Trance hero John 00 Fleming shows DJsounds round his current DJ rider consisting of the CDJ-2000s, rekordbox and DJM-2000. On the stage at the Concorde 2 in Brighton before the start of his J00F sessions night, John shows us how he’s playing off rekordbox and the CDJ’s using Pro DJ Link. He stresses the importance of organising your set in rekordbox and how the DJM-2000 brings the whole system together. The transition from CD to USB can be quite a challenge but Jon tells us how the new CDJ’s and rekordbox actually make it very easy.

We will be catching up with John for a more thorough, in depth chat shortly where he tells us just what is wrong with producer-DJs and the Trance scene.

Link:  http://www.djsounds.com/03/07/jon-00-fleming-cdj-2000-rekordbox-and-djm-2000-walk-through

We have long know that Pioneer “is always on it,” but, maaaannn, this is a hot piece of gear.  Pio always makes easy to justify an upgrade.:) Big props to the videographers and composers involved with this project.  Totally awesome! –J

DJM 900 nexus Official Introduction with James Zabiela

From: pioneerdjglobal

The DJM-900 nexus has been announced with James Zabiela and Nic Fancuilli giving their verdict and demonstrating the new effects. And yes, it’s Traktor Certified and perfect for all DVS users. Welcome the new Club Standard!

Music in this video by:

Pearson Sound ‘Blanked’ [Hessle Audio]
Written & produced by D. Kennedy
http://www.hessleaudio.com

Native Instruments Announces new DJ Audio Interface Line

Berlin, February 10th, 2011 – Native Instruments today announced TRAKTOR AUDIO 6 and TRAKTOR AUDIO 10, the second generation of its acclaimed DJ audio interface range. With expanded connectivity and additional features for club use, the new models can meet and exceed all professional requirements of digital DJing – both as the hardware centerpieces of the new TRAKTOR SCRATCH generation and as highly versatile audio interfaces for any DJ or music production software.

With 6 respectively 10 analog inputs and outputs, the AUDIO 6 and AUDIO 10 both offer two additional channels over the previous AUDIO 4 and AUDIO 8 models. Even when all decks of the TRAKTOR software are routed to individual channels for external mixing, a further stereo I/O remains available – for potential use with the Loop Recorder and Sample Decks, as a dedicated effect send/return, to record an externally mixed set back into TRAKTOR, or for other creative routing purposes.

With their 24bit/96Khz Cirrus Logic converters and powerful +12 dBu output volume, the AUDIO 6 and AUDIO 10 maintain DJ-specific audio characteristics, with signal quality further enhanced through improved electrical engineering. The improved high-visibility LED indicators also allow for clearer and more intuitive monitoring of the signal chain even in low-light club environments.

A further advantage of the AUDIO 6 and AUDIO 10 is the new “Direct Thru” bypass function, which can be toggled individually per channel remotely from the computer. In a typical club setup, an engaged “Direct Thru” passes the signal of the turntable or CD deck directly to the hardware mixer, even with no computer attached. This allows for convenient switchovers between successive DJ sets, and makes the new interfaces especially suitable for permanent club installation.

AUDIO 6 and AUDIO 10 also include TRAKTOR LE 2, a new entry-level DJ software based on the latest TRAKTOR PRO 2 generation. With two decks, an efficient sync function as well as versatile looping and effect functions, TRAKTOR LE 2 is an ideal entry into digital DJing.

The ultra-compact AUDIO 2 DJ interface continues to be available without any technical changes under the new name TRAKTOR AUDIO 2, and also comes bundled with the new TRAKTOR LE 2 software.

TRAKTOR AUDIO 6 and TRAKTOR AUDIO 10 will be available April 2011 for a suggested retail price of $279/249 EUR and $449/399 EUR respectively.

