Five Faves of the Day
I posted about dark happy beat songs before, but the happy happy songs need equal time, I think:
Happy-Beat Happy Songs
5. Suffragette City - Bowie
4. Stand - R.E.M.
3. Back in Love Again - LTD
2. Funky Nassau - Beginning of the End*
1. Walking on Sunshine - Katrina and the Waves
* - Had to look this one up for the artist. Had NO IDEA it was in Blues Brothers 2000 - almost makes me want to watch it, despite what I've heard. I DID know about the French techno cover of it, though. Jury's still out on techno, for me...
Thursday, January 16, 2003
Finally got to put my Zero-G Development - Brutal Beats samples to work on Ps. 130 - nice feel to them, though I kept in some of the techno stuff too. Essentially, there will be two drummers on this song. I like the feel.
Sadly, some of the more interesting sonic mayhem on Brutal is not available in all the permutations of a given beat. So the headbangers' ball setting, and the jet-airplane's-about-to-run-you-over setting of the loop group I was using were pretty much unusable - different enough from the stock mix and the overcompressed mix to not mix well with them, and not interesting enough to be used as the only source(s) for the whole tune.
There's also this thing with mistuned cymbals - or maybe they're two different cymbals, but the second only exists in one pattern. I decided to ignore the diff and use both anyway.
Also had some fun with freebie bass patterns - dig deep enough, you'll always find something! In this case, it was two patterns - one of which played D-E-A-B in just the right rhythm. So I split it in half, put the last half first (A-B-D-E, if you're following along), then cut the first note, put it on a separate track, and dropped it a minor 3rd (F#-B-D-E) - sounds like it was made for it. And for the opening part I actually found exactly what I was looking for - bassist playing an mid-A and a high E together.
Guitar loops were fun too - I didn't expect to get this far last night. But the Magix $5 loop disk saves the day again, with its building block style loops. Had to re-EQ the annoyingly trebly Telecaster loop, but the the crunch power rhythm loop was perfect just as it was. Played a bit with the dynamics, and voila - ready for porting to Cubase!
I was so geeked at getting the work done that fast, I went and added a bass guitar part to my "Praise the Lord, Sons and Daughters" piece. It already had a sub-bass part, but I thought it needed a real bass, too. Spend some time with 5-string bass hits (Magix, too? I forget), kinda cool how they came out. Sort of a rubber-band thing, where the sub-bass notes are cut real short, and the higher bass guitar note extends a bit. I was going to cut the bass guitar notes shorter, but I think I like this effect. Hope to listen again tonight or tomorrow to make sure.
Sadly, some of the more interesting sonic mayhem on Brutal is not available in all the permutations of a given beat. So the headbangers' ball setting, and the jet-airplane's-about-to-run-you-over setting of the loop group I was using were pretty much unusable - different enough from the stock mix and the overcompressed mix to not mix well with them, and not interesting enough to be used as the only source(s) for the whole tune.
There's also this thing with mistuned cymbals - or maybe they're two different cymbals, but the second only exists in one pattern. I decided to ignore the diff and use both anyway.
Also had some fun with freebie bass patterns - dig deep enough, you'll always find something! In this case, it was two patterns - one of which played D-E-A-B in just the right rhythm. So I split it in half, put the last half first (A-B-D-E, if you're following along), then cut the first note, put it on a separate track, and dropped it a minor 3rd (F#-B-D-E) - sounds like it was made for it. And for the opening part I actually found exactly what I was looking for - bassist playing an mid-A and a high E together.
Guitar loops were fun too - I didn't expect to get this far last night. But the Magix $5 loop disk saves the day again, with its building block style loops. Had to re-EQ the annoyingly trebly Telecaster loop, but the the crunch power rhythm loop was perfect just as it was. Played a bit with the dynamics, and voila - ready for porting to Cubase!
I was so geeked at getting the work done that fast, I went and added a bass guitar part to my "Praise the Lord, Sons and Daughters" piece. It already had a sub-bass part, but I thought it needed a real bass, too. Spend some time with 5-string bass hits (Magix, too? I forget), kinda cool how they came out. Sort of a rubber-band thing, where the sub-bass notes are cut real short, and the higher bass guitar note extends a bit. I was going to cut the bass guitar notes shorter, but I think I like this effect. Hope to listen again tonight or tomorrow to make sure.
