Namba Gear Blog by Woody Moran

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4eb0aDPwBY

The Lantern Festival

Woody — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 01:10:30 +0000

Just a little something from Tribal Drums to brighten your day; the Lantern Festival in Taiwan. I would love to actually see this… thousands of huge brightly lit lanterns floating in the night sky.

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Coreysan - Namba Gear Featured Artist

Woody — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 21:02:43 +0000

Corey Wallace a.k.a. Coreysan (Composer, Performing & recording musician)

CITY: Tacarigua, Trinidad

WEBSITE: www.coreysan.com

Namba Gear: Big Namba Studio Backpack

Corey Wallace a.k.a Coreysan has been involved in music since 1987. This self-taught musician’s musical explorations are as diverse as Trinidad and Tobago, the country from which he comes.

As a Trinidadian musician/artiste, observing his global/universal nature, Coreysan continues to expand upon the scope of multicultural influences available in the Caribbean with the musical culture of both the modern and old worlds, through the fusion of live and electronic elements that find a common ground in his music. He creates music that reaches out to all walks of life, conjuring different ways of projecting a universal message that is mysterious and adventurous, yet digestible by all. He calls this music “Electronic Caribbean World Fusion”.

Coreysan has produced, arranged, recorded and mastered two CD albums, Coreysan (2004) and Light and Shadow (2006) at Khongharhee studios, his studio in Tacarigua, Trinidad. These two CDs featured his original compositions including collaborations with Trinidadian poets and a special collaboration with international recording artiste Remo Fernandes (Goa, India) who graciously plays the Indian bamboo flute on the instrumental Track “Varem” (Coreysan 2004).

In February 2008, Coreysan performed for the first time out of his homeland as a solo artiste at the 12th Millennium Music Conference (MMC 12) held in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania where he left a lasting impact with his Electronic Caribbean World Fusion.

In August 2008, he also had the opportunity to open for the Trinidadian Rapso/World Fusion band “3 Canal” at their concert held at The Cobden, London, England while they were on their European Summer Tour 2008 of France, BelgiumEngland. and

This year (March 2009) Coreysan had the honour of being selected to perform at South by South West 2009 held in Austin, Texas which presented yet another opportunity for him to showcase his work on an international stage. Those present at the showcase thoroughly enjoyed Coreysan’s “off the beaten track” performance, so much that he is planning to do a follow up performance in Austin in the near future.

He has also performed with Trinidadian groups as a session bassist at numerous international music festivals like Montreux Jazz Festival (Switzerland 2000), Caribbean Roots (N.Y.C 2000), Le Printemps de Bourge, (France 2001), Womex 2007 (Seville, Spain) and France (2008).

WHAT IS YOUR LATEST PROJECT? WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON?

Presently, I’m working on new material featuring my recently acquired Theremin, which was given to me by J. Fred Brillhart of Fredrico Percussions while attending/performing at MMC 12 in Pennsylvania, February 2008. My third CD album “In Transit” will be released in the summer of 2009.

WHAT DO YOU LIKE BEST ABOUT YOUR NAMBA GEAR BAG?

“Yes! The Big Namba swallowed my entire mobile set up (E-mu Xboard25, Edirol UA-25EX, Audio Technica M50 headphones, mic & cables, USB and other cables and the list goes on.) I got a little fight with my laptop (17″ Dell Inspiron 9400) which is kinda big for a laptop/desktop replacement these days. It just took a little angling and that was it. Everything fits inside…. WOW! What was more mind blowing was the weight distribution of the backpack. When I lifted it up from the handle, it felt like I had the whole set up in the bag (literally) but when I put it on my back it suddenly felt light, comfortable and well balanced. I am thoroughly impressed with this bag and think that it is an engineering masterpiece.”

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Namba Gear Studio Backpack Perfect Fit for Akai’s New APC40 Dedicated Controller for Ableton Live

Woody — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 22:47:59 +0000

The Akai APC40 dedicated controller for the Ableton Live software fits perfectly in the Big Namba Studio Backpack.

The first time I heard about Ableton Live was the Frankfurt Musik Messe trade show of 2002, when I was VP Sales & Mrktg for M-Audio. My old friend, Craig Anderton, grabbed me and said, “you’ve got to come see this new software.” He pulled me over to this small green booth where I got my first “hit” of Live. I was impressed. Within a few months after the show, we had struck a deal for Western Hemisphere and UK distribution and introduced Live. All of that is simply to say, I’ve been an Ableton Live fan for many years.