Additional information on the new TRAKTOR range is available at
www.native-instruments.com/traktor

About Native Instruments:
Native Instruments is a leading manufacturer of software and hardware for computer-based music production and DJing. The company’s mission is to develop innovative, fully integrated solutions for all professions, styles and genres. The resulting products regularly push technological boundaries and open up new creative horizons for professionals and amateurs alike.

Serious news here.  Folks have been asking for more openness, and AVID is set to deliver in a major way with this new release.  We can’t wait to put this through the paces…

Avid Unleashes Pro Tools 9—Breaks New Ground with More Creative, Flexible Options for Music and Sound Production

AES Booth #1018 SAN FRANCISCO, 2010-11-04

Company delivers unprecedented creative freedom by redefining world’s most popular DAW with new software-only toolset and broad third-party hardware integration

Avid® (NASDAQ: AVID) today announced Pro Tools® version 9—a groundbreaking evolution of the industry’s most popular music creation and audio production solution. Leveraging a next-generation architecture, version 9 of Pro Tools offers customers the unprecedented choice to work with Avid audio interfaces, third-party audio interfaces, or no hardware at all when using the built-in audio capabilities of a Mac or PC. This first-ever software-only option for Pro Tools delivers customers the most open, flexible and feature rich version in history, while also providing top professional features customers have requested. Also, new support for the Avid EUCON™ open Ethernet protocol now enables customers to expand control surface options to include Avid’s Artist Series and Pro Series audio consoles and controllers (formerly known as Euphonix® consoles and controllers).

Pro Tools customers—from the aspiring enthusiast to the professional—can now create sophisticated, great sounding mixes, whether they’re at home, on the road, or working in a large facility using an open, flexible workflow for enhanced collaboration and creativity.

Open, flexible workflows to work the way you want

Customers can design their workflow of choice using the new Pro Tools software-only configuration with their favorite Avid or third-party audio interface—or standalone—and with Avid Artist and Pro Series controllers. The benefits to users include:

• Versatile workflow design options—Enables customers to work the way they want using Pro Tools as a software only tool, or with hardware options that include either a variety of Avid audio interfaces for an Avid-advantaged workflow, or third-party audio interfaces as a result of new Core Audio and ASIO driver support.
• EUCON support—Delivers more hands-on mixing options to customers using the new Pro Tools software offering or Pro Tools|HD systems with the ability to deeply control Pro Tools through EUCON integration using any Artist Series or Pro Series audio controller or console, in addition to Avid and third-party audio control surfaces.

More creative options with coveted, professional features now included as standard

As a result of customer requests, many high value features formerly available as add-ons are now available right out-of-the-box, including:

• Automatic Delay Compensation—Equips customers using version 9 of Pro Tools with the ability to create better sounding mixes faster. Users can now mix and record with increased alignment and phase accuracy, without the need to manually compensate for latencies from hardware I/Os, internal and external routing, and plug-in algorithm processing—the number one request on the Pro Tools IdeaScale User Forum.
• More audio tracks and busses—Allows customers to create more elaborate music and audio productions, with support for 96 mono or stereo voices in the new software-only version of Pro Tools (192 voices with Pro Tools HD systems), 256 internal busses, and 160 aux tracks.
• Advanced production toolset—Gives customers access to standard professional tools in version 9 of Pro Tools to create more polished mixes out-of-the-box. Users can analyze and adjust timing across multiple tracks for tighter rhythm with the built-in multi-track Beat Detective™ module, improve organization and asset sharing with the DigiBase™ Pro file management tool, and save time with full Import Session Data dialog.

Collaborate with other audio and video software users more easily than ever

A series of audio for picture enhancements provides customers with the ability to easily collaborate with other audio and video software users, including:

• OMF/AAF/MXF interchange and MP3 export—Provides customers with simplified session and file exchange between applications.
• Built-in Time Code Ruler—Enables customers to achieve greater accuracy when syncing audio to video in post production (software only configuration of Pro Tools).
• Updated 7.1 surround panner—Allows customers to more easily mix multichannel surround for full film sound production.
• New variable stereo pan depths—Equips customers with authentic and precise track panning capabilities to achieve analog-console feel.

