Stepping Stone Approach Brings Electronic Drumming and Music Within Anyone’s Reach — No Computer or Audio Knowledge Necessary

Synesthesia Corp. (http://www.mandaladrum.com) today announced the release of a new EZ Version of its Virtual Brain software, designed to allow anyone — even those with no musical or technical knowledge — to be able to make music using the company’s wildly popular, patented high-def drum and synthesizer, the Mandala 2.0. The EZ Version will be available starting Thursday, July 3, 2008.

‘If you can listen to a QuickTime movie or iTunes on your computer, then this software will make sound for you — there’s nothing more you need to do except install it onto your computer,’ said Vince De Franco, Synesthesia founder and CEO, and inventor of the Mandala.

The software comes with 75 presets offering pre-arranged musical combos, with self-explanatory names like piano only, piano scale, piano and bass, snare only, snare + position pitch, snare + velocity pitch, etc.

The software automatically detects and configures the Mandala. With the ‘help’ function activated, the EZ software provides rollovers to explain everything that appears on the screen, helping users change the pre-configured settings if they want: they can choose instrument combinations (drawing from sounds and instruments that are built into the computer already), configure up to four different zones of sound across the drum pad, choose scales, modify sound effects and more.

The EZ Version also has:

* 175 instruments and drums (accessed from within Windows or Mac operating systems)
* One operating window for ease of use
* 21 musical scale choices, and nine scale pattern choices
* Three different adjustable sound effects: pitch, pan and modulation
* The ability to alter sound effects with strike position and velocity
* Graphic representation of zone strikes and position ring strikes, so users can see the various zones of sound across the drum pad
* Ability to save new presets
* A panic button to immediately stop all sound
* A ‘Get Started’ button takes users directly to the Mandala Virtual Brain EZ Webpage for help and updates

‘There are a lot of features in our standard Virtual Brain software that only advanced players would want to use,’ said De Franco. ‘So we’ve created a lighter version that streamlines the core function of the software, while maintaining the features that have made the Mandala so popular with beginners and pros alike.’

Both the EZ and Standard Versions of the Virtual Brain software will be included with every Mandala; both are available online for free download at http://www.mandaladrum.com. In fact, even without buying the Mandala, anyone can download the software and tinker with it — on its own, or with other PC or Mac-compatible musical devices.

Whenever they’re ready, players using the EZ Version can step up to the standard version of the Virtual Brain software. It includes 10x more sound effects, can handle up to five different drums plugged into the computer, increases the range to seven configurable zones of sound per drum pad, and comes with a custom library of professionally produced, proprietary sound samples derived from more than 100 other instruments. It’s professional audio software, allowing players to synthesize a host of new sounds and expand their drum kits and sample libraries at will.

Synesthesia also is producing a series of video tutorials for beginner, intermediate and advanced levels. The company will make them available on its website and on YouTube later this year. The series of videos will walk users through the entire process of using the Mandala — from physically connecting the drum to a computer, to using the EZ software, on through to setting up advanced audio techniques using the pro version of the Virtual Brain software.

The Mandala 2.0 retails for $349, and is available online at mandaladrum.com. Each Mandala is hand-crafted and thoroughly tested before it is shipped.

About Synesthesia
Synesthesia Corporation (www.synesthesiacorp.com) is exploring new sonic terrain with the Mandala™, its patented high-def drum and synthesizer — the only electronic drum that faithfully emulates an acoustic drum, and then transcends it. A new kind of synthesizer, the Mandala offers the world’s fastest trigger, precise strike detection across the entire pad, and a musical range so wide it can be the top of the line Black Beauty® Snare Drum or virtually any other instrument imaginable. The Mandala plugs into PC or Mac via USB cable, and works seamlessly with most major mixing programs. Co-developed with professional drummer Danny Carey of Tool, Mandalas are used by professionals and hobbyists the world over. Vince De Franco — inventor, physicist and musician — founded Synesthesia to develop his state-of-the-art electronic sensor technology and to use it to create products that inspire imagination and exploration. Based in Laurel Canyon, Calif., the company currently has several other products in development.

