DP Creative Audio

TEDx Macatawa

2012-01-09T17:04:00.000-08:00

I'm honored to be a part of the first ever TEDx Macatawa event in Holland, MI to be held on March 8, 2012. I will be one of the primary musicians performing in between speakers, along with local artist and friend Joel Tanis. In addition, I am serving on the entertainment committee for the event.

For those new to TED, it's mission statement begins: We believe passionately in the power of ideas to change attitudes, lives and ultimately, the world. So we're building here a clearinghouse that offers free knowledge and inspiration from the world's most inspired thinkers, and also a community of curious souls to engage with ideas and each other.

Our theme this year is “Do More Good”. We have assembled local “Doing Leaders” to share their stories, ideas, hopes and dreams. It’s our belief that adventurous, passionate people are creating a collective “Good” in our community through the confluence of Technology, Entertainment and Design.

To find out more about the event and to order tickets click TEDx Holland

New Microphones

2011-12-23T16:56:00.000-08:00

This December I gave myself a Christmas present of a stereo pair of Neumann KM184 microphones. They are awesome! I've very excited to start using them on my guitars and all manner of acoustic instrument. Here's a glowing customer review from Sweetwater's site.

"I have many, many mics in my collection and Neumann never seems to let me down. I have been using these mics extensively for several years now and when combined with a high end pre, I am never disapointed on guitars or brass. Amazingly fast yet warm transient response and no discernable coloration. When you want your accoustic to sound "real"... whether classical or steel string, use these mics". JLT Studios, Seatlle, WA

Resthaven Rehabilitation Commercial

2011-12-02T18:06:00.000-08:00

I was hired this winter to write and record a theme for Resthaven Rehabilitation, in Holland, MI. As the project progressed, my duties grew to include producing the voice overs and to handle the video post production. I hope to offer more of these production services to my clients.

Pure Ludington WInter Commercial

2011-11-21T17:59:00.000-08:00

Another quarterly rearrangement for the Ludington commercials.

Pure Ludington Fall Commercial #2

2011-10-20T08:59:00.000-07:00

Here's the second version that is being aired this Fall.

Pure Ludington Fall Commercial #1

2011-10-10T08:48:00.000-07:00

I've continued working with the the Ludington Area Convention & Visitors Bureau and the Zie Group advertising firm on quarterly musical rearrangements of the original theme I composed for the "Pure Ludington" ad campaign. Here is the first Fall tv spot.

Art Prize Documentary

2011-09-25T07:19:00.000-07:00

Working with Storming the Castle Pictures to score their upcoming documentary on ArtPrize, called Art is the Prize. ArtPrize is a radically open public art competition, hosted in Grand Rapids , MI. There is no formal jury, curator or judge, and it asks the public to vote and decide the winners using mobile devices and the internet. In ArtPrize 2010, more than 1,713 artists from 44 states and 21 countries participated in the unprecedented competition that awarded nearly $500,000 to the prize winners. Below is a link to an early clip featuring one of my songs.

Art is the Prize clip

"Yardsticks" Promo

2011-07-30T08:22:00.000-07:00

Advertising veteran, Frank Blossom, contacted me to write a high energy score for a Yardsticks promotional video. Yardsticks is a college aged competition sponsored by the Polishing Center in Grand Rapids MI. Frank is co-founder of The Polishing Center, which introduces college advertising,marketing, and design students to top creatives in the area who they will workshop with and learn from.

For more info on Frank: click here
For more info on Yardsticks: click here

Ludington TV Commercial

2011-07-15T08:05:00.000-07:00

I was hired to compose a theme for the city of Ludington, MI to use in their "Pure Ludington" ad campaign. I worked with the Ludington Area Convention & Visitors Bureau and the Zie Group advertising firm on this cable tv spot. If you get a chance, take a trip to Ludington and find out for yourself what a treasure of the Midwest this town is.

Apogee Ensemble

2011-06-20T09:05:00.000-07:00

Became the proud owner of a new Apogee Ensemble AD/DA convertor. It sounds great! Looking forward to using it on all of my new projects.

Here are a couple of reviewers comment...

The pre amps are crystal clear, transparent, perfect for vocals, acoustic guitar, drums, amp cabs, bass DI or cabs; the works.

All I can say about the Ensemble is WOW!!!!

In my opinion, this is the best all-in-one box on the market. You won't be disappointed!

Tracking Josh Schicker's latest album

2011-06-17T07:07:00.000-07:00

Starting a fun collaborative project with a good friend, and a great singer/songwriter, Josh Schicker. After working with Josh on pre-production, we are starting to track his latest album. I am tracking the vocals, guitars, violins, etc, while another friend, and drummer extraordinaire, Danny Reyes, is tracking drums and bass. A third buddy, Dan Bos, is going to be mixing the project, out in LA. Josh has written some beautiful new songs for this album, and I'm thrilled to be an integral part of the creative process!

