A Singular
Perfomrer; A Singular Microphone
Ian Moore & The Soundelux Elux 251
Ian Moore and Luminaria (Click on the cd for sound bites from this
album)
A daring singer/songwriter
who has developed a devoted following for six adventurous albums,
Moore has taken control of the recording process by helming his
own studio in the Northwest hideaway of Vashon Island. Gifted with
an inspiringly expressive voice and multi-instrumental virtuosity,
Moore looks to the Soundelux
ELUX 251 microphone to help bring his visions to the world.
"I'm always
looking for a microphone that serves a purpose," says Moore,
who is currently working on his seventh CD slated for release in
the spring of 2007. "I'm not interested in transparency, I'm
looking for amazing character, and the ELUX 251 is a brilliant mic
for my voice. It works really well in capturing the soul of my voice,
the power, and the nuance - realistic yet mysterious. The upper
mid frequencies capture that space right below the sibilant "S"
sound that makes the voice sound really intimate when sung quietly
and really present when opened up. To me, the sound is very similar
to the vocal sound on a lot of Lanois' 90s productions where the
vocal seems to be at the very front of the mix with the music creating
an impressionistic background."
The Austin,
Texas-bred Moore, whose critically acclaimed albums such as "Modernday
Folklore," "And All the Colors," and "Luminaria,"
have been labeled as indie folk, psychedelia, distorted, and everything
in between, remembers clearly when he was introduced to the sound
of the Soundelux ELUX 251. While recording a one-off song for a
Nick Drake tribute in a Seattle studio, Moore's engineer placed
the legendary Telefunken ELA M251, in front of him and his acoustic
guitar.
"It was
an epiphany," he recalls. "He put this mic ten feet in
front of me, brought it up, and it was the best sound I've ever
heard in my life. It sounded like I'd always imagined my voice and
guitar to sound like, with life, character and quality in the low-end.
To this day, it's one of my favorite recordings ever. I said, 'I've
got to get one of those.'"
Moore's research
among trusted engineers and producers confirmed that the mid-range
focus, powerful bottom, and airy, unabrasive top-end of the lovingly
engineered Soundelux ELUX 251 made it a highly valued, world-class
performer. Now that Moore has built his own simple Pro Tools Digi
002-centered studio, the ELUX 251 has become an essential component
for his self-engineered sessions, which range from traditional setups
to highly experimental.
"It's a
really versatile microphone," says Moore of the ELUX 251, which
is switchable between omni, cardioid, and figure-8 patterns. "I
can really nail it if I sing hard, especially when paired with a
Universal Audio LA-610 mic pre and an LA-2A compressor going to
the 002 rig. It sounds terrific. You get this amazing transformer
distortion, like a tube amp. When you hear a singer do that, it's
got emotion and urgency, and I like the recordings where I can hear
that.
"I've used
it as a mono room mic for a very haunting drum sound. It's also
really beautiful on acoustic guitar, with a lot of nice top-end
that brings out the delicate qualities of my 1943 Gibson GI guitar,
as well as the low-end. It's a really nice balance. Generally, I
mic it right around the 12th fret with the ELUX 251, and I get a
very full effect. I can do what I want to do."
Designed with
features such as a true transformer balanced output, and NOS dual
triode with traditional resistive (not transistor) load and enhanced
original circuitry, for a unique vintage amplification curve and
dynamics response, the Soundelux ELUX 251 has left a permanent impression
on the sound of Ian Moore. "This microphone is a great tool,"
he concludes. "I was up until 6 am this morning with it, working
and having a ball. I'm just really enamored with the ELUX 251."
For more
info on Soundelux
(USA) contact Brad
Lunde at LVPA or Phone (702) 307-2700
TransAudio Group, Inc. - 7320 Smoke Ranch Rd Suite G
Las Vegas, Nevada 89128 - Tel: 702-365-5155 Fax: 702-365-5145
TransAudio Group's product lines include A-Designs
(USA) AEA ribbon microphones (USA), ADT
Toolkit, AEA,
ATC
Loudspeakers (UK), Brauner
microphones(Germany), Drawmer
(UK), Geoffrey
Daking & Co. (USA), Enhanced Audio (Ireland), George
Massenburg Labs (GML) (USA), Heil
Sound (USA); Mercury Audio (USA) Mission Audio (UK) Phoenix
Audio (UK), PAULY
Superscreens(Germany), SABRA
SOM(Brazil), Soundelux
(USA), SoundField
Microphones (UK), Z-Systems (USA) and Weiss
Engineering (Switzerland) and Z Systems (USA).
Las
Vegas Pro Audio is the direct sales division of TransAudio
Group. The goal of LasVegasProAudio.com is to provide a personal
long-term relationship with top engineers delivering insightful
and accurate advice, unique equipment and long term support.TransAudio
has quickly become the premier US importer/distributor for high-end
audio. visit the web sites at: www.lasvegasproaudio.com
Congrats
to LVPA and Trans Audio Group for all four 2006 Tec Award Noms for
The A Designs Pacifica, ATC SCM110ASL, Heil PR20 and Soundelux E251
Sing Blackbird
Sing!
ATC Speakers At Blackbird Studios
Co-owned by
seasoned engineer John McBride and his country superstar multi-platinum
recording artist Martina, Blackbird
Studio offers a total of six recording and production areas,
plus several pre-production suites. All tracking and mix areas are
equipped with ATC
(Acoustic Transducer Co. UK) self-powered loudspeakers, a high-end
brand specializing in recording, mastering and live sound throughout
the world. High SPL 3 way far field monitor for music/filmis based
on the same mid and HF drivers, and the same amplifier block as
the SCM200A Pro, the SCM300A employs larger 375mm bass drivers and
a larger 300 litre enclosure to deliver even higher maximum volume
(121dB/1m), with extended bass and increased transient headroom.
"The new
5.1 system sounds outstanding," McBride enthuses. "We
have a very accurate, very smooth low-frequency response down below
20Hz and great accuracy up to 20K. The room sounds great and also
translates extremely well to other listening environments,"
says studio owner/manager, John McBride. Their
new studioF is rectangular with a 750 square-foot floor control
room area within a 30 x 24 x 23 foot shell.
Ms McBride kicks
off her Christmas spectacular The Joy of Christmas (now in its fourth
year) a 16-city tour in Chicago Nov. 24 and runs through Dec.
LasVegasProAudio.com,
a division of TransAudio Group, is the exclusive U.S. source for
ATC studio monitors. For more info contact Brad
Lunde at LVPA or Phone (702) 307-2700
A Trans Audio
Group Picitorial Tour of Pro Gear At AES 2006
ADesign, Daking, Heil, Soundelux, Manley and more...
LVPA's Brad
Lunde at AES Heil Booth; Collector Edition Heil Classic Pro
A special limited
collectors edition of the Classic Pro commemorating Bob Heil induction
into the Rock and Roll hall of fame is available through Pro Audio.
It has the same amazing specs as the Heil Classic Pro.Get yours
before they run out!
A-Designs
Audio introduced the PACIFICA, a single rack space,
dual (mono/mono) channel microphone pre amplifier that comes amazingly
close to the original in looks and sound. There are few but valuable
improvements, such as a front panel active hi-z 14 inch input
that places the input transformer directly in the signal path for
a huge direct sound. The PACIFICA possesses a uniquely Made
in California feel with a significant heft from the huge transformers
contained within. The original cream colored panel and red knob
scheme has been retained. We think the A Designs PACIFICA will achieve
an instant classic status, becoming an important part of your must
haves for years to come.
MSRP $1900
Soundelux, Daking and Manley Booths
at AES
www.lasvegasproaudio.com
is a division of TransAudio
Group and offers a select group of imported lines, including
ATC loudspeakers, Daking pro audio gear, and Brauner and SoundField
microphones. LVPA is dedicated to providing their customers with
a long-term partnership that delivers, not only direct pricing but
timely, accurate product information and unparalleled personal customer
service.. Visit the web sites at: www.lasvegasproaudio.com
Phone
(702) 307-2700
Founded by industry
veteran Brad Lunde, TransAudio
Group has quickly become the premier US importer/distributor
and/or US sales and marketing representative for high-end audio.
