Jack Joseph Puig Discusses Analog Vs
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CE PRO special report: HIGH-PERFORMANCE AUDIO HITS ITS STRIDE INTEGRATORS ‘TALK THE TALK’ ABOUT HIGH-END AUDIO TO MEET THE GROWING DEMAND. WHEN SOCIOLOGISTS DISCOVER long-lost enclaves of primitive humans deep in the Amazon rain forest, there is one remarkable common thread in every instance: ey dance and create music. Whether they are sing- ing or using rudimentary percussion instruments, the discoveries prove that there is a very deep instinctual need or emotion within all humans for music. ey have never heard Beethoven, e Beatles, Sinatra or Beyonce, but they still desire music. It’s that instinctual need that integrators are tapping into when they respond to their clients’ musical desires. is special report from CE Pro delves into high-performance music from several di erent angles to help you communicate the power of music. First, we have an interesting Q&A with noted rock guitarist Zakk Wylde that will give you perspective on how musi- cians (and younger generations) might feel about audio performance. Next, Grammy-winning producer Jack Joseph Puig discusses analog vs. digital and o ers up a great demo playlist. In the third section, CE Pro asked three inte- grators to spec audio systems across three broad ranges: digital audio only, home theater audio and ultra-expensive audio. Check it out and let us know what you would change. Finally, we look at vibration isolation equipment, a new add-on product category for your vinyl enthusiast clients. www.cepro.com JANUARY 2013 CE Pro 53 C1301 pp53 Audio cover.indd 53 12/12/12 2:19 PM AUDIO FOCUS ZAKK WYLDE Q&A Guitarist Zakk Wylde GOES WILD Famed heavy metal guitarist Zakk Wylde talks about the state of music, recording technology, equipment and Ozzy Osbourne. BY ROBERT ARCHER Zakk Wylde, former N THE LATE 1980S an Ozzy Osbourne guitar unknown musician named player and founding member of Black Label Zakk Wylde stepped into Society, has a long-time the daunting position as relationship with Gibson Ozzy Osbourne’s new guitar Guitars, owners of player. Proving that he was Onkyo and Integra. I up to the task of following legendary musicians such as Tony Iommi It seems like hard rock and heavy metal pelin. I was asked, ‘Why aren’t you doing and Randy Rhoads, Wylde helped revive are popular once again. How is it that in a stuff like that’ and I would say, ‘I have to Osbourne’s career during the early and world of Maroon 5 and Justin Bieber, acts do stuff I like.’ mid 1990s with albums like “No More like Slayer, Megadeth, Metallica and musi- Tears” and “Ozzmosis.” cians like yourself are so popular? There are some that view you as the last of Outside of his work with the iconic ▷▷ That’s the way it’s always been. Zep- a great line of guitar heroes that includes Osbourne, Wylde also found time to pelin and Sabbath have never been on the musicians like Hendrix, Jimmy Page, Alex form a band called Pride & Glory and radio. You had Elvis, the boy bands, then Lifeson, Eddie Van Halen, Randy Rhoads later Black Label Society. Since the turn you had New Kids [On The Block], nSync and Steve Vai. Why do you think that of the century, Wylde has made movie and of course The Beatles. If you want to today’s radio-based rock music has de- and television appearances and written break it down, The Beatles were the first emphasized guitar-based songs and solos? books while cementing his reputation boy band. Even when the Stones broke ▷▷ Back in the 1980s each month you as one of rock music’s best musicians. they had Mick as the handsome one. But had guitar heroes in the magazines… Recently the New Jersey-born guitar today the music scene is the same, it’s just Randy [Rhoads], Eddie [Van Halen], player announced his latest project: an dressed up differently. It is what it is. You [Steve] Vai, [Joe] Satriani. You could put educational series of DVDs designed to had guitar heroes back then too. them on the cover of a magazine because help new and intermediate guitar players Rock bands [will always be popular] they were so good. Without a doubt improve their skills and their knowledge too. A band like Slayer or Sabbath will though, when the Guitar Hero game of music. Just before his appearance at pack the Garden. Maroon 5 is awesome. came out it was good for guitar. Because the Rock ‘n’ Roll Fantasy Camp in Las Justin Bieber, Lady