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Producer Interview: Morgan Page

8 May, 2008 | 12.00PM

Section: Music News Topics: Technology
Written by: francispreve

Morgan Page is one of those artists who’s able to walk the line between straight-up commercial success and artistic expression.

If you swing by his Beatport area, you’ll find eight pages of tracks ranging from progressive to tech to electro, with a chunk of deep house thrown in for good measure.

This spring, Morgan’s new album ‘Elevate’ was released on Nettwerk Records.

Featuring both remixes and original tracks, ‘Elevate’ is a snapshot of where Morgan stands today and a glimpse of where he’s headed.

The first single off the album, ‘The Longest Road’, was a bona fide club hit earlier this year - thanks to a slew of brilliant remixes, including three from the ubiquitous Deadmau5.

We met up with Morgan at WMC and after a lengthy conversation about production techniques, it became clear that he has a lot to share with our readers.

Ableton releases Orchestral Instrument collection

6 May, 2008 | 4.17PM

Section: Music News Topics: Beatport Blog, Technology
Written by: Sarah O

A highly useful tool for composing and arranging musical sequences, Ableton Live is now expanding their technology to include a four-sampled instrument collection, representing the four sections of an orchestra.

Utilizing a technology called SmartPriming, Orchestral Instruments is able to provide big symphonic sound with a minimum of CPU action.

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Last call for Red Bull Music Academy

2 May, 2008 | 6.00PM

Section: Music News Topics: Technology
Written by: Terry Church

If you’re a DJ or producer looking to get serious about your career, be sure to apply to the Red Bull Music Academy, which will take place in Barcelona this year.

The annual academy brings together aspiring producers, DJs and musicians in an attempt to improve musical understanding, creativity and relationships.

For two weeks attendees (who are chosen based on certain criteria and merit) will learn from top DJs and producers and meet and share ideas, so places to the Red Bull Music Academy are fiercely competitive.

The deadline for applications is May 5th.

For more info and to download the application pack visit [url=http://www.redbullmusicacademy.com]http://www.redbullmusicacademy.com[/url]

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Product Spotlight: Jacked Out Future House

1 May, 2008 | 12.00PM

Section: Music News Topics: Technology
Written by: francispreve

Sample libraries are easy to come by.

There are literally thousands available from distributors like Big Fish Audio, Loopmasters and Time+Space.

So naturally, it can be somewhat problematic making a wise buying decision, especially when many of these libraries are priced in the $50-100 US range.

One of the best new libraries to cross my hard drive arrived by way of Loopmasters and was developed by none other than renowned house producer, Joey Youngman.

After spending a few days with the material, here’s the assessment.

Product Spotlight: Way Out Ware KikAXXE

24 April, 2008 | 12.00PM

Section: Music News Topics: Guide To Synthesis, Technology
Written by: francispreve

I’m an analog guy.

Sure, I’ve used a ton of softsynths over the years, but ever since I picked up a Prophet 08 and dug my SH101 out of the garage, I’ve become increasingly finicky about virtual analog emulations.

So when I stumbled upon a virtual ARP softsynth made by a tiny one-man operation out of San Luis Obispo called Way Out Ware, I was intrigued.

Way Out Ware’s products are so impressive that they’ve even got the support of M-Audio behind them as their worldwide distributor.

Let’s take a look at this beastie.

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Prophet 08 module now shipping

22 April, 2008 | 12.00PM

Section: Music News Topics: Technology
Written by: francispreve

After much anticipation, it’s official.

Dave Smith Instruments is now shipping the module version of the Prophet 08.

Configured with either wooden end panels for that classic retro look — or in a four-space rackmount version — the all-analog Prophet sound just got a lot more affordable.

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Sampling Essentials – Part 2

15 April, 2008 | 11.41AM

Section: Music News Topics: Guide To Synthesis, Technology
Written by: francispreve

In our previous installment, we tackled the specifics that govern the sample recording process, including sampling rate and sample resolution.

This time around, we’re going to cover how samples are edited and prepared for playback via a software or hardware sampler.

From there, we’ll go over how to make the most of your sampler’s resources.

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Tonium Pacemaker: Overview and basic tutorial

14 April, 2008 | 4.41AM

Section: Videos Topics: Beatport Blog, DJ Gossip, Technology
Written by: andre cato

After six weeks with the new Pacemaker, here is my overview and tutorial on the new Tonium Pacemaker!

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Sampling Essentials – Part 1

10 April, 2008 | 12.00PM

Section: Music News Topics: Guide To Synthesis, Technology
Written by: francispreve

Now that we’ve covered the ins and outs of subtractive/analog synthesis, we’ll begin exploring other popular methods of tone generation.

This week, we’ll tackle the specifics of sampling.

Since most samplers also rely strongly on subtractive synthesis techniques, the material in the previous tutorials is equally relevant here.