What customers are saying

Ulrich Wilde, producer and engineer for bands including Dethklok, Pantera and the Deftones, said: “One big thing about Pro Tools being an open platform is that I won’t have to run two systems anymore. Right now I have a dedicated Pro Tools system and a dedicated Apogee system and I have to reboot with one or the other—now I can save space and time toggling between them. EUCON support is also huge for me as I’ll be able to integrate Pro Tools into my studio workflow, which is based on Logic using an Artist Series controller.”

According to Lyle Workman, composer for films such as The 40 Year Old Virgin and Knocked Up, and guitarist for performers including Sting, Beck and Shakira: “I can’t think of a reason why someone wouldn’t want to work in Pro Tools—it’s for the person who’s getting started, yet it’s for the person in my world. It provides all of the advantages of smaller systems, yet works from my studio to the music editor’s room to the stage. It’s incredibly convenient that there are no cross-platform issues. It’s just Pro Tools from soup to nuts!”

Jesse Keeler (aka JFK), artist and producer for MSTRKRFT, said: “The one barrier to total productivity for me while traveling has always been the lack of Pro Tools session portability. But now that Pro Tools is available as a software only package, Avid has made it so the same session can be worked on anywhere. For me, this feature alone is priceless.”

Pricing and availability

Version 9 of the new Pro Tools and Pro Tools HD software will be available worldwide on November 12, 2010 starting at $599 USD. For regions outside of the U.S., please see your local retailer for pricing. For more information on features and availability, visit: www.avid.com.

About Avid

Avid creates the digital audio and video technology used to make the most listened to, most watched and most loved media in the world—from the most prestigious and award-winning feature films, music recordings, television shows, live concert tours and news broadcasts, to music and movies made at home. Some of Avid’s most influential and pioneering solutions include Media Composer®, Pro Tools, Interplay®, ISIS®, VENUE, Oxygen 8, Sibelius®, System 5, and Pinnacle Studio™. For more information about Avid solutions and services, visit www.avid.com, del.icio.us, Flickr, Twitter and YouTube; connect with Avid on Facebook; or subscribe to Avid Industry Buzz.

© 2010 Avid Technology, Inc. All rights reserved. Product features, specifications, system requirements and availability are subject to change without notice.  All prices are USMSRP for the U.S. and Canada only and are subject to change without notice.  Contact your local Avid office or reseller for prices outside the U.S. and Canada.  Avid, the Avid logo, Pro Tools, Euphonix, Eucon, Beat Detective, DigiBase, Media Composer, , Interplay, ISIS, Sibelius,  and Pinnacle Studio are trademarks or registered trademarks of Avid Technology, Inc. or its subsidiaries in the United States and/or other countries. The Interplay name is used with the permission of the Interplay Entertainment Corp. which bears no responsibility for Avid products.  All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Berlin, October 26th, 2010 – Native Instruments today introduced GEORGE DUKE SOUL TREASURES, a new software instrument that makes the charismatic keyboard work of soul legend George Duke available for any music production. Based on advanced KONTAKT sampling technology, the instrument provides over 500 exclusive licks that can be easily tweaked and re-arranged to suit any musical context, providing an inspirational resource of royalty-free melodic elements for Hip Hop, R&B, Soul, Funk, Disco, House and similar genres.

GEORGE DUKE SOUL TREASURES captures the unique musical style of a living legend of the American jazz and soul scene, whose distinctive funky and soulful licks have been sampled relentlessly in recent and contemporary urban and dance music. Together with his sound engineer Erik Zobler, George Duke has recorded over 500 original keyboard phrases on his personal grand piano, electric piano, Wurlitzer and clavinet models exclusively for his signature software instrument.

GEORGE DUKE SOUL TREASURES can be used both with the free KONTAKT PLAYER and in the full-featured KONTAKT 4 software sampler. Due to the advanced slicing and time-stretching functions in KONTAKT, all loops automatically sync to the song tempo of the sequencer, and can be modulated, re-pitched, and even completely re-arranged in real-time via an intuitive keyboard trigger scheme.

For creative sound mangling, various multi-effect chains can be activated through the keyboard on the fly, with a flexible filter section and a studio-grade convolution reverb offering further sound shaping options. Every lick in GEORGE DUKE SOUL TREASURES is also available in an additional “Tubes & Tape” version that was processed through a sophisticated analog recording chain at George Duke’s studio, resulting in an even grittier authentic vintage sound.

GEORGE DUKE SOUL TREASURES is available for purchase in the NI Online Shop on DVD and as a download for $119 / 99 €.

A demonstration video about GEORGE DUKE SOUL TREASURES is available on YouTube at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPq4Sd9e9BA

Additional information on GEORGE DUKE SOUL TREASURES is available at
www.native-instruments.com/soultreasures

A digital press kit including picture material is available at
www.native-instruments.com/press.info

About Native Instruments:

Native Instruments is a leading manufacturer of software and hardware for computer-based music production and Djing. The company’s mission is to develop innovative, fully integrated solutions for all professions, styles and genres. The resulting products regularly push technological boundaries and open up new creative horizons for professionals and amateurs alike.

Talk about a relentless push!  NI is wasting no time expanding its awesome array of powerful tools…

Native Instruments Releases Five New Instruments and Effects

Berlin, September 2nd, 2010 – Native Instruments has just released five products that further extend its versatile KOMPLETE Instruments and Effects range. The new products include the modal synthesizer REAKTOR PRISM, the studio reverb REFLEKTOR, the organ emulation VINTAGE ORGANS, the effect suite TRAKTOR’S 12 and the amp emulation RAMMFIRE. All products are based on the powerful technology of KONTAKT, REAKTOR and GUITAR RIG, and can be used both within the full versions and the free player versions of these instruments.

The unique REAKTOR PRISM synthesizer was designed by NI synthesis mastermind Stephan Schmitt, and utilizes the new modal synthesis capabilities of the latest REAKTOR 5.5 generation. It generates highly expressive tones and textures that range from powerful basses and leads to deep, organic soundscapes and intricate physical-modelling sounds.

REFLEKTOR is a high-performance reverb processor for use within GUITAR RIG 4 and the new GUITAR RIG 4 PLAYER. Based on Native Instruments’ patent-pending Zero Latency Convolution, it combines the quality of impulse response technology with the efficiency and flexibility of algorithmic reverbs to generate both extremely realistic room ambiences and creative, highly original reverberation effects.

The new VINTAGE ORGANS instrument provides the charismatic electromagnetic organ sound of the 60s and 70s. Based on meticulous sampling in combination with the advanced KONTAKT engine, it recreates three iconic tonewheel organs and two distinctive transistor-based models complete with their authentic sound shaping and effect facilities.

The performance effects suite TRAKTOR’S 12 is derived from Native Instruments’ leading DJ software, and makes the acclaimed effects arsenal of TRAKTOR PRO available for use as a plug-in in any DAW or music sequencer. All twelve effects, including unique algorithms like the “Mulholland Drive”, “Reverse Grain” and “Beat Masher”, are optimized for intuitive and expressive real-time sound manipulation.

The new RAMMFIRE amp emulation was developed in close collaboration with one of Rammstein’s guitarists, Richard Z. Kruspe, and models the original recording chain that is behind the band’s trademark guitar sound. It can be used both as an expansion to the amplifier arsenal in GUITAR RIG 4 and as an individual product in combination with the free GUITAR RIG 4 PLAYER.
The five new KOMPLETE Instruments and Effects are now available for individual download purchase in the NI Online Shop, and are also included in the new KOMPLETE 7 bundle.

