A man of many hats, Tre has expertise in Holistic Health and Wellness, Digital Marketing, and Media Analytics. With over 10 years of experience as a recording artist and producer, he directs our Music Production workshops. and releases music as Tre'mendous - Learn More
If you hadn’t noticed by now,I have an affinity for LG’s flagship smartphones. From the camera lenses to the Audio recording features, LG has made professional-grade content creation tools the focus for the last two to three iterations of it’s G and models. As if the 32-bit Hi-Fi Quad-DAC wasn’t enough, a few new Audio enhancing features have been added to it’s latest and greatest flagship device the G7 ThinQ.
Aside from the Hi-Fi Audio that doesn’t kick in unless you have pair of headphones plugged into the (still present) 3.5mm jack, LG is
touting it’s new Boombox speaker that amplifies audio when the phone is placed on a flat surface. By turning the space behind the speaker and battery into a resonance
chamber, LG is claiming a 39% bass enhancement over last year’s G6.
Wrapping up the sonic goodies, DTS:X Audio brings “spatial sound, so audio sounds as if it’s coming from all directions even overhead.”
While this makes for great movie and gaming sessions (I played round of PUBG and could sense the location of others by the sound of
their footsteps), I found DTS:X made audio files sound muted and dull.
On the image front, Dual 16MP rear Cameras offer wide angle lenses as the main feature opposed to a telephoto lens to support
(useless imo) Portrait Mode, and much improved 8MP front facing camera. (Although Portrait Mode is feature for both the rear Cameras and selfies)
Even the screen is touting new technology an, 6.1 QHD Super Bright M+LCD Display which
gets up to 1000 nits in direct sunlight for up to 3 minutes.
The specs run in line with what you expect from a 2018 flagship, Snapdragon 845 processor,64GB of internal storage SD card slot, and 4GB of RAM.
I will be taking the G7 through its paces for
bit, and get back with a full review of the
device shortly.
Two of the most popular Music Making brands in software, FL Studio Mobile and Garageband (iOS), long regarded as “tools for beginners” at best,”toys” by the haters are two of the most powerful DAWs on the market. Today,they are used by every one from beginners to pros and they both have mobile apps that empower millions to create professional quality music on the go. The only question is which app to choose? Producer and Recording Artist Tremendous answers that question in one word, “Both!” Check out the capabilities of both in the video below:
It’s not everyday that a mobile app comes along and matches it’s desktop rivals pound for pound,so when it does happen producers and fledgling beat-makers better sit up and take notice.
Caustic 3 is one of those programs.
Created by Single Cell software,which is a ‘sole-proprietorship’ company led by lone Developer Rejean Poirier. Caustic has reached a stage of laptop-quality matureness at version 3,an achievement that almost single-handedly brought the Android platform up to par with iOS (Check the AppStore reviews below) due to it’s exclusivity to Android- even though the latest iteration of the program was finally released to iOS shortly after it was introduced in the Google Play store.
Caustic consists of 12 (twelve) instruments called “Machines”- the PCMSynth Sampler,Beatbox, Subsynth, Bassline, Padsynth, 8-bit Synth, Organ, Vocoder, and FMSynth. It also has an FX rack which includes 20 effects ,a virtual Mixer,a detailed Master rack, and your traditional song sequencer.
For those familiar with Propellerhead’s Reason, it’s quite apparent when you open Caustic for the first time that it’s been influenced by by the former- both in design and functionality.
The only thing that prevents Caustic from being the best all-around mobile DAW is a lack of true audio tracks, although it DOES record audio-The Vocoder and PCMSynth combined are perfect for one-shots and short phrases, verses and choruses not so much. What Caustic lacks in audio recordng tools it makes up for with a active user community and more support from Sound Designers than any other DAW on any mobile platform.
While the keyboards on each instrument are only useful for previewing sounds,and you can play them directly unto the sequencer-they each have their own piano roll views directly under them for easy pattern programming due to the complexity of the workflow for recording a performance on the sequencer.That and the lack of audio tracks appear to be Caustic’s only weak points.
