Well, 2 things I bumped into today from CDM (thx guys). First is a release form Serato regarding the bridge. Some critical information is out!
Just hit this link: http://createdigitalmusic.com/2010/08/18/the-bridge-for-serato-and-ableton-public-beta-manual-available and you begin your travels through the manual and other fun elements.
Next up is (my hero) DJ Shiftee talking about practice. Pay attention!
That is all!
Personally I love 105 BPM. I don’t know if that has any impact on the heat though.
Gonna hit on the “Game Changer” here for a sec. In short “Meh”.
Ean Gold is someone to watch, and this is a great idea. When I put this item in perspective with my controllers (analog/digital/etc) this is no more than a novelty.
Again the Dicer certainly is cool, it fits a need, and I offer my props on that level. The real question I ask is simple:
“Is the DJ crowd deprived of gadgets?”
Seriously, this is no more than a tightly packaged PIC micro-controller that is well thought out. The polish that Novation added is the only real leap (packaging and marketing). The “Game Changer” label certainly gets under my skin and contributes to (this editors) diminishing view of Novation.
Perspective : I first knew Novation in the late 1990’s when my friend Greg was repping and I managed an all synth/keyboard boutique. But we are the jolliest buncha’ mean folks you may meet when we get on the “who sucks” discussion.
In short, the only gear I am not pissed off at is Nord and anything I have not owned. (But there was a huge issues w/Nord about a year ago – but that was all US distribution channels).
Back to the Dicer, and in the scope of Ableton there is no “standard interface” like the turn table. The APC is the only kinda’ almost, the Trigger Finger is also a good contestant. So the universal “game changer” is probably not going to happen for the modern digital musician.
But this is not a sad note – “The Bridge” is coming. We are all hoping that this is a stable non-crashy release with some fun stuff. This is going to close the gap on DJ-Ableton artists. This is awesome!
On the note of “Ableton Artist” – is it DJ? I don’t like getting grouped with that crowd (I have never DJ’ed, so don’t box me in!). Electronic artist is not quite there, electronic musician is totally good but too long. What the hell are we? There is a bunch of software nipping at the heels of Ableton and you certainly do not what to reference your trade by the name of the product (sorry Ableton). So what do we call our self?
The Ableton spectrum is HUGE – from folk to techno to dub-whatever to a bunch of categories I could not describe.
Electro-crunk-wobble-swing-remixed jazz changes? HUH?
So the point is clear – make your own game changer. I am working on my own game changer as I hook up with a crew who has a CNC machine (oh HELL yeah). So if you ever wonder why I don’t do too many shows or gig like mad, I am usually soldering, programming, and plotting!
Fader Fox gets a rejuvenation. Check out this article form CDM, here’s a sexy image. The big change – USB!
I was predicting apocalypse with “DJ Hero“. Well, we are still here! But now there is a new threat to society and our lives. It comes from the same concept. As Mark Mosher reports – there is a real MIDI keyboard included in the new Rock Band.
Is the the end?
Is doom near?
Mark has some great commentary as well, worth the stop.
Probably not. Here’s a video:
Follow up coolness – Mark is a synth guy (is it our age?). So much of his work touches me in that special place, you know, in the oscillator. Here’s something fresh on Modular Synthesis.
OMFG REMIX! Here’s a link for some Bass Nector Natives. Get them NOW! These don’t stay up long. Save time and go right for the stems HERE.
I gotta tell you – go out have fun! There is nothing really happening on my radar screen. The iPad hype has faded, iPhone 4g is not really a gamer changer (LOL), and no new software releases are on the horizon.
Or is there…???
–Marc
PS new site on the way. New domain too.
Hello all – we are proud to announce that there is a second ILL.GATES workshop available for Monday May24, 2010 at The Would Shop.
Your RSVP link via Meetup.com.
This event is 18+ so bring your (not too) little brother or sister!
Don’t forget the ILL.GATES is performaing at City Hall (map link) on Saturday, May 22, 2010 at 9:00pm. Facebook Event link and the CoClubs link.
