Full Speed Ahead!

We’ve got lots going on this month, here’s the skinny:

Upcoming classes:

* Music Production Workshop. Sat. & Sun. Feb. 14 & 15, 2009
* Mic Techniques. Sat. Feb. 21, 2009
* Voice Over Workshop. Sat. & Sun. Feb. 28 and March 1, 2009

For the current list of scheduled classes, prices and descriptions, or to sign up for a private instruction session, give us a call or visit www.soundarts.org

Overlap Salon

On February 4th, Sound Arts partner organization, Overlap, hosted a FREE event where users of Cycling 74’s powerful New Media creation software Max/MSP/Jitter were invited to join us in a mix of presentations, discussions, and discoveries. Topics included preset storage using the pattr system and tips and tricks for integrating preset communication into your patches.

We will be hosting the salons once a month throughout the year, so be sure to check in to get the next date. Everyone is welcome regardless of previous experience, and all are encouraged to bring laptops and libations!

Lily Taylor Releases “Overtones”

Lead engineer Ryan Kleeman has nearly wrapped producing up and coming artist Lily Taylor’s debut album “Overtones.” Together they infused her haunting vocals with ethereal drops of piano strings, creating the perfect soundtrack for watching skies ablaze in the jaded desert. And did we mention she’s originally from Santa Fe? Hear something new at: www.myspace.com/thelovelylily

Hello fellow sound artisans, we’ve got some exciting news!

Sound Arts is rolling out a distinct new set of class offerings for 2009. In the face of today’s economy, having more professional skills can only help you get ahead of the competition.  Our tailored courses, including sound design for film scores, audio post production, and DIY pedal building; are customized to maximize the students’ creative and professional prowess. We will teach you the skills, get you into a live studio to try them out, and then link you up with professional opportunities throughout the Bay Area. In addition to group workshops and private instruction, we also offer the brand new customized Sound Arts Certificate, where you can pick the curriculum and learn at your own pace. Once earned, this certificate will enable you to work within our professional and creative network, possibly even Sound Arts itself!

Please visit www.soundarts.org or www.soundarts.org/education to learn more about Sound Arts Education.

You can also Download the Spring 2009 Course Catalog or email eduation@soundarts.org for more info.

Upcoming January Group Workshops:

http://xlr8r.com/tv/82

Once a month, Christopher WIllits, the electronic musician and guitarist guides us through recording and production techniques, basic electronic programs and other technical skills that he uses to create music. In this episode, Willits explains automation clips—setting them up, as well as their role in recording and playing live. Past episodes have included techniques he’s used on his albums, like processing sounds through MIDI pick-ups and synthesizers.

Tune in once a month as Christopher shows us some of the ways he produces his own music, as well as the many cool things you can do with recording software. According to Christopher, “I simply want to excite people’s imaginations and creative process so they can more easily create the sounds and music and art they love.”

http://xlr8r.com/tv
http://christopherwIllits.com

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.

July 31st through August 9th, 2008

We will be hosting a “recording boot-camp” where seasoned Sound Arts interns assisted by new students from youth outreach and media literacy programs, will record, mix and deliver songs produced by selected sponsored artists. The first three days will highlight recording setup and techniques, followed by a full week of music production and collaboration. Artists are invited to apply for this unique opportunity to record their songs and take part in a music compilation, totally for free!