Ableton Live 9.2 arrives! This free update brings many new improvements and feature additions to both Live and Push. Also included is a free downloadable sample pack curated by Mad Zach designed for Push’s all new 64 Pad Mode.
The anticipated arrival of Ableton Live 9.2 is finally out. Previously available as a public beta version, Live 9.2 is the most significant update since the launch of Live 9. This free update steps up the software bringing a heap of improvements and additions to both Live and Push. A few of the most notable improvements and feature additions include:
Artists using Max for Live devices or third-party plug-ins in their projects will be happy to know that Live 9.2 introduces some major latency-related improvements. Lower latency and fully latency compensated automation will greatly improve recording, live performance, and playback optimization.
Live 9.2 also brings further improvements to Live’s audio warping engine. Refinements to Complex and Complex Pro modes generate punchier transients, improved downbeat detection recognizes tempo better, and warping is now even more accurate. In addition, the new Warp Selection command allows you to warp a selected portion of a sample to a precise bar length.
Along with many other feature improvements, Live 9.2 has added a new Tuner device, extremely helpful for tuning instruments and many other handy uses.
Live 9.2 introduces a number of Push refinements and improvements as well. The Touchstrip can now also be used for modulation wheel control and pitch bending adding to Push’s expression abilities. In addition, improved aftertouch implementation to the pads expands on Push’s tactile functions and ability to manipulate many of Live’s core library sounds. Push users also now have the ability to use all 64 Push pads to play drums as well as the ability to quickly flip back to 16 pads for step sequencing. As a bonus, Live 9.2 includes a free downloadable 64 Pad Lab Pack curated by finger-drummer extraordinaire Mad Zach. The 64 Pad Lab Pack comes equipped with five Live Racks loaded with various high-quality drums, percussion, loops, and one shot samples designed to play using the new 64 Pad Mode.
Download the free 64 Pad Lab Pack here.
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In this video, Mad Zach shares his strategies for playing with the new 64 pad layout and demonstrates how to tweak individual sounds along with many other useful production tips for getting punchy drums.
Live 9.2 and the all new Max 7 are now available for immediate download for all owners of Live 9 here.
Take a tour of Live 9 and learn more about this amazing software here.
See the complete release notes for Live 9.2 here.
The flagship of our music training, with every Ableton Live course offered at the school. After completing this program, you will leave with a portfolio of original tracks, a remix entered in an active contest, a scored commercial to widen your scope, and the Dubspot Producer’s Certificate in Ableton Live.
This program is about learning Ableton Live by going through the entire process of being an artist, by developing your own sound through a series of sketches and experimentation. You will also learn the ins and outs of this powerful software through a series of exercises designed to help you master the steps involved in producing your own music. After a level of getting familiar with the tools that Ableton has to offer, you will then develop your sonic ideas into full-length tracks. You will be exposed to a variety of approaches to arrangement and composition, storytelling techniques, ways of creating tension and drama in your music. At the end of the day, it is the sum total of your choices as an artist that define your sound, and levels 2 – 6 will give you the experience of actually completing tracks to add to your portfolio.
If you have questions, please call 877.DUBSPOT or send us a message.
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In this gear review, Dubspot’s Rory PQ takes us through Universal Audio’s Apollo Twin Audio Interface with Realtime UAD Processing and Thunderbolt connectivity. Get an in-depth look at this class-leading audio interface, its many features, and included software.
Universal Audio is a name driven by one of the world’s leading development companies of audio recording products, including legendary studio analog hardware and award-winning authentic analog emulation UAD plugins. Founded in 1958 by renowned audio engineer Bill Putnam Sr., “the father of modern recording,” Universal Audio has been pioneering innovative audio recording products for more than 50 years.
Much of UA’s success is credited to their astonishing ability to recreate the authentic sound of analog through a long line of UAD-2 Powered Plugins. Whether tracking, mixing or mastering in your favorite DAW, UAD-2 Powered Plugins provide the most impressive analog hardware emulations of classic gear used in studios around the world. Powered by UA’s famous Apollo Interfaces and DSP Accelerator hardware, UAD-2 Powered Plugins also improves the processing power of your host computer, allowing for more complex mixes with higher-quality results thanks to onboard Analog SHARC processing. With regular free software updates, VST, AU and RTAS support, and compatibility with the latest operating systems, it’s no wonder why UAD-2 Powered Plugins are the choice tools of the world’s top musicians, producers, and engineers.
Click here to view the embedded video.
