Author: By by Clive Young.
June 12,2013
It used to be that music was heard on vinyl, tape or CDs, but in the download era, it doesn’t have any physical form. Perhaps that’s why many artists have started exploring alternative physical mediums for music—and why, at the
PSN blog, we just can’t get enough of them. We’ve covered playable records made out of chocolate, ice and wood, as well as folks who record on 1930s Presto direct-to-disk recorders, and even quiet Suzanne Vega belting into an Edison wax cylinder recorder for an AES presentation. Lest you think these brave souls have taken alternative formats to the max, have no fear—there’s plenty of quixotic strangeness still out there. The latest weird recording feat finds great minds in New Zealand turning a beer bottle into an Edison cylinder. If you like booze, music and pointless exercises in engineering brilliance, you’ll love this in-depth video.
Author: By by Kelleigh Welch
June 10,2013
Coming from a musical family, where his great grandfather was taught to compose by Chopin himself, and now with two older brothers entering the music industry, it’s no surprise that Frank Pescod decided to pursue a career in music. While his early career centered around producing music for commercials, Pescod is branching out with the release of his first studio EP under the pseudonym To Be Frank. But beyond his career as a musician and producer, Pescod is also known for his collection of rare and vintage gear, with a vintage Neve 542 mixing console at the heart of the studio he co-owns with Andy Pullan—Solebay Music, in Suffolk, UK.
Author: By by Kelleigh Welch
May 23,2013
Since its public launch in February 2012, the cloud file transfer
system know as Gobbler has made inroads with all types of music
producers—from students to professionals—with its cloud-based system
that aims to provide an organized and safe storage place for all types
of pro-audio projects. Recently,
Pro Sound News caught up with
Gobbler CEO Chris Kantrowitz to talk about the success of the service
and future initiatives to help the service grow.
Author: By by Clive Young.
May 22,2013
Given how often the
PSN blog has written about
Sound City and its novice director, Dave Grohl of Foo Fighters and Nirvana, you’d think I would have seen the film already, but in truth, I only just got around to it. While that means I got to see it with clear eyes after all the hype had died down, it also means that the rest of the world's already reviewed it, including our own
Pro Audio Review. Nonetheless, here's some stray thoughts about Grohl’s love letter to the Neve 8028 console he bought from the titular studio when it went bust in 2011.
Author: By by Mr. Bonzai
May 21,2013
I first saw the Doors perform before they were major stars, at an all-night rock club with a revolving stage in Hollywood. It wasn’t until 1980 that I met Ray, however, when I moved to the Hollywood Hills. At the time, I didn’t recognize the neighbor who lived across the street, and when I asked him what he did, he moved his fingers as if playing a piano and modestly replied, “Oh, I used to play keyboards in a rock group.”
We became friends and over the years, I interviewed and photographed Ray numerous times. He was always there for me, writing blurbs for my books, joining me as a guest at panel discussions and at my book signings. A true original, Ray never wavered from his stance as a courageous artist and a visionary spokesman who decried hypocrisy, both political and artistic.
Author: By Kelleigh Welch
May 17,2013
The Log Cabin Studio is located on the fourth floor of the Manhattan Center on West 34th Street in Manhattan. Since opening in 1993, the studio has hosted a number of popular artists and producers, including Timbaland, Justin Timberlake, Jay-Z, Bono and Duran Duran. Now the facility is the focal point of Live At The Log Cabin, a new web series created in partnership with MySpace.
The series, appearing periodically on the social network, brings the intimacy of a private recording session to your computer screen through a series of short videos showcasing an artist recording at the studio. The first three episodes feature the New York City-based duo MS MR, who recently gained recognition when its alt-pop single “Bones” was used in a trailer for the most recent season of Game of Thrones. The band’s music uses a mix of classic guitar and the jazzy vocals of lead singer Lizzy Plapinger, and meshes it with the more electronic sounds of synthesizers and a range of pedals, amps and effects to create an eerie sound.
Author: By by Mr Bonzai
May 16,2013
It's not every day that
Pro Sound News lands a video interview with a world-famous superstar—so today, we're talking with "Weird Al" Yankovic instead. While renowned for his parodies and zany image, Weird Al is also a three-time Grammy Award winner (out of nine nominations), has sold over 12 million albums, created the classic cult movie
UHF and TV series
The Weird Al Show, has written a bestselling children's book, and achieved many other serious accomplishments. Having played more than 1,000 concerts over his career, Al will add to that number when he returns to the road this year; with that in mind, intrepid pro-audio bon vivant/blogger, Mr. Bonzai, conducted this snazzy chat with the wizard of weird himself to get a preview of what lies ahead.
Author: By Kelleigh Welch
May 15,2013
Anticipating the start of the Gathering of the Vibes’ 18
th
year, fans can expect to see a number of
bands returning to the stage thanks to the efforts of the festival’s production
crew as they try to create an atmosphere that fits the festival’s jamband vibe.
“It’s not just about production,” said Chris Hubbard, the
production manager for the Gathering of the Vibes Festival. “Creating a great
artist and fan experience is absolutely a team effort and we’re one piece of
the equation. I like to think artists love to return to Vibes year after year
because the Vibes Production Team has this culture at its core.”
Author: By by Kelleigh Welch
May 14,2013
American blues musician Cassie Taylor made a stop in New York City on May 3rd as part of her “Out of My Mind” tour, performing original songs for a hungry audience. The show was held in the lower level of New York’s Hill Country Barbecue, which houses a small stage with QSC self-powered speakers and a Midas Venice Soundboard.
Author: By by Kelleigh Welch.
May 9,2013
While millions of people have turned music on vinyl records into MP3 files, Amanda Ghassaei gained notoriety a few months ago when she wrote online about her experiences doing the opposite—turning an digital audio file into a physical record by using a precision 3D printer. Now Ghassaei has followed up that project with instructions on how to use a laser cut machine to create records using a variety of materials, including wood, acrylic and paper.