Address:
#2, Doddenakkundi Industrial Area, Opp. Shell Petrol Station, Brookefields Main Road, Off ITPL Road, Bangalore

Phone: 9844030198 / 080-40943031

From MG Road via Old Madras Rd and Whitefield Rd


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From MG Road via Old Airport Road


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From Marathahalli Bridge

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From Koramangala via Inner Ring Road and Old Airport Road

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Background
I’ve been using guitar processors from 1998. I had a bunch of analog pedals before that – Boss/Digitech (remember those DOD pedals?)/Ibanez and so on. I think I made the switch because

a) I liked to use a lot of different tones and tweaking pedals in the middle of a gig, and stepping on multiple pedals with two left feet was a challenge;

b) pedalboards were something only the lucky few with rich uncles in the right countries had – the rest of us had to make do with locally-made dodgy adaptors and messy setups; and

c) the people I looked up to in the local scene all seemed to be using them.

Processors have gone a long way since my first Zoom 1010 (a terrible piece of junk which I sold off very quickly). I stuck with BOSS for a while, working my way through the ME-8, ME-10 and the great GT-5. Still, getting a good tone at every gig, with widely different amps at each venue (Kustom Sound, Stranger, Peavey, and the very occasional Marshall) took time, and for a while I actually lugged my Stranger Nightingale Series 100 W solid-state Calcutta beast around.  Used the Line 6 POD 2.0 for the first time while recording our second album Jupiter Café, and was totally intrigued with amp modeling and everything it offered. Soon had the PODxt, then the PODxt Live, which you’ll hear on third and fourth albums Plan B and This Is It. Live, these modelers allowed me to travel light, and with a decent engineer FOH, nearly always get a decent tone. At least, that’s what people told me – many of them would come backstage after a gig asking about my clearly ‘analog’ setup and go away quite surprised (and perhaps disgruntled!) at the sight of the POD.

So, modelers have worked for me – for a good many years now. I’ve used them in front of plenty of amps, in the FX returns, going direct to the board etc., live and in the studio. With each generation, they seem to get better, more ‘interactive’, more detailed, and easier to use. For purists, of course, (and purists who can afford a whole stable of boutique beauties) there’s nothing that can replace the real thing, and this review may not change that!

The Eleven Rack
I’d used the Eleven plug-in to re-amp some tones on the last album, and found its single-minded focus on amp-modeling (no crazy collection of vintage pedals etc) very heartening. The amps always sounded crisp and clear, with much of the response that great tube amps give you – ease off on your attack/volume and things clean up, dig in and wail, shout and whisper – all of that. There were, of course, the plug-in limitations of latency, ‘feel’ and so on, but it did a great job of getting guitars to sit in a mix, or stick out nicely when they had to.

First Listen
I first listened to the Eleven Rack on a pair of Sony MDR-7506 headphones, playing my Erisa Custom Strat (hand made in Auroville) with Lindy Fralin single-coils. The Fralins are pretty low-output pickups with outstanding clarity. Used first a Planet Waves circuit-breaker and then a Monster Rock cable.

Having used a Guru Plexi tube head (also hand-made in Auroville) for a while, I naturally gravitated to the Marshall Plexi models first, and was immediately surprised by the Eleven Rack’s single-focus approach: the controls on this model are exactly the same as on the original amp – with no Master Volume, which is the sound of a Plexi. On any POD, for example, you’ll have a generic set of drive/bass/mid/treb/presence/vol controls that work on ALL models – NOT the way the original amps are. On the Eleven Rack, if the original amp has just a ‘drive’ ‘cut’ and ‘bass’ control, that’s exactly what you get on the model. This, I found, made it much easier to get a good sound from an amp model, fast. Dial up a twin reverb, say, and you find just the familiar knobs on the real thing; some minor tweaking, a tad of spring reverb and you’re in surf heaven…

