It’s that time of the year already! The 53rd annual Grammy nominations (for 2011) were announced last night and it’s safe to say that with so much amazing music released this past year — not to mention monster tours — it was as competitive as ever!!
We are happy to say that 3 Open Labs artist were nominated this year and we are stoked to have them using our boards!
Jesse Carmichael keyboardist from Maroon 5 has tearing up the keys on our Neko during their recent Hands all Over Tour. Congrats on the nomination for Best Pop Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals!!
Another one of our artist we have seen rise up this year are The Black Keys. Dan Auerbach, the guitarist and vocalist for the band has been using are gear for the past few years. We are excited to see them nominated for Best Rock Performance By A Duo Or Group and Best Rock Instrumental Performance.
We also want to give it up for our main man Jonathan Davis of Korn and their nomination for Best Rock Instrumental Performance.
We would aslo liketo give shot outs to our fellow Austinits that have been nominated;Esperanza Spalding, Patty Griffin, Grupo Fantasma, Tortilla Factory, Willie Nelson, Jimmie Vaughn, Pinetop Perkins, Crazy Heart Soundtrack, Ryan Bingham, Will Sheff and Wolfgang Gartner. Keep it up Austin…we love to hear it!!!
Open Labs products are now fully 64-bit capable! 32-bit compliant software will also run on Open Labs products. Our new Windows 7 64-bit operating system allows users to employ up to 16GBs of RAM in a single instrument (that’s over 4X the memory of previous systems!). Users now get the best of both worlds perfectly integrated into one working environment making the Open Labs creative experience even more powerful than ever before!
Already own an Open Labs product? Want to upgrade your existing system to 64-bit? As with any computer-based product, Open Labs understands the importance of keeping the internal components as current and cutting edge as possible. Open Labs offers affordable upgrade paths for its existing users so that their initial investment can continue to grow year after year. For more information on product upgrades or GEN6 64-bit products, please contact Open Labs directly: www.openlabs.com or call: 512-444-6222.
$50 DISCOUNT PROMO CODE (Valid on any upgrade or product purchase, expires 12/10/10): OL64BLKF
We will be broadcasting a super special welcome back episode of the new and improved O-Live. Catch it today at 5:00pm CST on our Ustream channel. Click on the link below to watch it live at 5!
Lexicon Producions is back at it and is showcasing his Timbaland Special Edition Neko. This video, shot in Japan, demonstrates the ease and power of an Open Labs workstation, not to mention the pro cinematography.
Lex is using FL Studios to create his music on his Neko, exhibiting how with Open labs products, you can use any PC supported software to get the sounds and work flow you need to make the music you want to hear. Also notice how Lex utilizes the various midi control panels to add effects, mix tracks, and trigger samples!
Hey guys there are a lot of new sites dedicated to musician communities. Combining social networking, tutorials, collaboration opportunities, marketing, on line distribution, contests and promotions are all ideas and services these sites are dabbling in. Check out the links for more info
Let’s look back at some early electronic instruments, shall we.
First up, the Trautonium. Invented by Friedrich Trautwein in 1929, yeah that’s right 19 freakin 29! Instead of a keyboard, its manual is made of a resistor wire over a metal plate which is pressed to create a sound. Expressive playing was possible with this wire by gliding on it, creating vibrato with small movements. Volume was controlled by the pressure of the finger on the wire and board. The first Trautoniums were marketed by Telefunken from 1932-35 (100 were made). I bet they weren’t cheap either. Here is a picture of one made in 1952
Next up, the Hammond Novachord. Built between 1939-1942, designed by John Hanert and considered to be the first polysynth available to the public. Here is a video of an original Novachord,
If you like that you should check out the VST version from soniccouture!
Now lets take a peek at some Canadian synth. That’s right, I said Canadian. This is the Sackbut Synthesizer, uh yeah.. Sackbut…well it sounds pretty cool and is so makeshift you could probably recreate the synth in your garage. Hugh LeCaine of Ottawa created the Electronic Sackbut Synthesizer in his home studio over a period of three years from 1945 to 1948. This synthesizer is the first voltage-controlled synthesizer ever built, preceding the manufacture of commercial synthesizers by twenty years. Check it out!
Now who knows about Raymond Scott? This guy was a total bad ass when it comes to early electronic music. In 1946, Scott established Manhattan Research, a division of Raymond Scott Enterprises, Incorporated, which he announced would “design and manufacture electronic music devices and systems.” As well as designing audio devices for his own personal use, Manhattan Research Inc. provided customers with sales & service for a variety of devices “for the creation of electronic music and musique concrete” including components such as ring modulators, wave, tone and envelope shapers, modulators and filters. Here is a video discovery of one of his personal electronic instruments called the Electronium.
And last up on the list is the Buchla 100. Designed by Don Buchla, and released just months after Robert Moog’s first synth (although arguably it was designed prior to Moogs designs). Buchla’s synthesizers experimented in control interfaces, such as touch-sensitive plates. In 1969 the Series 100 was sold to CBS, who soon after dropped the line, not seeing the synthesizer market as a profitable area. Boy were they wrong. Listen to this!
or the 200 series,
And that concludes our post for today. Thanks for reading!
“Much of the mystery surrounding Linkin Park’s VMA perfomance centered on just where it would be taking place… This was the first-ever televised performance of “The Catalyst,” the debut single off their A Thousand Suns album (in stores Tuesday).”
Linkin Park has been a supporter and user of Open Labs gear since They purchased their Timbaland unit a few years ago. Recently they’ve been stocking up on new boards for there upcoming tour. Check out this video to watch a rehearsal of the performance and interview with the artist.