About the ILL.GATES visit and his evening at City Hall!:
ill.Gates - http://mutimusic.com - http://thephatconductor.com
[Toronto][Muti Music, Amorphous Music/Child's Play/Om Records, Addictech]
ill.Gates is a Toronto-based composer, performer and educator. Over the past 15 years, he has established a global fan base and a reputation as one of the most dynamic electronic music artists around. He regularly tours across North America, Europe, Australia and Asia. Gates has headlined at such festivals as Burning Man, Shambala, the World Electronic Music Festival and the New Orleans Jazz Festival. He also has cultivated a thriving creative partnership with the San Francisco-based bass music icon Bassnectar, including a chart-topping remix of ‘Maximum’ by DJ Vadim that sold so fast the duo were accused of chart hacking. Please welcome ill.Gates back to Denver for another mind blowing bass fueled performance!
EPROM - http://eprommusic.com - http://myspace.com/eprommusic
[California][Surefire, Black Acre, Cloak x Dagger]
EPROM is known for his diverse, funky and energetic sets, which cross the lines between live remixing and manipulation of hip hop and dubstep with his own obscenely bass-heavy neurocrunk transmissions. EPROM has played alongside artists like Flying Lotus, The Glitch Mob, Skream, Lazer Sword, Kode9, Mochipet, Rustie, and many others. EPROM has worked with internationally renowned MCs and has slated multiple vinyl releases in the coming year. DJ supporters include Starkey, Jakes, Bassnectar, The Glitch Mob, Rustie, Megasoid, Zombie Disco Squad, Riton, Basement Jaxx, and BBC Radio One’s Mary Anne Hobbs.
S.P.E.C.T.R.E. - http://basslabmusic.com - http://facebook.com/spectrebeats
[Denver][BassLab, True Movement, Daly City, Dirty Circuit Records]
S.P.E.C.T.R.E. brings a diverse mixture of bass heavy music combining glitch hop, dubstep and beyond with a flare for the unexpected. His seamless blending of styles and tempos and on the fly mash-ups has made him a crowd favorite in Colorado. Co-founder of the BassLab crew, S.P.E.C.T.R.E. has built a large following from the infamous Jungle Labs warehouse parties, regular nights at Denver’s Beta Nightclub, and his mixtapes on the Temporal Fusion podcast. Recently S.P.E.C.T.R.E. has signed with Propa Tingz’ True Movement label and released the Bad Girls Go To Hell EP which is currently in the top ten charts on addictech.com
ABLETON LIVE WORKSHOP: TECHNIQUES AND STRATEGIES
FOR COMPOSITION, PRODUCTION AND LIVE PERFORMANCE
Five Hour Intensive Ableton Live Workshop in Denver, CO taught by Steve Nalepa.
Saturday May 1, 2010 from 1pm-6pm at The Lucid Gallery (719 W 8th Ave Denver, CO 80204). The cost is $100.
WORKSHOP DESCRIPTION:
Ableton Live is a dynamic and empowering tool for every stage of the musical process, from composition to production to live performance. Whether you are a producer or dj, sound designer or composer, the versatility of Ableton Live makes it the ideal tool for both beginners and experts alike. This workshop is an opportunity to learn from a veteran Ableton Live expert who has been teaching this software to the biggest artists in electronic music for years. Please bring a pair of headphones and your laptop loaded up with Ableton Live, as there will be a series of exercises. You can download a free 30 day working demo from www.ableton.com
The workshop begins with a brief overview of the capabilities of Ableton Live, followed by a series of composition and production techniques. There will be Live demonstrations and practice exercises with step by step instructions that cover the entire songwriting process, exploring a variety of different approaches. Topics covered include crafting beats, getting the fattest drum sounds, writing
melodies, creating basslines, using EQ and effects, experimenting with sound design, sidechain compression, arranging, mixing and mastering.
The workshop also addresses a variety of ways to utilize Ableton Live for Live Performance, providing you with an overview of the various strategies while delivering a plethora of tips and tricks culled from the instructor’s many years of working with and performing alongside the most innovative performers in the world. Learn how artists like Nosaj Thing, Adam Freeland, Flying Lotus, [a]pendics.shuffle, Bassnectar and The Glitch Mob set up their live performance documents. Some artists use Live to DJ complete songs while adding real time dub and glitch effects, others prefer to break their songs out into stems, building up their compositions on the fly so their performances have more room for improvisation. Live is great for loop recording, and it even features video now so you can rock audiovisual sets.
There are an almost endless amount of possibilities with Ableton Live, even more so now that it integrates seamlessly with Serato and MAX/MSP. This workshop will fill your head with ideas and leave you truly inspired. This is a complete overview course aimed at bringing new users and experts alike to a new level of understanding of this incredibly powerful piece of music software.
ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR:
Steve Nalepa (Chapman University Conservatory of Music, 1320 Records)
LA-based electronic musician, multimedia artist and mad scientist collector Steve Nalepa is one of the world’s foremost experts on Ableton Live. Working for years with M-Audio/Ableton, Nalepa provided VIP support and software training for a multitude of high-profile artists and producers. Nalepa has produced tracks with such legends as Bill Laswell and Pharoah Sanders, performed with the LA Philharmonic at Walt Disney Concert Hall, and shared the stage with some of the
most revered electronic musicians and video artists in the world. 1320 Records released his triple album Flatlands in May, the original compositions accompanied by a collection of music videos and remixes by an all-star cast of luminaries including The Glitch Mob, Deru and Nosaj Thing. Nalepa is one of 100 artists featured in Visionaire 53: Sound, his song Flatlands joining original pieces from David Byrne, U2, Lalo Schifrin, Danger Mouse, Yoko Ono and more on five 12” vinyl record picture discs packaged with a portable record player inside a specially produced domed case. When he’s not in the lab, rocking international dancefloors or hosting Ableton Live workshops, Nalepa can be found teaching Ableton Live, Logic, ProTools and Reason to the students in his Principles of Music Technology classes at Chapman University Conservatory of Music.
Enough on the eye-fad already!
http://communikey.us/ coming up – I will be there!
Rapid fire:
Thx Ean for this post on cabling and essentially professionalism. Good read!
I have a Black OHM64 on the way! I will bring it to the next meet up (working on it).
Facebook account now set up (as user*) go to: http://www.facebook.com/ableton.colorado and grab a friend request. We will not refuse anyone, but we could ban ya…
* why? So we can post stuff to the account, the user group is “fan” thing and this should have been what I used initially.
Build your own damn “what is that thing called?” using this technology.
Super-dooper cheat sheet for Ableton.
I am becoming a rather BIG fan of Livid Instruments. The following post is how (damn) easy it is to build you own (freaking) controller (foot pedal version):
A guide to effective mixing of drums (part2)
Free JoMoX samples. I am working on the same thing, but I am using a Leslie cabinet:
Jo-Leslie Render #1 by dj-not-so-much
Jason is cool, support him!
Is this coming to Colorado? Should it?
I am so happy to add a controller to our next meet up!
Mark Mosher (Modulate This!) will be joining us on Sunday to present Audio Cubes. Click here to read what Mark has to say on the topic.
In my mind, Audio Cubes, from Percussa, are like a 3D reactable table after shedding several thousands of dollars and pounds.
This page will get you in-line pretty fast (great stuff).
And some informative video:
Tell us about how YOU control your electronic music so we can keep the demos coming!
To use the parlance of our current time:
OMG OMG OMG Cache Flowe haz teh ROXXOR!
Yeah, what is the world coming to huh?
In other words – Cache Flowe dropping some mad skills for an A/V set! Do come!
Got your history in order? How about this article outlining the past 120 years of electronic music.
Linux side note – Launchpad getting ported to, you guessed it – LINUX! Here is the article. Relevancy? We got it. Her you go:
I could go on, but I would be geeking out too hard.
FREE STUFF – some live packs on Groove Packs site – click here for a zip file. Get it while the link works!
Mid/Side processing – check out this new unit via Gear Junkies.
How about a good debate on 16 vs 24 bit? Thx to Joe for keeping the thread hot.
The Boulder Laptop Orchestra is performing up in Boulder 13March2010. I am getting more details on this…
More soon!
The controllerism show is on the horizon! RSVP Now! FaceBook
I missed some emails this weekend as POP email crashed for my provider (I aggregate). So if there was something crazy interesting/important/similar – resend! I will be going backwards through emails.
On other news – we are having fun! I will be releasing a review** of the NIIO Analog Iotine Core in the next week. We teamed up with Chase to get some instructional videos on the unit. We are currently editing.
We got some good tape from Darwin on Max, I am open to ideas on how to get them online. YouTube limits are 10 minutes. The 10+ minute videos are a special feature I just don’t see how to get! Vimeo? Hosting on my server will probably get me some heat (because the bots will trigger mass bandwidth, plus there is not sharing/embed).
I have been spending time with Final Cut and Celemony DNA. Nothing too impressive to talk about in Final Cut, just another software package. But DNA is SICK!
Don’t forget Cache Flowe in March!
As for the summer – thoughts (feed back very welcome!). Our summers in Denver/Colorado/Boulder are some of the best anywhere in the world. I am looking to scale back the meet-ups after April (through the summer) so we can enjoy our evenings. Hell, even I want to ride around town with my wife on our cruisers. Instead of larger formal meet-ups I would like to invest in smaller gatherings all over and include our community in festivals (supporting) and do various levels of out-reach before shows and to similar groups.8
**On the topic of review – the term “review” is not totally correct. As there are a few companies looking to work with Ableton Colorado already, another round of “cleaning the air” is called for…
Our goal is to extend the use, functionality, and overall exposure of gear that is not on the radar (cough***Guitar Center***). There is a certain “departure” from journalistic integrity (if that is still a thing anymore). Our goal is to build community and knowledge in an academic manner with users (producers) and producers (of gear in this instance). The policy is simple:
If it is crap, send it back
Don, in the context of this “review” has a “filter” that is so freaking cool we need to help get the word out (I am using some bass sounds I generated in my standard set). So great.
Helpers wanted!
That is it, more soon.
–M
Here we go, the first announcement :
Ableton Denver is proud to announce and evening with Darwin Grosse from Cycling ‘74 discussing Max For Live.
The event, is FREE! (21+)
Prepare yourself for graphical blasts of information with color and crazy subliminal messages. For now, I provide an image form the interwebs.
This is pretty exciting! I will post more information and pictures. As for graphics, well, I my current favorite quote is from Myth Busters:
“If it’s worth doing, it’s worth over doing.”
More on that real soon. Back to Darwin.
Darwin Grosse is an artist, producer, media software developer, and the Director of Engineering for Cycling ’74. He is also a prolific writer, having authored more than 120 articles for Recording magazine, several product manuals, and countless product tutorials. Formerly the editor of CreativeSynth.com, he now focuses on bringing his Beginner Mind to music and media production. [credit]
Darwin’s Play site : http://www.20objects.com
Darwin’s Blog : http://www.darwingrosse.com/
Darwin’s Work: http://cycling74.com
When : January 24, 2010
Where : The Walnut Room located at 3131 Walnut Street in Denver.
Max for Live is an important evolutionary step for both Cycling ‘74 and Ableton. When you factor in Moore’s Law, my brain should finally melt and ooze out the nose sometime in 2015. All a result of finally gaining total control on all audio to finally engineer the perfect song, not too dissimilar to the Funniest Joke in the World (YouTube version).
In preparation for “the Final Track” bring a taiko drum, fourteen airplane vomit bags, and a goat on January 24, 2010 for an evening with Darwin Grosse and Max for Live.
Final accommodations for goats has not been worked out. Stay tuned.
C.DB.SN will be providing the evenings sound track. (SoundCloud) Imagery and telepathic suggestion to follow real soon!