Tuesday, January 14, 2003
Friday, January 10, 2003
Rehearsal was okay last week, and we finally got a practice CD out of it. Pretty rough, but some shining moments. Carl played with the endings a little in post-production (it's just a practice thing, so that's a misleading term, I suppose), some cool ideas there. Rehearsal again tomorrow! I'm ready!
Wednesday, January 08, 2003
Computer Music is just the coolest mag! Best part of it is the CD full of software that comes with it - yoiu can build a whole PC studio with the software.
The mag is not well known in the US - Border's Books imports it and sells it at a pretty hefty markup (not a slam on Border's - I'm sure it's expensive to sell it this way). I bought about 5 issues in a row, then decided to subscribe. Never once regretted it, but now they've stopped their Cubase 5.x tutorials in favor of Cubase SX, which requires an XP upgrade in addition to the Cubase upgrade. And an XP upgrade would cause my version of Encore to stop working, which would require an Encore upgrade...
The mag is not well known in the US - Border's Books imports it and sells it at a pretty hefty markup (not a slam on Border's - I'm sure it's expensive to sell it this way). I bought about 5 issues in a row, then decided to subscribe. Never once regretted it, but now they've stopped their Cubase 5.x tutorials in favor of Cubase SX, which requires an XP upgrade in addition to the Cubase upgrade. And an XP upgrade would cause my version of Encore to stop working, which would require an Encore upgrade...
Tuesday, January 07, 2003
Five Faves of the Day
Five favorite CDs of 2002
5. Natalia King - Milagro
4. Joshua Redman - Elastic
3. Delbert McClinton - Room to Breathe
2. Angelique Kidjou - Black Ivory Soul
1. Wilco - Yankee Hotel Foxtrot
Honorable Mention
Medeski, Martin, and Wood - Uninvisible
Beck - Sea Change
Les McCann - Pump It Up
Shelby Lynne - Love, Shelby
Joshua Redman - Yaya3
Moby - 18
Five favorite CDs of 2002
5. Natalia King - Milagro
4. Joshua Redman - Elastic
3. Delbert McClinton - Room to Breathe
2. Angelique Kidjou - Black Ivory Soul
1. Wilco - Yankee Hotel Foxtrot
Honorable Mention
Medeski, Martin, and Wood - Uninvisible
Beck - Sea Change
Les McCann - Pump It Up
Shelby Lynne - Love, Shelby
Joshua Redman - Yaya3
Moby - 18
Monday, January 06, 2003
Here's a more or less finished product of Song Eighteen. It's a 7.2mb file, so if you don't have the bandwidth try the lo-fi version instead. It's about 2.4 mb.
We've already established that it's got too much bass and the vocals are too low (thanks to the guys and the occasional gal at the Home Recording BBS). But I'd love it if you'd drop me a note and let me know what you think. Links will go away in a week or two - only so much space at blogspot plus...
Update, eff. 1/31 or so - Hifi link is still there, but points to an improved mix (watch this space for another update - we've retracked the vocal, much more feeling!!!). Lofi link is gone.
We've already established that it's got too much bass and the vocals are too low (thanks to the guys and the occasional gal at the Home Recording BBS). But I'd love it if you'd drop me a note and let me know what you think. Links will go away in a week or two - only so much space at blogspot plus...
Update, eff. 1/31 or so - Hifi link is still there, but points to an improved mix (watch this space for another update - we've retracked the vocal, much more feeling!!!). Lofi link is gone.
Friday, January 03, 2003
Updating my listened-to-list to the right, but nothing much to say here - two canceled band rehearsals in a row.
Finished up my first pass through the studio work on "Song Eighteen". Band is uninvolved in this recording. Singer, my pal Caroline, has great voice, but phrasing was a litle too "square" (am I showing my age or what?). And my background vocs sound lousy. I hope to give Caroline another stab at the song, but overall, I'm pleased with it as it is - just gotta fix my vocs. Sennheiser 421 was brighter than I expected, I may try a 57 instead.
Also installed a second hard drive, an 80gb Western Digital Ultra-ATA 100. Then I moved my audio files and docs. That really hoses up Cubase!!! Learned more about the Audio Pool than I ever wanted to know. Things were worse because my part files all had the same names, they were just kept in different subfolders. Got through it without any permanent damage, though.
My Acid files weren't as fortunate, but the backup versions were retained, so we're okay, I think...
