PreSonus Blog

Monthly Archives: April 2015


The Best Kept Secret Tour is back for another round—coming to your town—INFOCOMM DATES ADDED!

Best_Kept_Secret_Round2

The first leg of the Best Kept Secret Tour was such a success that we’re bringing it back for another round!

Join us for a FREE full-line demonstration of the WorxAudio by PreSonus loudspeaker family Including Ai-Series contractor systems, powerful X & V-Series line arrays and the subwoofers everyone is talking about. Learn about new AVB connectivity including how our StudioLive AI console mixers control and send audio to AI-series rackmount mixers. Everyone is welcome! Dates, times, location, and registration links follow.

If you’re planning to go to INFOCOMM June 17-19 in Orlando, you can catch this presentation there, too. Register FOR FREE by clicking here.

Sponsor: PreSonus Audio Electronics
Booth: 1259
VIP code: PRE115. 


INFOCOMM, Orlando FL, June 17

INFOCOMM, Orlando FL, June 18

 

INFOCOMM, Orlando FL, June 19

Studio One Production Tips from @Groove3—construct a full song from the bottom up!

Groove3 has a great new series chock full of Studio One production tips. This five-video series looks at song construction from the bottom up, starting with drums, moving on to bass and guitars, and finally vocals and polishing the final mix. It’s a must-watch: there’s great stuff in here for newbies and some great refreshers and cool ideas for seasoned vets.

Check out http://www.Groove3.com for more incredible tutorials!

Notion 5 Receives Perfect Score in Teach Secondary Magazine

Teach SecondaryBig congratulations are due to the Notion team—Notion 5 was just recognized in Teach Secondary Magazine‘s April issue. Reviewer Steve Lea states, in part:

“Notion 5 is an ideal package for anyone wanting easy-to-use notation software on a budget. If you are using primarily for teaching score-writing or producing exam coursework then it has more than enough for your needs. And if you don’t need the full functions of the bigger market leaders, then it is a real winner!”

Click here to read the article in full [PDF], or find a copy of Teach Secondary Magazine online or in print.

Notion for iPad on Demo Units in Apple Stores

We’re in Frankfurt for MusikMesse and stopped by the local Apple Store. We were delighted to find Notion installed on iPad demo units in-store. This isn’t the first time Notion has been spotted in an Apple Store—it was included in some wall graphics a while back, coinciding with Esa-Pekka’s Salonen’s Apple advert.

We were really excited to be asked to create a special version of Notion for use in Apple Stores. The iPad has transformed the way many people create music, and it’s made the world of notation much more accessible. And now people around the world can try out composing music in their local Apple Store!

Notion in the Apple Store

Support an Important Cause with @NothingMoreRock #IKnowJenny

Heya! Check out the deeply personal and incredible new video from Nothing More for “Jenny.” But more importantly, check out the cause. First, here’s the video:


Next, here’s the cause: Nothing More is looking to raise awareness of mental health challenges through partnerships with PledgeMusic, BringChange2Mind, The Jed Foundation, To Write Love On Her Arms, YoungMinds, and the International Bipolar Foundation.

You can support these charity partners and pick up some cool exclusive merch at the #IKnowJenny page on PledgeMusic. Click the image below to

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Nimbit Artist of the week: Freebo!

Freebo

Daniel “Freebo” Friedberg is a decorated singer/songwriter with an impressive session/sideman history, including a ten-year stint playing bass and touring with Bonnie Raitt. Other collaborators include John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers, CSN, Maria Muldaur, Ringo Starr, Michelle Shocked, Neil Young, Loudon Wainwright III, and Dr. John. He’s also a formidable tuba player.

The last few years have seen Freebo launching into a successful solo career, having released four solo albums since 1999. There’s no quick-and-easy way to pin down a singular “Freebo sound,” as his diverse solo material is suitably colored by his work with all of the above A-list names. As such, his work boasts a seasoned blend of blues, rock and folk—but closer listening reveals undertones of dixieland, reggae, and Broadway musicals.

His Nimbit store offerings include a multitude of sponsorship opportunities (you can even buy “Executive Producer” credit on his next record!) two singles, and four full-lengths, including the canine tribute album, Dog People.

Home Recording Weekly Reviews the Ceres 4.5BT, Gets Wowed

Check out this very flattering and thorough review of the Ceres 4.5BT monitors from Kern Ramsdell of Home Recording Weekly. We loaned him a pair of the Ceres 4.5BT for review—and he did an excellent job.

A couple quick snippets: “The PreSonus Ceres C4.5BT monitors are incredible sounding, and you will be blown away. I know I was,” and my favorite: “it stinks that I have to send these back.” Click here to read the full review that accompanies this video.

For more info on Ceres, visit hear.presonus.com

Create Music With Notion: New Book from Hal Leonard Now Available!

Create Music With Notion
Hal Leonard  has just released a new edition of their Quick PRO guides:Create Music with Notion—Notation Software for the Busy Musician, by George J. Hess. It’s available now—purchase links are below.  

The structure of Create Music with Notion is a little different than one might expect from a book of its type. Each chapter is designed as a standalone project, and the reader isn’t expected to take them on in a particular order—or even complete them all. Instead, you’re invited to look at each project and choose which ones most closely resemble what you need to do with Notion. There are step-by-step instructions with shortcut or menu reminders for each project using the provided example.

  • Chapters 1–3 introduce you to the basics of Notion.
  • Chapters 4–6 are primarily aimed at people new to notation software and pop musicians, with an emphasis on guitar.
  • Chapters 7–9 are intended for music teachers and students. The chapter on live performance has important implications in both professional and educational settings.
  • Chapters 10–12 focus on advanced notation topics used by professionals like arrangers and film composers, but teachers will also find many things of use here.
  • Chapter 13 covers Notion for iPad and the interface differences and special features of this powerful app.

“For what I do–composing, arranging, songwriting, handouts–Notion meets 95% of my everyday needs,” says George. “It’s the only one where mouse entry makes sense, mainly because you can add articulations, dynamics, techniques and other entries all at the same time. It feels like working with pencil and paper, but with all of the advantages of a computer, like undo, copy and paste, and so on. There’s still step entry and real-time, too.

“Notion’s shortcuts are incredibly easy to learn and it handles most of the layout for you,” the author continues. “In addition, the sample-based playback is incredible. Anything you enter on the screen affects playback. Slurs trigger different samples, articulations, techniques and dynamics including hairpins are played accurately. The guitar technique library is particularly impressive. And to top it off, Notion for iPad is an excellent product, too, and you can share files between desktop and iOS versions.”

“This is an intuitive and approachable book – if only more books on software were written like this! 
You can dip in and out of the projects in the book – even if you are a seasoned Notion user, there is much to gain from George’s insights. The section on mixing the orchestra is worth the price alone.”

—Chris Swaffer, Product Manager, Notion

About George J. Hess:
An award-winning teacher, George Hess is an associate professor at the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory in Singapore where he teaches technology and professional development courses. He writes a regular column for Music Education Asia, has published numerous papers on music technology pedagogy in international and national journals and regularly presents clinics and workshops throughout the world both in person and online. George is an Apple Distinguished Educator, and is a member of the board of directors for Technology for Music Education (TI:ME), for which he is also a certified instructor. His current research interests include project-based learning, music education in developing countries, distance learning via video conferencing. He also performs regularly as a jazz guitarist. Prior to coming to Singapore he taught jazz, theory and technology at Central Michigan University for ten years. Dr. Hess holds degrees from the University of Northern Colorado and the Berklee College of Music.