L.A. Hip-Hop: The Sound That Defined The West Coast (4 p.m.) Brought to you by iStandard, this panel explores the world of L.A. hip-hop, from the beginning to the heyday of gangsta rap to the current West Coast sound. The discussion will cover signature L.A. production techniques, people who made their mark on the scene, who's hot right now and who's next. Panelists: Thayod Ausar, Daddy Kev, DJ Khalil, Bishop Lamont, Soul Nana, Scetch, Sir Jinx Moderator: Don Di Napoli
Remixing Visuals (6 p.m.) If you can remix sound, can you remix pictures, too? Hear from two of the world's premier remix VJs and their guests as they talk about how they got started, what it takes to make video work and their experiences worldwide on the road with Beck, at the Winter Olympics and more. Panelists: Grant Davis (aka VJ Culture), Xarene Eskander, Robb Pope Moderator: Cynthia Wisehart
In Session With Danja (8 p.m.) Grammy Award–winning producer Danja discusses the making of DJ Khaled's recent hit track "We Takin' Over." In addition to covering the writing and creative processes, the conversation will include recording and mixing techniques and real session files. Audience questions encouraged! Moderator: Markkus Rovito
FRIDAY, DEC. 5
A&R: New Era, New Challenges (4 p.m.) Brought to you by iStandard, this panel will outline the job responsibilities of an A&R position, from daily operation to talent selection to individual accountability within the label structure. The panel will also weigh the validity of indie approaches vs. the traditional major label, as well as cover how promotion, distribution and demographic positioning apply to each model. Panelists: Raj Jadeja, Zach Katz, Brandon Kitchen, Alonzo "Focus 1" Robinson, Rick Ross, Jay Sloan Moderator: J Hatch
Building a Successful Production Company (6 p.m.) Many production companies are born out of fortune and luck—but that's not how they last. Listen to artist/entrepreneurs share knowledge about how to work with partners and customers; outfit a smart, future-proof studio; market your unique talents; find profitable work; and keep it coming. Panelists: John Barlow, Marcus Castro, Lenny Mesina, Rick Souza, Ondi Timoner Moderator: Cynthia Wisehart
Taste vs. Technique (8 p.m.) Artists, producers and session players face off about musicianship versus musical feel: Does a lack of music-theory knowledge and formal training hinder the quality of today's music, and conversely, can overadherence to compositional rules hamper inspiration and creativity? The creative debate ensues as each side defends the validity of its approach. Panelists: Ken Andrews, The Angel, Squeak E. Clean, Sid Roams (Joey Chavez & Uno Bravo), Evan Taubenfeld Moderator: Markkus Rovito
SATURDAY, DEC. 6
U Inc.—Career Strategies for a New Economy (4 p.m.) Everyone wants to make millions with No. 1 hits—and some producers and engineers do—but for the vast majority, making a living working the boards is about hustling to keep a steady stream of work going. Brought to you by the Recording Academy Producers & Engineers Wing, this panel covers various working arrangements, alternate production scenarios, networking benefits and more. Panelists: Jason Bentley, Robin Nixon, Carmen Rizzo Moderator: DJ Moonbaby
Making Music Videos: Success Stories and Cautionary Tales (6 p.m.) Whether you plan to broaden your own work into video or collaborate
with others, you should know certain things—artistically, technically
and logistically. Learn about the strange alchemy among musical
artists, directors and editors. Get a primer on must-know technology,
and consider the real-life challenges of work flow, budget and
distribution. Panelists: Olivier Gajan, Darin Grant, Michael Forrest, Sherri James, Hector Sandoval Moderator: Cynthia Wisehart
The Business of Touring (8 p.m.) An integral promotional tool for any artist or band, touring has become a viable source of revenue for artists—and increasingly their sole burden—as labels and other supportive agencies continue to implode. This panel of artists, tour managers, label reps and others discusses what you need to know to take your act on the road and turn a profit. Panelists: Guns N Bombs (Johnny Love + Filip Turbotito), Thes One, more TBA Moderator: Martin Atkins
RHLA 2008 PRESENTING PARTNER AVID SCHEDULE
THURSDAY, DEC. 4
4:30 p.m. Video Editing 101: Get to Know Media Composer From music videos to feature films, expand your creative and career options with the most powerful, portable, affordable, easy-to-use video- and film-editing software ever: Media Composer 3.0.
5:30 p.m. Pro Tools & M-Audio: Overview From the Underground Get the latest from Daddy Kev, a seasoned music producer and engineer with studio credits that read like a who’s who of underground hip-hop.
6:30 p.m. Pro Tools 8: The Best Just Got Better A gorgeous new interface, dozens of new plug-ins, five new virtual instruments and lots more: The most advanced audio creation and production software on the planet is now the most powerful tool in the galaxy.
7:30 p.m. Music’s Role in Today’s Hottest TV Shows: CW’s Gossip Girl Gets in Sync Gossip Girl editor Timothy Good walks you through the role of a music supervisor—including the relationship with the editor, the innovate way artists and tracks are selected, how that works into the process of an episode and how pacing and rhythm of the song sync with the particular scene.
FRIDAY, DEC. 5
3:30 p.m. Video Editing 101: Get to Know Media Composer From music videos to feature films, expand your creative and career options with the most powerful, portable, affordable, easy-to-use video- and film-editing software ever: Media Composer 3.0.
4:30 p.m. What It Takes to Make It to Sundance Join award-winning filmmaker Ondi Timoner (director/producer, owner of Interloper Films) on a journey through how to take a documentary shot over several years and wrestle it down to a piece that tells a moving and evolving story.
