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11/2/2007, 10:58 AM
Ok, HERE's the challenge!
The challenge is to make a music thread have more posts than the political thread whose title I will no longer mention. :) What's everyone up to musically? I'm gigging today and tomorrow afternoon, doing some writing, waiting for Sonar Power Studio to come in (salivating over that one, actually) and hoping, like Larree, that I'll sell some music. Anyone else?
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11/4/2007, 6:54 AM
Debbie, don't know if you have PC or Mac. My daughter used Cubase SX for Mac, AudioBuddy PreAmp, iMic external soundcard and the Mic you see in her photo's was from Studio Projects Condenser C1 and she used an external dbx compressor gate to cut down background noise as we have aeroplanes going over our house every few minutes. The version of Cubase she was using was quite old I believe it is much more sophisticated now. I have found Cubase very complicated to use with its on line manuals and many people agree about that. Garage band is much more user friendly but does not have the features Cubase does. I think the newer Logic mentioned above is supposed to be better. Fred E Jam who runs an online collaboration studio has many years experience of this and can give you advice about very good programmes he uses for PC. You can e mail him at KIAC or join up to the music site where they have tutorials which guide you through things like adding clicks to get everything to line up. F-Jam Online Collaboration Studios: you can find them here http://www.iacmusic.com/artist.aspx?ID=75853 The collaboration site can be found at http://fjams.zapto.org/portal/ They are looking for female vocalists and there is a song of DirgeK's called 'Bricks and Mortar' which has music and lyrics but Dirge never seems to have recorded it. I would vounteer myself but although Iused to play guitar I am the world's worst singer, worse than the worse auditions you have seen on American Idol. I don't know where Dirge got her singing ability from, it certainly wasn't from me.
11/3/2007, 12:45 AM
I'm kind of in-between recordings at the moment. I have one written, but it needs some particular rythms I don't have access to.. Al Green style drums, or rythms like on Bonnie Raitt's song "Nick of Time".. once I find that I'll be off to the races. That's part of the challenge producing things on my own. I am remixing a few older tunes too, but kind of like taking a step back from things every so often. Got some lyrics for another tune I'm going to call simply "Home". Three weeks till Fathers Day I'm getting on in my own way Comin home to my child Let him know I'm on my way We set them free They're killin me In the name of democracy Take me home to the sound of the sea Take me home that's all for now, need to chew more on it.
11/2/2007, 9:34 PM
Online collaboration can be accomplished but it works best under the following rules 1 Each person putting down tracks should be using the same software. So if you use reason, cubase, cakewalk, etc make sure all parties involved have this and its the same version. 2 Even though a lot of drummers resent it for an online collab its is best to have a click track. Stripe it so it can be removed in the final mix. 3 General rules for recording apply, Drums and bass are recorded first then rythme guitar, then lead guitar, then vocals, then backing vocals, then sound effects and any fillers etc. If the tracks are small enough most software allows you to export by track so your drummer can do his track export it and emial it or burn it to cd and give it to the bass player the bas player does his thing gives it to the guitar player etc What is most important for fidelity is that when each person records the tracks each track should remain individual. Do not have each person mixdown. The mix will become very muddy fast. Also for best sound quality use .wav format files they take up more space but have better bandwidth than mp3 Hope this helps TSC Ken
11/2/2007, 8:19 PM
I've been trying to keep the calendar filled by playing my bass in five different acts...most weekends are full and spilling over into Thurs. and even some Wednesday nights. Mostly, week nights are dedicated to rehearsals. I'm also pumping them to get their songs up on IAC as well as the Jammers'. Now I have a question: I've been noticing a few collaborations between some of the members here, and, assuming this is an online effort, I'm curious as to how you get this accomplished?
11/2/2007, 8:13 PM
I've been noticing a few collaborations between some of the members here, and, assuming this is an online effort, I'm curious as to how you get this accomplished?
11/2/2007, 8:03 PM
Damn! I sure stuffed up that link!! (Told you I was computer illiterate) Try cut and paste with this address: http://www.myspace.com/optoutofapra
11/2/2007, 7:58 PM
Technical stuff - I use a Zoom MRS 802 for recording - it's got EVERYTHING in one box (except pitch and time shift which I chose not to have - if you can't do it right perhaps you shouldn't be doing it). AND it's laid out like a portastudio - an important consideration at the time I bought it as I was totally computer illiterate.
I prefer my Maton BG 808 guitar ahead of my Martin but Maton IS an Oz brand and we Aussies are inordinately proud of it. (They use beautiful Australian woods).
I've written eleven and a half songs for my next bluesy album but have come to a grinding halt with writing the lyrics atm (anyone got a good rhyme for Antipodean?)
I'm also fitting out my ancient "Missa Bitchee" van to go camping out in the desert next year to get nature recordings for my next "soundscape" project (and busy practicing those "wind" instruments)
I see you've joined APRA Rob. Did you check out
www/myspca.com/optoutofapra/
first?
11/2/2007, 6:26 PM
We have a fun gig too this weekend - our very good friend Penny is celebrating her 80th birthday! Her son Robert is in a fabulous band called the New Scorpion Band, and they are hosting a birthday bash for Penny in a local village hall down in Somerset. Robert plays on quite a few of our songs, Irish whistles, pipes, brass... Anyhow, the New Scorpion Band are performing at the party on Saturday night, and they asked Susan and I to perform in the middle of the event, during their break! Fab! Their are about 150 people coming, and it's an acoustic gig, so it should be a great night!
11/2/2007, 4:54 PM
Damn ... and I thought she liked it too ... she was sitting there so peaceful like ... I should have noticed those tiny ear plugs... I guess lady flies can be as decieving as human ladies !
11/2/2007, 4:48 PM
Hi Loren et al! Yeah that blog was such a downer-----I managed to refrain from adding fuel to the fire, so I read it and shut my mouth (keyboard) tight. So it made me SAD! that my friends in the 'States' are at each others throats cos I believe ------that's just what the big boys want--------------------? So I put up the song "To America" for all my buds in the USA hope it brings a smile!! We are getting to the silly season and have many gigs (weddings, xmas parties, and stuff) coming so I'll be away quite a bit ---------Oh yeah ---We have just joined "APPRA" the local music Industry watchdog which pays out royalties for airplay and registers all our songs and lyrics etc------and we are still selling songs! Oh Boy!! big Hugs for you all esp Verity!!!!!
11/2/2007, 4:18 PM
Stegor, I am using Cubase SE. I just started using it so I am a Cubase newbie. From what I have seen I like it so far. I love roomworks! I mixed my song crusin' with this. Thank you again for your great post on my thread. Oh I hi-jacked the blog now do I get a boink? Veriety what have you to say? TSC Ken
11/2/2007, 4:10 PM
Well I just played my newest song live to an audience of ONE ... and I think she liked it ... ! I think she is probably kin to Fly On The Wall .. (Thanks to Jilly I know it's a she because she was setting on the phone) .. So I have a question for Fly On The Wall ... Do lady flies like the same kind of songs that human ladies do ?
11/2/2007, 3:58 PM
Hey Loren, cool thread, So what am I up to musically??? Well, I have been jamming with Seana, the bass player from "Riverbend" we have a track on IAC CubannaPOP kind of inspired by the Dizzy Gillespie Bop track, We do have a set of 40 odd tunes, but no gigs booked, Also, I have been rehearsing some acoustic folk stuff for a video production, heres an out-take rehearsal track of a John Martyn tune Only Wanna Know Other than that I'm just taking things easy, one day at a time, trying not to let everything thats inspiring overwhelm me all at once ha ha...:)
11/2/2007, 3:22 PM
Ah! I finally know what boinking is! As it relates to blogging I mean. Boink that blog! Bleah.. There's something really unappealing about that phrase. Since there's some software talk here - anybody else use any one of the Cubase products, LE, SE, SX? I think this thread is a bit too frayed to be used for such info, but let's keep 'er goin' anyway!
11/2/2007, 1:50 PM
Well I have been writing some new songs. I got about four in the "pipeline" See how clever that was? I have also been experimenting with writting tunes in multi genres. Some of the new tunes I am writing are christain worhsip songs. We shall see how they turn out. God willing they will be good. Hugs for (Variety) have you cheked out my page yet? Down with the political machine. Cheers, TSC ken
11/2/2007, 1:46 PM
lets all go in for a group hug! i'm working on a couple of new tunes that should be ready soon. i tried to use my computer for recording once but couldn't properly use the mouse to control the controls! eeek. lucky for me, hubby was more than generous one Christmas and splurged on an AKAI DPS16 recorder. I found that much easier although a bit limited compared to computer recording.
11/2/2007, 1:33 PM
So that's a hug for Nerol (and one for Loren too I think) Then one for Todd. Let me remind you that my challenge is to get as many faces on my page as I can...but you have to want a virtual hug haha! I can't contribute to the music thread here except to say I've been checking out some new artists and song arrivals as they come in - Vee
11/2/2007, 12:56 PM
Hi Nerol - a post to your thread! we are going to a Music Live gear show in Birmingham UK on Saturday Nov 3, (much drooling and wringing of hands) and then back for studio recording next week! We have a gig on Nov 9 to finish the week off, looking forward to that>>> Politics eh? - I'd like to start a revolution, but I don't have the time!!!
11/2/2007, 12:32 PM
I'm on a Solo Unplugged Kick and don't need to buy studio time or buy exspensive junk. The software was the most expensive and it was handed down so I didn't pay for it. All my projects have turned out well for what I was trying to accomplish. It's 2007. You don't need huge racks anymore, lol. And I'm fluxuating from a Top 20 Artist to #1 up and down in the State of Mississippi on MySpace which is World Wide w/ 200,000,000 potential listeners and have previously been on the National MySpace Top100. My Physical CD's are Global in People CD players in their homes or vehicles and online @ iTunes, PayPlay, musicishere, SnoCap, CDBABY, etc. The Market is so swamped hardly anybody is purchasing Digitals unless you are a Major Label Artists on FM. I'm not doing this to get rich but a little extra pocket money would sure pay for my kids College and Medical Bills.
11/2/2007, 12:14 PM
Deb, if you had a Mac Computer it comes with 'Garageband' installed, lots of virtual backing instruments and the ability to record audio as well! If I wanted better recording software I would then upgrade to Logic Pro! Also very important to have good quality mikes! For live recording I use a mini disc recorder with a powered stereo Audio Tecnica Condenser Mike! Good luck with the tracks, we are in the studio this month working on 6 new tracks, but we do most takes live and have only 30 hours of time to produce these....bloody expensive it is......but worth it!
11/2/2007, 11:44 AM
I use Sony's Sonic Foundry Vegas 4.0 for Recording, Mixing, Editing, etc. Great software! A very simple digital solution for guitar, vocals, harmonica's, bongo's, whatever, is an M-Audio FASTTRACK USB and Mic Tube PreAmp. I use ART TUBE MP Project Series. I've got two little boxes on my desk. That's my studio! & a 5.1 Speaker System. Studio Monitors are on my to buy list.
11/2/2007, 11:22 AM
I am in the process of writing some new songs. I've always gone into the studio to record and now I'm considering purchasing pro-tools for home recording. I'd like to try that. I can still go to a studio and record songs if I feel a need to but I've seen some great work come from home recordings. I payed a lot of money in the studio and it's no better than the home recordings I've heard here. Can anyone help me with that? Being a technical idiot, I have no idea what to buy or look at. Any suggestions would be much appreciated. And also, Hugs to Verity for her safe return! :-) deb
11/2/2007, 11:14 AM
Hey fella's! I'm going to go onto LiveNow.com. Join in on some live Radio talk shows and laugh my ass off all weekend while drinking beer and watching football games. I'll also be posting bulletins on MySpace promoting mine and other peoples music in hopes we all get a little richer. Being broke as a joke isn't fun unless you make the best of what you can while you scrape the bottom of the barrel with any means necissary to live with an ounce of happiness in this crazy world we've been forced to exist in. With that said, is it beer O'Clock yet? It's 5:00 somewhere I suppose. Last night, here in Mississippi, Mississippi Public Television aired the 2004 Clapton Robert Johnson Special. I picked up the guitar and jammed out with EC. Had a blast. Musically, I'm taking a short break from writing to absorb some new influence so all my material doesn't sound the same. I do that. Listen to stuff, catch a hook, remodel it to my taste to make my sound as original as possible and go with it. I like writing spur of the moment kinda like painting on canvas. I hate rehearsing over and over again. I like playing on feel and emotion. Technical music is too boring and makes me feel like I'm sitting there watching the second hand on a clock, ha.
11/2/2007, 11:01 AM
I wrote my first song in a long time the other day! And... it was the very first song that I ever wrote on my new (resonator) guitar! It's a very peppy, 3-chord country-ish number with rapidfire lyrics in the verses that give way to a big, lingering hook that I have to hit in my upper registers. Luckily I don't strain too much to reach it. Now, I gotta find a place to record it (and a couple of other songs) for free. I don't have the time that Hugo has all by himself. Nor do I have the gear. Bummah. But you can be assured that I will post it once the demos are done.