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Building on the success of their class-leading resolution and Realtime UAD Processing, UA has set a new standard for desktop music production with the all new Apollo Twin audio interface. This compact and portable 2×6 Mac Thunderbolt interface allows you to record with near-zero latency through the full range of UAD Powered Plugins. The high-resolution desktop-friendly Apollo Twin is available with either UAD-2 SOLO or UAD-2 DUO DSP Processing onboard and packs the same class-leading 24-bit/192 kHz audio conversion as its acclaimed predecessors. Housed in an elegant brushed-aluminum casing, the Apollo Twin features two premium mic/line preamps, two line outputs, front-panel Hi-Z instrument input and headphones output, two digitally-controlled analog monitor outputs, and up to eight channels of additional digital input via an Optical connection.
The appeal of the Apollo Twin goes far beyond its modern design, premium components, and exceptional build quality. The connection speed, impressive sound quality, professional features, digital-to-analog conversion abilities, and unrivaled capabilities makes this audio interface unmatched by other interfaces in its price range. Although this is an incredible piece of gear, it has its drawbacks. The Thunderbolt connection provides lightning-fast PCIe speed, but unfortunately this means it’s only compatible with modern Macs and not Windows PCs. In addition, you have to supply your own Thunderbolt cable. Other then those two setbacks, this thing is amazing!
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Embraced by musicians, producers, and audio engineers universally, the Apollo Twin has truly reinvented desktop recording by introducing Realtime UAD Processing with new Unison™ technology, a breakthrough in classic mic preamp emulation. Unlike any other audio interface on the market, you can record your music in real-time with near-zero latency through vintage Compressors, EQs, Tape Machines, Guitar Amps, and many other hardware emulation plugins. It’s important to note that UAD-2 devices can only load UAD Powered Plugins, which are specifically designed to run on UAD-2 DSP accelerators. Native and third-party plugins will not run on the UAD-2 DSP.
All Thunderbolt-equipped Apollo Twin’s now include the new Console 2.0 software and “Realtime Analog Classics” UAD plugin bundle.
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The new Console 2.0 software runs on your host computer and is designed to provide quick access to control various features and functionality in a familiar, easy-to-use mixer interface. The high-resolution / Retina-compatible 64-bit software has a welcoming analog-style workflow with mixer Channel Strips and two independent stereo Auxiliary busses. Console 2.0 gives you access to enable tracking and/or monitoring with or without Realtime UAD Processing, control virtual I/O routings with or without a DAW or any other audio software, and much more. You can also save and recall session configurations or your favorite UAD plugins, as well as choose from 101 Channel Strip presets designed by top producers and engineers. In addition, the Console 2.0 software comes loaded with over 25 user-requested features, including:
The “Realtime Analog Classics Bundle” is included free with the Apollo Twin SOLO/DUO and comes loaded with many essential UAD Powered Plugins to get you started tracking and mixing out of the box. Some of the best analog emulations include the Legacy 1176SE/LN Classic Limiting Amplifiers, Pultec Pro Equalizers, and the Teletronix LA-2A Classic Leveling Amplifier. Also included is the legendary UA 610-B Tube Preamp and EQ, vintage Raw Distortion Plugin, Softube Amp Room Essentials for guitar and bass amp emulations, CS-1 Precision Channel, and RealVerb Pro. Before purchasing additional plugins to maximize your arsenal its highly recommended to view UA’s Instances Chart to see DSP usage for each plugin and how many instances of UAD Powered Plugins can run simultaneously.
Apollo Twin’s top panel has a few easily accessible controls for various operations. The enticing Level Knob & Switch controls multiple functions depending on the selected operating mode and the current settings within that mode. The two operating modes are selected with Preamp and Monitor buttons. Preamp Mode allows you to control input functions and adjust the two analog input channels. When in Preamp mode, the Level Knob is used to change the selected channel. Monitor Mode has two main stereo output types: Monitor and Headphone. The Level Knob is used to set the volume level for both output types. Along the bottom are a series of additional buttons used to control various preamp options. The commonly used controls allow you to select the input jack for the active channel, enable the low cut filter, enable 48-volt phantom power for the mic input, attenuate the signal with Pad, invert the phase with Polarity Ø, and link the stereo inputs.
Those looking to harness more DSP and run even more instances of UAD Powered Plugins will be pleased to know about UA’s announcement of Apollo Expanded. The feature update provides Mac users of Thunderbolt-equipped Apollo Twin, Apollo DUO, Apollo QUAD, and Apollo 16 audio interfaces to cascade up to four Apollos and six total UAD-2 devices — adding I/O and DSP as their studio grows.
Apollo Expanded also lets Thunderbolt-equipped Apollo users enjoy:
The Apollo Twin truly provides a serious audio interface with professional functionality for those looking for a portable desktop recording solution. Its UAD functionality and Unison technology give you access to a wide variety of emulated analog gear and real-time recording options that can’t be found on other interfaces in its class. I found it extremely easy to operate, although the Console 2.0 software took a minute to figure out. I absolutely love the design, and the build quality is solid. The brushed aluminum finish complements my Mac and other studio gear nicely. The sound quality is simply amazing, and the included plugins have helped me step up my mixes tremendously.
Although this as a brilliant interface, there’s some things to be aware of before you purchase one. The Thunderbolt connections make this interface compatible with only Thunderbolt-equipped Macs. This interface will not work with Windows PCs. Also, if you plan on slapping multiple instances of plugins on your mix, you may be disappointed. You will quickly find out that the Apollo Twin doesn’t have the amount of DSP power as it’s bigger brothers, limiting how many plugins you can use simultaneously. It’s highly recommended to check out UA’s Instances Chart. Other than those setbacks, the Universal Audio Apollo Twin is an absolutely amazing device. It’s versatility, features, and outstanding audio quality is sure to impress anyone who is looking for a top-notch audio interface for their studio.
Price: $699 for the Single-processor SOLO | $899 for the dual-processor DUO
Where to Buy: Find a Dealer
Visit Universal Audio’s website for additional information and purchase details here.
The best producers, DJs, and musicians in the world strive to be well-rounded. So should you. In Dubspot’s Music Foundations Program, you’ll explore three major aspects of music: rhythmic theory, melodic theory, and critical listening.
Unravel electronic music’s origins, build your chops, learn musical language and theory, and make and play music the way you want.
Click here to view the embedded video.
What’s Included:
“This course exceeded my expectations. I went through everything I needed to have a solid knowledge of basic music theory.” – Jonathan Crespo, Miami
“MF has been an amazing experience! I didn’t realize I was going to learn so much about electronic music history, something my generation missed.” – Yianno Koumi, United Kingdom
Or if you have questions, please call 877.DUBSPOT or send us a message.
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The post Gear Review: Universal Audio Apollo Twin Interface w/ Rory PQ appeared first on Dubspot Blog.
In this iOS Roundup, Dubspot’s Rory PQ shares five impressive iPad music apps for music production, live performance, recording, and even learning music theory.
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Developed by the Barcelona-based company Patchworks, Conductr is a fully flexible iPad music app that allows producers and DJs to interact with Ableton Live and Traktor Pro a new way. The interface allows users to design a controller that works with their specific needs providing the ability to create a unique experience. Conductr is a 100% mobile-oriented environment that artists can load and build modules to control key elements of their projects or performances instantly and efficiently with a simple tap of a finger or flick of the wrist. Conductr is available as a free trial version on the Mac App Store. A variety of in-app premium modules and packs are available for purchase as well giving users unlimited features and ability to personalize Conductr according to their needs. Learn more about this amazing app and download a copy to start building your custom controller here.
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KORG’s all-new iM1 mobile digital synthesizer for iPad is a complete reproduction of the legendary M1 music workstation that has become a popular favorite in the music scene. KORG stepped up the design by including additional features and capabilities making the iM1 a seriously powerful, flexible, and professional environment for mobile music creation. The iM1 comes loaded with a gigantic sound library bringing 3,300 sounds to your fingertips using the new “Smart Sound Browser” making it quick and convenient to find the desired type of instrument or tonal character. The iM1 even features a “KAOSS pad” from the popular KAOSSILATOR, allowing you to perform intuitively just by touching or swiping the screen. By using the dual KAOSS pads to play chords or adjust the sound, even people who are not accustomed to keyboard instruments or knowledgeable about synthesizers can enjoy performing M1 sounds. There’s also a conventional virtual keyboard screen, as well as the “smart keyboard,” which lets you specify a scale setting appropriate for your song and play chords with a single finger. You can also connect a MIDI keyboard and play the iM1 as an external sound module. The iM1 is capable of so much more, visit the KORG website for additional details and download a copy on the Mac App Store for $19.99 here.
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Polyplayground by MIGAMO (Mike Gao Mobile) is an iPad music app designed to make understanding music theory easier and inspire the creative process. It’s interface allows users to easily create complex chord structures and melodies using color-coded buttons and geometric patterns rather than playing a conventional piano keyboard. The idea is to trigger various chord structures and progressions by learning Tetris-like patterns across a grid of notes. You can easily move from minor and major triads to seventh chords and up to ninth chords. Different layouts are available giving users a variety of pitch spaces to play. It’s truly impressive how easy it is to use these patterns to find musical inspirations. Polyplayground also has a synthesizer built in, with separate pitch bend controls for each finger. In addition, the app can receive MIDI input for live performance along with many other capabilities. Head to the Mac Apple Store to pick up a copy of Polyplayground for $18.99 here.
