Laptop battle

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Laptop battles are organized competitive events between musicians and/or sound designers. The battles usually involve a number of participants in a single elimination bracket or similar structure. Rules vary, but participants are paired off and usually given two to three minutes on stage during which time they make whatever sounds or music they wish in order to impress the judges with technical finesse and to please the audience. Stage presence is also typically an element for judging. Equipment is limited to a laptop and the standard peripherals (mouse and keyboard) and sometimes one additional MIDI controller. Musical genres present vary, but often include much experimental Electronica, including Harsh noise, Intelligent Dance Music, and Mashups.

The US National Laptop Battle has garnered the attention of sponsors, such as Ableton, Mackie, and Native Instruments.

[edit] External links

• http://www.laptopbattle.org/
• http://www.zeroplate.com/laptop/ - Atlanta Laptop Battle Series
• http://atlanta.creativeloafing.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A142317 - Write-up of the Atlanta Laptop Battle Finals
• http://www.laptopbattlenyc.com - NYC Laptop Battle
• http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2006/10/02/computer-nerds-find-their-niche-sort-of/ - Rolling Stone Rock and Roll Daily article about the first-ever NYC laptop battle
• http://www.fourthcity.net/ - Artist collective helping laptop battles spread around the globe
• http://www.fourthcity.net/releases/DVD1.html - Free laptop battle video page
• http://www.zapan.net/flyer_archive/ - Fourthcity flyer archive featuring several original Laptop Battle flyers