If you want a music production app that enables you to easily make your own sound, all while including an excellent preset library AND great support from third party sound designers-look no further than Caustic 3.
Can Magix bring more than a one-trick pony to the show with Samplitude Pro X3?
Dear Samplitude,
You and your big sister Sequoia have been around before the word DAW was mainstream. The only other programs that can claim the seniority in this market that you can are Cubase, Logic , and Sonar. Not even Pro Tools; will the world ever recognize you for your trailblazing pioneering and pristine audio engine, or will you forever remain the secret mistress of many Pro Audio Engineers and Bands?
Sincerely,
But no seriously, Samplitude is one of the OG Software Music Studios, and with the latest version- Samplitude X3 Pro- it packs quite a few new features as well as an impressive add-on arsenal. (The premium version Samplitude X3 Pro Suite* comes with Sound Forge 11 Pro and a slew of mastering plug-ins,but this review is covering the standard version.) Does it have what it takes to compete in today’s innovative but already crowded market? Let’s find out.
Samplitude Pro X3 has over 20GB of content for registered users to download
Samplitude has an unique 64-bit native sound driver, called the Hybrid Audio Engine – that makes it the most neutral sounding DAW on the Windows platform (in my opinion).
Samplitudes Mixer View in it’s Platinum Pack™ Skin by Birdline ™
It also has the best virtual mixer setup, just beating out Propellerheads Reason – due to the 4-band EQ knobs integrated into every track.
The instruments bundled with Samplitude are quite versatile and it high quality, particularly Independence Pro and Vita.
My favorite ROMpler, Independence Pro has a VERY realistic library and deserves a in-depth review all its own.
Vita is not a Synth to be taking lightly,with a sound library half the size of Independence’s 12GB Basic Library- you should have all modern musical genres covered.The complete Pro X3 feature list below:
• Independence Sampler with a 12 GB database
• Vandal Special Edition
• 20 virtual instruments
• ARA VST extension
• Melodyne essential
• New mixer layouts
• Zynaptiq Orange Vocoder ME
• Birdline Platinum Pack V.6.0
For serious audiophiles and engineers, MAGIX Samplitude Pro X3 is an no-brainer all-in-one tool.For music producers,artists,and bands- there are more agile beginner-friendly tools to get your ideas out out there. But if you want to get your songs to a mastered finished project, Samplitude Pro X3 is worth a look.
Beathawk, is a music production app for iOS is far from a toy. From none other than UVI, developer of software instruments and effects that have been used to produce the music in quite a few blockbuster movies and AAA games. Known for the impeccable sonic quality and sound libraries of critically acclaimed Falcon software synthesizer, which is powered by their UVI Engine – music makers sit up and take notice when a company of this stature makes an iOS music app.
Which is why we have made it our business to introduce this awesome music production app for iPhone and iPad – Beathawk. If you like what you see and hear, click the link below to visit UVI to learn more.
With the smartphone market being ate up by the two-headed monster better known as Ap-Sung – (or Sam-ple if you’re a hip-hop head like myself) it’s refreshing to see a popular manufacturer bring innovation to the forefront and not be Apple or Samsung.
The 18:9 aspect ratio that has become the industry standard for displays like the ones you see on the iPhone X ,the Samsung Galaxy S8/Note 8, or even LG’s own V30 was first done on the G6. When it was released around this time last year, it was also LG’s best smartphone to date.
Other innovative firsts’ that the LG brought to the market was HDR10+ , Dolby Vision, and the 180° Wide Lens Dual cameras. These features might not seem as impactful to the average reader, but once you take in consideration that these features were implemented by Samsung two months later and (some not all) by Apple last fall with the X, and you have to give LG some credit.
If you like to learn more about the LG G6, we have a review of the device on Labfreq – you can visit to learn more about how my opinions on the G6. Or you could just check out the video below ??
