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Yamaha Keyboards for Your Music Desires

John — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 21:28:35 +0000

Everytime I see friends perform or watch John Legend and Alicia Keys on TV, I can’t help but become a little envious of their talents. As a child, I used to play the piano, but soon lost interest and immersed myself into other activities. Now, I’m not saying that I would’ve been as talented as an Alicia Keys, but I think it would be cool to at least say I’m able to read music and play the piano. However, had I stuck with it, I think I would’ve become more interested in playing the keyboard versus the piano. I’ve always viewed the keyboard as a more modern device with a significant amount of dynamic sounds and rhythms. Even some of the top producers in today’s music industry implement the keyboard into creating music, while the traditional piano takes the backseat.

The Yamaha PSR550B is a great tool for all you music enthusiast looking to take your music to the next level. It has a 16-track sequencer, a USB MIDI, 774 voices, drum kits, chorus effects, and many more features. It has a great look with a sleek black finish and high-quality components.

If you want a Yamaha keyboard that is more advanced and actually used by the likes of John Legend and Alicia Keys, consider the Yamaha Motif XS6. It includes 512mb of RAM, which gives you plenty of storage space to record and store all your tracks. It also has a color LCD screen and plenty of different sounds and melodies.

Whether you’re an amateur or the next big thing in music, it’s definitely hard to go wrong with either of these Yamaha keyboards.

-John

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Getting to Know the Genalex KT77

Takeshi — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 16:01:44 +0000

If you know anything about amps you’ve probably heard of the KT77 series of vacuum tubes, but in case you aren’t familiar with them, here’s a quick primer.

Vacuum tubes, like their name suggests, are tubes that contain electrodes that are stored in a vacuum, and wrapped in a heat-resistant envelope. These are usually stored in a glass encasing, which makes them look like glorified lightbulbs. The special property of vacuum tubes allow them to create, amplify, or modify electrical signals by controlling the motion of electrons in a low-pressure environment.

Back at the start of the 20th century, vacuum tubes were all the rage, what with the development of computers, and it wasn’t long before engineers figured out other uses for vacuum tubes as well. One of those was sound amplification. In 1935, a company called Kivac developed the first KT (kinkless tetrode) vacuum tube, which soon gained popularity in radios and hi-fi amplifiers.

The KT series of vacuum tubes gained in popularity, and other companies began to develop the tubes as well, including the KT77, KT63, and KT88, which differed in terms of size and other properties. At their height, vacuum tubes were the technology of choice for sound amplifiers, and were used by musicians and DJs around the world to amplify their music.

These days, vacuum tubes are rarely used anymore for sound amplification, but there are still fans who swear by the distinctive distortion caused by vacuum tube amplification, and the retro, throwback look of KT77 vacuum tubes.

Fortunately, there is a Russian company called Genalex that creates faithful reproductions of the KT77 vacuum tubes from half a century ago. The Genalex KT77 is gold plated, and looks fantastic, and is durable enough to be used for even the loudest sound amplification. Plus the sound from the Genalex KT77 is good as well, with a smooth quality and a refined mid-range.

Anyway, that is short is the history of the KT series of vacuum tubes, and how they’re used for sound amplification. If you’d like to reproduce the unique sound of old school vacuum tubes, the Genalex KT77 can help you amplify your music and bring back the sounds of the past.

-Takeshi, shopping blogger and sound amplifier

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Rock Out with In-Dash Cassette Players

Takeshi — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 16:00:44 +0000

In this day and age of iPods and MP3 players, the idea of having an in-dash cassette player may seem kind of quaint. However, for those of you have a large cassette collection, you can get great deals on in-dash players, and there actually quite a few options to choose from.

The Boss Audio C3040 In-Dash Auto-Reverse Cassette Receiver, for example, is a great low-cost indash cassette player with advanced features such as a fully detachable front panel, 30 radio station presets, AUX and mobile video input, and balance and fade controls.

For those of you looking for a more full featured in-dash player, you’ll want to check out the Pioneer FH-P4200MP In Dash Player. This versatile in-dash player features support for CDs and MP3 players, in addition to cassette tapes, and is XM satellite radio enabled. No matter what format your music’s in, this smart player will let you take it on the road.

If you aren’t quite looking to get such an advanced music system, but still want to enjoy music from your MP3 player in your car, then a cassette adapter might be the perfect solution for you. Cassette adapters are designed to work with iPods and other MP3 players that feature AUX output, and can allow you to play your favorite MP3s through any in-dash cassette player.

With all these great music options to choose from, you should be rocking out in your car with your cassettes in no time!

