Hardshell cases have their place, but if you want to stay nimble and hands-free, a good gigbag is priceless.
When hustling to get to a gig or practice, or carrying-on your guitar when flying, employing a gigbag is a guaranteed liberating experience from a clunky, hardshell case. Here are 10 options that will get you and your guitar where you’re going—safe, sound, and stealthier.
GRUV GEAR
GigBlade2
Featuring a grippy shoulder strap and an included weather cover, this bag uses a unique side-carry design for a more comfortable, practical way to carry your instrument.
$199 street
gruvgear.com
LEVY’S LEATHERS
Deluxe Gig Bag
This lightweight gigbag protects guitars with 25 mm foam-padded walls and an interior foam block with a hook-and-loop guitar-neck strap for added support.
$129 street
levysleathers.com
ROCKREADY
VoloFeaturing a durable outer covering, thick padding to protect against drops, neck support, and reflective piping, this gigbag also has a secret top pocket for keys, phone, etc.
$159 street
getrockready.com
MUSIC AREA CASES
WIND30This carrier boasts ultra-thick interior padding, an adjustable neck cradle, spacious storage pockets, and ergonomic “s-type” shoulder straps with massage cushions.
$181 street
musicarea.cn
MONO
M80 StealthDesigned with the minimalist in mind thanks to inside storage pockets, this top-loading bag features a water-resistant sharkskin shell finish and plush lining for superior guitar protection.
$199 street
monocreators.com
GATOR
Transit SeriesFeaturing an adjustable and removable 3-point interior padding system and 20-mm-thick foam, these gigbags also have protective rubber tread on their bottoms.
$109 street
gatorcases.com
COFFIN
Agony SeriesThese gigbags feature a lightweight and flat design, durable 600D polyester exterior, 20 mm padding, a plush diamond tuck interior, and a large front pocket.
$49 street
coffingear.com
REUNION BLUES
RBX Oxford SeriesThe protection system for these bags is made up of lightweight multi-layer foam with strategically placed impact panels, as well as a dense foam neck cradle and end-pin rest.
$119 street
reunionblues.com
ROAD RUNNER
Highway SeriesWith thick, protective 20 mm internal foam, these double-lid-designed bags also feature corrugated front and back boards for impact resistance without adding weight.
$131 street
roadrunnercases.com
IBANEZ
Powerpad Designer CollectionAvailable in multiple colors, these affordable bags feature four storage compartments, 15-mm-thick cushioning, and an interior belt that securely grips and braces the neck of your guitar.
$38 street
ibanez.com
Build your own legendary boost pedal with StewMac! Enter the I Love Pedals giveaway now and return daily to boost your chances.
StewMac Two Kings Boost Pedal Kit, With White Enclosure
Can't wait 5 YEARS for an Analogman King of Tone? Now you can build a pedal that captures the tone of the amazing original. Raved about by players like John Petrucci, Gary Clark Jr, Samantha Fish, and Warren Haynes, you no longer have to wait to add it to your rig.
Inspired by a heavily-modded Marshall Blues Breaker, this 2-in-1 pedal is something completely different. It's transparent but still warm and gritty, with a full range of frequencies available, all while keeping the core tone of your guitar and amp.
Be sure to locate your sample library where it can be quickly referenced on your DAW.
Improve your recordings using your own samples. Bryan Clark, house producer at Nashville’s Blackbird Studio, tells you how to take the final steps in building your own sample library.
Mastering the sample import process in your chosen DAW can significantly enhance your creativity and streamline your workflow. With a clear understanding of the tools and techniques available, you will be better equipped to bring your musical ideas to life and make your productions stand out.
This month, we finish up a three-part series on creating your own sample libraries. In this final installment, I’m going to give you the basic ways to import your samples into various popular DAWs. Each one has its unique workflow and user interface, but the fundamental process remains very similar. This Dojo guide will cover how to import samples into Ableton Live, LUNA, Logic Pro, Pro Tools, and Studio One.
Ableton Live
Steps to Import Samples
Drag and Drop: Simply locate the sample file in your computer’s file explorer, then drag and drop it directly into an audio track in the session or arrangement view.
Browser Window: Use Ableton’s built-in browser (on the left-hand side). Navigate to the sample’s location on your hard drive, then drag it into the workspace.
Create a Simpler or Sampler Instrument: Drag the sample into a MIDI track with Simpler or Sampler loaded. This allows you to trigger the sample using MIDI notes.
Tips: Use the warp feature for time-stretching and syncing samples to your project’s tempo.
Organize your samples into collections using the “Add Folder” option in the browser.
LUNA
Steps to Import Samples
Drag and Drop: Drag the sample from your file explorer directly into the timeline. Then hold the CTRL key down, click on the end of the loop, and drag it to the length it needs to be.
