Indie Music News & More

Learn about the latest news and happenings within the Broadjam.com community.

Log in to leave comments.

Not a member? Start here…

Archives

Vote for the Final 5!

This is it - down to the final 5 comments for the Steinberg Cubase 5 Ultimate Recording Package Giveaway! Now, you Broadjam members get to vote on which comment write-up should win the prize.

How do you vote? Well, take a look at the five finalists below the rules section and simply leave a comment for which one you think is best. Make sure to reference the corresponding number for each of the comments. We’ll tally up those comments and announce a winner at the end of the month.

These rules supplement, incorporate by reference, and are to be read with (and not to limit), the Broadjam User Agreement located within the Broadjam User Agreement.

  1. You must be at least 13 years of age to vote in the Full Compass Mbox 2 Pro Giveaway.
  2. You must provide true, accurate, current and complete contact and other information, as requested by Broadjam.
  3. You may be disqualified for false registration, making false claims, misrepresentation or any other behavior, action or activity that Broadjam, in its sole discretion, deems to be “cheating.”
  4. All votes for the Full Compass Mbox 2 Pro Giveaway must be fully posted in the blog by 11:59 PM Central Standard Time (or, if being observed, Central Daylight Time) on May 31, 2009.
  5. Closing and announcement dates may change without notice to you.
  6. All votes are final and irrevocable. Once you have posted your vote for the Full Compass Mbox 2 Pro Giveaway, you may not withdraw the vote or request to change.
  7. Broadjam may change these rules at any time, in Broadjam’s sole discretion, without notice to you.
  8. Voting in the Full Compass Mbox 2 Pro Giveaway does not grant you any right or license to use any Broadjam material (i.e. logos, images, text, etc.), trademarks or other intellectual property of Broadjam for any purpose, without Broadjam’s express written consent.
  9. Employees of Broadjam, their sponsors, advertising agencies, affiliates, agents, representatives, and the families or households of the above are ineligible to vote in the Full Compass Mbox 2 Pro Giveaway.
  10. Without limiting the applicability of other provisions of the User Agreement, the limitation of liability provisions of Section 1.11 of the Broadjam User Agreement apply to the Full Compass Mbox 2 Pro Giveaway.
  11. The selection of winners by Broadjam and the judges, is final and unappealable.
  12. Arrangements for receiving all prizes, unless otherwise specified, must be made within thirty days after Broadjam’s receipt of a winner’s affidavit of eligibility/publicity release. It is the responsibility of the winners to claim prizes within such thirty day period. All unclaimed prizes will be forfeited, and Broadjam may award any unclaimed prize to a runner-up.
  13. All prizes are non-transferable and void where prohibited by law. No cash substitution of prizes is allowed.
  14. The odds of winning will depend on the number of eligible votes received. Winners will receive the prizes as set forth in the Full Compass Mbox 2 Pro Giveaway announcement. In the event a prize is not available due to circumstances beyond Broadjam’s control, Broadjam reserves the right to provide a substantially similar substitute prize that Broadjam deems to be of greater or equal value.
  15. Winners understand and agree that they are solely responsible for any and all taxes, including but not limited to sales, income, or value added incurred on prizes received, and for any and all duties, tariffs, or import fees that may be assessed upon receiving prizes.
  16. Broadjam will incur the cost of shipping prizes. Broadjam may choose the method of shipping, in its sole discretion. Broadjam is not responsible for the failure or tardiness of prizes or damage to prizes, delivered via US Postal Service, United Parcel Service, Federal Express, DHL, or other reputable carrier. Proper identification such as a valid driver’s license, passport, state ID, or military ID may be required to accept delivery of prizes. In the event that a winner chooses not to accept a prize, the winner forfeits all claim to that prize, forever.
  17. The Full Compass Mbox 2 Pro Giveaway is void where prohibited.
  18. To obtain the name of a winner, which will be available after the conclusion of the Full Compass Mbox 2 Pro Giveaway, mail a self-addressed stamped envelope to: Broadjam Contest Winners, Broadjam, Inc., 6401 Odana Rd., Madison, WI 53719.

