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PG contributor Tom Butwin tries the Lutefish Stream, a desktop device that lets musicians rehearse, record, and collaborate online with ultra-low latency. Tom tours the hardware, explores the browser-based mixer, and enlists a musical collaborator to test a real-time rehearsal for an upcoming performance. Lutefish StreamPlay online, in real-time, with your band. Jam with up to 5 musicians up to 500 miles away!Get Your Lutefish: https://lutefish.com

Aussie drone demons Whitehorse offer up a new track, “The Wait,” from their sludge match split, The Dissolution of Eternity, with UBOA.
The post Track Premiere: Whitehorse – “The Wait” appeared first on Decibel Magazine.

Benson Amps is proud to present their new flagship tube effect unit, the Tall Bird Plus Reverb and Tremolo. This marks a leap forward in spring reverb and optical tremolo design, solving many of the noise and technical issues of classic units, while also pushing the boundaries of what these circuits are capable of. The Tall Bird Plus is musical, quiet and extremely flexible.According to company founder/ designer Christopher Benson, ”In a tale as old as time, in 2023 we were approached by The Beach Boys to create a limited edition reverb-tremolo unit called the Surf’s Up, based on the classic Fender circuits with some upgrades, which was exciting because it allowed us to slay some dragons in the form of abiding tech problems with that type of circuit.After the dust settled, we realized the dragons could be deader, threw out the Fender schematics and performed a ground up redesign of how WE would achieve the classic sounds with even more versatility and lower noise…and also have regular AND harmonic tremolo in one unit. After “some” experimentation (like a LOT) we settled on a design called the Tall Bird Plus that checks all the boxes.” Key features: Separate Wet and Dry controls EL84 driven transformer coupled reverb. “Size” control – Shapes reverb character from splashy and shimmery to boomy and cavernous. – “Dwell” controls how much signal is sent to the reverb tank, ranging from short, spanky sounds through longer decay all the way up to saturation of the tank circuit. “Classic” and “Harmonic” tremolo modes, possibly the only tube-driven optical harmonic tremolo on the market. Reverb and Tremolo are can be independently bypassed with the included 2 button foot switch.MSRP: $1899

Iconic British string manufacturer Rotosound is proud to reveal a fresh redesign of its electric andacoustic guitar string packaging. The new look delivers a clean, modern feel while paying tribute tothe brand’s rich legacy of serving music’s rebels, rule-breakers, and pioneers. Rolling out thismonth with the Rotos product line, the updated packaging will appear across other lines in thecoming months.At the heart of the redesign is a celebration of Rotosound’s storied heritage. Created in-houseusing the company’s own archives of catalogues, advertisements, and vintage string packs, the artwork draws directly from designs dating back to the 1960s. For example, the Jumbo King, TruBronze, and Super Bronze sets repurpose graphics directly from one of the company’s earliest string packs. The aesthetic also draws inspiration from the visual language of early British rock and punk — including album art from Decca Records and the use of bold typography — connecting the new look to a lineage that includes The Who, Pink Floyd, The Clash, and The Damned.Function Meets Familiarity with a Splash of ColorOne of the key goals behind the packaging refresh was to improve product differentiation.Previously, many Rotosound string sets shared a similar visual identity, making it hard to distinguish between different lines — for instance, a regular gauge nickel set like Roto Yellows and an acoustic Tru Bronze set. The new designs give each line a unique visual identity, making it easy for players to find exactly what they need at a glance.Despite the fresh appearance, brand familiarity has been carefully preserved. Longtime Rotosound users will recognize the brand logo, gauge information, and key descriptors in their familiar positions. The British flag still adorns each pack — now in a clearer, refined form —representing the company’s proud tradition of UK manufacturing since 1958. Still using airtight foil pouches — containing the strings, a silica gel sachet, and nothing else — Rotosound’s packaging remains one of the industry’s most eco-friendly, with 90% less packaging material than other packing methods.To further streamline the experience, gauge-specific colour coding now links sets across different lines. For example, all 10–46 gauge sets, regardless of series, share a yellow theme;9–42 sets are pink.Notably, packaging for the acoustic sets now match the colour of the string material itself, allowing players to connect what’s on the outside with what they’ll find inside.Designed with Players in MindRotosound consulted players and retailers to better understand what information was most valuable on the shelf. The result is a dedicated product information box, placed uniformly across the new packs, which makes it easier to compare materials, instruments, and tonal profiles.Short, descriptive summaries have been added to help players understand each line’s sonic characteristics, whether they’re chasing warmth, brightness, or vintage feel.New endorsees have also been added to Rotosound’s impressive artist roster of legendary and contemporary acts — from Jimi Hendrix to Blur, AC/DC to Idles. Last but not least, a QR code on the back of each pack links to extended product details, recycling advice, and GPSR compliance information, giving players more insight — and more options — than ever before.Rolling Out from the Factory to the WorldThe new packaging is shipping now, beginning with the Rotos line. Other sets — including BritishSteels, Jumbo King, Tru Bronze, and more — will update gradually as retailers replenish their stock. Players around the globe can expect to see both old and new designs side-by-side on the shelves of Rotosound’s dealers across the world during this transition period.

