Pro Tools, New Tools

Pro tools has made many improvements since its first version released. Today, Pro tools has an extraordinary cool tool for stretching or shrinking audio files without changing the real pitch of the audio file called, “elastic audio”. This tool can be used for many different scenarios and situations. Electronic composers can use this tool to increase or decrease the speed of the hi-hat to correspond with the incline or decline of the song. Vocal mixers can use this tool to chop-up words and use it to make the vocals stutter effect. Which is commonly used in pop music today.
This tool can be activated and operated on by changing the track view to warp. Once activated one has to set event markers to where they want to begin or end their time stretch warp. Event markers can be stretched or shrink to achieve the sound one desires. Think of it as of it was a rubber band and you have set markers between the areas wanted. Now you can drag any of the markers to stretch the rubber band or shrinks it. Except is not a rubber band but an audio region. One can use this tool to fix notes, drum percussions, vocals and even more tracks that are off tempo. Easy fix for what use to be a headache to fix in the past.
They are three different types of event markers that can help one use the tool efficiently. One is called telescope warp, which is applied by taking the end of a region and stretching/shrinking it to match in time or what’s preferred. This event marker stretches or shrinks the whole audio file. Second one is accordion event marker, which is splitting up the whole audio region into two or more to dissect in a more specific manner. Third one is region event marker, which allows one to stretch or shrink very small parts of the audio region like syllables and single hi-hat hits without effecting the other parts of the audio track.

www.avid.com

Obstacles on Fair-use and Contracts

 Working in the audio world as a songwriter, one has to be very careful when using samples. One also has to be very informed with the copyright laws and how they may apply and or be a liability against their work.  If you are publishing a music piece that has sampled audio used in it. You may want to get permission from the publishing organization. Publishing samples of other peoples work may be hard to categorize under fair-use. Ask yourself if the song sounds anything like the original piece. And don’t make assumptions make sure you are protected.

 What is fair use and what isn’t? Fair use can be very hard to categorize in the music industry. Many lawsuits have been filled do to this matter. A good example is Lady Gaga’s hit, “born this way” and Madonna’s single, “Express yourself”. Supposedly lady gaga had gotten Madonna’s blessings to release the song. If your song sounds like any other out there, I strongly recommend looking into getting permission to publish, and get it writing.  This is a great example of getting the correct documents to release songs that may need permission from others to release. You are liable if it is not in writing.

 Contracts can be very tricky in the music industry. Making sure what you are getting royalties over is very important. From performance to digital downloads, one has to cover all aspects of the compensations.  Making use you don’t give up your song-righter’s copyrights is another matter you may be liable for in signing a contract.  A lot of different liabilities take affect in the music industry. From sampling others work to loosing out on money do to tricky contracts. You are liable for all you publish or sign. I strongly advise seeking legal counseling when signing contracts or publishing what may seem to be a liable matter to your company.

Podcasts:

http://www.entertainmentlawupdate.com/2010/09/643/

http://www.entertainmentlawupdate.com/2011/03/episode-18-of-beauty-queens-and-footlong-sandwiches/

http://www.academicroom.com/video/introduction-copyright-law-lecture-3-copyright-applied-music-and-computers-peer-peer-file-shar  

  

Mutual Benefit In the Music Industry

  My interview was with Brian Hutch, CEO of Digital Dollar Productions talks to me about negotiating in the music industry and how both sides of the people can gain mutual benefit. Brian has been active in the music industry for nearly a decade now. He graduated from Full Sail University and has been active in negotiating ever since. He has negotiated deals with current mainstream artists and labels to mutually benefit both sides. He is currently working with upcoming mainstream artists. Brian explains to me how he has used mutual benefit throughout his carrier to establish connections and deals.

  I have personally negotiated with Brian and gained mutual benefit by making a deal. And he used the same negotiation we did to make his points. I am a mixer for him and mix all the work he works on or for. Our deal was very simple, since he lives in Daytona Beach and I am in Orlando.  He negotiated to buy the equipment I need in order to do my job, since his studio is in Daytona and I cannot attend the studio on a daily basis. And he also offered me a small lump sum of money.

  His point was that at the end, he can right-off the equipment he bought for our projects and save money that way. And when the job is done, I will get to keep most of the equipment, for my future business use that is. He explained that he strives to gain mutual benefit with every deal he makes, in this sort of fashion. The deal we negotiated to was very beneficial to both sides and allowed us to work and negotiated other deal throughout time.  He told me that gaining mutual benefit, for both sides, is the way he has become so successful in the music industry. 

http://www.digitaldollarmusic.com/

Pro Tools 9 Has Finally Arrived

Pro Tools has been around ever since the beginning era of digital audio. And since then, Avid (Digidesign) has gradually expanded. Pro Tools has been through many different makeovers, but the latest makeover is truly brilliant. Avid introduced Pro Tools 9 on November 11, 2010 to the world and they are not holding back anymore. Delay compensation, 3^rd party interface ability, multi-band beat detector and, last but not least, no-hardware needed to open up Pro Tools.

Many Pro Tools users have been dying for these features and it has finally arrived. Now users can open up Pro Tools without the need of an interface. Making it very convenient to work on your session at any time. All you need is for your laptop to be charged or your computer to be plugged into an A/C source and an ilok for authorization purposes, and you’re in. Avid has also introduced their all-new beat detector called multi-band beat detector. This new updated plug-in allows users to detect tempo a lot more easily.

Instead of buying an Avid interface to use Pro Tools with, users can now use 3^rd party interfaces. Many Pro Tools users have their own preferences as far as what interface they like to use and this has limited many DAW (digital audio workstation) users from using pro tools as their primary DAW. I have always wanted to use Apogee interfaces with Pro Tools because I believe they have better D/A conversion and I like the dynamic range better. But I never had the privilege to use an Apogee interface because it was never compatible with Pro Tools LE. This has caused some to push away from Avid. But now, the story has changed.

Delay compensation was another huge factor Pro Tools LE users complained about. I was definitely one of them! Nothing is more annoying then to hear your work off tempo do to delay compensation. For this reason I have pushed away from Pro Tools; for I could not have afforded Pro Tools HD, which had delay compensation. But now since Avid has allowed these features for a low cost, I believe lots of DAW users will convert to Pro Tools as their primary DAW. This also paves the way for new producers and artists. Five years ago you could have put together a semi-professional home studio for roughly $2,000.00. Today you can do that with $600.00.

Avid (2011). Avid Unleashes Pro Tools 9—Breaks New Ground with More Creative, Flexible Options for Music and Sound Production. Avid Technology Inc.

http://www.avid.com/US/press-room/Avid-Unleashes-Pro-Tools-9

Passion, Music and Creativity.

Speech by: Benjamin Zander

   Benjamin Zander gives an unforgettable and inspiring speech on passion and music. He has inspired me in many different ways from this speech.  From the thoughts of not giving up and being patient to the way I think about classical music. I actually enjoy classical music that was a joke.  He grabs your attention immediately with a joke that has a meaningful ending. Through out his speech, he tends to be very humorous. However he is in control of all his jokes, for they all have a enlighten fact.

   By being so humors he has gained everyone’s full attention. He then describes how he is going to perform an experiment, which is interacting with the audience. He also tends to get off the stage and walk into the audience, which I think is gaining the audiences trust. He uses his real life experience stories to also make valuable points, which that’s another good method to use when make points and attempting to get the audience’s attention and trust. When you lest expect it he hits you with another joke and a valuable point. The experiment at the end of the speech was basically the cheery on top.  You can tell how passionate Ben is about music and creativity. His passion attracts the audience.

    Again Ben uses a lot of humor and that is really getting the audiences attention instead of losing the audience. Humor is his key to giving inspiring speeches.  He also uses a piano to make his points. Which is brilliant in my perspective, He not only humors the audience for their attention but he also takes them to an emotionally musical journey.  He is also overcoming adversities at the same time. This speech has definitely made me understand the ability of creativity and passion by the way he gave this speech. This speech meant a lot to me, especially around this part of my life. I have thought about giving up many times in the past, however my passion for art always persuade me not too. He has also thought to share the magic, be open-minded and openhearted.  

References:
TED2008/ http://www.ted.com/(publisher). Zander, Benjamin (Speech). (filmed/Feb,2008).(published/Jun,2008) Retrieved video from:http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/benjamin_zander_on_music_and_passion.html

Obstacles In Audio Engineering

      In the recording world of audio, there are many obstacles one might face. One has to be prepared and adapt quickly to run a recording session smoothly.  Using psychology in a recording session will give you the leverage you need to get along with the artist. With todays fast pace work ethics, one has to be fast and efficient when troubleshooting computers, analog gear and other technologies used. Many successful audio engineers use these traits.  

      Being prepared is the first key to avoid obstacles in a recording session.  Preparation will not only give you the ability to work rapidly, but it will also make you look profession in front of clients and confidant.  Adapting to the artists work ethic is another major key in running a session smoothly. One also needs to be able to adapt to certain procedures involved with recording.

      Psychology can take you far in the audio industry and other industries too. Being able to notice the artists intentions will not only make her feel at ease when its solved, but it can also allow you to dodge troubleshooting issues due to vocal recordings in the future, because of her confidence. If something is troubling the artist in a session, you can neither solve it by noticing it nor totally miss it until she speaks up.

        Computers always crash, especially in a recording studio. You will have to learn to deal with troubleshooting down times and deal with it fast! In a recording session 15 minutes of down time can cost the studio lots on money. To make sure the sessions run smoothly, preparation as far as technology goes can help tremendously. Restart the computer and make sure the analog gear is working and not malfunctioning.  Make sure all the input and outputs are routed correctly and that they are routed to working i/o strips on the consoles.

       At the end of the day experience is the only thing that will strengthen your knowledge in running a recording session with minimum issues.