For more info about Josh: click here

Addy Awards 2011

2011-02-25T11:53:00.000-08:00

It's that time of year again. Time for ad agencies across the country to enter their "best of the best". As a member of the AAFWM, I was busy this week taking in the events that culminated in the Addy Awards on Feb 24. As always, I am amazed at the creative talent that West Michigan possesses. For a full write up of the Addy's, follow the link to the Mlive.com news site.

Addy Awards

A Few Good Music Quotes

2011-01-15T11:40:00.000-08:00

Music is what life sounds like. ~Eric Olson

Music expresses that which cannot be said and on which it is impossible to be silent. ~Victor Hugo

Music is the shorthand of emotion. ~Leo Tolstoy

Merry Christmas

2010-12-25T11:46:00.000-08:00

Wishing everyone a blessed holiday season!

I heard the bells on Christmas Day
Their old, familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet the words repeat
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!
- Longfellow

MIchigan Film Festival 2010

2010-11-12T11:25:00.000-08:00

The Michigan Film Fest 2010 is happening this weekend Nov 12-14. Founder, Jen Pider, described the event as "a celebration of Michigan made works and our Michigan film making community. We're hoping by displaying these Michigan made films and bringing all these film makers together and people who have worked on films together with film enthusiasts community it will just be a great networking event and make our community stronger." Organizers do not want to compete with the other 28 festivals in the state so instead of taking direct film submissions from movie makers they ask the other festivals to send in their best works. I will be performing at the Music Supervisor's Showcase, the evening of Nov. 13. Looking forward to it!

For more info, click here.

Michigan Film Fest 2010

2010-10-23T14:33:00.000-07:00

It's now only a month away until the 2nd annual Michigan Film Fest. in downtown Grand Rapids, MI. Last year I was on a panel discussing music for film and this year I'm honored to be serving on a committee. It's shaping up to be a great event, with more films, more seminars, and more speakers. Of particular interest will be the Music Supervisors Showcase, where Michigan musicians will be showing off their songs for industry professionals. (Unfortunately, this will be a private portion of the fest, for industry professionals and not open to the general public.) If you are free Nov. 12-14 and near Grand Rapids, MI, consider taking in this entertaining and informative event.

For more details, click here.

ArtPrize

2010-10-15T13:48:00.000-07:00

Grand Rapids was host for the second year to the innovative art competition, ArtPrize. It was bigger and better than ever! It's creators describe it as "a very different art competition, the goal is for the general public and artists to collide, exchange ideas and come away changed." It is tremendously inspiring to see so much excellent and diverse art all showcased in and about the city. Not only that, but it has been a fantastic draw for the city of Grand Rapids, and further boosts it's reputation as an up and coming "cool city". I'm continually blown away with the creative and innovative spirit that is present in West Michigan and I am so glad that I call it my home!

What is Quality?

2010-09-15T14:53:00.000-07:00

“Quality is never an accident; it is always the result of high intention, sincere effort, intelligent direction and skillful execution; it represents the wise choice of many alternatives.”

William A. Foster

ART Realty Ad

2010-08-23T13:34:00.000-07:00

I worked with Big Red Group recently to produce this advertisement for ART Realty. Some classic "elevator music" was the order of the day. Check out ART Realty if you are in the market for a new home.

A Great Quote

2010-08-01T15:13:00.000-07:00

"After silence, that which comes nearest to expressing the inexpressible is music."

Aldous Huxley

Favorite New Plug-In

2010-07-20T14:56:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to give a shout out to one of my favorite companies, Universal Audio. I own a number of their plug-ins, which run on the fantastic UAD-2 card. I recently added the FATSO Jr. to my arsenal of Universal plug-ins, and love the effect it has on my tracks!

For those in the know, the original Empirical Labs FATSO Jr. is a Analog Tape Simulator and Compressor. It "gives users the wonderfully warm and pleasing sound of magnetic recording tape, class A transformers, and tube circuits...Specifically, the FATSO is designed to musically integrate frequencies and transients — and increase the apparent volume of your source material — in the same way classic analog equipment does."

I find that I'm using it on more and more songs, as it brings out that elusive warmth and vibe that can so often be missing in hard disc recording. For more info, click here.

June 4WALL- Fulvew Productions

2010-06-23T19:49:00.000-07:00

This month the West Michigan Film and Video Alliance (WMFVA) 4WALL event was featuring the work of Fulvew Productions of Grand Rapids, which is owned and operated by Chris Randall and Keith Golinski. They describe their company this way... "Fulvew Productions creates professional, national quality film and video with a focus on entertaining, engaging and exciting people. We like our productions to stand out, not only in a client’s market, but anywhere in the country."

Fulvew's clients include Hanon McKendry, Gordon Foods, Meijer, Haworth, and Steelcase, to name a few. I was very impressed with the creative work they have done, not only the commercial and corporate work, but also the music videos and film shorts. It was an evening well spent, watching Fulvew's work and hearing about their experiences first hand. Follow the link below to find out more about this great company.

Fulvew Productions

Waterfront Film Festival 2010

2010-06-14T11:28:00.000-07:00

This weekend I attended my second Waterfront Film Festival in Saugatuck, MI. It is a wonderful event that showcases some of the best independent and documentary films being produced.

