They play regularly at NPR’s World Cafe, and definitely have it together enough to go the long haul. Good luck guys and hope to see you back in Cali soon!

click on the photo to hear ‘em and decide for yourself.

Most Excellent Happenin Video Link Here

Further adventures in controlling Jitter video with Ableton Live.

Guitarist and electronic musician Christopher Willits continues his monthly series from SoundArts studio. In this episode, he expands on what he began last episode: integrating video footage with live performance using Ableton Live and Max/MSP/Jitter.

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 processes so they can more easily create the sounds and music and art they love.”

]]> http://blog.soundarts.org/2009/05/xlr8r-tv-what-you-talkin-bout-willits-part-11/feed/ 0 http://blog.soundarts.org/2009/02/outside-the-studio/ http://blog.soundarts.org/2009/02/outside-the-studio/#comments Mon, 09 Feb 2009 21:23:43 +0000 jeanyaste http://blog.soundarts.org/?p=300 In an effort to keep you folks better informed about what other projects we’ve got going on, I’m proud to introduce our latest feature: Outside the Studio. These articles will detail what sweet and savvy projects our brilliant instructrs, producers and engineers have going on throughout the Bay and the World! It just goes to show that working with Sound Arts gives you top-notch access to a myriad of opportunitues in the Music and Audio Industry.

***

Lead Instructor, Christopher Willits, is touring again. For those who don’t know, Willits is an acclaimed experimental musician, coining the term ‘folding’ in his approach to his guitar playing.  He travels all over the world to share his avant guard work with anyone and everyone. Upcoming dates on the East Coast:

Friday, Feb. 20 in Brooklyn @ Monkey Town

Saturday, Feb. 21 in NYC @ the Stone

Sunday, Feb. 22 in Baltimore @ Hexagon

For a complete list of Willits’ upcoming tour dates, check out www.christopherwillits.com/events.html

Willits was also asked to give a guest lecture at Stanford this month, to talk about the relationship between live performance, mic techniques, and how he designs software that creates a relationship between  sound and image. Way to go Willits!

Lead Producer, Ryan Kleeman, is currently co-designing the sound for Philistines, a theater production about the young generation and the older generation clashing through the chaos of a revolution in turn-of-the century Russia. Philistines runs the second week of Feb. through the last week of Feb. at Zeum Theater in Yerba Buena Gardens at 4th and Howard.

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

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:

Today we are recording two tracks with local, up-and-coming Indy rock group, “The Blank Slates.” (Troy Lawton is lead engineering, with Jonathon Wong as assistant engineer.  All of the interns have been helping out this week and rotating responsibilities.) Featuring Andrea Iacopini on guitar and vocals, they produce a high-intensity, earthy nuance with a forward drive. According to Andrea, “The Blank Slates” is a “concept of ever-changing sound, where each song has space to develop into its own without allowing the band itself to be easily categorized.”

Andrea was joined by drummer Cochrane McMillan in January of this year, with bassist Martin Fowler adding to the mix later that month. Not only are they solid musicians, but their tracks are chock full of well-blended harmonies and tight fills.

In “My Only Regret,” Cochrane takes the lead on drums and has been playing solid all day, with Turkish hand-hammered cymbals adding nice texture and shimmer.  Martin has a solid ear in this tune with dead-on rhythm and innovative fills. Andrea is a natural songwriter, and struck gold with his addictive opening guitar and bass lines.

www.myspace.com/theblankslates

The goal of today’s session is to create the majority of a demo for distribution to local radio stations.

Good energy, good times, good clean fun.

-Emily Hendricks

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.