Equipment Stores

Local resource for DJ equipment stores in Los Angeles. Includes detailed information on local businesses that provide access to DJ equipment stores, turntables, DJ mixers, tabletop media players, DJ headphones, CD recorders, iPod DJ mixers, PA systems, portable PA systems, Karaoke systems, DJ software, amplifiers, speakers and lighting effects such as lasers, strobe lights, fog machines, bubble machines and snow machines, as well as advice on all the latest DJ equipment.

Digital Piano Stores

Local resource for digital piano stores in Los Angeles. Includes detailed information on local businesses that provide access to digital piano stores, touch responsive digital pianos, weighted key digital pianos, non-weighted key digital pianos, keyboards, synthesizers and portable keyboards from Casio, Roland and Yamaha, as well as advice on buying digital pianos.

Acoustic Piano Stores

Local resource for acoustic piano stores in Los Angeles. Includes detailed information on local businesses that provide access to acoustic piano stores, upright/vertical piano, professional upright piano, studio piano, console piano, spinet piano, acoustic grand piano, baby grand piano, parlor grand piano and concert grand piano, as well as advice on buying acoustic piano.

Audio Equipment Supplies

There’s nothing more satisfying than finding the right music and audio equipment for your music recording jobs at a fair price. Quality equipment produces quality sound. It takes time to build talent and unless you have the best audio equipment and supplies it won’t sound perfect. Listed below you will have access to local audio equipment supply stores around Los Angeles that have any and everything you are looking for to record music including assistive listening devices, audio cables, audio racks & cases, audio stands, headphones, amplifiers, speakers, audio mixers, microphones, wireless microphones, portable sound systems, signal processors, DJ equipment, PA packages, music recording software and more.

Music Career Services

The music industry is extremely diverse and there are many different job opportunities for people interested in music careers. The possibilities are endless. The best part is you don’t have to be a vocalist or play an instrument because there are many other music related jobs such as DJ’s, music manager, sound technicians, music agents, publicists, journalists, producers and more. All you need is a creative passion and appreciation for music. Listed below you will find local music resources and career services around Los Angeles that can help you get your foot in the door. There will always be a need for singers, keyboardists, guitarists, bass players, drummers, music teachers and other music jobs. Take advantage of the available resources and do something about it.

Electric Keyboard and Keyboard Shops

Music keyboards are portable and diverse. You can create so many different sounds. Learning to play the keyboard is great start for people interested in piano. Many influential bands have keyboardists because it brings more depth and flavor to the music played. Digital keyboards create beats and are used in all types of dance music. There are many different types of keyboards available depending on your level of skill and intended use. The PSR keyboard is designed specifically for beginners. The digital keyboard is very popular in studio environments and portable keyboards are essential for traveling bands. It’s a great idea to research and visit the experts before you buy your keyboard. Listed below you will find local electric keyboard and keyboard shops around Los Angeles that know the answers to the questions you will have and can supply you with the necessary accessories such as keyboard stands, benches, expansion cards, foot pedals, covers, bags, microphones and more.

Pianos

The piano was invented in the early 1700’s and debuted in Italy. There have been many changes since the first piano was made. Basically it’s a stringed keyboard instrument that requires hand eye coordination. The piano creates a distinct sound that can be appreciated alone or in combination with other instruments. Learning to play the piano is a rewarding experience and pianists are paid very well. Today there are a wide variety of pianos in different styles, shapes and sizes. There are two types of pianos: vertical and horizontal. Horizontal pianos are also known as grand pianos. Vertical pianos include spinet, console, studio and upright and grand pianos include petite, baby, medium, parlor, ballroom and concert. It’s important to research what piano fits your style and needs before committing to buy one. Here you will find local piano shops around Los Angeles that can help you get started.

Yellow Tools Independence Free Virtual Instuments

Yellow Tools offers a variety of individual instruments compatible with Free. However, if you like what you hear with Free, you’ll probably opt for the Pro version ($499 street), as the cost of individual instruments adds up fast, and they’re all included in Pro. But don’t get the wrong idea; the library included with Free doesn’t skimp—it has really useful, representative sounds.

Studio Accessories

In this article, we provides you some cheap and cheerful studio accessories that make your life a lot easier. Read on to know the details of these goodies and gadgets.

Rain & Cakewalk Home Studios

The desktop home studio features Rain's new Solstice Digital Audio Computer, a space saving mini tower powered by the new Intel "Arrandale" Core i3 processor and designed for music production. It's certified to run the included SONAR Producer 8.5 audio production software. Also included, a Cakewalk UA-25 USB audio interface and A-500 Pro keyboard controller.

MOTU Microbook Audio Interface

The MicroBook gives users a complete personal recording solution for a Mac or PC laptop or desktop computer, with four simultaneous inputs for a microphone, a guitar, and a keyboard or other stereo line level device. The mic preamp delivers neutral coloration and pristine sound, with 20 dB pad and 48V phantom power for condenser mics. Programmable analog, digital, and headphone outputs provide flexible monitoring options.

IKEY Rackmount USB Recorder

The RM3 is a sleek single-space (19” 1U) digital media player/recorder that can be added to any rack setup. It is ideal for club and mobile racks, DJs and musicians wishing to record their sets, restaurants, houses of worship, schools, home studios, broadcasting, meeting & lecture halls, and any permanent install situation where handy and high-quality audio recording is needed.

Tassman Modular Sound Synthesis

Tassman is both an impressive collection of unique synths and effect processors, and a tightly integrated environment which lets you customize patches in any way you wish.

Blue Cat Audio RTAS Cable

all of their high-end audio analysis tools and signal processor plug-ins have been updated to the Digidesign RTAS format making these available to all ProTools and M-Powered users.

Zoom R24 Total Music Production Solution

The R24's new sampler function consists of 24 built-in voices that can be triggered using 8 pads and 3 bank keys to assign sounds to each track and create loops.

Roland Lucina Shoulder Synthesizer

With a stylish body and 37 keys, the Lucina AX-09 is compact, lightweight, and loaded with 150 high-quality sounds that cover a wide stylistic range, from synth leads to solo violin.

Yamaha Piaggero Portable Piano

Featuring the Graded Soft Touch keyboard action, the NP-V60 and NP-V80 are the perfect musical tools for when space is at a minimum and the player requires mobility. Exclusive Yamaha Style content helps users enjoy the experience of playing with an ensemble, and the USB-TO-HOST port connects directly to any MAC or PC for an array of musical applications.

Roland R-05 Recorder

Whether onstage, in rehearsal, at school, on the street, or in the boardroom, the R-05 provides pristine, uncompressed stereo recording directly to SD cards with up to 24-bit/96kHz resolution. Record directly with the built-in stereo microphone, or capture sounds from an externally connected microphone.

Native Instruments Alicia Keys Keyboard

The sound of Alicia Keys’ piano, which is by turns lush and assertive , is all over her hit records. Working closely with renowned keyboard soundware developer Thomas Skarbye (better known as Scarbee), not to mention Alicia Keys herself, Native Instruments has captured the magic of that sound in Alicia’s Keys . Being that it’s one piano loved by one artist, this new sampled grand isn’t perfect f...

Nord Sound Manager

The EX OS update is accompanied by a Nord Sound Manager update. The 5.28 Sound Manager is required to be able to load the v5 Piano sounds. The Windows version of the Manager also has a self-contained installer for a new WHQL certified USB driver. The installer automatically checks your computer for installed drivers, and replaces these with new version if necessary.

Zoom H1 Handy Recorder

Like all Zoom recorders, the H1’s two onboard microphones are configured in an X/Y pattern, for stunning stereo imaging depth and clarity. The pocket-sized H1 delivers crystal clear 24-bit/96 kHz stereo recordings perfect for music, interviews, lectures, recitals, band practice and more.

Mixosaurus DAW Drums Kit

Compared to the beautiful graphics of recent virtual drum plug-ins, the Kontakt Player interface of Mixosaurus DAW Drums Kit A seems all business. But what a business! In my opinion, “Mixo” is potentially the best-sounding, most realistic, and supremely detailed virtual drum instrument available. However, your experience will depend on your computer’s brawn and the degree to which you’re able to master Mixo’s remarkable programming options. That said, even if you don’t take advantage of all the power Mixo offers, you’re still likely to get fantastic drum tracks.

