With all the recent news about iPad application development, we’d though it’d be appropriate to release a sneak peak of our new application. We have create a short video outlining the applications functionality for both the iPhone and iPad.

Although we are still in the infant stages of the app, we will be frequently updating our site, keeping you informed through the whole process. We hope you follow our progress and appreciate comments, suggestions and feedback, thank you so much for watching!

Coming up on this episode of Pixil:
Today, we’ll look at how remote editing has become easier with the introduction of Final cut 7.Streaming draft previews is accomplished with the new iChat Theater option.

This very useful feature is great way to show off the latest cut to your clients. This option essentially  feeds your Final Cut Canvas screen to an iChat video message. Lets check out how the workflow I use in performing an iChat remote edit. When preforming a remote edit, it always helps to see a better frame rate. Editing across the net is never fun, but sometime necessary when completing deadlines.

When combined with remote access software, like logmein, iChat one can use a more powerful machine to edit off location! To do this we active the remote software on the remote computer. Offsite we log in and active iChat on both computers. Using two different iChat accounts we’ll message the control the host computer through Final Cut. We’ll start off by going into Final Cut

Under: View > iChat Theater > Start Sharing

Hit OK to active. While still in the remote account, go to the iChat buddy list and connect to the controller account. On the control computer, accept the invite. Using a second monitor, we can drag the iChat video screen over. Okay, and now we have a better frame rate to remotely edit to!

Okay and that’s how control final cut with iChat. This isn’t the best editing experience, but on a deadline it gets the job done. And that’s it for this episode of Pixil.info. I’m Pedro for Pixil.info See you next time!

Coming up on today’s epsiode:

How to convert your samples to create a custom beat maker kit, resolve some Error’s, and make some fresh beats!

The Right Format

So I’ve been getting tons of questions about getting unknown sample format errors, and It made me question what are the exact specs, so I pulled up their usual manual and found out.

Use can use iTunes or QuickTime to find out what type of format your samples. Make sure to convert them using the following settings. In iTunes goto preferences, under the general tab, click on Important Settings button, Import using, select AIFF or WAV. Now change Automatic Setting to custom, pick 44100 Hz, Stereo, 16bit is okay, and hit done done done, now select your file in your library, right click and select “Create AIFF or WAV”. Done!

Alright so now that you know what format you’ll need for, all you gotta do is plop them into your custom beatmaker kit, with BeatPack, lets show you how to do that.

• Download BeatPack.
• Ensure same wifi connection for iPhone/iPod Touch and Computer
• Gather your files. Create your icon
• Arrange your kit, save and export.

Alright hope that answers your question MCtubbsta, thats how to make samples and kits for beatmaker. So what did we learn today? AIFF and WAV formats, NO MP3s

Hope you enjoyed the episode. Remember to also check out my custom beat, youtube channel and thesixtyone page. , be sure to check the site for show notes and details, leave comments and questions on the site, tweet or facebook us. and all the others
C Ya next time!

Coming up on today’s epsiode:

Optimize your iPhone games performance by Baking Texture Light Maps using Maya 2010. Today will be using Maya Baked Lightmaps to speed up game performance. The trick is getting fewer texture draw calls by baking your shadows into the texture.

First will start by creating a texture sheet. A texture sheet holds all of the textures that are used to make up characters and other models in the game. So by combining textures into one file, you can get a faster performance by using less cycles for each texture. For this tutorial we’ll be combining all the textures that make up this cell room.

For this example we’ll use a size of 1024×786. After all the textures are combined, make sure even plain color shaders are also in the Texture sheet.

Link all your texture UVs to the sheet.

Now we’ll Adjust the lighting in the scene, check the render to see the were the shadow are casting.

Now Select all polygons and in the polygons menu under

Mesh < Combine

Create a automatic poly projection for all the ploys in the polygons menu under

Create < UVs < Automatic Mapping Option Box

Using the default settings, under UV Set make sure the UV set name is: lightmap hit apply

Go into your UV Texture Editor and select the new UV set under: UV Sets < and then the lightmap uv set You can switch to original uv coordinates if you need to here

While still having the ploys selected go to the Render Menu Under:

Lighting/Shading < Batch Bake (metal ray) Option Box

The under Settings options check Back Shadows, the rest should be ok

under

Texture Bake Set Override Color mode < only light

Under prefix: use the name of the room to easily spot them out

For the iPhone will use the X and Y resolution of 256×256. Didn’t get any higher quality with a higher number so, We can leave the Number of samples to 4.

