Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/7700
www.postmagazine.com March 2010 • Post 33 Big Al vocalizes ideas S TOCKHOLM, SWEDEN — Using Yamaha's Vocaloid 2 software, Pow- erFX (www.powerfx.com) has developed Big Al, a new creative tool that allows users to type words or lyrics into their computer and im- mediately hear them sung back. Big Al´s vocals come from a real singer, who was recorded extensively, en- abling PowerFX to create a comprehensive library of vocal sounds. Vocaloid software users type in words and assign melodies or import MIDI files to Big Al. He then emulates the words and notes. Expressive effects, vibrato and dy- namics can also be added. The Big Al/Vocaloid package includes a standalone version with export to .wav functionality, Realtime VSTi performance and ReWire connectivity. It is available as a download for $149, or for $179 on DVD. MVI calls on Sound Ideas for White House special W ASHINGTON, DC — MVI Post (www.mvipost.com) used ele- ments from the Sound Ideas library in posting the recent con- cer t special In Performance at the White House: A Celebration of Music From the Civil Rights Movement. The program was hosted by President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama in honor of Black History Month, and included performances by Natalie Cole, Bob Dylan and Jennifer Hudson. Mor- gan Freeman ser ved as emcee. Song mixing was produced by Ricky Minor, musical director for American Idol. While MVI has its own original Foley library, Sound Ideas elements, such as cheers, hoots and hollers, were also used to enhance the soundtrack. AEG Ehrlich Ventures, LLC, produced the show at the White House, bringing in the All Mobile Video truck for recording and Mix Music Mobile for remixing the audio performances.The concert took place on February 9 and aired na- tionally on PBS on February 11. The studio used two Telestream Pipeline HD Dual systems to simultane- ously capture 16 hours of content from four high definition camera sources. Pipeline encoded the sources to DNxHD in native Avid MXF files for use di- rectly in post production. The studio had an 18-hour deadline for the project and used two Avid Symphony Nitris systems to post the job. A new Mitsubishi 4900 LCD HD projector in the main edit room allowed editors to easily see the multicam screens. MVI's Gar y Ezard ser ved as lead editor while Steven Maniglia ran the "B" room. Audio was remixed in the Mix Music Mobile truck and then transferred to MVI's audio suite and mixed on a Fairlight Crystal Core-based system. MVI's senior audio designer Frank Scheuring handled the final mix. Color correction took place in the da Vinci 2K Plus suite. Vivendi gets new sonic logo D ALLAS — FirstCom Music (www.firstcom.com), which is home to a library of over 140,000 tracks, put its original music creation skills to use recently, creating a custom track for Vivendi Enter tainment, a sister division of their parent company. FirstCom provided an orchestral cine- matic sound that complements the sophisticated and clean feel of the new Vivendi "V" logo animation. FirstCom scored the music to picture using early versions of animation supplied by Vivendi. Ken Nelson, who served as producer and executive pro- ducer of the soundtrack says, "Vivendi Entertainment had a very clear idea of the image and sound they wanted. Unlike many traditional libraries, we had the expertise to take the actual animation roughs and score directly to those assets. This allowed us to tr y several different approaches and orchestral mixes until we were able to capture just the right mood." Nelson worked closely with Mark Kristol, Vivendi Enter tainment's execu- tive VP of theatrical marketing & distribution, through several weeks of the post production process.