LG V30+ released in October of last year (2017) isn’t exactly a brand
new phone, hitting right at seven months since it’s release but that’s
not at all old either by smartphone cycle standards.
The February to mid-April update to Android Oreo has brought it
(almost) up-to-standard in the latest Google-ly features, but LG has
also brought in it’s ThinQ software; This brings the V-series into LG’s
A.l. for loT and smart appliances ecosystem.
The LG V30+ has a lot going for itself, although the only difference
between it and the original V30 is the latter has twice the amount of
internal storage and comes with LG Quad Play headphones in the
box. With double the storage over the original variant and new A.I.
features, how does the V30+ hold it’s own in 2018?
Answer: Like A Boss.
Display
The 6-inch, QHD+ OLED Full Vision Display packs in 5xx pixels at 2880
1440 resolution that can be bumped down to 1080p to consume battery
life. It retains the same 18:9 aspect ratio that LG brought to the industry
with the LG G6, although the V30+ is a bit wider and taller though
thinner and lighter-
Blacks are deep, with the navigation
bar blending into the otherwise thin
bezels flawlessly. Colors pop with
true to life vibrancy, but the “cool”
calibration tends to give whites
bit of a blue hue:
Really?
I personally prefer a cooler color
profile rather than warmer
smartphone screens tend to either
lean towards blue others red (like
Samsung) which tends to favor
screen burn-in on AMOLED screens
anyway. LG phone displays tend to
have this character trait” as seen
in the Pixel 2 XL, through the screen
in the V30+ is clearly a generation
or two improved.
And It’s worth mentioning that the
secondary screen that the V series
was known for is replaced by what
LG is calling the Floating Bar:
software version of the actual
second screen of the V10 and
V20 that’s tucked away to the
side by default
The Floating Bar gives you access to a few otherwise
inaccessible tools like Extended Screenshot
and GIF Creator
The four panes of the floating bar allow you to assign up to
five shortcuts to your most used apps, Contacts and even
answer calls and access music controls.
All in All, the floating bar retains
the functionality of the missing
secondary screen while keeping
the display true to the 18:9 ratio.
It provides more functionality,
while taking up less space than
Samsung Edge Display for
example. When activated, you can
also swipe to answer calls.
Hardware: Glass and Metal Sandwich, Dual-Wide Lens Camera, Quad DAC Audio
The internals are nothing to scoff
at either, the V30+ comes armed
with the Snapdragon 835, 4GB Ram,
and 128GB of internal storage. This
time of the year, smartphones (like
the G7 ThinQ) are being shipped
with a Qualcomm Snapdragon
845 so the V30+ may seem a bit
behind the curve but the 835 is no slouch at all. It introduced features like smallerz more energy-efficient cores and faster gigabit LTE speeds – the 845 is to the 835 what the Snapdragon 821 is to the 820 (an overclocked version of the same chip). The looks are fairly unitarian, with the usual metal band sandwiched between the Gorilla Glass 5 on the front and back of the device. The glass curves and meets the metal band, creating a unibody design.
The back of the V30+ is not only a fingerprint magnet, but it is prone to scratches – so get a case ASAP.
The “Aurora Black” LG V30+ is a sleek, unibody union of metal and
glass with one micro flaw…
After around a week of use in the humid
spring climate of Houston, I noticed that
dust particles can get stuck in the seam
where the screen and metal band meets,
and it’s noticeable when the light shines on
the device from certain angles:
Discovering this was frustrating…
The upside is, it’s IP68 certified (waterproof
for up to 30 minutes in 1.5 meters of
water), so I guess you could “bathe” the
V30/V30+, or give it a shower….
More distinctive features are the dual
Wide Angle lenses of the camera and the
Hi-Fi Audio of the 3.5mm headphone jack,
thanks to the phone’s 32-bit Quad DAC
(Digital-to-Analog Converter).
Customize your sound in the Quad DAC settings
Sound Presets view for Hi-Fi Audio
Digital Filtering can add color to your sound,or provide a more
accurate flat sound.
