Pro Tools 10

The recording industry is always growing and evolving with the times and the software used in the industry is no different. Earlier this year I wrote a blog comparing and contrasting Pro Tools 8 and 9. Avid has recently released its newest edition of software, Pro Tools 10. Although not as innovative as Pro Tools 9 that introduced hardware free editing along with countless other new features that added to the value of the Avid software, Pro Tools 10 has various new features that make upgrading to the new version well worth the money especially if you are still using the older versions of Pro Tools such as 7 or 8.

There are two features that caught my attention right off the bat. First, the 32-bit floating-point bit-depth audio files, which prevents your audio from dithering down to 24-bit, this process adds noise and reduces the quality of sound. The updated AudioSuite processing allows for multiple AudioSuite windows to be open at once making it easier to edit clips (regions). Aside from those two features the new clip gain element of Pro Tools is a convenient tool used mainly for the post production side of Pro Tools allows for faster more efficient sound editing and optimization. They have also introduced real-time fades with Pro Tools 10 along with a new cross-fade winder for my exact editing.

According to Sweetwater, Avid has also introduced three new plug-ins for Pro tools 10:

Channel Strip plug-in

- Taken straight from the legendary System 5 console, this flexible channel-strip-style plug-in gives you a wide range of tone-shaping power.

Down Mixer plug-in

- Which gives you amazing summing that lets you easily take a multitrack session as complex as 7.1 surround and mix it down to 5.1, 2.1, stereo, or other channel configurations.

Mod Delay III plug-in

- Which lets you add fun and creative time-based effects. Simply put, these new plug-ins alone are worth more than the price of upgrading to Pro Tools 10.


Price to upgrade to Pro Tool 10:

Pottermore Revisited (Update)

A few months ago, I posted a blog about J.K. Rowling’s new creation Pottermore. In the post I stated that Pottermore would open to the public at the end of October as was announced by Rowling herself. Yesterday it was announced that because of beta testing and the input provided by the 1 million beta testers already on the site, Pottermore’s opening to the masses would be delayed. The creators of the site are planning on implementing several new features that would improve the site and its capabilities for its grand opening to the pubic.

For those not familiar with the new concept that is Pottermore, let me reiterate what it is. The Harry Potter series is a well-known and beloved book series that captivated audiences around the world and became one of, if not the best selling series ever. According to BBC News in 2008, the books sold over 400 million copies and have been translated into 67 languages. The films have also all been ranked in the top 50 highest grossing movies of all time with the final film taking the third sport with sales of over $1.3 billion (Box Office Mojo). 

J.K. Rowling, the author, decided to implement a new FREE website that brought the books to life and lets the audience interact with the characters and become part of the story. The site includes various games that integrate with the chapters and even sorts you into a house and you gain house points (Personally, I want to be in Griffindor). You also have access to your house common room, which allows for inter-house conversations and the great hall where you can socialize with other houses as well. Since there is a logical order to the books, you must complete challenges to move on to the next chapter or book. The site also requires you to purchase (with game earned money) books and all elements needed for a year at Hogwarts including a wand, making it seem like your are really getting ready to go to wizarding school.

As if that’s not enough, the author has included never before read content including character bios, for example, how Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon met and Professor McGonagall’s childhood. The site will also be the only place to purchase digital copies of all the Harry Potter books.

It was not specified when the site would be ready and available but we do know that when it is, it will be that much better. 

Business Plan Part 2

In the last post I placed on this blog I went in to some detail about how to best complete a business plan according to some business experts. If you have read my about me page you would know that I am currently studying at Full Sail University and that I am completing my Masters program. We are required to complete a business plan by the final month of the program and I have actually implemented some of the tips from my last entry.

When I first started the business plan, I could think of nothing else except that it was a lot of work and what was the point in doing it all. After reading Paul Heyworth’s article “Do I Need a Business Plan?” one line really stuck out to me, “it is very useful to write one even if for nobody else’s benefit but your own”. It got me thinking, if I really am serious about opening this business, I am going to need to know who my competitors are and who’s going to work for me, I am going to need to know my location, or even if the business is worth it with the financials section. I is important for me to start of the business on the right foot and the business plan is going to help me do that.

I have also made a few slight changes in my business plan due to Tim Berry’s outline of a business plan. The order of a business plan does not matter but the way Mr. Berry suggested, reads better and makes more sense.

I have also learned that out of the entire business plan there are two sections that matter the most and should be planned and researched. The Executive summary is the first thing the investor will see and read. It must be straight forward and to the point while still capturing the investor’s attention. I know that it sounds hard to do, but just keep the fluff out and come up with a unique business. The second section is the financials section. The investor will be putting money, and sometimes a lot of it, n to your business. They want to know how and when they will be able to get their return on investment and when they can start making a profit. So when doing this section, be meticulous and think logically, no brand-new business is going to make $1,000,000 the first month. You want the investor to take you seriously.

Business Plan

Thinking about starting a new business? Ever consider what it takes to start a business from scratch? It takes a lot of thinking, research and planning. To be specific, it takes a lot of business planning.

In order to get funding for your business, it is required to present a formal business plan to your choice of financer. This business plan give insight in to the specifics of your company, its potential, the risk factors, your competitors and other important information that is necessary to convince a financer to fund your company, and there is a specific way to go about creating this business plan.

Paul Heyworth, helps explain the question most of you entrepreneurs ask yourselves, do I need a business plan? Heyworth is an expert in business mentoring, strategic planning and numerous other aspects of the business world at Orvia in the UK. In an article written by Heyworth, he explains the benefits of creating a business plan. He states that it is wise to write a business plan if for nobody else, for yourself. Doing this will not only bring the business into perspective but it will also set targets and goal to help you measure the success of your business.

Tim Berry, Founder and President of Palo Alto Software, is a renowned planning expert. Berry outlines in detail everything required to complete a proper business plan and a small explanation of the sections in order to clarify the meaning of that section. 

For example the following is an exert from his article, A Standard Business Plan Outline:

Simple business plan outline

1.              Executive Summary: Write this last. It’s just a page or two of highlights.

2.              Company Description: Legal establishment, history, start-up plans, etc.

3.              Product or Service: Describe what you’re selling. Focus on customer benefits.

4.              Market Analysis: You need to know your market, customer needs, where they are, how to reach them, etc.

5.              Strategy and Implementation: Be specific. Include management responsibilities with dates and budgets. Make sure you can track results.

6.              Web Plan Summary: For e-commerce, include discussion of website, development costs, operations, sales and marketing strategies.

7.              Management Team: Describe the organization and the key management team members.

Financial Analysis: Make sure to include at the very least your projected Profit and Loss and Cash Flow tables.

He continues in the article but giving examples of possible subsections for each section to make the business plan more detailed. Berry also gives reference to allBusiness.com for more information on business plans.

With the resources provided, it should be very easy to come up with a very well planned and researched business plan that will get you noticed by investors and well on your way to business success.

V Control Pro for iPad

V Control Pro for iPad, is a multi-touch control surface for digital audio workstations. V Control Pro is compatible with Pro tools 7, 8, 9, Logic 9 and Logic Express 9, Cubase and Nuendo.

In more detail, V Control Pro for iPad allows you to do multiple actions for the software that would be otherwise controlled by a mouse or a control surface (interface) such as a 003 for Pro tools.

The down side of the Interface is that it can only be controlled while in front of the device or the actual computer. V Control Pro allows for the user to be portable with the use of the iPad over Wi-Fi capabilities. A free software program that is installed on to the computer allows for the integration of the iPad app with the DAWs.

With the use of V Control Pro the user can actively do the following:

- Adjust volume using large, touch-sensitive faders
- Solo, mute, record tracks
- Pan controls
- Flip mode send editing
- Dual surround pan controllers
- Metering
- Jog / scrub / shuttle control
- Automation mode controls and display
- Automation and group suspend buttons
- Automation and group status display
- Automation write enable controls
- Plug-in editing
- Input monitoring switch
- Big counter display
- Save and Undo buttons
- Pre-roll / Post-roll buttons
- I/O assignment
- Zoom presets
- Window display controls
*Keypad popover provides access to many Pro Tools features






The video above gives a brief overview of the function of V Control Pro. It shows just how easy and efficient the program is and just how much you can do while in another room completely. the reviews for the V Control Pro are all positive and seems like a great buy for any audio engineer on the move. The price for V Control Pro is only $49.99 in the app store and is well worth the money.

