16th October 2020 / 14:00-16:00

Impact of design in music production with Lillia Betz (Ableton), Khyam Allami (Amplify Berlin). Moderated by Ben Bacon (Catalyst Music)

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Programs like Max/Msp and Pure Data have always been popular in the music tech research community, but now we’re starting to see these programming/design tools become integral parts of the music production process. With Max4Live for instance, instruments, plugins, interfaces and mapping can be completely redesigned and reworked by the producer to suit their music/workflow. This offers amazing opportunities, but can be daunting for beginners to navigate. This dialogue on the impact of design in music production aims to critically discuss the opportunities, risks and future perspectives of design in music making.

16th October 2020 / 16:15-17:30

With Melissa Taylor, Mareena, Kristoffer Cornils. Moderated by Andrea Goetzke (Music Pool Berlin)

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If the lockdown was a catalyst exposing the flaws of an industry reliant on live events to support itself, what does the resulting change look like? From understanding social vs economic sustainability through to deconstructing the current structures both limiting or supporting different aspects of the industry. What are some real solutions to (re)build a sustainable, supportive and independent industry? 

17th October 2020 / 14:30 - 15:45

Join us for a timely discussion on what we can do about our bias infiltrating new media and storytelling technology, with Hermione Mitford Flynn (Mimic Productions), Paulina Greta and Qinyuan Lei. Moderated by Jon-Carlos Evans (Catalyst Film). 

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As the stories we tell both shape and reflect the world we live in, how important is it that we ensure the tools we use don’t take on our own bias? From new technology that is designed to create on its own and stories written by algorithms, to the seemingly harmless filters we choose to enhance our creations. Where can all this lead, can the technology evolve to be better than us, or is it inherent that it will further our biases?  And who’s responsible - the storytellers, the developers or the consumers? 

17th October 2020 / 16:15 - 17:30

Join us as we dive in deep to make positive changes in Berlin’s music scene, with Sarah Farina, Bloomfeld, Vio PRG and the GSBTB Open Music Lab.

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This panel event at Signals will be a little bit different. While it still takes the form of an open dialogue, our panellists will be responding directly to an agenda put forward by a special co-creation group. Drawn partly from Open Music Lab’s diverse community of up-and-coming artists and students from Catalyst, as well as more experienced mentors from the industry, the co-creation group will meet prior in a safe, non-public environment to establish the topics for discussion at Signals. The ultimate aim of this is to lead to a new initiative, with a concrete proposal for change.

*We will be using this event to raise funds and awareness for the Open Music Lab (OML), a part of the Give Something Back to Berlin activist network and the Open Music School project. OML is a non-profit collective believing that music creation needs safer, accessible spaces where cultural differences are celebrated. They offer free music workshops and courses committed to including and supporting refugees, asylum seekers, people who identify as female*, non-binary and LGBTQI+ and people of colour. To support OML’s ongoing work, go to https://www.openmusicschool.org/support-us