What Makes a Laptop a Good Choice for Music Production

When choosing a laptop for music, there’s a few things to weigh in the balance. Music production – similarly to video editing – is a labour-intensive endeavor for a laptop. No matter if you’re a hobbyist or a touring and recording professional, you want a tool that doesn’t compromise on power and performance when handling your Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) or any other of your staple music production applications.

Power vs Performance vs Weight

You want a CPU that performs steadily so that there is no lag in rendering your tracks or recording music. At the same time, it’s ideal to have a laptop that doesn’t burn through the battery life in a flash during high-performance. And, when you’re handling several audio files, it’s best to have a reliable SSD hard drive on board so you can access and manage files seamlessly. Then, there’s also the issue of weight. Lugging around a heavy laptop is never ideal.  But a very lightweight laptop may imply stripping it of a lot of ports and other hardware such as a fan.

Spec Grade vs Price

When looking at the spec requirements to handle high-grade music software, it’s generally advisable not to settle for minimum requirements. You want a machine that won’t drag itself painfully when recording music or performing live.

With all this in mind, price may be a concern. While it is true that a powerful laptop that ticks all the boxes, it can easily become a considerably big financial investment, there’s stiffer competition, and some brands are setting a lower price entry point on some of their models.

With all this considered, we’ve put together a list that will help you pick the best laptop for music producers in 2022. But before that, we introduce the top brands according to processor – intel core laptops, AMD (Ryzen) laptops, and Apple laptops.

Choosing the Right Processor for Producing Music

There are three key developers for processors (CPU) that dominate the market – Intel, AMD and Apple.

Intel as Market Leader

The market leading one in terms of distribution is Intel by far. Current generation chips range from i3 to i9, and most laptops use mid-range chips – i5 and i7. The speed per chip – measured in GHz – varies from one model to another within the same category.

AMD as Top Gamer’s Powerhouse

AMD develop chips known as Ryzen, also categorized numerically just like Intel chips. These ones tend to be gamers’ go-to processors.

Apple as Top Creative Suite

Then, standing in a category of its own, we have Apple. Loved by many, less by others, Apple has been developing processors that lead the way in creative fields for years now. And when competition seemed like it was finally neck-to-neck, Apple went ahead and revealed its M1 – and soon after, the enhanced M1 Pro and M1 Max. This combined several components onto one chip, boosting efficiency and power even further.

Apple’s Pros and Cons

At first glance, it would seem that Apple is the way to go, especially considering that it’s the only viable platform to run Logic Pro on – a popular choice for recording music. But Apple has drawn up a high wall of exclusivity around its products. Due to this, third-party application compatibility suffers a lot. This is aggravated even more with the development of the M1 chip. Many third-party developers haven’t made the transition yet and are not able to offer native support. Ableton and Akai are all caught up but brands like Pro Tools are yet to make the M1 leap.

How Do You Choose?

The best way to choose a new laptop is to take into careful consideration what your setup is. If compatibility issues don’t creep up and a steep price doesn’t deter you, take a close look at Apple’s MacBook. However, if compatibility or the idea of too much inflexible exclusivity are an issue, Intel or AMD are better choices.

Our Top 5 Choices

1. Apple MacBook Pro 14″

Specs

CPU: Apple M1 Pro chip; 8-core CPU with 6 performance cores and 2 efficiency cores; 14-core

GPU: 16-core Neural Engine; 200GB/s memory bandwidth

RAM: 16GB unified memory

Storage: 512GB SSD

Display: Liquid Retina XDR

A King of a Music Production Laptop

Apple’s uninterrupted reign as a favourite laptop brand among creatives  – both pro and hobbyists – cemented its position even further when it loaded its MacBook Pro 14-inch with M1 Pro and M1 Max chips last year.

Apple’s M1 CPU and Storage Space

The new trend started a year prior with the novel M1 chip. Since then, not much has changed in terms of the laptop’s industrial look. But under the cover, it received a remarkable boost in CPU performative power and graphics speed. It comes loaded with 8 Core CPU, 8 Core GPU and 16 Core Neural Engine. And, if breaking the bank is not an issue, you can spec it out with 64GB RAM and 8TB SSD storage.

Apple’s Macbook Pro Display

The display is exemplary. Its XDR retina display’s brightness peaks at 1600 nits. It accommodates a wide array of colours. Thanks to True Tone technology, the machine automatically balances white in relation to its surroundings’ colour temperature.

Apple’s Macbook Pro Camera and Mic

As expected from a top pick among music producers, the MacBook Pro’s audio interface and in-built speakers are the best you can find on the market. The HD camera is capable of serious noise reduction, and this, along with its high-grade mics, will give you the best video calls.

Apple Macbook Pro Peripherals

A MagSafe charger that replenishes the battery – capable of excellent battery life – an SD card slot, an HDMI port and three Thunderbolt 4 ports just make this choice laptop an even sweeter deal.

