On April 7th 2013 Avid, the industry leader in digital recording software, announced the release of Pro Tools 11. The big news is that Avid has completely rebuilt it's audio engine from scratch. The new design features a 64-bit architecture, which Avid say will allow Pro Tools 11 to deliver many times the processing power of Pro Tools 10, and with more memory head room, the ability to run many more plug-ins.
Another new feature is "offline bounce," which will allow users to create final mixes with blazing speed. Instead of bouncing to disk (mixing down) in real time, "offline bounce," can deliver your mixes up to 150 times faster.
The new upgrade will feature expanded metering capabilities that offer everything from peak and average to VU and PPM which will help maintain adherence to broadcast standards.
Plus, Avid's built in video engine will allow users to work directly with HD video so that there's no need for timeline transcoding or to leave the interface for any reason.
As soon as it hits the stores, Pro Tools 10 users can upgrade to Pro Tools 11 for $299, while Pro Tools HD 10 users can upgrade to Pro Tools 11 for $599. If you're running Pro Tools 9, you can upgrade to Pro Tools 11 for $399 while Pro tools 9 HD users can upgrade to Pro Tools 11 for $999. Pro Tools Express users can get the Pro Tools 11 cross grade for $499 and the Pro Tools 11 full version will sell for $699. What ever version of Pro Tools that you are using there's sure to be an offering that fits both your software needs as well as your budget.
I've been using Pro Tools for several years now and in my opinion, Pro Tools 11 is clearly a break through in digital recording technology. It's easy to see why Avid's Pro Tools continues to be the industry leader.
Thursday, April 25, 2013
Thursday, April 18, 2013
Good News
I try to keep this blog as much about music as I possibly can, but last week there was a bit of good news about the announced end of Saturday mail delivery. It seems that Congress has stepped in to put the kibosh on said plans. The Postal Service had planned to cut Saturday mail delivery at the end of August 2013, in an effort to reduce cost and become more efficient.
However, Congress passed a law in 1987 requiring that mail be delivered six days a week. It did so again several weeks ago when it passed a stop gap budget measure, raising the issue of the legality of the Postal Service's decision. The Postal Service Board of Governors stated last week, however, that they would extend six day mail delivery while they wait for Congress to come up with an alternative or grant them permission to make the change.
The Postal Service had stated that they were only going stop delivering first class mail, while they they continued to deliver packages and express mail. This would have had an impact on rural communities and the elderly as well. It's just my opinion, but I'm sure that there are many others who also breathed a collective sigh of relief.
While it's true that advances in computer technology, such as smartphones and tablet PCs, have made things like email and online bill paying speedier and convenient for some, there is still a large portion of the population that has yet to adopt the trend, and have yet to become, "wired." For those individuals, an extra day of mail delivery could in effect be like a life line.
Having lost a reported 15.9 billion dollars last year, this is clearly a cost cutting measure. But, surely there must be some other way, as there doesn't appear to be any problem getting the mail to it's designated recipients every Saturday. The stop gap budget measure passed several weeks ago ensures that six day mail service will continue, at least until the end of the fiscal year which is September 30th. That should be enough time to come up with at least a temporary fix. Of course, the hope is that a solution will be arrived at, so that we can all continue to receive the kind of good news that we got last week, for some time into the future.
However, Congress passed a law in 1987 requiring that mail be delivered six days a week. It did so again several weeks ago when it passed a stop gap budget measure, raising the issue of the legality of the Postal Service's decision. The Postal Service Board of Governors stated last week, however, that they would extend six day mail delivery while they wait for Congress to come up with an alternative or grant them permission to make the change.
The Postal Service had stated that they were only going stop delivering first class mail, while they they continued to deliver packages and express mail. This would have had an impact on rural communities and the elderly as well. It's just my opinion, but I'm sure that there are many others who also breathed a collective sigh of relief.
While it's true that advances in computer technology, such as smartphones and tablet PCs, have made things like email and online bill paying speedier and convenient for some, there is still a large portion of the population that has yet to adopt the trend, and have yet to become, "wired." For those individuals, an extra day of mail delivery could in effect be like a life line.
Having lost a reported 15.9 billion dollars last year, this is clearly a cost cutting measure. But, surely there must be some other way, as there doesn't appear to be any problem getting the mail to it's designated recipients every Saturday. The stop gap budget measure passed several weeks ago ensures that six day mail service will continue, at least until the end of the fiscal year which is September 30th. That should be enough time to come up with at least a temporary fix. Of course, the hope is that a solution will be arrived at, so that we can all continue to receive the kind of good news that we got last week, for some time into the future.
Thursday, April 11, 2013
C'est La Vie
In January of this year, Britain's leading music retailer, HMV went into bankruptcy. After being in business since 1902, the company had succumbed to tough economic times and the growth of the digital economy.
HMV, which stands for "His Master's Voice," and was best known of the image of the little dog, "Nipper," sitting next to a gramophone, had employed a staff of 4,123 in 223 stores in Britain, Ireland, Singapore and Hong Kong. At one point it had several outlets in the US that opened in the 1980's but the last of those closed in the early 2000s.
Hilco Consumer Capital has come forward to buy HMV's outstanding debt, which had reached a high of $279 million back in October of 2012. Hilco has agreed to pay $190 million to purchase that debt. In so doing, Hilco will save as many as 2,643 jobs, as 141 stores will remain open.
This was not the case for Tower Records here in the US, as the chain shut it's doors in 2006, after losing it's footing to Walmart, Kmart, and Best Buy, not mention, iTunes, Rhapsody, and Amazon. Tower failed to move forward into to the digital domain, and as a brick and mortar only platform with CDs selling for 17.99, sooner or later, something had to give.
In February of this year, it was reported that global music sales had risen 0.3 percent in 2012. That increase is the first since 1999, however, actual CD sales continued to decline as digital downloads gained more of the market share.
Perhaps, we are on the eve of a paradigm shift. Or, maybe not. Certainly, this has to be a transition in the making. While CDs have a greater sound quality than a digital download, at least at this stage, it appears that the digital delivery system is coming into it's own. Even still, just as vinyl faded, it seems that we are on are way toward the next big thing. The most that can be hoped for, is that the music will survive, as well as those who make, distribute, and sell it. Through it all, the only constant will be change.
HMV, which stands for "His Master's Voice," and was best known of the image of the little dog, "Nipper," sitting next to a gramophone, had employed a staff of 4,123 in 223 stores in Britain, Ireland, Singapore and Hong Kong. At one point it had several outlets in the US that opened in the 1980's but the last of those closed in the early 2000s.
Hilco Consumer Capital has come forward to buy HMV's outstanding debt, which had reached a high of $279 million back in October of 2012. Hilco has agreed to pay $190 million to purchase that debt. In so doing, Hilco will save as many as 2,643 jobs, as 141 stores will remain open.
This was not the case for Tower Records here in the US, as the chain shut it's doors in 2006, after losing it's footing to Walmart, Kmart, and Best Buy, not mention, iTunes, Rhapsody, and Amazon. Tower failed to move forward into to the digital domain, and as a brick and mortar only platform with CDs selling for 17.99, sooner or later, something had to give.
In February of this year, it was reported that global music sales had risen 0.3 percent in 2012. That increase is the first since 1999, however, actual CD sales continued to decline as digital downloads gained more of the market share.
Perhaps, we are on the eve of a paradigm shift. Or, maybe not. Certainly, this has to be a transition in the making. While CDs have a greater sound quality than a digital download, at least at this stage, it appears that the digital delivery system is coming into it's own. Even still, just as vinyl faded, it seems that we are on are way toward the next big thing. The most that can be hoped for, is that the music will survive, as well as those who make, distribute, and sell it. Through it all, the only constant will be change.
Thursday, April 4, 2013
Seriously?
Recently, a judge ruled that the online resale company Redigi was in violation of copyright law. The company established in 2011 was operating under the premise that it would buy used digital downloads and resell them. Capitol Records took the company to court and won a judgement against Redigi for infringement.
According to Redigi, the software used to upload a users used digital file did not result in a copy being made, and that it deleted the old file once the upload proved successful. This turned out not to be the case. Uploaded files were being copied to Redigi's servers and not deleted on the users computer. Redigi stated that this was a flaw in the first version of their software. They claimed that the problem had been solved in version 2.0 and that it, in effect acted like a transporter, ala, "Star Trek."
This judgement brings the digital resale business to a standstill. The only way that digital re-sellers could move forward at this point is by either getting permission from the copyright holder or acquiring a license.
While the idea of a used mp3 might appear as a welcome alternative to the purchase of a new one, since both files would be identical there would actually be no such thing. The only thing that would change is who possesses the file. If both Redigi and the first owner both retain a copy, then this would amount to nothing more than file sharing, with the exception that the seller and Redigi would be making money without any consideration for those who made, packaged and originally distributed the file.
If this sounds like I'm not in favor of digital resale it's because, in my opinion it sounds like an open door for a good dose of piracy. And, it appears that Capital Records just stepped in and brought a halt to things before the legal waters became too murky. As an independent, it's not often that I would side with a major company, but digital resale without permission could ultimately affect everyone who produces and distributes music in the digital market place.
I think that this is the same argument that music makers have been presenting since the days of Napster. But, that's just my opinion. I could be wrong.
According to Redigi, the software used to upload a users used digital file did not result in a copy being made, and that it deleted the old file once the upload proved successful. This turned out not to be the case. Uploaded files were being copied to Redigi's servers and not deleted on the users computer. Redigi stated that this was a flaw in the first version of their software. They claimed that the problem had been solved in version 2.0 and that it, in effect acted like a transporter, ala, "Star Trek."
This judgement brings the digital resale business to a standstill. The only way that digital re-sellers could move forward at this point is by either getting permission from the copyright holder or acquiring a license.
While the idea of a used mp3 might appear as a welcome alternative to the purchase of a new one, since both files would be identical there would actually be no such thing. The only thing that would change is who possesses the file. If both Redigi and the first owner both retain a copy, then this would amount to nothing more than file sharing, with the exception that the seller and Redigi would be making money without any consideration for those who made, packaged and originally distributed the file.
If this sounds like I'm not in favor of digital resale it's because, in my opinion it sounds like an open door for a good dose of piracy. And, it appears that Capital Records just stepped in and brought a halt to things before the legal waters became too murky. As an independent, it's not often that I would side with a major company, but digital resale without permission could ultimately affect everyone who produces and distributes music in the digital market place.
I think that this is the same argument that music makers have been presenting since the days of Napster. But, that's just my opinion. I could be wrong.
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