Pamparo in Toronto

I did this horrendous techno-loop to satisfy my craving!

This is a story of a company that is all about customer satisfaction, emphasis on purchase value & increased product life-cycle. Buckle up, it does not happen very often.

Shortly after the Line6 POD XT Live was released in 2004, I immediately jumped on it to replace my combination of digital guitar chain. At the time, I was using a Yamaha DG-stomp & Behringer Vamp2 controlled simultaneously by Behringer FCBC1010 on a Midiman 1×4 MIDI-thru.That was one truly complicated setup!

Comes the XTL which does a better job tone-wise than the two combined (except for clean tones) and was an easier setup — 1 device, guitar in, line-out, PA.

While the XTL base configuration + the 3 model packs (FX, Classic and Metal) is sufficient for most needs, Line 6 extended its life-cycle and its value by providing a free firmware update that includes freebies such as new Wah models, new amps/cabs and few FX. Did I say free?

After that, Line 6 offered another upgrade to make the XTL usable for bass guitarist without buying new hardware. Since I started getting my analog amp/pedals, I hardly use my XTL for live electric guitar work. But because of this upgrade, I still very much use it for bass amplification. This upgrade was really really valuable.

Currently, Line 6 also is extending the PODs life-cycle even more. Now as a software plugin via Gearbox (now as POD Farm, as a continuation of their Amp Farm line). For a minimal fee, you can now use your POD as plugin to a recording software such as Garageband or Logic Express. Wait a minute, I happen to be a frequent Garageband user and recently upgraded to Logic Express! Of course, I did jump in and bought the license last night

All that is left for me to say is this: Thank you, Line 6! I wish more company will follow your business model!

After using Garage Band, the built-in audio editing software from Apple, I felt the need to do so much more. For me, it was only logical to move up to the next level (pun intended). So I bought Logic Express 8 two days ago and I am not disappointed. There are a lot of different things that I still need to learn but I am starting to like it.

Here’s a rough take which I hope will improve in time: Logical

Have fun, cause I know I will!

*** UPDATE ***

Here’s another track, a little cleaner than the previous track: fsharpm

*************

Here’s another track that I recorded that you can jam along. I got the inspiration from a D Dorian lick that I was playing while watching football last Sunday. I played 3 tracks, 2 electric guitar rhythm parts and the bass line. Nothing too fancy

I have left a lot of space for another lead instrument such as a guitar or keyboards to add some melodic lines.

D Dorian Jam

Let me know if you can come up with something tasty! Have fun & God bless!

I was working on an idea for some string-skipping exercise that goes like the one below. Please pardon the “text-based” tab, I should find a better way of representing this!

Guitar Tab Idea:

———12——————————– e
—————-15sl17———–15—- B
——————————————– G
–sl14——————–17————– D
——————————————— A
——————————————— E

I wanted to practice it with a metronome so I plugged in to my Garageband software to just jam along a drum track. And just like that, I had a musical idea. It just snow-balled from there and I am liking the groove on this thing. Hopefully, I get the chance to finish this idea and make it into a full-blown 3-minute track. We shall see …

For now, enjoy this short version of it. The progression is Em-G-C-D and it just loops for about 8 bars.

E Aeolian Vamp

Enjoy and God bless!