Editing Ambiences on the Mac

Killer synth riffs and slammin' drums are key components of dance tracks, but if you want fans to wonder, 'How was that sound created?' you can get a lot of mileage from adding ambiences. Not as in “Brian Eno” washy drones, but Foley-type ambiences like in professional sound effects libraries. By taking natural sounds like forests and jungles, or industrial sounds like construction sites, you can add a layer of organic content that will give your tracks a truly unique sound.

DJ Grid

Livid’s Ohm64 aims to go further than the Monome in giving you hands-on control over your music. Its 8 x 8 button grid is supplemented by 16 knobs, eight sliders, a DJ crossfader, and 17 extra “off the grid” buttons that you can tap to trigger special events. The knobs and sliders feel solid and move smoothly. Livid also makes the less expensive Block ($399), which pairs an 8 x 8 button grid with eight smaller knobs and only two sliders.

Akai MiniAK Keyboard

At first glance, the Akai MiniAK looks like a compact performance synth with few frills. Its three-octave velocity-sensitive keyboard, pitch and mod wheels, three assignable knobs, and gooseneck mic for singing into the onboard vocoder, are just the thing for playing solos, bass lines, pads, and fills at live gigs or in the studio. But appearances can be deceiving. Under the MiniAK’s hood lies a full-blown virtual analog synth that’s capable of producing up to eight voices with three oscillators each. Each voice can be its own multitimbral part if you prefer.

Roland VR-700 Keyboard

What gigging keyboardist doesn’t want it all? The B-3 and Leslie, the Rhodes, Wurly, and Clav, the rich grand piano — such is the stuff of rigrelated dreams. If such a pile of heavy, expensive goodness isn’t in the cards, check out one of the latest archetypes of today’s keyboards: the allin- one stage piano-slash-clonewheel organ. Roland’s V-Combo VR-700 is a light and powerful 76-key instrument that combines physical organ drawbars with the company’s tonewheel modeling technology, and throws in strong piano, EP, synth, and other non-organ sounds to boot.

E-mu Keyboards

-mu's LONGboard 61 and SHORTboard 49 are the first E-mu hardware keyboards since the Proteus PK-6. Combining robust MIDI controller functions and great internal sounds from the best of the Proteus family is enough bang-for-buck given that these bad boys sell for real-world prices of about $400 for the 61-key version and $350 for the 49-key version. But E-mu upped the ante from there. They have aftertouch, which is pretty much unheard of in synths at this price.

Roland VP-7 Vocal Processor

Utilizing Vocal Designer technology derived from Roland’s VP-Series vocal & ensemble keyboards, the VP-7 has three Vocal Designer algorithms that can automatically generate multi-voice backing harmonies that sing the same lyrics as a performer sings into the included DR-HS5 headset microphone.

RealTraps Carrel Recording Set

The RealTraps Carrel is similar to our Portable Vocal Booth , but adds a third 2 by 2 foot hinged panel instead of the PVB's microphone stand mounting base. The expanded size creates an even larger protected area than the PVB.

Dave Smith's Mopho Keyboard

The Mopho Keyboard’s voice architecture is essentially the same as DSI’s Mopho and Tetra desktop synthesizer modules. It features two oscillators, two sub-octave generators, selectable 2- or 4-pole low-pass filter, feedback, and a ton of modulation options, including three envelope generators, four LFOs, and a 16 x 4 step sequencer. It has a full-sized, semi-weighted, 32-note keyboard with velocity and aftertouch and full-sized pitch and modulation wheels. The Poly Chain feature enables expanded polyphony using other DSI synths.

Mixcraft 5 Sound Editor

Mixcraft is not a toy, it’s a no-excuses tool for accomplishing real work, from audio recording, to MIDI with virtual (or hardware) instruments, to creating a video to get your band up on the web. Of course, there are limitations compared to the “big guys,” but these seem to be based around the question “So, does the end user really, really need this?” Wrap this all in a straightforward interface, and you have a program that offers outstanding value.