Apple’s Macbook Pro Software Compatibility

One more vital reason that places Apple’s platforms squarely on the podium is that the hardware plays extremely well with its home-designed software. Whether we’re talking about its own macOS or other programs developed in-house, these last few years have seen Apple reduce performance issues to a negligible minimum, while tweaking access and user-interface. Die-hard fans are not the only ones to be pleased; newcomers making the transition from other operating systems will sync in no time.

2. MacBook Air M2

Specs

CPU: Apple M2 chip; 8-core CPU with 4 performance cores and 4 efficiency cores; 8-core

GPU: 16-core Neural Engine; 100GB/s memory bandwidth

RAM: 8GB unified memory

Storage: 256GB SSD

Display: LED-backlit display with IPS technology

Lightweight Younger Brother of the King

Apple occupies the second place as well with its second iteration of the MacBook Air introduced earlier this year – loaded with an M2 chip. This compact laptop weighs in at a negligible 1.24 kg, and it’s in its slimmest form ever – only 11.3mm deep. A more economical alternative to the Macbook Pro, and one of the all-round best value laptop choices.

Apple’s Macbook Air vs Its Bigger Brother

Realistically speaking, it falls somewhat short of its bigger brother’s high-grade music mixing and mastering capabilities. But it can still handle all music applications and software with remarkable ease. So, for a music production platform, it still cuts it by a wide mile. What’s more, it’s equipped with four speakers capable of Spatial Audio, and music playback is crisp and clear.

Macbook Air Peripherals and Battery

Other perks include a battery that gives you up to 18 hours of performance – not bad compared to MacBook Pro’s 20 hours. It also comes with 2 Thunderbolt USB 4 ports.

Stripping Down and Testing the Macbook Air

There’s been a lot of talk about MacBook Air’s lack of a fan. Heating up was a potential issue skeptics brought up. But a few tests using benchmark music projects as listed on logicprohelp.com showed that the Air only increased slightly in temperature. This adds a notable advantage for music makers. Working with a laptop that doesn’t have fans means a quieter environment to work in when using mics.

3. Dell XPS 15 OLED

Specs

CPU: Intel Core i7-12700H

GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 Ti.

RAM: 16GB

Storage: 512GB SSD

Display: 15.6-inch OLED touchscreen

Dell’s 15-inch iteration to the XPS range is one of the top choices for music producers who favour Windows OS-powered devices. It’s not just glitz and glamour due to its appealing looks – it harnesses some considerable processing power. Unless you go for a high-grade gaming laptop, it’s the closest you’ll get in terms of quality, performance and power to a MacBook Pro without signing up for Apple exclusivity. It can handle creative workloads remarkably well.

Intel Alder Lake Processor

It packs the new 12th generation Intel Alder Lake processors, RTX 3050 Ti GPU, and an all-round faster RAM than many contemporary competitors, many of which have higher specs. Dell has pulled off the impressive feat of fitting their relatively powerful GPU within a ¾ inch chassis. The concern here is cooling. This is something Dell had to forego, along with a reduced number of ports, so as to keep everything compact.

Dell’s XPS Display

Despite being very thin and lightweight, it comes equipped with one of the sharpest displays currently available on a laptop. It’s capable of up to 500 nits of brightness. The keyboard is lined with carbon fibre palm rests – making it as comfortable to use as it looks classy – and a total of four speakers.

Dell’s XPS Battery Life

While it doesn’t have the extremely long battery life Apple’s MacBook has, it can give you up to 12 hours of life, which is a lot for the power-hungry Alder Lake processor.

Dell’s Price

While slightly more economical than the MacBook, it’s price entry point is not quite friendly anyway. if you take it an extra mile and upgrade the hard drive and other specs (maximum  specs vary according to your region), the price bar rises fast.

4. Razer Blade 15 Studio Edition

Specs

CPU: 10th Gen Intel Core i7-10875H processor, 8 Cores / 16 Threads, 2.3 GHz / 5.1 GHz (Base / Max Turbo), 16 MB Cache

GPU: NVIDIA Quadro RTX 5000 with Max-Q Design (16GB GDDR6 VRAM)

RAM: 32GB

Storage: 1TB SSD

Display: 4K OLED, Touch, 100% DCI-P3

Razer Blade’s Processing Power

Gaming laptops have been long hailed as some of the best power platforms for music production. And Razer is held in the highest regard within that niche. The Blade 15 Studio edition spares no punches with its 8-core 10th generation i7 processor, 1TB of PCIe NVMe storage, and 32GB of DDR4-2933MHz RAM.

Razer Blade’s Peripherals and Innovative Functionality

This slim monster has a processing speed clocking in at 5.1GHz Max Turbo and a stunning 4K OLED touchscreen. It also utilizes Wi-Fi 6 and Thunderbolt 3. And, one of the most innovative features is its liquid cooling system, which keeps temperature under control even when you’re placing the machine under performative duress.

Razer Blade’s Unforgiving Price

So, why doesn’t such a beast of a laptop score higher on our list? The answer is simple – the price. This machine comes with a price tag hovering on either side of 4K USD/EUR. If you thought that the MacBook Pro’s entry price was steep, think again.