Success hinges on TransAudio providing dealers and end users with
a higher standard of product expertise and support far beyond the
norm. TransAudio Group's product lines include A-Designs
(USA) AEA ribbon microphones (USA), ADT
Toolkit, AEA,
ATC
Loudspeakers (UK), Brauner
microphones(Germany), Drawmer
(UK), Geoffrey
Daking & Co. (USA), Enhanced Audio (Ireland), George
Massenburg Labs (GML) (USA), Heil
Sound (USA); Mercury Audio (USA) Mission Audio (UK) Phoenix
Audio (UK), PAULY
Superscreens(Germany), SABRA
SOM(Brazil), Soundelux
(USA), SoundField
Microphones (UK), Z-Systems (USA) and Weiss
Engineering (Switzerland) and Z Systems (USA)
Meow From The Hollywood Cat
write HC for news from your music and audio world...this month:
Google Acquires
YouTube for 1.6 billion
YouTube cofounders Chad Hurley, 29, left,
and Steven Chen, 27 (AP Photo)
The price makes
YouTube Inc.
(sporting Wendy's .99 cent burger ad on its home page), a still-unprofitable
startup, by far the most expensive purchase made by Google during
its eight-year history. Last year, Google spent $130.5 million buying
a total of 15 small companies. The two companies even share a common
financial bond: Sequoia Capital, an early Google investor that owns
a roughly 30 percent stake in YouTube. Menlo Park-based Sequoia
remains a major Google shareholder and retains a seat on the company's
board -- factors that might have helped the deal come together after
just a week of negotiation.
Legal experts
and industry veterans say Google stands to inherit court challenges
from independent film makers, garage bands, television studios and
others who claim their copyright infringers. Now
artists and companies could look to YouTubes new deep-pocket
backer for payment, either in business deals or courtroom battles.
The New York
Times reports that YouTube gave each label an equity stake that
just hours later was valued at up to $50 million from the Google
acquisition. Three of the four major music companies Vivendis
Universal Music Group, Sony and Bertelsmanns jointly owned
Sony BMG Music Entertainment, and the Warner Music Group
each quietly negotiated to take small stakes in YouTube as part
of video- and music-licensing deals they struck shortly before the
sale
Google is betting
that the popular video-sharing site will provide it an increasingly
lucrative marketing hub as more viewers and advertisers migrate
from television to the Internet.
YouTube will
continue to retain its brand, its new headquarters in San Bruno
and all 67 employees, including co-founders Chad Hurley and Steve
Chen. Meanwhile, Google will continue to run a less popular video
service on its own site.
"We are
excited to have the resources to move faster than ever before,"
says Hurley, YouTube's 29-year-old CEO
Schmidt thinks
so highly of Hurley and Chen, 28, that he compared them to Google's
now 33-year-old cofounders, Sergey Brin and Larry Page.
YouTube announced
new partnerships with Universal Music Group, CBS Corp. and Sony
BMG Music Entertainment. Those alliances followed a similar arrangement
announced last month with Warner Music Group Inc.
Google Inc.
shares climbed $8.50 to close at $429 on the Nasdaq Stock Market.
Meanwhile according to RIAA, the overall estimated retail value
of the industry, when shipments of physical products to various
outlets are combined with the estimated value of digital revenue
streams, was $4.9 billion during the first half of 2006. That represents
a 6.1 percent decline when compared to the first six months of 2005.
Exec Exodus
At Sanctuary
Merck
Mercuriadis
With acts to
include Groove Armada, Guns N' Roses, Iron Maiden, Manic Street
Preachers, Mick Fleetwood, Slayer, Slipknot and Super Furry Animals,
Sanctuary artists is going through an exodus of key managers to
include Merck Mercuriadis (AXL Rose), cofounder and worldwide artist
relations head Rod Smallwood (Iron Maiden) and Craig Jennings (Funeral
for a friend, Yourcodenameis: MIlo, Bullet for My Valentine and
Fightstar) are rumored to leave. Peter Asher, Rick Sales and Carl
Stubner are still in the LA office.