Pricing: RAMMFIRE $59 / 49 EUR // REAKTOR PRISM $79 / 69 EUR // REFLEKTOR $119 / 99 EUR // TRAKTOR’S 12 $79 / 69 EUR // VINTAGE ORGANS $119 / 99 EUR

Additional information is available at:
www.native-instruments.com/reaktorprism
www.native-instruments.com/reflektor
www.native-instruments.com/traktors12
www.native-instruments.com/rammfire
www.native-instruments.com/vintageorgans

About Native Instruments:

Native Instruments is a leading manufacturer of software and hardware for computer-based music production and performance. The company’s mission is to develop innovative, fully integrated solutions for all professions, styles and genres. The resulting products regularly push technological boundaries and open up new creative horizons for professionals and amateurs alike.
# # #

Native Instruments Announces KOMPLETE 7

Berlin, July 28th, 2010 – Native Instruments today announced KOMPLETE 7, a significantly expanded version of its studio-standard software bundle. The next generation of KOMPLETE now combines 24 instruments and effects – including five entirely new products – with over 10,000 sounds and 90 GByte of samples, resulting in a comprehensive suite with unparalleled versatility for music production and performance.

KOMPLETE 7 includes the latest versions of Native Instruments’ acclaimed full-featured instruments and effects, ranging from ABSYNTH 5, BATTERY 3.1, FM8, GUITAR RIG 4.1, KONTAKT 4.1 and MASSIVE to the upcoming REAKTOR 5.5. As the next generation of the legendary modular synthesis studio, the new REAKTOR version adds powerful modal and additive synthesis, a revised user interface, the unique “Lazerbass” synthesizer and many enhancements for both instrument builders and musicians.

KOMPLETE 7 also integrates a wealth of instruments and effects based on the player versions of KONTAKT, KORE, REAKTOR and GUITAR RIG. Products added to the bundle include the acclaimed ABBEY ROAD 60s DRUMS vintage drum library, the radical performance effect THE FINGER by Tim Exile, the sampled electric bass SCARBEE MM-BASS and all four electric pianos from the SCARBEE VINTAGE KEYS series by sampling mastermind Thomas Scarbee, all four acoustic pianos of the CLASSIC PIANO COLLECTION, the cinematic ACOUSTIC REFRACTIONS instrument and the distinctive REAKTOR SPARK synthesizer.

KOMPLETE 7 also incorporates five completely new products that further expand the creative potential of the bundle: The powerful studio reverb REFLEKTOR with its advanced zero-latency convolution engine; the highly expressive REAKTOR PRISM modal synthesizer designed by NI founder Stephan Schmitt; the performance effects suite TRAKTOR’S 12, derived from Native Instruments’ leading DJ software; the new VINTAGE ORGANS instrument with its comprehensive arsenal of painstakingly sampled electromagnetic organs; and the new RAMMFIRE amp emulation that was developed in close collaboration with one of Rammstein’s guitarists, Richard Z. Kruspe.

Every copy of KOMPLETE 7 also includes an NI Online Shop voucher worth $60 / 50 EUR, valid towards any product from the KOMPLETE Instruments and Effects range that is not included in the bundle.

KOMPLETE 7 will be available in September 2010 for a suggested retail price of $559 / 499 EUR. An update for owners of KOMPLETE 2/3/4/5/6 will be available for $229 / 199 EUR.

Additional information on KOMPLETE 7 is available at
www.native-instruments.com/komplete

A digital press kit including picture material is available at
www.native-instruments.com/press.info

About Native Instruments:

Native Instruments is a leading manufacturer of software and hardware for computer-based music production and performance. The company’s mission is to develop innovative, fully integrated solutions for all professions, styles and genres. The resulting products regularly push technological boundaries and open up new creative horizons for professionals and amateurs alike.

Media Composer 5 NOW Available! Yes, it really has hit the streets.  We hear, that this version is insanely awesome–so chew on this press release…for now.  A DJ-centric, hands-on review will soon be forthcoming!

Avid Raises the Bar with New Editing Systems: Increases Format Support, Openness and Speed

Las Vegas, NV, 2010-04-11

Media Composer, Symphony and NewsCutter answer customer requests for native RED, QuickTime, Canon XF workflows; Low-cost third-party hardware support and RGB 4:4:4

NAB (Booth #SU902), LAS VEGAS, April 11, 2010—Raising the bar on format flexibility, openness and speed, Avid® (NASDAQ: AVID) today introduced new versions of its industry-leading editing systems: Media Composer® (v5), NewsCutter® (v9) and Symphony™ (v5). New features include:

• Native support for popular industry formats including RED, QuickTime and Canon XF—eliminating timely transcode, re-wrap and log and transfer processes for customers.
• Support for Matrox MX02™ Mini monitoring hardware, which is ideal for customers looking for a low-cost external monitoring solution that enables field editing and simplified client screening sessions.
• HD-RGB finishing capabilities that empower customers to maximize their budgets by keeping high-end finishing work in-house. Avid Media Composer Nitris® DX now offers Dual Link HD-RGB support, allowing customers to digitize RGB 4:4:4 material from video sources like Sony® HDCAM SR™. A new RGB player and full-effects processing support provide greater precision for color, keying and effects work, satisfying the demands of the highest quality productions.
• Multi-channel audio support and an array of new usability enhancements to the interface.

Expanded Format Support—More Flexibility and Choice for Customers

Avid Media Access (AMA) enhances productivity by offering support for the most popular file-based formats, eliminating the need for customers to transcode, re-wrap, log and transfer media. New formats natively supported in Media Composer, NewsCutter and Symphony editing systems as a result of AMA include:

• QuickTime: Allows customers to directly edit any media that plays in the QuickTime player, including the Apple ProRes codec and .MOV files generated by DSLR cameras such as the Canon 5D and 7D. Additionally, customers have the ability to import from devices that natively record and generate QuickTime and ProRes files like the AJA Ki Pro or Omneon Spectrum Server. Content can then easily be shared between Avid and third-party applications.
• RED: Provides direct access to .R3D footage, including full metadata preservation, allowing customers to work with full quality media throughout the entire production process. Additionally, RLX and RSX files are supported for high-fidelity color management and images are scaled to HD frame sizes for TV production.
• New Canon XF codec: Delivers support for the newest Canon camcorder, introduced today.
• XDCAM proxies: Offers access to proxy video and high-quality audio files, enabling customers to make more informed creative decisions in the offline edit and easily link back to full resolution XDCAM clips to complete projects.

Additionally, Media Composer, NewsCutter and Symphony systems now allow customers to work with the popular AVCHD format.

Additional New Features in Media Composer, NewsCutter and Symphony

• Improved audio effects and multi-channel audio support: Delivers the ability to apply hundreds of real-time audio effects with support for Real-Time Audio Suite (RTAS) audio plug-ins, providing customers with more creative and corrective audio options within Avid video editing systems. Additionally, stereo timelines can now be treated as one channel/layer, easing handling and increasing available timeline real estate.
• Enhanced user interface: Offers a new timeline Smart Tool, featuring “drag and drop” audio and video elements as well as editing and trimming features for direct manipulation of clips in the timeline, providing customers with more choice in the way they work.

Pricing and Availability

Media Composer, Symphony and NewsCutter software will be available on June 10, 2010. For educational institutions and students, Media Composer v5 is just $295 USMSRP. Beginning June 10, 2010, students with academic versions of Media Composer software (versions 4 through 5) will qualify for complementary upgrades for four years from the date of software activation.
For more information on pricing and features visit: www.avid.com.

About Avid

Avid creates the digital audio and video technology used to make the most listened to, most watched and most loved media in the world – from the most prestigious and award-winning feature films, music recordings, television shows, live concert tours and news broadcasts, to music and movies made at home.  Some of Avid’s most influential and pioneering solutions include Media Composer, Pro Tools®, Avid Unity™, Interplay®, Oxygen 8, Sibelius® and Pinnacle Studio™. For more information about Avid solutions and services, visit www.avid.com, del.icio.us, Flickr, Twitter and YouTube; connect with Avid on Facebook; or subscribe to Avid Industry Buzz.