External Resources:

http://www.neyrinck.com/en/products/v-control-pro

Blue Kiwi Condenser Microphone

I have recently been looking into purchasing a condenser microphone for vocals that would fit my needs. While researching professional condenser microphones, I stumbled upon a Blue Kiwi. It's been a while since I have seen one and it just so happened that it fit my requirements. The Blue Kiwi is known for it's unique sound that is built directly into it's hand crafted large diaphragm capsule and provides a rich low end, beautiful airy highs and a countered mid-range. The Blue is a great sounding microphone that works well in the professional setting. The microphone picks up frequencies from 20Hz to 20kHz, which consists of the entire frequency range that can be heard by a human. The microphone also features 9 different polar patterns including Omni, Cardioid, Figure of eight and several in between.

Bellow are some of the specifications for the Blue Kiwi Microphone:

- Transducer: Pressure Gradient Large Diaphragm Condenser
- Polar Pattern: Omni-directional, Cardioid, Figure of 8 with variations of each pattern for a total of 9 patterns
- Frequency Response: 20Hz to 20kHz
- Dynamic Range (Typical): 75dB
- Signal-to-Noise Ratio: CCIR468-3: 76dB
- DIN/IEC 651: 87dB-A
- Maximum Input Sound Level: 0.5%: 133dB
- Power Requirements: 48V Phantom
- Output Impedance: 50 Ohms
- Output Connectors: XLR-3M Type
- Pad: None
- Low Frequency Roll-Off: None
- Dimensions: 8.66 x 2.36" (220mm x 60mm) LxD diameter
- Weight: 31.74 oz. (900 g)

Although a low frequency roll-off would have been nice, the Blue is an exceptional choice for a vocal condenser microphone. It will bring any professional recording to life. In the hyper link provided both on the words Blue Kiwi and at the bottom of the blog, there are examples of what the recording would sound like on both male and female vocals and an instrument. And as you can see in the picture bellow, the Blue Kiwi is also visually appealing and would be a great addition to your studio, home or otherwise.

The only down fall of this microphone is that it is on the more expensive side of vocal microphones. It typically runs around the $1,999 range and it does include a shock mount specifically designed for the microphone called "the shock" and a cherry wood case for storage.

http://www.zzounds.com/item--BLUKIWI

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/Kiwi/?utm_source=Google&utm_medium=PPC&utm_campaign=recording&utm_term=blue_kiwi&adpos=1t1&gclid=COGiy6rt-qoCFY9S7AoddF9-1w

http://www.bluemic.com/kiwi/

Pottermore

I actually did a presentation about this in class but I thought that it was newsworthy enough to include in my blog. I am a huge Harry Potter fan and since this website opens up to the public by October 31st, I figured it would be worth a mention.

Pottermore is an interactive website that brings the Harry Potter book to life with animated inserts to the book while you read and actual game play that goes along with each chapter and book of the series.

When you first enter the site, your first task would be to answer a few questions that would let you be sorted by the sorting hat in to your house.

The website also provides tasks that needs to be completed by the reader/player to be able to continue with the series. For example, you have to earn money to place in to gringotts bank so that you can purchase books and robes for your year at Hogwarts. You can also purchase your own specialized wand. The shopping will take place in a virtual Diagon Ally. Readers will also learn spell as they go along and progress through the books.

The website also includes Character bios that are not available in the book or anywhere else for that matter (ex. how Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon met and fell in love and Professor McGonagall’s childhood)

The website also offers the Exclusivity of eBook purchases for the entire Harry Potter series. This will give the website traffic for many years to come seeing as it is also the only exclusive place to purchase future works for the series if Rowling decides to write a continuation.

The site will also serve as its own social media site because it includes online chats within the houses called the common room and online chats that span all the houses called the great hall.

Below is a video from author J.K. Rowling herself explaining what to expect from Pottermore that leaves you wanting more.

http://www.pottermore.com/