Smallwood and fellow Cambridge University student Andy Taylor founded
Smallwood-Taylor Enterprises - later renamed Sancturay Group in
1976. Three years later, the pair signed Iron Maiden who exits with
Smallwood. Mercuriadis who served more than 16 years at Santcuray
is expected to join mega managers Irving Azoff and Howard Kaufman
at Front Line. Sources say he will continue to manage Morrissey,
Guns 'N Roses and Joss Stone. He will also continue to co-manage
Elton John
New Agent Shuffle
Recognized as
one of the top 35 executives under 35 (Hollywood Reporter's Next
Generation issue) Randi Michel has been appointed East Coast head
of talent for the William
Morris Agency by CEO Jim Wiatt. Michel is a longtime rep of
Queen Latifah and her production company Flavor Unit Entertainment.
She also works with Morgan Freeman and his Revelations Entertainment,
John Travolta, Terrence Howard, Jennifer Lopez and Jenji Kohan,
creator of cable show "Weeds."
Sean Goulding
(from the WMA's Beverly Hills office) and Natasha Bent (previously
with 13Artists & The Village Agency), have recently joined The
Agency team in London. This fall, the Los Angeles office will
acquire new agents - Omar Al-joulaniand (Toranto office) Dave Shapiro
(previously with Equal Vision Records and Velocity Touring) .
Al-joulaniand's
roster includes: Silverstein, Protest The Hero, Jakalope, Jeremy
Fisher, and Bif Naked as well as being responsible for the Canadian
bookings of international clients such as Hawthorne Heights, Matisyahu,
and Yellowcard.
Seans
roster includes cKy, Dúné, The Films, Juliette &
The Licks, Keller Williams, Members of the Public, Moving Units,
MxPx, Slightly Stoopid, and Weird Science.
Natashas
current roster includes AMPOP, Anechoic, Brinkman, Deadboy and The
Elephantmen, Deadkids, Fionn Regan, Fortune Drive, The Hours, My
Luminaries, The Noisettes, and Undercut.
Daves
roster will consist of As Cities Burn, Before Today, Chiodos, Cinematic
Sunrise, Billy Darling, The Devil Wears Prada, Gatsbys American
Dream, Goodbye Tomorrow, He Is Legend, If Hope Dies, killwhitneydead,
Meg & Dia, Olympia, Portugal. The Man, The Sound of Animals
Fighting, and Versus the Mirror.
Sony
BMG - Looking From The Top
Rob
Stringer, CEO Sony; Sir Howard Stringer with the Sony president,
Ryoji Chubachi (Michael Caronna/Bloomberg News)
Over a month
ago, Rob Stringer officially took the helm of the Sony U.S. label
group - essentially replacing Donnie Ienner (& Michele Anthony
were let go in June) , the longtime executive who reigned with a
heavy hand and an outsized personality. Stringer, incidentally,
is the younger brother of Sir
Howard Stringer, the chief executive officer of Sony.
Stringer, who
had headed the company's U.K. division, is said to be scrupulously
going over the company's personnel rolls looking for cuts, since
nearly 2,000 layoffs worldwide following the 2004 merger between
Sony Music and Bertelsmann's BMG
Sources say
Sony's urban music division is to be altered which boasts such hit
artists as Beyonce, Shakira, AC/DC and Jessica Simpson.
With Sony's
stock up 24 percent in the last year, Sir Howard has the wind at
his back for now, at least. Part of the reason for that handsome
stock surge is the overall buoyancy in the Japanese stock market.
So far, the reviews for Sir Howard's first year are better than
those that have greeted "The Da Vinci Code." For one thing,
the company's Bravia televisions a result of a joint venture
with Samsung have given him bragging rights in a category
in which Sony previously stumbled. He also gets credit for holding
onto the financial services business rather than selling it as soon
as he took over, a move that many analysts had erroneously predicted.
"Stringer hasn't had such a big impact on earnings," said
Yuji Fujimori, an analyst in Tokyo for Goldman Sachs. "But
he's succeeded in changing the tone of the company." "I
think he feels it's an honor to be given this job, and it is such
an unusual set of circumstances that he feels duty-bound to get
it right," Rob said.
In the near
term, much is riding on the PlayStation 3 which was delayed
by several months and has cost more to produce than the company
envisioned and the success of Blu-ray, the high-definition
DVD format that Sony pioneered. While PlayStation 3 runs the risk
of being lapped by other platforms such as Microsoft's Xbox 360,
Blu-ray faces its own hurdles in a looming format war with rival
Toshiba's HD-DVD. These high-stakes products will hit the market
at roughly the same time as "Casino
Royale," the first James Bond film that Sony has produced
since it led a consortium of investors in a purchase of MGM in 2004.
Overseas, "The DA Vinci Code" brought in an additional
$154 million. That was the biggest opening ever for a Sony film
outside of North America and currently ranks second to "Star
Wars: Episode III" for the best overseas box office weekends
in Hollywood history.
Perhaps no one understands Sir Howard's thirst for work better than
his brother, Rob. He recalled that his older sibling, born in Wales
but now an American citizen, once had a plaque in his office quoting
the belief of the broadcasting legend Edward R. Murrow that no non-American
would ever head CBS News a job Sir Howard eventually snared.
Now he is the first gaijin to run Sony.
Last month Sony
bought, rival to YouTube, video-sharing network, Grouper
for a reported $65mill.
Sony apparently found Grouper particularly appealing because it
operates its own peer-to-peer network and can distribute high-quality
downloadable movies. The Sausalito-based company will retain its
current management, working closely with a team at Sony Pictures.
When you pair Groupers innovative video sharing platform
on the web and the desktop with Sonys connected devices and
copyrighted media you create a dynamic and exciting environment
for consumers, said Grouper CEO and co founder Josh Felser.
The Wu Thang Clan vs The War in Iraq is a must watch!
Deliver Us
From Evil
Lionsgate Doc On Child Abuse
L-R: Composer Mick Harvey; Amy Berg, director
of the film, at a protest against sexual abuse last month at the
Los Angeles cathedral (AP)
In the documentary,
Deliver
Us From Evil, the former priest, Oliver OGrady,
describes how he abused young boys and girls across central California
over 20 years, including a period in the 1980s when Cardinal
Mahony was his superior as the bishop in Stockton's civil case,
where a jury awarded $30 million in damages to the brothers in 1998
(an award reduced to $7 million in negotiations).
The film was
written and directed by Amy Berg, a former television producer.
It features a taped deposition from 1997 stemming from a civil trial
in Stockton in which the brothers in the criminal case against Mr.
OGrady brought suit against the local diocese, alleging that
its bishops including Cardinal Mahony failed to prevent
Mr. OGrady from having contact with children in the face of
evidence of his history of abuse.
The documentary,
which won first place in the documentary category at the Los Angeles
film festival in June, will be publicly released in New York, Los
Angeles and Boston this month. The music score is by celebrated
arranger, multi-instrumentalist, producer, film soundtrack composer
and co-founder of Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds, Mick
Harvey
121st AES
Ends On A High Note
San Francisco Music Tribute, Tec Award Winners and New Toys
Unveiled
l-r: Lws paul Award winner, Steve
Miller performs at the TEC Awards;Talking House producer/creative
director Paul Ruxton, Third Eye Blind singer Stephan Jenkins, Talking
House president/producer John ?Paulsen, indie SF musician Ben Flanagan,
AES PR representative Howard Sherman, Talking House event producer
David Schwartz
Hosted by Talking
House and Recording Academy, the San Francisco Music Tribute, Past
and Future at the Warfield was a blast according to many VIPs invited
who got treated to sets by the hard swingin' Brubeck Jazz Institute
Quintet in the Jazz Lounge. Guests also perused the collection of
auction items that raised over $10,000 for Music In Schools Today.
Items included all kinds SF music memorabilia like a pile of signed
stuff from Green Day; a trip to the Montreux Festival with round
trip air and hotel from Meyer Sound; photos and gear signed by Metallica;
an original Starship tour jacket; a signed guitar and red wine from
the Doobies; and a guitar plus Cabo Wabo tequila both signed by
the great Sammy Hagar! Future of Music set -- Talking House artists
Kerry Gulbranson, Sarah Aili, TS Leach, Jason DEBO, Bray, Mud, pc
muñoz, and A Band Called Pain... all on the same stage for
the first time! KFOG's Renee Richardson spoke about the Bay Area's
huge, diverse contribution to music Two drum kits enabled Mike Bordin,
Lars Ulrich and Jeremy Colson all to play double drums with Matt
Sorum. The finale of The Dead Kennedy's classic, "Holiday In
Cambodia" followed by Iggy Pop's "I Wanna Be Your Dog",
with Satriani, Slash, De Martini, Duff and Steve Jones all on guitars
blew the place apart.hour and half set of non-stop rock stars, including
Billy Morrison, Donovan Leitch, Matt Sorum, Steve Jones, Lars Ulrich,
Robert Trujillo, Mike Bordin, Jeremy Colson, Chester Bennington,
Joe Satriani, Slash, Duff McKagan, Mark McGrath, Warren De Martini,
Stephan Jenkins and Chris Wyse.
The TEC Awards
were presented by the Mix Foundation for Excellence in Audio and
sponsored by Mix magazine. Proceeds of the ceremony go to hearing
conservation programs and scholarships for students of the audio
arts and sciences In addition to 23 awards for Technical and Creative
Achievement, the sell-out crowd saw legendary rocker Steve Miller
receive the prestigious Les Paul Award by virtuoso guitarist Billy
Gibbons of ZZ Top. Remote recording engineer David Hewitt was inducted
into the TEC Awards Hall of Fame by producer/engineers Ed Cherney
and Elliot
Scheiner. The TEC Award for Record Production/Single went to
Gorillazs Feel Good, Inc., and the Surround Sound
Production award went to the engineers and producers of Dire Straits
Brothers In Arms--20th Anniversary Edition. For the second year
running, the production team of Foxs 24 won the
TEC Award for TV Sound Production. Other Creative winners include
the live sound crew behind Allison Krauss + Union Station (Tour
Sound Production) as well as the design team of Las Vegas
beautiful Studio at the Palms (Studio Design Project). In the category
of Technical Achievement, the 15 winners included AMS Neves
88D (Large Format Console Technology); Digidesigns D-Command
(Small Format Console Technology); Groove Tubes GT Convertible
(Microphone Technology/SR); JBLs VRX932LA and LSR4300 Series
(SR Loudspeaker and Studio Monitor Technology awards); Yamahas
M7CL (SR Console Technology); the Waves SSL 4000 Collection (Signal
Processing Technology/Software); Shures UHF-R (Wireless Technology)
and E4 Earphones (Ancillary Equipment); Neumanns TLM 49 (Microphone
Technology/Studio); Digidesigns Mbox2 (Digital Converter Technology)
and Pro Tools 7 (Workstation Technology); as well as the AMS Neve
1073 DPD (Mic Preamplifier Technology) and Rupert Neve Portico 5042
(Signal Processing Technology/Hardware).For the complete list of
2006 TEC Awards winners, visit: www.mixfoundation.org/tec/06winners.html
Next up is AES Vienna, May 5-8, 2007, followed by AES NYC from
October 5-8 2007.
Solid State Logic Multiple Installs Announced And Duality Introduced
At AES
l-r: 10-time Grammy winner engineer/mixer/producer,
Rafa Sardina at After Hours; engineer/producer John Merchant at
the AWS 900 Barry Gibb's personal studio
Los Angeles
based ten-time Grammy-winner mixer/engineer Rafa
Sarina (above left) has built an eclectic and impressive client
list to include: Macy Gray, Stevie Wonder, Dr Dre, Dru Hill, Luis
Miguel, Sheryl Crow, Angie Stone and Alejandro Sanz, among others.
Last month he added a new SSL
AWS 900 to his state-of-the-art studio in Woodland Hills, CA,
After Hours where he mixed select tracks for pop mega star Alejandro
Sanz.
Months after
a Solid State Logic AWS 900 Analogue Workstation System proved indispensable
in the creation of Barbra Streisand's hit album Guilty Pleasures,
legendary musician and producer Barry Gibb purchased an AWS 900
for his personal studio.
l-r: Pictured at the AWS 900 are
Tom Rowlands of the Chemical Brothers (left) and Nick Clarke of
Tech Nick Clarke Ltd; Engineer/producer Mark Spike Stentwith
(Madonna, Björk, Gwen Stefani), reports amazing
results with his XLogic E Signature; at the Record Plant in Los
Angeles at an SSL 9000 J Series console are Tal Herzberg, co-producer
and engineer, and Geffen Records chairman Ron Fair.