© 2010 Avid Technology, Inc. All rights reserved. Product features, specifications, systems requirements and availability are subject to change without notice.  All prices are USMSRP for the U.S. and Canada only and are subject to change without notice. Contact your local Avid office or reseller for prices outside the U.S. and Canada. Avid, the Avid logo, Media Composer, NewsCutter, Symphony, Nitris, Pro Tools, Avid Unity, Interplay, Sibelius and Pinnacle Studio are trademarks or registered trademarks of Avid Technology, Inc. or its subsidiaries in the United States and/or other countries. The Interplay name is used with the permission of Interplay Entertainment Corp., which bears no responsibility for Avid products. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

The other big reason is to help give a final publicity push in support of WordCamp Chicago 2010. The TWO-DAY event will be THIS WEEKEND–Saturday, June 5th and Sunday, June 6th.  If you have an interest in online publishing, blogging or anything Web-related, you owe it to yourself to check out this event.  For more details go to wordcampchicago.com.  This is only the second WordCamp Chicago; last year was totally off-the-scale!

Since DMA’s inception in 1993, one of the primary goals has been to demystify the process of creation, champion ground-breaking technologies and “pull back the curtain.” We love to debunk myths and openly discuss some of the “tricks of the trade” when it comes to dance music production, remixing, and promotion.

WordPress is the ONLY reason why Dance Music Authority has been able to get back on its feet.  No, we definitely don’t think “we’re ALL THAT.”  And, yes, we have a looooong way to go, but we also have an agile software platform that can do anything we need it to do…and a mammoth user/ development community “watching our back” and constantly pushing the envelope.

We hope you enjoy our WordPress story.  What’s yours?…  -J. Medley

_______________

Dance Music Authority (DMAclub.com) Settles Into A Comfortable Groove With WordPress

Helping to bring a deceased print publication “back from the dead” is no easy task, but thanks to the brillant online publishing platform WordPress, Dance Music Authority is back on its feet and moving forward at DMAclub.com.

Even though this endeavor got off to a very shaky start, once we switched to the WordPress platform, we immediately started to get major traction.  Perhaps the funniest part of the story is the fact that WordPress is a free solution.

In our initial efforts to bring DMA back, there were a lot of false starts.  Several platforms were suggested, with several associated price tags–ranging from $2,000-$15,000!  During this initial phase, we always felt like we were at the mercy of the designer/developer, which was exacerbated by the fact that ALL of these developers ultimately became impossible to reach a one time or another.  From our vantage point, this was totally unacceptable.

Frustrated by myriad developer issues, we jumped on a drag-and-drop HTML publishing program.  The program had a lot of cool features, but it did not provide a way for us to easily showcase our primary content in an organized fashion.  For example, we always fealt that we were just throwing our pluggers up against a wall, with absolutely no organization whatsoever.  Moreover, the process was way too labor-intensive.  When we wanted to add a new item to a page, we had to manually push everything down.  This was definitely not the answer.

Fortunately, after the 2008 Winter Music Conference, several magical things started to happen once we got back in Chicago.  The most profound event was the switch to WordPress (April, 2008).  Once we made the move, we never looked back.  Blogging is a major joy, and we now have time to focus on music and video production…as well as learning as much as we can about in the inner-workings of WordPress.

Yes, WordPress has become a new obsession for us.  We love “getting under the hood” and messing around, and have learned so much more about the Web thanks to WordPress.  The WordPress user community is a massive collective where learning is encouraged.  We look forward to contributing to the community by helping to spread the word about this amazing product.

At Dance Music Authority, we have always been about passing along useful information.  Well, WordPress is more than an informational nugget; it is a robust total content management system.  I prefer the term content management solution, as opposed to content management system, because WordPress is just that–a solution, an answer.

Migrating to WordPress has been a TOTAL solution for us and we feel obligated to “share the knowledge” by helping to spread the word.

To be continued…

–J

WordCamp Chicago 2010

The Chicago Mart Plaza
350 West Mart Center Drive
Chicago, IL  60654

Tel: +1 312 8365000 Fax: +1 312 2229508

Avid Announces Agreement to Acquire Euphonix

Las Vegas, NV, 2010-04-11

Comprehensive range of audio and video control surfaces and consoles expands Avid portfolio to provide seamless interoperability across broad spectrum of third-party solutions for every customer

LAS VEGAS, NV, April 11, 2010 – NAB (Booth # SU902) – Avid® (NASDAQ: AVID) today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Mountain View, CA-based Euphonix, a leader in large-format digital audio consoles, media controllers and peripherals.  With the acquisition, Avid will deliver a broad range of audio and video control surfaces and consoles designed to meet the needs of customers ranging from the independent professional to the high-end broadcaster.  Avid plans to continue to support and sell both Euphonix control surfaces and Avid’s existing ICON solution, enabling customers to leverage existing investments in industry-leading hardware.

“This acquisition greatly expands our portfolio to offer customers a complementary set of workflow solutions–from independent producers creating music in their home studios to broadcasters preparing segments for national broadcast,” said Gary Greenfield, chairman and CEO, Avid.  “We remain committed to driving interoperability and modularity across a vast ecosystem of Avid and third-party creative hardware and software solutions.  And, as audio and video workflows continue to converge, we are now well positioned to deliver control surfaces that work across both audio and video applications, making the content creation process more cost-effective and efficient for our customers.”

Avid plans to further develop an open standard protocol that greatly expands the ecosystem of compatibility between the Euphonix control surfaces and a wide range of Avid and third-party audio and video applications, including Media Composer and Pro Tools. For existing Euphonix customers, Avid will continue to support EuCon– the Euphonix high-speed Ethernet protocol that enables its control surfaces to interface with third-party software.

The transaction is expected to close at the end of April.

About Euphonix

Euphonix, a leading manufacturer of professional digital audio consoles and recording equipment has provided customers worldwide with trusted broadcast, post, live sound and music production solutions for over 20 years. Key products include Max Air, System 5 and S5 Fusion consoles as well as the System 5-MC and MC Pro DAW controllers. In January 2008 Euphonix released a revolutionary new line of Ethernet media controllers for the personal studio. Comprised of the MC Control, MC Mix, MC Transport and MC Color, the Artist Series brings the unparalleled resolution and software integration of Euphonix high-end consoles into the hands of the individual. For more information call +1 (650) 855-0400 or visit www.EUPHONIX.com.

About Avid

Avid creates the digital audio and video technology used to make the most listened to, most watched and most loved media in the world – from the most prestigious and award-winning feature films, music recordings, television shows, live concert tours and news broadcasts, to music and movies made at home.  Some of Avid’s most influential and pioneering solutions include Media Composer, Pro Tools, Avid Unity, Interplay, Oxygen 8, Sibelius® and Pinnacle Studio™. For more information about Avid solutions and services, visit www.avid.com, del.icio.us, Flickr, Twitter and YouTube; connect with Avid on Facebook; or subscribe to Avid Industry Buzz.

© 2010 Avid Technology, Inc. All rights reserved. Avid, the Avid Logo, Avid Active, Avid Unity, Airspeed, D-Control, Deko, DekoCast, iNEWS, Interplay, ISIS,  Media Composer, NewsCutter, Nitris, Pinnacle Studio, Post Deko, Pro Tools, Sibelius and  Symphony are trademarks or registered trademarks of Avid Technology, Inc. or its subsidiaries in the United States and/or other countries. The Interplay name is used with the permission of Interplay Entertainment Corp., which bears no responsibility for Avid products. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.