The conference, part of the broader Decibel Festival program, takes place at the Broadway Performance Hall (at the corner of Broadway & Pine) WED, THU and FRI from 12:00PM to 6:00PM PST.
For the third year, Decibel Festival is pleased to announce that we are teaming up with Windows as the presenting partner for this year’s dB Conference. This partnership allows the conference to provide a space where artists, professionals, students, and the public can exchange knowledge and create a supportive community that fosters networking, collaboration, education, and promotes creativity through technology.
The conference is complimentary and open to all-ages. Considerate non-flash photography is encouraged.
Speaker & bio information will be posted in the coming days, so please check back often! For now, you’ll find session descriptions below the schedule.
** Scroll down to see session details **
2012 dB Conference presented by Windows
WED 1:00 PM -LEARNING, ATTENTION SPAN AND TEACHING MUSIC: A DISCUSSION WITH STARKEY [PJ "STARKEY" GEISSINGER]
Is professional study of electronic music still relevant in today’s information-rich society, or is watching tutorial videos on YouTube “enough”? How do we wade through the amount of information given to us and learn to focus on the things that matter? How does one make the jump from artist to teacher? All of this and more will be covered as professor PJ Geissinger (AKA Starkey) joins us for a session on music & education.
WED 1:00 PM - SOCIAL MEDIA & MUSIC: IN PRACTICE [ROB SWOPE (Rockstar Digital), ZACH VERDIN (New Hive), ZACH HUNTTING (Crown Social), JOHN ADAMS (Twitter)]
Session description TBA.
WED 2:00 PM - SPACE PALETTE AND MORE – CREATING CONTROLLERS FOR THE KINECT [TIM THOMPSON]
Tim Thompson describes his history of interactive installations at Burning Man, using a variety of controllers in unique interfaces aimed at both musicians and non-musicians. His most recent work is the Space Palette, which uses the Microsoft Kinect to provide three-dimensional multitouch mousepads in mid-air. Recent experiences with and technical details of the Space Palette will be discussed, and it will be available for people to play with after the talk.
WED 2:00 PM - YOUR NEXT ALBUM COULD BE A VIDEO GAME [KIRK HAMILTON (Kotaku, Gawker Media), AUSTIN WINTORY (Journey, flOw, Monaco), DANNY BARANOWSKY (Super Meat Boy), MATT BURNS (Shadowgrown Games)]
Video games offer a myriad of new and exciting ways to put your music in front of a huge, enthusiastic audience. As more independent musicians team up with indie game developers to create dynamic, interactive musical experiences, it’s becoming clearer and clearer: Video game soundtracks are the new concept albums, and your next album could be a video game.
Join host Kirk Hamilton (Kotaku, Gawker Media) and some special musical guests as they take a trip through the latest, wildest trends in video games, music, and musical video games.
WED 2:00 PM - SOUND DESIGN WITH COMMON OBJECTS [CHRIS PETTI (Dubspot)]
Dubspot Curriculum Director, Chris Petti explores interesting ways to create new sounds with everyday objects using watermelons, pots & pans, noisemakers and more.
WED 2:45 PM - VERSUM AND REALTIME 3D A/V COMPOSITION [TARIK BARRI (Versum)]
Session description TBA.
WED 5:00 PM - MAPPING, LIGHTING & VISUALS ROUNDTABLE [ADAM HUMMELL (Moment Factory), TJ DAVIS (Lux Collective), JOEL PRYDE (Stimulant, traxPad), More TBA]
Session description TBA.
WED 5:00 PM - PLATFORMS FOR AUDIENCE ENGAGEMENT [GREG IPP (Stagebloc, Topspin) & Guests TBA]
Artists want to connect to their fans. There’s a raft of tools that you can use to engage with your followers, start conversations, and merchandise events and music. In this session we look at the platforms for managing hundreds of messages while still staying genuine and connected to the people that make you who you are.
WED 5:00 PM - NATIVE INSTRUMENTS MASCHINE W/S2 [DJ SHIFTEE (2009 DMC World Champion, Dubspot, Lo-Livez)]
Dubspot Instructor and 2X DMC World Champion, DJ Shiftee talks about using the Native Instruments Maschine in conjunction with Traktor using S2 to create engaging DJ sets.
THU 12:00 PM - LIVE – RESIDENT ADVISOR EXCHANGE W/TODD BURNS AND GUEST THE SIGHT BELOW
Join Todd Burns with Seattle’s own The Sight Below for a live recording of this Resident Advisor Exchange. The weekly RA Exchange is a series of conversations with artists, labels and promoters shaping the electronic music landscape. Recorded in front of a live festival audience at the festival, the interviewees—all Decibel Festival artists—will share their thoughts, opinions and feelings around topical subject surrounding the music they play today.
THU 1:00 PM - NEW INTERFACES OF MUSICAL PERFORMANCE [TIM THOMPSON, ROGER LINN, MOLDOVER, RANDY JONES, MODERATED BY VANCE GALLOWAY]
From drum machines to gestural interfaces, the musician and the music are getting closer than ever. In this panel, some of today’s most inspired thinkers look at the new world of interface control and how it’s changing the way we interact with music.
THU 1:00 PM - THE HOW AND WHY OF VIDEOGAME SCORING [AUSTIN WINTORY (Journey, flOw, Monaco)]
Austin Wintory (BAFTA nominated composer for PlayStation3 hits ‘Journey,’ and ‘flOw,’ the recently released ‘Horn,’ and the highly anticipated upcoming titles ‘Monaco’ and ‘The Banner Saga’) walks through an overview of his process for scoring games, including both technical explanations and broader philosophical discussion.
THU 1:00 PM - CONTROLLERS ARE INSTRUMENTS TOO [THAVIUS BECK (Dubspot)]
Dubspot Instructor Thavius Beck discusses aspects of MIDI controller design and the way in which the form of the musical interface is changing the music itself.
THU 2:00 PM - BEHIND THE SCENES OF CROWDFUNDING: A LOOK AT A SUCCESSFUL MUSIC CAMPAIGN WITH BRAD LOOMIS [BRAD LOOMIS]
What’s the secret sauce to crowfunding successfully? What are the lessons learned after having launched campaigns? In this session, Brad Loomis joins us to discuss the funding of his EP entitled “Resonance” which was primarily supported through Indiegogo. Brad takes us from the top and explains the whys, hows and “what you should know” about crowdfunding.
THU 2:00 PM - PRACTICAL SOUND DESIGN USING PROPELLERHEAD REASON 6.5 [JAMES BERNARD (Propellerhead), CHRIS PETTI (Dubspot)]
James Bernard joins Chris Petti as they examine different ways of using Reason 6.5 to create unique bass sounds, lead synths, drums and more.
THU 3:00 PM - INCORPORATING “LIVE” ELEMENTS IN A DJ SET W/ TRAKTOR AND F1 [DJ SHIFTEE (2009 DMC World Champion, Dubspot, Lo-Livez)]
Dubspot Instructor and 2X DMC World Champion, DJ Shiftee talks about using the Native Instruments F1 with Traktor which allows you blend and mix tracks with individual samples and live elements on the fly.
THU 3:00 PM - THE RISE OF 8-BIT CULTURE [MIKE ROSENTHAL (OK Go, Blip)]
As a co-founder of the Blip Festival, Mike Rosenthal has an almost unhealthy obsession with chiptune music. In this presentation he’ll look at the rise of contemporary 8bit culture, and how early consoles have earned a place in our hearts‹and our ears.
THU 3:00 PM - YOUR FIRST PARTY WITH SCRATCH LIVE [SHAUN WHITCHER (Rane), ZACH STONE (Rane)]
When preparing for your first gig with Scratch Live, the time you spend before the gig is going to pay dividends on the night. This is especially true for those of you who have only just purchased Serato Scratch Live but are already gigging DJs with experience in clubs. You will need to be familiar with the differences of using Scratch Live and the creative opportunities that are available to maximize your first gigs potential! This workshop focuses on how to prepare and setup Scratch Live to make sure your first gig goes off without a hitch.
