Musical holiday cheer... w/ Dubspot gift certificates

Dubspot gift certificates are probably the coolest presents in the world.  Seriously, who doesnt want to learn how to DJ or produce?  Musicians, producers, and disc jockeys are all cool.  Make any music lover friend/family member smile and be the object of envy for those who got a fruitcake or another tie with Christmas Trees on it.

Time Out NY agrees, they recently featured us in their 2009 Holday Gift Guide.  Gift certificates are available for any of Dubspot's courses, from the stocking stuffer weekend workshops to the biggest gifts you can fit in an envelope, the DJ/Producer Package or the Ableton Producer's Certificate course.  Prices start at $99.  More info here>

Questions?  Call us 212.242.2100 or email: info@dubspot.com

dubspot's ableton live 8 u.s. tour los angeles - just awesome!

Dubspot's Ableton Tour stop in L.A., over the weekend of November 7th and 8th, achieved its goal.  All accounts of the event have centered around how unique the experience was, how innovative the workshops were, and how in-demand the Dubspot experience is Los Angeles.  

The workshops began on Saturday with a production focus and a locally based presenter.  Thavius Beck drew on his talents as one of L.A.s only Ableton certified instructors to warming up the brains of those in attendance with a presentation on beat-making

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Dubspot Artist Interviews :: Chris Liebing

Dubspot prides itself on its unique position in the music industry, and the involvement of hi-profile artists that often accompanies it.  In October, Dubspot's Director of Communications Adam Sellers was lucky enough to sit down with German techno mainstay Chris Liebing, who has been an instrumental figure in the European electronic music scene for years now, whether through his hi-energy DJ sets, his productions and remixes, or his label CLR which is now celebrating it's 10 year anniversary.

While at the school, Liebing talked about his beginnings in the industry, his first DJ sets, finding inspiration, the transition from turntables to digital, and his current live setup, which now integrates Traktor and Maschine from Native Intruments with Ableton Live, along with an Allen & Heath mixer and Faderfox controller.  The interview at Dubspot flowed into a shoot at Cielo, where Chris laid down a fantastic techno set that clearly demonstrated his years of experience in reading crowds and adjusting accordingly.  Check out the video, and be ready for many more in the future from other Dubspot friends and allies.

Ableton releases Max for Live!!!

After much anticipation, and many months of tantalizing the programming and design obsessed producers and performers of the world, Ableton and Cycling '74 have release Max for Live, the newest incarnation of Ableton which combines the legendary software with Max's custom programming possibilities.

This new version of live essentially opens Ableton's platform to limitless tinkering and customization, allowing users to program and modify their own devices inside of Live as they see fit.  As the writer of this blog is far from qualified to offer any further analysis, the following info is from the Ableton press release, hot of the presses today.

Also, be sure to check out the video tutorial on using Max for Live that Dubspot instructor Michael Hatsis made, which covers how to sidechain any device control, a small taste of the possibles...

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CBS Hearts Dubspot :: It's Official... Kids Love Beaterator!

Dubspot's exciting new partnership with Rockstar Games, to use Beaterator (a powerful new mobile music making platform) as an educational tool for kids, has grown in many directions since it began just a few short weeks ago.  It has also been receiving lots of positive press coverage, as so many people see the benefits of this initiative in a time when so many music programs have their budgets stretched thin.

Recently, WCBS in Manhattan featured a story on the educational program our school has put together surrounding the game and device.  DJ Kiva led the class at Dubspot's home base on 14th Street, and the reaction from the kids was fantastic, as it has been for all the classes we have hosted so far. 

Check out the video on the WCBS page.

FOX : Good Day NY : Featured Dubspot!

Two of Dubspot's instructors, DJ Shiftee and DJ Reborn, were featured in the news recently, on the Fox show Good Day NY, a popular Manhattan morning show.  The stories were shot both at Dubspot and in the Good Day studios.  You can check out both videos right here, and if you look closely at Shiftee's part, you can even catch a glimpse of his gold turntables...