Finished up my first pass through the studio work on "Song Eighteen". Band is uninvolved in this recording. Singer, my pal Caroline, has great voice, but phrasing was a litle too "square" (am I showing my age or what?). And my background vocs sound lousy. I hope to give Caroline another stab at the song, but overall, I'm pleased with it as it is - just gotta fix my vocs. Sennheiser 421 was brighter than I expected, I may try a 57 instead.
Also installed a second hard drive, an 80gb Western Digital Ultra-ATA 100. Then I moved my audio files and docs. That really hoses up Cubase!!! Learned more about the Audio Pool than I ever wanted to know. Things were worse because my part files all had the same names, they were just kept in different subfolders. Got through it without any permanent damage, though.
My Acid files weren't as fortunate, but the backup versions were retained, so we're okay, I think...
Saturday, December 28, 2002
Friday, December 27, 2002
My C-1 Is Here!!!
A 2002 deduction after all! Good thing, won't be much 2003 Schedule C (where my music income goes) income.
A 2002 deduction after all! Good thing, won't be much 2003 Schedule C (where my music income goes) income.
Married
Jay: I want it, I want it, I want it...
Kim: You CAN'T have it!
Apologies to Pete, Roger, 'n the boys who've passed on.
Jay: I want it, I want it, I want it...
Kim: You CAN'T have it!
Apologies to Pete, Roger, 'n the boys who've passed on.
Five Faves of the Day
Five Happy-beat Songs with Somewhat Darker Messages
Ball of Confusion - Temptations
Life During Wartime - Talking Heads
Runaround - Blues Traveler
She's So Cold - Stones
Hard Knock Life - Jay-Z
Honorable Mention to:
Shattered - Stones
Forgot About Dre - Eminem
Feelin' All Right - Joe Cocker (the Dave Mason & Traffic original doesn't hold a candle...)
Panic in Detroit - Bowie
Talk to Ya Later - Tubes
Papa Was a Rolling Stone - Temptations
Highway 61 Revisited - Dylan (or check out Johnny Winter's hard rocking all-but-forgotten cover)
Five Happy-beat Songs with Somewhat Darker Messages
Ball of Confusion - Temptations
Life During Wartime - Talking Heads
Runaround - Blues Traveler
She's So Cold - Stones
Hard Knock Life - Jay-Z
Honorable Mention to:
Shattered - Stones
Forgot About Dre - Eminem
Feelin' All Right - Joe Cocker (the Dave Mason & Traffic original doesn't hold a candle...)
Panic in Detroit - Bowie
Talk to Ya Later - Tubes
Papa Was a Rolling Stone - Temptations
Highway 61 Revisited - Dylan (or check out Johnny Winter's hard rocking all-but-forgotten cover)
Thursday, December 26, 2002
Friday, December 20, 2002
Pinnacle Systems - Press Releases - Pinnacle Systems Agrees To Acquire Steinberg Media Technologies AG
Oh oh. Steinberg's been pretty good to deal with. Don't know much about Pinnacle - I think they're video guys?
I bought Acoustic stuff, they bit the dust, then Sequential Circuits, then Passport, then Alesis - now Steinberg. Rrrrr...
Oh oh. Steinberg's been pretty good to deal with. Don't know much about Pinnacle - I think they're video guys?
I bought Acoustic stuff, they bit the dust, then Sequential Circuits, then Passport, then Alesis - now Steinberg. Rrrrr...
Thursday, December 19, 2002
Santa was Done
She even showed me my gift (an 80mb Western Digital EIDE drive) to make sure it was the right thing.
Which is okay, 'cos a closer look at the Prodikeys shows it's got mini-keys, not full-size. It's never mentioned in the literature, and I had trouble telling from the pictures, but a demo video at the Prodikeys site made it pretty clear.
So I'll wait for them to come out with something cooler - full size keys, and maybe USB (only does PS/2 now). Still a really good idea.
She even showed me my gift (an 80mb Western Digital EIDE drive) to make sure it was the right thing.
Which is okay, 'cos a closer look at the Prodikeys shows it's got mini-keys, not full-size. It's never mentioned in the literature, and I had trouble telling from the pictures, but a demo video at the Prodikeys site made it pretty clear.
So I'll wait for them to come out with something cooler - full size keys, and maybe USB (only does PS/2 now). Still a really good idea.
Wednesday, December 18, 2002
Harmony Central®: One Keyboard to Control Them All
Oo! Oo! I want this:
Ninety-nine bucks! What a great idea! A pad goes over the keys for a wristrest when not playing. Wonder if Santa's done shopping yet?