THU 4:00 PM - LIVE – RESIDENT ADVISOR EXCHANGE W/TODD BURNS AND GUEST ORBITAL
Join Todd Burns with legendary duo Orbital for a live recording of this Resident Advisor Exchange. The weekly RA Exchange is a series of conversations with artists, labels and promoters shaping the electronic music landscape. Recorded in front of a live festival audience at the festival, the interviewees—all Decibel Festival artists—will share their thoughts, opinions and feelings around topical subject surrounding the music they play today.
THU 5:00 PM - WE CAN’T ALL WEAR MOUSE HATS: CREATING THE OK GO BRAND AND IMAGERY [MIKE ROSENTHAL (OK Go, Blip)]
How should artists create a unique brand for themselves in the war on attention? How do they do it without jumping the shark? As digital strategist for OK Go, Mike Rosenthal knows a thing or two about promotion, and he’ll tackle the subject in this intimate session.
THU 5:00 PM - INTRODUCING THE NEW RANE SIXTY-ONE AND SIXTY-TWO DJ MIXERS [SHAUN WHITCHER (Rane), ZACH STONE (Rane)]
Turntablism is alive and more creative than ever. Rane and Serato are proud to be supporting partners in that creativity with the introduction of the Rane Sixty-One and Sixty-Two Mixers for Serato Scratch Live. For more than a decade, artists have chosen innovative Rane instruments to advance their art and three generations of TTM series mixers have been the top pick for many of the world’s best performers. These mixers more tightly integrate performers, music, software, and hardware. Come hang out with the Rane product professionals and learn all about the new Rane Sixty-One and Sixty-Two mixers!
FRI 12:00PM – MIXING, EFFECTS & POST PRODUCTION [THAVIUS BECK (Dubspot)]
In this workshop, Dubspot Instructor Thavius Beck demonstrates creative techniques using Ableton Live
FRI 12:00PM - GETTING COVERAGE IN MEDIA, FESTIVALS AND RETAIL OUTLETS ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION [ALAIN MONGEAU (MUTEK), DAVE SEGAL (THE STRANGER), SHAWN REYNALDO (XLR8R), ANDREW RYCE (RESIDENT ADVISOR), RACHEL GIBBS (VICTORIA SECRET), DAREK MAZZONE (KEXP)]
You want their love, their attention, their rave reviews. What’s it like on the other side of the table? In this panel discussion, members of music media, retail giants and music festivals reveal what gets them up in the morning, what they look for in a story, and what turns them off.
FRI 12:00PM - YOU LANDED A GIG WORKING WITH A GAME DEV / COMPANY. NOW WHAT? [Kim Swift (Portal, Quantum Conundrum), Tom Smurdon (Audio Director, Airtight Games), Lance Hayes (DJ Drunken Master)]
What should you expect when you start working in the game industry? Join a sound designer, a composer and a game designer and get an inside look at what an audio job looks like in games from different points of view. Hear about the common tools of the trade, day in the life, music and audio licensing and ask your own questions of the panel of seasoned game industry professionals.
FRI 12:45PM - COPYRIGHT, CREATIVE COMMONS AND WHY IT MATTERS [PARKER HIGGINS (Electronic Frontier Foundations)]
Session description TBA.
FRI 12:45PM - WORKING WITH FORWARD –THINKING LABELS [JON WOZENCROFT (TOUCH MUSIC), TONY KIEWEL (SUBPOP), AARON MEOLA (DROPPING GEMS), MORE TBA]
We live in a time where the role of the label is drastically changing. Where in the world of music can the label thrive today? What sort of changes were made, and need to be made in the future for labels to stay viable? What kind of impact does the rise of “EDM” have on traditional & electronic music focused labels? Should anyone start a label today? In this panel, we dive deep in the issues surrounding labels and what can and is being done about them.