UK production duo The Chemical Brothers (above left) have chosen
to upgrade to the Solid State Logic AWS 900 Analogue Workstation
System for their private studio in Sussex, England. We are
really enjoying using the AWS 900, says Tom Rowlands of the
Chemical Brothers. It's a great desk because it gives us all
the features of a high-end console at a reasonable price. Also,
importantly for us, it has a small footprint. Its perfect
for musicians and producers who want to get a high-end sound in
a private studio. We love the EQ, mic preamps and dynamics, and
think the whole feel of the faders and pots are great.
Interscope
Geffen A&M (IGA), home to a multitude of prestigious recording
artists, will install a Solid State Logic C200 Digital Production
Console in its new studio facility, which will open in 2007. Part
of the Universal Music Group, the music industrys leader in
global sales, IGA will use the 48-fader, 216-input C200 to record
and mix top artists on a roster that includes Black Eyed Peas, Pussycat
Dolls and Mary J. Blige. "We chose the SSL C200 console because
of its powerful recall functions, and our ability to switch effortlessly
between massive production set-ups in seconds. My production crew
and I grew up on SSL consoles," Fair concludes. "All the
engineers we work with can't wait to get their hands on the C200-we
could sell tickets!" SSL
Inc. president Phil Wagner comments, "We are obviously thrilled
that UMG/IGA is installing the C200 for Ron Fair and Tal Herzberg.
This order represents the most significant commitment to SSL's C200
Digital Production Console to date."
At AES in October,
SSL unveiled Duality, a large-format production console that combines
the analogue sonics of legendary SSL E, G & K Series consoles.
It offers extended Digital Audio Workstation integration capabilities
and is the next generation console for those who love analogue but
work digital. The console has a unique split channel path that enables
channel processing to be placed in the input or monitor path of
the workstation. In addition to a SuperAnalogue mic amp, each
channel features a Variable Harmonic Drive input stage designed
to add analogue character to soul-less workstation outputs. A 2nd
to 3rd harmonic drive control provides a range of tones, from the
warmth of 50's tubes to the 'edge' of 70's transistors. Duality
offers VCA style or moving fader automation and complete control
over DAW parameters from the console channel rotaries. There are
multiple stereo busses or multiple 5.1 stems to make the best use
of a full set of 5.1 pan/positioning controls on each channel.
The Avatar Brew
Congrats to
NY's Avatar
for receiving 2006 TEC Award in the Outstanding Creative Achievement
/ Record Production Album category for Donald Fagen's album, Morph
the Cat.
President Kirk
Imamura reports that Avatar's Pro Tools editing suite, Studio
E has reopened after extensive renovation and is now available
for bookings. The room features a SSL AWS-900+ console, Pro Tools
HD2 Accel system and Lipinski speakers. Call Tino for more details.
Studio B hosted
Chris Shaw mixing Panic! at the Disco's track for the movie "Nightmare
Before Christmas", assisted by Chad Lupo. Chris Botti recently
overdubbing parts for "Love Is In The Air" Soundtrack.
Frank Wolf engineered, Doug Cuomo produced, Anthony Ruotolo assisted.
Roberta Flack overdubbing, Brian Montgomery engineering, Ricky Jordan
produced, assisted by Chad Lupo. Interscope artist M.I.A. was overdubbing
with Avatar engineer Peter Doris in Studio G with Mr. Bangladesh
producing. ABC's Knights Of Prosperity shot a scene in Studio C
where also John Scofield Trio recorded with James Farber, Scofield
produced. To book your next session at Avatar, call
212.765.7500 Sure,
you can order your Avatar
mug right here!
Volker
Strifler Band In-Studio Concert
"The Dance Goes On" Record Release concert at Prairie
Sun Studios, Cotati, CA
Nov 3, 2006
at 8pm
According to
studio owner/producer, Mark "Mooka" Rennick, Volker has
been an incredible friend and client. "I am very proud of the
work he's done in our studios for his exquisite new album. Thanks
to NHT and 95.9 the KRSH radio, we're happy to host this unique
opportunity for our friends and business partners to catch the Volker
Strifler Band performing material from "The Dance Goes On"
in a private in-studio concert. And for those unable to attend,
we will of course be recording the event for broadcast on The KRSH,
95.9 FM in Sonoma County," says Rennick. To
attend, RSVP to: Mooka at Prairie Sun 707-795-7011
Film Music Magazine
announces the availability today of the new 2006-2007 Music Supervisor
Directory, including over 600 confirmed listings of top music supervisors,
music licensing and clearance professionals, and music executives
including studio music department executives. The directory is available
at a 20% discount through October 17.
