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UPCOMING EVENTS:
IMSTA FESTA London
June 1, 2024

IMSTA FESTA Tokyo
June 23, 2024

IMSTA FESTA | SAE Institute CHI

Join IMSTA (Intl. Music Software Trade Assoc.) and SAE Institute as they host IMSTA FESTA, a celebration of music technology packed with Panels, Workshops & Master Classes, Song Critiques, Demonstrations and more.

Hosting industry experts in an environment where music-makers can network, interact and learn with each other face-to-face, this annual one-day event is not to be missed.

IMSTA FESTA is a FREE event open to everyone in the music making community; professional and semi-professional musicians, songwriters, music producers, and audio engineers, as well as music students and educators.



IMSTA FESTA is a FREE event open to everyone in the music making community; professional and semi-professional musicians, songwriters, music producers, and audio engineers, as well as music students and educators.

Event Highlights:

  • Register for a FREE class in the IMSTA Master Class Series featuring the most coveted products from your favorite companies.
  • Visit all of the exhibits to get hands-on experience and even win software!
  • Attend the IMSTA Panel Series with industry experts to network and learn.
  • Bring your Song in to have it reviewed by an expert who will provide you with a professional critique. Song Reviews between 2-5pm.
  • Enter your original song submission into our 2017 Songwriting Competition to win the opportunity to attend Black Rock Studio's in Santorini, Greece!

IMSTA FESTA Chicago will be taking place at:

Location Date Time

SAE Institute Chicago
820 N.Orleans #125
Chicago, IL 60610
US

July 21, 2018 11:00AM - 6:00PM

Get up close and personal with some of your favourite brands and music software companies at this year's IMSTA FESTA. Exhibitors will be bringing their latest software and products for our attendees to demo and try out.

More exhibitors to be announced.

Exhibitors: (Exhibit at IMSTA FESTA)



Sponsors & Partners:





Joshua Helton - Native Instruments

Joshua is a veteran of the North American DJ scene and was an early adopter of the DVS (digital vinyl system) format in 2004. His forward thinking allowed him to experience the evolution of Traktor DJ software and hardware firsthand. This also equipped him with a deep understanding of the system and created the opportunity for him to work directly with Native Instruments as a beta tester and now product specialist. An expert in his field, he is responsible for training artists and presenting at workshops around the country. Along with his technical knowledge, he brings to the table an undeniable passion for DJ culture that spans over two decades. 1



Don Medina - Sonarworks

Don Medina - a hired gun to the some of the music industry Elite Multi-Platinum, Grammy Award Winning and nominated producers. He has mesmerized partygoers for nearly 2 decades from Chicago to Atlanta, LA, Las Vegas; staying reserved and locked in the studio is how he went unnoticed until now.



Andrea Jones - Blue Cat Audio

Just a guy from Flint Michigan with big dreams, Andrae is a musician, audio engineer (live and studio), and owner of M.A.R.S and Audio Bratz. Based out of Detroit Michigan this former SAE Chicago grad has taken the industry by storm working with some of the industries top artist and musicians, showcasing his talents in live sound production, as a musician/producer, as well as a studio engineer. Andrae has had the pleasure of working for The Four Tops, Daru Jones (Drummer for Jack White), Avery Sunshine, Chante Cann, Dave Matthews, Jamie Portee, and Dwele just to name a few.



Matt Cellitti - Native Instruments

Matt is a Native Instruments product specialist focusing on teaching Native Instruments products to producers all over the world. He has created video courses and curriculum for major online educators like Dubspot and Ask Video, and he is passionate about helping people learn how to master these amazing instruments.



Bill Collins - Magix

Bill Collins is a Chicago-based music producer, educator and product specialist for MAGIX Software who has been actively performing and producing music for over 20 years. His music can be heard on several major television networks and is published by Sony/ATV and Universal Music Publishing Group. Bill is also the Editor for The Pro Audio Files, and served as Course Director for the Los Angeles Film School from 2010-2017.



Reginald Walson - Accusonus

Reginald Walson, also known as Volcanobeats or #thesamplerking, is an audio engineer, music producer and beat tutor based in Chicago, IL. He is an alum of SAE Chicago where he studied the recording arts and received an AAS in Audio Technology. That coupled with over 15 years recording and production experience make him a more than capable purveyor of sound.



GIL GOWING - MCDSP

Gil Gowing is a veteran in the pro audio industry with over 30 years of experience with recording, digital audio, and production. He is a product specialist with McDSP as well as the owner and principal consultant of Digimidi Technical Services, specializing in audio and software training, manufacturer consultant and demo artist, training media creation, and music production and multi-channel mixing.



JOHNNY GEIB - PRESONUS

Johnny Geib is a music producer in the Chicago area. He's also the owner of Home Studio Trainer, an online blog and training website for recording musicians. He has produced hundreds of videos on StudioOne and uses PreSonus products in his Chicago recording studio.



Johnny Rayborn - CELEMONY

Johnny “Bravo” Rayborn is a graduate from Columbia with a B.A. in Arts Management/Music Business, Brave has worked on scoring and developing music for movie trailers and is a co-writer on multiple video games, along with having music licensed on MTV, MTV2, ESPN & EA Sports. Currently Johnny is vocal producing and writing songs for top named DJ/Producers and artists from around the world such as Bad Boy Bill, Steve “Silk” Hurley, Umek, Jameisha Trice, Waka Flocka & Superfunk to name a few. Johnny will be demonstrating for Celemony @ NAMM 2018.



Chris Chapoy - FL Studio

Chris Chapoy is a full time studio engineer and music producer at 4moore Studios Chicago.This SAE Chicago alumni has over 30 credited productions on major labels and has worked with various gold and platinum southern rap artists. This FL enthusiast is excited to be returning to IMSTA FESTA as a presenter for the fourth year.



Joe Cozzi - Eventide

As the National Sales Manager for Eventide, Joe Cozzi, travels the Americas conducting workshops and clinics for independent stores, national dealers, and trade shows for Eventide’s pro audio division. A graduate of the University of Miami’s Music Engineering program, Joe has also engineered a Grammy Award-winning record and run the Miami-based dance music labels Organized Nature Recordings and Department of Dance. His career in music, however, began as a pro audio salesman at Guitar Center. He combines is engineering know-how, music knowledge, and salesmanship to introduce other musicians to the world of Eventide’s legendary processing.



William Hunt - izotope

Will grew up in a small town in Maine, where he was exposed to punk music from an early age and discovered a love for the bass guitar. He graduated from Umass Lowell in 2008 with a degree in Music Performance and again in 2012 with a masters in Sound Engineering. Throughout this time, he has been consistently performing and producing music, both in the studio and on the stage. As a product marketing specialist for iZotope, Will educates users and demonstrates the capabilities of iZotope's diverse range of audio software.



David Melgar - NUGEN Audio

David Melgar aka daveKanjo is a Chicago-based producer and mix engineer. Active in the city's new wave of artists (hip-hop and R&B) as well as a member of production group The Tastemakers, Dave brings five years of production and engineering later refined at SAE Chicago to every session he steps into.



Gene Williams - Arturia

Founder and President of Frequency Sales, LLC, Gene is an audiophile who's passion for all things sound and engineering has been growing since he was old enough to hold a guitar and slide the knobs on a mixer! Frequency Sales, LLC started as a dream many years before becoming a reality in early 2010. Prior to founding Frequency Sales, Gene served Guitar Center in a managerial capacity for 7 years, all the while focused on the training, development and sales success of the Pro-Audio Department.

Most recently Gene was the National Sales Manager for PreSonus Audio Electronics where he was a part of and leader for the team that achieved success in expanding the distribution of the PreSonus line and sales success directly related to those activities.



Jonathan Pierre - Reveal Sound

Jon Pierre has been composing and producing music professionally for over 15 years. Initially composing music for commercials for brands like Walmart, Sears, Tide, and McDonalds, Jon shifted focus to music for film, TV, Trailers, and Video games. Most recently, Jon garnered his fifth collaborative Telly award while scoring a web series for Warner Bros., and had a film officially he scored released in 8 cities nationwide called "Lakay." Currently, Jon is the Associate Professor of Music Production and Program Coordinator at Prairie State College where he teaches what he does everyday...making music. Jon is also working on his debut Pop/EDM EP, Ready, and goes by the moniker, J. Prep



James Auwarter - Avid

James is honored to represent Avid at IMSTA FESTA Chicago for the second year in a row. His 15+ years engineering predominantly in Pro Tools began way back in version 5 (in 2002), while having since earned Pro Tools certifications in versions 6, 11, 12.2, and 12.8. The new features introduced in Pro Tools 2018 have brought a smile of pure bliss to James’ face; Stop by the Avid exhibit to get in on the experience!



Juan Velasquez - Relab

Juan Velasquez best known as TONE is a Chicago-bred mix engineer and Producer. Tone has been in the field since his teens having interned at Classick Studios and earning his AAS at SAE Chicago. Currently Staffed @ the Stu Studio, TONE continues to work on Chicago's next wave of Hip Hop and R&B.



Derrick Floyd - IK Multimedia

Derrick is a musician, singer, songwriter, producer and motivational speaker. He has been the face of IK Multimedia for over a decade and will be showing the latest products including the mini synthesizer.



Keytar Jeff - Musiclab

Keytarjeff, is considered a “Master” of the instrument known as a “Keytar.” He is a sensational singer and demonstrator of Musiclab RealGuitar products. Keytarjeff’s current projects include being the lead voice for an original Jazz, Rock, & Blues musical being recorded and produced in Australia called “Wish” & writing and recording with Marvin Gaye/ George Michael drummer Doni Hagan.



Orlando Calixto - Sonible

Orlando Calixto is a Mixing Engineer, Songwriter, Music Producer and all around problem solver. Having both musical and entrepreneurial traits at a young age, it was only natural that he’d gravitate to the music business. An SAE Chicago graduate, Orlando strives to achieve his goals of becoming a staple in the industry.



DJ Scend - Serato

Chicago native Scend combines his eclectic taste, turntablist skills, and smooth blending capabilities with his dynamic personality to consistently provide his listeners an unforgettable experience through his mixes. From house to hip-hop to soul, Scend’s music has graced the speakers of many different venues and festivals across the city.



John DiNicola - Focusrite & Novation

As a Field Trainer / Product Specialist for Focusrite & Novation, I travel the country performing trainings for sales people and musicians. Since graduating from University of Hartford in 2009 with an Audio Engineering Degree, I’ve had the opportunity to work various studio and live sound gigs in NYC & Los Angeles. Also working as a Product Specialist since 2010, I’m passionate about passing on any knowledge I can to help others make music.



Register below for a FREE class in the IMSTA Master Class Series featuring the most coveted products from your favorite companies.

Room 2:00PM 3:00PM 4:00PM
TBA Celemony
All About Vocals

Learn about how to tune vocals, time align and stack harmony vocals for a tight sounding mix. Creative use of Melodyne's time handle and attack tools to match the tracks time feel. Amplitude editing and creative de-essing strategies and how to use Melodyne's EQ and overtone editing using the sound editor functions to make the perfect sounding vocal track and otherworldly vocal effects. Get insights, tip and tricks on how to achieve award-winning tracks.

Celemony
The Creative Side of Melodyne 4

Learn how to: Use Melodyne 4's extensive toolset for tempo mapping, tempo correction and tempo assignment for remixing; tighten up guitar and bass sounds using the Dynamics tool, or change the character of a piano into an ethereal instrument; create new sounds by copying the spectrum from one track and superimpose onto another; using Melodyne 4's Resynthesize tool for sound design, and previously impossible effects for fully transformed sounds - never imagined.

TBA Native Instruments
Creating a Live Performance with Traktor

The latest Traktor update introduced some exciting new features to the world's leading DJ software. Gain direct insights from Certified Native Specialist Josh Helton about how Traktor allows you to create a unique live performance using STEMS, Step-sequencing, and syncing functionality of Link and MASCHINE.

FabFilter
FabFilter Pro R and Pro L2

FabFilter plugins are some of the best and most popular on the market. This Master Class focuses on the ground-breaking Pro-R reverb with its unprecedented 6-band control of frequency decay and tonal balance. Learn how to take this reverb into fresh, new, creative territory. Pro-L 2 limiter takes the world's favorite Limiter to the next level and adds true-peak limiting, extensive loudness metering and much more with the same loud and transparent sound.

Native Instruments
Synths of Komplete

Learn from Certified Native Specialist Matt Cellitti how to create your unique sound using the synths of KOMPLETE. In this class, we will take a look at classic synths such as Massive and Absynth, new synths such as TRK-01 and FORM, and hidden gems that have been forgotten over time!

TBA Presonus Room
Studio One Basics

This Master Class is ideal for new users and people checking out Studio One to see what it can do and how it works. You will learn about: Instrument tracks and Audio tracks and their differences; Audio Tracks Channel Mode; Panning basics ; Insert Effects and FX Channels and Mixing 101.

Presonus Room
Studio One Advanced

This Class is geared for advanced Studio One users. In this Masterclass you will learn about: The Arranger Track; Using Audio Bend; Using the Scratch Pad 4; Working with loops and VST Instruments; StudioLive DAW Mode and Studio One Integration.



IMSTA FESTA Panel Series

IMSTA is proud to host another exciting panel series during IMSTA FESTA featuring industry leaders and their fresh perspectives on music production. We are bringing together the best minds, innovators and companies in the business of music and audio for this 1-day networking event.

Click to see more & register for an event today!

Overview: IMSTA announces GRAMMY-winning mix engineer Dave Pensado and Executive Producer Herb Trawick to deliver the Keynote Speech IMSTA FESTA CHICAGO on Saturday July 21, 2018. Pensado is acknowledged as one of the leading online Educators for all things audio and he illustrates this on his weekly show Pensado’s Place. Dave's mix credits include Michael Jackson, Kelly Clarkson, Beyonce, Elton John, Christina Aguilera and Jill Scott. Trawicks' experience as a successful manager makes him the resident expert on intellectual property, business affairs, career consultation, digital media and more. Don’t miss Dave and Herb!

Speakers:

Moderator:

IMSTA FESTA SONG REVIEWS | 2PM - 4:45PM

Reviewers: Robert Monroe & Sheldon Dukes
IMSTA announces Song Reviews beginning at 2pm. Bring your original song in on a headphone-compatible device and receive a one-on-one listening session with an industry expert who will give you a critique on your masterpiece. From the Song Reviews, the judges nominate 'Wild Cards' who are then spontaneously added to the finalists' pool who place 1st, 2nd and 3rd of the 2018 IMSTA Songwriting Competition. (Wild Cards must be present for judging at 5pm) At the end of 2018, the 1st place finalists of each region are re-entered into a draw for the Grand Prize. The winner goes to Black Rock Studios in Santorini, Greece! Don't miss the opportunity to possibly go to Greece!