FRI 12:45PM - BUILDING HOME STUDIOS ON A BUDGET [CHRIS PETTI (Dubspot)]
This session looks at how to build a home studio, DJ workstation, or recording environment on a budget, using affordable household materials and a few innovative tools and tricks.
FRI 1:30PM - MUSIC PRODUCTION & SYNTHESIS W/ NI KOMPLETE [CHRIS PETTI (DUBSPOT)]
Dubspot Curriculum Director Chris Petti explores advanced sound design methods using Native Instruments Massive, Reaktor, Absynth, FM8 and more.
FRI 1:30PM - TEMPEST DRUM MACHINE MASTER CLASS [Roger Linn]
Join Roger Linn as he gives us an in-depth look at his new drum machine called “Tempest”.
FRI 1:30PM - DEMYSTIFYING MAX FOR LIVE [SYNNACK & JENNIFER MCCLAIN]
Musical innovators have always sought new ways of making unique, personal sounds. Today’s most creative computer musicians are pushing the boundaries with Max for Live, turning Ableton Live into their own customized instrument.
Decibel 2012 hosts a unique lecture and demonstration of Ableton “Max for Live” by Clint Sand and video collaborator, Jennifer McClain. Clint is the creator and host of the largest free Max for Live device sharing platform at Maxforlive.com and is an Ableton-endorsed artist (see Electronic Polymath: http://www.ableton.com/clint-sand) who performs under the name “synnack”. The session will cover the basic use of Max for Live for beginners, as well as a demonstration of more advanced Max for Live integration with a custom VJ system written in Max/Jitter for more experienced users. Following the set, McClain and Sand will present a a full technical breakdown and discussion of how the audio/visual demonstration was made. Every device, every patch, exposed.
More information on the collaboration can be found at www.0xf8studios.com and www.synnack.com.
FRI 3:00PM - LIVE – RESIDENT ADVISOR EXCHANGE W/TODD BURNS AND GUEST THE CANNABINOIDS FEATURING ERYKAH BADU
Join Todd Burns with super group The Cannabinoids featuring Erykah Badu for a live recording of this Resident Advisor Exchange. The full lineup details for this RA Exchange won’t be unveiled until recording time. The weekly RA Exchange is a series of conversations with artists, labels and promoters shaping the electronic music landscape. Recorded in front of a live festival audience at the festival, the interviewees—all Decibel Festival artists—will share their thoughts, opinions and feelings around topical subject surrounding the music they play today.
FRI 4:00PM - THE EVOLUTION OF ELECTRONIC RHYTHM [ROGER LINN, CARL CRAIG]
Hear Roger Linn and Carl Craig discuss the evolution and future of electronic rhythm.
FRI 4:00PM - HOW TO PROTECT YOUR RIGHTS AS AN ARTIST WITHOUT BEING A JERK [EVA GALPERIN (Electronic Frontier Foundation), ALISTAIR CROLL (Decibel Festival)]
Session description TBA.
FRI 4:00PM - MIRRORING NATURE WITH MUSIC: SOUND COMPOSITION USING ABLETON LIVE [LUIS MAURETTE (Lulacruza)]
Mirroring Nature with Music is a beginning and/or intermediate level workshop that will use loop-based software music sequencer “Ableton Live” to understand the connection of nature and music. We will learn a series of audio manipulation techniques to create sonic landscapes. We will start with acoustic sound and learn ways in which electronic processing can be used to expand, change, and re-create sound. We will listen to and process field recordings to explore the places they are able to evoke. We will be introduced to computer-generated rhythmic and textural material to broaden our sound world. We will explore and discuss naturally occurring acoustic phenomena and its applications in music.
Participants will gain basic knowledge of “Ableton Live”, as well as expand their concepts of sound, music, space, place, silence and nature. Participants will be invited to explore new ways of engaging their creative process. All levels welcome.