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Attack Drums by Waldorf is an iPad music app migrated from the widely used Waldorf Attack virtual drum and percussion synthesizer VST. Attack Drums delivers an extensive amount of drum sounds suited to any musical style, all driven by a unique sound engine offering instant access to all sound parameters and an integrated 16-step sequencer. Attack Drums offers 24 programmable instruments that can be enhanced with one of four independent insert multi-effects. The sound engine is also capable of producing powerful polyphonic sounds capable of creating basslines, melodies, and lead sequences. Above that, Waldorf has also added a new Phrase Vocoder technology great for vocal effects. Attack Drums is a seriously in-depth musical instrument for the iPad and can be download at the Mac App Store for $14.99 here.
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Mic Room by IK Multimedia is microphone modeling app that gives you access to a whole collection of professional-level microphones on your iOS devices. Mic Room can be paired with any of IK’s digital and analog mics to give you complete access to a selection of the best dynamic, tube condenser, and ribbon-type microphones. The app is also expandable to even more unique microphone models via in-app purchase. In addition, Mic Room is the perfect companion app for iRig Mic Studio, iRig Mic HD, iRig Mic Field, iRig Mic, iRig Mic Cast, and other quality IK Multimedia microphones. Step up your studio and purchase Mic Room at the Mac App Store for $7.99 here.
The best producers, DJs, and musicians in the world strive to be well-rounded. So should you. In Dubspot’s Music Foundations Program, you’ll explore three major aspects of music: rhythmic theory, melodic theory, and critical listening.
Unravel electronic music’s origins, build your chops, learn musical language and theory, and make and play music the way you want.
Click here to view the embedded video.
What’s Included:
“This course exceeded my expectations. I went through everything I needed to have a solid knowledge of basic music theory.” – Jonathan Crespo, Miami
“MF has been an amazing experience! I didn’t realize I was going to learn so much about electronic music history, something my generation missed.” – Yianno Koumi, United Kingdom
Or if you have questions, please call 877.DUBSPOT or send us a message.
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The post iOS Roundup: 5 iPad Music Apps for Production and Live Performance w/ Conductr, KORG iM1 + appeared first on Dubspot Blog.
On Tuesday June 23rd, Dubspot celebrates its nine-year anniversary as one of the world’s leading learning environments and community of musicians, DJs, producers, visual artists, audio professionals, and enthusiasts of all genres. Check out a few of our notable accomplishments and take advantage of the years biggest sale as we move forward into another great year of music.
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Over the past nine years, Dubspot has grown from one classroom in New York City into a global community connected through the focus of music education. Today our studios in New York and Los Angeles offer the latest in music production technology along with a staff of instructors who bring real word experience and insight to the classroom.
Dubspot has also grown into a brand that is synonymous with modern music production and education. Our video tutorials, written articles, event coverage, and workshops continue to connect an interested public with knowledge on the latest hardware, software, and workflow techniques.
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In 2010, Dubspot Online was launched to bring the school’s unique curriculum and focus to a global audience. Our mission at Dubspot Online is to help you expand your knowledge of music and technology so you can bring your creative visions to life. We offer programs in Music Production, Sound Design, Mixing and Mastering, DJing, and Music Foundations. Our innovative curriculum helps you learn how to create and perform your music using state-of-the-art software in a top-notch faculty of professional DJ/producers, musicians, and engineers. Like our courses in New York City and Los Angeles, our online courses are focused on your creative and musical progress throughout your time with us. Each week’s video class material introduces new concepts to apply as you work on creating original sounds and music. Then you will submit your projects and receive feedback from your teacher and your classmates. Along with class discussion rooms, online office hour sessions and video hangouts twice a week with your instructor, and in-depth video lessons, Dubspot Online can provide the knowledge and guidance you need to advance your music.
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In 2014, we introduced Blended Learning – a concept that infuses our brick and mortar curriculum with our online curriculum and convenient access to educational videos, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Blended Learning provides students the opportunity to enhance their learning and experience many of Dubspot’s learning resources. In addition, students have even more workshop activities with instructors, collaboration opportunities with peers in the classroom, access to reference complex material in the comfort of their own studios, and much more.
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In addition to the classroom experience, Dubspot also hosts many free workshops, lectures, demos, and events that bring our unique learning experience to the public. So far this year in the United States we’ve hosted events in Los Angeles, New York, Las Vegas, and Austin. We’ve also hosted International EDU sessions in Brazil, Germany, Japan, and Spain.
Ask questions. Watch demos. Test drive workstations.
Visit our New York and Los Angeles locations! Ask our Admissions Counselors in-depth questions about our programs, curriculum and philosophy. Watch live music production and DJ demos, and test drive our student workstations. If you are still trying to decide what you are looking for, stop by one of our Open Houses in NYC or schedule a tour in LA to find out more about the learning process at Dubspot. We can also help with scheduling details and payment options.
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The post #Dubspot9: Celebrating Our Nine Year Anniversary + Huge Summer Sale appeared first on Dubspot Blog.