Here's how the organizers describe the fest...."In what has quickly become a tradition, the idyllic resort village of Saugatuck, Michigan comes alive each June with filmgoers, actors, producers and directors sharing the excitement as outstanding independent films from all over the United States are screened in casual, intimate settings. Entertainment professionals from Los Angeles, New York and Michigan created the Waterfront Film Festival in 1999 to provide a "middle coast" venue for independent filmmakers eager to show their work to sophisticated audiences. The festival has succeeded with growing support and recognition each year, and enthusiastic reviews from attendees."

From drama to documentary, comedy to horror, there were films for everyone; certainly more than I could fit into two days of viewing. As during my first visit to the WFF, I came away inspired by the quality and breadth of films shown, not to mention the excellence with which the fest was organized and run. I also gained a lot of fantastic scoring ideas from viewing these films. Can't wait for next year!

To find out more about the fest, click Waterfront Film Festival

Time Bomb Productions

2010-05-27T20:07:00.000-07:00

I completed three underscore pieces for Time Bomb Productions out of Holland, MI this month. Time Bomb Prod. is owned by Randy Stephens and focuses on filming any manner of auto races and demolitions derbies. He was needing some aggressive, hard rocking tracks to use underneath his race footage. More info can be found at Git-R-Bent.

Demo for Lee Heerspink

2010-05-21T11:02:00.000-07:00

This month I have been working with my good friend Lee Heerspink on his demo disc. Lee is a Holland, MI native who has been playing guitar for over 12 years. He currently holds a bachelors in music education from Hope College (04’), and a master of music from the University of South Florida (07’) in jazz performance. While in Tampa he was able to play professionally with some of the areas best including Jack Wilkins, Steve Davis, and Richard Drexler. Not only is Lee extremely talented, but he is a heck of a great guy!

We ended up using the Digidesign Eleven Rack for all of Lee's guitar tracks, and the tones sounded fantastic! An added bonus was that the prep time was miniscule compared to standard amp miking procedures, and he could play in the control room, tracking over the monitors. Very nice! Lee's demo also gave me the chance to use my latest plugin, the Fatso Jr. In Universal Audio's words "The Empirical Labs EL7 FATSO’s ingenious design and creative feature set gives users the wonderfully warm and pleasing sound of magnetic recording tape, class A transformers, and tube circuits." A great addition to my plugin arsenal, which really made a difference on Lee's demo.

To find out more about Lee, follow this link. Lee Heerspink

Addy Picture

2010-05-05T06:38:00.000-07:00

Here's a photo of me (l) and Karl Koelling (r) from the Addy's back in February, taken by Grand Rapids Social Diary.

Karl owns Kairos Productions in Grand Rapids, MI and it has been my privilege to work on a number of projects with him. Karl is a true creative professional, who runs his business with integrity, and is a pleasure to work with. If you are searching for a full service production company to take you from concept to final DVD authoring, be sure to check him out.

Kairos Productions

The Addy's was my first encounter with Grand Rapids Social Diary. In their words..."The Grand Rapids Social Diary is a unique online magazine and social network designed to inform, entertain and connect West Michigan residents, nonprofit groups and businesses. It is both inspirational and aspirational, engaging readers with a smart tone and highly visual style of covering Grand Rapids’ philanthropic and cultural activities." If you are not familiar with this organization, be sure and see what they are covering.

Grand Rapids Social Diary

4WALL

2010-04-29T16:36:00.000-07:00

Last night I attended my first West Michigan Film and Video Alliance (WMFVA) 4WALL event. 4WALL screenings take place at the Wealthy Theater in Grand Rapids, MI, and show off the best member work and provide networking inside the production community. This month was dedicated to the best commercial and corporate work in Grand Rapids. Presenters were Kerry Rasikas and Lisa Steele of Rasikas Films, and Ken Schmidt of Ken Schmidt Productions. Once again I was blown away with the creativity and top notch work that is being done right here in West Michigan! A very fun and informative evening.

Promotional Trailer for Rob Stam

2010-04-15T18:32:00.000-07:00

Rob Stam, who I wrote a post about last month, has started appearing as a guest speaker in support of his book "Almost Our Time". In need of a promotional trailer (and needing it "yesterday"), Karl Koelling of Kairos Productions and I whipped up this short promo that Rob has started putting to good use. The soundtrack is actually a piano piece that Rob has had floating around his head for a long time now. Glad we could record it and put it to good use!

Keystone Coaching

2010-04-01T17:00:00.000-07:00

I wrapped up some voice-over work today for Mark de Roo, president of Keystone Coaching & Consulting. Keystone is "in the business of transforming performance for corporate professionals and organizations. (Their) objective is to facilitate your growth by helping to define your vision through goal-oriented coaching." Mark wanted to add some short educational audio clips to the site, but lacked the proper equipment to produce a professional audio sample. It was my pleasure to help him achieve his goal. Check out his "Emotional Intelligence?" audio clip by following the link below.

