The Studio One “Vari-Fi” or nerdy stuff we show our colleagues

 

 

 

 

 

 

In some of the last posts we showed our favourite additional composing DAW Studio One and some of its useful functions. This week we have two amazing visitors from the Benztown offices in L.A. – Justin “Imaging Ninja” Case and Shane “Guitar Hero” Drasin. While Justin and I are discussing Imaging, FX and VO chains – Shane is working with Oli and Konrad.

 

Shane works mostly with Pro Tools and Reason, but the guys over here show him our latest fav Studio One. No question he can create music, sound design and the next number 1 hit with a 4Track recorder, as long he has a guitar in his hands. He liked some of the features of Studio One and wants to give them a try in the future.  Konrad, who really became a fan of the presonus DAW, found a solution to outweigh one of the last deficits of Studio One –  It has Vari-Fi on board now. His method might be a bit unusual and does not create a real vinyl stop, but you can slow down audio in a minute, without 3rd party plug-ins…

What about Adobe Audition? Gavan Bruderer tells us!

Most of you guys might remember Gavan Bruderer from some older posts we did over the years about his experiences with Fame FX and radio imaging in general. He is a talented bloke and currently works for Clear Channel imaging Z100 Portland, as well as he is taking care of the commercial workload directly in Salt Lake City, where he is based + he does some startup packages for new stations that Clear Channel launches.

We often talk about Pro Tools on this blog too, but a lot of guys use Adobe Audition out there and Gavan decided to give those people a chance for asking questions and sharing ideas about the DAW. Therefore Gavan launched A Facebook page where all the producers using Adobe Audition can ask questions, share feedback and connect with official Adobe Members to discuss Audition. Gavan told us that there are a ton of Pro Tools groups out there, but he never found any about Adobe Audition that specifically targets radio producers.

 

 

So if any of you guys out there are logged into Facebook and you are interested in Adobe Audition give Gavan a thumbs up RIGHT HERE!

 

 

Back On Austereoids or Matt Innes’ Epic Cash Promo

My old friend Matt is back at the Gold Coast – he is now Imaging SEA FM and he sent us this awesome, massive promo!!!

My question is : WHAT do you think about “EPIC IMAGING”? Outdated or still awesome…Please leave a comment below or on Facebook.

Imaging Finland – Meet Heikki Wichmann RAP Awards 2nd Runner Up

Finland, the land of polar bears, wodka, ice and snow :)…and excellent radio imaging.

This year’s 24th “Radio and Production Awards” were announced at the end of march and as always a lot of talented people took the challenge and participated. I am very happy to share an interview with one of the contestants and 2nd Runner Up for Large Market Promo : Heikki Wichman from Finland. Heikki is a great guy who has been doing radio imaging for commercial radio in Finland since 1997. He has been working for many stations like U103, Sävelradio, Radio Nova, Nostalgia and NRJ. For the work below on the “Energy Extravadance Show” in 2013, he earned the 2nd runner-up in the category  “Large Market Promo” on this year’s “Radio and Production Awards” and I am thrilled he took some time to answer my questions.

WPLJ’s Dan Kelly…did it again! Iron Imager 2014 – Here is the WINNER.

First, we would like to express our most sincere gratitude to all those who played a part in the success of Iron Imager 2014. This includes (among many others) Dan Kelly, Brady Goodman, Jimmy Steal, Jake Kaplan, the folks at AllAccess.com and A&R Worldwide, and all of those who entered the contest. Not to mention the incredible Benztown teams in Los Angeles and Stuttgart. Thank you!!!

When the day of the Iron Imager contest finally came, everything was in place at the Worldwide Radio Summit in Hollywood. Both Iron Imagers were ready, the belt was paraded around the convention hall, and the audience watched the following video. Then Benztown’s Justin Case took the stage to introduce the contenders and the contest began!

 

They had one hour to create a 30 second contest promo for a flyaway to the ACM Awards, using ingredients from Benztown’s 20 Imaging Libraries. In a true test of their professional abilities, the format chosen was Country.

