Canon EOS 70D

Lets talk about the Canon EOS 70D. This camera is perfect for commercial and film work. I have recently got to check this camera out and it is powerful. The body build of this camera is like most of the other cameras from the Cannon line. For the first time this camera has auto focus while recording that allows you to point and touch the screen to auto adjust to a certain object being recorded rather than hoping for the camera to automatically figure out what it is your wanting it to pick up visually.

The EOS 70D retails for $1,199.00 and the quality of picture taking and filmmaking are unlimited. This powerhouse will forever change the way we create art and tackle projects. We no longer have to struggle with stabilization since this release of the revolutionary autofocus technology. I ask you to step inside of Best Buy or a Cannon retailer to check this camera out. Ask about the new autofocus and you will be stunned at how easy and fun this camera can be.

Another really cool thing about the 70D is that the face recognition for this camera is amazing and can allow automatic tracking regardless of how fast or slow the motion is without any noise or interlacing issues. Here is a clip of a short film done with the Cannon EOS 70D only. Lets keep in mind that the lenses are being changed depending on the lighting in each scene.

In the end this camera would be the best bang for the buck when working on commercial viable grade short films or any media for that matter. If you already own some of the lenses than this camera will be a walk in the park. Thanks for reading this blog.

As always, please leave comments and feel free to ask questions. From all of us here at Studio Knights let the good times roll.

The Interesting Sound of One Man: ENO

Interesting to think of the world without Brian Eno. What a wonderful and brilliant mind. Crazy how in 1975 he was plowed into by a Taxi cab moving 40mph. It seemed to put him at rest long enough for him to capture the ambience sound coming from one speaker due to the music being too low.

After being exposed to conceptual painting from art school in 1965 and not able to play traditional instruments Eno began to build sound sculptures and spent days on creating collages of sonically sound. Brian would speed up and down the sound and was amazed by the possibilities he could create. Most believe he is pop’s most influential artist! Eno has stamped his techniques and sound on a number of projects and artist alike. Some artist include The Velvet Underground, Maxwell Demon, Merchant Taylor’s Simultaneous Cabinet etc… Eno changed the way music was produced, mixed, approached, performed and you name it. I like how Brian collaborated with art and made it come to life. I find it very interesting that Mr. Eno calls himself a non-musician. Yet he was sitting in his Drake Hotel suite playing a lineup of glasses filled with liquids of varying degrees. (According to www.enoweb.co.uk )

As a professional in the industry I think Brian Eno’s role, as producer was incredibly needed. It takes a special person to jump out of the box to make a change and create something… That’s right, I said, “CREATE.” So many try to imitate something that’s already being done. Here we have someone that said, “Ok, I may not be able to play an instrument but it doesn’t mean that I can’t get involved and CREATE music.” I wonder, “what if everybody sat down for one minute a day and thought about something they could do or CREATE that would change the world forever.” – Our world might be in better shape!

Interview with GRAMMY Winner Art Greenhaw (Negotiating Tactics)

Here I am with friend and collaborator, GRAMMY™Award Winning Art Greenhaw who has plunged his band The Light Crust Doughboys into new heights of success since from the early days that involved Bob Wills (Bob Wills and The Texas Playboys). My interest with this blog post is to get an understanding of how Art has negotiated throughout the many years to gain a little more knowledge on how the entertainment world works and to learn some helpful techniques.

I start out by asking Art how he addresses issues with others on how to separate the people from the problem when negotiating. It’s easy to understand that everybody perceives ideas and concepts differently. Josh says, “How do you handle situations like this where you feel the other person is not understanding you and vice versa and what tips do you have for others”? Art says, “Of course with any top-flight music organization it’s at least half or more business, half or less music and art. The first thing I always try to do is make sure everyone has a real good virtual equal say art wise in the art and science side of the performances and recordings, that’s just my management style. Let’s always keep in might that the LCDB band… the sum is greater than any of the parts. However, we try to make everyone feel artistically on the same level with everyone else. Business wise… it’s a bit different just simply because every business has a head and you can’t run business on a committee basis. So when it comes to business since I own the Doughboys, I own and maintain the trademarks, I have all of the business and financial responsibility and take care of that myself but we still try to make all the band members feel equally and artistically important”.

Josh asks, “There are two sides to negotiations, your side and the other side. I understand that The Light Crust Doughboys consist of many members. How do you handle positioning bargaining tactics when there are more than two people or a partnership”? Art says, “Going back to my original thesis we try to run artistically side of the band that everyone feels like there as important as anyone else and as-far-as the total vision of the band that’s non-negotiable… that’s my realm and of course we’re in a situation with most music organizations its not a strict employer/employee relationship… It’s a contract relationship… So it’s more of a common wealth situation artistically and me as the owner of the corporation making decisions… We’re dealing with a high enough level of sophistications with the musicians where if they don’t fit in or feel the vision that they normally move on with out me having to say anything at all”.

Josh says, “Coming to a mutual understanding sometimes seems impossible. Could you give me an example of a time where you had to overcome this obstacle and how you moved towards a mutual benefit when negotiating a deal”? Art says, “Sure, so often in my type of music… ticket sales just don’t always cover the expenses incurred by the promoter, the venue, and our musical group… so someone has to make up the difference… I try with my experience to consult and let the client know how do they make up the difference and how do they get underwriters. I attempt to help them with either corporate sponsors, underwriters or grants with year of experience I know what few grants are available for music performances… With our type of business… symphonies, operas, and artistic endeavors… very, very few times do ticket sales take care of the necessary expenses and wages of all the people involved… all around the country, all over Texas and all the arts groups just don’t make it on ticket sales… They have underwriters… so that’s basically how I handle it. I help with underwriters”.

After that last question we thanked each other for the conversation. I’m glad I was able to share this short interview with everyone. As always I am very thankful for having Art as a collaborator and friend. I enjoy these moments.

- Josh Knight

Innovation from early Innovators

Electronic music has come a long way from the early innovations of technology including magnetic tape and synthesizers. Early pioneers like Kraftwerk, whom pushed the boundaries of early electronics, set the stage for other musicians alike. David Bowie and engineer Brian Eno showed so much interest, these two went left for Germany to pursue the sound. David Bowie being one of the artist using further experimentation from the Kraftwerk compositions (Electronic Music) has made mainstream success in dance music. Not just for him but even future artist like Marvin Gaye with his song SEXUAL HEALING. I think it is wonderful what groups like Kraftwerk was able to accomplish.

I really like German producer and musician Conny Plank. He crafted some wonderful masterpieces. Conny worked with several acts like Liliental and Os Mundi, Kraftwerk, Guru Guru, Cluster etc… Starting his carreer in the 1960’s as sound engineer with his first album Kluster. Lets not forget the most important albums produced in the 1970’s like Kraftwerk, Kraftwerk 2, Ralf and Florian, Autobahn etc… By this time Mr. Plank had a nice palette of imagery and taste for the electronic sound. Conny became big on mainstream rock artist in Germany and crafted a new era of production for electronic in the music industry.

As a professional I like how the electronic era came out into the public. With this I am talking about the success of David Bowie and Brian Eno and the albums Berlin Trilogy, Low, Heroes and Lodger. All of these albums where highly influenced by Conny Plank. In the long run electronic music became a step up with not only dance but also became pop. Thank you very much for your time. I hope you enjoyed reading my blog. Feel free to leave a comment below and let me know what you think.

Regards,

Joshua

Whats Going On - Marvin Gaye

Whats Going On - Marvin Gaye

Marvin Gaye was such an exceptional person when it came to music. He had a heart and felt what others were feeling. Looking on the outside in, he seemed comical and interesting. However, being on the inside seemed as demanding as ever. He was married to Anna, Berry Gordy’s sister in which was the owner of Hitsville U.S.A. ‘The Snake-Pit’. With thoughts and images from the letters his brother Frankie sent from his 3-year tour of duty in Vietnam, and the memories of his fathers abusiveness had set the stage very clear for the song WHATS GOING ON. Of course, lets not forget the 1967 “race riot” that enriched the sky with the burning smell of houses and local businesses.