If you haven’t already checked out the earlier lessons, you might want to do so before reading further.

On the other hand, if you’re already up to speed, it’s time to dive in.

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WMC 2008 Panels: Production Sessions

1 April, 2008 | 3.27AM

Section: Music News Topics: Miami WMC 2008, Technology
Written by: Mr. Tunes

There were a few options for conference attendees to brush up on their production skills and gear knowledge this year at the Winter Music Conference.

The first option was to attend the official sessions at the Miami Beach Spa and Resort Hotel with Eric Kupper and Michael Moog, while the other option was the free sessions offered by Apple at the Remix Hotel in cooperation with the Beatport Pool Party.

WMC Video: Behind the scenes with Gui Boratto

31 March, 2008 | 9.13PM

Section: Music News Topics: Miami WMC 2008, Technology
Written by: lizwarner

Here’s a fun behind-the-equipment look at Gui Boratto and his live set-up used at the Beatport Pool Party during WMC.

Getting this type of sneak peek into the operations of someone who continually does no wrong doesn’t happen as often as we’d like.

Track ID anyone?

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Check out 'Chromophobia' by Gui Boratto on Beatport

Richie Hawtin makes the switch to Traktor

27 March, 2008 | 9.30AM

Section: Music News Topics: Technology
Written by: lizwarner

Native Instruments announces today that influential producer and DJ Richie Hawtin has made the switch to the equipment maker’s Traktor line.

Hawtin, long known for being at the forefront of digital DJing technology beginning with his strong endorsement of Final Scratch in the early 2000s, is the continual experimentalist, often incorporating several elements into his DJ sets.

Having announced the usage of both Traktor Scratch and Traktor 3 for his DJ sets, he will combine four full-featured decks and multiple looping and effects options — tricks at which he is no stranger, often relying on custom analog mixing decks to accomplish the same goal.

Richie Hawtin makes the announcement just as Native Instruments makes a special WMC promotional announcement offering a free $50 Beatport gift card with the purchase of the Traktor Scratch DJ system for the short window between March 20th and March 31st.

Follow the jump to see a new exclusive interview with Hawtin discussing his approach to DJing and his switch to Traktor, along with the switch of several of his Minus label mates.

The end of DJs? International Dance Party invasion begins

27 March, 2008 | 6.47AM

Section: Music News Topics: Technology
Written by: Christen Reutens

Look out DJs, the robots are coming. They will mercilessly take control of the turntables, the lighting and the party confining you to the dusty history books of mankind.

They are better equipped than you, have more power, and have extraordinary perception skills that can control the intensity of a dancing crowd like no other.

Whilst you humans must use feeble guesswork and one-dimensional musical preferences to guide feet, the International Dance Party uses radar to detect how the crowd wants it.

Ok another of the B horror movie babble - this is real life folks.

Some evil nerd has invented a special box called the International Dance Party, which automatically can detect via radar how hard people are dancing, and respond with an appropriate light and sound show.

We here at Beatportal have often fantasized about having a robot DJ that uses technology to build a set (only because we’re seen quite a few bad human DJs), but after seeing this video we’re actually quite scared.

Watch how the robots are taking over after the jump.

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Grasping MIDI Controllers

26 March, 2008 | 12.00PM

Section: Music News Topics: Guide To Synthesis, Technology
Written by: francispreve

In our previous tutorials, we covered the specifics of synthesizer audio modules such as oscillators and filters, as well as modulators such as envelopes, LFOs and such.

These are the essentials for preset design, but for adding character to a performance, the next step lies in creative use of MIDI controllers.

In this tutorial, we’ll cover some of the techniques that allow you to morph the character of your synth parts over time.

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A completely pointless, but fun iPhone DJ app

21 March, 2008 | 11.12AM

Section: Videos Topics: Technology
Written by: Zack Rico

Oh how we love our Apple iPhones here at Beatportal. They’re so pretty and sexy. Sometimes we like to cuddle up to our iPhones and stroke their cute little screens.

It’s amazing how they respond to touch, the warmth of our fingers being the only thing that gets them excited.

We sometimes wish there was a hole in our iPhones so we could squeeze our tongue into it to give it the love it deserves.

Ok you get the point. The iPhone is a man’s (or woman’s) best friend. And now some nerds are trying to make it a DJ’s best buddy by developing a fun, but ultimately totally pointless DJ app.

MixMeister Scratch allows you to scratch wika-wika-wild style on the iPhone to impress your friends who don’t have (or can’t afford to own) an iPhone.

So go on. Rub it in their faces. D-D-D-Don’t-you-wish-you-had-an-iPhone.

MixMeister Scratch will be available for the iPhone and iPod Touch soon. More info at: http://www.mixmeister.com/scratch/mmscratch.asp