A Gaming Powerhouse as Laptop for Music Production

That said, if you’re as passionate about music production as you are about gaming, make no mistake – Razer Blade 15 Studio Edition (along with a handful of other Razer laptops) is the money shot. And if you happen to be a music producer who makes music for games, even more so.

5. Microsoft Surface Pro 8

Specs

CPU: Quad-core 11th Gen Intel® Core™ i5-1135G7 Processor OR i7-1185G7 Processor

GPU: Intel Iris Xe Graphics (i5, i7)

RAM: 8GB

Storage: 128GB SSD

Display: 13” PixelSense Flow Display (with 10-point multi-touch)

Microsoft Surface 2-in-1 Magic

Microsoft’s 8th surface laptop is the latest entry in its series that has gained a lot of traction among creatives over the years. One of the main reasons for this is that it’s often quoted as, hands down, the best 2-in-1 laptop out there. It’s versatile, light (less than 2 pounds), and powerful.

Surface Pro Power and Performance

Whether you choose the 13- or 15-inch surface laptop flavour, you’ll have a 120Hz touchscreen and the power of an Intel Evo Platform Core i7 CPU at your finger (our touch pen) tips. The battery gives you up to 16 hours of life – one of the best in the field. You can choose to have it come with 8, 16 or 32GB of RAM, and up to 1TB of SSD storage. This last option is worth the stretch if you want all your music files saved locally. More on hardware as the Surface 8 Pro also comes loaded with Wi-Fi 6, USB-C and Thunderbolt 4 ports

Surface Pro’s Seamless Integration with Microsoft OS

There’s also a seamless integration between the surface laptop hardware and Windows 11 OS, making your music production sessions smoother. At the same time, as tends to be the case with integrated systems, the power in performance is limited when compared to other contenders built from discrete parts. That said, this machine packs enough power to handle some of the most demanding creative endeavours.

Surface Pro’s Multipurpose Advantage

And, there’s no denying that the Surface Slim Pen and the detachable Signature Keyboard give you the comfort of sketching out your ideas in one mode whenever they pop in your head. Then, convert it to laptop mode, and you’re ready to flesh those ideas out on your favourite music production bundle such as Reason+. And with the surface laptop battery life having been extended to 16 hours, this platform won’t let you down when you’re in the middle of your creative flow.

FAQ

• What laptops are best for making music?

  If your setup allows it and you don’t mind 3rd party software exclusivity, Apple’s MacBook Pro continues to top most lists as the music production laptop of choice.

   

• Which laptop processors are the most common for music production 2022?

Intel, AMD and Apple processors (CPU) are the most popular three choices in 2022.

• What laptop do most producers use to run Digital Audio Workstation software (DAW)?

  When choosing a laptop for your Digital Audio Workstations (DAW), Apple is the only that handles Logic Pro. Reason, Ableton and Akai give you the choice of any processor since they offer native support in all cases. At this time, Pro Tools does not function on Apple’s M1 chip.

• Are gaming laptops good for music production?

Absolutely. The sheer performance and power laptops such as the Razer Blade series offers are optimized to handle heavy creative workloads as well. The only deterring factor for some is that they tend to come with a high entry price point.

The post Best Laptops for Music Production in 2022 appeared first on Electronic Music.

David Bowie on the Set of Just a Gigolo in Berlin, February 1978. Photograph: Alain Dejean/Sygma/Corbis

Bowie was the original shape-shifter, constantly reinventing himself and his music throughout his life. Because society’s rigid norms, he did much more than push the boundaries of reality, but used the creative license his music allowed to continually morph his image, his art and his music and stretch the boundaries for LGBT youth and others that emulated and connected with him. Indeed, in an article from 1996 in the UK Telegraph, David was able to say, “I have done just about everything that it’s possible to do”.

1971: Pop star David Bowie with wife Angie and three week old son Zowie. He is modelling an Oxford Bags dress, Turkish cotton shirt and a felt hat.

Bowie’s influence is everywhere: from art to theater and music, Bowie helped spur irrevocable changes. Guitarist Johnny Marr of the English rock band, The Smiths, said of Bowie that “There are musicians who are influenced by him that don’t even realize it”.

 
American singer-songwriter and DJ, Moby, takes it a step further: “Without David Bowie, popular music as we know it pretty much wouldn’t exist.” Half of a storied friendship for the ages, Moby also tweeted after Bowie’s death was announced, “we lost the best musician of the 20th century and i lost a friend. goodbye, David. I will always love you.”
 

Bowie & Moby

 
Though not wholly political, Bowie had a huge influence on the world stage. His song “Heroes” was written during the time he lived with Iggy Pop in Berlin, witnessing news coverage of shootings and drownings of those trying to escape to the West. His performance during the Concert for Berlin in 1987 led the youth on the East German side of the wall to chant, “The wall must go!” inflaming guards and leading to beatings which underscored the inhumanity. A week later, Ronald Reagan visited and gave a speech at the Brandenburg gate, including this famous line, “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!” The rest is history.
 

David Bowie: “Heroes” live in Berlin 1987

 
News of Bowie’s death has brought condolences from around the world, Electro house musician Steve Aoki tweeted, “Ground control to Major Tom…#RIPDavidBowie.”
 