Gaye had to overcome so much pressure to get the song WHATS GOING ON released into mainstream media. With the war and politics and crazy riots everywhere Mr. Gordy was sure it would ruin him and his image. Berry recalls a time when Marvin was so excited about the song. Gordy told a T.V. interviewer,

“He called and said, ‘Lookit, I’ve got to release this album. I’ve got these songs, it’s great. ‘When he told me they were protest songs, I said, ‘Marvin, why do you want to ruin your career? Why do you want to put out a song about the Vietnam war, police brutality and all of these things? You’ve got all these great love songs. You’re the hottest artist, the sex symbol of the ‘60’s and ‘70s…’”

Finally Gaye made him an ultimatum, until Berry and his Quality Control cabal came to release WHATS GOING ON, Marvin would do nothing more for the company. Marvin Gaye was the first of the soul era to produce a record aiming to make a difference within the community and take a political strike at cultural. His vocals were blended and stacked or overdubbed in a high and low part for the recording. (He did a couple of lead mono takes accidentally dubbed together) founded by accident, this later became a hallmark of his vocal style.

As an industry professional, I see a person that would stop at nothing to see his dreams, wants and desired come to pass. Some good and some bad, but in the end most obstacles were overcome. Haunted by drug addiction like most other artist of that time, in which influenced his playing style and tangible writing techniques. He seemed to have much to say, R.I.P. Marvin. 

(NARAS) The National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences (Entertainment Business)

I would like to talk with you about The Recording Academy also known for the Annual GRAMMY Awards.

We will be talking about another area of The Recording Academy called GRAMMY U. This program is designed to help students get connected at an early age with the entertainment world by educating the youth about the academy and the multiple different areas of recording. Being apart of the academy has been a huge success for me. I am no longer a GRAMMY U student but have moved up to a Voting Member.

It’s important to network and be apart of something bigger than yourself. Looking back on the many journeys I have been apart of I couldn’t see my life in regards to the entertainment world being any different. I have met some of the most notable and promising celebrities in the world. Of course this started at such an early age for me being 16 and hanging out backstage with none other than Mr. B.B. King himself.

Becoming apart of the industry has separated me from the crowd. GRAMMY U has opened so many wonderful doors for me to walk through.

I remember loading the Josh Abbot Band trailer and getting to mingle with the group all day during sound check and even got to have a drink with them (Root Beer). In fact, on that same day at SXSW I also got to assist the new and upcoming star Gary Clark Jr..

Lets keep in mind that this volunteer work would only be optional for GRAMMY U students. Even though I would sometimes make long morning drives from my studio in Dallas TX to Austin for SXSW to assist many wonderful artist over the past few years I believe it was worth it.

I hope you have all liked the read.

Until next post, Joshua Knight

Thomas Dolby: “Love Is a Loaded Pistol” (Business Storytelling)

 I would like to take a moment and discuss the possibilities of performance with a story. Many artists of all kinds capture the audience very well but do they show their vision and place a strong mindset or imagery for the listener? I would like to share this short 4-minute video with you about Mr. Dolby. His inspiration can be shown here along with his strong ability to entertain the audience. Pay attention to how he captures the crowd. We can all take lessons here. Click here to view Mr. Dolby's website.

How amazing is it to hear a song that is set up by a story. I came across this song from TED.com when Mr. Dolby captures the crowd from the idea of writing a song from his boat the Nutmeg. He explains how he rarely plays songs of his own because there wasn’t any. His conversation started out talking about this project of restoring the Nutmeg and how if the polar ice caps where to melt his boat would rise up like an ark. This boat is where his recording creation station lies. What amazing humor and creativity from Mr. Dolby.

Setting up this story for the song by leading us into his life and existence of the Nutmeg is a clever way to help others understand how to tell a story. He talks about the solar panel/turbine this boat is being electrified with and how he stays up into the early morning writing new songs. Mr. Dolby has inspired me to look deeper within myself to create ideas and capture the story by using humor and creativity. Images are a wonderful thing when explaining an idea or song. What a wonderful and humorous listen. Thank you Mr. Dolby for the wonderful song. I really liked how you set us up on your vision before the performance.