The higher-gain amp models also sounded as gnarly and in-your-face as expected. Crank up one of these metal monsters and you may actually feel your bell-bottoms flapping when you hit a low E. Some of the presets were a bit too ‘driven’ and harsh for my taste – and my Strat isn’t the greatest fan of gain at 11! She likes the ‘give’ of a mildly overdriven amp best…

What I liked best about it is what they call ‘dynamic feel’; which I think is the result of what the Eleven Rack calls a ‘True Z’ input. What this means is that the unit adjusts the input impedance in accordance with the ‘load’ on the signal chain imposed on it by the various modeled stomp boxes and effects, used both pre and post amp model, just like if you were using an array of these things in the real world. While some of the physics here can be challenging, the results are plain to hear – the Eleven Rack comes frighteningly close to recreating the actual ‘feel’ of running your guitar through a pedal board and amp.

Diggin’ Deeper – The Hardware Interface and Editing
Just as a test of how intuitive the interface is, I refused to look at the manual and tried doing some deep tweaking straight out of the box. This is where I believe the unit could use some work; some buttons and controls are just not where you expect them to be, and there are some edits that force you to move back and forth between pages. However, none of these are more than mildly irritating, and one gets used to the unit’s logic pretty quickly.

With much of the editing being done by the nicely illuminated black knobs in front, you also quickly realize that the lights on the knobs change to let you know what your previous settings were before you started re-tweaking, which is pretty cool.

You can also place your stomp boxes and effects (not a very large collection, but what’s there sounds GOOD) anywhere you want in the chain, something I haven’t seen since the BOSS GT-5. Great for all us knob-twiddling control freaks.

Like the newer PODs, another cool thing is being able to add and remove stomp boxes and effects from the same preset or ‘patch’ as I still like to call it. This allows you to get a pretty amazing range of sounds from a single patch, simply by adding removing distortion, modulation, delay, reverb, EQ, etc. The Eleven Rack, being, well, a rack, all this of course needs to be handled by your MIDI foot controller, most guitarists lacking prehensile toes, third arms and suchlike. Incidentally, I used a MIDI cable to connect my PODX3 Live to the Eleven Rack and was afforded instant access to patch changes, FX on/off, Wah, volume – pretty much everything I needed. Nice! And for some time now I’ve believed that interoperability was a myth – especially when you have two units from different manufacturers and so on.

Recording and Re-amping
This is where the Eleven Rack may, once again, prove to be ahead of its rivals: it comes bundled with Pro Tools LE, ready for installation on to your PC or Mac. And this version of Pro Tools features the Eleven Rack Window, allowing you instant access to all the unit’s settings. Easier to work with if you’re simply re-amping (more on that later) or recording, because tweaking stuff on the computer while playing and recording very quickly becomes a pain. Just the mouse-pick-mouse thing I guess. But there is one really cool thing here – Pro Tools can now embed your Eleven Rack settings into the audio files, so if you have to work on tracks much after you’ve put them down, you save yourself a lot of head-scratching and trying to remember settings which you may not have saved as a patch.

Fire up one of the Pro-Tools-for-Dummies ‘templates’ and you’ve straightaway got everything you need to record some guitar – and the Eleven Rack allows you to put down one ‘direct’ track, with no processing on, one ‘wet’ track with all the fruits of your tweak-mania, and one ‘re-amp’ track just in case you suddenly hate that fruit basket and want to start over without actually playing the guitar part again.

Once you get into this, you’ll figure that your guitar track can be assigned to the Eleven Rack, processed, and then re-routed to another track fairly easily; you and send it out again through the ‘output to amp’ jacks, from where it can be plugged into an amp just like a guitar. Then, you can actually plug the mid you use on the speaker cabinet back into the mic input on the Eleven Rack!

Using it Live
While my X3 Live may suffice for now, I’d much rather use a proper full-featured MIDI foot controller to use this orange beast live. Digidesign haven’t got one out yet, but I’ve heard that there are various controllers in the market that will work, including something from Behringer that’s supposed to be really good value for money. Need to do some checking on that.