 
Perfect Stranger about the legendary musician: “R.I.P David, your music was ( and still is ) a great influence and inspiration.”, “The stars look very different today”.

Annie Lennox wrote on Facebook:

Madonna posted a photo of them together on Twitter, accompanied by “Hot Tramp I love you So!”

Tributes continued to pour in all week. Skrillex took to Twitter to thank David “I was young and misunderstood. You made it okay for me to not only be myself, but to shoot for the stars and dream big. I owe you for that realization and inspiration.” Carl Craig spoke of his love for the man with his tweet, “RIP David Bowie. He has been in my life since I was a young boy. He inspired Kraftwerk so he also inspired Techno music”
 

Paul McCartney posted on his website, “His music played a very strong part in British musical history. His star will shine in the sky forever.”
 
The Pet Shop Boys thanked him by posting, “We are all Bowie’s children. He inspired us and changed our lives. Love, gratitude and respect always for him and his work.”
 

 
Perhaps one of the most unlikely of the tributes to Ziggy Stardust came from the German Foreign Office on Twitter, “Good-bye, David Bowie. You are now among #Heroes. Thank you for helping to bring down the #wall.”

 
Released on David’s 69th birthday, January 8th, only days before he passed away, his last album, “Blackstar” is headed for No. 1 on the US Billboard charts, something he had not achieved during his lifetime.
 

 

Even his death is an Act Of an Art

 
His friend and producer, Tony Visconti, took to Facebook to memorialize Bowie, “He always did what he wanted to do. And he wanted to do it his way and he wanted to do it the best way. His death was no different from his life – a work of Art. He made Blackstar for us, his parting gift. I knew for a year this was the way it would be. I wasn’t, however, prepared for it. He was an extraordinary man, full of love and life. He will always be with us. For now, it is appropriate to cry.” Indeed.
 
 
 
Image Courtesy of The Guardian & Mirror.co.uk

The post Life and Death on His Own Terms – David Bowie appeared first on Electronic Music.

The world-renowned band, U2 recently announced dates and venues for its upcoming “iNNOCENCE + eXPERIENCE Tour.“ As of right now, the tour kicks off on May 14, 2015 at the BC Rogers Arena in Vancouver.

What is perhaps most surprising is that for the first time in over a decade the Irish superstar band, well known for its elaborate stadium shows with spectacular audio and visual effects, will be playing in indoor arenas.

While there are no confirmed dates in Ireland as of yet, a spokesperson has stated there will be shows scheduled for Dublin. These additional shows will most likely take place at the end of next year and will be a part of a special project on which the band is working.

According to U2 band member, the Edge, this tour will not be nearly as big as their previous tour during which they put on a total of 110 shows. Bono has said they are hoping to play more indoor venues this time around. The tour is being planned in conjunction with their album, “Songs of Innocence.” Besides Vancouver, shows will be taking place in 18 other cities hosting back-to-back shows. Some of the other cities and venues include:

• San Jose, CA SAP Center
• Phoenix, AZ US Airways Center
• Chicago, IL United Center
• Toronto, ON Air Canada Center
• Boston, MA TD Garden
• Turin, Italy Pala Alpitour
• Stockholm, Sweden Globe
• Berlin, Germany O2 World
• Barcelona, Spain Palau Sant Jordi
• Paris, France Bercy

The band will also be doing four back-to-back shows in Los Angeles, New York City and London. U2’s Innocence-Experience Tour 2015 tickets go on sale December 8th and 9th.

The post U2 Announces Upcoming World Tour appeared first on Electronic Music.

Created in 1994, Sónar is a pioneering electronic music festival. The infamous “Off Sonar” or “Off Week” has been created along with this festival.

This festival is one of the reasons why thousands of festival and party goers travel up to the wonderful city of Barcelona each year.

The Off Week has been developing and growing for many years now, and it has been promoting and expanding the spirit of electronic music. The Off Week hosts all kinds of parties that you can imagine. From beach to rooftop parties. From small, intimate parties, to big events.

Every type of party imaginable is covered during the Off Week. Most of the top list artists are there to play, and most of the major labels will have a showcase there. For the love of the music and the Off Week, Off Party Barcelona has been providing the service of sharing all the events on one digital platform.

Off Party Barcelona has been been sharing all of this in different forms since 2009. With this avalanche of information, locations and parties, Off Party Barcelona is undeniably the federating platform for all these events. With its website, mobile app, and geolocation of events, Off Party Barcelona offers an easy-to-use interface which is rapidly becoming the favorite guide of all Off Sonar-goers!

The post Sorry…I’m OFF appeared first on Electronic Music.

The international music and art festival Sonar celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2013 and plans are already being announced for Sonar 2014. Some of the world’s biggest artists are slated to perform at the festival in 2014, as well as new and unreleased performers. Famous names like Richie Hawtin and Massive Attack are scheduled to give cutting-edge performances and new locations have been added to the standard festival roster. Sonar 2014 doesn’t kick off until February 2014, but the anticipation and excitement are already building for this highly respected music festival.