Keystone Coaching & Consulting

Almost Our Time

2010-03-13T15:15:00.000-08:00

Just want to give a shout out to my friend Rob Stam on the release of his new book "Almost Our Time: Generation X Takes On America's Challenges".

Rob shares how "Generation X grew up with Star Wars, prepared to deal with the problems of a fantasy universe... but that it is assuming leadership of a very different country than the one they grew up in. Even so, if the Star Wars generation will learn and apply classic American principles they can defeat the "Debt Star" and other real world problems and pass on a better nation to their children". It is a great read and challenges us to live realistically and within our means.

Session work for Othello Productions

2010-03-05T15:28:00.000-08:00

I laid down some electric guitar parts this weekend for Othello Productions in New Jersey. Used my Eleven Rack for it and can't say enough good things about the unit. Finally, a virtual guitar amp that feels like a real amp, and instant recall of all my settings! Love the fact that I can collaborate with people around the globe too.

Michigan Film Office's 2009 Annual Report

2010-03-02T15:43:00.000-08:00

"Michigan's film tax incentive created more than 4,000 Michigan jobs for crew work, and another 4,000 jobs for Michigander actors and extras, according to the 2009 Michigan Film Office report made public today. The bulk of the crew jobs average $30 or more an hour..... " by Jackie Headapohl

For full story: Click here.

Startup Weekend

2010-03-01T11:43:00.000-08:00

This past weekend I was part of what is called a "Startup Weekend". Here's how the website describes it....

"Startup Weekend recruits a highly motivated group of developers, business managers, startup enthusiasts, marketing gurus, graphic artists and more to a 54 hour event that builds communities, companies and projects. It is known for its quick decisions, inventive problem solving, unique facilitation technique and letting the founders show what they can do. The program has already met with success in over 52 cities and 12 countries and growing! The participants that attend a Startup Weekend decide what they want to tackle over the weekend and come out at the end with several developed companies or projects. Startup Weekend provides an unprecedented level of networking, team building, learning, and life changes for its attendees and their communities."

It was a great experience to be around such smart, highly motivated and skillful individuals and watch them do their stuff! One more reason I'm glad that I live in West Michigan. To find out more about the event, follow the link below.

Startup Weekend

Rock Your Addy Off!

2010-02-28T06:46:00.000-08:00

What a great three days of celebrating advertising here in West Michigan. On Tuesday, the Creative Crawl allowed anyone interested in the ad industry to tour companies and meet creatives, a great way to network and find out what is going on locally. Wednesday morning offered an engaging presentation by Bob Fish, founder of Biggby Coffee, and was followed by three seminars focusing on marketing and emerging technology. Finally, Thursday night capped the week of events with the Addy Awards. Once again, I was blown away by the talent that is here in West Michigan. To find out more about the winners, visit the AAF West Michigan site.

AAF West Michigan

Third Annual Ad Fair

2010-02-22T07:37:00.000-08:00

This will be a busy week. It is the third annual Ad Fair, celebrating world-class advertising and design products created in West Michigan. AD Fair ‘10, is a series of social, educational and celebratory events slated for February 23-25. It's Grand Rapid's version of New York’s Ad Week–celebrating the best of what the advertising and design industry brings to West Michigan. Events include the Creative Crawl, an Advertising and Marketing Workshop, a Media Auction, and finally, the Addy Awards. Looking forward to some good networking and hearing about the exciting and creative work that is done in West Michigan.

Website Goes Live!

2010-02-21T18:06:00.000-08:00

I'm pleased to announce that the new DP Creative Audio website went live this weekend. It looks great! I'm indebted to the talent and hard work of my friends Luke Daab, Greg Smith, and Rob Stam. Thanks guys! Please take the site for a spin and let me know what you think. Better yet, spread the word about DP Creative Audio with your friends and colleagues.

Happy Holland

2010-02-17T17:55:00.000-08:00

This just in...I live next to the second "Happiest Town" in the USA.....Holland, Michigan.

Although Boulder, Colo. came in first and Honolulu, Hawaii landed third in the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index -- based on answers gathered from more than 350,000 phone surveys nationwide -- the communities aren't getting as much attention as Holland. How exactly does an area such as Holland and Ottawa County end up on a top 10 list? Mayor Kurt Dykstra's response “We are part of a community that truly cares for one another. Holland is also “in a very beautiful part of the world.”

A news crew from ABC's "World News with Diane Sawyer" spent most of Wednesday in Holland working on a story about how the Tulip City landed at No. 2 in a happiness survey.

Watch the news clip: Happy Holland

Website Remodel Part 2- Daab Creative

2010-02-03T17:42:00.000-08:00

Having developed a stronger sense of brand and vision for the company and the website, it was time to consult with my good friend Luke Daab. Luke and his wife Jenny own Daab Creative, and Luke is one of the most imaginative and inventive fellows I know. He helped me design the original website and I wanted him to be behind this second build as well. Not only is Luke a superb artist and designer, he is a pleasure to work with. Please follow the link to find out more about his company and view his portfolio.

