MICROLAB.TWO

read the article on smartshanghai here...


The second version of the microlab - microlab.two is on this Sunday (July 23rd) at The Lab with Ableton, the company behind the revolutionary music software Live. Ableton brings with them their newest and brightest version yet - Live6. What's more, they're giving all you budding DJs the chance to have a go at using their kit for yourselves.

The Live6 software covers the whole music making process from creation via production to performance and beyond. The only thing it doesn't do is actually write the music for you, although I'm sure before long it'll develop the ability to think for itself, render humanity futile and bring about the inevitable cyber-age we've all been dreading (or in some cases secretly looking forward to). But in the meantime: the new software has all kinds of upgrades like extended sample libraries and a Quicktime video support network to help you decorate your beats with some cool visuals. They at Ableton have an impressive list of 'users' ranging from recent Shanghai visitor Akufen to industrial metallers Nine Inch Nails and from legendary DJ/production duo Coldcut to sonic landscape-gardeners Mogwai. The workshop starts at 2:30pm with space for everyone and aims to give a beginners' insight into the inner workings of Live6. Shanghai's own IDM aficionado B6 takes the DJs through the Live6 DJing experience before jacksonblack tells all on the production side of things: using all the features Live6 has to offer to quickly sketch out some musical ideas and ultimately sequence a track. You'll get to create midi synth and drum tracks, use samples and loops, and apply effects to set you on the way to becoming Shanghai's next big name.

Then after the workshop has given you a chance to see what you can do, microlab will give you a chance to see how the pros do it with vj-dj duo tootekool, ben huang, micrometropolis and B6 all doing sets for your listening pleasure. Also this is your chance to bid a fond farewell to one of the Shanghai scene's mainstays, jacksonblack as he takes to the stage for the last time. jacksonblack, we salute you.