The feature story including both Shiftee and Reborn told the classic Dubspot story that never gets old: our school helps people find inspiration by pursuing dreams, old passions, and the career as a DJ that slipped by in years before.

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dubspot and rockstar games have partnered to educate kids with beaterator

Get a taste of what this collaboration is all about:
http://wcbstv.com/video/?id=135113@wcbs.dayport.com

   

Our unique 2-hour workshops, in collaboration with game console developers Rockstar, is an introduction to music making practice with mobile technology via Sony's PSP. The objective for the workshops isn't
necessarily to just teach the tool, however; even in a short space of time, students can see compositional and musical materials through the filter of the application.

The objectives of the workshop:
* Encourage students to use mobile technology to experiment creatively
* Use sampling technology as a way of building upon their performance
and improvisation skills with voice and instruments
* Demonstrate how music theoretical and compositional concepts can be
represented in the interface of a mobile application, from phrase
structure to chordal structure and rhythm

We will be leaving each school 2 Sony PSP systems and Beaterator
titles for future use in the classroom. We'll schedule one class
period for hands-on work with the students (see outline below), plus
an additional period for follow-up. This is really an opportunity for us
to get your input for these kinds of programs in the future, too.

PLease email us of you are interested in participating: info@dubspot.com

--MISSION--

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soundcheck w/ scientist video!

While we just got done with L.A. & Austin, we still have lots of video goodies from the NYC tour stop that haven't been released yet.  Many more to emerge soon... like this video, which features a cut of Scientist's presentation on how to mic an then mix a band live.... dubstyle.  Enjoy, and stay tuned...

Funk Aid For Africa Release Party in Austin This Sat!

Funk Aid For Africa, Dubspot Records first charitable mix project, will be having a party in Austin, Texas, November 14th, at The Independent @ 501 Studios.

DJ OBAH (Dubspot/Giant Step/NYC)
www.djobah.com

with live performances by...

Ocote Soul Sounds (ESL MUSIC/AUSTIN)
www.ocotesoul.com

Akina Adderley & THE VINTAGE PLAYBOYS (AUSTIN)
www.myspace.com/akinaadderleyandthevintageplayboys

and

Daetron Vargas (Construction Paper Records/ATX)
www.myspace.com/aliaso

Visuals by C Jackson

The Independent at 501 Studios
501 I-35 SERVICE ROAD
Austin, TX, 78702
Venue Entrance on Brushy between 5th and 6th St.
Door at 9 PM

The party will go until 3:30AM, with free beer after 2am.

21+ :: $10 Door:: $20 with Funk Aid for Africa CD

Dubspot's Ableton Tour : Austin this weekend : Nov 14 & 15

Dubspot's Live 8 U.S Sessions Tour will be at The Parish Room in Austin, Texas this coming weekend, November 14th & 15th.  The weekend of production and performance workshops will feature a stellar lineup of presenters, including:

    * Francis Preve (Different Pieces, Toolroom, Armada)
    * Christopher Willits (Ghostly, 12k, Overlap)
    * Daniel Wyatt (Sonica Media, Atlantic, Dubspot)
    * Jon Margulies (Heatercore, Hobotech, Dubspot)
    * Barry Cole (Spot Music & Blue Mountain Publishing)
    * Michael Hatsis (Track Team Audio, Dubspot)
    * Pailo (Outofthebag, Walking Stick Worldwide, TXP)
    * DJ Kiva (Adios Babylon, Dubspot)

The Live 8 U.S. Sessions Tour represents what Dubspot aspires to bring the public: unique and exciting ways for uniting the electronic music community and educating the like-minded enthusiasts within it.

Topics include drum-programming, instrument and effect rack management, sequencing, automation, creating melody, harmonic awareness, mixing and mastering principles, sound stage management, synth programming, PA/DJ hybrid setups, controllers, live instruments in Ableton, efficient set management, looping, routing, licensing, and much more.

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