2014 Festival Locations

There are some new locations that have been added to the Sonar tour schedule for 2014. Here is a quick rundown of the cities where the Sonar festival will be appearing in 2014.

*Reykjavik, Iceland

The first stop of the Sonar 2014 tour will be in Reykjavik, Iceland on February 13, 14 and 15.

*Stockholm, Sweden

Sonar will be appearing in Stockholm, Sweden at the same time as Sonar Reykjavik. This is a new addition to the Sonar schedule and it will take place on February 14 and 15.

*Tokyo, Japan

The next stop will be in Tokyo, Japan on April 12 and April 13. Reykjavik, Stockholm and Tokyo are all new additions to the festival schedule for 2014.

*Mexico City, Mexico

2014 will be the first year that the Sonar festival will come to Mexico City. The festival will be in Mexico on May 16 and 17.

*Barcelona, Spain

Barcelona has been host to the Sonar festival in the past and is one of the most popular destinations on the schedule. Sonar will be in Barcelona on June 12, 13 and 14.

*Cape Town, South Africa

The final destination of the Sonar 2014 tour schedule will be in beautiful Cape Town in South Africa on December 16, 2014.

2014 Artist Line-up

The Sonar Festival is famous for featuring new artists alongside legendary performers. It is common for legendary artists to debut new performances and exclusive material to Sonar audiences. Just this past year, the electronic music pioneers Devo presented a groundbreaking 3D visual show.

This year promises to deliver more of the kind of performances for which Sonar has become famous. Some of the artists on the schedule include:

*Richie Hawtin/Plastikman

World-renowned electronica DJ Richie Hawtin will be one of the biggest performers at Sonar 2014. Richie Hawtin has been one of the key performers at the Sonar festivals over the years and, as a result, has become synonymous with the spirit of the festival. In 2014, Richie will be presenting his new performance concept “Close” in the main hall of Sonar by Night. The performance will feature new material and a unique visual element that will use cameras and video screens to give the audience an up-close view of the DJ in action.

The other half of Richie’s persona, Plastikman, will be showcasing the performance concept “Objekt.” The Sonar festival will showcase the very first European performances of “Objekt”, which premiered in New York in November 2013. The performance concept is based on those New York shows at the Guggenheim Museum.

*Massive Attack

For the first time in 10 years, Massive Attack will be performing at Sonar. They will debut their exciting new show. The new performance will combine agitprop politics, visual design and new music to create an entirely unique experience.

*Bonobo

UK artist Simon Green, also known as Bonobo, will be performing at both Sonar Stockholm and Sonar Reykjavik. The famed downtempo producer will be one of the biggest performers at both events.

*Caribou

Canadian composer Caribou will also be appearing at both Sonar Stockholm and Sonar Reykjavik. Fans of the electronic dance compositions of Caribou will definitely want to be at one of the two performances for the Sonar Nordic weekend.

*Moderat

When Berlin artists Modeselektor and Apparat joined forces, the result was Moderat. They will be debuting their new album “II” at Sonar 2014.

The important thing to remember about the Sonar festival is that there is something for everyone. Not only do major artists perform but many smaller, unsigned musicians and composers showcase their talents for appreciative audiences. There are also breathtaking visual art displays and technology presentations. With a larger performance location roster than ever before, no matter where you are, attending Sonar is a real possibility.

For more information, go to www.sonar.es.

The post Ready For SONAR 2014 appeared first on Electronic Music.

Sonar 2013 was unlike anything that anyone could have imagined. Much more than just a four-day party, this year’s Sonar festival proved to be something that many in the electronic music scene spend years trying to find: an unforgettable experience.

The first day at Sonar 2013 kicked off with the beginning of the Sonar by Day lineup. The festival is divided into two main categories: Sonar by Day and Sonar by Night.

Later that day, UK composer and producer Gold Panda touched off his own incendiary live set. His style, which features a deceptively simple approach, fell right into line with the spirit of the Sonar Festival. Rather than focusing strictly on EDM, Sonar showcases a broad range of styles, from ambient down-tempo to nonstop party beats. Gold Panda brought his unique mixture of straightforward beats and lush, organic tones to bear at the Sonar Village showcase and the audience loved every second of it.

Without question, the star attraction of the second day of Sonar 2013 was the Kraftwerk 3D show at Sonar Club. Kraftwerk are legends in the music world because of their part in creating the electronic styles that were the precedent for all the performers of the day. Their seminal 1974 recording “Autobahn” brought vocoders, analogue synthesizers and live performance art to the masses. Over a career spanning four decades, Kraftwerk have always been at the forefront of the evolution of electronic music.

Their live 3D show was mind-blowing. It combined the best of their recordings with the modern technology that brought their sound to new life. Behind their 3D glasses, the audience was breathless as they took in the scintillating graphics and lights that pulsed to the synthesizer hooks and rhythmic beats. Sonar 2013 brought in visitors from over 90 countries and it’s a safe bet that the Kraftwerk 3D show had adoring fans from all over the globe that night.

