Forget singers (Ashley Simpson) faking their singing in concerts by lip-synching their tunes, this release just emailed to me talks about a band using the video features of the iPod to fake the entire performance (voice & video) of a particular band-member that can't make it to the concert. If I read this release correctly, they display the video of the drummer, guitarist, keyboardist or bass player on the Jumbotron. Only thing I don't get is that the iPod has a 320x240 resolution. I would think that'd look pretty crappy on the Jumbotron. Actually, on Apple's website, they say that the iPod Video can support MPEG4 file formats up to 480x480 at 30 frames per second, so maybe it would look OK.
Still, you'd probably only get away with faking a band member's performance with a bunch of stoned Deadheads, but I'm thinking most concert goers would notice a missing band member, especially if its the lead singer. As if rockers don't already have the impression of being "slackers" now they're going to start using an iPod to transmit one of their past performances?
In any event, check out the release below. It's pretty amusing, in particular this line: Will the iPod ultimately replace Midstates' errant members? "Probably not," says Heintz. "But, it's much easier to stretch out in the van with the iPod on board." I'm sure this is mostly a marketing plot to build some awareness for the band, and I certainly bit hook-line-and-sinker by blogging this. ;)
Apple's Video iPod Joins Chicago Band, Midstates
New Device Becomes Band's Stand-in Drummer, Keyboard Player and Guitarist
Chicago rock band Midstates recently welcomed Apple's new iPod as the group's sixth member while on tour this last November. The hot new device played drums, keyboards and guitars and even made sure audiences could visually experience the unique skills of the group's drummer. This is probably the first instance of an iPod being used to recreate not only an audio performance, but also a visual performance.
Midstates, touring in support of their upcoming release Boxing Twilight, recently found themselves in a bind - how to tour with popular combo, Wheatus, for three weeks without three-fifths of their members?
With the tour falling around the holidays and three members unable to carve out enough time from other obligations, Midstates' Paul Heintz and Steve Munoz needed a solution and needed it fast. To further the dilemma, drummer Angel Ledezma's highly-charged live performances are always a crowd pleaser and the group felt his absence would detract from the shows. Enter the new Apple iPod with video capability, which had just hit the shelves just before the band was scheduled to hit the road.
"I bought the new iPod right when it came out to keep me entertained on the road. Then I found out that Angel, Sasha and Dahlman couldn't make it," explains Heintz. "We spent a lot of time working up to this record and live show. Touring with Wheatus was a great opportunity. I hated to see it lost."
Then one day, while considering various solutions, the light bulb popped on.
"Why not record Sasha and Dahlman's parts and then videotape Angel playing his drums." Heintz says. "We can mix it all down and project Angel behind us."
Using a digital video camera and their studio, Spectra Kakarot, the band put together a video of Angel playing drums in time with the rest of the band. Using Videora, a free converter application, the band converted the video and music to iPod compatible backing tracks. They ran the iPod through the board and a video projector and played along with the tracks and Angel's video all while controlling the order and volume of the tracks from the stage.
Will the iPod ultimately replace Midstates' errant members? "Probably not," says Heintz. "But, it's much easier to stretch out in the van with the iPod on board."
android apple asterisk at&t blackberry cell phone cisco dell digium e911 facebook fcc google google talk gps im ip-pbx ipad iphone ipod itexpo ITEXPO lync microsoft mobile phone open source outage phone review sip skype sony unified communications verizon video video conferencing voip vonage wireless xbox 360
- Apple (280)
- Bittorrent (2)
- Call Center and CRM (48)
- Computer Hardware (183)
- Computer Software (71)
- Gadgets (650)
- Google (225)
- Home Entertainment (263)
- Internet (173)
- Linux (111)
- Microsoft (376)
- MovableType (48)
- News (187)
- Personal and Humor (118)
- Politics (9)
- Reviews (246)
- Security (2)
- Social Networking (42)
- Sports/Outdoor Technology (9)
- Tablets (32)
- Technology and Science (355)
- Unified Communications (471)
- VoIP (2285)
- Wireless (584)
- p2p (20)
- March 2014
- February 2014
- January 2014
- December 2013
- November 2013
- October 2013
- September 2013
- August 2013
- July 2013
- June 2013
- May 2013
- April 2013
- March 2013
- February 2013
- January 2013
- December 2012
- November 2012
- October 2012
- September 2012
- August 2012
- July 2012
- June 2012
- May 2012
- April 2012
- March 2012
- February 2012
- January 2012
- December 2011
- November 2011
- October 2011
- September 2011
- August 2011
- July 2011
- June 2011
- May 2011
- April 2011
- March 2011
- February 2011
- January 2011
- December 2010
- November 2010
- October 2010
- September 2010
- August 2010
- July 2010
- June 2010
- May 2010
- April 2010
- March 2010
- February 2010
- January 2010
- December 2009
- November 2009
- October 2009
- September 2009
- August 2009
- July 2009
- June 2009
- May 2009
- April 2009
- March 2009
- February 2009
- January 2009
- December 2008
- November 2008
- October 2008
- September 2008
- August 2008
- July 2008
- June 2008
- May 2008
- April 2008
- March 2008
- February 2008
- January 2008
- December 2007
- November 2007
- October 2007
- September 2007
- August 2007
- July 2007
- June 2007
- May 2007
- April 2007
- March 2007
- February 2007
- January 2007
- December 2006
- November 2006
- October 2006
- September 2006
- August 2006
- July 2006
- June 2006
- May 2006
- April 2006
- March 2006
- February 2006
- January 2006
- December 2005
- November 2005
- October 2005
- September 2005
- August 2005
- July 2005
- June 2005
- May 2005
- April 2005
- March 2005
- February 2005
- January 2005
- December 2004
- November 2004
- October 2004
- September 2004
- August 2004
- July 2004
- June 2004
- May 2004
- April 2004
- March 2004
Featured Videos