-Takeshi, shopping blogger and cassette collector

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Music and Movie Tuesdays … And TV Shows Too! (Finale)

Will — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 23:39:03 +0000

Bad news my MMT fans. Today is the last Music and Movie Tuesdays … And TV Shows Too! I will be doing, at least for the foreseeable future. The response hasn’t been what I hoped it would be, so the series is being retired. The good news (for some of you) is that I’m going nowhere, I and going to be blogging about a wider degree of things than before. For our big ending, I’m going to talk about things that would make great Christmas gifts.

Wall-E

Pixar, which has a long tradition of making quality films, really hit it out of the park with this one. A science fiction movie starring a robot in a post-apocalyptic world, it is also a feel-good comedy that is fun for the whole family.

Doctor Who: The Complete Fourth Series

This is the latest incarnation of Dr. Who, the longest science fiction series that has ever run. It is an exciting story of travel through time and space. David Tennant is a more interesting Doctor than I’ve seen in a long time, and his relationship with Donna Nobles is a major part of this series. The Doctor benefits from a coherent story arc with an exciting climax!

Dark Horse ~ Nickelback

Nickelback is one of the most popular bands today, with its last album selling more than 8 million copies. This album is a bit less “grungy” and a bit more mainstream rock. While I don’t own any Nickelback albums myself, I’ve always respected them for not singing with that horrible nasally whine you hear in so many other “rock” bands today.

Music:

David Cook ~ David Cook

Safe Trip Home ~ Dido

Movies:

Very Special Christmas Special ~ Jeff Dunham

Tropic Thunder (Unrated Director’s Cut)

It’s been great, MMT fans, and you’ll be seeing more of me talking about other great products for the holidays and beyond, but for now …

Good Bye!

Will

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Music and Movie Tuesdays … And TV Shows Too!

Will — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 00:01:51 +0000

Welcome back to Music and Movie Tuesdays … and TV Shows Too! MMT fans, today is Veteran’s Day, so I’d like to talk about movies involving Veterans.

Band of Brothers [Blu-ray] (2001)

Band of Brothers is a based-on-a-true-story miniseries from HBO about Easy Company, a famous company that participated in many important battles in WWII, from D-Day to the Battle of the Bulge to the liberation of concentration camps. The series has won numerous awards, including six Emmys. It is a wonderful tribute to the heroism and dedication of the greatest generation.

Firefly: The Complete Series [Blu-ray]

Firefly is one of my favorite tv shows of all time, even though it only lasted for one season. Created by Joss Whedon, creator of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, this show developed such a cult following even after it was cancelled that it was made into a major motion picture. Why am I including it today? Because two of the main characters are veterans, and the show is in part about them dealing with the fact that there side lost the war, and the difficulties they have in adjusting to their new lives.

Hellboy II: The Golden Army (3 Disc Special Edition)

OK, Hellboy 2 is not exactly a movie about veterans. Although Hellboy was created during WWII, and has been fighting paranormal threats as a member of the government, he can’t really qualify as a veteran. However, this is a fun action movie with a lot of fascinating CGI, a great popcorn movie that everyone can enjoy, including veterans.

Music:

And Winter Came ~ Enya

David Archuleta ~ David Archuleta

Hit Man: David Foster And Friends ~ Various Artists

Hope you enjoy yourself today, MMT fans, and remember to pay a little respect to the men and women who have given so much to this country!

Will

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Music and Movie Tuesdays … And TV Shows Too!

Will — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 01:38:24 +0000

Hey there loyal MMT fans, I’m blogging from our brand new office here in Sunnyvale. Today is the day of election, and while I am obligated to remind all of you who have not done so to vote, I am suffering from a big case of election fatigue myself. The latest releases are sure to help you relax and focus on the future. To paraphrase many politicians, it’s time for a change America, so change the channel on over to this!

Futurama: Bender’s Game (2008)

This made-for-TV movie is something I’m very excited about myself. As a big Futurama fan from way back, who saw a great show canceled because it was always getting pushed back by midseason baseball, I’ve been happy to see Futurama reincarnated as a series of movies that will obviously be chopped into thirds and syndicated as episodes on basic cable. This movie is about Bender the robot wanting to play Dungeons & Dragons (yeah, they still have that in the future) and needing to get an imagination chip installed. If you liked Futurama, this show is as sharp and witty as ever.

Get Smart (Single-Disc Widescreen Edition) (2008)

This movie is a remake of the classic series Get Smart, originally conceived of by Mel Brooks, a spoof of the spy genre. Steve Carrell stars in this action/comedy as agent 86 along with Ann Hathaway and Dwane “The Rock” Johnson. If you like decent action and the comedy of the office, especially Michael, this is for you. Basically, if they made Michael Scarn into a real movie, this would be it.

Twilight Soundtrack ~ Original Soundtrack

If you liked Anne Rice novels but wish the vampires could be more Emo, then this CD is for you. Or, more likely, if you are a girl betweens the ages of 10 and 17, this CD is also for you. This is the soundtrack of the movie version of the Twilight series, about an ordinary girl and the handsome vampire who loves her, this soundtrack is perfect as a holiday gift if you know someone who has read the books and seen the movie, but still wants more. With original songs and some popular favorites, it is a nice CD to play while relaxing in the bath tub with some scented candles.

Music:

Don’t Come Home for Christmas ~ Jeff Dunham

TV Shows:

JAG (Judge Advocate General) – The Seventh Season

Movies:

Kung Fu Panda (Widescreen Edition)

That’s all for now, see you next week!

Will

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Music and Movie Tuesdays … And TV Shows Too!

Will — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 00:07:15 +0000

Hey gang, back again this fine Tuesday to let you in on some of the latest music, movie, and TV show releases. I don’t know about you, but to me it seems like this week was when fall really started. The weather got colder, there was a lot more fog, and it seemed like the sun was setting a lot earlier. I know some of you will point out how this has been happening for months, but honestly, I felt like last week was when it finally stopped being an extended summer. Anywho, let’s talk about some new releases.

—–

Mystery Science Theater 3000: 20th Anniversary Edition [Limited Edition]

Mystery Science Theater 3000, hereafter known as MST3K, is not only one of the greatest Sci Fi shows of all time, it’s also one of the funniest shows of all time. The thin plot, about robots and evil scientists and space stations, is really an excuse for a delicious mocking of science fiction movies spanning many decades. If you watched The Muppets as a child, and your favorite part was Statler and Waldorf, this is for you.

—–

Tinker Bell (DVD – 2008)

Tinker Bell is a new made-for-TV movie from Disney that shows off their new acquisition of Pixar. This Computer Animated movie is basically the life story of Tinker Bell, a character from the 1953 Disney class Peter Pan. This film was largely panned by the critics, so it is not really one of those childrens’ films that adults will enjoy as well. However, if you have a younger girl (under 8) she will probably enjoy this a lot.

—–

Snow Patrol – A Hundred Million Suns

Snow Patrol is an alternative rock band from Scotland. I saw them myself when they opened for U2 during the 2005 Vertigo tour. Although I liked their sound, I thought their music was kind of depressing, all about “feelings.” This new album has been cast as a more positive, upbeat collection, with songs about how great things are going, rather than how miserable the artist is. If, like me, you’re tired of musicians either being bland pop stars or just whining about everything, you’ll give this CD a try.

——

Music:

Toby Keith – That Don’t Make Me a Bad Guy
The Cure – 4:13 Dream

—–

TV Shows:

The L-Word: The Complete Fifth Season

—–

Movies:

Journey to the Center of the Earth (Limited-Edition)

—–

That’s all for now, MMT fans!

Will

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Music and Movie Tuesdays … And TV Shows Too!

Will — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 21:55:59 +0000

Hey there legions of screaming MMT (Music and Movie Tuesdays) fans, today I’d like to talk to you about Halloween. I know it’s not for another week and a half, but many of you still need Halloween costume ideas for adults and childrens Halloween costumes, and I bet there are those who still need to make their Halloween plans. So whether you want to have an all-night sleep over with friends with a TV-show marathon, watch a spooky movie while your significant other holds you close, or play some great background music at a kicking Halloween rager, I’m here to set you straight!

KISS – Ikons [4 CD Set]

Kiss is one of those bands that have been around for decades, and everyone knows who they are. They’re almost as famous for their concert outfits as they are for their amazing hard-rock music. This 4 CD has a different CD for each of the four founding members of Kiss, and each CD represents the music that founding member helped create. For Halloween, what could be better than a band who dresses up in costume every day?

The Strangers (Unrated)

The Strangers is a classic horror movie that relies less on Saw-style gore and more on traditional thriller-style scare tactics. High on the suspense, it features an excellent performance by Liv Tyler, as well as Scott Speedman as a young couple alone in a cabin menaced by terrifying masked psychos. When you’re alone with a sweetheart on Halloween and want to huddle up close over some popcorn, this is the movie to do it with.

Family Guy, Vol. 6

If you’re looking for a marathon of laughs for a sleepover on Halloween, you can’t go wrong with Family Guy. A show that is so funny and irreverent that, after the studio suits canceled it, a campaign by fans and strong DVD sales brought the show back from the grave. While Family Guy volume six is missing the famous Star Wars parody that kicked off the season, it does have a wonderful two part episode that finally answers the question: What would happen if Stewie finally killed Lois? It also features guest appearances by James Woods and the best humor ever produced by manatees!

