Press Release - Avid Everywhere Brings Foo Fighters Sonic Highways Recording Odyssey To Life

Press Release : Avid Everywhere Brings Foo Fighters Sonic Highways Recording Odyssey To Life

HBO documentary series deploys Avid MediaCentral Platform for fast, collaborative workflows to manage huge volumes of footage and tight timescales 

Avid® (OTC: AVID) today announced that the creative teams behind Foo Fighters Sonic Highways embraced Avid EverywhereTM to create the HBO documentary series commemorating the band’s 20th anniversary. The Avid MediaCentral Platform powered a fast, efficient and collaborative workflow that gave the teams the creative freedom to infuse each episode with a different style, while managing a vast amount of footage and tight timescales.

Directed by Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl, the eight-part series sees the band travel to legendary music studios in cities across the nation – Chicago, Austin, Nashville, Los Angeles, Seattle, New Orleans, Washington, D.C. and New York - to write and record their latest album, Sonic Highways, which was released on November 10. Each episode features interviews with influential artists, producers and studio owners - from superstars like Dolly Parton and Willie Nelson, to pioneers like Steve Albini and Daniel Lanois.

The editing and sound teams established a collaborative post production environment with the Avid Artist Suite’s Avid Media Composer® | Software and Avid Pro Tools® | Software. According to sound mixer Jeff Fuller, Pro Tools helped the sound teams cope with increasingly tight timescales and give each episode a different style. “We went from having a week-and-a-half to turn around the first episodes to just three or four days by the end, but Pro Tools was amazingly robust,” he said. “We had absolutely no glitches with it throughout the entire production. The workflow didn’t change much, but we changed the mix stylistically for each episode to keep it fresh.”

Six video editors – Brian Lazarte, Scott Hanson, Grant MacDowell, Kristin McCasey, Lenny Mesina, and Meg Ramsay – each took the lead on one or two episodes. As the editors finished their episodes, they helped out on others, sharing sequences and footage, to meet the tight deadlines. The editors also collaborated closely with Grohl, and writer Mark Monroe.

With an average of 400 hours of footage per episode, Media Composer’s media management and project sharing capabilities helped the editors cope with the sheer volume of footage as well as facilitating collaboration. “Project sharing in Media Composer across all the editors and assistants makes a huge difference in terms of being able to collaborate and work efficiently,” explained Hanson, who cut the Austin episode.

Media Composer’s tight integration with Pro Tools also helped boost efficiency and collaboration between the editing and sound teams. “Using Avid Artist Suite solutions for both the audio and video delivered reliability and stellar results,” said Lazarte, who cut the Seattle episode. “I’ve used this workflow on every major project, and I love and trust it.”

“With Avid Everywhere, creative professionals can connect and collaborate seamlessly to bring their stories to life,” said Jennifer Smith, senior vice president and chief marketing officer, Avid. “To create such a unique and compelling documentary - while managing huge volumes of content and extremely tight deadlines - is testament to the power of Avid Everywhere, and the talent of the Foo Fighters Sonic Highways team.”

Press Release: DPA Microphones and Blues Duo P.S. are d:dicate'd to Autism Awareness

Press Release: Dan Spitz, co-founding member, co-producer and lead guitarist of the American thrash metal band Anthrax, and vocalist Michaela Paige, a Top 12 contestant on Season 3 of NBC's hit reality TV show The Voice, have collaborated to form P.S., a unique blues duo with the mission of raising autism awareness around the world through a soon-to-be-released, self-titled acoustic EP. For the project, Spitz plays several unique Weissenborn lap slide guitars, which he recorded using a stereo pair of DPA Microphones' d:dicate™ 4011A Cardioid Microphones, an equally distinctive microphone capable of capturing the instruments' exceptional acoustics. In addition, Spitz knew that DPA's d:facto™ Vocal Microphone would lend perfectly to Paige's vocal range. The pair will also use DPA microphones during a performance on the 2015 NAMM Show Main Stage on Thursday, January 22 at 1 p.m. Having previously used DPA's d:dicate 4011A to record the Weissenborn, Spitz knew that the mic would once again be perfect for this album. "The unique sounds that can be achieved with this instrument help me bring my personal experiences to life," says Spitz. "With the Weissenborn, you're playing all frequencies continually, and that's the beauty of the instrument. The 4011A captures baritone to alto sounds and gives the microphone a chance to recover, even in a condenser form, before switching over to grab another frequency. When I started to select microphones that would best suit this recording, I knew I needed something that could project the purity and tonality of my instrument and Michaela's vocals. The songs had to sound exactly like what we heard while we played. I knew the natural sound of the DPA mics would be an ideal solution."  Paige, who is using the d:facto with both wired and wireless setups, echoes Spitz' sentiments. "I think this is an absolutely beautiful microphone," she says. "The d:facto has a clearness and a smoothness to it that I haven't found with previous microphones. I fell in love with it the first time I used it. I've noticed that Dan's mics are also great at picking up the bluesy sound of his Weissenborn, giving our album just the right amount of soul. I'm very happy to have been introduced to all of the DPA mics. They perfectly capture the sound of this project, which encompasses everything Dan and I believe in."  In the future, the duo plans to take the d:dicate 4011A and d:facto mics on the road, praising the simplicity of switching between setups and having mics that can highlight the range of sounds. "I'm excited to take the mics on the road with me for my live performances, like the one at the 2015 NAMM Show," Spitz adds. "We have a great sound that will appeal to a large audience, not just blues fans. My goal is to raise autism awareness through music, and I plan on reaching as many people as possible." In addition to his role as Anthrax's lead guitarist and co-producer, Spitz's six-string accomplishments include several Platinum, Multi-Platinum or Gold albums and soundtracks, as well as three Grammy® nominations. He is also the first heavy metal artist to have his music played on another planet. Chosen by NASA to place the first top 10 song chart on Mars to awaken the NASA Curiosity Rover 2012 - alongside prestigious songs from Frank Sinatra and the Beatles, among other revered artists - Spitz can be thought of as the first intergalactic heavy metal recording artist. Already an iTunes Top 100 artist, 19-year-old Paige has made it to the Top 10 on U.K. and German Dance charts and has been mentioned in USA Today newspaper, Rolling Stone magazine and on Access Hollywood. With a voice that's reminiscent of the greats, like Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald, Paige has wowed international audiences and philanthropic circles, performing jazz, blues and R&B standards.  ABOUT DPA MICROPHONES: DPA Microphones is the leading Danish Professional Audio manufacturer of high-quality condenser microphone solutions for professional applications. DPA's ultimate goal is to always provide its customers with the absolute finest possible microphone solutions for all its markets, which include live sound, installation, recording, theatre and broadcast. When it comes to the design process, DPA takes no shortcuts. Nor does the company compromise on its manufacturing process, which is done at the DPA factory in Denmark. As a result, DPA's products are globally praised for their exceptional clarity and transparency, unparalleled specifications, supreme reliability and, above all, pure, uncolored and undistorted sound.

NAMM: Audiofile Releases Triumph 2.5

Press Release:  A next-generation tool for audio editing, mastering, sound design,  podcasting and post-production Audiofile, a leading music technology company, announces the release of Triumph 2.5 on the Mac App Store. Built on the success of the company's Wave Editor, Triumph 2.5 represents the next generation in audio editing, mastering, sound design, podcasting and post-production with new features, powerful DSP and a refined workflow. Triumph 2.5 is a significant step forward in Triumph's evolution. Audiofile has improved workflow efficiency by redesigning the Render Assistant with the ability to render and export multiple formats simultaneously, allowing assets to be auditioned more easily by clicking "play" in an asset's popover, and by adding video import functionality, which will appeal to sounds designers and those working in post-production. Triumph 2.5 also represents a significant step forward for sample rate conversion and dither as it now includes algorithms by Goodhertz, creators of Triumph's digital scrubbing feature and FHX™ headphone listening DSP. Goodhertz' mastering-grade audio sample rate converter combines incredible sonic performance with unmatched speed and efficiency for a nearly ideal frequency response, preserving high frequency content and eliminating aliasing. Goodhertz dither is a custom-tailored noise shaping algorithm that, rather than relying on noisy peaks or drastic high frequency shaping, always remains smooth and natural sounding while preserving every possible detail of the audio.    "The Triumph workflow is revolutionary," adds Ricardo Gutierrez, Grammy-winning mastering and mix engineer. "It's a great Swiss army knife. The fact that it can play back different sample rates in a project is amazing. The shapes used for automation, and the way you can snap to grid the different shapes, is really cool. I'm fully in the box now with mastering and finally have the tools and plug-ins to work in the box. I haven't touched my analogue gear since the summer. Clients want things so fast and Triumph lets you do that!" Other additions and enhancements to Triumph include: Greatly improved performance and stability Optimized for OS X 10.10 Yosemite Enhanced editing of individual channels in the Waveform View Adds an option to import DDP sets from the File menu Improved SoundCloud integration Improved multichannel file support iZotope MBIT+ Dither™ and 64-bit SRC™ are now available by purchasing an additional license from the Audiofile online store or via in-app purchase in the Mac App Store version Various improvements to key commands Improved User Guide "I really like this app a lot," said Rich Breen, Grammy-winning recording, mix and mastering engineer. "Of course, most important are the sonics, and I've found it to be totally solid in this respect. For scripting, I can either duplicate and edit an existing script directly in Triumph, or copy it into AppleScript Editor and edit there for greater flexibility - I don't know of any other audio apps that offer this kind of feature." Pricing and Availability Triumph 2.5 is now available on the Audiofile website for $79.99. Triumph 2.3.2 is available on the Mac App Store for $79.99 with free update coming soon. For product and ordering information or to download a demo, visit http://www.audiofile-engineering.com/triumph/.

NAMM: Antelope Audio to Demonstrate Zen Studio, Satori Monitor Controller, Pure2 Mastering Converter and MP32 Preamplifier

Press Release: 

During the 2015 NAMM Show this week, leading digital audio manufacturer Antelope Audio [Hall A - Booth 6274] will demonstrate the detail, purity and flexibility of the newest products in its lineup of professional audio products: the Pure2 mastering converter, the MP32 microphone preamplifier, the Satori monitoring controller, and of course the Zen Studio — which has received industry accolades and a TEC Award nomination during 2014.

The new products, which are all shipping as of this month, bring unprecedented detail, depth, clarity and transparency to professional users' audio signal chain, while extending usability with an array of product features and multiple I/Os. Antelope Audio will also showcase new accessories for Zen Studio including its new Z-rack mounting system and a Zen Studio embroidered protective carrying case, an elegant solution designed for ease of use and portability.

Zen Studio: A Fully Featured Recording System 'To Go'

Zen Studio, which is nominated for the 30th Annual Technical Excellence & Creativity (TEC) Awards in the 'Computer Audio Hardware" category, is a full-featured audio interface, clock, preamp, and monitor controller in an ergonomic and robust road-ready chassis.

Featuring 20 analog inputs, 12 world-class mic preamps, Antelope's acclaimed conversion and clocking, onboard DSP effects, multiple monitor mixers, custom high-bandwidth low-latency USB, and Mac/PC control software, Zen Studio is a powerful core to any professional mobile recording studio.

Pure2, Satori and MP32: The Enlightened Audio Chain

The combination of the Pure2 mastering converter, the Satori monitor controller and the MP32 preamplifier, which will each be demonstrated at the Antelope booth, brings a new level of detail and purity to any signal chain.

Pure2 is a mastering-grade 24/192 kHz AD/DA 2-channel converter and master clock, enabling users to realize unsurpassed digital clarity and analog realism, while offering a flexible set of connectivity options and extremely efficient and ergonomic software remote control. With best-in-class Burr-Brown converters and the same Acoustically Focused Clocking (AFC) technology present in Antelope's ultra high-end Trinity master clock, Pure2 helps musicians and engineers achieve new levels of mastering excellence. 

MP32, a 32-channel, console-grade microphone preamplifier with integrated software control, is designed to compliment Antelope's Orion32 and provide the greatest possible transparency during the recording process. Occupying just 3U rack spaces make the MP32 the ultimate solution for both studios and live recording — where rack space can be a precious commodity.

Satori, meanwhile, is a true analog monitoring and summing system designed to deliver an 'epiphany' experience to the sound engineer. Antelope's renowned relay-controlled stepped attenuator, the extremely versatile connectivity options and great selection of stereo effects and comprehensive monitoring options, place the Satori among the most advanced monitoring controllers in the world, and make it equally suited to both commercial and project studios.

To learn more, stop by Antelope's booth at the NAMM Show or visit Antelope's web site at:  http://www.antelopeaudio.com.