NAMM BIM 2021: Zoom

 At NAMM's #believeinmusic week, Zoom features 2 key products:

• 
  

H8

Zoom Q8 and Zoom Q2n-4k video recorders 

NAMM BIM 2021: Hear Technologies

 Personal monitor mixing basics:

NAMM BIM 2021: Live Streaming

How do you stream yourself more effectively?

Scott Stratten of UnMarketing showed us, "How to Level Up Your Virtual Communication." "Stream Deck" is used to hop between cameras. He uses a DSLR: Cannon 7D for the best quality, and always keeps his focus on the camera so the audience feels continually engaged with him. And, of course, get your audio levels right! Distortion is distracting and if you're too quiet, how will they hear you? He uses a Shure SM7b to speak into. When asked how he live-streams his DSLR: 

"I run everything through Ecamm on my Mac. The DSLR is plugged into the Mac via USB. Then Ecamm acts as a 'Virtual Camera'." 

He also shared some great tips on making your video resonate with an excellent preview picture and keeping context with text (letter boxes) shown and keeping relevance as the messages leaves the first circle of contacts. Also, what a "view" means when you see a number listed for one of your videos can be very different depending on the platform. For example, on Youtube, it is significant because it means the viewer watched your video for at least 30 seconds with little distraction. On Facebook, a view can be 13 seconds of watching and in a timeline among many other distractions within the platform perhaps without any audio playing either. If you look at the metrics, don't forget the details to get an accurate read. 

Live Stream Audio Like a Pro

Mike Zimmerlich, president of 80/20 Records and host of The 80/20 Show podcast, spoke with Brad Amick from Halocene and picked his brain about their regular live streams, type of gear they use, and challenges they come across. 

Twitch is their primary home for live streaming and YouTube acts as a more for post-produced and commercial front content. To get started, Brad recommends: 

1. Get a camera: DSLR, webcam, mirrorless camera
2. Get the free OBS software: https://obsproject.com/
   
3. Don't use your camera's audio and get an audio interface and microphone 

When you have these foundations, you can tweak it to make it even better by getting an audio mixer and use effects. Upgrade your camera with better lenses. Get a soft box for lighting. Play with the video effects in OBS. 

You will need a good internet speed depending on where you are. If you are streaming a live show at a bar or some venue, you may get drop-outs. At home or your studio, consider paying more for upload speed if you are having dropouts. Hardwired internet via Ethernet is much more stable than WIFI. Also, consider what you can plug in directly if you are performing live. For example, do a DI input for your guitar and use electric drums to go directly in.

NAMM BIM 2021: Highlights of Believe In Music

Here are a few highlights of the NAMM #believeinmusic week:

• 
  At the AES With AudioNow Cast and Carl Tatz: Secrets of Near-Field Monitoring event, they provided a few resources. Get your studio monitors right in your studio. Use the Axial Mode Calculator and Null Positioning tools on Carl Tatz's website: https://carltatzdesign.com/acoustic-tools.html
  
  

MARKETING and Communication:

Scott Stratten showed us, "How to Level Up Your Virtual Communication." "Stream Deck" is used to hop between cameras, he live streams a DSLR: Cannon 7D, and always keeps his focus on the camera so the audience feels continually engaged with him. And, of course, get your audio levels right! Distortion is distracting and if you're too quiet, how will they hear you? He uses a Shure SM7b to speak into. When asked how he live-streams his DSLR: 

"I run everything through Ecamm on my Mac. The DSLR is plugged into the Mac via USB. Then Ecamm acts as a "Virtual Camera"."

Glenn Haworth from Haworth guitars shared some tips on interacting with your website visitors. Opt-in and Buy-now buttons and widgets are great tools for engaging quickly. Have an offer and clear message within 8 seconds. Share trust-signals such as grantees and show testimonials. Make sure your website works well on mobile devices and have engaging content.

Peter Malick gave an excellent talk on how to, "Build Your Million-Dollar E-commerce Marketing Stack on a Shoestring" Checkout his resources here from AI assistance to a guide on where to host your store: https://inboundav.com/namm2021/

Bill Sebald from Greenlane Search Marketing shared his expertise in SEO (Search Engine Optimization). He explained it is no longer about keywords or algorithms to reach the top of google. You still need to have a fast loading website which can be checked here: https://pagespeed.compare/

Popularity and how long people stay on your website is also still important. Be knowledgeable with your focus s you become an entity. You need to be the authority on what someone is searching for. It's also about investing time and money to beat your competitor. Unfortunately, winning on all the different facets of SEO, is not an even playing field anymore. Focus on what you what is most important to you with the right strategy in place. You win in SEO through the aggregate of every part of it that you build to reach there. 

Lisa Cruze from Red Shoes at the Reverb booth shared the importations of building a community and trust which requires us to always be learning and understanding the cultures you are reaching so not to offend them and finding the best way to reach them. Listening is also a key to finding what they are looking for. 

Business tips: 

Elisa Janson Jones did a great talk on, "The 7 Business Skills Every Music Teacher Needs to Create and Grow a Thriving Music Program" which can also be used in many other facets of the music world. Here is a list of her resources you can use to help you thrive: 

https://www.musicedmentor.com/business-skills

DJ:

DJ Hapa from http://thedjcoach.com teaches the beginnings of DJ'ing as well as some more advanced techniques brought to you by Pioneer DJ which features the Pioneer DJ DDJ-FLX6: 

NAMM BIM 2021: Roland

Roland had a few amazing instruments to share at NAMM's #believeinmusic week: 

NAMM BIN 2021: Mental Health for Musicians

 

If you are struggling and need some help, Behind the Scene Charity is seeking to help those in our industry with very unique struggles on topics such as suicide prevention and work stress while providing tools to help entertainment industry workers. You can find a therapist, take a self-assessment test or chat with the community completely anonymously within their app and their website has great tools as well. 

See the resource below for more information:

• btshelp.org/mentathealth 
• btshelp.org/chat 
• btshelp.org/findatherapist
• btshelp.
  org/screening

 

The national suicide prevention hotline is: 

1-800-273-8255

NAMM BIM 2021: Jonathan "Sugarfoot" Moffett Interviewed for NAMM's Oral History Program

Jonathan "Sugarfoot" Moffett was interviewed by NAMM's Music History Project - they also have a podcast. He told his story of having the opportunity to tour with Michael Jackson and how Michael loved his improvisation to his dances. From there he also played with Janet Jackson, Elton John, Stevie Wonder, Madonna and more! He was given the name, "Sugarfoot" when playing with Spectrum from his skills with the kick drum. As a kid, his family encouraged him to play the drums and the rest was history.

Follow Jonathan on twitter here: @jsugarfootm 

Subscribe to the podcast by searching, "This Music History Project."

NAMM BIM 2021: KRK

NASHVILLE, JANUARY 19, 2021 – KRK announces the latest addition to its range of studio gear with a new generation of powered subwoofers. Coming spring 2021, the new series of KRK Studio Subwoofers will be available in 8-, 10-, and 12-inch variations: S8.4, S10.4, and S12.4. Building on KRK’s legacy of sonic accuracy and performance, the new KRK subwoofers deliver tight, accurate, and defined bass, while the highly efficient Class D power amplifiers dramatically increase transient response, control, and punch. The redesigned cabinets feature a more compact profile compared to their predecessors, allowing for improved placement flexibility and a timeless design that provides a more professional aesthetic.

“KRK’s redesigned subwoofers don’t just deliver precise bass and a rich feature set; they’re the next dimension in subwoofer performance,” says Sterling Doak, Dire
ctor of Marketing for Gibson. “When mixing tracks for bass-heavy genres, it is especially important for producers and DJs to integrate a quality subwoofer solution into their studio set up. Our new generation of subwoofers are perfect for reproducing the low end of your mix—ensuring that you’re giving your tracks the exact amount of bass you desire.”

The new KRK Studio Subwoofers feature a wealth of connectivity options with XLR, 1/4" TRS, and RCA inputs and outputs that interface with just about any manufacturer’s studio monitors, mixers, and/or audio interfaces. With an exclusive bypass control feature, users can send full-range audio to their monitors at the click of an optional footswitch without having to move out of the monitoring sweet spot to turn off the subwoofer. This allows for instant comparisons with (and without) the subwoofer’s contributions to the sound. Additionally, polarity and input sensitivity controls allow for phase coherence and level-matching to enhance the quality of your mixes.

Additional refinements to the KRK subwoofers include modestly improved low-frequency extension, improved porting for enhanced low-frequency phase response and less port noise, as well as a four-position crossover frequency selection switch, making it easy to adjust the subwoofer’s settings to optimally match existing monitors. Designed with an inverted dust cap and removable all-steel grille option with reinforced MDF enclosure, KRK’s latest generation of subwoofers offer a durable solution with excellent driver protection. Additionally, the woven aramid composite woofer provides a rigid and lightweight driver for optimal sound quality and a front-firing port allows for placement near walls without interference from a rear-firing port, increasing the subwoofer’s overall flexibility.

“With studio subwoofers, users are looking to achieve the most balanced, tight, and pure sound—and with KRK subwoofers, what you hear is what you get,” adds Doak. “Pairing a KRK subwoofer with any KRK studio monitor will deliver an optimized listening and mixing experience with extended low end.”

About KRK:

Over the past three decades, KRK, part of Gibson Pro Audio, has become synonymous with quality design and unparalleled performance in the world of studio monitors, subwoofers, and headphones. KRK offers products that meet the diverse needs of home studios and professional studios alike no matter the style of music or application. For more information, visit www.krkmusic.com.

About Gibson:

Gibson, the leading iconic guitar brand, has shaped the sounds of generations of musicians and music lovers across genres for 127 years. Founded in 1894 and headquartered in Nashville, Gibson Brands has a legacy of world-class craftsmanship, legendary music partnerships, and progressive product evolution that is unrivaled among musical instrument companies. The Gibson Brands portfolio includes Gibson, the leading guitar brand, as well as many of the most beloved and recognizable music brands, including Epiphone which has been on every stage since 1873, Kramer the original MADE TO ROCK HARD guitar brand, MESA/Boogie the home of tone, and KRK behind great music for over 30 years.  Gibson Brands is dedicated to quality, innovation, and sound excellence so that music lovers for generations to come will continue to experience music shaped by Gibson Brands. Learn more at Gibson.com and follow us on Twitter,Facebook, Gibson TV, and Instagram. 

NAMM BIM 2021: She Rocks Awards

Celebrate Women in music! Tonight, watch the She Rocks Awards sponsored by Positive Grid from The Women's International Music Network! 

Sign up for NAMM's believe in music week to attend: https://attend.believeinmusic.tv/

NAMM BIM 2021: Pioneer DJ's Rekordbox 6

NAMM's #believeinmusic week invites DJ J Brandon from Pioneer DJ to speak about Rekordbox 6: 

Sign up for Believe In Music week now for free: https://attend.believeinmusic.tv/

NAMM BIM 2021: IK Multimedia UNO Synth Pro with Erik Norlander

NAMM's #believeinmusic invites Erik Norlander to give a demonstration on IK Multimedia's UNO Synth Pro: 

Sign up for Believe In Music week now for free: https://attend.believeinmusic.tv/

NAMM BIM 2021: A Snarky Approach to Drumming

NAMM's #believeinmusic invites Robert Sput Searight, Larnell Lewis, JT Thomas, and Jamison Rossto speak about drumming! 

Sign up for Believe In Music week now for free: https://attend.believeinmusic.tv/

NAMM BIM 2021: TouellSkouarn: Eurorack Modules And Pedals

 NAMM's #believeinmusic week invites TouellSkouam to share their eurorack modules and pedals: 

Sign up for Believe In Music week now for free: https://attend.believeinmusic.tv/

NAMM BIM 2021: UDO: Super 6 - polyphonic synthesizer

NAMM's #believeinmusic week invited UDO to speak about their new synth! 

Sign up for Believe In Music week now for free: https://attend.believeinmusic.tv/

NAMM BIM 2021: New KORG Synths

NAMM's #believeinmusic week invites KORG to share their new synths! 

Sign up for Believe In Music week now for free: https://attend.believeinmusic.tv/

NAMM BIM 2021: Casio's Privia PX-S Digital Pianos

NAMM's #believeinmusic invites Casio to speak about their new Privia pianos: 

Sign up for Believe In Music week now for free: https://attend.believeinmusic.tv/

NAMM BIM 2021: Music Books Plus' Home Recording Fundamentals

NAMM's #believeinmusic week invites Music Books Plus to speak about recording fundamentals at home:

Sign up for Believe In Music week now for free: https://attend.believeinmusic.tv/

NAMM BIM 2021: TASCAM Series Interfaces 208i & 102i

 NAMM's #believeinmusic week invites TASCAM to share about their interfaces: 

Sign up for Believe In Music week now for free: https://attend.believeinmusic.tv/

NAMM BIM 2021: New Yamaha Percussion Instruments

NAMM's #believeinmusic week demonstrates the new instruments from Yamaha here:

Sign up for Believe In Music week now for free: https://attend.believeinmusic.tv/

NAMM 2021 (Believe in Music): Cubase 11

At NAMM's #believeinmusic week, Greg Ondo from Steinberg gave a live demonstration of Cubase 11.

He tackled live recording, post editing, enhancement tools, and more!

A Melodyne-like feature allows for audio editing within the piano roll and you can do easier compositions within a set scale. You can also utilize snapping without warp markers and you can embed tempo changes within the audio.

Loopmash is similar go Gross Beat and allows for live manipulation of a loop.

Softwaqre-based drum machine - Groove Agent SE5 allows for:

• Integrated in the piano roll
  
• Randomization
• Drop in your own patterns
• Precise envelope adjustments for filtering, volume, and more
• Capture rhythms by midi recording
• All settings in Groove Agent can be exported into Cubase's main editors
  

In post editing from a live recording, easily fix drum recordings by quantifying each beat individually.

VST Amp Rack brings some more virtual guitar amps.

Adjust EQ, see the notes live, and view the channel effects simultaneously without substantiating a plugin. Easily change signal flow order. 

An easy Q Mix can be saved: Every musician can have their own independent mix while they're tracking.

Collaboration: 

VST Connect SE: record someone directly into your system in real-time and watch them as well after they download the program. Free version = 2 tracks.

Scoring: 

Expression Maps are available for big orchestral libraries. Edit in the piano roll the expressions ie. legato to pizzicato instead of just midi information.

REVerance convolution reverb will really put your sound in place.

When editing for a video, the video player stays in sync as position marker of notes are chosen. 

Easily drop different segments from other projects in your current project. 

Watch the full demonstration here: