Just to get a bunch of stuff out of the way, here’s some random links that don’t require much explanation:
» Akaine is mostly likely more talented than you. And she’s only 12 years old.
» Urban Counterfeiters. Companies like Urban Outfitters and H&M are stealing designs from independent artists and designers. Fuck that shit.
» Super-long and awesome interview with Louis C.K., stand-up comedian and star/creator of the new HBO show Lucky Louie. If you haven’t seen the show, definitely check it out.
» HEAD-ON! Apply directly to the forehead! Yeah. What the fuck is right. If you think about it though this commerical is genius. Interesting analysis here.
» It/ll Be Better Tomorrow. Documentary about the late Hubert Selby, Jr., author of “Requiem for a Dream“, “Last Exit to Brooklyn” and some other books that I haven’t read yet. View the trailer here.
» Love him or hate him (or just think he’s OK), Dane Cook is probably the most popular comedian in America right now. As this Wired article points out, it’s all about connecting with the fans. And he certainly knows how to do it.
» Sensitive Floor. An interactive video projection that reacts to the way people walk on it.
» Free Spirit Spheres. The sweetest treehouses ever. If I was gonna get a treehouse (and I just might do that someday), I’d have to go with one of these.
» Lords of the Ring. Short Film about the Large Hadron Collider at CERN. If you’re not a complete dork like me you can probably skip this one. Some of you might recognize the name CERN from the book Angels and Demons. Yes, it’s the same one.
I just watched a special on this on NJN this past week. A group of students get together & create sound in a live setting using networked laptops & custom audio software called, “Chuck” (free download!). While the, “music” wound up sounding more like ambient noise most of the time (which I enjoy, but others may not), the concept behind PLOrk is what stands out. Very cool.
From the PLOrk Website:
“The Princeton Laptop Orchestra (PLOrk) is a newly established ensemble of computer-based musical meta-instruments. Each instrument consists of a laptop, a multi-channel hemispherical speaker, and a variety of control devices (keyboards, graphics tablets, sensors, etc…). The students who make up the ensemble act as performers, researchers, composers, and software developers. The challenges are many: what kinds of sounds can we create? how can we physically control these sounds? how do we compose with these sounds? There are also social questions with musical and technical ramifications: how do we organize a dozen players in this context? with a conductor? via a wireless network?”
More links:
Wired Magazine
Philadelphia Inquirer
The Guardian
EYEWASH
“The VJ Book” Release Party
Wednesday, October 19, 9:00pm to 1:00am
< span class="large">Vapor
143 Madison at 32nd St
New York, NY
Participating artists include:
Peter Kirn (CDM)
Jay Smith (Sinch/Livid Instruments)
VJ Miixxy (Multo.com)
Music by DJ Duane Reade and DJ ActivPhaze
Visit Forward Motion Theater for more info
Jay Smith will be demoing the new Tactic m2 video instrument. The Tactic m2 is the “Cadillac” of MIDI controllers, designed to work with Livid’s Tactic Pro software for real-time video performance. The Tactic m2 instrument features ten sliders, six knobs, seven effects triggers, and a thirty-six movieclip bank for video mixing at your fingertips.
The VJ Book: Inspirations and Practical Advice for Live Visuals Performance
Edited by Paul Spinrad; DVD by Melissa Ulto (VJ Miixxy), Foreword by Jon Schwark (videojon) — Includes Free DVD with Software and Clips
Book includes: How-to, history and culture, legal issues, craft advice, future technology, plus interviews with: Benton-C Bainbridge » Craig Baldwin » Mark Coniglio » Bill Cottman » Ivan Dryer » Kathleen Forde » Stefan Gosiewski » Yusei Horiuchi » John Humphries » Peter Mettler » Norman Perryman » Jay Smith » Olivier Sorrentino » George Stadnik » Melissa Ulto » Henry Warwick.
DVD includes: Easy-to-use sample VJ software, mixable video clips, live performance footage, excerpts from the 2005 documentary film “Video Out,” historical material.
Sinch’s very own Jay Smith will be appearing at the CMJ Music Marathon tomorrow, Thursday September 15. He will be speaking on a panel about the business of custom-making instruments.
Here are the details:
Thursday, September 15
Tower Records Lincoln Center (Opera Room/ upstairs)
2:00-3:15pm
Panel Topic: Wired For Sound
Mad Scientists on the Mic: Inventors’ Show and Tell
Musical inventors demonstrate their creations, explain how they built them
and talk about the business of custom-making instruments.
Panelists:
Avery Brooks
Jay Smith, Designer of the Viditar; Artist, Sinch
Dick Boak, Martin Guitars
Mark Pirro, Designer, Placid Audio, Polyphonic Spree
Attention all NYC AREA Viditar/Ocular Noise Machine fans!
(If you don’t know what that means dont worry… just keep reading)
On Tuesday August 31, Sinch member Jay Smith will be at the Apple Store in Soho demonstrating his new line of real-time video mixing software and hardware.
Over the past few years we’ve had lots of people at our shows asking about the Viditar: What is it? How does it work? Where can I get one?
All those questions can be answered at this event!
Download the Press Release (PDF)
Here are the details:
LIVID INSTRUMENTS AT APPLE SOHO
Tuesday August 31st
6:30pm
Apple Store SOHO
103 Prince St.
New York, NY 10012
For anyone in the NYC area, Wednesday night is a rare chance to see a performance by Ocular Noise Machine (feat. Tony, Jay and Jamie from Sinch), and get an up-close demonstration of the Viditar and the software that makes it work. The point of all this is to get the word out that you can now buy the Tactic (basically a console version of the Viditar) and Union (the software you need to make it all work) from Livid Instruments, which just happens to be owned and operated by TV’s Jay Smith!
Wednesday July 28, 2004
FREIGHT
410 West 16th Street
Between 9th and 10th Ave.
9:00PM
http://www.lividinstruments.com
http://www.freightnyc.com
Jay and Tony will be doing a live performance on this week’s episode of The Screen Savers on G4TechTV. The show airs at 7:00pm (EST) on Thursday night, and it’s live so adjust the time for your location.
Thursday June 10 @ 7PM (EST)
“The Screen Savers” on G4TechTV
Basically this will be a showcase for the Viditar and the software that makes it work. I’m not sure what they have planned but I would imagine it will be more along the lines of the “Ocular Noise Machine Vol. 1″ album that we have posted in the mp3s section.
We also have a new show to announce. Here are the details:
Saturday July 3, 2004
North Star Bar
2638 Poplar St.
Phila., PA
W/ By the Lights & SPIN
9:00PM | 21+
$8.00
Also, check back to the site later tonight or tomorrow for an important update. We will be posting a full song from the new album along with a preview of the upcoming DVD.
Today is the first day of TV Turnoff Week 2001.
In 1994, Adbusters launched TV Turnoff Week as a seven-day break from the dreamworld of the tube. It’s an explosive idea - this year, millions of people in over 25 countries around the world will take a break from televised culture. Some will host rallies, parties, or TV smash-ins to let the world know that TV Turnoff is a turn-on to reality. Most, though, will quietly celebrate. They’ll have friends over for dinner; play with their kids; go bowling, hiking or swimming; start a journal. Above all else, they will have time to think - and that makes them the most dangerous kind of citizen.
If you don’t think the TV Turnoff is for you (or you don’t think you can make it), try the Zen TV Experiment. It might give you a different perspective on what actually happens when you’re watching TV.