When I plugged the main XLR outs on the unit I got for this review into our mixer and PA, there was a very audible (actually very loud) hiss that wouldn’t go away. Perhaps it was this particular unit, because I don’t see this being a ‘feature’!

The Eleven Rack allows a direct balanced signal to be sent to the PA, and an independent stereo signal to be sent to any stage amps you want to use, where you can remove the cab/mic simulations.

Last Word
At a street price of $899 in the US, the Eleven Rack isn’t cheap, but it does offer some outstanding amp models, and a dedication to high-quality guitar tone that isn’t seen on many of the inexpensive modelers out there, for obvious reasons. Clearly, the high levels of detail on the amp, cab, mic and FX models will be heard best only by more experienced ears, but that’s more a result of just how quickly technology has been able to digitally re-create all the myriad variables that go into making a great guitar sound.

Will it knock things like the POD out of the water? Dunno – the PODs do a great job of giving you a LOT of amp models, and a LOT of effects and a LOT of in/out options that still aren’t available on the Eleven Rack. It seems to me thus, that this is a product that will very quickly be snapped up by studio/session cats that have their own recording setups. With the addition of a recommended foot controller, even gigging guitar players with big ‘analog’ ears should be happy with this unit. Hopefully Digidesign will soon release ‘model pack’ and other updates that will add more bells and whistles for those that want them.

For now, the Eleven Rack is as specialist as the plug-in – and does the job a whole lot better, methinks!

Guitar Doctor Bruce Lee Mani will demonstrate the Digidesign Eleven Rack at a free workshop on guitar technique and technology at Blue Frog, Mumbai on Digidesign’s Eleven Guitar Day – November 11, 2009. Special guests include Amit Heri, Amyt Dutta and Tony Das. More details on our Facebook  page. Limited seats. Pre-register now: elevenrack@ansata.net

The post Guitar Doctor reviews the Digidesign Eleven Rack appeared first on Thermal and a Quarter (TAAQ).

Bruce was quoted in DNA today. Excerpts:

On the low turnout:

If you think about the way our country has been run, in the last few years at least, there are far more spectacular ‘failures’ that deserve mention. We believe that the campaign is a success that is still in the making.

On the comments of certain leaders that the campaign was a failure:

The assignment of blame is perhaps our nation’s most absorbing pastime; there’s always someone else responsible for your problems.

On voting for the first time:

It felt good to use the finger. I can’t say it was the best candidate who got my vote, but in the context of the ‘big picture’ maybe it was the right choice!

More

The post Vote's the fuss? appeared first on Thermal and a Quarter (TAAQ).

We’ll leave you with some fabulous pictures taken by Shrenik Sadalgi.

Bruce Lee Mani

Rzhude

Rajeev Rajagopal

Thanks, Shrenik!

There are more fabulous pictures taken by one (and only) Mr. Gaurav Vaz. Facebook people: you’ll find them here.

The post Thank you! Now go vote! appeared first on Thermal and a Quarter (TAAQ).

7 PM. Entry free.

Anushya Badrinath has shot some amazing pics of our gig in Mumbai.

TAAQ – Shut Up and Vote – Mumbai – © Anushya Badrinath

Dig in for more…

The post Mumbai rocked, and Bangalore will appeared first on Thermal and a Quarter (TAAQ).

TAAQ brings the Shut Up and Vote tour to the capital

The capital. Power center with no power cuts. Karims. Gulatis. Great gigs. TAAQ quite infested this joint between 2006 – 2007, playing some super shows in the colleges, pubs, etc. Delhi’s always been good to us!

Bruce at the Shut Up and Vote tour, Delhi

Staying at the Tata Tea guest house, while crew (who, btw, are beginning to look more like the rockstars than us) stay at a place called (see? see?) ‘Rockland’. Manage to catch up with old pal Hebbani Raghu Rao Venkatesh (of CNN IBN Anchor fame) and his lovely wife Anu at their home in Noida. Thanks for that great dinner!

