Revolutionizing Pedalboards: How RockBoard’s Innovations Solve Every Guitarist’s Biggest Problems

The Pedalboard Struggles No One Talks About

Every guitarist knows the frustration of managing a pedalboard. Messy cables, unreliable power, excessive LED brightness, and unprotected pedals can turn what should be a seamless performance into a nightmare. Whether you're gigging on stage, recording in the studio, or practicing at home, your pedalboard should be an asset, not an obstacle.

But let’s be honest—most pedalboards are stuck in the past. They rely on Velcro that loses its grip, power supplies that create noise, and setups that make simple adjustments feel like brain surgery. RockBoard® is changing all of that.

The Hidden Problems with Traditional Pedalboards

Many guitarists accept the flaws of traditional pedalboards because that’s just the way things have always been. But what if you didn’t have to? Let’s break down the most common pedalboard issues and how RockBoard® has engineered solutions that change the game.


1. The Visibility Nightmare: Blinding LEDs & Dimly Lit Stages

The Problem:

Ever been on a dark stage, hit a pedal, and found yourself blinded by a piercing LED? Some manufacturers seem to think brighter is always better, but when it comes to pedal lights, that’s rarely the case.

The Solution: RockBoard® LED Dimmers

RockBoard® has designed an LED dimming system that softens overly bright LEDs without affecting the pedal’s function. These simple, non-invasive dimmers allow you to control brightness levels, making your board far more stage-friendly without resorting to DIY fixes like electrical tape or Sharpies.

Key Benefits of RockBoard® LED Dimmers:

✔ Reduce LED brightness for better stage visibility
✔ No modifications needed—100% reversible and non-destructive
Multiple brightness levels for complete control


2. Protecting Your Pedals: Accidental Knob Adjustments & Physical Damage

The Problem:

Pedal settings are meticulously dialed in, but all it takes is an accidental bump to throw off your mix. Add in dust, spills, and foot traffic, and suddenly your high-end pedals are at risk.

The Solution: PedalSafe® Protectors

RockBoard’s PedalSafe® system provides a transparent, protective shield over your pedals while still allowing full access to controls. These covers prevent unintentional knob movement, dust accumulation, and liquid damage, ensuring that your pedals remain in perfect working order for years to come.

Key Benefits of PedalSafe® Protectors:

✔ Prevents accidental knob adjustments mid-performance
✔ Protects against dust, dirt, and spills
✔ Works seamlessly with the RockBoard QuickMount® system


3. The Velcro Problem: Unreliable Mounting & Messy Adhesives

The Problem:

Velcro has been the industry standard for decades, but it comes with major flaws:

  • Pedals detach unexpectedly over time
  • Adhesive residue ruins pedal surfaces
  • Removing and repositioning pedals is a hassle

The Solution: The RockBoard® QuickMount® System

RockBoard® replaces Velcro with an innovative QuickMount® system that allows you to snap pedals securely into place without sticky adhesives. This makes swapping out pedals fast, clean, and reliable.

Key Benefits of the QuickMount® System:

✔ No messy Velcro or adhesives
Secure snap-in design for easy pedal swaps
✔ Compatible with hundreds of pedal models


4. The Power Dilemma: Noisy, Unreliable Power Supplies

The Problem:

Many pedalboards suffer from power-related noise issues caused by poor grounding, daisy chaining, or improper voltage distribution. A bad power supply can introduce hum, buzz, and tone degradation, especially in high-gain setups.

The Solution: RockBoard® Power Solutions

RockBoard® offers a variety of isolated power supplies designed to deliver clean, consistent power to your pedals. These multi-output systems eliminate ground loops and unwanted noise, ensuring that your tone remains pure and interference-free.

Key Benefits of RockBoard® Power Solutions:

Isolated outputs for noise-free operation
✔ Compact designs integrated into RockBoard pedalboards
✔ Adjustable voltage options for maximum pedal compatibility


5. Cable Management: Say Goodbye to Tangles & Interference

The Problem:

A cluttered pedalboard isn’t just visually unappealing—it can cause signal degradation, accidental disconnections, and unnecessary frustration. Messy cables are also harder to troubleshoot if something goes wrong mid-performance.

The Solution: RockBoard® Cable Management & Patch Cables

RockBoard® has engineered Flat Patch Cables and the CableFix® system to keep your pedalboard organized, reducing signal loss and making your setup easy to maintain.

Key Benefits of RockBoard® Cable Solutions:

Flat Patch Cables save space and reduce signal interference
CableFix clips keep wiring secure and organized
✔ Minimize signal loss and unwanted noise


6. Signal Routing Made Simple with the MOD Series

The Problem:

Routing multiple instruments, amps, or effects chains through a pedalboard can quickly become a logistical nightmare. Running a stereo rig, adding a DI output, or incorporating MIDI? Things get even more complicated.

The Solution: RockBoard® MOD Patchbays

The MOD series allows you to consolidate all inputs and outputs into a single, centralized module. Whether you need MIDI passthroughs, XLR DI outs, or even USB connectivity, the MOD units make complex routing setups clean and efficient.

Key Benefits of RockBoard® MOD Series:

✔ Simplifies complex signal routing
✔ Provides centralized access points for cables
✔ Supports XLR, MIDI, USB, and power passthroughs


Final Thoughts: Why RockBoard® is the Future of Pedalboards

For years, guitarists have accepted the limitations of traditional pedalboards. But with RockBoard®, those limitations are a thing of the past. Their innovative solutions for visibility, protection, mounting, power, and cable management create a pedalboard system that works with you, not against you.

Ready to Upgrade?

If you’re looking to maximize efficiency, improve tone, and protect your gear, it’s time to make the switch.

🔗 Check out RockBoard’s full range of pedalboard solutions here.

💬 Have you used RockBoard products before? Drop a comment on the video below and let us know your experience!


Cakewalk Sonar Is Back!

 

Cakewalk Sonar Returns: A Rebranded Powerhouse for Music Production

The wait is over—Cakewalk Sonar is back. After years of evolution under BandLab, the beloved DAW has been refreshed, rebranded, and packed with new features designed to elevate your music production experience. But before you dive in, let's break down what's changed, what's new, and whether this update is worth your time.

A Name That Resonates: Why the Rebrand?

Cakewalk by BandLab is now Cakewalk Sonar, marking a return to its roots while signaling a more focused and streamlined product line. For long-time users, the nostalgia is real, but the rebrand isn't just about sentiment—it’s about reestablishing Sonar as a premier DAW. Best of all, the new Sonar won’t overwrite your existing installation, so you can explore it risk-free.


A Fresh Look: User Interface & Customization

Sonar’s new UI refresh is sleek, modern, and more customizable than ever. With multiple themes—including the fan-favorite Tungsten—users can tailor their experience to their visual preferences. DPI Awareness is another welcome addition, ensuring high-resolution displays render crisp, clear text and graphics. No more blurry UI elements!

Pro Tip: Setting a default theme in Preferences can help maintain visual consistency across projects, reducing eye strain during long sessions.




Enhanced Workflow: Track Manager Upgrades

Efficiency is the name of the game, and Sonar’s Track Manager is stepping up. Users can now create per-project presets, toggle views more quickly, and enjoy a more intuitive layout. Whether you need a clutter-free session or custom track views for vocals, drums, or synths, the new Track Manager ensures that everything is just a click away.



XSampler: Your Built-in Sampler

No more hunting for third-party plugins for basic sampling—Sonar introduces XSampler, a built-in sampler that lets users import, tweak, and play audio as an instrument. This feature is perfect for producers looking to experiment with sound design without leaving the DAW.




Spectrum Analyzer: Precision Mixing Made Easy

Mixing engineers will appreciate the new Spectrum Analyzer, now integrated directly into the Console view, Inspector, and ProChannel. Real-time frequency analysis means better EQ decisions and faster mixing workflows.



Plugin Upgrades & Oversampling: Cleaner Sound, More Power

Plugins received some much-needed love in this update. TH-U Cakewalk Edition now delivers pro-level amp modeling, while the ProChannel Concrete Limiter ensures transparent peak control. But the real standout? Oversampling, now up to 16x. This means reduced aliasing, higher-quality processing, and overall cleaner audio.

Pro Tip: Use oversampling only when printing your mix to save CPU power during production.



Smarter Export & Backup: No More Lost Files

Sonar introduces the Cakewalk Interchange Format (CXF) for seamless project transfers across Cakewalk platforms, plus the Cakewalk ZIP format for archiving projects. These updates eliminate the common headache of missing audio files when moving sessions between systems.

Features Being Retired

Not everything made the cut in this new iteration. Here are a few notable exclusions:

  • Custom UI Themes: Legacy themes are no longer supported, meaning user-created color schemes won’t carry over.

  • ProChannel FX Chains: While FX chains remain, ProChannel-specific chains have been removed.

  • Older DX Plugins: Some DirectX plugins may not function as expected as Sonar shifts focus to modern VST formats.

  • TH3 Support Dropped: Sonar will automatically replace TH3 with TH-U, though existing TH3 presets won’t transfer.

  • No Free Version: Unlike Cakewalk by BandLab, Sonar is now a paid product, with Cakewalk Next remaining free for basic users.

Who Stands to Benefit the Most?

