CMG Live! 6:30p-7p EST - Episode 01: 2012 Marketing


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Pro Tools 10: A Gigantic Leap?

10:16 PM Secrets of the Music Industry , Posted in , , , , , , , , 0 Comments


Avid’s website talks about the unveiling of the new Pro Tools 10. It only seems like yesterday that Pro Tools 9 was making its way into my studio. I am going to discuss the new improvements I found most impressive. Then, I will give important examples to enhance workflow. Third, I will give a few tips and tricks to utilize the enhancements most effectively. Let’s get started.

Clip Gain
This feature gives the ability for increasing/decreasing the volume of recorded audio real-time, pre-fader without using audiosuite plugins. The greatest effect Clip Gain has on the workflow is using it as a visual reference from one recorded take to the next of how each recording matches up volume wise by just looking at the waveform. The clips can be chosen all together or one by one. It should be noted that the word “clip” has replaced its predecessor referred to as “region” inside Pro Tools.

32-Bit Floating Point Resolution
Pro Tools has enhanced the digital headroom for Pro Tools 10 by utilizing 32-Bit resolution instead of 24-Bit. That allows more sorts of audio sources to be used fro other recorded projects. Also, more can be done to process the audio before you start to hear artifacts or clipping. Keep in mind the same care to gain-staging, compression, and eq should still be used.

Enhanced RAM usage
Pro Tools 10 houses more information into your RAM than ever before. You can use all of the RAM minus 3GB (MAC) or 4GB (PC) to take the stress off CPU usage. So, if you have lots of RAM, but your computer is freezing…now you have a way out! Add more RAM and take some of the strain off of your computer…and it actually works this time!

4x’s the Automatic Delay Compensation
There is now up to 16K worth of delay compensation as opposed to 2K. Have you ever used complex routing that made your tracks need more delay compensation than you could muster? If you use UAD plugins you may run into this issue. The issue is resolved with more ADC. The only setback is that even with more ADC, if you go over approximately 1K of compensation, then you will not be able to effectively play notes live. However, higher settings for ADC do function perfectly for mixing.

System 5 Console EQ, Compression, Gating Channel Strip
New free plugin has been added to comprehensively get all major tasks to a recorded audio signal done with great flexibility. No need for multiple plugins taking up crucial CPU. I do wish it had 7 bands of EQ instead of 4 main EQ points.

Reverse Reverb
This enhancement is not readily available, but the audiosuite plugins got a facelift. One enhanced feature is the ability to make the reverbs go reverse! This saves steps in re-producing amazing sounding sound effects linked to reverse reverb creation.

Do you have any questions or concerns about Pro Tools 10?

Feel free to reach out to our staff with extensive knowledge of Pro Tools both Native/HD.

Email: e.artistdevelopment@gmail.com


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Alternative Funding: The Unbeaten Path

7:59 PM Secrets of the Music Industry , Posted in , , , 0 Comments


Today I am taking a look at an alternative funding website. The site needs to answer three fundamental questions. One, what types of financing opportunities are described? Second, what are some of the requirements and qualifications to obtain the financing? Third, what other types of information are available on the site? Afterwards, I will summarize the most impressive feature found on the funding resource webpage discussed today.

http://www.microenterpriseworks.org


The website describes many things for NON-PROFIT ORGNIZATIONS through something called Catalyst Initiative. Catalyst Initiative is a network of OTHER organizations that offer services through MicroEnterpriseWorks.org. The main funding source I found was through a Catalyst Initiative partner company called the Nonprofit Finance Fund. They offer help through loans to non-profit organizations.

The requirements to receive financing are found on another website that offers the loans, http://nonprofitfinancefund.org

a  A 501(c)(3) organization or other entity that promotes the economic, social or cultural development of its community.
b.     Been in existence for 3 years or more (some clients such as social enterprises have shorter operating histories)
c.      Unrestricted annual operating revenue of at least $500,000
d.     An application filled out and received at a local office where you are assigned a case manager to help you

It should be noted that NFF lenders evaluate smaller nonprofit and social enterprise organizations on a case-by-case basis.

