Sonic Academy goes online

News

Rob Hughes Apr 21 2008, 5:03pm

Retailers and manufacturers to benefit from accessible tutorials

Music Production and DJ Academy Sonic Academy is bringing its technical help online this month with the launch of Sonic Academy Online.

Targeted at those involved or interested in music production across all levels sonicacademy.com provides a range of must have services with an ethos of high production values, professional presenters and knowledge. The interactive site enables tutorials to be downloaded in bite size modules to answer a specific question or problem area, or as a whole course, taking you through step-by-step on screen how to maximise the use of your software or hardware. Each tutorial will cost £3.49.

Sonic Academy was launched as a physical DJ and music production training Academy by musician, former Divine Comedy band member and DJ, Kevin Traynor and DJ/producer Phil Johnston in 2003. Based in Belfast, the academy runs accredited training programmes and has attracted music production enthusiasts across the board, from complete beginners through to professional DJs and producers including Agnelli & Nelson and Fergie (formally of Radio 1). Traynor and his knowledgeable team, comprising experienced DJs, producers and trainers are now transferring their skill set online.

Sonicacademy.com contains beginner through to ultra-advanced video tutorials on leading software packages, including Ableton, Cubase, and Reason, for computer and live music production, and hardware from mixers, turntables and DJ CD players to the more challenging and unusual equipment and gadgets on the market. The site is endorsed by some of the industry’s leading quality manufacturers, including Ableton, Steinberg, Vestax, and Native Instruments.

In addition sonicacademy.com features interviews, advice and exclusive tutorials from the world’s leading DJs and producers, video reports, reviews, web-chats, forums, enabling Sonic members to upload and rate music, a significant community element, and exclusive competitions.

“There’s a massive need for something like SonicAcademy.com,” says Sonic founder Kevin Traynor. “DJing is a part of a growing industry of music technology. There’s a huge cross-over now and technology is moving so fast the benefits of tapping into an online tutorial resource anytime and according to your individual requirement is going to be immense. We’re an extremely interactive educational resource offering music creators the whole package - a one stop shop at the highest level.”

The site also offers valuable support for manufacturers and MI retailers, says Traynor: “If a customer buys a new piece of software, a mixer or a new gadget, they aren’t necessarily going to know how to get the best out of that product even from the instruction manual. Similarly they can require answers on how to solve a specific problem. Retailers can point customers to www.sonicacademy.com as a support resource, or use the site themselves to get the latest tips, tricks and low down to provide a superior technical support service.”

“What we deliver is informative, independent, affordable user friendly step-by-step video tutorials to allow people to make music easily,” continues Traynor. “It’s about producing drums that sound good, a bass line, about very quickly enabling you to use that bit of software or hardware to create great sounding tracks or mixes, whatever aspect of music production you’re involved in.”

To celebrate the launch of Sonic Academy Online the team at Sonic HQ are giving customers the chance to win a Vestax PMC-CX digital four-channel mixer signed by Carl Cox. The unit was signed by the DJ at his recent gig at The Stiff Kitten in Belfast, following an interview with the Sonic team, which can be seen online.

One winner will receive this unique unit and a package of free Sonic Academy Online tutorials, while four runners up will each receive subscriptions to Sonic Academy Online for a year.

To enter, visit www.sonicacademy.com and register your details for free by June 14, 2008. Everyone registering will automatically be entered into the draw. The winner will be chosen at random and notified following the draw. Everyone who registers for free on the Sonic Academy site will automatically get access to two free online tutorials.

SonicAcademy.com goes live 21st April 2008. To enquire about carrying Sonic Academy Online flyers, contact Graham Ginty, head of music technology, on: 028 9023 9022.
sonicacademy.com