From the Patch Bay

This is an update

mediatechinstitute — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 23:38:11 +0000

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we are having an event on February 98th at 14:00pm

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mediatechinstitute — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 00:02:30 +0000

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From the Patch Bay Has Upgraded Its Gear!

mediatechinstitute — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 00:37:27 +0000

Click here to visit From The Patch bay on its new domain.

Be sure to add WWW.MEDIATECHBLOG.COM to your bookmarks!

Sticky Shortcuts for Cubase and Protools

mediatechinstitute — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 01:13:56 +0000

Can’t get keyboard shortcuts stuck into memory? EditorKeys has made it easy with sticky reminders for you desktop or laptop keyboard. Considering that ProTools custom keyboard will run you over $100, these sticky friends speed up the hunt-and-peck process without breaking the bank.

EditorKeys are available for Protools, Cubase, Logic Pro, Avid, Final Cut, Sony Vegas, Sonar, Reason, Photoshop, Premiere, and After Effects for $29.95 through TryAndByte.com.

Jason Marsalis at Mediatech Institute’s Arlyn Studio

mediatechinstitute — Thu, 29 May 2008 19:04:25 +0000

New Orleans-based jazz performer Jason Marsalis and his band recorded at the studios of MediaTech Institute in Austin. His set was nothing short of true modern jazz, with the young star playing both vibes and drum set. Local Austin favorite Kris Kimura of the Kirs Kimura Quartet was also also on hand for sax and vocals.

[Images courtesy of Mac McDonnell]

About Jason Marsalis
Shortly after graduation from NOCCA in 1995, Marsalis ascended to the drum throne of a new group lead by virtuoso pianist and former sideman for Wynton Marsalis, Marcus Roberts. Despite a demanding touring schedule with Roberts, Marsalis furthered his educational goals by attending Loyola University in New Orleans, as well as studying composition with Roger Dickerson at Southern University.While Marsalis has worked with such international jazz luminaries as Joe Henderson and Lionel Hampton, he remains visible on the New Orleans scene as well, working with a diverse cross section of bands from Casa Samba (Brazilian) to Neslort (jazz fusion). He is also a co-founder of the Latin jazz group Los Hombres Calientes. In addition, he regularly hosts a local jazz jam where he plays vibraphone.

The sense of style and tastefulness that Marsalis exhibits in his playing explains why is a highly sought after musician. This style has been well documented on recordings with artists such as the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, Marcus Printup and Marcus Roberts to name but a few. He has also produced two albums under his own name, Year of the Drummer (1998) and Music in Motion (2000), as well as producing a reissue of his father’s earlier recorded work, Syndrome (1996). In addition, Marsalis is a respected clinician and an endorser of Fibes drums and Zildjian cymbals.

With each passing year Jason Marsalis continues to grow and develop as both a composer and performer. With a fire in his heart and a passion for the music, his will to swing has never been more resolute. The maturity of this young lion and the command he possesses over his instrument is clearly evident to those who have heard or seen him.

For more information about Marsalis visit www.JasonMarsalis.com

Scratch DJ’s – Please Don’t Drool on the Blog

mediatechinstitute — Sat, 24 May 2008 18:12:44 +0000

Double the stylus for double the fun, the R.A.K.E. allows you to drop simultaneously into two different grooves on the same record. Created by Randal Clayton (aka SaxManRan and DJ HornSolo) and friends from Dallas, Texas, the double stylus has been making it’s rounds among DJ sets including those by Questlove, Ghost, and DJ Spiderman. Hey Scratch DJ’s – don’t drool on the blog. Visit R.A.K.E.‘s dedicated page for all the ooos and ahhs.

Check out this video: The R.A.K.E. with Ghost TTM56

more about “MySpaceTV Videos: The R.A.K.E. with G…“, posted with vodpod

In other news, Mediatech Institute has recently announced that a Turntablism 101 class is being added to the course catelog for the Fall semester. Drop in at www.mediatechinstitute.com for more details.

Laptop Orchestra at Carnegie Hall

mediatechinstitute — Sun, 18 May 2008 16:14:16 +0000

About five years ago, I made my way through a crowded venue to score a good viewing spot at the Tortoise show. Being that the band had somewhat of an eclectic following, I expected the opening act to fall far from what would be considered mainstream. But during this particular show, the openers took the stage with only a fold-out table and two laptops.

I am a geek for the evolution of live music, but watching two people sit in sedation in front of a crowd of thousands seemed near criminal for a live setting. As much as I tried to focus my attention of the abstract sounds that took over the venue’s sound system, I couldn’t stop wondering if the duo was simply pressing the “play” button and nodding their heads in unison while sharing a online game of solitaire. Even if they were actually queuing up sampled loops, was that really a performance? Needless to say, I wasn’t very impressed. From that point forward my perception of the laptop performance would forever be skewed.

Flash forward to five years later and you’ll find a slew of software applications that make the laptop one of the most versatile instruments available on the market. Programs like Abelton Live, Reason, Traktor Scratch, and Serato Itch provide artists with live performance tools that rival the now seemingly antiquated two turntables and a microphone set-up.

Five years after first witnessing the awkward laptop performance during the Tortoise show, the evolution of digital music has found itself seated on the stage of New York’s famed Carnegie Hall. Eight students of Princeton University’s Princeton Laptop Orchestra (aka PLOrk) recently joined the American Composers Orchetra for a debut demonstration of a laptop performance that works.

Check out the PLOrk rehearsal footage, lead by composer Dan Trueman:

Mediatech Open House: Austin | Dallas | Houston

mediatechinstitute — Thu, 08 May 2008 23:24:55 +0000

Mediatech Institute will be holding an open house event on Thursday, May 15th, 2008. All of the instructors will be there from 7-9, which is a great time ask questions, tour the studio facilities, and make some great industry connections. RSVP is requested to insure there is enough space for everyone. If interested in attending, you can RSVP by calling 866-498-1122.

You can also visit the Mediatech Institute site to download the school catalog which includes semester dates, course offerings, instructor bios, and financial aid assistance programs. Click here to watch a video about Mediatech’s open house events.

Mediatech Digital Film School
Dallas Film School
400 E. Royal Lane
Building 3, Suite 100
Irving, TX 75039
Click here for a map:Dallas Campus Map

Recording Arts Program
Austin Campus
200 Academy Drive
Suite A
Austin, TX 78704
Click here for a map: Austin Campus Map

Dallas Campus
400 E. Royal Lane
Building 3, Suite 100
Irving, TX 75039
Click here for a map:Dallas Campus Map

Houston Campus
3330 Walnut Bend
Houston, TX 77042
Click here for a map: Houston Campus Map

Gather ’round the table. There is music to be made.

mediatechinstitute — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 23:21:32 +0000

The reaTable is a table-top electronic music intstrument was created by a team of developers at the Universitat Pompeu Fabra in Barcelona, Spain. The instrument works by allowing physical objects to take on the roles of various modular synthesizer components on a luminous table surface. Single or multiple users can control generators, filters and modulators to collaborate on original electronic compositions on the fly.

See it in action during Bjork’s set during the song Pluto during the 2007 Coachella music festival:

Thanks to Cam at Mediatech for the sweet video find.

Negative Feedback

mediatechinstitute — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 00:46:18 +0000

Dr. Joshua Reiss at the Centre for Digital Music at Queen Mary, University of London, has developed a device that allows live sound engineers to identify the levels of various frequencies that cause feedback during initial sound checks and automatically adjusts the master volume to squash any squeeling during the live audio performance. In the latest saga of engineer vs. musician, the engineer’s dream of monitoring the board without the anxiety of the ear piercing feedback may be the the one thing feared by some of the world’s most notorious rockers.

While Reiss’ does not intend for the device to clean up the music, but rather to allow engineers more advanced control during the mix that will achieve the best sound for what the musician wants. James Randerson lets Andy Quibb, professional sound for Björk, weighs in his thoughts in an article published in The Guardian.

“That’s wonderful until the pub starts filling up. Because sweaty bodies absorb certain frequencies and not others the software will not be able to react. “It has its uses, but they are fairly limited … in terms of trying to achieve professional results, it is certainly not a professional tool.”

Mind you, the device and software are still in development. It may be too early to speculate on the potential professional applications that can result once the technology is adapted for the commercial marketplace. But what do you think? Is it wrong to want for technology that makes the job of an engineering easier to manage? I wouldn’t dare to suggest that the featured be applied to every board in the land, especially those owned by venue owners that would switch it on and keep it going without a care for bands that use feedback as a signature party of their sound. But for musicians in select genre’s (i’m looking at you pop singers), would you prefer that your engineer activate the safety button on the sound board?

Before you answer, check out former Jesus and Mary Chain member John Moore’s negative feedback on the subject:

Well Dr Reiss, what’s wrong with a bit of feedback I should like to know? It was good enough for us, it should be good enough for our children. Don’t deprive them of the sensory thrill of staggering into the street following a six-string ear syringing, unable to hear anything but tinnitus for the next three days.

What are your thoughts? Do you want it? Would you use it? Is it cheating? Leave them in the comments below.