MicroEnterpriseWorks.org is a great informational page for non-profits that need to stay in the know concerning new legislation, laws, and looking to expand networking opportunities. MicroEnterpriseWorks.org is tailored like a word press blog with many different articles focused on things that concern non-profits specifically. Furthermore, there are links to help entrepreneurs find mentors within the non-profit community. In addition, there is a big push on the site to better the community through “going green”.

Overall, this is a wonderful website for non-profit organizations looking to become more savvy in the legislative and legal side of fundraising. Loans are the main vehicle offered through partnership companies. Subsequently, there are great networking opportunities with other non-profit mentors to help you succeed.

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Down to Business Part 2: Make It Your Own

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Business Plan Expert #1: David Lee of SV Angel

What I learned from expert David Lee:

What I learned most from reading David Lee’s thoughts on what investors find important is that flowery language and great descriptive terms are more detrimental than helpful. Accredited investors, venture capitalists, angel investors, and all other types of lenders don’t care how well you put words together. (Phung, 2011)

Implementation:

In my own business plan I strive to critique each section to make it the most concise and poignant. The goal is to build belief in your idea, not your writing style and filling in all necessary sections with thought given to all aspects of a solid business model will use up enough words as it is. (Stelzner, 2011)

However, the story that has brought the business idea forward is very important. Make it brief, relevant, and inspiring. The key is to inspire with solid foundational concepts to showcase planning and passion. (Kawasaki, 2005)

Business Plan Expert #2: Guy Kawasaki of Apple

What I learned from Guy Kawasaki:

Again, concise, impactful, meaningful statements are the only sorts that make the final cut into any credible business plan. Guy Kawasaki not only champions this sentiment, but also lives by it as he reads through his own fair share of business proposals as an investor himself.

Consequently, after my first draft is written it will be edited to assure the 20-30 page rule is abided by to assure a full read given by all propositioned investors.

In conclusion, I feel the executive summary and financial portions of any business plan are the two things that bring an investor what he or she needs to make a sound business decision. These two pieces are the most important because all other business plan parts give these sections their proof.

Sources:

Kawasaki, G. (2005). Art of the start: trusting venture capitalists. Forbes.com.
Retrieved on September 24, 2011 from http://www.forbes.com/2005/06/16/entrepreneur-venture-capital-kawasaki-cx_gk_0616artofthestart.html

Phung, H. (2011). New investors helping to drive health tech innovation.
Practicefusion.com. Retrieved on September 24, 2011 from http://www.practicefusion.com/pages/pr/emr-sector-investment-round.html

Stelzner, M. (2011). The art of enchantment: how guy Kawasaki will change your
business. Socialmediaexaminer.com. Retrieved on September 23, 2011 from http://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/the-art-of-enchantment-how-guy-kawasaki-will-change-your-business/

Down to Business: Expert Views on Business Plans

10:22 PM Secrets of the Music Industry , Posted in , , , , , , , , , , 0 Comments

Business Plan Expert #1: David Lee of SV Angel

Bio/Background

David Lee is considered an expert in business plan fundr
aising. In addition, he is a General Partner in SV Angel (venture capitalist firm) out of CA. SV Angel focuses on start up ventures that fuse technology development with entertainment. Mr. Lee’s background before joining SV Angel involves Google and StumbleUpon where he was involved with business development for both companies.

Image representing David Lee as depicted in Cr...Image via CrunchBase
What is important in a BP to investors?