Gaga, there’s noth- of that game you’ll get the new Eddie, Vegas this past October, Wylde shared ing wrong with those acts either. People Randy, Jimmy Page. his thoughts on the state of rock music, should be playing what they love. Back It’s the evolution of music. Put Dime the music industry in general and why when I started out Bon Jovi was huge and [Dimebag Darrell of Pantera and Damage- he decided to introduce an instructional where I’m from [New Jersey] they were plan] in there too as another great player. DVD package. important, but I liked Sabbath and Zep- Father King [Kerry King of Slayer], the big 54 CE Pro JANUARY 2013 www.cepro.com C1301 pp54-55 Audio-Wylde Q&A.indd 54 12/12/12 2:21 PM four—Metallica, Megadeth, Anthrax, Slayer his tone and his writing had changed, but tional set of videos help beginner and are also great players. Look… if you want to it was awesome anyway. intermediate guitar players? say guys like Kirk Hammett, Slash and I are It’s crazy how guys will change their ▷▷ It will help beginners and intermedi- the older guys, that is fine. I just go about setup. I used my JCM800s [Marshall ate players. If Eddie or Randy were to put my business. I see it at the OzzFest… the Amplifiers] on the first Ozzy album I one of these out when I was starting out it up-and-coming bands like DragonForce are played on “No Rest for the Wicked” would have been great. From beginner to good guitar players. Even the bands from and then on the “Pride and Glory” stuff. immediate, you’ll learn how to play Black the grunge era wrote great songs. It doesn’t Now [I still use it] on every Black Label Label songs. I’ll play them at a snail’s pace matter that there’s no blazing [Al] Di Meola record. I would also use HiWatt speakers and I’ll show you at faster paces, I’ll show GOES WILD guitar solo because those were good songs. because the bottom end stayed tight. My you the scales; I’ll show you all the angles guitar is a Les Paul with EMGs [pick- of the songs. Did being Ozzy’s guitar player and per- ups]. It’s clean and tight. I have what I forming songs like “Crazy Train” and “Mr want; it’s a simple setup. In addition to the technical aspects of gui- Crowley” help your songwriting skills tar playing, you also cover topics such as once you founded Black Label Society? When you record are you concerned with gear. Why do you think it is important for ▷▷ I am a St. Rhoads disciple, and the way the quality differences between low bit new players to learn about equipment? he wrote those songs is like constructing rate digital files, CDs and vinyl, and have ▷▷ I remember when I first started play- solos and writing songs within songs. To you looked at releasing Black Label’s ing, I went into the studio with Ozzy and me that’s Randy’s legacy. His legacy is his records as 24-bit/96kHz high-resolution we worked with Roy Thomas Baker who composition skills that stand aside from the digital audio files? has worked with people like Brian May technique and licks he gave us. At the end ▷▷ The record company will say ‘Zakk, [we and Queen. I was intimidated and I won- of the day it’s what he wrote. No matter if are recording in high resolution audio files] dered how Brian May got all those awe- it’s me, Jake [E Lee] or Gus [G] [Ozzy’s for- like the 5.1 surround mixes.’ That’s what some guitar tones. I was learning though, mer and present guitar players respectively] they want, so they will come out with it. I’m and there’s an art to it with mic’ing tech- playing those songs. sure everyone will be doing it at some point. niques and EQ [equalization]. In the When you look at those songs, I could If it sounds great and the quality is great, instructional video I go through my pedal play Randy’s solos and you would recognize they will do it, no doubt. Music will always board, and how we mic up my guitar cabi- the song just by me playing the solos. You be evolving. It’s always moving onward and nets. I show people; here’s what I use and would know “Flying High Again,” “Revela- upward to whatever is better. here’s how I get those sounds. tion Mother Earth” or “Crazy Train.” That’s what makes it fun. It’s like when “The record company will say ‘Zakk, [we are you are painting and you have a choice of recording in high resolution audio files] like colors. When you play music, the scales, the 5.1 surround mixes.’ that’s what they want, modes and keys are your colors.