I was recently speaking with a reviewer for Future Music, and he said, “The best thing about the Akai APC40 is that it encourages you to use Live in the way it was intended… On Stage.” Why was he talking to me? He needed to get a case for his new APC40 and he had heard that Namba Gear had the solution with the Big Namba Studio Backpack.

It seems that the word is out on the forums, chatrooms and twitter. The Big Namba Studio Backpack has room for up to a 17″ laptop, headphones, audio device, cables, mics and your Akai APC40 with room to spare.

Congratulations to Akai & Ableton for making a wonderful product. A big Hooray for all of the Ableton users that we have such a great new tool to use with our music. And if you need to take it to a gig, don’t forget about Namba Gear.

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DJ Michael Trance - Namba Gear Featured Artist

Woody — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 18:12:15 +0000

NAME: Mike Acosta aka DJ Michael Trance (dj/producer)

CITY: Los Angeles, CA

WEBSITE: www.djmichaeltrance.com

FAVORITE MUSIC SOFTWARE: Ableton Live 8, Pro Tools LE8

NAMBA GEAR: Lil Namba Remix Backpack

Having played across the U.S. and over-seas, Michael Trance is a name that is no stranger to the electronic music scene. From Hollywood’s trendiest spots, such as the Vanguard & Avalon to his current residency on Saturday nights at Circus in Hollywood, Michael has a long history in the LA club scene. Under the names Mike Acosta and Michael Trance, he has done production work and remixes for many big artist names. His sound design and content creation skills have been featured in many keyboard workstations, samplers and groove box musical instruments from Roland U.S.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR LATEST PROJECT

Currently has been working on new sound sets for the Roland flagship workstation keyboard, the Fantom-G, along with content development for future products. Michael just finished remixing tracks for such artists as Kid Cudi and The Paradiso Girls.

WHAT DO YOU LIKE BEST ABOUT YOUR NAMBA GEAR BAG?

I love the design and comfort of the Lil Namba Remix Backpack. It’s very flexible for me as a DJ/producer with all the traveling I have to do at times and club gigs. I can fit my Macbook Pro 15″ with cables, hard drive, 12″ vinyl and Serato box when it’s club time and a mini keyboard or pad controller when it’s producer time.

It is ergonomically correct for my back and the super cushy shoulder straps make it even better. I also love the fact that the Lil Namba Remix bag does NOT make my back sweat like some other bags I have tried before. There’s plenty of space inside for all kinds of things and it does not look big at all when wearing it and walking into the club (it’s very stylish). I can unpack quickly to set up to play my set and I can quickly pack up once the club is over and security is rushing all the djs to get out. This is a great bag and I would highly recommend it to any dj using their laptop as part of their show. Great job Namba!

WHERE DO YOU PREFER TO RECORD?

As far as a favorite remote location to record, I would have to say outside by my pool or in the airplane. The only thing I hate about working on music during a flight is the nosey person next to me grilling me with 50 million questions about what I’m doing and how is it all possible. So I think outside by my pool would be #1.

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Namba Gear Tips on How To Keep Your DJ Laptop Safe While on the Road

Woody — Wed, 13 May 2009 05:03:50 +0000

I recently got a freaked out phone call from an East Coast DJ looking to purchase a Big Namba Studio Backpack. It seems that he was standing in one of the endless lines at one of New York’s major airports with his laptop DJ gear in his old backpack. The backpack had the name of a major equipment supplier in bold letters across the face and lots of “convenient” outside pockets. He might as well have had a big sign on his back that said, “Please rob me, I’m carrying lots of expensive gear and it is easily accessible.”

The silent robber stole a beautiful new $350 microphone and a pair of headphones without leaving a trace. The theft was discovered when the DJ went through security and noticed that his outside compartment zippers were open and his gear lost forever. Of course the real nightmare would have been the lose of his DJ laptop.

Laptops have made DJing on the road for extended periods of time more feasible and significantly more fun. The only problem is that all this expensive gear has brought with it a host of new worries when traveling. So we have asked a few top DJs who travel extensively with laptops for tips they have learned to keep laptops secure and make traveling with digital gear as smooth as possible.

Slim Fast?

Yes, it’s insane to complain about the weight of a computer bag when you compare it with the weight of 200 records, but there are lots of ways that you can slim down the size of your digital-DJ bag. Trucking through endless security checks and corridors can get old really fast, so do yourself a favor and cut as much fat as possible. Do you really need those giant Pioneer headphones? Check out some custom in-ear monitors: They sound great, reduce ambient noise and take up far less room. Etymotic Research (etymotic.com) makes several models, including the ER•4s and ER•6s, which are quite popular for long plane flights. M-Audio (m-audio.com) carries a few models as well.

