Sought-After Player/Producer’s Recent Projects Credits Include Gnarls Barkley & Marilyn Manson
Chris Vrenna may be best known for his lengthy tenure and seminal recordings with industrial pioneers, Nine Inch Nails (with whom he won a Grammy Award in 1995 as the band’s drummer). But in the years since striking out on his own in 1997, Vrenna has become a sought-after producer, engineer, remixer, songwriter, and programmer, working with bands including Rammstein, U2, Weezer, P.O.D., David Bowie, Smashing Pumpkins, Hole, Guns ‘N’ Roses, Gnarls Barkley, Marilyn Manson, Rob Zombie, Green Day, Live, Adema, the Wallflowers, and with his own electronic outfit, Tweaker. As a composer, he’s scored music for popular video games including Area 51, Doom 3, Need For Speed, and Quake 4.
No matter the application or format, Vrenna says Propellerhead’s Reason figures prominently in his production process.
“I go way back with Propellerhead,” Vrenna reflects. “I used Rebirth way before Reason as I was a huge ‘mods’ collector. Now, I use Reason both in the studio and live. It’s so versatile; as a synth rack, sampler, and effects system. Reason is my main live tool, as well, and the center of my keyboard rig. It takes all the worry out of performing. I set up key-zones in the Combinator, trigger samples using NN-XT, and then build synth patches within Subtractor and Maelstrom. And switching files between songs is super fast. And for specific effects, I can route one sample or a whole synth to distortion, delay, reverb, etc. It would have taken racks of gear to do what I can do within Reason.”
While Vrenna has not completely replaced his hardware tools with virtual sythns and sequencers, he does admit that there is an immediacy and ease of use that only software can provide. “I still love hardware, but software like Reason sounds so good, and at the same time, is much easier to work with. I work on so many projects at once, that bouncing between songs is easy. And, it’s much faster to create with the GUI that Propellerhead developed.”
Some of his other ‘must-have’ Reason features run the gamut from sound to simplicity. “There’s too many to list, but the sounds, the effects, and the ease in which I can program, would be at the top of the list. The NN-XT is an awesome sampler, too. I can do so much in just one piece of software.”
Making use of Reason’s sound banks, Vrenna says he owns almost every ReFill available, his favorite of late being, “Abbey Road Keyboard”. So what’s in his current Reason Rack? “I like to build a rack from scratch for every song or project I do. It keeps me fresh.”
About Propellerhead Software
Propellerhead Software is a privately owned company based in Stockholm, Sweden. Formed in 1994, Propellerhead has created some of the most innovative new music software (ReBirth, ReCycle and Reason) and technology standards, including ReWire and the REX file format, which are used extensively in all kinds of music production. Propellerhead ReBirth program was the first virtual emulation of vintage analog gear—a trend that now dominates music software. www.propellerheads.se
Media education institution taps famed music producer to lecture in six-month music production series. Hosted in SAE Institute - Atlanta, the series will be streamed to SAE campuses worldwide.
Atlanta, GA — December 11, 2008 — SAE Institute continues its establishment of ongoing industry partnerships by announcing its newest with Grammy-winning producer, Bryan-Michael Cox. SAE working side-by-side with Cox, have developed a six-month workshop series in which Cox will serve as the primary guest lecturer during the Spring 2009 Semester.. The Bryan-Michael Cox production workshop series will guide students through a professional producer’s journey from the beginning stages of developing a music track to selecting the right publishing deal and management. more
University’s Renovated Recording Studio Reopening December 2008
TOWSON, MARYLAND, DECEMBER 16, 2008—The Recording Studio of the Towson University Department of Music (RSTUDM) has turned to Aviom for assistance in educating the next generation of music professionals. The RSTUDM is a newly constructed facility that was just completed as part of the renovation and expansion of the Towson University Center for the Arts. The Aviom gear in the RSTUDM will be used to teach students the fundamentals of recording, along with the importance of working both quickly and efficiently when dealing with professional recording artists. more
Audio/Video Entrepreneur Studying “Producing Music with Logic”
Pictured in his project studio while online at Berkleemusic.com is music and video producer KamranV. Photo by David Goggin.