Daab Creative

Check out Hangar 42

2010-01-28T11:30:00.000-08:00

Hangar42 Studios: The Next Step in West Michigan Film

By Brandy Arnold

"Hangar42 Studios, which opened its doors to production this month, promises to continue the revolution of the West Michigan film industry.

The 450,000 square-feet structure located in Walker is being completely overhauled to serve as Michigan’s first fully financed major film studio.

The principals and investors behind Hangar42 are thinking big – physically and electronically. The group expects to create 50-60 administrative jobs and 750-1,000 additional jobs in its first three years. In addition, Hangar42 has one of the largest sound stages in the world and a data infrastructure that will allow production information to be shared with others across the globe in real time.

Our hope is that the studio will multiply the economic impact to the local West Michigan community and tie more companies, people and jobs to the growing film industry,” she said. “We think it offers further support that there is a lot going on in the area and it’s a great place to live and work.”"

Website Remodel Starts

2010-01-14T08:25:00.000-08:00

I've been meaning to take the DP Creative Audio website up a notch for a while now. Step one was to seek help in the branding and copy department. Neither of these are my forte, but thankfully I have talented friends who excel at this sort of thing. I started meeting with Rob Stam, of The Big Red Group, and Greg Smith, of Black Lake Studio. Together we hashed out a great new vision for both the site and the company. I couldn't be more pleased!

I highly recommend both Rob and Greg! To find out more about them, follow the links below.

The Big Red Group

Black Lake Studio

Addy Entry Day

2010-01-07T16:28:00.000-08:00

It's Addy time again! This year I chose to submit the songs that I created for the Kellogg's Apple Jacks "2GETHER 4EVER" games. The games needed to have a high energy, four-on-the-floor feel, yet also contain a Caribbean vibe (due to the character "CinnaMon", Apple's friend in fun). Surf over to the Apple Jacks site and click on the "Classic Fun" tab for a little leisure time activity. Play "Market Mayhem", "Inside-Out", "Signal Sk8", "Message Mixer", and "Mega Maze" to help Apple reunite with CinnaMon.

To visit the Kellogg's Apple Jacks website: Click Here

Session work at Grooters Productions

2009-12-07T15:14:00.000-08:00

Had a good time in the studio today. Two old friends of mine, Lynn Walker and Pam VanPutten, are putting together a new album which is being recorded and produced at Grooters Productions in Holland, MI. John Grooters is acting as producer and Paul Wesselink is engineering. I added some classical guitar to the mix on this occasion. The forthcoming album will be available later this month. Always fun making music with friends!

-Dave

Eleven Rack

2009-11-15T14:37:00.000-08:00

As a guitarist, I'm always on the lookout for devices that promise the "ultimate" guitar tones. I'm also thrilled when I find products that increase my workflow and simplify the recording process. So, I was blown away when I bought the new Eleven Rack from Digidesign. It is, in their words, "a revolutionary new guitar recording and effects processing solution designed to eliminate the challenges that guitarists have faced in the studio and on stage. " Finally, a virtual electric guitar system that sounds and feels like a real amp! Not only that, but it's integration with Pro Tools makes it a snap to create and edit electric guitar parts. I can't say enough about it! It will definitely be all over my recordings from here on out.

-Dave

"American Sailors" showing at the Orlando Film Festival

2009-11-01T14:13:00.000-08:00

"American Sailors", produced by Grooters Productions, is playing this week at the Orlando Film Festival Nov. 4-8.

"American Sailors" is an hour long documentary that takes you on board and behind the scenes as four great skippers prepare and race their boats in the longest and oldest freshwater race in the world. The documentary was a winner at the 30th annual Telly Awards, receiving the highest honor: a Silver Telly. There were over 13,000 entries from all 50 states and countries around the world.

DP Creative Audio is proud to have composed and recorded one of the main themes used throughout the movie.

To view the "American Sailors" homepage: Click Here

AAF West Michigan

2009-09-24T14:32:00.000-07:00

This past Wednesday was the first Fall meeting of AAF West Michigan. Dave Lorenz, the Manger of Public & Industry Relations for Travel Michigan was the speaker. He shared insights into the creative approach and development of the Pure Michigan brand. Forbes ranked the Pure Michigan tourism campaign its highest rated state tourism campaign, and sixth on the list of its top ten tourism campaigns worldwide, saying, “…this campaign sells with its simple and universal message: that sometimes we all need to get away from life's stresses and relax a bit.”

Once again it was an excellent event to inspire creativity and develop relations in the advertising industry. Good food never hurts either!

Sweetwater Sound

2009-09-18T14:13:00.000-07:00

This Friday my friend Matt Hanegraaff (left) and I (right) made a three hour road trip down to Fort Wayne, Indiana to visit Sweetwater Sound. As many musicians know, Sweetwater is one of the premier music retailers in the country, particularly when it comes to "all things recording". I have been a faithful customer for many years and have placed a high value on their knowledgeable staff, and superb customer service. They have an amazing facility and it was a great pleasure to meet my sales rep in person and check out a lot of great gear first hand.

-Dave

The Creative Constant

2009-09-14T14:50:00.000-07:00

An excellent quote by Paul Williams on the craft of music.