Traps Magazine Cues Up Lenny White’s Return To Forever; Historic Hit Man Drum Battles; Progressive Percussionists Of The 70’s; Moments with Miles Davis Discography And Much More

San Jose, Calif., — Enter Music Publishing, publishers of hip, drum/percussion magazines worldwide, today released its Summer Issue of Traps Magazine. Committed to covering “The Art of Drumming”, this issue of Traps extensively explores the history of jazz-fusion drumming through the pioneering players of these highly related genres in 90 pages.

Traps editor, Andy Doerschuk, in his “Entrance” Editor Column, best summarizes this compelling issue of Traps. As he notes: “Our cover stories continue to be the most expert and in-depth drumming coverage you can find, while other stories (covering jazz and fusion) remain focused on pertinent information for the discerning drummer, who wants to learn about the legends, their sound, techniques and gear.”

Lenny White: Reunited With Return To Forever, By Any Means Necessary
Lenny White, without a doubt, is one of the most well respected drummers of jazz and fusion. His incendiary contributions with Return To Forever ignited the fusion era, fusing rock rhythms with jazz harmonies. The passion and zeal with which he attacked the drums in his early days has never dimmed. When Return to Forever decided recently to reunite, White he met up with the other members of the band to rehearse for their upcoming summer tour, even though he was suffering from a broken shoulder and hadn’t actively drummed for nearly four months. As he says in the cover story, “I couldn’t play for 30 seconds on a pad it (the pain) was so bad.” Yet his band mates – keyboardist Chick Corea, bassist Stanley Clarke and guitarist Al Di Meola didn’t notice any difference is his ability to pull of the precision playing necessary to hold down the throne. Bill Milkowski takes the reader on a journey through White’s impressive career, particularly his contributions to Miles Davis’ seminal fusion recording, Bitches Brew, which also included drumming legends Jack DeJohnette and Billy Cobham.

Is the winner Gene Krupa, Buddy Rich, Louie Bellson or Elvin Jones?
While drum battles are rare today, they were a popular publicity gimmick in the 50’s and 60’s, challenging g the drummers and tantalizing audiences who had the opportunity to witness some of the greatest jazz drummers in history. Writer, Bruce Klauber, takes the reader on a historic tour of these exciting drumming moments. One of the highlights of this story is the ongoing series of drum battles between Gene Krupa and Buddy Rich. The battles between these drummers were not meant to be boxing matches for the two rivals had tremendous respect for each other: As Krupa commented, “Anyone that goes up against Buddy in these (battle) situations is going to get blown away.” A discography of rare battles is included.

Brian Blade In A Q & A
During this intriguing article, Blade is asked about how and why Joni Mitchell is one of his heroes. In his response, Blade explains how two of her recordings, Hejira and Mingus, have been influential to his ability to write well-crafted songs, “particularly the harmonic aspects of Hejira,” which continues to impact his writing style.

Six Progressive Percussionists – Miles Camp, Weather Report Syndicate Or Both
These six percussionists – Moreira, Alias, Mtume, Un Romao, Acuna and Badrena – were active participants in the fusion revolution. Generally speaking, they all had “Latin-tinged styles and did stints with Miles, Weather Report, or both. Traps explores the impact of each of these artists and how they’re contributions stand up three decades later.

125 Years Strong – Gretsch Drums
The Gretsch drum company has been building drums in pretty much the same way for 125 years. Played by legends from Tony Williams to Phil Collins, Gretsch remains one of the world’s leading brands. TRAPS photo star Robert Downs and writer Jared Cobb take readers on a photo-essay tour of the Gretsch factory. One thing is quite clear from this story; Gretsch drums will outlive any drummer, based on the fine crafting of these special sounding drums.

Epilogue: A Definitive Miles Davis Discography
As previously discussed, many of the drummers written about in this issue of Traps played at some time in their career with Miles Davis. In a thoughtful introduction to this discography, which is part 2 of an overview of the drummers who worked with Miles, Phil Hood, publisher of Traps, writes, “There is no way to quickly characterize Miles or his music, for he was always in transition.” This discography takes readers through all the musicians who played on his important recordings from 1961-75

Traps Issue Six is now available on newsstands, in music equipment stores and at Borders, Barnes & Noble and other chains in North America and selected foreign outlets.

About Enter Music Publishing
Founded in San Jose, CA in 1992, Enter Music Publishing, Inc. is a leading publisher of drum/percussion magazines, with distribution in 40 countries. DRUM! is the flagship publication of Enter Music Publishing, Inc. and continues to set the industry standard for editorial quality and innovation. In addition to DRUM! And DRUM! Digital, the company publishes TRAPS and HOW TO PLAY DRUMS. Additional information about the company can be found at: drummagazine.com.

A self-taught pianist, Megan now gets to experiment with drums and dozens of other instruments with her new Mandala. She loves any kind of music - classical, rock, country, Christian - and says the Mandala 2.0 “sounds like a lot of fun.” The only other thing she’s ever won was a 4-foot Snoopy - back when she was just three feet tall. Megan and her mom used to raise Chihuahuas, but she says the business was doomed - they kept more than they sold because the dogs were just too cute to let go. A disability keeps her from work, but she’s looking forward to experimenting with her new Mandala.

“We’re thrilled to award the Mandala 2.0 to Megan,” said Vince De Franco, Synesthesia founder and CEO, and inventor of the Mandala. “Anyone who’s got the gumption to teach themselves piano will love what the Mandala lets them do. It’s for people interested in music at any level. The Mandala lets creativity run wild, making it easy to experiment with sounds and create music. It looks like a drum and it is a drum - but it’s also just about any other instrument you can imagine.”

Synesthesia was behind the stealth online contest, presented here http://www.whatsthatsoundcontest.com/ - designed to showcase the Mandala’s ability to accurately emulate just about any instrument: a drum, a harp, a guitar, a piano, a marimba… and much more. The contest ran in Q1 of this year.

Among the responses were bongos, a sitar, glasses filled with water, a wine bottle opening, a didgeridoo — a wind instrument of the Australian aboriginees — and a bouncing ball in a long tunnel. Several people answered “synthesizer,” and all were entered into the contest drawing to win the prize. Representatives of Synesthesia randomly selected one contest winner from all correct responses.

A Rich, Satisfying Way to Experiment with Music

A new kind of synthesizer, the Mandala 2.0 packages a musical range so wide it simultaneously offers players the top of the line, most accurate model of a physical drum (via 3,000 professionally created, proprietary samples of the Black Beauty Snare Drum) - along with a library of sounds derived from more than 100 other instruments.

It plugs into a PC or Mac with just a USB cable, and its easy-to-use software comes with more than 100 presets for out-of-the-box functionality. Players also can create their own configurations as they explore and discover its astonishing audio range.

One pad can accommodate from one to seven different zones of sound - each of which can be configured as a separate instrument, with an array of specialized settings. Players can have a snare, a bass and a cymbal (or a harp, marimba or organ, or any other instrument) - all in the same drum head, all at the same time. One Mandala can act as one drum, as an entire drum kit, or as an eclectic combo.

The Mandala 2.0 retails for $349, and is available online at http://mandaladrum.com
Each Mandala is hand-crafted and thoroughly tested before it is shipped.

About Synesthesia
Synesthesia Corporation ( http://www.synesthesiacorp.com ) is exploring new sonic terrain with the Mandala™, its patented high-def drum and synthesizer - the only electronic drum that faithfully emulates an acoustic drum, and then transcends it. A new kind of synthesizer, the Mandala offers the world’s fastest trigger, precise strike detection across the entire pad, and a musical range so wide it can be the top of the line Black Beauty® Snare Drum or virtually any other instrument imaginable. The Mandala plugs into PC or Mac via USB cable, and works seamlessly with most major mixing programs. Co-developed with professional drummer Danny Carey of Tool, Mandalas are used by professionals and hobbyists the world over. Vince De Franco - inventor, physicist and musician - founded Synesthesia to develop his state-of-the-art electronic sensor technology and to use it to create products that inspire imagination and exploration. Based in Laurel Canyon, Calif., the company currently has several other products in development.