#1 Craig Bowers’s comment is:

As a citizen of the Broadjam community I have the privilege of receiving the assistance of hundreds of fantastically creative people helping me grow as both a songwriter and performer.The weak link in my process is the limitation of my recording equipment. The Cubase gear in this giveaway would bring me up to speed in my recordings and make my creative process less of a battle and more the labor of love that it should be.cb
Jun 12, 2009/11:45 am

#2 IsaacShepard’s comment is:

I started out using Cubase LE. After using it for several projects, I started running into the limitations of the light version, and so I invested in Cubase 4 and also got some basic M-Audio equipment. I’ve used Cubase now exclusively to compose four game soundtracks and my most recent solo-piano album. Now that I’m putting more and more time into recording, especially doing a ton of tedious MIDI editing, it would be great to be able to have this package.

Cubase 5 should help automate and streamline a bunch MIDI tasks, and the new VST features should help me focus more on using my creativity for making new music instead of for figuring out how to work around software problems. I’m already starting to notice that the fingers on my right hand are suffering from all of the repetitive mouse work and trying to click those little buttons… so the dedicated CC121 USB Control Surface would give me a much-needed break to my endless clicking and dragging tasks and hopefully make the whole process more efficient. I like the idea of being able to control track properties on the control surface without even needing to look at the computer screen.

Although the M-Audio interface I have has been getting me by, the inputs are limited to two channels and the latency I sometimes experience is quite annoying. According to the description of the MR 816 CSX Firewire Audio Interface, it states that it is the “hardware centerpiece in a latency-free recording and monitoring environment”… sounds perfect for my needs. The fact that it says it integrates seamlessly with the Cubase Control Room and offers 8 inputs with on-board compressors makes it even more tempting.

Overall, it looks like a great package.
May 28, 2009/1:19 am

#3 Sam Masiello’s comment is:

well, how much slobber can I get into this comment? Currently I am using a Tascam 2488, so how much better would Cubase 5 be? Er,uh, about a million? Well I must say, it would be awesome to step into the 21st century and record with some top of the line software as I’m sure Steinberg has pulled out all the stops in releasing Cubase 5. I love writing and recording and this would take alot of the grunt work out of the process. Automated mixing alone would be like a dream come true. I have never entered a contest such as this before, but with a prize such as Cubase, I could not resist.
It would be a real rush to win this. Until Broadjam, I had never even played my stuff for anyone. Broadjam has made writing even more fun and if I should win this? Dare I say, I would owe you MY LIFE!
( enough slobber?)
May 25, 2009/3:18 pm

#4 sharonhope’s comment is:

Wow! This would be a great opportunity for me to make better recordings. I have been using Cubase LE for years now and I really like it. I’ve been wanting to get the newest version so that I can put more vst software inside it and have more options and better, big studio sounds. I just can’t afford to purchase it. All of my songs on Broadjam.com were recorded with my Cubase LE. It would mean the world to me to win the real, updated version. I also have been recording other artists and I am getting more artists interested in coming to my home studio to record their music.So, I’m kinda embarrassed when they see that I only have a limited version of production software. So, to win all this software and equipment would be of great use to help me make the artists I record sound great, along with my songs too. So, thank you so much for this great opportunity. It would mean the world to me to win these fabulous studio items. I need them so much. I don’t have a firewire, so that would help out tremendously too.
May 21, 2009/10:52 pm

#5 MusicMagic’s comment is:

In my opinion Steinberg Cubase 5 is the best DAW out on the market today. I originally purchased Cubase Studio 4 and compared it heavily to other DAW’s out there. I chose Steinberg due to its great reputation, ease of use, and the overall look and feel of the DAW itself. They keep improving their product, and now with the addition of video tutorials, they’ve made it even easier to use! As an instrumentalist, the features that stand out for me in Cubase 5 are Loopmash, Beat Designer & Groove Agent 1. Plus the new control interface will really make using Cubase 5 even easier. I’d be in ultimate heaven with the Cubase 5 Ultimate Recording Package!
May 6, 2009/1:15 pm

Posted by Broadjam on Jul 2, 2009 in The Steinberg Giveaway

Bookmark and Share

Check out our Giveaway Blogs

Have you taken a look at our Giveaway Blogs that sit beside this blog? They’re a fun way to win cool gear. We’ve got the Steinberg Giveaway, which is now in the voting phase (add your vote!) and the Bose Giveaway where you can win a Bose L1 Compact system, pictured below (yes, it does look cool).

