Price increase likely for flash memory and USB Drives

Tight supply of NAND flash may remain until early 2013,

This means that currently ProCopy quotes will be valid for immediate purchases only

Josephine Lien, Taipei; Jessie Shen, DIGITIMES [Tuesday 16 October 2012]

The global supply of NAND flash memory has been tight, boosting prices for the chips recently, according to industry sources. The tight supply is likely to persist until early 2013, as demand will strengthen arising ahead of year-end holidays as well as the Lunar New year, the sources said.

Supply in the spot market is tighter as major NAND-chip suppliers including Samsung Electronics, Toshiba, SanDisk, Micron Technology and SK Hynix intend to focus on orders placed by their system clients, the sources indicated. The five leading NAND flash companies have been enjoying brisk demand coming from the smartphone and tablet sectors, the sources said.  Suppliers to Apple, for instance, have provided a very limited amount to their other customers particularly those without long-term contracts, the sources noted. Toshiba, Hynix and SanDisk reportedly supply NAND flash chips for the recently-launched iPhone 5.

Due to insufficient supplies from chipmakers, distributors and module makers have quoted their NAND flash products at higher prices, the sources pointed out.  In other news, major memory module companies specializing in flash related products have reported impressive sales results for September. The firms are expected to post sales growth through November thanks to favorable chip prices, according to the sources.

For more information on our range of USB Drives click here:

Original source: http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20121016PD200.html

What is a DDP image and what is it used for?

We have many clients that ask if we accept "DDP images" for their CD audio work as they have been provided a CD master in that format by the studio or mastering house. The answer is yes we do, however we always recommend that they have a CD Master or Reference copy to verify and approve the CD content before production takes place. A cd audio copy is really the only way to verify the audio, track markers and gaps that make up the CD that your customers will hear. Mp3s, Wav files, Aiffs etc are not what the customer is going to hear so they are not an accurate representation of the final product.

In many ways a DDP image is a more reliable format for a CD master for replication work as it is a data version of the master rather than strictly audio (or red book master). and the major benefit of a DDP is that should be accompanied by an error verification file called a "Checksum",  this file is used to verify the integrity of the data that is contained on the master.

The disadvantage of a DDP file is that for smaller run duplication work that is normally done from a CD audio master there would be a conversion fee to make the master that is required for that type of work and a reference copy would be produced for the client to approve before production commenced. This may also delay the turnaround time of a project. 

DDP images are also a great way to send masters for replication as they can be uploaded to an FTP server with the knowledge that the content can be verified as accurate by the glass mastering engineer at the plant.

So in summary we can now:

Download DDP images from FTP servers and verify the content

Produce CD Masters and Reference copies for client approval from DDP Image Files.

Manipulate CD Masters or DDP Images to add CD text alter gap length or the track order, and

Create & Upload DDP Images for bulk replication created in the SonicLab or provided on CD Audio Masters.  

If you have a CD audio project coming up soon where you require multiple copies give us a call to determine the recommended format for your master on 1300 4 PROCOPY or 08 9375 3902.

Deadline extended for Song Writing comp 2012

The International Songwriting Competition (ISC) has extended its deadline until November 1, 2012, this is a fantastic opportunity for Australian songwriters to get their songs heard by some renown industry people.

ISC is giving away more than $150,000 in cash and prizes, including a Grand Prize of $25,000 cash and over $40,000 in prizes. Judges for this year include: Tom Waits, Jeff Beck, Nas, Martina McBride, Bernie Taupin (Elton John Lyricist), Janelle Monae, McCoy Tyner, Derek Trucks & Susan Tedeschi, Bruce Hornsby, Brian Setzer, Gerald Casale (Devo), Monte Lipman (President, Universal Republic), Dan McCarroll (President, Capitol/Virgin Label Group); and many, many more.

A press release is attached is below.

LEGENDARY MUSIC ICONS JOIN RECORD LABEL EXECUTIVES TO SELECT ISC WINNERS

Tom Waits, Nas, Jeff Beck, Bernie Taupin, Martina McBride, Bruce Hornsby, Janelle Monae, McCoy Tyner,
Suzanne Vaga, Derek Trucks & Susan Tedeschi Are Among The 61 Judges To Select Winners In The
2012 International Songwriting Competition (ISC)

Deadline To Enter Extended Until November 1, 2012

October 11, 2012 - Due to high demand, the International Songwriting Competition (ISC) has extended the deadline for entering songs until November 1, 2012. ISC is open to amateur and professional songwriters, and entries are accepted online through the ISC platform, Sonicbids, ReverbNation, Broadjam, or through the mail. Within this extended deadline period, ISC will be offering some special promotions and incentives.

One of the most prestigious and respected songwriting competitions in the world, ISC gives away a total of more than $150,000 in cash and prizes. This year ISC has doubled the amount of merchandise for the Grand Prize winner to more than $40,000 in prizes plus $25,000 in cash (US). Additional prizes include a custom Lowden acoustic guitar valued at over $11,000, a Marshall full stack amp, a studio package from Solid State Logic, a duplicator from Discmakers, and much more. Not only do ISC winners receive great prizes and media recognition, but winners also receive a lot of industry attention. Many previous winners have gone on to great success and garnered record deals, publishing deals, licensing deals, and even Grammys. ISC's newest success story are past ISC winners Gotye and Kimbra whose song "Somebody That I Used To Know" recently charted at #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart for eight weeks in a row.

Entry information can be found here 

One of the most difficult challenges for artists is to get their music into the hands of the music industry's heavy hitters, yet ISC gives this opportunity to each finalist. All finalists' songs are sent to the judges who evaluate them and then select the overall winners. This year's judges are unparalleled in prestige and accomplishment and reflect the pinnacle of success in contemporary music.