Fill Texture seams at: 3.0

Make sure Override mesh UV set assignments is checked with the UV set name to: lightmap

Click on convert to bake the map, This shouldn’t take too long

Ok, now if we look in our project file under

renderData/mentalray/lightmap/.

You can see the room0_lightmap.tif Maya created. Open it up to check it out, Pretty good

Ok we now have both of the UV sets in the scene and the baked lightmap.

Now we have to go to each object in the visible scene and create a Layered Texture shader for each. Then we have to attach the textures and UVs to the baked shadow’s UV set.

We can do this by right clicking on an object Assign new Texture < layeredTexture

Object goes green, The first layer will hold the lightmap file. Add another file node and link it to the lightmap. For the Blend mode use: multiply.

now we can go to the second layer and select a file node. We’ll link that to the color texture sheet. The blend mode should be at: none.

Now we can link the UV sets together for this object and it’s texture.

To set up the UV relationship we’ll go Under

Window < Relationship Editors < UV Linking < UV-centric

Scroll down to find the texture for this object. By default both are linked to the color texture. Select the lightmap and link it to the lightmap UVs

Map1 should deselect the light map UVs from the color UVs.

Now let’s test link by going into the UV Texture Editor and switching between the sets.

Now lets do a test render of the scene with the light off. If linked properly the shadows from any objects should still be in the render!

Now we just have to attach each object and texture to the lighmap UVs, thats how to bake light maps in maya. Hope this helps in optimizing your next iPhone/iPad game.

Coming up on today’s epsiode:

Audio production techniques for iPhone Application Development. Today we’re going to take a look at audio production workflows I use for iPhone development.

Developing audio assets for the iPhone sounds easy enough, but the real challenge is how you’ll need to optimize for file size.

Optimize File Size

When your working on audio for an iPhone application, it’s best practice to keep your file size as low as you can. Here are some settings I’ve found that keep your file relatively low, without too much quality loss.

Export Audio from DAW for the iPhone.

In your DAW, export your audio at a Sample Rate of 22050, with a file format of AIFF, and a resolution of 16bit. Using this setting should keep your file size small, and your quality at a medium.

Using Folders and Markers in Logic for organization.

When working on a project with multiple parts, a great way to group them is to pack them into a folder, and export them individually. To create a Folder in Logic, select your Regions from the Arrangement Window, goto the Region Menu, and then select Folder > Pack Folder.

Now you can double click to enter the folder, create a loop cycle and if you click and drag down, you’ll create a marker. Using Markers are a great way to keep your project organized. Now we can Bounce it out.

Testing your audio translation on iPhone.

Alright so once you get your audio files on your iphone, you definitely want to spend a lot of time testing your audio translation. Most of the time you’ll find yourself going back and editing your levels. some things are hard to hear on the iphone speaker, like low bass sounds. so listen carefully, and make sure to have fun.

Coming up on today’s epsiode:

Remotely Editing in Final Cut on your iPhone

Being able to remotely monitor renders and edits, is a major timesaving workflow that can really speed up production.

In addition to being able to upload client previews, you can obviously edit through any application on the the host computer.

I like using the term editing at a red light, because although i don’t advise you edit while driving, I do use red light time to monitor edits or quickly catch and correct small mistakes during production.

Couple of apps that let you remote your computer, I use log me in. You can setup an account for free, and works at decent speeds over 3g.

Although only recommend for extremely tight deadlines, patients is required – especially when over a 3g connection.

Install on your Mac or PC. You can get the iPhone version from the AppStore. Link your accounts and your good to go.

If you’re on the same wifi network , I use Jaadu.

For your computer setup, Go to Screen Sharing setup and enable remote access under VNC. Setup a password , and your ready to remotely monitor and control.

Those are just a couple of ways you can use an iPhone for remote monitoring and editing, on the go. Thats it for this episode of pixil.info, see ya next time.

Coming up on today’s epsiode:

Using your iPhone as a Wireless MIDI controller. Find out how we can remotely control Logic Studio with our iPhones. Very few apps out there that can do it, IMHO TouchOSC has got to be the best app that can do it. TouchOSC is a remote control app for your iPhone that lets you send and receive messages over Wi-Fi. Used along with OSCulator app for your desktop, You can very easily assign controllers and faders to your Logic Setup.

UPDATE: Osculator app now comes with TouchOSC templates!

Alright so first we’ll need to download TouchOSC from the App Store.

So while we download that, lets go over to the desktop and download OSCulator. OSCulator is basically going to make Touch OSC work with Logic.

Make sure your iPhone and desktop are on the same wifi network. In TouchOSC, your desktop name should show up in network list. Make sure the layout you pick matches with the osculator template you want to use.

Once your connected, test out the controllers in TouchOSC and check OSCulator for a solid green connection. Now in Logic, you can use the Controller Assignment window by hitting Cmd+K. When assigning controllers, always make sure to set the value settings with an unsigned format and a scaled mode.

Heres a quick tip for assigning XY pads with Logics Sculpture Morph Pad.

Goto OSCulator and verify which midi CC is set to the XY. Then in Sculpture, go down to the Midi controller assign area and change the MorphXY settings to the OSCulator midi CC’s. Now your the iPhone can smoothy change the shape of sound in Logic

Alright there you have it, you get the idea. Of course you can also set this up as a piano, or a drum machine, lots of other cool stuff, I hope you enjoyed the epsode, I’ll cya next time with another tutorial.

Coming up on today’s epsiode:

We’re going to look at how we use Jaddu and Veency for monitoring and controlling cameras in production.

Remote-Controlled captures with Jaadu

First we’re going to look at how jaddu can help during production. While working on multiple projects we’re able to monitor and control camera captures. Its a geat tool for this type of workflow. Inside jadu we have access to a keyboard and function keys.

It’s also a great lifesaver when the crew can monitor renders while finishing a game. For remote access you can also use log me in to access homes, offices and servers. You can control any of your macs connected from any where with a wifi or 3G connection.

Next we’ll look at better iPhone screen captures with veency.

iPhone screen capturing with Veency

Instead on getting fingers in the way when reviewing applications, you can record what’s displayed on the iPhone screen. We use veency to control and record iPhone screen captures. Once connected, you can use your favorite screen capture program to capture whats running on phone.

And there you have it, a couple iPhone workflows we use in production. Thats all for this episode of Pixil.info See ya next time.

Coming up on today’s epsiode:

How to create custom drum kits with BeatPort and a review of the new BeatMaker 1.3

New Features BeatMaker 1.3

So first, Lets take a look at the the upgraded sequencer. With the introduction to the new preview bar, it makes it easy to scrub through long patterns. We can now zoom in and out of the sequencer and can now insert and remove bars on the timeline.

Next there’s the dynamic access bar which lets us quickly jump between different settings. We can now quickly switch between patterns while in the editor. Drum patterns can now be up to 4 bars long and The "step resolution" can now be edited up to 1/64T.

And finally as a bonus, they’ve added pitch and pan editors in the step editors tab.

Next, we got a whole new pad editing screen for easy access to settings. An improved wav editor with cropping and zooming function… and a new cross controller with fullscreen mode for live effects.

Next up, we got audio recording. Thats right, everyone asked for it, and we finally got it. You can now record directly from the iPhones built-in mic or headset.

Now lets take a look at the new Moog filter. Features low-high and a band-pass frequency with resonance support. Also theres improvement to the delay effect featuring dotted and triplet rhythm support.

Last but not least, you can finally export your beats in midi format.

Use BeatPack to create your own custom kit.

So first we’ll need to download BeatPack from intrua’s website. http://intrua.net/shop.html

When you open up the app, first thing you’ll see is the share kits and samples section. If you read the instructions first you’ll get a head start on how to sync your audio files from your desktop to your iPhone. But first, I’m going to jump to over to the Create Kit section.

The Drag Zone is where we’ll be loading our samples. Simply drag an audio file to the desired pad to load it. This is were your creativity comes into play. I like to arrange my samples in groups, so when I play it live, I can play it with ease. So when your kit is ready, you can fill out the information section and even upload a kit icon. To save it out, click the generate button.

Next, goto the Share kits section and follow the instructions to get your kit onto your iPhone.
So heres a quick run down. Goto BeatMaker, in the home section, click on the BeatPack Icon, then click on add server. Next, type in your computers IP address, you can find it in the share kits section in the BeatPack app.

When your ip shows up in the server list, simply click on it and hit the download button.
Just navigate to your file and hit the download button. When its done, close it and load it as a kit.

And Thats pretty much how we create a custom kit, with BeatPack.
Remeber, you can upload your tunes back over to your desktop by using the upload function.

Coming up on today’s epsiode:

Posting your content online, using your iPhone

Today we’re gonna take a look at keeping up with your social sites while your on the go. Being stuck at a red light might not seem like the best place to keep up with the latest breaking news. But if your in terrible traffic, being able to scan the latest headline can help you keep your sanity.

My favorite rss reader for this is Google’s mobile reader. It’s very easy to read, and share content. You can star an iteam to read later. Sharing will post stories you like to other services like friendfeed or a blog. You can also attach notes with comments.