5:30 p.m. Explore the Power of Torq With TAKE Instrumental hip-hop producer TAKE leads you on a journey of musical discovery as he showcases the creative power of Torq behind the turntables.
6:30 p.m. Pro Tools 8: The Best Just Got Better A gorgeous new interface, dozens of new plug-ins, five new virtual instruments and lots more: The most advanced audio creation and production software on the planet is now the most powerful tool in the galaxy.
7:30 p.m. Metalocalypse: Creating the World’s Most Brutal Cartoon With Brendon Small Brendon Small, creator of the animated series Metalocalypse, shows how he creates the surreal world of the animated death-metal band Deathklock.
SATURDAY, DEC. 6
3:30 p.m. Video Editing 101: Get to Know Media Composer From music videos to feature films, expand your creative and career options with the most powerful, portable, affordable, easy-to-use video- and film-editing software ever: Media Composer 3.0. 4:30 p.m. Video Production Session w/Avi Youabian Film and TV editor Avi Youabian talks about his experiences editing films such as the 2007 Academy Award–winning West Bank Story and television dramas such as Cold Case and Big Shots, as well as his current role editing the CW’s new 90210. He’ll provide advice to aspiring editors on what it takes to make it in the business.
5:30 p.m. Experience the Diverse Applications of Torq Xponent With DJ Enrie Radio and club-circuit veteran DJ Enrie explores the creative power of Torq Xponent to perform live, create mix tapes and produce his weekly radio show.
6:30 p.m. Pro Tools 8: The Best Just Got Better A gorgeous new interface, dozens of new plug-ins, five new virtual instruments and lots more: The most advanced audio creation and production software on the planet is now the most powerful tool in the galaxy.
7:30 p.m. Music Creation and Composition in Pro Tools With Chris Vrenna Chris Vrenna—the iconic Grammy Award–winning producer, engineer, remixer, songwriter, programmer and founder of the electronic band Tweaker—will demonstrate how he creates music entirely inside of Pro Tools.
RHLA 2008 TECHNOLOGY PARTNER SCHEDULES
ABLETON
Thursday, Dec. 4
8–9 p.m. Music Production With Ableton Live 7 Laura Escudé will explore the linear and non-linear aspects of leading music production software Ableton Live, including editing audio and MIDI, using work-flow shortcuts and software instruments.
CAKEWALK
Thursday, Dec. 4–Saturday, Dec. 6 6:30–7:30 p.m. Side-Chaining, V-Vocal and AudioSnap in Cakewalk SONAR 8 Explore the many creative and practical uses of side-chaining in SONAR 8, such as Trance Gating, Keyed Bass Compression, Broadcast Vocal Ducking and more! Learn how to change the pitch, time and dynamics of your vocals, as well as convert audio into MIDI. And get a sneak peak at the next-generation V-Studio, the SONAR V-Studio 700!
IK MULTIMEDIA
Friday, Dec. 5
8-9 p.m. T-Racks3 Deluxe With Mastering Engineer Bobby Owsinski Learn the art of creative mixing and mastering from IK Multimedia and renowned author and producer/engineer Bobby Owsinski. Featuring sensational multitracks from Smashing Pumpkins and IK Multimedia's T-RackS 3 Deluxe Mastering Software, this hour-long session will cover the basics of mastering. In addition to discovering the feel and analog warmth T-RackS 3 Deluxe, you’ll see it used to creatively mix and master the stems/multitrack recordings from some of Smashing Pumpkins’s award-winning hits!
NATIVE INSTRUMENTS
Saturday, Dec. 6
8–9 p.m. Using Traktor Pro & Traktor Scratch Pro Join Native Instruments DJ product specialist Mohamed Espinosa (Drumcell) for a master class on Traktor Pro and Traktor Scratch Pro. Learn how to use Traktor Pro's internal effects, cue points, loop points and MIDI control to enhance your DJ sets.
PRISM SOUND
Want to hear your mix out of a Prism Sound Orpheus? Come to Remix Hotel Los Angeles Rroom 131 to hear the quality you can have. Just bring a stereo mix of your own or a favorite track in a common format, and the folks from Prism Sound will play it for you.
PROPELLERHEAD SOFTWARE
Thursday, Dec. 4–Saturday, Dec. 6 5–6 p.m. ReGroove, ReFill and ReProduce Your Reason Mixes This daily master class includes working with with the ReGroove mixer, hypersampled ReFill instruments and custom multi-effects.
RANE & SERATO
Rane and Serato will have the latest version of Scratch Live on display at RHLA. They will also be showing off the video performance of the TTM 57SL and SL-Video and welcoming the following special guests:
Friday, Dec. 5 6 p.m. DJ Shortee video set
Saturday, Dec. 6 8 p.m. DJ Babu (World Famous Beat Junkies, Dilated Peoples) set
DJ J-Rocc of the World Famous Beat Junkies: set time TBD
ROLAND
Thursday, Dec. 4 3:30–4:30 p.m. Introduction to the New Roland Fantom-G Roland clinician Dan Krisher covers an in-depth overview of Roland's most powerful keyboard workstation.
Friday, Dec. 5 3:30–4:30 p.m. Beat Making & Remix Production with the Fantom-G & MV-8800 Roland’s Mike Acosta demonstrates the power of both these machines by showing how to merge them into your computer DAW environment.
Saturday, Dec. 6 3:30–4:30 p.m. Complete Song Production with the Fantom-G Dan Krisher shows RHLA attendees the different methods of MIDI and audio production available in the Fantom-G.
