Latest news with #StudioOne
Channel Post MEA
20-05-2025
- Business
- Channel Post MEA
Mindware Partners with Builder.ai for GCC
Mindware has announced a strategic partnership with to market its platform and products, Builder Studio and Studio One, in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Oman. AI-powered platform allows businesses to build powerful applications quickly, without the complexity or cost of traditional development. With Mindware's established network of resellers and deep regional expertise, these tools will now be accessible to a wider range of organizations supporting everything from SMBs to large enterprises in their digital transformation journeys. Philippe Jarre, President, Mindware Group says, 'AI is at the core of Mindware's vision for the future and we are committed to delivering transformative technologies that redefine how businesses operate and grow. Partnering with is a key step in realizing that vision. Their AI-powered platform enables rapid, scalable software development that lowers the barriers to digital innovation. As demand surges across the region for agile, cost-effective solutions, this partnership empowers our channel and customers with the tools to accelerate transformation and lead in the AI-driven economy.' As businesses across the Gulf seek agile, cost-efficient paths to innovation, this collaboration positions Mindware and at the forefront of the no-code revolution. Through this alliance, Mindware will provide localized distribution, training, and technical support to ensure resellers and clients maximize the value of solutions. platforms are built to simplify and accelerate the software lifecycle from ideation to deployment, making app development accessible to anyone, regardless of technical expertise. Vahe Torossian, Deputy CEO & Chief Revenue Officer, comments, 'We are excited to join forces with Mindware, a recognized leader with deep market expertise in the Gulf region. Combining innovative platform with Mindware's strong distribution network will accelerate the adoption of digital solutions across the region. This partnership enables us to address the growing demand for digital and AI transformation in key industries, empowering organizations of all sizes to become digitally empowered with speed, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness.' 0 0
The Independent
08-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Abbey Road reopens legendary Studio One after six month renovation
Abbey Road has reopened its legendary Studio One recording space after a sixth month multi-million pound refurbishment; the first renovation since the studio opened almost a century ago. A site of cinema history, award-winning soundtracks for The Lord of the Rings, Skyfall, Harry Potter, The Shape of Water and Gravity were all recorded at Studio One. Most recently, songs for Greta Gerwig's Barbie and the musical fantasy film Wicked were laid down on its decks. Six to seven out of every 10 Hollywood films are scored at Abbey Road and Studio One has long been favoured by Hollywood composers as the 4,844 square feet room is the world's largest purpose-built recording space and can comfortably hold a 100-piece orchestra and 100- person choir at the same time. Preserving Studio One's signature sound, which can be heard on further scores for much-loved films including Raiders of the Lost Ark, The Return of the Jedi and The Last Emperor, was a key priority when conducting the renovation, says engineer John Barrett. 'One of the main things that made Studio One incredible was the acoustic,' he said. 'What's unique is it's very reverberant, but it's not too much.' Studio One's signature reverb has been maintained at 2.3 seconds by leaving the room's Art Deco walls from the Seventies untouched. Technological upgrades have instead been made in the control room, where an 84 channel console has been installed to capture a more 'immersive' sound from performers. 'I think we're pretty lucky because we've got this amazing history and past but we're always trying to be current – cutting edge,' adds Barrett, who's worked at the studio for almost twenty years. 'You can't underestimate how much emotion music brings to film,' he adds, pointing to one instance where he was scoring Dobby's tragic death with a full orchestra for the Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. 'I just remember that sequence coming to life as soon as the orchestra played,' he said. 'Those sort of moments are incredible – 100 musicians in a room – it just takes you somewhere else.' 'It feels incredible to be in the room where you can imagine the music that's bounced off the walls in the past,' adds award-winning composer Steven Price, who first started working at the studio decades ago after landing a job with Labyrinth score composer Trevor Jones in his youth and went on to record his own Oscar-winning scores in the same space. 'I remember there was a huge day working on [Alfonso Cuarón's] Gravity because we wanted the hairs to stand up on the back of everyone's neck,' he said of his greatest moments in Studio One. Enjoy unlimited access to 100 million ad-free songs and podcasts with Amazon Music Sign up now for a 30-day free trial 'You've had tension for 85 or 90 minutes and then there's this glorious moment where the astronaut's been stuck out in space and starts to re-enter the Earth's atmosphere. We used to say: 'If we get to see that being played by the orchestra, we'll know we've landed. It's come together,'' he said. 'We've survived.' 'The best possible thing is when a director comes in and experiences the buzz of all those human beings playing together,' Price adds. 'The way it combines everything, the sound bounces around, the music becomes emotional rather than this very flat thing. I was working with Edgar Wright on Last Night in Soho and we needed a different tempo – a different mood – so, I got some of the principal players in the control room with me and in 10 minutes suddenly a totally different version of the music was being played.' Of the importance of human artistry in an increasingly digital world, Barrett echoes: 'It's the craft of shaping music. Everyone's so worried about AI but the uniqueness you get from having a room full of musicians is amazing,' he says. 'You need people to make the magic that brings recordings to life.'
New York Times
28-02-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
The Caribbean Capital That's a Creative Superpower
Even if you've never been to Kingston, Jamaica, you've likely heard the city's sounds. Ska, reggae, rocksteady, dub and dancehall — all genres born and bred in the coastal city — have played on airwaves worldwide for the better part of the past century. Kingston is preceded by its musical reputation — and by its cuisine. Jamaican staples like beef patties, jerk chicken and fall-off-the-bone oxtail are now ubiquitous in many American cities. 'I often say, if the U.S. is an economic superpower, then Jamaica is a cultural superpower,' says the visual artist Ebony G. Patterson, who was born in Kingston and now splits her time between there and Chicago. 'So many roads pass through here.' Kingston, the island's capital and arguably its cultural hub, is on the southeastern coast. The city was nearly destroyed on more than one occasion — in fact, it was built in the aftermath of a natural disaster, a 1692 earthquake that wrecked the harbor town of Port Royal, a colonial trading center once frequented by pirates. In 1907, another major earthquake hit, followed by a fire, upending the city's infrastructure once more. Not long after, in 1923, the parishes of Kingston and St. Andrew were combined, officially forming the roughly 175-square-mile region that many residents now refer to simply as 'Kingston.' About a fifth of Jamaica's population of 2.8 million people live in this area, which visitors can best traverse by car — or by booking a catamaran to explore the harbor, as the jewelry designer Mateo Harris recommends, where a good deal of the old pirate city is still hidden beneath the waters. In many ways, Kingston's best gems are just below the surface. 'Most people don't know that we have amazing Indian and Chinese food; [those communities] have left such a stamp on the country,' says Harris. 'Our national motto in Jamaica is 'Out of many, one people,' and that's why: because so many different people come here from all walks of life.' And although the music scene is undeniably potent — the city was once said to be home to the world's largest number of recording studios per capita, including the renowned Studio One, where Bob Marley recorded — Patterson says that 'the visual-artist community here is incredibly rich' as well. She adds that despite the fact that there aren't that many commercial institutions, 'people are still committed to making things,' and museums like the National Gallery of Jamaica and visual artist-led initiatives such as New Local Space have made Kingston the island's 'mecca.' As of this past summer, the U.S. Department of State has issued a Level 3 Travel Advisory for Jamaica, but Patterson cautions against blending safety concerns with oversimplified depictions of the place. 'There's a lot of sensationalizing of all of what Kingston is,' she says. 'Like any city, some of that's true, but it's not exclusively so.' She also recommends pushing past 'sun, sand and sea,' to fully appreciate Kingston's varied landscape. 'When people typically think about Jamaica, they don't necessarily think about the mountains,' she says, 'but if you have time, you should sojourn to the Blue Mountains,' which line St. Andrew's northeastern border and can provide a quiet, reflective counterpoint to the bustle of 'the flat,' or city proper. Here, Patterson, Harris and two other locals share their other favorite places in and around Kingston as well as a few farther-flung spots that highlight the many sides of Jamaica. Andre Fowles, a Kingston-born chef, oversees the culinary program at Miss Lily's at Skylark in Negril. Based in New York, Fowles returns to Kingston every couple of months. Matthew 'Mateo' Harris is a fine jewelry designer and the founder of the brand Mateo. He splits his time among Jamaica, the U.S. and Lisbon. Koffee, a Jamaican-born reggae and dancehall musician, lives in Kingston and recently recorded a new album there, due out this summer. Ebony G. Patterson is a multimedia visual artist who lives between Kingston and Chicago. Sleep 'S Hotel Kingston has a nice bar program and it's one of my favorite spots to have a cocktail. It's very central, so you can quickly get to any major points in Kingston.' (From about $190 a night) — Andre Fowles 'I stay at the AC Hotel when I'm in Kingston. It's at the center of the city; there's great nightlife. People gather at the lounge, the restaurant and the pool. It's a hotel for someone who wants to be in the mix of things. (Rooms from about $220 a night) 'GoldenEye is one of the best hotels in Jamaica. Ian Fleming wrote the James Bond novels on the grounds. [It's on the northern coast of the island, about two hours away from Kingston.] Amazing food there.' (Rooms from about $580 a night) — Mateo Harris 'Strawberry Hill Hotel, up in the Blue Mountains, has a number of lodgings that are basically nestled in the side of the mountain. The climate's just very different from being on the flat. It's a place I tend to go to for refuge and quiet. (Rooms from about $370 a night) 'Farther up [from Strawberry Hill] is Holywell, which is a historical park that also has cabins, for people who are interested in a camping [experience]. There are a number of parks like this on other parts of the island but none at this scale.' (Rooms from about $90 a night) — Ebony G. Patterson Eat and Drink 'In Kingston, sometimes the restaurants turn into bars or clubs after dinner service. [On a Friday night,] I normally go out to East Japanese. 'I love just grabbing some jerk chicken from a man with a grill on the street. We call that pan chicken. After the club, get some jerk chicken with some hard dough bread with some butter — mind blown.' — M.H. 'Juicy Blacks Peanut Porridge doesn't have any social media, an Instagram page or a cellphone number that you can call. It's a shack off the side [of West Main Drive in the neighborhood Maverley], and it's run by my great-uncle Juicy Blacks. The porridge is really spiced up, with fresh peanuts, coconut milk, cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla and sweetened with condensed milk. It's a very hearty, delicious bowl. 'At Devon House Bakery, I'll buy only one type of patty: curry goat. Not a lot of other patty shops make it, because it's very expensive and takes a lot of skill to get it right. It's spicy. It's savory. The meat is super tender, and the shell is thick and flaky. And if you're there, you might as well go to Scoops Unlimited for the famous Devon House I-Scream. My favorite flavors are Grapenut and Rum & Raisin. Kids will have their ice cream and play in the grass — there's a big, lush lawn there and cute seating areas as well. 'One of the places [I prefer] for dim sum, which is only served on Sundays, is Dragon Court Restaurant. The flavor profile [for Jamaican dim sum] is so eclectic. They can't do without some of the more traditional [Chinese] ingredients: soy sauce, sesame, hoisin. But instead of using dry chilies or red chilies, they'll swap them out for Scotch bonnet. And the ginger in Jamaica is spicier, and the flavor of the green onions produced in the country is distinctive. 'Pretty Close 1876 is in Kingston but makes you feel like you're in the countryside — there's a river running through the property. The guy who owns and runs it is a Rastafarian, and he makes traditional ital food [Rastafarian plant-based fare] as well as fried fish and other things. Usually, you would have to go to a place like Ocho Rios or Negril to get that kind of natural setting. That's why they call it Pretty Close: If you're in New Kingston, which is as central as it gets, it'll probably take you, without traffic, 20 to 25 minutes to get to this spot. 'Uncorked is a very relaxed wine bar and restaurant, if you want to mix it up from traditional [Jamaican] food and get a nice salad, pasta or a burger instead.' — A.F. 'I'm obsessed with Gloria's in Port Royal. My order is steamed fish with extra okra, fried bammy [a thick cassava flatbread] and ripe plantains. 'At Melrose Yam Park, you can get roasted yam and salt fish on the side of the road. 'Tacbar is a popular [Mexican] spot that's a five-minute drive from a dispensary called Kaya Herb House. 'There are many weekday parties named after [the specific] day. I frequent [the street party] Uptown Mondays the most. 'About two hours away in St. Ann's is Stush in the Bush, which offers an elevated, hourslong experience with ital cuisine. It's owned and run by a married couple, Lisa and Chris, [at their home]. [Most of the ingredients used] are from their garden. It's in the hills, so you get a really good view.' — Koffee Shop 'Kingston Dub Club is raw, irie and just a damn cool place to be on a Sunday night. It's a roots-reggae bar. [When I went,] I had some marijuana-infused wine, and I bought reggae T-shirts and sweaters, an anklet and other beaded trinkets at the gift shop.' — M.H. 'Locale really stands out among the boutique stores in Kingston. [It focuses on] locally made jewelry, clothing and tokens from Jamaica. 'Kingston Craft Market is good for handmade art, woodwork and [other] cultural items.' — A.F. Take Home 'Get a pack of Blue Mountain Coffee — not the instant kind, you want to get the beans. The notes are fruity and decadent. 'You can make amazing drinks with Wray & Nephew Overproof White Rum — I recommend grabbing a six-pack of Ting [to mix with it.] Or, if you're sick with the flu or a headache, put [a dab of rum] on your forehead.' 'You must bring home a bottle of Walkerswood jerk sauce. You can buy it at a local supermarket or the airport. — M.H. 'Buy a piece from a really good Jamaican artist like Barrington Watson, Ken Abendana Spencer, Ebony G. Patterson or Taj Francis and put it on your wall back home.' — K. Explore 'I love to rent a little catamaran for the day and go around Kingston Harbor, especially on a Friday or Saturday — or even a Sunday Funday moment. 'Port Royal was destroyed by an earthquake in the late 1600s. It's a protected heritage site now, and you can go on a tour there and see the old cannons and [fortress]. A lot of pirate ships sank there [and legend has it] there's a lot of gold and treasure under the water. 'I know everyone thinks the Bob Marley Museum is touristic, but you should sign up for the tour because they give you a proper education about Marley. It's raw; they're not trying to sugarcoat his life. 'Bob Marley Beach, about 30 minutes from the heart of Kingston, isn't the typical white sand beach like we have on the north coast or in Montego Bay. Fishermen have their boats thrown on the sand, and it's super rustic but just so beautiful.' — M.H. 'Freedom Skate Park is in St. Andrew Parish, not that far away from Kingston. Bob Marley Beach is out there too, so you can make a day of it. 'Go to Donovan's Portland Domane Fruit Stand outside Port Antonio for coconut water, coconut jelly, jackfruit and sugar cane. He also has what we call root drinks, or tonics — healthy drinks.' — K. 'Along the stretch of Hellshire Beach, you have different vendors and stalls. Everyone has their favorite cookshop to go to. For me, it's Aunt Merl's Fish Place. You'll walk up and they'll have this big ice chest packed with fresh seafood, fish, lobster, crab or whatever daily catch they get. It's all wood-fired, backyard-style cookery. [You can get your food] fried or steamed, in garlic, Scotch bonnet — I love the escovitch fried snapper with festivals [a sweet fried dough] and bammy. If you're lucky, you'll see oystermen walking around with buckets of fresh oysters. 'It's a nice drive on the way up the Blue Mountains, and there are multiple cafes on the roadside. You can stop [along] the trail and have some of the best coffee in the world. There's a part called Holywell Park where tons of people go hiking.' — A.F. 'Lime Cay is a little island not far from Kingston. Plan a day to go out on a boat for a small fee; just tell the [captain] how long you want to stay and they'll come back and get you. There's nothing on the island — just sand and a few trees. There's also Maiden Cay, which is basically the same thing but on a different island with less shade — that one's [best] for yachting.' — K. 'Like most major museums, the National Gallery of Jamaica is an important place for holding history, but it also does what a commercial gallery in other places would do: introduce new and underrecognized voices from the [artist] community. Commit to being there for a few hours. 'New Local Space (NLS) is a micro-gallery, incubator space and residency program. It fills some of the gap in artist-led and run spaces in the city. [To visit,] make an appointment.' — E.P. These interviews have been edited and condensed.
CBC
27-02-2025
- Entertainment
- CBC
Jay Douglas shares the story of Toronto's almost forgotten Jamaican music scene
Jay Douglas is a Canadian reggae legend who was instrumental in the development of Canada's Jamaican music scene. Now, a new documentary, Play It Loud! How Toronto Got Soul, tells Douglas's story — and the story of the nearly forgotten Jamaican and Caribbean music scene in Toronto. Douglas came to Canada from Jamaica when he was 15, but he was singing, auditioning and winning talent contests well before that. His early musical pursuits even led him to audition at the iconic Studio One in Jamaica on the same day that Bob Marley and The Wailers came in and got their big break. In the '60s, Douglas became the frontman of The Cougars, one of Toronto's first reggae bands. In an interview with Q 's Tom Power, Douglas says the group "played just about every little venue in Toronto," becoming especially popular in Caribbean nightclubs, but their goal was to perform on Yonge Street in Toronto, which at the time was known for its vibrant live music scene. It happened by fluke that The Cougars finally got to play their music at a club on Yonge Street during a Saturday matinee show. "We only [had] about 20 minutes to create an impression," Douglas recalls, "We were ready [and the place] went crazy." But The Cougars weren't always welcomed into venues with open arms. Ironically, Toronto was a safe haven from discrimination and segregation for Black American musicians, but not so much for Black artists based in Canada. Many of these clubs exclusively booked American artists. "One of the toughest places for you to make it as an artist is Toronto," Douglas says, "You mess up in New York, they'll tell you. Toronto, you mess up, your phone don't ring." Eventually, The Cougars were featured on a Toronto reggae, ska and soul compilation album called Jamaica to Toronto. Douglas says he didn't make much money off of it, but he gained something "worth more than money," which was a boost in global name recognition. He thinks if the album had been recorded and promoted abroad, like in the U.K., it would have been celebrated on a grander scale. Nonetheless, Douglas persevered in the face of what many artists fear: becoming irrelevant. After The Cougars split up in the '70s, he began a solo career traveling globally to gigs. Today, he remains a strong pillar in the reggae, funk and soul music scene with his influence reaching far beyond Canada. Even though he didn't become as big as Canadian hip-hop and R&B artists like Drake or The Weeknd, Douglas is content with what he's achieved and the impact he's had on the Canadian music industry. "The ego is always seeking to get," he says. "The soul seeks to give."
WIRED
07-02-2025
- WIRED
PreSonus's Quantum HD Interfaces Help You Make Hit Records
For the longest time, I struggled with latency when recording audio, or the time it takes for recorded sound to register on the screen. I'd plug in my audio interface to my computer, get all my drums all mic'ed up, and have a hard time getting my stuff to sync up with whatever I was trying to record over. The first generation of PreSonus' Quantum audio interfaces solved my problems about a decade ago. They used speedier-than-USB Thunderbolt connections to give me near-zero delay, thanks in part to the no-bloatware connection it shares with PreSonus's Studio One software. PreSonus's latest Quantum HD interfaces have raised the ease-of-use factor even further. You get USB-C connectivity, an even cleaner design, better screen, and front-panel instrument inputs designed in collaboration with PreSonus parent company Fender. There is even now automatic gain leveling on inputs, which means one person can set up a large studio by themselves. If you're after an affordable audio interface that competes with heavy hitters from Universal Audio, Apogee, Focusrite, Audient, or SSL, among others, the new PreSonus Quantum HD models are fantastic and sound great. If you're a Studio One user, they're a no-brainer. Audio Boxers Both the HD 2 and HD 8 models are not much to look at, designed to hide on the desktop of a serious home studio enthusiast amongst other toys. They're both black boxes with blue accents and color screens, and they look relatively nondescript when not in use. (That's nice for expensive studio equipment, which can sometimes scream 'Steal me!') The larger model is rack-mountable, the smaller designed for desktop or mobile use, though you can easily set the larger one on a desk like I did if you don't have a rack to mount it. Photograph: Parker Hall The construction of the unit is solid and metallic, with nice big vents on the sides to keep it cool during longer tracking sessions. I like that it just takes a standard three-prong power cable, so you don't have to deal with a wall wart, and that it connects quickly to any modern USB-C device. I have been a longtime PreSonus user of everything from its Faderport controllers (USB devices that allow you to use faders to control playback in most DAW software) and Monitor Station (an outboard box where you can plug in and swap between multiple speakers with simple button presses). The gear works well and costs less than most competitors. Pro-tier equivalents from brands like Universal Audio and Apogee can cost between a little and many multiples more, depending on the category, and it just doesn't actually sound better in my experience. The Quantum HD interfaces easily compete with the wildly popular 8-input models from Universal Audio in terms of audio and build quality. The Universal Audio models are the gold standard in the category right now, and cost over twice as much per unit. Studio One immediately recognizes the Quantum HD 8 and plays nice, allowing you to do things like turn on 48v phantom power for condenser mics and set levels inside the software, rather than having to use some weird intermediary software between the interface and the DAW. Photograph: Parker Hall