Nicolas Jaar – Encore

Nicolas Jaar also took the stage over at the Sonar Lab performance area. The US artist has risen to prominence as a leader in the global music scene. Glowing reviews from music critics propelled Nicolas Jaar to a top spot on Resident Advisor’s list of the best live shows of the year. The close, technical atmosphere of the Sonar Lab space was a perfect fit for Jaar’s set. His minimal techno sound pulsed at 100 BPM and his on-the-fly vocal collages added texture and depth to the groove. The crowd was enthusiastic and showed their love.

The third day of Sonar 2013 was the culmination of excitement that had been growing since attendees first arrived. At 5 PM, over at the Sonar Pub area, Laurent Garnier closed out a thumping DJ set to a packed house. Garnier is a familiar face at Sonar. He spun tracks at the first Sonar festival 20 years ago and his mixes have only gotten better over the years. Garnier is world-renowned and is widely regarded as one of the most consistently excellent performers working today. His thrilling set included tracks from Klaus Nomi, Jeff Mills and Emmanuel Topp. Even though many in the audience were tired from a long day of dancing and partying at the Sonar Pub, they quickly found new energy as Laurent took the stage, rocking and grooving to the exquisite music selection.

At the same time as Laurent Garnier’s set, Chilean DJ Luciano was kicking things off over at the Sonar Club stage. Well-known and respected as a prime proprietor of microhouse and minimal styles, Luciano was also celebrating the 10th anniversary of the creation of his personal label, Cadenza. He spared no effort in his performance and the crowd quickly matched his energy and enthusiastic style. His set was all about solid grooves, with a no-frills approach that still left room for embellishments and his own artistic flair. As his set drew to a close, the crowd was left wanting more and they had instantly become addicted to this DJ’s unmatched style.

These two DJ sets had created a massive, exciting tone for the evening and that spirit was continued at the Sonar Lab when American DJ Seth Troxler kicked off his set. Troxler is a native of the birthplace of the techno sound: the clubs of Detroit. Seth was named the number one DJ on Resident Advisor’s 2012 list and the audience at Sonar Lab quickly learned why he won that acclaimed spot. His set featured his trademark style, which encompasses influences from classic to modern. The tracks he selected showcased his respect for all forms of dance music and the result was a set that had something for everyone.

Sonar by Night was closed off that night by a live performance from UK group Hot Natured. Their full-length show was an amazing display of their unparalleled songwriting abilities. They are set to release their new album and the crowd showed off their appreciation and anticipation for the new songs. There really was no better way to mark the closing of this legendary festival than the high-energy, anthemic sounds of Hot Natured.

All in all, the 20th anniversary of Sonar was an event to remember. Veterans of the festival and newcomers alike were enthralled from beginning to end. There was truly a sound for every taste, and no one left disappointed. Sonar is set to launch a festival in the US and and the Sonar creators are excited to announce new dates and locations in the coming year. For anyone who missed this year’s incredible performances, there is no reason to worry, as by all indications, Sonar is ready to grow, expand and it’s definitely one of the best festivals for electronic music in the world.

Many thanks to mr. Ivan Vilovski

The post Electronic Anniversary: On the Ground at Sonar 2013 appeared first on Electronic Music.

Among all of these preferences, there are some events and venues that stand out above the rest. From landmark underground locations to the most cutting-edge modern nightclubs, certain venues and festivals have endured through time and changing trends to become must-see destinations for any true fan.

Top Clubs: The Soul of Dance Music

Ranking the top dance club destinations in the world is almost impossible to do in this space. However, the following must-see, must-visit entries are just a few of that special branch of the club circuit that every serious dance fan must visit at least once. They are not ranked in any particular order but special attention has been paid to the legendary, the wild, as well as the unusual.

 ARMA17 – Moscow, Russia

This club deserves a spot on the list based on its international reputation alone. Frequented by the rich, hip and beautiful, ARMA17 takes its name from the abandoned warehouse that was its original location. Legendary DJs like Richie Hawtin and Ricardo Villalobos can often be seen either standing behind the decks or in the crowds. ARMA17 is a little bit off the established European club circuit but it possesses a unique atmosphere and a reputation for set lists that stretch far beyond sunrise.

Mamby on the Beach (USA)

Mamby on the Beach is a festival based in Chicago, Illinois and is a music festival that has been garnering a lot of attention in recent years. Chicago is not known for its beaches, thus it makes it peculiar that a festival would be organized here. But the reality is much better than it sounds. Each year you have a unique set of musicians joining in that are willing to share their talents and perform for the visitors that don’t only come from all over the US. Mamby Festival 2019 promises to be a good one so get your tickets now.

Paradise Club – Mykonos, Greece

Mykonos is already a premiere travel destination because of its cultural significance and pristine natural beauty. Paradise Club is somewhere between a club and a venue with a unique atmosphere. In the past, Axwell and Laidback Luke  have spun here(so it’s a bit softer and more commercial sound) and the upcoming summer schedule is packed with big names in EDM. Hot music, hot sands and hot bodies: what’s not to love?