"What remains constant in this whirlwind of change is the art and craft of the creative process. Composers and songwriters have a unique gift – the ability to combine sparks of inspiration, imagination and life experience with talent, hard work, and often a little bit of magic, to create music that touches other people's lives. The music creators' gift is the engine that drives our industry. Its value should never be underestimated."

Panel Discussion at the Michigan Film Festival

2009-08-31T18:08:00.000-07:00

This past Saturday was the first annual "Michigan Film Festival", held at the Grand Rapids Art Museum and UICA. I was honored to be part of a panel discussion entitled "Film Music and Soundtracks". Joining me was director Anthony Griffin and attorney Jeffrey Nelson, moderated by Jen Pider of Pider Enterprises. The discussion covered the many facets of creating a soundtrack, both from a creative and a business perspective. I attended a number of other discussions that were offered throughout the day and was very impressed with the presentations and the festival as a whole. I'm eagerly looking forward to next year's festival.

-David Purnell

Apple Jacks "2GETHER 4EVER" campaign goes live.

2009-08-17T15:03:00.000-07:00

Kellogg's Apple Jacks "2GETHER 4EVER" campaign has now been live for three weeks. Sounds beds for five games that are part of this campaign were produced by DP Creative Audio. Every two weeks a new game is unlocked. Play "Market Mayhem" and "Inside Out" today! and check back periodically for new games.

To visit the Kellogg's Apple Jacks website: Click Here

New Gear for DP Creative AUdio

2009-07-17T16:41:00.000-07:00

In an ongoing effort to acquire the finest audio tools to work with, DP Creative Audio recently acquired Universal Audio's "UAD-2 Nevana" bundle and Project Sam's "Symphobia" sample library.

Here's a couple of quotes,

The UAD-2 Nevana 64 combines the classic sound of Neve® with Universal Audio’s revolutionary new DSP acceleration hardware. Nevana 64 brings the coveted Neve® sound directly to your DAW and makes your mixes “sound like a record” with all the sonic quality and “polish” that Neve consoles are renowned for. -www.universalaudio.com

"Symphobia is the most advanced, realistic and impressive library that exists today. It has basically replaced all of my other sound libraries, as the variety and quality of the samples is simply unparalleled. Symphobia truly offers everything that a professional composer needs to create a dynamic and artistic cinematic score!" Sharon Farber, composer

Music for Kellogg's Apple Jacks

2009-06-26T12:55:00.000-07:00

DP Creative Audio adds Kellogg's Apple Jacks to it's roster of breakfast cereals that it has produced music for (which includes Kellogg's Pop Tarts and Kellogg's Raisin Bran Crunch). Five game sound beds were created for the Apple Jacks website which will support it's upcoming "2GETHER 4EVER" campaign. Look for it soon at http://www.applejacks.com

Also notice the "Get Your Move On" service announcement when you log on to the site. It's music was created by DP Creative Audio in '07.

Score for "Their Sacrifice"

2009-05-22T12:48:00.000-07:00

DP Creative Audio composed and recorded the orchestral score for "Their Sacrifice", a production of Media Fuel in Grand Rapids, MI. Created with Memorial Day in mind, "Their Sacrifice" is a mini movie that pays tribute to the men and women that have served in our armed forces.

To view the movie, click here

Session work for "That The World May Know"

2009-05-15T16:30:00.000-07:00

This month I had the privilege of once again assisting my good friend Eric Schrotenboer; laying down guitar parts on scores composed by Eric for the latest Ray VanderLaan teaching series called "That The World May Know", distributed by Focus On The Family. This current series follows Ray as he leads his group through Egypt, Israel, and Jordan on the path of Moses during the Biblical Exodus. It is an honor to once again work with Eric and contribute to this series.

-David Purnell

Composition for "American Sailor"

2009-05-11T12:38:00.000-07:00

DP Creative Audio produced an acoustic guitar piece featured in "American Sailor", a film by Grooters Productions of Holland, MI. "American Sailor" is a one-hour adventure feature celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Chicago-to-Mackinac sailboat race. The film will air on July 4, at 9PM on WGN.

Biggs|Gilmore Named Top Agency in "09 Internet Advertising Competition

2009-04-13T10:00:00.000-07:00

Biggs|Gilmore continues to be my chief client. I have produced music for their Pop Tarts, Raisin Bran, and American Idols Live sites. I want to congratulate Biggs|Gilmore on this outstanding award! It is always an honor to work with them on their ad campaigns. (see write up below)

Biggs|Gilmore Named Top Agency in 2009 Internet Advertising Competition
3/30/2009
KALAMAZOO, Mich. – Competing against some of the world’s best, interactive agency Biggs|Gilmore was named Top Agency in the 2009 Internet Advertising Competition, taking home 19 awards, including a Best of Show, eight Best of Industry awards and 10 Outstanding awards.

The Internet Advertising Competition, sponsored by the Web Marketing Association, is the first and only competition dedicated exclusively to online advertising.

“We get a lot of recognition for the Web sites we create. But online advertising and applications are just as important for building brands in the digital age,” said Marino Puhalj, senior vice president, executive creative director.