For more information
or to order http://www.gmdgstore.com/view-FMW1113.html
R.I.P Tower
1960 - 2006
After almost 30 hours of what attorneys described as "robust"
and "vigorous" bidding, Great
American won with an offer of $134.3 million, beating Trans
World Entertainment, which had hoped to continue operating at least
some Tower stores. Great American began the liquidation process
and going out of business sales, which eventually will result in
the elimination of the jobs of some 3,000 Tower employees.
Back in August
Tower filed for Chapter 11 and stated that it has been hurt by an
industrywide decline in music sales, downloading of online music
and competition from big-box stores such as Wal-Mart. With 89 stores
in 20 states the company owes creditors about $200 million.
Russ Solomon
founded Tower in Sacramento, Calif., in 1960, starting by selling
records out of his father's drug store and eventually opening the
company's landmark store on Hollywood's Sunset Boulevard in 1969.
He and his family were left with 15 percent interest in the company.
Some would say
the end of Tower is another nail in the coffin of the "old
mold." Tower stocked everything because it was the only way
a customer could get the music. Now if you want everything -- from
polka to pop or soundtracks -- you go to the net. With the death
of the giant chain stores, also dies a certain culture that most
30 or 40 something year olds remember. Labels treated the managers
with the same deference afforded radio PD's; because in those days,
a Tower Store could influence the music buyer in the city they were
in. Tower stores were not only a place to buy the music, but if
friends were looking for a place to meet up
"I remember
riding home as fast as I could with that big yellow paper bag and
making a bee line to my stereo. Of course as a result, I became
totally obsessed with records, ended up buying a ton of them and
have been making them ever since. I never considered going to college
- Tower Records afforded me the education of a lifetime, "
says producer Scott Mathews.
There's gonna
be a bunch of pierced and painted kids looking for work about 3000
of them!
The survey also
stated 79% of students are currently downloading their music online.
But 72%, UP from 65% in spring 2006, are utilizing free P2P networks
as opposed to iTunes (iTunes owns 91% of this market.)
Beck
Photo: Peter Yang; Hair and makeup: Roz Music; Stylist: Jennifer
Johnson; Prop Stylist: Dominic Muller
The good news
is smart artists and managers are getting it! Read Wired (Beck on
the cover). Release a traditional 13-track CD? No thanks, says Beck.
Instead, he puts out a cycle of songs, remixes, and videos that
fans can string together any way they want. Such is the future of
the album, as envisioned by Beck; it's something to be heard, seen,
and reconstituted by artist and audience alike. As the Beatles did
with Sgt. Pepper's almost four decades ago, Beck has expanded the
range and potential of the form.
We applaud the recent Wal*mart deal Irving Azoff got the Eagles.
Is it selling out or adapting to the times and selling WELL? We
think, the latter. 1970, Randy Meisner, Glenn Frey, Bernie Leadon,
and Don Henley began their careers by performing back-up to Linda
Ronstadt. This experience led to a signing in 1972 with Asylum.
The group released the hit album, The Eagles, the same year. In
1999, RIAA created the Diamond award for 10 million in sales. Their
Greatest Hits 1971-1975 topped that list with 25 million. By November
of 2000, Their Greatest Hits 1971-1975 had sold an astounding 27
million copies. Hotel California (16 million) and Greatest Hits,
Volume II (10 million) would also achieve Diamond status. In 2001,
The Eagles became the third best-selling group of all time with
83.5 million in cumulative record sales. Only the Beatles and Led
Zeppelin have sold more.
"Poetry
is just the evidence of life. if your life is burning well, poetry
is just the ash."
--Leonard Cohen (new DVD, "I'm
Your Man" by Lionsgate release date: 11/14/06)
soundtrack
from verve
'It's time for
the album to embrace the technology.'
--Beck
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