Rzhude in full flow at the Shut Up and Vote tour, Delhi

Pragati Maidan is such an amazing place; last we played here must’ve been for GIR, way back in the late 90s, at the Hamsadhwani theater. Lal Chowk is also a striking location – the pics will speak for themselves. Sachin’s sound and lights were spot on, and everything came together just right. Changed the set list a bit; threw out the medley and put in Jupiter Cafe and Sanity instead. The jams were cooking! And there was a bunch of folks in front who seemed to know all the licks and lyrics… nice!

Rajeev skins 'em at the Shut Up and Vote tour, Delhi

Post gig Colonel’s (overpriced) Kebabs and Swagath Pomfrets later, we’re ready to move on.

Must be quite a trip to do this kind of thing 200 days a year.

Tonight, be there in Mumbai. We have a huge stage, full power sound and the works in terms of lighting and multimedia. And it won’t cost you anything except the train fare.

If you miss this one, you’ll rue it. We know Nerul isn’t exactly Near-ul, but it ain’t Far Out either. Please note the correct address of the venue:

Ramrao Adik Institute of Technology (RAIT) grounds  (D Y Patil Academy campus), Nerul, Navi Mumbai.

Location details and map

See you there tonight!

Happy Ugadi to all of you in Bangalore. We’re coming at ya live on Saturday evening at St Joseph’s College of Commerce Grounds. 7 pm onwards. Entry free.

The post The Shut Up And Vote Tour Diary – 3 appeared first on Thermal and a Quarter (TAAQ).

So all you Mumbaikars and Bombayites, whichever side of the nomatophobic divide you may subscribe to, get yourselves over to Navi Mumbai.

Mark your calendars – 7 PM on Friday, March 27

Venue:

Ramrao Adik Institute of Technology (RAIT) grounds, D Y Patil Academy, Nerul, Navi Mumbai

Entry free.

The post March 27 – Mumbai, shut up and vote! appeared first on Thermal and a Quarter (TAAQ).

Calcutta (er, Kolkata) felt like we went back in time by around 40 years. Everything’s old and has a quaint feel about it. On the other side of its quaintness, even the traffic, honking and road rage is played out so realistically in true barbaric form, unlike Bangalore where the same scenes are enacted by formally dressed yuppies driving their mid-sized luxury cars (my great self shamefully included).

Rajeev at Shut Up and Vote, Kolkata

Been to Cal a few times before but this was the first time at college street and its many narrow gullies. What an amazing place! You know, I’ve never got it when people speak about their favorite cities and how they are absorbed and soaked in the character of these cities, etc. (pretty much like how I don’t understand auto buffs who speak of how their vehicles handle and hug and kiss the road so well, etc… what the!!! ).

Bruce at Shut Up and Vote, Kolkata

Anyways, I think Calcutta did it for me this time. It drizzled a bit as we were rushing back from Bhojohori Manna to Presidency College for sound check. It was a mad drive back.

Calcutta may not save me, but together we can cry

It’s the closest to my idea of the real real reality of an Indian city. To me, in the end everything boils down to being some shade of grey and Calcutta has the most shades to choose from.

So as Calcutta handles amazingly well, and gently hugs and caresses the road, we move to the next big city on our tour – Ny Dhilly.

adios
Rajeeb

About the gig: Suffice to say it happened!

TAAQ takes the Shut Up and Vote tour to Kolkata

The post The Shut Up and Vote Tour Diary – 2 appeared first on Thermal and a Quarter (TAAQ).

TAAQ kicks off the Shut Up And Vote Tour at IIT-Madras, Chennai

The heat. The dust. The burden of the beast… Chennai is a true ‘Look At Me’ situation. Love it!

IIT OAT – the last time we played here was at least eight on nine years ago – when the Greenpeace Rainbow Warrior was docked in Chennai’s port, sounding a clarion call for ‘No More Bhopals’. Was a great gig then (will always remember this one moment: everyone in the crowd was given a candle and asked to light it at the same time… never seen so many stars in the audience like that before – it was stunning); and last night was no less.

Rzhude on bass at IIT-Madras, Chennai

Soundcheck doesn’t quite go according to plan; there’s some conference going on and the Dean keeps ringing us to say ‘Oldein’ (travelers on B’lore buses will know that distinctive sound). But it’s all looking good… the backdrop, the lights, the stage.

Chennai band Greyshack open the gig and get the crowd going with a high-energy medley. We get on after a quick AV and intro; start with Shut Up And Vote and crowd is already roaring. Nice!

Rajeev on drums at IIT-Madras, Chennai

Saw a few Walkie-Taaqies in front singing along to Paper Puli, Look At Me, etc. One Small Love was one of the highlights; used good friend Angshuman’s Taylor acoustic (need more work on getting it to sound right, though) and played the video on the AV screen. Happy lads, kudos! Every pair of hands in the audience spontaneously came together when Rzhude drew that smile on… It was a great moment.

Bruce on guitars and vocals at IIT-Madras, Chennai

Wrap up with Humpty Dumpty, Chameleon and finally, Motorbyckle, complete with sound effects.

Good Gig! Hope we got folks to at least start thinking about the message. Make a date with us – the tour is coming to your city, or at least close!

On to Kolkata now.

Ciao!

TAAQ performs at the Shut Up and Vote tour at IIT-Madras, Chennai

The post The Shut Up and Vote Tour Diary – 1 appeared first on Thermal and a Quarter (TAAQ).

The Shut Up and Vote Tour

You have already previewed ‘Shut Up and Vote’ on YouTube. Now, coming soon to your city, or a city near you, is the ‘Shut Up and Vote’ tour, part of the Jaago Re One Billion Votes campaign. This is an initiative of Janaagraha and Tata Tea.

We will play in five cities to get the youth together to stand up, shut up and… vote!

It’s interesting how some good folks in the blogosphere are already dishing out their cynicism and quasi-intellectual gibber about the campaign and its effectiveness. They yap about India and China, about the economy and their parsimony, about the Olympics and the Commonwealth Games, about Padma Shrees and Padma Laxmi. But hey, just for a minute, get off that high horse and do something, people.

And well, about our song.

Some of the comments on the music video made a big deal about language: some viewers thought the song ought to have been sung in Hindi. Heh, we’ve heard that one even before most of you started to Rock On! Our piece of advice: Try that in Chennai, my friend, and you’ll spend the rest of your years picking splinters out of your rear.

But seriously, language is a non-issue. If you have English newspapers and magazines, English TV news channels, and English theatre, if you can fill your bank application form in English, and sign your name in English, why Bollywood-ise our world?

Go to the neglected Northeast (we have) – English works there better than the officialese of Hindi. And then, we have always maintained that English – thought, written and spoken our way – is an Indian language, and that stays.

For those who haven’t heard us before, we urge you to listen to our songs a little more carefully. Potatoe Junkie, Humpty Dumpty, Cynical World, Galactiqua, Sevenish, The Steal, Chameleon… scratch the surface of these songs and you’ll get to the heart of the messages we have been spreading for the last 13 years. To that list, Shut Up and Vote is one more addition.

So, come and watch the concert. It’s the first step you can take before you use your index finger to make a difference.

And while you’re at it, we’ll practice what we preach.

Here’s the schedule:

MARCH 20: Open Air Theatre, IIT Madras, Chennai

MARCH 23: Presidency College, Kolkata

MARCH 25: Pragati Maidan, Lal Chowk, Delhi

MARCH 27: D.Y. Patil College, Mumbai

MARCH 28: St. Joseph’s College of Commerce, Bangalore

Be there!

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