Revisit (or listen for the first time) Blood Monolith’s debut album.
The post You Should Listen to Blood Monolith appeared first on Decibel Magazine.

Our columnist Barry O’Neal of XAct Tone Solutions revisits compression. Now that you know what those knobs and switches do, it’s time to add some seasoning. In my last column, we talked about compressor basics, so now you’re totally comfortable with all the compressor controls. You’ve cracked the code on what all those little knobs and switches do and now comes the real fun: figuring out how to actually use the thing.Maybe more than any other effect, compression is a type of seasoning, and like salt, the line between tastefully enhanced and completely ruined can be a thin one.Clean Tone GlueIf you play clean, or even edge-of-breakup, compression might be the secret sauce you didn’t know you were missing. A compressor in front of your amp smooths out dynamics, helping every note ring with equal authority—great for funk rhythms, arpeggiated picking, and those bell-like Strat runs that just need a little more shimmer and staying power. Compression reins in dynamics, unifying your sound and gluing it together.Country players have stuck with compression for decades. And not just any compression—often high ratios and fast attacks with liberal makeup gain to keep those percussive chicken-pickin’ runs present without being overwhelming.Tightening Dirty TonesYou might think compressors are only for clean tones, but they can actually bring order to the chaos of an overdriven rig. Place a compressor before a dirt pedal or amp and it can tame uneven pick attack, keeping the signal more consistent. While compression can help make up for a slightly undisciplined right hand, don’t stop those picking exercises cold turkey. Too much compression into distortion can flatten your dynamics.Some players also run compressors after overdrive. It can be a more surgical application, less about sustain and more about volume consistency. Think like a mastering engineer, and subtly control the chirps and squawks that fast, articulate playing sometimes produces.Sustained Leads Without SaturationWant sustain for days without drowning in distortion? Try compression. By squashing the initial transient and boosting the tail of the note, a compressor can keep a solo singing even at lower gain settings. Add in some delay and reverb and you’ve just entered the realm of David Gilmour. Origin Effects’ SlideRIG stacks two compressors in series to add obscene amounts of sustain without getting into Soldano levels of distortion.“One of the keys to understanding compression is experimentation.”Want a cheat code for expressive lead playing? Try a lower ratio with a low threshold and longer attack. The lower threshold will mask the compression effect. You’ll retain articulation while getting more sustain than your amp can usually muster on its own.Rhythm PrecisionIn the world of rhythm guitar, especially in funk, pop, or modern gospel, compression is your timing assistant. It helps keep chord stabs consistent in volume, enhancing the sense of groove. Fast attack and release times tighten up the transients, making you sound more locked-in. Don’t dismiss this use as a crutch for the weak. Instead, think of it as a finesse tool that allows the player to further clarify what good technique has created.One of the keys to understanding compression is experimentation. Don’t be afraid to twist knobs. In fact, get used to over-twisting knobs, turning them past the useful setting and to the extremes where the effect is overdone and beyond good taste. Note the timbre changes at that extreme setting, lock into them, and try to stay locked in as you roll the control down to a more reasonable level. This type of ear training can help you identify what the compressor can do for you and how each knob can be manipulated to arrive at subtle squish while avoiding the super squashed.Compression is one of those effects that, when dialed in just right, makes everything feel easier at your fingertips and more polished in your ear. The trick is knowing what you want before you start turning knobs. A compressor affords you so much control, it’s easy to get in the weeds if you rush headlong into adjustments. Need more sustain? Tame a spiky tone? Control volume swings? Add some glue? A compressor can do all that and more, but only if you take a moment to move from seeing it as a mystery box and start using it like the tool it is. Get comfortable experimenting, and remember: If you’re not sure it’s on, but everything just sounds better, it’s probably working.