Submit your comment now!

Posted by Broadjam on Jul 2, 2009 in Broadjam Blog

Bookmark and Share

Broadjam Member Wins 1st place in Guitar Player Contest

Britt Warren’s song, “Hot Pursuit” was awarded first place in the Guitar Player Picks Contest and featured in the June ‘09 issue of Guitar Player Magazine. Broadjam.com agrees that Britt’s song is awesome. Within the first 20 seconds of the song it’s evident that Britt is a seasoned player. Since 1979 he has been a session pro, writer, and touring musician.

Upon starting a family, Britt decided to leave the road behind and took a job with an ad agency as an in-house composer for national TV and radio campaigns. Now that his kids have grown, Britt has re-emerged as a performance artist. In 2002 he release a project titled, “Fearless” and he is currently working on a new project that is close to completion. Check out Britt’s profile. To listen to his song, “Hot Pursuit” that won first place in Guitar Player Picks Contest, click here.

Britt Warren

Britt Warren

Posted by Broadjam on Jun 24, 2009 in Broadjam Blog

Bookmark and Share

This Bus is a Rockin’ Contest

Would you like to make a music video on the John Lennon Educational Tour Bus? Submit to this contest brought to you by the John Lennon Songwriting Contest and Broadjam. One band will be selected to record their video at the Warped Tour stop in Mountain View, CA on August 20, 2009 and get an awesome prize pack from the JLSC and its sponsors!

In addition to the HD recording session, the prize pack includes:

* One free entry into the John Lennon Songwriting Contest
* Maxell Prize Pack for each band member (includes CDRs, disc wipes, and other goodies)
* 1 Godin Guitar

Posted by Broadjam on Jun 16, 2009 in Broadjam Blog

Bookmark and Share

Primo MoB Fact

Music licensing opportunities are one of the most popular items for Broadjam members. Having a Primo MoB membership offers a great advantage with regard to these licensing opportunities in that Prim MoBs only pay a $5 submission fee per music licensing opportunity. Take a look at all the advantages of a Primo MoB here.

Posted by Broadjam on Jun 9, 2009 in Broadjam Blog

Bookmark and Share

The ‘09 6-Pack Contest Has Been Launched

The ‘09 6-Pack Contest Has Been Launched! Check it out here.

Posted by Broadjam on Jun 1, 2009 in Broadjam Blog

Bookmark and Share

The ‘09 6-Pack Contest Is On!

Well, it’s time to get your songwriting chops lubed and prepare for the 5th Annual 6-Pack Songwriting Competition.

As I mentioned, this is the fifth year of the 6-Pack. Liz Miller won the first two and Margaret McClure won the past two. I’m sure many of the veterans will be returning as I have been receiving steady inquiries about the starting date, challenges, etc. The first four categories are the annual primer (any song you have), a love song, an instrumental and a spiritual song. The last two will be announced later and I’m sure you’re going to love them!

I can’t wait to see what the veteran 6-Packers come up with and personally invite the newcomers to bring their “A” game. There’s not a songwriting competition out their quite like the Broadjam 6-Pack and you will be stretched way beyond your current capacity.

You will see lots of new technical changes coming to the 6-Pack as well. Many of these were a result of direct feedback and we threw in a few of our own. As always, I would love to hear your thoughts and suggestions regarding the 6-Pack or anything else we do for that matter. You can use this blog or send me a note directly. For some reason, I suspect you will have much to talk about.

As always, our sponsors have provided the contest with great prizes – take a look. They Include Sony, IK Multimedia, Line 6, Casio, Yamaha, ASCAP, and more!

So Get Lubed (Anything), Brew Some Luv (Love Songs), Shut Yer Yap (Instrumental) and get on that Rarified High (Spiritual) as we’re getting started.

The 2009 6-Pack is rockin’ and we’re off and running. Best of luck to everyone.

Sincerely,
Roy Elkins, Broadjam Founder and CEO

Posted by Broadjam on Jun 1, 2009 in The 6-Pack Blog

Bookmark and Share

Protilius Wins

The final voting is closed and the winner is: Protilius! Check out Protilius and his music here:

http://www.broadjam.com/protilius

Congrats, Protilius…

- Broadjam

#3 • Protilius’s comment is:

Yeah… You can say it…
“I am rock band!!!”

Given… you might not look as hot as a super sex icon swinging across your living room floor in pajamas, but at least you can record like one.
With the SM57-x2u you’ve got industry standard live performance ready to go in a nicely packaged portable bundle. This mic delivers industry standard performance naturally on the fly with absolutely no latency to confuse your likely already emotionally conflicted but incredibly talented vocalist.
No need to complicate things with unwanted latency… We have enough things to consider as producers, right?
So don’t take chances.

When it comes time to make all the pieces fit in a convenient and portable fashion, you know it’ll always boil down to the tried and true formulas when it comes to making it all work.

Come home to Shure… Its the one thing you can count on in such an unpredictable world.

Regards:
Protilius

Posted by Broadjam on Jun 1, 2009 in Broadjam Blog

Bookmark and Share

B Rob Productions Wins

The final voting is closed and the winner is: B Rob Productions! Check out B Rob and his music here:

http://www.broadjam.com/BRob

Congrats, B Rob…

- Broadjam

#1 • B Rob Productions’s comment is:

Mbox2 Pro: Well, I’ve been using Pro Tools for a couple of years now.
So, How would I use thee? Let me count the ways:

Firewire: crazy connections speeds and much nicer than my Mbox 2 or my Mbox 2 Micro. I’ll admit that I love them both, but with the featues that Pro Tools Mbox 2 Pro offers…I’m definitely enamored with this baby.

Dual Headphones jacks: Can you say “No splitter wires”…all together now “NO SPLITTER WIRES”. Best of all, when I finally convince my wife to sing the hook on my next song as I track the vocals, I won’t blow her eardrums out with the 808s I have cranking on the track. Now that’s money in the bank…almost better than saving money using Geico.

Pro Tools 8 LE: The name says it all…I’d pull an all-nighter in my office, err, I mean my studio to get familiar with all the tools this baby has to offer. Shazam - I’d be an overnight sensation (well, maybe)

Dual Mic inputs: Perfect for singing background along with my lead singers…set the volume just right and I won’t sound so terrible…ahh forget the Auto-Tune. It’s all getting your compression and input settings right (and paying for a good singer too). With the Mbox 2 Pro, I’m all over it!
Lastly, getting my hands on the Mbox2 Pro…I’d be forced to put my current Mbox 2 on the shelf. Heck, I might even donate it to charity. I can’t say the same for my Mbox2 Micro (I’m attached now) but with Pro Tools 8 in tandem…look out the next platinum producer.

Enough said…

-

Posted by Broadjam on Jun 1, 2009 in Broadjam Blog

Bookmark and Share

Win A Bose L1 Compact Speaker!

We’ve got another opportunity to win free gear in a Giveaway Blog! This time, the fine people at Bose have a very cool new speaker that they want to give a Broadjam member - the Bose L1 Compact.

Like all Bose L1 models, the new L1 Compact system combines conventional PA and monitors into one sleek, highly portable unit that can be positioned behind or beside a performer. Its advanced technologies enable the system to deliver wide, smooth sound coverage throughout the stage area and audience ― even off to the sides ― throughout the stage area and an audience of approximately 100. And, the new L1 Compact system is the lightest, easiest-to-set-up and most affordable L1 model yet.

Make sure to leave your comment and get a chance to win this ultra-modern setup!

l1_product2

Posted by Broadjam on Jun 1, 2009 in Broadjam Blog

Bookmark and Share

Us