The Electric Pickle – Miami, USA

The “Pickle”, as it is affectionately known, is a modern incarnation of a thriving underground venue. Famed for its roster of acclaimed house and techno DJs, The Electric Pickle is a young club with an old soul. It’s seated in the heart of downtown Miami and Ame, Dixon and Seth Troxler have stopped by this hotspot recently.

Top Festivals: Out and Loud

When talking about the greatest festivals in the world, a few events deserve special recognition. Whether it is for their unique vibe, legendary status or for their location, these festivals create experiences that can’t be duplicated anywhere else. These three events are widely recognized even outside of the dance music community. Learning just a little bit about each of them makes it clear why they have such a famous reputation.

 BPM Festival – Playa del Carmen, Mexico

Situated alongside the gorgeous Mayan Riviera, Playa del Carmen is a breathtaking destination with its own unique appeal. The BPM festival amps up the attraction at this exotic locale when it kicks off in early January. Most commonly frequented by house and techno artists, the music is always intoxicating and the beats are always fat at BPM. Surrounded by crystal-clear Caribbean waters and ancient ruins, this festival has hosted the likes of  Art Department , Jamie Jones , Guy Gerber and many others.

KaZantip – Crimean Peninsula, Ukraine
Arguably one of the most massive and extensive dance festivals on the globe, KaZantip boasts an average roster of over 300 DJs tearing up the sound systems at over 14 individual clubs. The sheer length and size of KaZantip makes it truly unique. Taking place over a five-week stretch and situated on 60,000 square meters, this festival is unparalleled in terms of scope. The sets are endless, the drinks flow freely and there is always something new to experience at KaZantip. Richie Hawtin, Noir and Sebo K all agree that this is a prime place for a no-holds-barred dance blowout.

Sonar – Barcelona, Spain

Sonar is a mainstay of the European dance festival circuit. In fact, this year’s festival will mark the 20th anniversary of the legendary event’s inception. For decades, the best and brightest names in electronic music have brought a spirit of innovative celebration to Sonar and this year is no exception.

Tomorrowland – Boom, Belgium

Although this festival is a little younger than some others, it has developed a massive reputation in only a few short years. Begun in 2005, Tomorrowland has grown in size and scope every year. At first, the festival lasted only a day with a handful of artists and audience members. The modern incarnation of Tomorrowland now lasts a full three days and features over 400 DJs and artists.

This event has become such a big hit that its small initial audience has expanded to over 100,000 attendees, with tens of thousands of online tickets being sold within minutes of being made available. Practically every major artist in the business is scheduled to perform at Tomorrowland and all signs indicate that this festival will continue to grow. In fact, this year the festival organizers have declared a new festival called “TomorrowWorld” that will be held in Georgia in the U.S.

Burning Man – Black Rock Desert, Nevada, U.S.

Almost no other name in the world of festivals conjures up as much mystique and power as Burning Man. Even people who may not know much about festivals in general have probably at least heard of Burning Man. Initially held as a radical and semi-spontaneous event put together by a few friends in 1986, Burning Man has grown slowly year by year. Also, the types and styles of music, art and expression have increased as the years have passed.

Although this festival was originally comprised of sculpture creation and performance art, the week-long event now includes music, dancing, collaborative art, customized vehicle shows, decorated bikes and the traditional construction and burning of a special temple. Truly, no other festival can captivate, inspire and enthral so many people in such a unique way. Much more than just a dance festival, Burning Man is a living performance where the audience creates the event itself.

Of course, it’s impossible to list every single must-see club and festival in a limited amount of space. Also, if a particular club, venue, festival or event isn’t listed here, that’s not to be taken as a reflection of any particular location. There are dozens of other clubs and festivals equally as great as the ones mentioned above.

The destinations on this list were chose to represent some of the best, wildest and most legendary stops on the international club circuit. Because the international dance community is so massive and because new sounds and new hotspots appear all the time, there is always something new and extraordinary to discover.

The post These Places Might Change Your Life: The Greatest Dance Clubs and Festivals appeared first on Electronic Music.

According to what the general public are looking for, here are the Top 5 iOS apps for DJs and folk who want to just get a little more creative as well.

Djay 1

This is rated highly amongst people who don’t want to spend a lot of time learning about various features. Anyone can navigate their way around Djay in no time at all. You can choose to either perform your very own mixes or use the automix feature, which can also come to great use. This comes integrated in your music library of your iPad, so you don’t have to fish around for any sounds. You can also choose to use this on various wireless speakers.

Traktor DJ

This is also a powerful app which has hit the market and has become popular in a short space in time. You simply use a couple of swipes and pinches to get your message across when you are using your iPad. You can easily access your music library and when you are there, the app will guide you as to which songs to pick based on the tempo. There are a lot of tips and tutorials which help one along the way. The end result is professional in quality because of the effects that are included. You will also receive regular updates.

DJ Rig

You will find there is a free version here as well as a more professional version, which you will have to pay for, so have a look at the features and find out how serious you are about what you are looking for. You may also find that the effects that this app comes with are more basic than what Traktor DJ provides you with. For someone who is trying to experiment with various tunes at home, this is a nice place to start.

Cross DJ

Folks love the features of Cross DJ for iPods, which include 2 channel mixing, real-time FX, 3-band equalizer, looping as well as a whole lot more to experiment with. This is for both professionals as well as for people who just want to get started. Your iTunes library is laid out in front of you, so you don’t have to go searching for songs. Everything is simple to get the hang of with an interface that is neatly arranged and uncluttered. The keylocking feature is another great feature when you are mixing to ensure that the pitch does not change. So, it’s high time you got either the iPad or iPad Mini, and started exploring and using the Cross DJ.

DJ Mixer 3

A lot of people are using this app, whether they are professional DJ’s or whether they just want to test out their creative skills on a couple of their iTunes tracks. You can stream your cue over wifi to another iPad, for example. The sound effects that come with this app will add some variety to your mixes. This is a personal preference because not everyone is after these effects. You can use the function which will simply go on autopilot and this means you don’t have to be doing the mixing, and you can socialize with your friends instead.

The post Top 5 iOS Apps for DJs appeared first on Electronic Music.

One of the most anticipated performances at Sónar 2013 will feature the legendary German electronic music group Kraftwerk. This group changed the electronic music scene forever with the release of their critically acclaimed album “Autobahn” in 1974. Long hailed as one of the most influential electronic music groups in the world, Kraftwerk will take the stage with a unique, immersive 3D experience. A stunning video track will accompany the band’s songs, in a fascinating display of audio and video collaboration. This epic performance will set a high bar for the other artists to meet as the festival continues.

In keeping with the festival’s high-profile artist performances, Pet Shop Boys will play a set on the third day of Sónar. This duo is by far one of the most successful electronic music groups of all time. With millions of albums sold, Pet Shop Boys have been deemed the most successful music duo ever to emerge from the UK. Their performance at Sónar 2013 will coincide with the release of their twelfth studio album, entitled “Electric.” With literally dozens of number-one singles, award nominations and acclaimed albums, Pet Shop Boys are sure to bring in a packed house when it’s their turn to play.

Contemporary artists will be featured on the Sónar 2013 playlist as well. The wildly popular DJ Skrillex is scheduled to perform on the second night of the festival. Well-known for his massive, bass-heavy tracks, Skrillex has risen to international fame in a short period of time. He is, in part, responsible for the surging popularity of the “dubstep” sound, which combines crushing synthesizer breakdowns, chaotic percussion and growling, guttural bass lines. Every concert that Skrillex plays becomes a frenetic dance party, with thousands of fans twisting and turning to the pounding rhythms and catchy hooks. Skrillex is sure to give the audience a night to remember.

Two of the leading synthpop artists of the modern era will make their mark as the festival continues. First, Bat for Lashes will thrill the audience with her instantly danceable melodies. Although Bat for Lashes is a relatively new performer, she has already released three studio albums, two of which were nominated for awards. Her set will entrance the audience as they give in to the irresistible urge to dance.

Next, Chromatics will perform their sparkling, ethereal hooks, underscored by tight, lockstep beats. This group started out as a hard-hitting rock group that was inspired by the sounds of classic punk rock. However, their newer sound is enchanting, melodic and more rhythmic. Chromatics are another example of the fine contemporary artists scheduled to play at Sónar this year.

No matter what a person’s musical taste may be, they are sure to find something to love at Sónar 2013. The masterful songwriting of music legends, the pulse-pounding sounds of newer artists and breathtaking video performances are only a fraction of the wondrous sights and sounds to be discovered at this year’s 20th anniversary Sónar Festival in Barcelona.

The post Sónar Celebrates 20 Years appeared first on Electronic Music.

At the age of 16, Albert attended a concert at a club in Barcelona featuring the legendary techno artist Marko Nastic. It was at this concert that Albert found his passion for electronic music as a creator, not just as a listener. He wasted no time investing in new records and the size of his personal music collection quickly increased in size.

Albert Rodriguez Analogik Podcast

After countless hours of committed practice, Albert began to develop a loyal fanbase of his own. The genesis of his new career culminated in an invitation to be the opener for a show at the La Cova club, just outside of Barcelona.

After wowing the audience as well as the club promoters, Albert was given further opportunities to hone his skills and perform alongside some of the biggest names in the European techno community. Performing with some of the greats influenced Albert’s style and, by adding his own ideas, he developed a trademark approach to song creation that combines traditional electronica with an appreciation for all things experimental. This personal musical evolution has continued to this day and Albert has earned a reputation for a musical style that is entirely unique among his artistic colleagues.

Not content to remain only a performer, Albert has recently begun to learn the art of music production. In fact, he and some of his friends in the music community have put their collective efforts together to organize a new event production company. The organization is called Wildlive and has already begun to schedule dates at clubs and festivals that will feature the elite of contemporary techno artists. With so much accomplished so quickly, Albert Rodriguez is sure to expand his artistic vision into the future. Judging by the quality of his work thus far, his future is certainly very bright.

The post Albert Rodriguez – Podcast appeared first on Electronic Music.