Where’s My Backup?

The Boy Scout motto (and your new mantra) is, “Be prepared.” Backups are a crucial part of any DJ regimen, but if something happens to your laptop on the road, that Lacie drive at home won’t save the gig. Playing the resident DJ’s 128 Kbps MP3 files is not going to cut it either, so you had better come up with a contingency plan before traveling. Some DJs will tell you, “Bring a backup computer. You are getting paid two to 10 times as much as a backup computer would cost you. So it doesn’t really make any sense to lose the gig because your computer crashed.” A great alternative idea to stay mobile is that you can also buy an 80 GB iPod or a travel drive and back up all of your crucial music and program installers. Then, in a pinch, a loaner laptop can fill in temporarily. Most experienced travelers never check any luggage; the same should always be true for your DJ gear. Never check anything required for your performance.

Road Essentials

When we asked our DJs about what to make sure to bring we got some great ideas. “Always bring a laptop stand if you’re tall, create a no-drinks barrier around your laptop, and don’t forget the power supply!” The no-drinks barrier is an unfortunate reality that must be kept in mind when using a laptop. Too many DJs have found out the hard way; laptops and Long Island iced teas are a match made in hell.

A couple of must-haves for your DJ travel bag: Caig Deoxit (caig.com). This little cleaning solution is a life saver, just use the pen version because you can’t travel with aerosol these days thanks to the TSA. The Kensington (kensington.com) gooseneck USB lamp. This might just be the most useful item in your bag, as DJ booths are always too dark.

Give Me Some Peace of Mind

Well, this is where Namba Gear comes in. High performance bags & backpacks (without the screaming logo of an expensive digital gear provider), using weather-resistant, 1680D poly/nylon material and over-sewn stress point construction techniques to deliver a superior product. Cushy & plush internal compartments and pockets for your gear and lockable zippers for security. Conforms to airline carry-on regulations. It just doesn’t get any better.

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Namba Gear Launches Musician & DJ Lifestyle Bag with Samba Personal Stash Bag

Woody — Thu, 07 May 2009 21:46:43 +0000

Sometimes the best ideas sneak up on you. An old friend and recording artist approached me at the January NAMM Show in Anaheim. He was wearing the coolest small bag slung across his chest and I immediately had to find out about it. He told me that he had picked up this “stash” bag in a dj shop in New York, but had subsequently been unable to find another like it because he wanted to get a couple more to give them as gifts to musician friends. Then he started to tell me about all the different ways that he used the bag…

In a promotional setting, he could fit about 5 or 6 demo CD’s inside. For recording sessions, going back and forth to the studio, he used it to carry his iLok, memory stick & CD-R’s. He used it as his remote recording bag to hold his handheld digital recorder and in-ear monitors to do field recording or capturing samples. And of course as an everyday bag to carry the stuff that you would typically spread into a four or five pockets in your clothing.

I got him to dump his bag out so that I could see what he had in it and was amazed at how much this little bag could carry: a wallet, business cards, note pad, couple of pens, camera, memory stick, cell phone, keys, chewing gum & breath mints; and there was still room in the bag. Wow, this little bag was amazing. “You know,” my friend said, “Namba Gear should make a little stash bag like this. I bet there are a lot of guys that would really dig this.” So that’s how we got the initial idea for the Samba Personal Stash Bag.

Measuring 7″ x 7″ x 3.5″, the exta long strap allows the Samba Personal Stash Bag to be worn across the chest or off the shoulder. Features include a metal clasp, two inside zippered poskets and one outside Velcro pocket, and can be used to carry CD’s, memory stick, iLok, wallet, keys, handheld digital recorder, camera, iPod, in-ear monitors, phone, pen, notepad, business cards and hundreds of other small items and personal essentials that a musician or dj needs to carry with them.

The Samba stash bag is made of the same high performance, weather resistant, 1680D/poly nylon materials and construction as the rest of the Namba Gear product line. The bag is available in Mayan Brown, Olive Green and Charcoal Grey. And yes, we got the official seal of approval on the Samba Personal Stash Bag from my friend.

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nh7YyoDD138

Amazing “Stand By Me” Video

Woody — Sun, 03 May 2009 04:18:24 +0000

Maybe it’s because we just attended the ASCAP Expo and are really tuned into song structure, but the Ben E King song “Stand By Me” has got to rank up there as one of the greats. We happened across this video which uses street musicians and takes this song to totally new heights. Although we didn’t observe any Namba Gear, it is obvious that the producers of Playing for Change embraced the mobile studio idea to travel the world in order to realise their vision for this song. Amazing, awesome, inspiring. Enjoy.

