THE 2007 BATTLES ARE OVER. CONGRATULATIONS TO DR. MAXIMILLIAN RHEINHARDT!

what the hell is a laptop battle?

The laptop battle is a competitive event for laptop musicians to match their skills against one another.
Battles are chosen randomly and conducted in 2 or 3 minute rounds. A panel of judges decides which contestant advances to the next round, double elimination style.
It's fusion of sound design, composition and stage performance, and a chance for laptop musicians to prove their skills in battle and develop techniques and strategies.
Battles are held throughout the United States during the year, culminating in one final competition in Seattle every December to crown a National Champion.
Atlanta is sending one representative to the National Finals, along with over $1000 worth of software.

could it be you?


the rules:

There are two (2) qualifying battles and one (1) final battle.
Each battle is a double-elimination tournament.
There are three (3) judges per battle.
Judging is loosely based on these criteria:

Judging Guidelines

- EMOTIONAL IMPACT - It's hard to judge on a thing like originality, so we need to break it down to the basics....are you feelin' it or not? This is a laptop battle, a punk soundclash delivered via a little silver box that's been programed to destroy. Ya'lll are producers and know what to look for. For me, it's that moment where my blood starts to rush to my head and i break out in a big smile...

- PERFORMANCE - It's not easy to "perform" with a laptop. Each contestant is allowed 1 Midi controller, which allows them to interface with their music software via knobs, faders, buttons, keys, pads, etc. This is their weapon of choice, the way they have chosen to interface with their musical creation...you want to see 'em workin' that shit!

- SONG DEVELOPMENT - Hooks,builds and breakdowns. Sounds, patterns and movement. How well they are fit together live will be your decision.

- CROWD RESPONSE - Crowd response could be described as how loud the audience cheers for one contestant or the other. Or it could be their reaction to the battle on the dancefloor as the track is played. Perhaps an exodus to the bar? The crowd is like a barometer, it predicts the obvious outcomes, but isn't always right. Other times, there is a contestant with a bunch of fans who are there to be heard. Ultimately, you make the decision. Remember: There are no rematches.

Each contestant is allowed to bring ONE (1) laptop, ONE (1) external sound card, and ONE (1) external "controller" (MIDI, extra numeric pad, etc.)

Each preliminary battle is capped at 16 contestants, and consists of two (2) minute rounds.

The top four (4) from each qualifying battle will return to compete in the 8-person, 1 champion final battle.

the when:

There are two (2) preliminary battles: There is one (1) final battle:

the prizes:

- a slot at the Championship Battle, December 2007 in Seattle
- Ableton Live "Sampler" Instrument
- Native Instruments Reaktor, Traktor or Massive
- Tracktion recording software from Mackie
- Sonic Charge's µ-tonic drum machine VST plugin
- Fab Filter's "One" synth VST plugin
- Fresh gear from Soy Clothing
- Replikant VST plugin from Audio Damage
- Phoscyon VST, by D16
- M-Audio - Mid Air 25 MIDI controller


questions, comments, and feedback may be directed to threv
thanks, and good luck.

Tuesday, September 25, 2007

Laptop Battle Press Release

2007 Atlanta Laptop Battle Championship is on!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

contact:
Matt Simpson
www.nophi.net/laptopbattle


Atlanta, GA - Eight of the finest laptop wizards Atlanta has to offer converge at Lenny's Bar to crown the 2007 Atlanta Laptop Battles champion, presented by Nophi Recordings and WREK 91.1 fm's "The Mobius". 2007 is the second year of Laptop Battles in Atlanta, following the wildly successful 2006 battle circuit. The goal of this event is to turn the typically droll world of electronic music performance on its academic and finely controlled head, and to have a little fun with the process.

The 2006 Laptop Battles saw a consistently enthusiastic and packed house at Lenny’s cheering and hollering for musicians armed only with laptop computers and a few scant minutes to make them work. While the format is nothing new for Hip Hop crowds and the reaction is common at rock shows, the sight of a roomful of people pumping their fists in the air and shaking to electronic music is a relative rarity in Atlanta. The Laptop Battle series is trying to change that. In coordination with Laptopbattle.com, the champion will represent our fair city in the National Laptop Battle Championship in Seattle this December.


Since the dawn of the new millenium, laptops have emerged as a viable and powerful instrument in their own right as both an audio device and performance tool. Built on the burgeoning electronic music community in Atlanta the champion will be crowned by a panel of three judges who are each experienced in the world of sound design and electronic performance. Focusing on audience response, laptop interaction, sound quality, and originality, the contestants face off in a double-elimination tournament using only their laptop and one external MIDI controller. The rounds are three minutes long, so each performer must showcase their The battles consistently show the audio community that electronic music performance can be compelling with a laptop. The grand prize winner will receive over $1000 in softwareand a ticket to Seattle to face off against champions from across the country.


Lenny's Bar has played host to every battle over the past three years. The 2006 Atlanta Championship saw old friends and new foes bring their finest to a packed house, introducing many to live electronic music and fostering a burgeoning electronic community. This year has seen the turnout and response grow tremendously. Hosted by 2006 Atlanta Laptop Battle champion Matt "Threv" Simpson, this night will showcase the best, most diverse, and most innovative electronic styles the laptop music community has to offer. Will Charlie P defeat his bandmate Andrew Provine? Will pH avenge his 2006 loss? Will Poodleface's wrestling videos wow the crowd? Will Mobius DJ Josh Clayton continue his undefeated streak? Will newcomers Travis Harkleroad and Citizen Green shock the judges? Will the mysterious Maxmillian Reinhardt stomp the competition with wizard metal mashups and 8-bit beats? Come to Lenny's Bar on Thursday, October 18 to determine the battlers fate!

For more information:
http://www.nophi.net/laptop (local Battle info and registration)
http://www.laptopbattle.com (the founding organization of Laptop Battles in Seattle, WA)
http://www.lennysbar.com (Lenny’s website)
http://www.nophi.net (Nophi's website)
http://themobius.livejournal.com (The Mobius weekly playlist & announcements)

posted by threv at 12:34 AM

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