TAKING OVER

The first Sound Arts effect pedal workshop was amazing. Lots of fun and very productive. In two days we were able to make from scratch a 808 Tube Screamer replica, and if I do say so myself, sounds way better than the store bought version (more dynamic range in tone, plus two mods; one for saturation of low end, capacitor bypass and the second, for symmetrical or asymmetrical clipping). Matt Von Ohlen and Sarah Bernat built, painted, decaled, tested and rocked the pedals. From start to finish this was an amazing weekend. I’m looking forward to all of the up coming electronics workshops at Sound Arts.

808 Tube Screamer with modifications

soldering the pedals

Sarah mapping out the enclosure

Matt testing and tweaking his new pedal

Finished pedals Day two

Here are some of my homebrewed pedals, and a four channel mixer.
Theres a big muff, a fuzz face, a tube screamer, an old transistor radio effect, and two compressors. The roud compressor is a replica Dynacomp and the orange one is a replica orange squeezer.

The Bay Area Video Coalition website has been fully redesigned. The new site features better navigation and descriptive articles about the variety of programs and opportunities that BAVC offers. One of the featured youth programs that will be conducted over the next 3 months is Elements.

Elements is a digital media training program for at-risk young people and ex-offenders ages 18 – 23. Funded by the California Employment Training Panel, the program provides 150 hours of industry-standard training in one of three training tracks – Web and Video, Audio and Multimedia, and Drafting and Design - as well as an additional 150 hours of job skills development and career counseling. The program engages students full-time, Monday through Thursday, from 9am to 5pm for three months. Upon successful completion of the program, students are given job placement assistance.

In cycle 2, different from the first cycle, Artist/Musician, Zack Vieira will be the focus of the group portfolio. Zack has recorded with Sound Arts and will continue the development of his debut solo release. The talented and eager students will team up and use Zack as their “client” and with their new skill-sets create and package a portfolio of Zack’s work. This will include designs for CD packaging, flyers, a mini documentary, and a website design and build with sounds, flash, songs and videos. Shortly after the completion of the portfolio, Zack will be releasing an EP and will later be featured in the Sound Arts Breakup Compilation.

Interested in applying to participate in the Elements Program?
Download the application for cycle 3.

Saturday, July 19, 2008
Ex’pression College for Digital Arts
Emeryville, CA

The National Association of Record Industry Professionals, will be hosting a panel about how to promote and make money from songs. This session will include live song critiques and a special breakout section on legal aspects of song collaborations, licensing and self-publishing. This is a great opportunity to get a crash course in the music business and develop the tools you’ll need to market your songs to labels, businesses, online vendors and individuals.

“NARIP’s July 19 program on this topic will take an in-depth look at the A&R process and provide insight into how to commercially exploit songs, perform many functions of a publisher, and secure and capitalize on licensing opportunities.”

Check it out!

This weekend we’ll be recording Not To Reason Why, an awesome psychedelic/post rock band from Petaluma…The crew of 4, rock a tight combination of electric guitar, bass, piano and thick-epic drums. Their last album, also recorded at Sound Arts, packs a bunch of dynamic build ups, shifts in tempo and time signature, and contrasts of big sound and ambient spaces. They Released it at the end of last year and instead of touring this weekend, they decided to hit up the studio and just bust out another record!

Here are some images from their last session…

This morning, Kevin, our newest engineer and equipment partner, showed Ryan and I some cool ideas on miking drums, probably the most coveted and experimental rock instrument to record. He was suggested to set up a pair of matched large condenser mics (we used Shure KSM44’s) spaced 8 feet apart, behind Paul’s kit, 1 inch from the floor. These faced the the floor, and grabbed unique reflections that are difficult to capture in the air. I’m looking forward to hearing them. The band also mentioned they’d be doing vocals this time on one track. we’ll keep you posted.

Here is our mess of cables, mics, drums and intense potential.

http://www.myspace.com/nottoreasonwhyband

http://cdbaby.com/cd/nottoreasonwhy