Music and video producer KamranV has enrolled for Berkleemusic.com’s new online course: “Producing Music with Logic.” He is currently president of Spaceland Recordings, the premiere on-demand, globally distributed, live audio and video recording record label. Berkleemusic.com is the online continuing education division of Boston’s renowned Berklee College of Music. Their winter online term begins January 12.
“I’m really looking forward to getting into Logic online,” says KamranV. “With my crazy schedule there is no way I could study otherwise. The great thing about Logic is that it is compatible with all my gear and it’s exactly what I need to work efficiently with my camera crew, editors and mixers. After filming and recording at the Spaceland nightclub, we are able to turn around High-Definition concert documentaries and multi-tracked-then-mixed full length records in as little as one week.”
Apple’s Logic Pro is one of the most powerful music production platforms available. Berkleemusic has created a brand-new course to help students of all levels of ability to better navigate this complex program and learn the best of Berklee’s production techniques. “Producing Music With Logic” students learn the elements of production design, such as creative considerations in composition and song form, and the arrangement tools in Logic that allow the building and shaping of a song.
KamranV, a graduate of the University of Southern California’s prestigious Music Industry program, has become one of today’s most innovative music and video producers. After graduation, he established the standard for research-driven artist marketing and web video streaming at Interscope Geffen A&M and later co-founded Universal Music’s mobile division. KamranV blazed new trails for advanced technology business development incorporating mobile phones, Video-on-Demand, and high-definition audio formats such as DVD-Audio and Dual-Disc. He has served as producer of many DVD-Audio releases, including albums from Sting, Snow Patrol, Keane, Nine Inch Nails, and Beck. KamranV currently serves on the Producers & Engineers Wing of the Recording Academy’s L.A. Chapter Committee. He is an executive strategist for multinational clients and recently co-created the Campus Music Festival.
KamranV’s project studio includes: Apple MacBook Pro with Logic Studio Software, Gibson Custom SG Special VOS Electric Guitar, Mackie 1200F Premium Studio Recording Preamp w/ 192kHz FireWire I/O, Audio-Technica ATH-M50 Monitor Headphones, Micromoog Synthesizer, M-Audio Axiom 49 - Advanced 49-Key Semi-Weighted USB MIDI Controller, Canon VIXIA HF100 High Definition Camcorder w/ Transcend SDHC Flash Memory, Seagate FreeAgent Pro Hard Drive, and On-Stage Pro Heavy-Duty Double-X ERGO-LOK Keyboard Stands.
“I feel like I’ve got this supercharged sportscar and now I can get my driver’s license!” he remarks.
Berkleemusic.com is the continuing education division of Berklee College of Music, delivering online access to Berklee’s acclaimed curriculum from anywhere in the world. Berkleemusic’s award-winning online courses and certificate programs are accredited and taught by the college’s world-renowned faculty, providing lifelong learning opportunities to people interested in music and working in the music industry. As the business of music continues to move online, Berkleemusic is taking a leadership role in educating the next generation of producers, performers, and entrepreneurs on this evolving industry landscape. Berkleemusic’s students come from over 80 countries around the world, and include Grammy award winners, managers, artists, publishers, music business entrepreneurs and major international touring acts.
Billy Gibbons Plays Guitar on New Version of “Run Rudolph Run”
Pictured are Foo Fighters’ Dave Grohl and Motorhead’s Lemmy Kilmister with Telefunken | USA’s classic large diaphragm Ela M251 tube microphone. Photo by Wes Orshonski.
Dave Grohl of the Foo Fighters and Lemmy Kilmister of Motorhead have lent their astounding singing talents to a new recording of Chuck Berry’s “Run Rudolph Run” for this holiday season’s surprise album: We Wish You a Metal Xmas and a Headbanging New Year (Armoury/Eagle Rock).
Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top provided stunning guitar to accompany Grohl’s drumming and Kilmister’s bassmanship. The album is the brainchild of Bob Kulick, guitarist/producer, and Brett Chassen, co-producer, recording engineer and studio partner at Office Studios in Los Angeles.
“The 251 is just an amazing mic,” says Brett Chassen. “It handled all of the vocal duties for this album, and there was such a wide variety of singing styles. Lemmy could scream, Ronnie could croon. This new mic from Telefunken | USA handles anything you can throw at it with grace and class.”
Other metal luminaries lending their talents to the Xmas project include Alice Cooper, Bruce Kulick (Kiss), Ronnie James Dio, Tony Iommi (Black Sabbath), George Lynch (Dokken), Chuck Billy (Testament), Scott Ian (Anthrax), Geoff Tate (Queensryche), Stephen Pearcy (Ratt) and Tracii Guns (L.A. Guns).
Designed for Digital and Analog/Digital Transmitters
Pictured is the new Sanken COS-11D lavalier microphone.
Sanken, manufacturer of the industrywide standard in ultra-miniature lavalier microphones, has announced the new COS-11D, the latest version in the popular COS-11 lavalier series. The new design incorporates exclusive design advances which deal with digital and digital/analog hybrid wireless transmission.
The new COS-11D has been approved by Zaxcom and President Glenn Sanders remarked, “Zaxcom is excited to recommend the Sanken COS-11D for use with our TRX series of wireless digital recording transmitters. The COS-11D, with its immunity to RF interference, provides the audio quality that sound mixers have come to expect, while Zaxcom’s digital wireless technology ensures transmission quality that is equivalent to that of a hard-wired connection. Together these products will provide an integrated system that blends reliability with superior performance and quality.”
In today’s wireless transmission systems the microphone must remain unaffected by the new forms of transmitter signals. While the benefits of these new systems are obvious, they present new challenges in the area of emission protection. Sanken Microphones has designed the COS-11D specifically to reduce the instances where interference is an issue.
Jim Pace, President of Sanken distributor plus24, added, “Sanken Microphones is excited to announce this breakthrough product. Working with the latest in wireless technologies, Sanken and Zaxcom have partnered to provide another unique solution for our users.”
The new COS-11D version will be introduced in December 2008 in limited quantities. The unit will be available in the PT (pig tail) version with standard sensitivity and the Red Mark model with reduced sensitivity. To create the COS-11D, Sanken has combined extensive R&D with the world’s most advanced precision craftsmanship for the ultimate in sensitivity and natural sound.
Pictured in Studio B at Ocean Way recording studios (L-R) are music assistant Rob Simonsen, assistant engineer Patrick Spain, engineer Brad Haehnel (seated), music assistant Amritha Fernandes+Bakshi, and composer Mychael Danna. Photo by David Goggin.
Composer Mychael Danna recently booked Ocean Way Recording for the score to 2009’s “Time Traveler’s Wife.” A romantic drama about a Chicago librarian with a gene that causes him to involuntarily time travel, and the complications it creates for his marriage, the film stars Eric Bana and Rachel McAdams in the lead roles.
Mychael Danna’s previous credits include scores for “Little Miss Sunshine,” “Capote,” and “Surf’s Up.”
Kansas City, MO – December 2008 … Avlex Corporation, the name audio professionals turn to for world-class wireless technology and microphones, proudly introduces the new Superlux PRA-116B shotgun microphone. Featuring exceptional sound quality, a compact, lightweight form factor, and an included camera shoe shockmount adapter, the new PRA-116B is a cost effective solution for any SNG (satellite news gathering), ENG (electronic news gathering), broadcast, video, or film audio application. more
Chattanooga, TN – December 2008… Riding high on virtually every category of Billboard’s music charts, having won her first American Music Award for Favorite Female Artist (Country Music), and outselling just about every other artist with her new album, Fearless, Taylor Swift is positively red hot. With a presence that appears to be everywhere, there aren’t enough superlatives to apply to Swift’s runaway success. Swift recently performed to a sell-out crowd of 9,500 at the University of Tennessee’s McKenzie Arena, and the sound system that delivered the goods was none other than a huge Aero line array setup from DAS Audio. more
Santa Rosa, CA – December 2008… Armed with a commitment to provide its customers and others with informative interviews, tutorials, and related content about its products and the artists who use them, EMG Incorporated, a leading manufacturer of guitar and bass pickups, determined that video was to play a prominent role in the company’s marketing initiatives. Being in the music and sound business, company management knew full well that a high level of production quality was essential if its efforts were to be taken seriously. For this reason, they equipped their new production studio with wireless microphone technology from Lectrosonics. more
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Sought-After Player/Producer’s Recent Projects Credits Include Gnarls Barkley & Marilyn Manson