Music:

Paul Stanley and Louis Antonelli – One Live Kiss

Kenny Chesney – Lucky Old Sun

Movies:

Incredible Hulk (Widescreen Edition)

Stock up now and have a rocking, scary, and funny Halloween!

Will

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Music and Movie Tuesdays…And TV Shows too!

Will — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 00:38:43 +0000

Hello faithful readers! I’m sure many of you are planning to watch the Presidential debates tonight. I know I am. But I’m still smarting over the Vice Presidential debates last Thursday. Why you ask? Because two of my favorite shows, 30 Rock and The Office, were not shown that night in favor of the debates. I had to go and educate myself about politics and the issues and America’s future when I could have been getting my funny on! With that in mind, this week I want to point out some TV shows and movies you can watch the next time someone tries to make you “informed” or “do your duty as citizen.”

The Simpsons – The Complete Eleventh Season

Widely considered one of the greatest television shows of all time, The Simpsons are a great way to make you laugh whenever you need some cheering up. Although some people claim the show “jumped the shark” after the 8th season, I am compelled to disagree, as my favorite Simpsons episode ever was in the 11th season. Saddlesore Galactica features Bart adopting and racing a bad boy horse, while Homer discovers the terrible secret of the jockeys! A definite must-see.

Sleeping Beauty (Two-Disc Platinum Edition)

One of those all time classics that young girls have been watching for many decades, Disney has digitally remastered this movie to make it really shine. A truly ambitious film for its time, the villainess, Malificent, has acted as a template for evil animated villains ever since.

30 Rock: Season 2

As I mentioned earlier, this show is definitely one of my favorites on the air. Tina Fey (besides being a body double for Sarah Palin) stars in this smart and funny comedy show… about a comedy show. She shares the spotlight with Alec Baldwin and Tracy Morgan in a sharp satire that has won numerous Emmy awards. In this season, Jack Donaghy (played by Alec Baldwin) dates a woman who was the star of a Lifetime movie, and competes ruthlessly with Will Arnett for the coveted job of CEO of General Electric. I cannot recommend this show highly enough.

Also released:

Music:

Bob Dylan – Tell Tale Signs: the Bootleg Series Vol. 8

Celtic Woman – The Greatest Journey: Essential Collection

The Dillinger Escape Plan – Under the Running Board

See you guys later,

Will

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Music and Movie Tuesdays…And TV Shows too!

Will — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 16:43:18 +0000

Welcome back, fans and followers, for another weekly installment of movies, music and TV shows for your viewing pleasure. We focused more on TV shows this week, and I bet a lot of you are tuning in to the new fall season (thanks to my sage advice). But when your TV show is over, or your favorite character was killed/voted off, or you Tivo’d the show and your stupid roommate gave away the ending, relax and enjoy some movies and music.

Iron Man (Two-Disc Special Collectors’ Edition)

One of my favorite movies of the year, Robert Downey junior really stretches as an actor to play a rich guy with a drug problem. He’s also a genius inventor and an arms manufacturer. He builds himself a super powered suit, and awesomeness ensues. This movie is not exactly an Oscar contender, but it’s a lot of fun to watch. If you like the new Batman movies but wish they were less dark and more explosion-ey, this movie is for you.

Forgetting Sarah Marshall (Three-Disc Unrated Collector’s Edition)

I saw this movie with several female friends. I thought it was only so-so, but they really loved it. Jason Segel reprises his role as a sensitive caring guy from How I Met Your Mother in the movie he also wrote, directed by Judd Apatow, as musician who gets dumped and tries to get over his girlfriend by going on a vacation to Hawaii. Also staring Mila Kunis from That 70s Show, this film is a fun comedy for a girls night in, but I’m going to warn you right now, there is gratuitous male nudity!

U2 – Under a Blood Red Sky

U2 is one of my favorite bands of all time. I’ve seen them in concert many times, and they are still as fresh and exciting as they were twenty five years ago. Now, I’ll admit I wasn’t listening to a lot of U2 music 25 years ago (what with the whole not-being-born-yet thing), but now you can judge for yourself. This CD/DVD collection lets you both listen to and watch a series of live recordings from their War Tour back in 1983. See U2 when he was my age.

Also released:

Music
T. I. – Paper Trail

Jennifer Hudson – Jennifer Hudson

TV Shows
My Three Sons: The First Season, Volume One

Happy to be here,
Will

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