pickup439
JamHub- Silent Rehearsal Studio
installed in some of the more `basic'
rehearsal facilities dotted around will
be all too familiar with the problems
of loud amplified instruments and
drums drowning out the lead vocals.
JamHub completely sidesteps this
misery by isolating each musician
in their own perfectly controlled
environment with total command
over how much of each instrument
they want to hear; all everyone needs
to bring apart from their instrument
is a decent set of headphones.
One thing that JamHub doesn't
do is offer any kind of modelling
and so guitarists and bassists will
also need to bring a POD or some
other type of modelling amp or
preamp to play through because
while JamHub includes a decent
set of digital FX there is no built-in
guitar preamp. It is also important
to point out that every instrument
needs a stereo connection � which
is no problem for keyboards or even
drummers using an electronic drum
kit because a stereo TRS cable from
their headphone-out jack on their
instrument or electronic drum sound
module will connect directly into
the JamHub's stereo inputs. Mono
instruments like guitars or basses will
need a mono-stereo jack adaptor
or else you just end up hearing a
mono version of your instrument
in one ear, which isn't ideal.
It might be useful to invest in
JamHub's stereo accessory pack that
comprises five 12' TRS instrument
cables (with colour coded rings to
avoid confusion) that enables easy
mono-to-stereo conversion.
Drummers and keyboard players
are also catered for by a remote
version of the JamHub's individual
mixing sections. Called the SoleMix
Remote, this useful accessory comes
included with the GreenRoom and
TourBus versions of JamHub and
is specifically designed to let band
members stuck behind drum kits or
stacks of keyboards to still control
their own individual mix without
having to clamber out from behind
their gear. Each SoleMix section built
into the main JamHub is virtually
identical except that section 1 also
has a mini slider switch that flips
between the user mix on channel 1
and a master mix that can be sent
directly out to a digital recorder or
a computer. The musician plugged
into section 1 is basically in charge
of their own mix and the master
recording mix and can monitor
both by using the switch to flick
between both signal paths... best
make sure that the person in charge
can be trusted not to nudge their
personal fader up a notch or two
higher than everyone else's!
The colour coded individual
channels make it easy to quickly
differentiate between who is plugged
into which SoleMix input � and
each channel has corresponding
coloured knobs so that the separate
instruments levels can be controlled
by each individual user. Say you are
the guitarist and you are plugged
into channel one (blue), if the singer
needs to turn you up or down they
adjust your level on their individual
SoleMix channel's blue level control.
It's that easy! Besides setting their
own and their band-mates levels
everyone connected to JamHub can
position themselves in the global
mix with a pan pot located on each
SoleMix pod. Called the Stage
control, this is designed to create
a more realistic sense of space by
spreading each instrument around
the stereo field in a similar way that
the different instruments are set out
on stage and it certainly contributes
to a much more spacious atmosphere
in the headphones.
How R You?
All three JamHub models include
a control panel that is set aside
specifically to deal with the `Hubs
recording mode. As we've already
pointed out, the person plugged
into channel 1 has control over the
JamHub's master recording mix.
The recording section's controls
include individual channel faders
and the master effects section. The
in-board digital effects are there to
add an overall sense of atmosphere,
effectively creating a virtual `rehearsal
room' for the band. Sensibly, the
effects only work on the mic inputs
and each vocalist has control over
how much effects they want on their
individual mix. The effects sound
pretty good and are mainly reverb
effects that add vital atmospherics
to the overall mix ranging from
simulations of a classic Sun Studios
slap-back to cavernous cathedral-like
reverb effects, plus a handful of more
specialised effects like backwards
reverb and some bread-and-butter
modulation effects including chorus
and flanging.
For situations when the band or an
individual are learning a new song
(some bandleaders that crack the whip
might argue that rehearsals aren't the
time for learning new material, that
should be done before the band meets
up, but that's maybe being a bit
authoritarian) the JamHub's USB port
accepts an MP3 player.
In our test the JamHub proves
itself to be a revelation, although
there was a slight sense that the
JamHub slightly diffused the
communal sense and camaraderie
of a usual band rehearsal due
to everyone being encased in
headphones (but only during actual
performance, it doesn't stop you
enjoying a bevvie and a good chin
wag afterwards.) However it can be
argued successfully that JamHub is
actually a very social device because
it invites more possibilities for
musicians to get together and play
when circumstances might otherwise
prevent it. PM
JamHub eliminates the noise without killing the vibe.
SoleMix Remote gives
musicians isolated behind
drums or keyboards control
over their mix.
JamHub isolates each musician in their
own perfectly controlled environment...
WHY SHOULD I
WANT ONE?
JamHub is one of the best
new products that we have
seen in a long time. It is
amazingly practical, very easy
to use and well worth the
money, especially weighed
up against the accululated
cost of six months worth
of shivering in a freezing
breeze block rehearsal
`studio' that smells of damp,
stale cigarettes and mice
droppings.
JamHub is there whenever
you need it and while totally
silent rehearsal for a full band
is still only possible if your
drummer has an electronic
kit, JamHub is still a great
leap forward for civilised
music making, free from
unwelcome interruptions.

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