David Lee believes in substance over show. The information must make an impactful statement followed by hard evidence to prove and justify that statement to investors. Substance over show is imperative because the investor must know there is a solid plan in place and not just a great idea without a path to get to the destination. Moreover, it is my opinion that the sentiment discussed above is why Mr. Lee is quoted as saying, "[t] here are a bunch of rich people and firms subsidizing tech entrepreneurs, but this time the entrepreneurs are better”, within an article by Mark Lacter for LA Observed. (Lacter, 2011)

Also, Mr. Lee feels it is important for the backstory to be told for an investor to see the heart and passion necessary for a successful venture to move forward. If, the investor doesn’t see the business owner as excited for themselves as they are for others to jump onboard, then David Lee feels you are fighting a losing battle. Furthermore in a recent article by Sarah Lacy for Tech Crunch, Lee states an opinion for younger founders doing better than older company founders based off of desire to put in the work necessary to build the business from the ground up. (Lacy, 2011)


Business Plan Expert #2: Guy Kawasaki of Apple

Bio/Background
Guy Kawasaki, American venture capitalist and ...Image via Wikipedia
Guy Kawasaki is known from Apple computers where he began work in the early 1980’s. From Apple, Mr. Kawasaki started a few businesses that developed software later to return to A
pple in 1995. Later still, he left Apple to start his own company called Garage (matchmaker for angel investors and entrepreneurs). Guy Kawasaki has a B.A. from Stanford University, M.B.A. from UCLA, and is an Honorary Doctorate from Babson College.

What is important in a BP to investors?

Mr. Kawasaki believes there are certain parts to the business plan that stand out: Executive Summary, Management Team, Business Model, and Product being his top four. Furthermore, he believes a business plan developer should spend 80% of their time on the executive summary because this piece is typically first viewed by an investor and if not impressed the investor will not read further.

Subsequently, the size of the business plan should not be more than 20-30 pages in Guy Kawasaki’s opinion. He feels the plan loses its bite and effectiveness if too much information is provided. Furthermore, each section should begin with just one page per section and only augmented if absolutely necessary. In a recent article found on Artist House Music by George Howard, Mr. Kawasaki describes the power slide pitch to investors as being “…no more than 20 minutes” with 10 or so slides to succinctly get the business model concepts across to investors. (Howard, 2007)

Sources:

Howard, G. (2007). How to create a business plan. Artisthousemusic.com.
Retrieved on Septemeber 6, 2011 from
http://www.artistshousemusic.org/articles/how+to+create+a+business+
plan                               

Lacter, M. (2011). Gold rush is back in silicon valley. LAObserved.com. Retrieved
on September 5, 2011 from

http://www.laobserved.com/biz/2011/04/gold_rush_is_back_in.php
Lacy, S. (2011). David lee and ron Conway bust entrepreneur myths on stage at
disrupt. TechCrunch.com. Retrieved on Septemeber 6, 2011 from
http://techcrunch.com/tag/david-lee/



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Music Blogs vs. Album Release Websites

10:48 PM Secrets of the Music Industry , Posted in , , , , , , , , 0 Comments


Recently, Chris Leavins for blogs.com wrote an article discussing the top ten music blogs you haven’t heard or read yet. The article seemed to focus on bands and new releases that had their own blog made completely to generate public opinion on a specific project or release. Also, Mr. Leavins describes a trend in the music industry that stays away from creating complete project websites and has gone for a more grassroots approach via blogging to garner public interest in a new music offering.

I applaud the move to blogs because it engages the people and connects them in a way that is much better than a static website. The website has become less of a necessity and the subsequent expenses can be added to the bottom line profitability of a given music release. Furthermore, the content loss with a blog versus artist release website is minimal given the variety of content that can be offered through the blog’s simple HTML coding parameters.

Furthermore, this blog will be moving towards an approach that lends itself to better public appeal. The team here has included a brief survey for catering a series of blog postings on music production tutorials. These postings are not your typical tutorials because we take for granted you as a music producer don’t need to know the same answers to things readily available online via generic You Tube posts. This series focuses more on industry secrets and the scientific principles that undergird them in a relevant studio environment.

Be sure to fill out the survey to help us zone in on what the first few postings should be geared toward in the series. Thank you all for the support and be sure to leave your own comments.

References

Leavins, C. (n.d.). Top ten music blogs you haven't heard (or read). Blogs.com. Retrieved on August 20, 2011 from http://www.blogs.com/topten/top-10-music-blogs-you-havent-heard-or-read/


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