San Jose, Calif., — Enter Music Publishing, publishers of diverse, hip drum/percussion magazine worldwide, has made available its January 2008 Issue of DRUM! In its interactive edition at www.drumdigital.com. The January Issue features the second-line strut of New Orleans drummer, Stanton Moore, hot licks of Mitch Mitchell and four emerging Cowboy drummers, Myron Howell of Jake Owen’s band; Tommy Bales of Flynnville Train, Steve Sinatra of Halfway to Hazard, and Jared Pope of Whiskey Falls.

Stanton Moore could be, as the old adage goes, the hardest-working drummer in the industry these days. As DRUM! Interactive thoroughly investigates, Moore has a rare ability to make virtually any kind of groove “strut.” He has a strong command of the traditional New Orleans style and can acclimate it to any style, from the steady grooves that propel Galactic to his solo albums where he swings poetic. As he says succintly, “Music is a conversation. It just is.”

Moving the meter back in time in “Hot Licks,” Mitch Mitchell, like Moore, has that rare ability to fuse virtually any kind of drum style and make it swing. Perhaps the first drummer to play jazz style in a rock context, DRUM! Interactive focuses on some of his trademark tracks with Hendrix, such as “Voodoo Chile” and “Fire”. Writer, Brad Schlueter, notes that Mitchell’s contributions were essential to the drum vocabulary. Indeed.

“This issue of DRUM! Interactive may be our most diverse to date,” said Phil Hood, publisher of Enter Music Publishing. “While we always try to provide editorial for drummers of all styles, I think we’ve really accomplished that in this issue. Of course, there’s one factor that unites all of these drummers: they have a true command of their respective style.”

Additional features in this issue include: “Experiment In Extemporization,” which describes how an impromptu jazz session led by studio star Luis Conte became his latest greatest. And several others that are really hip, such as “Cowboys Without Hats”. Check out The “Features” section of DRUM! Interactive for additional drumming edge editorial.

Other sections of this issue of DRUM! Interactive include SoundLab, which reviews DW’s Accent CS Custom Elite Drums. The review is highly positive considering the high quality of these drums for a mid-priced kit, according to Schlueter. Meinl’s Roped Tuned Djembes and Dream Cymbals are reviewed as well. (Pages 122-126).

The issue ends as strongly as it opens with Practice Pad, highlighted by great lessons and tips, focusing on the innovative use of the paraddidle. Read on for more classic instruction.

About Enter Music Publishing
Founded in San Jose, CA in 1992, Enter Music Publishing, Inc. is a leading publisher of drum/percussion magazines, with distribution in 40 countries. DRUM! is the flagship publication of Enter Music Publishing, Inc. and continues to set the industry standard for editorial quality and innovation. In addition to DRUM! and DRUM! Interactive, the company publishes TRAPS and HOW TO PLAY DRUMS. Additional information about the company can be found at: drummagazine.com, and drumdigital.com.

DRUM! Interactive Reeling in More Than 10,000 Impressions Per Day Since November Launch; Current Issue Features Foo Fighters Taylor Hawkins’ Reflections And Confessions

San Jose, Calif., — Enter Music Publishing, publishers of hip, drum percussion magazines worldwide, has experienced strong growth with more than 10,000 impressions per day with its newest title, DRUM! Interactive (http://www.drumdigital.com), since its launch in November of 2007. DRUM! Interactive’s quick success results from several factors: a unique, flip-page format, embedded movies and multimedia, and the diversity of content derived from its highly popular sister publication, DRUM!.

The current DRUM! Interactive cover story features Taylor Hawkins, who reflects on his 10-year tenure with the Foo Fighters backing his best friend, Dave Grohl. In fact, he gives full credit to Grohl for helping him get his life and career together.

At the same time, he discusses the day to-day challenges of playing in a band that already includes a world-famous drummer and breaks down the specific drum parts that defined the Foo Fighters sound.

“There’s such a personal, human quality that DRUM! Interactive captures so well,” said Phil Hood, publisher of Enter Music Publishing. “The reader really has the opportunity to learn so much about a specific drummer’s style. A good example of DRUM! Interactive’s powerful presentation is found in the link to the video drum solo of Grohl and Hawkins together.”

The December edition of DRUM!Interactive (drumdigital.com) includes terrific features, many with links to instructional videos and lessons:

How to play the greatest soul grooves of the Seventies
Mike Novak: The heavy hitter behind Every Time I Die
Life on the Road with Hatebreed
Achieving the Perfect Snare Sound in the Studio
How to play “Walking Disaster” by Sum 41’s Steve Jocz
Five complete lessons in the “Practice Pad” section

The issue also includes profiles of Chris Pennie (Coheed And Cambria), John Boecklin (DevilDriver, and Chuck Treece (McRad). Readers also have the opportunity to check out the latest gear since there are links to ads.

Issues of DRUM! Interactive are released monthly on the last day of the cover date of DRUM! Magazine.

About Enter Music Publishing

Founded in San Jose, CA in 1992, Enter Music Publishing, Inc. is a leading publisher of drum/percussion magazines, with distribution in 40 countries. DRUM! is the flagship publication of Enter Music Publishing, Inc. and continues to set the industry standard for editorial quality and innovation. In addition to DRUM! and DRUM! Interactive, the company publishes TRAPS and HOW TO PLAY DRUMS. Additional information about the company can be found at: drummagazine.com, and http://www.drumdigital.com.

’saratus persen’ is a world music group from Indonesia, formed in the beginning of September 2001, combining traditional music instruments : balinesse gamelan such as pamade & kantil, sundanesse such as drum & suling, african djembe with a western music instruments : drum, electric bass, violin, bongo, rotothom & percussion etc…the sound music more a balinesse influence….so attractive, nice for move and dance…. www.saratuspersen.com www.myspace.com/saratuspersen

For Immediate Rhythmic Release:
Enter Music Publishing Paradiddles to NAMM With Special “Bonham to Bonham Interview” That Cues Up The Past And Covers Drum History As It Was Made

San Jose, California - Enter Music Publishing, publishers of diverse, hip drum/percussion magazines, such as DRUM! (http://www.drummagazine.com) DRUM! Interactive, TRAPS and HOW TO PLAY DRUMS, has made available its February 2008 DRUM! Special NAMM (National Association of Music Merchandisers) Show Issue. It features an innovative tribute the drumming legacy of John Bonham (Led Zeppelin) including a joint interview involving John and his son Jason.
The interview (printed in a special minibook bound into the issue) celebrates the compelling 40-year old hold that John Bonham has made on the imaginations of drummers worldwide, and his son Jason’s recent powerful performances with the reunited Led Zep.

The History: “The Son Also Rises”
Since John passed away in 1978 it’s logical to ask how one could interview the father and son together. This editorial sleight-of-hand was accomplished by asking Jason and John the same interview questions twenty years apart. Back in 1993, DRUM! Editor Andy Doerschuk conceived the double interview between Jason and John Bonham. He asked Jason the exact same questions that John had answered in an interview twenty years before—and then published the answers side by side. The editorial result was both compelling and prescient. Though Jason had performed once with the remaining members of Zeppelin in 1988, no one knew then that in 2008 that Bonham Jr. would take over his father’s chair with Led Zeppelin. The original John and Jason interview has been updated and re-edited for this special issue.

“Like our 25-page opus to John Bonham that appeared in TRAPS Issue 3, which completely sold out, “Like Father Like Son” will surprise and inspire drummers of all ages,” said Phil Hood, publisher of Enter Music Publishing.

Elsewhere in the issue, DRUM’s February 2008 cover story explores the career of Zach Lind of powerhouse pop band, Jimmy Eat World. The feature of Lind discusses and investigates the group’s chart-topping emo sound even though Lind insists in the issue’s cover copy, “We never call ourselves emo, and never have.” You decide after reading this intriguing cover story.

There is also a report on the new band Another Animal, a project of Godsmack skinsman Shannon Larkin; a comprehensive buying guide of solid shell snare drums; and, a roundtable discussion with five of Nashville’s top studio hand drummers, Tom Roady Eric Darken, Ron Sorbo, Sam Bacco and Glen Carnuba. Of course, it also includes the usual assortment of educational features from DRUM!, including a look back at hot licks of the legendary Miles Davis drummer Tony Williams.

“We think this issue of DRUM! Is one of our best in terms of the diversity of drummers covered,” said Hood. “From the double interview of Jason and John to more contemporary drum stars, we expect our current subscribers and new readers to be highly impressed,” Hood continued.

For this year’s NAMM Show, Enter Music Publishing will deliver an additional 8000 copies of both DRUM! and its sister publication, TRAPS. The company’s booth number is 3543.

With this special NAMM 2008 issue of DRUM!, and all of its publications, Enter Music Publishing is well positioned to capitalize on the growing drum industry. According to
figures from the American Music Conference and Music Trades magazine, the drum industry has annual global sales of approximately $1.25 billion, and the United States accounts for up to 45 percent of that total.

About Enter Music Publishing
Founded in San Jose, CA in 1992, Enter Music Publishing, Inc. is a leading publisher of drum/percussion magazines, with distribution in 40 countries. DRUM! is the flagship publication of Enter Music Publishing, Inc. and continues to set the industry standard for editorial quality and innovation. In addition to DRUM! and DRUM! Digital, the company publishes TRAPS and HOW TO PLAY DRUMS.

Additional information about the company can be found at:

http://www.drummagazine.com

The Scoop

Sia Tiambi Barnes

Producer Ahmir “?uestlove” Thompson of The Roots is featured on the cover of the first issue of DRUM! Digital, a free online version of DRUM! magazine. He breaks down why some websites have deemed their engineering sounds as “Public Enemy #1,” how a combination of Hurricane Katrina and “label limbo” caused The Philadelphia hip-hop collective to record their latest album, Game Theory, in their demo studio and why after two decades, he’s now going to perform with a full drum set. “The rhythms I’m feeling lately are more African-based, so now I play with additional toms. It gives me different colors. I can’t imagine how I was doing full-blown solos with just two drums. Now, the options are endless,” he said. The full issue of DRUM! Digital can be viewed at drum.idigitaledition.com.

Read More…

“People are calling everyday because they can no longer find it on newsstands,” said Phil Hood, publisher of TRAPS. Sales have been so strong, and our readership has supported us so much, that we decided to make the story available for those ‘Bonzobeat’ fanactics who can’t find the issue,” Hood continued.

In addition to its popularity with baby-boomer drummers, The Bonham feature has received very positive reviews from writers and editors across the world. “It’s a great read . . . (Referring to The Bonham Feature) The whole Zep story has been told so often, it’s rare to get a new take, but I think you’ve done it with this,” wrote Marc Reeves, editor of The Birmingham Post, in an email correspondence. “There’s usually so much emphasis on Page and Plant, Bonzo’s contribution is taken for granted. Telling it through his eyes is very refreshing.”

As previously announced in the “TRAPS Covers It All” press release announcing the feature on Bonham, the piece was written by Chris Welch, a well-respected, former Melody Maker reporter. Welch covered Bonham during his early days with Zeppelin to his tragic demise. The Bonham story features previously unpublished material that has obviously caught the attention of drummers and Zep enthusiasts. Divided into eight chapters, the Bonzo feature reflects the editorial talent of many writers and Andy Doerschuk, editor of TRAPS.

Stay grooving, because the next issue of TRAPS will definitely be happening.

About Enter Music Publishing
Founded in San Jose, CA in 1992, Enter Music Publishing, Inc. is a leading publisher of drum/percussion magazines, with distribution in 40 countries worldwide. Additional information about the company can be found at: www.drummagazine.com and www.trapsmagazine.com.
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