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

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

In the fall issue of Make Magazine Brian Schmierer wrote an article about converting a usb game controller into an open source interface for Max/MSP. Make is a focused magazine with tons of awesome DIY projects and resources.

Brian has designed a variety of interfaces and controllers that communicate with vocoders, synths, sequencers, and self built VST plug-ins via Usb, MIDI, or OSC. For Brian and for Sound Arts, this is the tip of the iceberg!

Check out the aricle.

http://makezine.com

Today, during their mix session, I overheard Lily Taylor mention to Ryan Kleeman that they were looking to add some texture to a track…make it more vintage and vinyl-like. So after a quick hunt, I found a cool free plugin from iZotope, from Boston, MA. Check it out!

KeyToSound, a designer, developer and manufacturer of digital audio technology, musical instruments, and audio signal processors has just released an upgrade to a free instrument plug-in called “Remedy”. Great presets, a bunch of knobs to sculpt, and a classy old school design.

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.

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!

Here is a cool map generated by our friends at BAVC…