Judges, ranked among the world’s top producers and programmers, were Justin Chase, VP of Programming, Beasley Broadcast Group; Jake Kaplan, Creative Services Director, 97.1 AMP Radio/Los Angeles; and Jimmy Steal, VP of Programming, Emmis National Digital Program Director/Power 106 Program Director. After an evening of deliberations and voting, the judges selected Dan Kelly as the 2014 Iron Imager. Kelly humbly accepted his custom-made championship belt from R Dub!, host of Sunday Night Slow Jams and Director of Programming for Jammin’ Z90 and Magic 92.5 San Diego. Kelly thanked the judges, and has agreed to return to Hollywood in 2015 for Iron Imager 4!

Benztown is making donations to the charity of each judge’s choice. The charity that Chase has chosen is Children’s Miracle Network; Kaplan’s chosen charity is The Trevor Project; and Steal’s charity of choice is the American Cancer Society.

Here are their final submissions:

I love you, radio – Brady Goodman, Iron Imager 2014 Contender

After about 20 years in radio full-time, I’ve been working as a director of video productions for a manufacturing company in Kansas City for the last few years. I have clients I do imaging for as a freelancer on a consistent basis as well as working with my “home station,” KZPT-FM 997 the Point in Kansas City, where I’m also on-air as a weekend/fill-in jock.
I’d also like to mention how much I love this “Iron Imager” contest. I’d like to thank Benztown for making it happen. I’d like to thank Dan Kelly and the other champs for being involved and bringing a large amount of credibility to this event. The trip to LA and the chance to share the stage with Dan, catch some hang time with the Benztown Team is a prize in itself! If this brings me new opportunities, that’s just icing on the cake. This experience has easily been one of the most exciting things that has happened to me in my radio career.
I love you, radio.
Love, Brady

PS: I’m on twitter, @bradygoodman, and I’m always open to new opportunities

Check out the interview with Brady:

Imaging UAE – Meet Tom Ferguson

Today I am really thrilled to do an Interview with Tom Ferguson. He is a Brit, but works in the UAE and images Channel 4 as well as he is the PD for that station. Tom was a great talent a few years ago and developed to one of the best Imaging Guys out there. He sent me his soundlcoud and I was blown away and needed to reach out to him to get to know more of how he does it, what is his favorite PlugIns, what techniques does he use etc.. Learn more about Tom, check his audio and screen caps….ENTER IMAGING UAE.

3 PlugINs that always work for awesome layering effects on VO or how to make your VO pop out!

I love to layer voices, when doing Imaging to create surprises, cool effects on the Voice Over or just to work out a specific part of an Imaging piece a bit more. The plugIns i use the most for layering are :

1.
SansAMP (i reduce volume with the plugIn on the layered track already, saves me time in hyperdrwaing or cllipgaing)

2.
Digidesign Basic EQ.7 (low pass, high pass, mid boost – be creative have fun with it…)
and
3.
Cosmonaut Voice (in combo with a thin eq – lovely)

WHAT PlugIns do you use for layering? What are your favourites? let me know and have a nice weekend!

THE Iron Imager Final 2014 is set! Dan Kelly vs. Brady Goodman

Guys, I am proud to announce we have found this years contender.

In a very close vote he made his way to the ring and will face Dan Kelly, Creative Services Director of WPLJ/NYC and reigning Iron Imager on April 3rd in The Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood/LA. MEET the brave Brady Goodman, Imaging Director of 99.7 The Point (KZPT-FM/Kansas City).

Check out this creativity!

I am looking forward to see you and the NEW Iron IMAGER 2014 @ WWRS.

Andy

SFX Experiences Pt. 3 or the only day you HAVE TO DRINK at work!!!

Today it’s St. Patrick’s Day and we all know that the only mission is to eliminate as much beer as possible! And as you know that we are always in search of authentic sound effects Jan, Max and Konrad had the VERY UNPLEASANT job to record real beer drinking SFX. Check their hard work at the benztown studio…