Entries were judged on design, ease of use, copywriting, interactivity, use of technology, innovation and content.

“Being named Top Agency validates the decision we made several years ago to become a digital shop. Across all categories, clients are getting more innovative and really embracing the digital possibilities of brands,” said Andy Gould, senior vice president, executive creative director.

Biggs|Gilmore won the Best of Show Online Newsletter award for Rice Krispies.

The agency’s eight “Best of” awards included Best Consumer Goods Online Campaign (Scott Tissue), Best Food Industry Rich Media Online Ad (Morningstar Farms), Best Insurance Rich Media Online Ad (Premera Blue Cross), Best Food Industry Rich Media Online Campaign (Rice Krispies), Best Food Industry Online Newsletter Campaign (Rice Krispies), Best Movie Interactive Application (IMAX), Best Food Industry Interactive Application (Apple Jacks), and Best Food Industry Integrated Ad Campaign (Pop-Tarts).

Parent Pager

2009-03-23T10:00:00.000-07:00

DP Creative Audio just wrapped up the music for a promotional video for Parent Pager, a hi-tech child/family check in system. It was "developed for managing the security of children while under the care of a ministry or care center. Parent Pager focuses on speeding families through the check in process and providing real-time communications and information to the staff and guardians while providing the tools to help manage the security of the children in the care center."

To find out more about Parent Pager visit http://www.parentpager.com

Omnisphere

2009-03-20T11:00:00.000-07:00

We just purchased the newest soft synth from Spectrasonics, called Omnisphere, and can't wait to use it on new projects. In the company's words...

"This epic ‘Power Synth’ breaks completely new sonic ground by combining a wide variety of hybrid realtime synthesis techniques, an epic library of remarkable ‘Psychoacoustic’ sounds, and many innovative features that have never been seen before in any hardware or software synthesizer."

The sounds and capabilities of this new synth are astounding and I could easily spend all day just exploring it's sonic offerings. I'm sure it will get a lot of use!

-Dave

Addy Awards '09

2009-02-28T17:00:00.000-08:00

What a great event! Once again, I was struck with the amount and degree of talent that is to be found in West Michigan. Congratulations to all of the winners! Hearing from Steve Frykholm was another high point of the evening.

-Dave

Creative Crawl

2009-02-25T22:00:00.000-08:00

This evening I took part in the Ad Club of West Michigan's "Creative Crawl". In their words, "Area ad agencies, design firms, photo and video production studios and other ACWM members meet, greet and treat area business and community leaders, students, clients and other interested publics to a taste of West Michigan's creative side." It was a lot of fun, and a great chance to meet industry people at all levels. I came away truly impressed with what a vibrant advertising community Grand Rapids is home to.

-Dave

Addy Submission

2009-01-09T11:53:00.000-08:00

DP Creative Audio has entered a composition recorded for the "Buzzy" marketing video during the summer of 2008 in the Addy® Awards competition. The ADDY® Awards are the world's largest and arguably toughest advertising competition and represent the true spirit of creative excellence by recognizing all forms of advertising from media of all types, creative by all sizes and entrants of all levels from anywhere in the world.

The Kellogg's Pop-Tarts Splitz website, a project created by Biggs|Gilmore that DPCA provided music for in 2007, took home a Silver Addy award in the 2008 competition.

Ad Club of West Michigan

2009-01-06T17:00:00.000-08:00

DP Creative Audio is now a member of the Ad Club of West Michigan. The Ad Club of West Michigan promotes professional interaction and growth, integrity and creativity, while supporting a vital West Michigan advertising and marketing community. We are thrilled to be a part of this creative group of individuals.

"Small Talk" CD Production

2009-01-05T07:29:00.000-08:00

DP Creative Audio has just wrapped up production of four CD's of songs that support the curriculum offered by "Small Talk- World Language for Kids". Songs were recorded in English, Spanish, French, and Mandarin.

Small Talk is a unique parent/child experience based on the latest linguistic research and cognitive science. Their professional staff engages parents and their children while exploring a different language and culture. Children partner with a native-speaking teacher specifically trained in Second Language Acquisition as she sings authentic lullabies, reads simple stories and nursery rhymes, and interacts with babies and children in Mandarin, Spanish, French, or Japanese.

New Equipment

2008-12-20T22:00:00.000-08:00

In an ongoing effort to improve our ability to produce a quality product, DP Creative audio has purchased a new, cutting edge Mac Pro to allow us to stay current with the latest software and sound libraries. In addition, we have also added East West Quantum Leap's superb "Pianos" sample library to our collection of virtual instruments. Below are two endorsements of the library.

"In summation, these are without question the most gorgeous sounding sampled pianos I've ever heard...If you're looking for the most authentic sounding sampled grand pianos available at this time, and have a system that can handle it, Quantum Leap Pianos is a must-consider. "
Recording Magazine

“Quantum Leap Pianos is the best piano software available today. The recording quality and playablity is fantastic and these are the only digital piano sounds they faithfully reproduce the resonances of a well tuned piano. Quantum leap Pianos captures all the soft nuance and the thunder of the real thing."
— David Newman

New Sample Libraries

2008-11-05T18:27:00.000-08:00

DP Creative Audio has acquired two more critically acclaimed sample libraries from East West Quantum Leap for its use on projects. Here is what reviewers are saying about them.

Storm Drum 2

"Beautifully recorded, there is a stunning range of (percussion and sound design) instruments on offer. The big sounds are absolutely huge-powerful and punchy-and the smaller ones are suitably delicate and ethereal. Providing your system is up to it, you'll be creating scores that people will never know have been made not on a Hollywood soundstage, but on a computer." - MUSIC TECH

Gypsy

"A sample library full of ethnic guitars, accordions, trombones, rare percussion, and just about the best sampled violin and violin performance you’ll find anywhere. There is some true character represented in Gypsy. Even more than that, I’m always enthralled when something inspires me to create, which is what I believe this library does beautifully." - MUSIC4GAMES.

David A. Purnell on Linked In

2008-10-20T07:18:00.000-07:00

David A. Purnell and his company DP Creative Audio now are on Linked In. Please visit http://www.linkedin.com/in/davidpurnell to find out more about David, the company, and to make connections.

Raisin Bran Crunch "Udder Fun" Now Live

2008-10-20T07:09:00.000-07:00

Crunch Town, the updated site for Kellogg's Raisin Bran Crunch, is now up and running. DP Creative Audio arranged and recorded the modern take on "Turkey in the Straw" for the "Udder Fun" game on the site. To check it out, surf on over to www.crunchtown.com and click on the "Udder Fun" button for some good old down on the farm gameing.

New Site is Live

2008-09-10T11:16:00.000-07:00

Welcome to DP Creative Audio’s new website. I want to thank two old friends for bringing this new site to life. Luke Daab, Owner of “Daab Creative”, and Tim Gallagher, web master for Willow Creek Community Church in Barrington, IL, have done a fantastic job creating a first class site. I also want to thank Jim Lippert for his photographic contributions.

Score for "Cole"- Film Short

2008-09-10T09:04:00.000-07:00

DP Creative Audio recently completed the score for "Cole", a thesis film for Compass Film Academy in Grand Rapids, MI. "Cole" is a fictional film that tells the everyday struggles of love, responsibilty, and desire when a young mother's dreams are interrupted by the pressure and challenge of raising a young child. The thesis film project is the culmination of the one year Compass program experience. The trailer for "Cole" can be viewed at http://www.cfafilms2008.com/

“Buzzy” Marketing Video

2008-08-25T11:29:00.000-07:00

DP Creative Audio will soon be scoring a short marketing video for an innovative new product named the “Buzzy”. The ”Buzzy” is a wheelchair towing device which brings freedom of mobility to those individuals confined to a wheelchair. Three models will be available: recreational, sport, and shopping. We are looking forward to help in the marketing of such a groundbreaking device.

New Sound Libraries

2008-07-15T11:30:00.000-07:00

DP Creative Audio just invested in a number of new sound libraries by the acclaimed East West/ Quantum Leap company. From stunning orchestral sounds to authentic ethnic instruments, full choir accompaniment to huge drum hits, these sample libraries will greatly expand our ability to offer a wide range of musical styles and sound design. We are looking forward to putting these industry standard libraries to good use for our clients.

Waterfront Film Festival 2008

2008-06-21T11:28:00.000-07:00

The Waterfront Film Festival is an incredible cinematic event held in Saugatuck, MI. Celebrating it’s 10th year, it has grown to the point where the Screen Actors Guild Magazine called it “one of their top 5 favorite film festivals”. I was able to see some wonderful films, learning much from them about the art of creating an effective soundtrack. I am excited about the new Michigan Film Incentives and hope they will spur ongoing growth in the film industry in Michigan.

Raisin Bran Crunch

2008-06-21T11:26:00.000-07:00

DP Creative Audio just wrapped up music for a web based video game called “Udder Fun”, which supports Kellogg’s Raisin Bran Crunch. Having created many audio elements for the Pop Tarts website, we are pleased to have expanded our contributions to include another Kellogg’s product.

Kellogg’s Pop Tarts “Tasty Guitar Solo”

2008-06-21T11:23:00.000-07:00

The “Tasty Guitar Solo” web game, which was part of an ad campaign originally created in 2006, is to be featured in an upcoming campaign for the Canadian Kellogg’s Pop Tarts website. Kids can create their own unique guitar solos (played by a rock and roll Pop Tart) and share them with their friends via email. This was our first project in conjunction with Pop Tarts, and we are glad to hear that it will be featured again.

American Idols Live Tour 2008

2008-06-21T11:21:00.001-07:00

I am proud to say that a musical theme created by DP Creative Audio for the American Idols Live Tour Site 2007 is again being used for the 2008 tour site. Sponsored by Kellogg’s Pop Tarts, this site provides ticket sales, merchandise and exclusive videos of the summer tour. It is an honor to have contributed music for such a national sensation as American Idol.