Browser/Workspace: Use the media browser to navigate to your sample’s location on your hard drive. Drag it into an audio track in your session.
Audio Track Import: Right-click on an empty area in the timeline or a track and select “Import Audio” to locate and add your sample.
Tips: Use LUNA’s built-in varispeed capabilities to match your sample to the session’s tempo.Logic Pro
Steps to Import Samples
Drag and Drop: Drag the sample from the Finder directly into an audio track in the workspace.
File Browser: Use the file browser (accessible via the media sidebar or “F” key) to locate and drag samples into the timeline.
Quick Sampler: Drag your sample onto a MIDI track with the Quick Sampler plugin loaded. This lets you play the sample chromatically.
Tips: Use Logic’s flex time feature to sync samples to your project’s tempo. Organize samples into Logic’s library for quick access.Pro Tools
Steps to Import Samples
Import Audio Dialog: Go to File > Import > Audio; then locate your sample and click “Convert” or “Add” to bring it into the session.
Drag and Drop: Drag the sample directly from your file explorer into an audio track.
Workspace Browser: Use the workspace (accessible via Window > New Workspace) to locate your sample. Drag it into your session.
Tips: Use the elastic audio feature for tempo matching and pitch adjustments.
Place your samples into playlists for efficient access during editing.
Studio One
Steps to Import Samples
Drag and Drop: Drag your sample directly from your file explorer into the timeline or browser.
Browser: Open Studio One’s browser (on the right-hand side), navigate to the folder containing your sample, and drag it into your project.
Sampler Track: Drag the sample onto a MIDI track, and use the Sample One sampler for additional manipulation.
Tips: Enable the “Stretch Audio Files to Song Tempo” option in the browser for automatic tempo synchronization. Create sample folders within Studio One’s browser for quick access.General Best Practices
Regardless of the DAW you use, it is important to maintain a smooth and efficient workflow. Organize your sample library with clear folder names and categories to make locating files easy (see last month’s installment for detailed strategies). Where possible, learn DAW-specific shortcuts for importing and editing samples to save time. Always check if your DAW offers a feature to sync the sample’s tempo to your project to ensure seamless integration. Finally, regularly back up your sample collection to avoid losing important audio files and preserve your creative assets! Seriously. Do it now.
Next month, we’re off to “console” land and I’ll be investigating console emulations (hype or not?), summing bus processors, and more to give you a more “studio” sound. Until then, blessings and namaste.
Stretching the boundaries of reverb’s realm through dynamic and pitch control.
Nice core reverb sounds. Invites cool compositional and arrangement directions. High quality.
If you lack patience, it will be hard to unlock its coolest secrets.
$329
Gamechanger Audio Auto Reverb
gamechangeraudio.com
When the first Moog synthesizer appeared, it freaked out a lot of musicians—not least for the way it blurred the divisions between instruments and their roles. Was it percussion? A keyboard? A reed instrument? Many effects makers build from this philosophical foundation. The Latvian company Gamechanger often seems to revel in it—an attitude that’s manifest in the company’s Auto Series pedals, which includes the Auto Reverb.
There’s no reason you can’t use the Auto Reverb in a very straightforward fashion. The plate, spring, and hall settings are all very nice digital representations of their analog inspirations—and I’d be perfectly happy playing an instrumental surf set with the spring mode, for instance. But because you can control the parameters like the reverb’s level, decay, tone, and the filter with changes in pitch and dynamics, the Auto Reverb can function in highly orchestral ways, transforming itself from subtle to outlandish as a musical piece shifts in intensity or rises from low to high keys toward a blurred, hyper-spacious climax. While these attributes make the Auto Reverb a great fit for prepared guitar and conceptual pieces—and invites many themes and compositional ideas within those forms—it can just as easily be configured to create an especially dynamic and dramatic pop song arrangement on stage or in the studio that might otherwise be relegated to automations within a DAW. It’s fun to use, if not always intuitive. But knowing its ways can expand your musical options significantly.
Black Sabbath to Reunite for First Time in 20 Years—Ozzy Osbourne’s Final Performance
The original Sabbath lineup will reunite on July 5 in Birmingham, England, and be joined by Metallica, Pantera, Slayer, and more.
The concert will feature founding members Tony Iommi on guitar, bassist Geezer Butler, drummer Bill Ward, and singer Ozzy Osbourne. Profits from the show, called "Back to the Beginning," will be donated to charities including Cure Parkinson's.
On future Black Sabbath plans, Ozzy's wife, music manager, and TV personality Sharon Osbourne had this to say (via Reuters) about Ozzy: “While other bandmembers might continue to make records and perform, Black Sabbath's gig at the birthplace of the band will certainly be the 76-year-old's final performance.
"For Ozzy right now, it's definitely: 'I love you and good night'," she said.