My next favorite iPhone app is Qik. Qik allows you to broadcast live video. This opens the door to turing you into your own broadcasting station. You can edit your titles by clicking on the screen. Your titles and tags can default to the last used if you forget. You can control wether you want your video to be public or private. Here you can toggle audio and user chats. When recording, you can send twitter a link to your recordings. When your finished recording, the red text on the top right tells how much of the video is finished uploading.

Now we’ll look at posting pictures. My preferred method of uploading and tagging my photos, is through Klick. Klick links to your Flickr account. You can acces all of your contacts photos. We can use the geo-location features to find photos taken around your area. You can upload your photos under the more tab, and pick a photo from the camera roll. You also take a picture from with klick.

And now my last one for this episode is, Netshare. Netshare allows you to link up your phone’s net connection to your laptop. Although the iPhone can juggle many task, there’s still times when you’ll need a computer. And there you have it, a couple of my on the go iphone work flows, utilizing these apps on the go can really help empower your mobile office.

So thats it for this episode of pixil.info, see ya next time

The first ever professional DJ application for iPhone and iPad. Have you ever wanted to mix your music on your iPhone or iPad? With Mixr, causal mixing and professional mixing becomes a part of your lifestyle. Features a beautifully designed interface with realistic textures, knobs and functionality. Feels and functions like authentic turn-tables. Features core functionality, cross-fading, equalizing, cue, drag & drop tracks, and full effects such as reverbs, auto filter and delay. Mixr gives you a pure DJ experience unlike anything you’ve ever touched before.

Delight your Senses in this new twist on a classic boardwalk game. Experience the Wonders of the ocean depths. Gaze in Awe as strange alien creatures descend from the skies. Join Us on a journey through lush, sun-filled fields and dazzling carnival nights. Test your Skills as you amass vast quantities of tickets which can be redeemed for virtual baubles and trinkets.

As Eminem, you get to throw the beat down on your bad habits and the zombies that stand in your way.That’s right boys and girls… You get to beat up ZOMBIES… YAY… or are they real people… Who knows and who cares… You get to beat them up! Is it real… Is it a dream… Or is it a… Nightmare… Lets see if you have the will power to resist…

DS Media Labs original iPhone game, Light Riders, has you on the edge of your seat.As you ride your Light Ride it will leave an Energy Trail behind it that neither you nor your opponents can pass. You will need to out maneuver your opponents while making sure you don’t end up in a wall. Using our proprietary game career tracking system, Light Rides will allow players to challenge up to 4 players over Wi-Fi, track there career, track their wins, track their losses, and hold titles based on location.

FLOverload puts your problem solving skills to the test with 50 challenging levels of play. Your goal: keep the flow going through a series of pipes by switching their direction, via touch, as quickly and accurately as you can. Surprisingly addictive, this game requires a fast finger and a sharp mind. Think you’re a good problem solver? Put it to the test with floverload.

Protecting the innocent, one volt at a time!!! No more getting nervous on the way to your car at night, no more taking crap from that bully who keeps stealing your lunch money… That’s right boys & girls, you can now turn your iPhone or iPod touch into a virtual weapon of fear. When someone messes with you, simply open up the Stun-O-Matic, tap and hold the big red button and watch them run as 1000 volts of pure lighting rushes through the palm of your hands.

Having a secret love affair with the Hardee’s® Western Thickburger®? Now you can get it when you want it. It’s way more than just a piece of meat. It’s a 100% Black Angus Thickburger® – covered in BBQ sauce and stacked with crispy onion rings, bacon & melted cheese. You will soon discover the Hardee’s Western Thickburger is more than just a piece of meat. So go ahead…you can lick your screen, we know you’ll want to. Download the iBurger, and in minutes, you will satisfy your hunger with the thick & juicy, sweet & tangy Western Thickburger®. Bite by bite, you can devour your Thickburger® with every flip of your phone. Whether you need a quickie for lunch, or want to enjoy it at night…either way you’re sure to be satisfied.

After an explosive public battle which has made news on The Daily Show, Bill Maher, The Today Show, The Wall Street Journal and many of fine media outlets, The creators of iFart Mobile and Pull My Finger have made peace with each other. No longer will your tax dollars be spent to decide who owns the right to digital flatulence.

Have you ever heard the term “The Walk Of Shame”? Well, if you haven’t then this app is for you. If you have heard the term or have had to do “The Walk Of Shame” then this app is most definitely for you. Sometimes you need a wing man or wing girl to your sometimes “impaired” judgement… Well we felt it was our moral obligation to give you a helping hand. Before you end up doing… “The Walk Of Shame”