Judges announced for the 2012 songwriters competition:

Recording Artists: Jeff Beck; Nas; Tom Waits; Bernie Taupin; Martina McBride; Duran Duran; Janelle Monae; Susan Tedeschi & Derek Trucks; Robert Smith (The Cure); Bruce Hornsby; Suzanne Vega; Michael W. Smith; Darryl McDaniels (Run DMC); Mark Foster (Foster The People); Alejandro Sanz; Gerald Casale (Devo); Bill Evans; Anthony Hamilton; Brian Setzer; Avicci; Wynonna; Keane; Jeremy Camp; Tegan & Sara; McCoy Tyner; Ketch Secor (Old Crow Medicine Show); Francesca Batistelli; Craig Morgan; James Cotton; Robert Earl Keen; Black Francis (The Pixies); John Mayall; Anoushka Shankar; Chris Hillman (The Byrds, The Flying Burrito Brothers); Toots Hibbert (Toots & The Maytals); Los Temerarios; Billy Currington; Sandra Bernhard; Basement Jaxx; and Matt Thiessen (Relient K)

Industry Executives: Dan McCarroll (President, Capitol/Virgin Label Group); Monte Lipman (President, Universal Republic Records); Ed Vetri (President, Wind-Up Records); Jonas Nachsin (President, Roadrunner Records); Richard Stumpf (President, Imagem Music US); Bruce Iglauer (Founder/President, Alligator Records); Albert Schilcher (VP Music & Music Mktg, MTV International); Angel Carrasco (Sr. VP A&R, Latin America, Sony/BMG); Dan Storper (President, Putamayo World Music Records and Putumayo Kids); Steve Smith (VP of A&R, Aware Records); Cory Robbins (Founder/President, Robbins Entertainment); Lori Tieg (VP of Talent, VEVO); Dr. Demento (Radio Host, The Dr. Demento Show); Steve Lillywhite (Producer); Kim Buie (Head of A&R, Thirty Tigers); Douglas C. Cohn (Sr. VP, Music Marketing & Talent, Nickelodeon); Allison B. Jones (VP of A&R, Big Machine Label Group); Jack Vaughn (VP, Comedy Central Records); Leib Ostrow (Founder/CEO, Music For Little People); and Jamie Masada (Owner, Laugh Factory)


MUSIC CATEGORIES

Adult Album Alternative (AAA), Adult Contemporary (AC), Americana, Blues, Children's Music, Comedy/Novelty, Country, Dance/Electronica, Folk/Singer-Songwriter, Gospel/Christian, Instrumental, Jazz, Latin Music, Lyrics Only, Music Video, Pop/Top 40, Performance, R&B/Hip-Hop, Rock, Teen, Unsigned Only, and World Music.

Songwriteres competition sponsored by:

Presonus, Lowden, Marshall Amplification, Grooveshark, Solid State Logic, Berklee College Of Music, Mrs. Fields Cookies, Airplay Direct, DiscMakers, Thayers, SongU.com, The Music Business Registry, Independent Mastering, Indie Venue Bible, George Stein, Esq., Sonicbids, Songtrust, and Taxi

For more information contact Candace Avery [email protected]

More video formats available for digitising

At ProCopy we're always confronted with more requests for dubbing from various video formats.

We now have now added a couple of Sony Broadcast 1 inch video machines to our dubbing suite to allow us to dub from 1inch spot reels and other 1 inch video programmes to dvd or digital formats.

We have also added HD Mini DV a "prosumer" video format to our video playback capability.

We now cover a wide range of video formats covering both domestic and professional formats.

If you have a library of tapes or even just one or two give us a call to discuss your digitising requirements on 1300 4 PROCOPY or 08 9375 3902

International Songwriting Competition 2012 - big prizes

Want a chance to win more than USD$150,000 IN CASH AND PRIZES?

(including the largest Grand Prize package ever offered by ISC)

ISC has extended the deadline until November 1, so you still have time to enter your songs and be eligible to win up to $150,000 in cash and prizes. ISC is open to amateur and professional songwriters, and entries are accepted online through Sonicbids, ReverbNation, Broadjam, the ISC platform, or through the mail. You can even enter with the songs on your Facebook page because ISC will go to your Facebook band or artist page to listen to your songs (so you don't even need to send us your songs).

ISC has doubled the amount of merchandise for this year's Grand Prize winner - to more than $40,000 in prizes plus $25,000 in cash (US). You can win a custom Lowden acoustic guitar (valued at over $11,000), a Marshall full stack amp, a studio package from Solid State Logic, a duplicator from Discmakers, and much more! Click here for a full list of prizes. Not only do ISC winners receive great prizes and media recognition, but winners also receive a lot of industry attention. Many previous winners have gone on to great success and garnered record deals, publishing deals, licensing deals, and even Grammys! ISC's newest success story are past ISC winners Gotye and Kimbra whose song "Somebody That I Used To Know" recently charted at #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart for an amazing eight weeks in a row!

Categories include: AAA (Adult Album Alternative), Adult Contemporary (AC), Americana, Blues, Children's Music, Comedy/Novelty, Country, Dance/Electronica, Folk/Singer-Songwriter, Gospel/Christian, Instrumental, Jazz, Latin Music, Lyrics Only, Music Video, Performance, Pop/Top 40, R&B/Hip-Hop, Rock, Teen, World Music, and Unsigned Only.

Entrants may submit as many songs as they wish - in the same category or in multiple categories. ISC has many great new judges this year who will listen to the finalists and select the winners. Don't miss out on this rare opportunity to have some of your favorite recording artists and influential industry decision-makers listen to your music. This could be the career changer you've been waiting for. More

Entry details here: