IAR News Feed

DIY Seminar: Starting an Independent Label

Tue, 02 Feb 2010 15:47:00 GMT

Over 25 years ago, Alan Cohen formed his own independent label, ACM Records. Working together with his wife and partner, Eve Adams, it has since become a staple in the industry, featuring some of the world's best Indie Artists with music in almost all genres. In December, 2009, Mr. Cohen spoke with IAR students about what it takes to start and maintain an independent label in a digital age. In an interactive forum, Alan engaged his audience by asking what they knew about independent labels. He stated that unlike many years ago, artists are now either releasing their own records or starting their own labels. He continued by providing a brief history of record labels, focusing on the four major music groups: Sony, Warner Music Group (WMG), Universal, and EMI. These groups are the main distributors for many major and Indie labels. Mr. Cohen discussed what a label seeks to accomplish to deliver a successful product, touching on publishing, trademarks, and 360 Deals. Since labels are not making as much money just selling records, CDs or downloads, they developed what is called a “360 Deal”. that, Alan explained, is a new arrangement where the label gets a percent of everything the artist does, i.e. publishing, clothing line, perfume, acting. There are some Pros and Cons for the artist. Pros: with the right backing from the label, more opportunities can be developed that the artist would not normally be exposed to. Cons: the label has too much interest in the artist, and the artist is locked into the label on everything he does. “Currently at WMG, approximately 50% of their artists are signed to 360 Deals”, Alan added He went on to go into detail about label structure, involving functional areas such as A&R, Marketing, Promotion, Website design, and several others, and stressing the importance of staying active in public forums such as MySpace and Facebook. “You must stay current with the music trends and be versatile and flexible to stay in business. You must be able to adapt and change your business structure every 6 months to a year as the industry changes.” Alan emphasized that by eliminating the enormous marketing and manufacturing costs that traditional major labels faced, the digital age allows anyone to start his or her own label. His advice: “Spend as little as possible to get the most you can. Money makes money but overspending can put you out of business very fast.” Mr. Cohen’s prominent position in the music industry is a major achievement in a business dominated by the major labels. At times, he received little or no credit for the music he wrote for others, hoping it would benefit him someday. As he stated, “Sometimes you’ve got to give up something to get somewhere.” Alan’s efforts have indeed paid off over time, as he has managed to build his label working with some of the top names in the industry: CBS/Paramount, Miramax, Roc-A-Fella, MTV, E! Entertainment, the NBA, NFL, Verizon, and many others. Alan still enjoys his first love, music, and has played guitar for over 2 dozen Broadway shows and Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame’s Bo Diddley, to name a few. His motto is “Don’t forget why you got into music in the first place”.

IAR Launches School Scholarships

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 13:03:00 GMT

IAR launches School Scholarships and Extended Payment Plans:
Find out NOW if you qualify for either of these new programs!
IAR has now launched an annual scholarship program for present and future students, ranging from $250 up to $7,000. Also, qualified applicants can arrange payment plans that will extend beyond graduation date. Scholarships are need-based and are awarded on a number of criteria. For full details on the requirements of this program, future students should contact their admissions officer and present students can stop in student services. Applications can be submitted immediately.

Important aspects of IAR’s Scholarship Program are:
• Partial scholarships available, ranging from $250 up to $7,000
• No credit rating or lengthy application process
• There is no application fee
• Scholarships are need-based with certain requirements for eligibility
• An essay is required
• This is an annual scholarship pool
• Recipients must meet academic progress standards while attending IAR
• Application deadlines apply for each future starting class

Interested in a Scholarship? Future students: contact your Admissions Officer. Present Students: see student services.

IK Mulitmedia T-RackS Master Class

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 11:39:00 GMT

Over the past year, the Institute of Audio Research and IK Multimedia have partnered together to bring students and guests a series of seminars. IK is an industry leader in music software, with reasonably priced products. The educational seminars at IAR have introduced some of these products, such as the AmpliTube Fender, T-RackS, SampleTank 2, and the StealthPedal. On September 16th, IAR and IK hosted a T-RackS Master Class with Production from SampleTank, the fourth of the series. T-Racks is a modular mastering and mixing application; SampleTank2 is a professional, sample bank with over 2,000 sounds licensees can use. IK Product Specialist Tony Grund demonstrated to students that the T-RackS 3 Deluxe would be a valuable addition to any DAW for mixing and mastering. Tony introduced the T-RackS 3 Deluxe suite, comprised of 9 total processors, 5 new effects (including the vintage tube 670 Compressor/Limiter based on the famous Fairchild 670), and 4 classic award-winning T-RackS processors. Tony showed the efficiency of the T-RackS suite and how its new configurable mixing chain allows for minimal CPU power. He suggested that the students start with the effects presets and tweak them to achieve the sound they want. He demonstrated the full production of a song from scratch with SampleTank 2 XL and the T-RackS 3 suite. Tony illustrated the full control of the synth engine with the new editable knobs. He stated, “What’s cool about SampleTank is that it works in different DAWs like Live, ProTools, Logic, etc.” The seminar was concluded with a round of questions and answers. All the students and guests were given a free demo of T-RackS 3 and additional discounts for the full and crossgrade versions of the software demonstrated.

2009 Fall AFP Awards

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 11:32:00 GMT

The Audio for Picture (“AFP”) Awards started more than 5 years ago as a way for IAR students to showcase the skills they learn in the audio post-production class. Students start with just a video clip and a “blank canvas” for sound design. Every aspect of audio, such as dialog, sound FX, and music, is synced with the video to create the final product. The students then submit their projects to be judged and critiqued by a panel of teachers and industry professionals. On Wednesday September 16th, IAR held its Fall 2009 AFP event. Students from the November 2008 morning and afternoon classes submitted a total of 27 entries. Student participants, family and friends all enjoyed pizza and refreshments as the crowd viewed their work . Guest judge Wendell Hanes was also in attendance and gave the top three winners comments on their projects. Wendell is the author of “The 30-30 Career: Making 30 Grand in 30 Seconds!” and has scored for numerous television spots. IAR would like to thank everyone who submitted and participated.

The Fall 2009 AFP Winners are:
1st Place: James Catapano – “9” Trailer
2nd Place: Graig Janssen – “Sponge Bob: Karate Choppers”
3rd Place: Awa Diouf – “Planet 51” Trailer

IK Multimedia 07.29.2009

Tue, 18 Aug 2009 11:00:00 GMT

In an ongoing partnership between IK Multimedia and the Institute of Audio Research, the third seminar in a series was held on July 29th at IAR. IK Multimedia is a music software company known for the production of cutting-edge products, which run the gamut from consumer to professional award winning music software. Students and guests joined Tony Grund from IK for the “Guitar Recording Master Class.” Tony, accompanied by guitarist Adrian Romero, showed students how to get the absolute most out of their DAW using “Powered by AmpliTube” plug-ins such as AmpliTube 2, AmpliTube Fender, AmpliTube Jimi Hendrix, AmpliTube Metal, and Ampeg SVX. Tony introduced the IK products AmpliTube X-Gear and StealthPedal to the students. AmpliTube X-Gear is the first fully modular, customizable and expandable amp and FX modeling system. Tony demonstrated how it allowed for easy mixing and matching of all the “Powered by AmliTube” products. The second product demonstrated was the StealthPedal, which is the first USB powered guitar audio interface/software controller in a compact wah-style pedal. The guitarist, Adrian, demonstrated that the pedal is not limited to the amp-simulator software, and Tony went on to explain how he uses the StealthPedal as a MIDI controller while playing the keyboard during live shows. Students were intrigued when the duo demonstrated how concepts they are learning in the analog world were carried out in this digital software. Tony showed how the overtone structure changed like a real amp and compared the presets, containing different microphones and amplifiers, to obtain each particular guitar sound. In the end the students were entered in a raffle for a chance to win great prize packages that include StompIO, AmpliTube Fender downloads, StealthPedals, and more. Additional discounts were offered for the full and crossgrade versions of the hardware and software demonstrated.

IAR’s Summer 2009 AFP Awards

Fri, 17 Jul 2009 09:34:00 GMT

On Tuesday, July 14th, IAR hosted its 2009 Summer Audio for Picture (AFP) Awards Festival. In the fourth quarter of IAR’s program, students take an audio post-production course, one of the school’s most popular subjects and a growing industry filled with lots of job opportunities. They learn to synchronize audio to video. In the course, they then define and produce their own post-production projects from start to finish, and can submit them for recognition at IAR’s AFP Awards Festival.

Students choose any video piece they wish and then they delete all audio content. Using the techniques they have learned at IAR and in the post-production course, students recreate every aspect of audio including dialog, sound FX, sound design, and musical composition. IAR invited Wendell Hanes as one judge for AFP. He has scored over 600 commercials, themes, and promotional spots for television, and has authored the post-production book, “The 30-30 Career: Making 30 Grand in 30 Seconds!” Wendell critiqued every student project and shared his comments and advice with the audience, which included students, family and friends. “Sound design is all about the contrast between highs and lows,” he said. “The sound is intense during explosions and car crashes, but immediately low when switching to dialog. Use volume and reverb. Think about the environment the video is showing and build sounds that match. “Sometimes there will be audio that you do not see on screen. During the fight scene in the movie Gladiator, as the intensity of the fight builds, you have to intensify the sounds of the crowd, tigers, and background music.” This AFP’s projects included Fast and Furious, Wall-E, 300, Gladiator, War, Nine, Drop Dead Fred, Kung Fu Panda and many more.

Thank you to every one who submitted! The Summer 2009 AFP Winners are:

1st Place Bing Jee Ng – ‘Animatrix’
2nd Place Dolo and Jay Hendershot – ‘Up’
3rd Place Saul Ruiz Rodriguez and Max Rudd – ‘Tron’
Runner Up Manny Diaz – ‘Man On Fire’

Next Level 8 Competition

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 10:46:00 GMT

On Wednesday, June 10th IARecords hosted its eighth Next Level Competition. The Next Level is a production held twice a year for current IAR students. Student-artists submit original music to IAR staff. The top submissions are chosen to then compete live on stage at Arlene’s Grocery, a club in the East Village. IAR student-artists had the opportunity to showcase their talent and diversity in front of an overflow crowd of students, faculty, staff, family and friends. The event has grown in popularity since it’s inception in 2005. Next Level 8 had 13 acts performing, more than ever before, and, for the first time, a headlining act, Hybrid, composed of students, alumni and faculty members, Steve Eigner and Jonathan Appel. The show was also recorded live and will be released as a live album in the coming weeks. The winner of the competition, decided by audience voting, was J. Vill, who received a $1,000 gift card to Guitar Center.

The Next Level performers were:

Chanese Elife, song ‘Your Peace’, myspace.com/chaneseelife

Freekstile, song ‘Flag Island’, myspace.com/freekstiletheepikk

Ma-or featuring Trigga, song ‘No More Rain’, maor.biz

PANA!, song ‘Hijos De La Calle’, myspace.com/panamusik

The Goodfellas, song ‘On My GF Bull S**t’, myspace.com/nygoodfellas

J. Vill, song ‘Life I Live’, myspace.com/ispyjvill

Signif, song ‘Flaws’, signifthegift.com

Once Off featuring Aziz, song ‘Comin’ Around’

J. Vic featuring Rhyse, song ‘Your Da 1’, myspace.com/orfacevic

Flames-Flow featuring Princess Menen, song ‘2000 and Mine’, myspace.com/flamesflow

The Crazy Rhythm Orchestra, song ‘Soles de Coral’, myspace.com/danicorreau

Juanito Perez, song ‘Soft Porn’, juanitoperez.com

Infamus Da Emcee, song ‘Who’s Laughing Now?’, myspace.com/rgs718

Aziz featuring Patrick Lee, song ‘Pressure’, myspace.com/jerseybump

How to Produce Your Tracks

Mon, 01 Jun 2009 10:07:00 GMT

On Wednesday, May 13th, IAR hosted an event designed to showcase 4th quarter students and their production skills. Selected student-mentors in their 4th quarter worked together to create and run an event for their peers. The event began with an introduction by each mentor and a candid Q&A about IAR’s program. The 4th quarter mentors provided insight and guidance to students in their 1st and 2nd quarters about what to expect and how to best use their knowledge. The mentors then demonstrated the step-by-step process of producing a track with ProTools and Reason. The demo started by creating a beat in Reason and then layering additional sounds and effects. Next they played the beat and student-mentors recorded tracks for bass, guitar, and keyboard in ProTools. Wes, a student-mentor who acted as main producer for the event, controlled the session and created loops, fades, and synched up audio segments, explaining every step of his mix.

Faculty members Mario Salvati and Steve Eigner injected comments about their studio experiences; Mario observed: “Recording a segment of audio and then cutting and pasting it throughout the complete track is a technique used in much of today’s production work. But to get more texture and feeling in the music, it’s best to have the artists record the entire song from beginning to end. The small differences and changes make the song that much better.” Finally, members of the audience added their own freestyle vocals to the track. While Wes created the final mix, students networked with one another and exchanged engineering ideas. In just 45 minutes, the student-mentors successfully used what they were learning at IAR to record and produce a finished track.

DIY: Music Theory 2009

Mon, 01 Jun 2009 10:05:00 GMT

Just as science and mathematics have historical backgrounds and paths of evolution and discovery, so too does music. Understanding the building blocks of music is essential for any musical artist. It can also be a huge advantage for an engineer or producer. What is the ‘hook’? Where should it occur in a song? How do you transition to and from a verse? The answers can make the difference between a song becoming a hit or a flop. Audio engineers and producers communicate directly with artists to create their music. If an engineer can understand where the musician is trying to take his or her music, the engineer can steer a session towards acoustic perfection. Music theory applies to every facet of music including how it is perceived, scales, song structure, rhythm, harmony, melody, chords, and much more.

IAR instructor Justin Balch conducted this DIY for students and guests. Justin is an audio engineer specializing in remote recording and mixing of jazz and western classical music. He has recorded, mixed and/or edited many artists including Herbie Hancock, Chuck D, and DMC and currently does freelance recording and mixing at La Sala Studios in the East Village. Justin began with a brief history of music and defined common terms such as pitch, notes, chords, and key signatures. He played different notes, scales, and chords on a keyboard to demonstrate how emotions and feelings are created through different variations. Students engaged in a clapping exercise to hear the difference between whole notes, half notes, quarter notes, eighth notes, and sixteenth notes. A variety of handouts were distributed to reference during the seminar but also to take and apply to work at home. The two hour demo provided the basics but only brushed the surface of a deep topic.

2009 Spring AFP Awards

Tue, 28 Apr 2009 09:19:00 GMT

On Tuesday, April 7th, IAR hosted its 2009 Spring Audio for Picture (AFP) Awards Festival. In the fourth quarter of IAR’s program, students take a post production course. The course introduces students to the production of an audio soundtrack synchronized to video. Using the tools they learn in the classroom, students complete their own post production projects and can submit them to be judged in the AFP Awards Festival. Students can choose any video segment they wish from which they delete all audio content. Then using the techniques they have learned at IAR and in the post production course, students recreate every aspect of soundtrack including dialog, sound FX, sound design, and music score. Faculty member Lyell Loyd is a Senior Staff Engineer at WABC-TV and the A1 show mixer (senior audio engineer) for “Live! with Regis and Kelly”. He brings his professional experiences into the classroom as he teaches the post production course. He remarks about this season’s projects, “There was more animation this time and they are impressive pieces. On the first day of class I tell them to start thinking about what they want to work on for their final project.” The diversity in tastes, styles, and projects was represented by selections that included Terminator, the animated film Warriors of the Wind, The Soloist, and Dawn of War. Thank you to every one who submitted! The Spring 2009 AFP Winners are:

Best Overall Project, Luis Santovena, “War Hammer”
Best Music Editing, Brittany Keen, “2046”
Best Automated Dialog Replacement, George Flayer, “Sharktale”
Best Sound Editing, Javier Flores & Rafael Morales Jr., “Transformers”
Best Original Score, J.P. Palmerio & Dayva Segal, “City of Lost Children”