Future Funk Squad, featuring Glen Nichols
in the Bassline tee.
UA Universe
By Marsha Vdovin, Joseph Lemmer, and Ned Harrington
We hear from UA across the pond where Glen Nichols (Future Funk Squad) checked in from the UK.
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Future Funk Squad, featuring Glen Nichols |
“I have recently been concentrating on the production of my follow-up album, provisionally titled Technology, Don’t Fail Me Now .... This is to feature three of the vocalists from the last album, Tamra Keenan, Mojo (Rapper) and Ben Keenan, along with some new collaborations including two tracks with my wife Liz Melody. Remixing has still been a big part of my workload. Over the last few months I have worked on a massive remake of the Bee Gees' classic 'Night Fever' for a remix album due out in the States later this year, and have just recently completed mixes for an Australian singer called Katie Noonan and the next single for Armand Van Helden. There is also a possible remix opportunity in the pipeline for one of my favorite acts, Erasure, so I will keep you posted on that! Other plans are to complete the album in the next few months and then hit the road with the Future Funk Squad live show, kicking off with the Glastonbury festival next month!”
UA booth at TapeOpCon
TapeOpCon 6
UA’s Customer Service Specialist Flip Osman filed a report on this year’s TapeOpCon:
Will Shanks, Erica McDaniel and I attended the TapeOp convention in Tuscon, Arizona, at the Hilton El Conquistador Resort on June 8 through 10. A great time was had by all. Although we never made it onto the waterslide, we met and caught up with many great folks. This being my first TapeOpCon, I was pleasantly surprised by the number and depth of workshops and panels on useful topics by well-spoken panelists. Speaking of workshops, Universal Audio’s own Will Shanks spoke at two: “Mixing in the Box” and “Digital Performer.” UA also supplied some gear (including our new 2-LA-2) for the Potluck studio, run by the talented ladies of the Women’s Audio Mission. Visitors to the UA booth were able to check out some of our new gear, shipping now or shipping soon. We were giving demos of the new DCS remote preamp and 2-LA-2 for the analog side, and our two newest plug-ins–the LA-3A and the Neve 88RS channel strip--on the digital front. We even gave away a UAD-1e Etreme Pak and a unique UA neon sign! I’m really looking forward to next year's TapeOpCon, when it moves back to New Orleans.
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UA’s Will Shanks (in yellow) mixes it up with fellow TapeOpCon'ers Fred Z (seated) and Christopher Brightwall. |
2192 Love
Speaking of TapeOp ... On page 54 in issue #58, veteran engineer Terry Manning (Led Zeppelin, Shakira) praised his UA 2192 A/D converter: “I mix directly to 96/24 on a 32 float-bit system through a great converter (my favorite), the UA 2192. I just really like that thing. I've got Lavry and I've Apogee, but when I've done a comparison of all of them, that has the sound that I like the best, for a mix at least.” Glad you like it Terry!
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UA’s 2192 Master Audio Interface: |
1176LN in Action
And while you’re at the record store you may wish to pick up the latest album by Roxy Music’s Bryan Ferry. The highly acclaimed Dylanesque is Ferry interpretation of classic Bob Dylan songs. The album was recorded at the Town House Studios in London. All the vocals, Ferry’s and the seven backup singers', were recorded through a UA 1176LN.
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IBC Exhibition
Our friends at HHB (The Source Distribution) will represent UA products at the leading European event for professionals involved in the creation, management and delivery of entertainment content. Please visit them at booth #8554. IBC2007 will take place at the RAI Congress Centre, Amsterdam, between the following dates. Conference: September 6-10; Exhibition: September 7-11.
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AES New York
The 123rd Audio Engineering Society Convention will take place Friday, October 5 through Monday, October 8, 2007, in The Javits Center, New York City. UA will attend with the usual cadre of vintage audio devotés. Please visit us at booth #649.
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Musicians' Village, New Orleans
My Volunteer Experience
by Ned Harrington
Tech Support guru Ned Harrington recently volunteered to help build houses in Musicians' Village, New Orleans. Here is what Ned had to say about his trip.
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Recently, I had the opportunity to join a volunteer effort to restore and rebuild homes for displaced musicians in the New Orleans area. This journey began with an invitation from some family members, who were planning to fly down to New Orleans and volunteer with Habitat for Humanity. As a musician, the prospect immediately caught my attention. I thought, "What a great way to lend a hand to fellow musicians and help preserve the rich culture and musical heritage of New Orleans." I soon requested volunteer time off. Universal Audio, being the cool company that it is, not only encouraged me, but went a step further by donating $25,000, twenty-five dollars from each of the first on thousand Solo/610 mic pres we’ve sold, to the Habitat for Humanity NOLA relief effort! UA as a philanthropic company is nothing new. Always involved in the community, charities, et cetera, UA is very supportive of its employees' efforts along the same lines.
I packed my work clothes and sleeping bag and traveled to New Orleans. Caught a ride from the airport to Camp Hope, which is a school that has been converted into housing for volunteers. Next day I was up at 7 am and on site ready to work. The team I signed with was in charge of new construction in the Lower 9th Ward “Musicians' Village.”
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Lower 9th Ward, New Orleans |
Musicians' Village is a project that was designed to provide housing for musicians who meet Habitat criteria, so that they can return to the city and keep New Orleans culture alive. Musicians' Village is the brainchild of two New Orleans natives: Harry Connick, Jr., and Branford Marsalis, who purchased 8.1 acres of blighted land. Their plan is to build 73 single-family homes, five elderly duplexes and the Ellis Marsalis Center for Music.
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Earnin' my keep! |
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The gutting crew |
Besides working on the new construction crews, I also spent a few days with the St. Bernard Parish Project, which is a home-restoration project that involves the homeowners and families in the restoration process. Hearing the stories, learning about the local history and traditions and working hand-in-hand with surviving families proved especially rewarding. Many times we where treated to Louisiana-style home-cooked meals by the Project families. The appreciation and gratitude given to us as volunteers was always encouraging.
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Last slab of drywall in Stephanie's room |
What a great way to lend a hand to fellow musicians and help preserve the rich culture and musical heritage of New Orleans.
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Who can eat the most crawfish? |
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After a hard day's work, of course, a nightly visit to the French Quarter/Bourbon street was always a highlight for the volunteers. |
My time as a volunteer was fun, exciting and very rewarding. What started as a trip to help restore a valuable resource became a very uplifting experience in itself. People from all over the country, different walks of life, different beliefs, all working together for the a common goal. It was very powerful for me to see through our social, economic and cultural differences to the realization that it is human nature to help your fellow man. I feel very fortunate to have had a chance to experience this, and to share that experience with others. I am also grateful that I work for a great company, Universal Audio, that recognizes the importance of social awareness and promotes community involvement.
There is still a great need for volunteers in New Orleans, and lots of work still to be done. I encourage anyone who is interested in volunteering to check out the following websites:
http://www.habitat-nola.org/
http://www.commongroundrelief.org/
Questions and comments are welcome.
Ned Harrington
Universal Audio Technical Support
ned@uaudio.com
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UAD Software v4.7 is here
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UAD Software v4.7 includes fully functional 14-day demos of the amazing Neve 88RS channel strip, and the industry standard LA-3A. The analog versions of both units can be heard on countless hit records. Do not miss these essential plug-ins!
DCS has left the building
The crowd went wild as the new Universal Audio DCS Remote Preamp production units were being polished and packed by UA Production Tech Justin Bell. You can read more about the innovative DCS RP at the product page, but to fully appreciate this preamp, you need to call your dealer and schedule a demo!
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Justin Bell polishes a DCS Remote Preamp. |
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DCS Remote Preamp units ready for packing |
"Personal data" in iTunes tracks
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The launch of music tracks free of digital locks on iTunes has been overshadowed by the discovery that they contain data about who bought them Some fear this data could be used to identify the owner of the tracks, if they turn up on file-sharing sites. The tracks from record company EMI cost more and are of a better quality than standard iTunes songs. Apple has yet to comment on what it plans to do with the information embedded in the music files.
BBC News
Music group offers some web radio sites a break
Small Internet radio stations were offered a break yesterday when a recording industry group, SoundExchange, offered to reduce the royalties it collects for music played online.
Washington Post
U.S. firms drop music download lawsuit against woman
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The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) dropped a lawsuit against a disabled single mother who said she was innocent of their claims she downloaded more than 1,400 songs without authorization. The RIAA is a U.S. lobby group that promotes the interests of its members, who represent about 90 percent of the U.S. music recording industry.
CBC News
Swedish court upholds file-sharing conviction
The Appellate Court in Sweden backed a verdict by a lower court in October last year that saw 45-year-old Jimmy Sjostrom fined 20,000 Swedish crowns ($2,843) for infringing intellectual property rights by sharing four music files.
Reuters
YouTube, EMI sign breakthrough licensing pact
Google struck a deal with EMI Group that will allow it to show the record label's collection of music videos and artist performances on YouTube. In addition, EMI said it will work with YouTube parent company Google to develop business models enabling people to legitimately incorporate videos and performances from EMI artists into their user-generated content on YouTube.
cnet
UAD software v4.7 updates
Don't miss the latest system requirements in UAD Software v4.7. Windows 2000 is no longer supported, in favor of supporting the groundbreaking Windows Vista operating system. Mac OS support previous to 10.4x was dropped in version 4.6, to develop for the forthcoming OS X Leopard, v10.5.
Also, don't miss this month's Support Report, which lists v4.7's latest features and changes, including authorization file changes.
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