Roland Synth-tar

Regardless of where you stand, Roland’s AX-Synth is an instrument worth noting, and if you’re a dissenter, it may just convert you. A sleeked-out younger sibling of the AX-7 MIDI controller, the AX-Synth gives the shoulder-keys vibe impressive curves, plentiful controls, and — for the first time — a built-in sound engine. If you’re a long-time believer in the power of the synth-tar, or a skeptic wondering what the hubbub is about, read on.

Broadway Big Band Virtual Instruments

Fable Sounds’ Broadway Big Band™ Virtual Instrument upon its original release was widely hailed as the first and only virtual instrument to accurately portray contemporary jazz, blues, pop, and r’n’b woodwind, brass, and rhythm instrument’s playing techniques in a playable virtual instrument plugin, and since has been used in countless high-profile film, TV, album, multimedia, theater, and live concert applications. Read on.

Toontrack's Ezmix

EZmix is a simple (EZ), yet powerful, mixing tool that gives you access to a huge array of mix presets for the whole gamut of mixing needs. Whether you need to mix drums, vocals, guitars, bass, or keyboards, this is your tool. Read on.

Native Instruments Paranormal Spectrums Audio Mixer

Based on atmospheric field recordings, unusual sampled sounds and intricate synthesizer programming, PARANORMAL SPECTRUMS offers a wide assortment of evocative pads and sinister soundscapes, as well as intense mallets, flutes, bells and synth sounds that are both original and highly playable. Read on to know more about this product.

FL Studio 9 Audio Mixer

FL Studio 9 introduces a new tool called the Riff Machine that self-generates melodies using a randomlyselected instrument (see Figure 1 on page 56). You can choose to just throw the dice and create a randomized lead, but if you look inside its more advanced parameters, you’ll find analog-style controls for manipulating all of the specifics of the rules it uses to come up with riffs. Read on.

Korg Synthesizers

The unique ribbon controller keyboard borrows from the enjoyment of performing with Korg's popular KAOSS products. Simple finger motions can produce expressive effects such as vibrato and glide.

Cakewalk V-Studio 20

The software-based V-Studio 20 Effects Editor is at the heart of the VS-20, providing genuine BOSS effects and COSM-modeled amplification for direct recording and performance with a computer for the first time ever.

Arturia V-Collection 2

Seven legendary machines that complement each other to provide the highest quality synthesizer sounds to the most discerning musicians.

Manley UAD-2 Platform Plug-in

Working with Manley Labs, Universal Audio’s Massive Passive EQ plug-in represents the most ambitious hardware EQ modeling project to date, bringing UAD-2 users both the standard and mastering versions of this world-renowned EQ in one package. Specifically, the two-channel, four-band Manley Massive Passive EQ utilizes design strengths from choice console, graphic, parametric and Pultec EQs — delivering a fundamentally different EQ that’s beyond compare. Read on.

Spectrasonics Trilian

Every recording needs bass. Well, maybe not flute duets, but everything else. So every virtual studio needs a soft synth that delivers strong bass. Spectrasonics Trilogy, released in 2002, provided great sampled acoustic and electric bass, and became the go-to virtual bass in many studios. Trilian takes the Trilogy concept into the stratosphere.

Roland KC-110 Keyboard Amplifier

The KC-110 features 30 watts of stereo power driving two 6.5" woofers and two tweeters. Most modern keyboards feature stereo sound output, and the KC-110 enables musicians to experience the full, rich stereo sound of their instruments while using a small amp.

Vocoders

A vocoder is a highly specialized filter bank and can create exotic effects that are almost impossible to achieve otherwise. If you are searching the perfect filter sweep, dig this month’s tutorial, because vocoders are a fantastic way to create perfectly timed sweeps, stabs, and falls using the most familiar controller you have: you.

Yamaha Tyros3

Maybe you’ve heard of Yamaha’s flagship Tyros arranger keyboards which was first reviewed in the Aug. But here the new evolutionalized keyboard, the T3 which surprises you more than anything you've played before.

Native Instruments SCARBEE Vintage Keys

Scarbee Vintage Keys features the most revered electric pianos of the 60s and 70s, dubbed MARK I, A-200, CLAVINET and PIANET, all based on carefully recorded 24-bit sample material.

The Return of an Analog Synth Classic

In contrast to most second comings of great analog synth names, the SEM is almost identical to the original. In fact, the external cosmetics are changed far more than the innards.