Singer-Songwriters: XSampler allows quick conversion of voice memos into playable instruments, making layering harmonies effortless.


Mix Engineers: The integrated Spectrum Analyzer provides visual feedback in real-time, enhancing EQ accuracy.

Live Musicians: Oversampling up to 16x ensures cleaner recordings for high-fidelity performances.

Producers with Large Sessions: Track Manager presets simplify complex projects, reducing the need for endless scrolling and manual organization.

The Verdict: Is It Worth the Upgrade?

Absolutely. With a refined UI, workflow improvements, and powerful new features, Cakewalk Sonar is a solid step forward. For existing users, the transition is seamless. For newcomers, it’s the perfect time to dive into one of the most capable DAWs on the market. Whether you're producing, mixing, or composing, Sonar has the tools to help you craft professional-quality music.

What’s your favorite update? Let us know in the comments!


7 Of The Best Free Guitar Pedal Plugins?

Our top pick for the best free guitar pedal plugin is TSE808 2.0 Lite, a software recreation of the legendary Ibanez Tube Screamer 808—the overdrive pedal that has launched a thousand solos.

For metalheads who think "gain" is just a suggestion, Mercuriall Metal Area takes the crown for best metal guitar pedal plugin. This beast emulates the infamous BOSS Metal Zone, loved and loathed in equal measure.

If you’re after dreamy, swirling textures, Mercuriall Chorus WS-1 is a fantastic choice, bringing the legendary BOSS CE-2 Chorus Ensemble to your DAW.

Here’s our list of the 7 best free guitar pedal plugins:

  1. TSE808 2.0 Lite (Best Overdrive) - Download Here

  2. Mercuriall Metal Area (Best Metal Distortion) - Download Here

  3. Ignite Amps Pro F.E.T. (Best JFET Emulation) - Download Here

  4. Mercuriall Chorus WS-1 (Best Chorus) - Download Here

  5. TSE R47 (Best RAT Emulation) - Download Here

  6. Heptode Deep Crunch (Best Amp Distortion) - Download Here

  7. Ignite Amps TSB1 Tyrant Screamer - Download Here


Best TS Emulation: TSE808 2.0 Lite

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆

Why We Love It:

  • Smooth, full overdrive that mimics the warmth of a cranked tube amp.

  • Faithful recreation of the Ibanez TS808 Tube Screamer—because some things never go out of style.

  • Mono/Stereo processing and Hi/Lo quality mode.

View on TSE Audio


Best MT-2 Emulation: Mercuriall Metal Area

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆

Why We Love It:

  • Unique dual-gain circuitry for maximum face-melting distortion.

  • 3-band EQ with semi-parametric midrange control (because mids matter!).

  • Emulates the legendary BOSS Metal Zone (MT-2), the most divisive pedal in history.

View on Mercuriall Audio


Best CE-2 Emulation: Mercuriall Chorus WS-1

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆

Why We Love It:

  • Spot-on BOSS CE-2 Chorus emulation for lush, dreamy textures.

  • Stereo processing for extra-wide goodness.

  • Depth, Speed, and Mix controls—because you like options.

View on Mercuriall Audio


Best JFET Emulation: Ignite Amps Pro F.E.T.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆

Why We Love It:

  • Tube-like saturation with JFET-based gain stages—because tubes are expensive.

  • 4-band EQ with Shape toggle for extra tweakability.

  • Mono/Stereo processing and up to 8x oversampling for pristine tone.

View on KVR Audio


Best RAT Emulation: TSE R47

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆

Why We Love It:

  • RAT-style overdrive that goes from crunchy blues to searing distortion.

  • Simple interface with Drive, Tone, and Output controls—no rocket science required.

  • Stereo/Dual mode for flexible routing.

View on TSE Audio


Best Amp Distortion: Heptode Deep Crunch

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆

Why We Love It:

  • Emulates the Soldano SLO-100 amp distortion—legendary for a reason.

  • 3-band EQ with cab sim switch for extra versatility.

  • Great for everything from classic rock to high-gain mayhem.

View on KVR Audio


Best TS for Heavy Music: Ignite Amps TSB1 Tyrant Screamer

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆

Why We Love It:

  • Tube Screamer-inspired, but with an extra shot of aggression.

  • Additional Sweep control for dialing in that perfect midrange.

  • Mono/Stereo processing with oversampling options.

View on KVR Audio


Final Thoughts

All of these plugins offer high-quality emulations of legendary guitar pedals—for the unbeatable price of free! Whether you want creamy overdrive, skull-crushing distortion, or a chorus that would make The Police jealous, these plugins will take your tone to the next level—without breaking the bank.

Tried any of these? Let us know in the comments! Got a favorite we missed? Share your secret weapons!