The 32-bit Quad DAC is an ESS 9218P from
ESS Technology, the same manufacturers
who provide D/A converters for companies
like Apogee Electronics’ (Duet, Ensemble,
and Quartet and Symphony) Audio
Interfaces.
It makes for superior audio when listening
through wired headphones or a speaker
setup- and even though the Quad Play
headphones LG included in the box does
decent job showcasing the audio quality
of the V30+, it takes a pair of over the ear
monitors (or AUX connection to a decent
vehicle setup) to really appreciate what the
Quad DAC brings to the table.
CamBam
Everyone has heard about the 16MP and
12MP Dual lens set-up on the V30+, but the
new ThinQ moniker added to the splash
screen after the Android Oreo update
brings Al smarts to the LG flagship.
Activate the Al Cam, and the app begins to identify the contents
within a scene,and choose the appropriate mode for you
Most premium smartphones come with
dual lens cameras, but LG is one of the only
manufacturers to go against the grain and
utilize those dual lenses to provide an wider
field of view 125° to be exact.
The normal 16MP lens offers a 71°
standard view, so the wide angle 13MP
sensor captures over twice the scenery in
your pics.
Standard Angle 71° View
Wide Angle 120 Lens
The dual-lens, wide angle cameras is one of
the best setups available on a smartphone
and when every other phone maker is
going for portrait mode and bokeh effects
dare I say unique?
The only real standout weakness is the
software for the 5MP front facing camera.
I say that because I downloaded third
party software that made all the world of
difference in quality and noise reduction.
Performance, Battery Life, Stability
I have always appreciated the sheer power
and tons of features stuffed in LG flagships,
since the G3. The Nexus 5 have LG the
expertise of delivering a stock Android
experience, and the Pixel 2 XL allowed
them the opportunity to perfect Android
customization. I point this out because that
implies that they know how to minimize
the amount resources their Android skin
takes up on top of the Stock OS. They are
literally one of the few manufacturers that
can layer Android and keep it as smooth as
Google intended it to be.
The LG V30+ hit 1910 single-core and 5814
multi-core in Geekbench 4:
That’s up to par with average flagship
from 2017, but not quite up to snuff with
the latest Snapdragon 845 toting devices
like the Galaxy S9 which scored 2,422
single-core score and 8,351 multi-core
score.
Conclusion
A Lot of people who were livid supporters of
the V series may have been disappointed
to discover the omission of the removable
battery, and possibly the second screen
but the addition of IP68 certification,
Wireless Charging, Quick Charge 3.0 (4.0
with the right Charging Adapter) and
software that somewhat provides the
informative convenience the second
screen once did, are necessary changes to
keep the V-series modern. Everything else
that you come to expect from the brand:
extensive Video Recording and editing
tools, Hi-Fi Audio,Dual wide angle lens
cameras are here with a plethora of
upgrades. The only real standout weakness
is the software for the front facing 5MP
camera. I say that because I downloaded
third party camera apps that made all the
world of a difference.
The LG V30+ makes for a great alternative
to the more popular flagships, remains one
of the better options for general users and
one of the first looks for content creators.
Straight Outta Austin the Live Music Capital of the World, come Open Labs Technologies a company once known for their Neko 64 Workstations are hard at work getting the word out about their flagship DAW, Stagelight.
Stagelight is a flexible music production
program for Android, Windows and Chrome OS. It has a dark, but colorful UI/UX that offers two main views the Scene Builder View and Timeline View to create custom musical compositions of your own.
Combine your grooves, riffs, and refine your beats and melodies in the Scenebuilder View
The Timeline View is where vocals are typically recorded, one-shots are added and your compositions are refined for the masses
A glance a Stagelight’s Mixer View
The program is free to download and try for all platforms, with the option to upgrade broken down into platform tiers. We are putting the 4.0 beta 2 version of the program to the test (on Android and Chrome OS) now, and we will have a review shortly.
For more info, check out our video review of Stagelight 3.0 below:
