SXSW 2011 is here!

It’s that time of year again.   Thousands of film makers, musicians, and media artist pour into town, overtaking the entire city for 9 straight days of craziness.  While SXSW seems to be getting bigger and more commercial every year, it still maintains it’s cool factor.  To me, this is due to it’s accessibility.  Anyone with a badge, wristband, or savy and determined enough to RSVP to the events, can get to see great shows at club size venues for next to nothing.   The most difficult part is deciding what you actually want to do as there are so many great things that happen at the same time.    I’ll be attending the shows starting tonight through the rest of the week…  I’m sure some interesting posts will follow.

Lastly, some of our artists will be in town playing.

Most notable:

Bright Eyes is playing a FREE show at Auditorium Shores on Saturday March 19th 7:30pm

Till then,

Matthew Presley

Radiohead release new album “The King of Limbs”

Last Friday, my favorite band Radiohead released their 8th studio album entitled “The King of Limbs”

Needless to say I bought it and like all Radiohead records since “The Bends” I have listened to it every which way possible…. through my studio monitors, then headphones, car, etc.  Their production has always been top notch, and there have always been interesting things to hear from track to track and all in all they have good songs.   “The King of Limbs” is no exception.  While the first half of the record is more like the Thom York solo album The Eraser with it’s seizure inducing beats, the last half is classic post 2000 Radiohead which is a compromising mix between their crazy electronic side and them simply creating music together as a band.  In my opinion, it’s definitely worth many listens.

Get it here:  http://www.thekingoflimbs.com/

Positive Press for Gen6!

Read what others think about the new Open Labs Gen6 products!
If you see press that isn’t on this list, please forward it to press AT openlabs.com.

http://musicindustrynewswire.com/2010/05/19/min3023_220826.php

http://www.gearslutz.com/board/new-product-alert/494562-open-labs-unveil-gen6-newest-line-products.html

http://www.allaccess.com/net-news/archive/story/75400

http://lawontherow.com/2010/05/19/music-biz-news-open-labs-announces-new/

http://www.hispasonic.com/noticias/open-labs-presenta-sexta-generacion-workstation-neko-miko-14804

http://www.sonicstate.com/news/2010/05/21/new-open-labs-production-stations/

http://news.hitsquad.com/OtherGear/Open_Labs_unveil_the_newest_line_of_products_Gen6

http://en.audiofanzine.com/misc-computer/open-labs/generation6/news/a.play,n.6793.html

http://rapbeatsonline.info/how-to-get-into-the-music-industry/open-labs-announces-new-gen6-and-q-series-pc-powered-keyboard-workstations/

http://massmediacontent.com/2010/05/19/MMC3388_220826.php

http://www.gearjunkies.com/news_info.php?news_id=5117&PHPSESSID=94f2fbf6ba57e909359acd4d26fe8685

http://www.samplepoolz.com/?q=aggregator&page=1

http://www.audiopronews.ro/2010/05/open-labs-unveil-the-newest-line-of-products-gen6/

http://futuremusic.com/blog/

http://audiobusters.com/news/station-de-travail-workstation/nouvelle-gamme-de-produits-chez-open-labs-la-gen6

http://delicious.com/OpenLabs

http://digg.com/music/Open_Labs_Unveil_Gen6_the_Newest_Line_of_Products

http://openlabs.ning.com/profiles/blogs/open-labs-unveil-gen6-the

http://www.stumbleupon.com/stumbler/OpenLabs/

http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendId=58022979&blogId=534610322

http://www.openlabs.com/blog/?p=1011

Videos: Check out the Gen6 Product Launch Video

The Gen6 lineup includes the Gen6 MiKo QC6, the Gen6 NeKo QX6, the Gen6 MiKo LXD and the Gen6 NeKo XXL. The entire new Gen6 product line offers more power, more sounds and is more affordable.

Check it out below!

PRESS RELEASE: Open Labs Unveil Gen6; the Newest Line of Products

Open Labs, a recognized leader in innovative Music Production Stations based in Austin, Texas, debuted their newest line of Production Stations today, Generation6. The Gen6 lineup includes the Gen6 MiKo QC6, the Gen6 NeKo QX6, the Gen6 MiKo LXD and the Gen6 NeKo XXL. The entire new Gen6 product line offers more power, more sounds and is more affordable.

All products in the Gen6 lineup feature processors from the 2010 Intel® CoreTM processor family and are based on Microsoft’s Windows 7 for true Open Platform Capability. The Q series lineup includes the MiKo QC6 and the NeKo QX6, which offer over 10,000 sounds, full DAW capabilities, a 15” touch screen interface, DVD/CD burning and internet capability and a 37 or 61 keyboard form factor.

The L series lineup, which are the pinnacle of Music Production Stations, include the MiKo LXD and the NeKo XXL. Both production stations offer over 15,000 sounds, full DAW capabilities, a 15” touch screen interface, DVD/CD burning and internet capability and a 37 or 61 keyboard form factor. The L series offers incredible control over production with the Alpha 2 controller, the bankable Mix Edit and the drum pad interface Bump MP. The NeKo XXL also raises the bar in audio by offering 24bit/192khz recording.

“We are very excited to be launching the most powerful Musical Production Stations we’ve ever produced,” said Victor Wong, Chairman and Co-Founder, Open Labs, “with our migration to Windows 7 we have spent months testing and retesting our proprietary software products as well as the most popular third party software and hardware products. We can assure our customers the same level of musical flexibility that they have grown to expect in our Production Stations and with our new offerings we can expand in ways which we have never been able to before now.

“Our software offerings will continue to flourish and our platforms will grow more robust with each release. This is a major transition for Open Labs and our ability to serve our customers and their musical aspirations,” said Wong.

The Q series Open Labs Music Production Stations come with Open Labs Gold Support Services which include: a one-hour “Get to Know Your Machine” session, two hours of technical training and warranty for parts and labor for one year. The L Series come with Open Labs Platinum Support Services which include the same level of Support Services as Gold Support in addition to seven hours of technical training.

The Gen6 MiKo QC6 is available for $3,799 USD and the Gen6 NeKo QX6 is available for $3,999 USD. The Gen6 MiKo LXD is available for $4,799 USD and the Gen6 NeKo XXL is available for $6,999 USD. All Open Labs production stations can be purchased directly through Open Labs at http://www.openlabs.com or through an authorized reseller listed on the Open Labs web site.

About Open Labs

Headquartered in Austin, Texas — at the crossroads of music and technology– Open Labs develops and markets cutting-edge studio and musical instrument technology. Since 2003, Open Labs has been the recognized leader in providing musicians and producers of all genres, with high-performance portable instruments that combine all the equipment found in a professional music studio with unsurpassed live performance capabilities. A-List artists currently using Open Labs products include: Timbaland, Jonathan Davis (Korn), Morris Hayes (Prince), Jesse Carmichael (Maroon 5) and Jimmy Nichols (Faith Hill) to name a few. For more information on Open Labs, please visit http://www.openlabs.com.

Artists: Open Labs Welcome Endorsed Artist M.C. Burton

Open Labs welcomes M.C. Burton to the family as an Endorsed Artist.

Founder of JONTI Productions, LLC M. C. Burton grew up in Grand Rapids, MI. After attending the University of Michigan where he played basketball, M. C. made the decision to pursue his musical interests. Against family advice, M. C. decided to open a recording studio from his home in Grand Rapids. The opening of Shade Studios allowed M. C. to work with such artists as Bobby DeBarge, El DeBarge, Chico DeBarge, Ready for the World, Bernard Terry, Euro-K, Jeffrey Valentine and Tony D and a host of talent from the surrounding area. In 1992, M. C. decided to relocate to the West Coast in order to pursue his musical aspirations more diligently.

Shortly after his arrival in Los Angeles, M. C. picked up where he left off in Grand Rapids and began producing music once again. With the opportunity to work with legendary artists like Vesta Williams and jazz great Dan Farrow, the future looked bright. However, like so many others in pursuit of the same dream, M. C. had to find more consistent work in order to make ends meet if he was to continue on his musical journey. M. C. soon took a position with an insurance brokerage firm. Before he knew it, more than a decade had passed and the dream of producing music again almost did as well.

Fortunately, M. C. came to his senses and realized that if he didn’t act immediately, he probably never would. M. C. threw caution to the wind and said good bye to a successful insurance career and never looked back! With the reputation of becoming successful with anything he sets his mind to, the music industry will be no different. Because of his love and passion for music, M. C. will settle for nothing less than excellence.

To read more about M.C., go to his OL artist page HERE or his personal music site HERE.

Videos: Timbaland’s ‘Morning After’ Ft. SoShy

O-Live: DJ Quest on O-Live, Tuesday, May 18th!

DJ Quest will be Skyping into the O-Live studio on Tuesday, May 18th from 6:00 to 6:30 pm, CST.

DJ Quest, known to many as “Big Haiti” or “The Haitian Sensation,” has built a reputation in the music industry, as one of the most energetic and diverse DJ’s to ever touch a set of turntables. Originally, from Brooklyn, New York, many of the Hip-Hop greats who have also originated there have influenced Quest. The NYC flava is reflected in the music that he plays today. As a Florida resident, Quest’s repertoire has grown to include southern stylistic influences of the “Dirty South” to create a turntable mixing that stands on its own.

In addition to being one of the hottest mixers/ radio personalities in the Nation Quest is a Co-chair for the Core DJs; the world’s largest DJ organization, which includes 280 of the top DJ’s worldwide. When Quest is not holding it down on the air or turntables he is in studio. His music production credits are endless including the following radio singles:

Riskay – Who U Creeping With
Sho-Zoe – She Get It
Vonzel Solomon (American Idol) – Can’t Move On
Acafool – She’s Ready
Smitty – Higher
Dirty Boss – Loose Control

To read more about DJ Quest, go HERE.

Artists: Please Welcome Open Labs Newest Endorser-Almighty KayGee!

Please welcome Open Labs Newest Endorser, Almighty KayGee!

Hailing from the Bronx, Almighty KayGee was first introduced to what is known today as hip hop, in 1971 when he witnessed a DJ Smokey party where he first saw b-boys, graffiti writers and DJing. Still in third grade, Almighty KayGee couldn’t afford equipment to be a DJ and his parents would kill him if they caught him writing graffiti. His only option at that point was to break dance. Almighty KayGee learned to break dance from the original “Mr. Freeze” and “Crip.” Almighty KayGee learned to rap in 1974 after he heard GrandMaster Flash and the Furious 3′s.

To read more, go HERE or visit his Myspace HERE.

Welcome to the Fam, Almighty!

Artists: Open Labs Welcomes Tzunmo Arpad Olah to the Family!

Please welcome Open Labs newest endorser to the family: Tzumo Arpad Olah!

Tzumo Arpad Olah was born into a musical family. He started playing the piano at the age of seven. He studied classical music at the Weiner Leo Conservatory (Hungary Budapest), after he received a scholarship to the Ferenc Erkel School of Jazz Music.His first success was the first prize of the Hungarian (Bela Bartok) Radio’s talent competition, which was a scholarship for 5-week summer course at the Berklee College of Music in Boston.

Since 2001, he has had a lot of success in the international field, as well. In the summer of 2001, Tzumo received the first prize for the best Trio and for being the best soloist at the “Jazz an der Donau” competition.In September 2001, his Trio took part in the Jazz Hoeilaart International Contest competition, For the first time in the competition, Tzumo won all three of the main prizes : for the best Trio , and for the most creative performance piece, and he also received the prize for best soloist.

To read more about Tzumo, click HERE!