Resurface

I've had a busy 3 months working between London and Manchester on a range of projects from music technology using GarageBand Logic and Ableton Live to video projects using Final Cut.

Hence I've totally ignored my blog and this will be resolved shortly.

The Digital Cre8or course is beginning to take off and it has been interesting to have been involved in some of the pilot work.

I'm about to go off to Spain to learn (by the pool) how to use my new digital SLR. The pictures below were taken @Salford Quays on my trusty 4MP Nikon what will I do with 8MP and interchangeable lenses? too many choices!

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This album is powered by BubbleShare - Add to my blog

thanks to Boo for the bubbleshare!

Web2 made easy

One of the best ways to explain Web 2.

GarageBand and freebies

I've been working on a music project recently where being able to perform with software on a Laptop was a key issue. I was intrigued to try and do this in GarageBand. The Midi implementation is very cursory so being able to map USB midi keyboards and pads is a challenge if not impossible. It is easy to do in Cubase, Logic and Ableton.
So anyway I found a free synth called Remedy that work on PPC and intel Macs. It also allows you within GarageBand to map the CC controllers so that all of the knobs and sliders actions can be recorded into GarageBand performances.
This will enable far more control over soundscape and textures needed in KS3 school music projects- which is pretty cool.


Another cool free/demo piece of Software is addictive drums

This is fully functional although only has a bass, snare, hi hat and cymbal but it allows for full virtual recording studio effects. Most of these effect can be carried out in GarageBand but the GUI is very cool and a little more intuitive for kids. The effect in GB whilst good are very bare bones.




Finally my toy of the moment and not free - is my trigger finger.

I bought this for use with Ableton but I'm now starting to be able to use it in GarageBand which would be good for kids in schools that are not able to play a traditional instrument.

Cool Workshops

Last week I went to a small but very interesting Creativity day run by the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust.
The event was held in a beautiful abbey nr Clitheroe in Lancashire. Two presentations really impressed me and I think anyone involved in creative media in schools should try to find time to see/work with these guys.

The first was by Paul Hurst - who I've met before @BETT but this was the first time I'd seen him in action. He was very entertaining and enthusiastic with some really interesting insights into the way the BBC work (as he free lances for them).
Paul is also involved in a mediabus project in Wigan.

Find Paul's blog @
http://paulhurst.blogspot.com/search/label/teaching

The other cool presentation was by Anthony Hall. I've seen a lot of preso's and attended workshops- but this really was different!

Anthony demolishes the barriers between Science, Music and Art. He had us making light sensitive music/sound generators and then we used them to make new kinds of noises and sounds. We played back the sounds through different materials liquids, flour etc and watched and recorded the effects- it was a fascinating session.


He had a beautiful iPhoto presentation of images of his work and workshop activities - and some truly stunning animation work.


http://www.variableg.org.uk/art_work/home.html


Mac/ipod fans should check out this too its very funny but it's also incredibly cool and inspirational!

http://www.variableg.org.uk/owlweb/Owl_home.htm

Goodbye and Hello

Well 10+ years in the classroom/studio and now 5 years @Apple in the UK. No major masterplan, got myself a Macbook and will freelance for a while. Will be doing some developmental work for Synergy TV (Radio waves/ NUMU) of which I am very excited about!

Also keen to spend more time with Sarah and kids - make some music (noise) and edit some of the many hrs of dv footage and still images that have accrued over the past few years.

Big thanks to all in the mac education community, the Apple team, the ASE's, ADE's (esp the newbies) as well as long time friends in the education sector.

Passionate and as committed as ever - to learning through digital creativity.


best

Jules

If the following links strike a chord (no pun intended) then please do contact me!

The machine is us/ing us
NUMU watch the video - bottom of the page
http://www.radiowaves.co.uk/
http://web.mac.com/juliancoultas/iWeb/Site/home.html
my flickr
email -juliancoultas@mac.com
ichat as above
mob - (+44) (0)7970 323 255