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

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.

Tech Support: Sampling with Reaper on Open Labs Production Stations

Open Labs’ Tech Support Specialist Chris Brown shows ways you can take samples from other songs into your own beats. This video shows how you can use Reaper 3 to do so. Taken from O-Live, Open Labs’ daily webcast. For more info go to www.openlabs.com/webcast or www.openlabs.com/faq.

Tech Support: Optimizing your OS on Open Labs Production Stations

Open Labs Tech Support Specialist, Michael Corley shows you how to optimize your workflow with Windows XP to make your Neko, Miko, DBeat and SoundSlate run even faster. Taken from O-Live, Open Labs’ daily webcast. For info go to www.openlabs.com/webcast or www.openlabs.com/faq.

Tech Support: Installing FL Studio on Your Open Labs Station

Check out Open Labs Tech Support Specialist Mike Corley showing you how to install VSTs (in this situation–FL Studio) into your Neko, Miko, DBeat or SoundSlate. Taken from O-Live, Open Labs’ daily webcast for more info see http://www.openlabs.com/webcast or http://www.openlabs.com/faq.

Videos: Using Your iPhone/iTouch Plus Beatmaker AND the NeKo!

This is one of my favorite How-To Videos that we have here at Open Labs. Open Labs product developer Matthew Presley demonstrates how to use the iPhone/iTouch application Beatmaker in conjuction with the NeKo TSE. Although it’s an older video, hopefully those of you using Open Labs gear plus an iPhone or iTouch with the Beatmaker software installed will learn a new skill!

You can download Beatmaker from the iTunes store at http://itunes.apple.com/app/beatmaker/id285512415?mt=8.

15 tips for computer music beginners

This is an article from Music Radar. Really good advice for folks who are just starting off on the computer music adventure.

15 tips for computer music beginners

These tips will cover all the do’s and don’ts of getting your virtual studio set up to make music.

Where are my sounds?

Earlier this week, I posted an article regarding the use of sampling in modern music production. An obvious extension of that line of thought is “Where can I find sounds that are legal to use in my work?”.

There are many online repositories for free sounds. Here are just a few.

Audience Sounds
AudienceSounds.com
It’s a ’studio audience’ laugh-machine. Royalty-free audience and people sounds can played and downloaded for use in your projects. (It’s also fun to use it in the middle of a conversation… )

The Freesound Project
freesound.iua.upf.edu
The Freesound Project is a collaborative database of Creative Commons licensed sounds. Freesound focusses only on sound, not songs.

Sample Swap
www.sampleswap.org
A collection of over 12000 free instrument samples.

Internet Archive
www.archive.org
Large site. Great for finding public-domain music, films, and radio shows from which to sample (but you’ll have to do the sampling yourself, but it’s worth it to get those 1950 educational film samples!).

Wav Central
wavcentral.com
A collection of wave file clips from various movies, tv, and other Sound FX.  Very fun, most in mp3 format, though.

KB6
samples.kb6.de
Some classic drum machine sample packs. Weird site, but classic sounds.

GoldBaby
www.goldbaby.co.nz/freestuff.html
A collection of about a dozen decent sample packs. Some unusual ones.

Computer Music
www.computermusic.co.uk
This one isn’t really free, as it is an import magazine from the UK that will run you about $17US. However, every issue comes with a DVD packing an average 1500 samples crossing all genres, not to mention excellent reviews, tips, and free software.

These are just a few, and most sites have links to other similar sites. Have a sample site that you love but is not mentioned here? Tell us about it in the comments!!

Now, go make some music

-mcorley

(Some content gathered from www.freemusicsoftware.org)

Sampling- Fair Use or Straight Up Theft?

One of the more common questions Tech Support receives is ” How do I Sample?”.

Sampling has become a very common practice in modern music production, yet has never lost it’s controversial nature. At which point does a sample become the property of the artist using it? What rights does the original artist retain over samples? These are questions that many have asked, but the answers can be quite tricky.

In the infancy of sampling, may sources would be used in small snippets, creating collages in which it was difficult to determine the origin of the samples being used. Trying to catalog the samples used in early hip-hop albums can be quite difficult, if not impossible. Recently though, samples have become longer, and in some cases, entire songs are “sampled”.

The nature of these issues is discussed at length in a recent episode of NPR’s “On The Media” with interviews with Hank Shocklee of The Bomb Squad and Greg Gillis, aka GirlTalk. I highly suggest giving it a listen.

-mcorley