Oo! Oo! I want this:
Ninety-nine bucks! What a great idea! A pad goes over the keys for a wristrest when not playing. Wonder if Santa's done shopping yet?
Five Faves of the Day
Foods I Obsess Over
5. Egg Nog
I always liked home made, but the whole raw egg / salmonella thing killed that. It's chronic - each year I lose track of which brands I like, but Borden's is a good bet, and Berger's. Try the custard-style if you can find it. OMG!
4. Bratwurst
I love Kowalski for most things, but their brats are just so-so. Nietsche's were good, but it's been years. Best I've had recently are Johnsonville's Sheboygan brand. But even bad bratwurst is pretty darn good! Just boil it in beer first.
3. Mince Pie
From the jar (Crosse and Blackwell) or the dry kit (Crosse and Blackwell) is fine, though I'm sure I'd like homemade. Brandy sauce optional.
2. Lamb
Old fashioned chops, please, not the butterfly (though they're okay). Rub in garlic or don't, just give me my mint sauce (Crosse and Blackwell again) and I'm happy.
1. Spaghetti
My dad's recipe for Spaghetti was the best - took him a whole weekend to make, definitely worth waiting. For store brands, Prego's pretty good, but Kim usually fixes it up some more.
Honorable mention: plum pudding with hard sauce, smoked turkey, prime rib, Yorkshire pudding, popovers, gyros, buttermilk, yogurt, hard salami, italian sausage, most cheeses, maple syrup, marmalade, apple butter.
No wonder I'm 50 lbs. overweight!
Foods I Obsess Over
5. Egg Nog
I always liked home made, but the whole raw egg / salmonella thing killed that. It's chronic - each year I lose track of which brands I like, but Borden's is a good bet, and Berger's. Try the custard-style if you can find it. OMG!
4. Bratwurst
I love Kowalski for most things, but their brats are just so-so. Nietsche's were good, but it's been years. Best I've had recently are Johnsonville's Sheboygan brand. But even bad bratwurst is pretty darn good! Just boil it in beer first.
3. Mince Pie
From the jar (Crosse and Blackwell) or the dry kit (Crosse and Blackwell) is fine, though I'm sure I'd like homemade. Brandy sauce optional.
2. Lamb
Old fashioned chops, please, not the butterfly (though they're okay). Rub in garlic or don't, just give me my mint sauce (Crosse and Blackwell again) and I'm happy.
1. Spaghetti
My dad's recipe for Spaghetti was the best - took him a whole weekend to make, definitely worth waiting. For store brands, Prego's pretty good, but Kim usually fixes it up some more.
Honorable mention: plum pudding with hard sauce, smoked turkey, prime rib, Yorkshire pudding, popovers, gyros, buttermilk, yogurt, hard salami, italian sausage, most cheeses, maple syrup, marmalade, apple butter.
No wonder I'm 50 lbs. overweight!
Tuesday, December 17, 2002
Monday, December 16, 2002
Five Faves of the Day
New* Stuff I discovered in 2002
Wilco,
Uncut Magazine,
Michelob Amber Bock,
The Sound Room, and...
...
...Blogging!
* - i.e., new to ME.
New* Stuff I discovered in 2002
Wilco,
Uncut Magazine,
Michelob Amber Bock,
The Sound Room, and...
...
...Blogging!
* - i.e., new to ME.
Friday, December 13, 2002
Five Faves of the Day
Five Favorite Female R&B/Soul/Gospel Singers
LaVerna Mason (check her out at mp3.com)
Mavis Staples
Aretha Franklin
Chaka Khan
Gladys Knight
Note that these ladies are all altos, except maybe Chaka. Lotsa sopranos I like, too, but these are the women that move me. Honorable mention to Yolanda Adams, Helen Baylor, Babbie Mason, Tina Marie, CeCe Winans, Vicki Winans, and Kim Rutherford.
Five Favorite Female R&B/Soul/Gospel Singers
LaVerna Mason (check her out at mp3.com)
Mavis Staples
Aretha Franklin
Chaka Khan
Gladys Knight
Note that these ladies are all altos, except maybe Chaka. Lotsa sopranos I like, too, but these are the women that move me. Honorable mention to Yolanda Adams, Helen Baylor, Babbie Mason, Tina Marie, CeCe Winans, Vicki Winans, and Kim Rutherford.
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