Blog Recap: sidebrain Live at SamplenHold
SamplenHold is a new LA-based event for boundary-pushing performance artists hosted at Downtown LA hot spot, Resident. We are honored, grateful, but also not surprised our school's founder, Yeuda Ben-Atar AKA sidebrain, was asked to perform at the first SamplenHold event last Tuesday, July 11, alongside the likes of incredible talent like Amp Live, Josh Spoon, Portrait XO, and other special guests.
On SamplenHold's event page they described sidebrain as a "mastermind of multi-genre live performance and controllerism". He absolutely lived up to the hype. Using Ableton, a MIDI keyboard, and his famous Dreamcast controller - Yeuda threw down a set full of original loops, beats, and songs all while jamming out live with his controllers in masterfully creative ways. People we're feeling the heat and we can not wait for sidebrain to release some of the new material he was previewing.
Neutron – Izotope’s All-In-One Auto-Mixing Plugin
Neutron – Izotope’s All-In-One Mixing Plugin Izotope’s product “Neutron” is a plug-in that comes with a serious combination of tools for mixing, you can chain their Dynamic EQ, 2 Multi-band Compressors, Transient Shaper, and Exciter in any order. The Compressors can produce a clean modern sound or when in “vintage mode” will output signals like a CLA-2A tube compressor; the Exciter offers harmonic shaping with 3 XY selectors that each push the sound towards Retro/Warm/Tape/Tube; the Transient Shaper is an awesome addition to have even if you already have one, and is extremely responsive from subtle levels up to when the effect is increased. Each of these modules allows for multi-band processing and deliver sound that stands up to any other high-end plugin on the market, the fact that you get all of them together at such a low price should be enough to pique your interest. If the great bang-for-your-buck doesn’t do it …
Read More
HALion 6 is an Epic Synthesizer and Sampler
HALion 6 is an Epic Synthesizer and Sampler The latest generation of HALion, HALion 6, brings users ground-breaking new tools and instruments perfect for the modern producer, composer, and sound designer. The plug-in ushers in the next generation of wavetable synthesis, provides full interface customization with its Macro Page Designer, and has advanced live-sampling capability. Users will also be happy to know HALion 6 works with a soft e-licensor, so the USB e-licensor key is no longer a must to work with the plug-in. A new AAX plug-in format was also added to the program so Pro Tools is now compatible. HALion 6 still supports all VST 3, VST 2, and AU host applications. Early reviews of the instruments have people very impressed with the sound detail and quality, as well as with the broad scope of sounds HALion 6 has covered with that high quality. For pianos, Steinberg has …
Read More
Fragments: A Max For Live Granular Synth
Fragments: A Max For Live Granular Synth Fragments, the latest from Spektro Audio, is a Max For Live granular synth with tremendous potential for creating new musical ideas and new sounds. The 8-voice granular engine is designed to create percussive loops in glitch rhythms which means the sounds you get will vary greatly depending upon the sample loaded. Imagine an endless landscape of new ideas and sounds. The layout and functionality of the device is designed to be manual and intuitive so Fragments has capability for first-time users as well as the more advanced. To get started, users need to load an audio sample or loop into the “Audio Sample” section of the device. For best results, Spektro recommends longer loops like drums loops or vocal phrases. The 8-voices of the granular engine can be sequenced via the built-in sequencer or played in via MIDI. Once a sample …
Read More
GrooveBox by Ampify: A Mobile Studio in the Palm of Your Hand
GrooveBox by Ampify: A Mobile Studio in the Palm of Your Hand Ampify may be a name you’ve never heard before, but you know the products well. The development team Blocs grew out of Focusrite and Novation and gave us the Launchpad and Blocs Wave music-making apps. Now they have changed their name to Ampify for the release of GrooveBox; an all-in-one mobile studio for the iPad and iPhone. While still maintaining the user-friendly simplicity of Launchpad and Blocs Wave, GrooveBox offers more advanced synth parameters. Ampify’s intention is to create a program that is easy enough for beginners to start, and for the more experienced to master. From everything we’ve seen so far it looks as though GrooveBox does just that – blurs the line between ease of use and detailed control all with the user’s workflow in mind. The free app is based around two dual-oscillator synthesizers and …
Read More
Lido Workshop Recap: Wow
Lido Workshop Recap: Wow Lido is one of those producers that producers get awestruck about; how does he get that swing? That sound design? Those percussion patterns? The list goes on. We are so grateful to the man himself for blessing the Lab this past Saturday with our most packed workshop to date! su_youtube_advanced url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CmZGFmHEbq0″ showinfo=”no” rel=”no” modestbranding=”yes” https=”yes” /su_youtube_advanced The day started out with a packed house, and people just kept showing up. Halfway through the workshop we had people sitting on the floor, lining the walls, and even a crowd watching from the hallway. Lido never stressed though and he really made everyone feel welcome and engaged. His passion for music is obvious in his work, but what really left an impression with everyone in that room was his passion for educating and connecting with other producers. He had an air about him that …
Read MoreFeatured Masterclass
