Head Out To NAMM

We are headed out from Austin to NAMM, one of the largest music shows in the world. It will be a little different this year, as this is the first year that Open Labs is showing and selling a software product; Music OS. The response from current customers and trial users has been very positive. However, this is our coming out party to the music industry.

The good news is that we have a great partner who has not only allowed us to team up with them at the show, but has also signed a meaningful relationship with Open Labs. We are looking forward to a long and mutually beneficial relationship with them on a going forward basis.

Additionally, we will be making another announcement at NAMM about Music OS. Specifically, we will be releasing Music OS 3.1 with a list of new features. One of the features demanded by our customer base was integration with SoundCloud. Open Labs Music OS is now featured in their Desktop App Gallery and we are excited about our relationship with SoundCloud.

So, tomorrow look at our blog, Facebook page, Twitter account, etc to get the full scoop on our partner, as well as the details on Music OS 3.1.

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/

Open Labs Announces Release of Open RiFF 2.0

From the Live Music Capital of the World, Austin, Texas, Open Labs, the recognized leader in innovative, computer-based Music Production Stations, is pleased to announce its first major software upgrade to its VST Live Host – Open RiFF 2.0.

This release of Riff 2.0 follows closely behind the launch of Open Labs’ newest Musical Production Stations, Gen6. As one of the three key elements of the Open Labs Musical Operating Environment, Open RiFF 2.0 offers all users increased functionality, ease of use and simplicity of work flow over the previous version, RiFF 1.3.

With Open RiFF 2.0, Open Labs users now have a familiar, search based sound browser which allows users to browse and audition sounds more easily. Using a singular search window, the thousands of sounds found in the Open Labs NeKo and MiKo lines can be identified by musical instrument, musical genre or familiar nicknames.

Along with this increased functionality, there has been a significant improvement in Midi control, which allows for ease of use in both live performance and with the stage control of instruments.

Nick O’ Toole, film composer and Tour Relations Director for Open Labs said, “Finally a VST host that allows Midi information to flow out to other devices. This kind of functionality has been a long-time coming for Production Stations. Being able to send and receive Midi information, including program change information and having control on a song-by-song, patch-by-patch basis is incredibly helpful for guys with complex systems on tour or in the studio. The artists have asked for this kind of functionality and Open Labs has delivered it.”

Open RiFF 2.0 also offers one-touch performance, which will allow Open Labs users to record Midi tracks in more of a simplistic manner. At the same time, the user does not need to have use an external mouse or keyboard to manipulate Open RiFF 2.0.

Open RiFF 2.0 will be included in all Gen6 Music Production Stations. For all 2010 A-Stock purchases, Open RiFF 2.0 will be available at no charge. For all 2010 B-Stock Purchases, Open RiFF 2.0 can be purchased for $29.99. For Open Labs users with Gen5 Music Production Stations, Open RiFF 2.0 can be purchased for $49.99. For any Open Labs users with Gen4 and older Production Stations, Open RiFF 2.0 can be purchased for $99. Detailed information about Open RiFF 2.0 is available at www.openlabs.com/openriff.

A live demonstration will be available on Open Labs’ live Ustream webcast, Thursday, June 10th, 2010 from 5:00pm-6:00pm, CST. The webcast can be viewed at http://www.ustream.tv/channel/openlabs.

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

O-Live: Gen6 Product Launch Announcement Show!

If you missed it yesterday, here is the archive of the Gen6 product announcement show on O-Live. See Gen6 in all of it’s glory!

Watch below!

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.

2010 ASCAP “I Create Music” Expo Coming Up!

ASCAP (the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers) will stage its fifth annual ASCAP “I Create Music” EXPO in Los Angeles April 22-24, 2010 where top songwriters, composers, producers and industry professionals will come together to share their knowledge and expertise on a broad range of relevant topics to music creators. The three-day event will take place at the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel, all three days.

The ASCAP “I Create Music” EXPO is the premier conference for songwriters, composers and producers. It covers all genres of music and includes panels, workshops, master classes, keynotes, One-on-One sessions, song critiquing, networking events, product displays, state-of-the-art technology demonstrations, performances, and more. All music creators, producers, publishers and executives – regardless of their performing rights organization affiliation – will benefit from this unique creative event, which is designed around personal interaction, education and networking.

“When music is your life you need all the contacts, resources and guidance you can get to make it a career in today’s world. And, of course, creators are always looking for ways to hone their skills and master their craft,” said ASCAP President and Chairman Paul Williams. “The EXPO provides a unique environment for songwriters, composers and producers to learn from the best in the business on how to improve their art. The energy and inspiration generated by our community coming together in this way is remarkable, and is one of the reasons why the EXPO continues to be so successful.”

Panelists and performers for the 2010 ASCAP “I Create Music” EXPO will include Qunicy Jones, John Mayer and Bill Withers. Other music celebrities to participate in the EXPO include Justin Timberlake and Ludacris.

For more information about ASCAP, follow ASCAP EXPO on Twitter www.twitter.com/ascapexpo. For more information, please visit www.ascap.com/expo.

Post your music on YouTube and get paid?!

Ok, so these OK Go guys aren’t going to win Internet Emmy’s for this video, but they’re musicians so we’ll cut them some slack.

The big point here is that YouTube has launched a program to pay musicians based on the number of views they get for their videos. If you were going to put your videos up on YouTube for promotional purposes anyway, you might as well get paid too, right?

Check it out!

YouTube’s MUSICIANS WANTED program!