Read Related Articles: Tribal Drums

ASCAP Expo Roundup

Woody — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 17:39:33 +0000

ASCAP “I CREATE MUSIC” EXPO

Namba Gear attended the ASCAP Expo at the Renaissance Hotel in Hollywood, CA on April 23-25. We participated on some co-promotions with our friends from Broadjam and got a chance to attend some of the songwriter seminars and sessions.

The first session we attended was hosted by author and music journalist Dan Kimpel about Networking Strategies for Songwriters. Dan got us all thinking and set the tone when he mentioned that ASCAP had just given out 60 songwriting awards the night before and None of the 60 award-winning songs were written by a single songwriter… every one of them was a collabrative effort.

One of the most interesting sessions we joined was The Art of Collaboration: A Live Songwriting Session. Songwriters James Fauntleroy, Cri$tyle “the Ink” Johnson, Andre Merritt & Brian”BK” Kennedy were going to use the latest in technolgy to create a track and write lyrics over it. Unfortunately technology failed us, but the grand piano in the corner came through as the crew improvised and gathered around. BK played a riff over and over, ideas were tossed in, tossed out, and modified as they came up with a melody and lyrics for a tune titled “Radioactive”.

It just doesn’t get much better than Ann & Nancy Wilson of Heart telling the stories behind their songs and an acoustic performance. We learned that we should never piss them off or you may get a song written about you (”Barracuda”), that Nancy goes to various guitars for different inspiration, “Guitars are people too.”, and Ann still has the pipes to blow the doors off the place.

There were memorable performances everywhere. ASCAP took over the Hollywood Highlands club at night and we were treated to stories and performances by Dan Wilson (how to hide the lyrics of one song inside another in “Closing Time”), Siedah Garrett (how Q’s instruction for another “Shake your booty” song morphed into “Man in the Mirror”), and new ASCAP President Paul Williams’ journey from out-of-work actor to writing “Rainy Days & Mondays”. Pictured is Hawaian songwriter Henry Kapono Ka’aihue on the ASCAP Network Stage.

Stephen Bishop, Wendy Waldman, Gary Baker & Jack Tempchin took the stage for Every Song Tells a Story. Some words of wisdom from Jack Tempchin (Peaceful Easy Feelin, Already Gone) “The most important thing is life is… showing up.” Wendy Waldman told a great story of how going to Poland in January on a songwriters exchange (”I was hoping for Paris in Spring”), led to one of the most surpising and pivitol points of her career.

Stephen Bishop performed a moving version of his hit song, “On and On”. Later, Wendy Waldman gave the perfect reason for collaboration is conquering writers block. “Writers block is not having an absence of ideas, but rather having a hundred ideas but thinking they all suck. Having a collaborator helps you recognize that maybe one of two of them didn’t really suck.”

Rob Hyman (piano) & Eric Bazilian from the Hooters joined Narada Michael Walden, Holly Knight and Emanuel Kiriakou in a Writers & Producers Jam. Of special note was a beautiful rendition of Rob’s ”Time After Time” and a soulful version of Holly Knight’s “Love is a Battlefield”. If you are a songwriter, (you don’t have to be an ASCAP member to attend) the ASCAP Expo can be a life-altering experience and is highly recommended.

One of the personal treats provided by the ASCAP Expo was the opportunity to hook up with people that you have only met via phone or email. We got a chance to hang with Namba Gear endorsers and songwriting team Margaret McClure and Andy Machin. We also got to hang with Namba Gear endorser Troy Castellano (pictured with his Kava bag). To paraphrase David Bowie, “their enthusiasm in all things is infectious and contagious.” Hope to see you at ASCAP Expo next year.

Read Related Articles: Musicians Resources

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-jgzveh2Qhg

Big Namba Studio Backpack Spotlight Video in Spanish, Featuring Mauricio Claveria

Woody — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 18:35:32 +0000

Famed drummer Mauricio Claveria of La Ley and Los Concorde recently got a Big Namba Studio Backpack and noticed that we didn’t have much information about our products in Spanish. So our new amigo Mauricio volunteered to give us a video in espanol to help us get our point across.

For those that do not speak Spanish, Mauricio arrives at the studio in Mexico City on his motorcycle with his aerodynamic Big Namba, and proceeds to explain all of the equipment he carries in his Namba Gear backpack. (Watch for the part where he puts his headphones in the front pocket and the bag just swallows them.)

Muchos gracias, Mauricio!

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