An instant rock start rig
Write and record music or jam with a band, with music gear fit for a rock star 102017 Gibson Les Paul Standard High Performance 20Fender Must ang GT100 30Al esis Strike Pro 40Roli Seaboard Bl ock 50FOcusrite iTrack Solo Studio 06i Pad Pro 12.9-inch
George Evett
Aspiring rock star George is looking for a great-sounding, easy-to-use home recording rig. He’d like to join a band eventually, too, so anything to help him sound great on stage would be a bonus. Nothing ruins a wailing solo more than an out-of-tune guitar, but that’s no issue with Gibson’s self-tuning axe. Built into the headstock of every High Performance model, the G Force auto-tuning controller measures frequency and instructs small servo motors to wind tuning pegs up or down until strings hit the correct pitch. £2,699, gibson.com
If you want classic guitar tones but can’t stomach the cost of a vintage amplifier, this 100-watt powerhouse should be top of your list. The GT100 digitally models iconic Fender amps, placing decades of tone royalty at your fingertips. For added control, download the Fender Tone app, dial in custom sounds and load them into the amp with a tap of your touchscreen. £325, fender.com
If you plan on bashing out tunes at 3am, invest in neighbour-friendly electronic drums. Alesis’ Strike Pro kit includes six pads, five cymbals and a sturdy chrome rack, while the Strike module, complete with full-colour LCD screen, puts 110 kit presets and more than 1,600 multi-sampled sounds at your disposal. Ready to record? Lay down beats into your recording software via the USB to Mac/PC connection. £2,099, alesis.com
Chris Barnes
Chris is a tech-loving guitarist with years of experience making music. To help George in his quest, Chris has pieced together the ultimate recording and performance setup.
Roli’s portable Block keyboard makes it easy to write cinematic string arrangements or funky piano loops at home or on the go. Strike, press or glide over the pressure-sensitive silicone keys and Roli’s 5D Touch tech translates your input into expressive notes. Access hundreds of free sounds via the Roli Noise app, and pair wirelessly with your Block to play, edit and record instantly. £279.95, roli.com Recording music was once an expensive business. Now, with an iPad and some cheap hardware you can be performer and producer. The iTrack Solo Studio has an audio interface, a large diaphragm CM25 condenser mic and over-ear studio headphones – everything you need to record guitar, bass and vocals. The best part? Connect the interface to your iPad with a Lightning cable and record into Garageband. Take that, Rick Rubin! £219.99, focusrite.com
Nothing beats the Garageband app for mobile music-making, but which iPad is best for recording into the app? The 12.9-inch Retina display iPad Pro has plenty of visual real estate for playing virtual instruments, and the A10X Fusion chip handles processing. Go for the 512GB edition and you’ll have plenty of space for that Ed Sheeran covers album you’re planning. From £769, apple.com
Make bettersounding music at home and on stage with high-tech upgrades to your rock star setup Ch ris Barnes