the alpha lab
here's a recent picture of my studio, i'll post some more later.
Thursday, August 31, 2006
music distribution
i came across a new music web site that i think it is interesting. it is called Amie St and it combines some of the new social networking features with a market-driven price model for music. the end result is pretty cool - it supports the pop music 'hit' mentality as well as more eclectic musical tastes. if a lot of people buy your song in a short amount of time the price goes up. if demand slows over time then the price comes down. and if you like weird stuff or want to wade through the new music you can get some great stuff for free (and it is legal).
Thursday, August 17, 2006
The week so far
The week so far has been productive.I have 3 new tracks underway, that I feel are more in line with the latest project. They still have a lot of work to be done, but I had one of those nice long 6 hour sessions the other night where I actually "recorded" the sequence in Live, rather than just tweaking and adusting sounds. This is def something I'm going to make more of a rule rather than an exception. It takes an idea into the 75% finished range rather than the 25% zone where so many ideas tend to be born and then exisist in a realm of perpetual unfinishedness. It all goes along with my push to give life to any and all creative ideas, because all it is, is just an idea if it stays in your head....
We continue to get some good responses from vocalists, and will meet with a couple in the coming days. Im thinking of caping of the search soon. Maybe let it go for a bit longer, then really evaluate, see if things are right, and then go from there....
Its been interesting how the genre label "trip hop" really seems to be something people have interest in. Its a sound that in the states is pretty much connected to 2 UK bands, Portishead, and Massive Attack, two bands who I have recently read, dont like the label trip hop. The label is a bit vague, but in terms of what we want to do, it leaves things open.
Ordered the new condensor mic last night, doing some more slight re-org in the gama lab, and things should be good to go.
Heard a cool track last night by Max Sedgley called "slowly" , simple yet effective.
http://www.juno.co.uk/artists/Max+Sedgley/
more soon
peace
Monday, August 14, 2006
A few things from the weekend
So I had a fairly productive weekend. Friday night I met up with a vocalist who responded to our posting. I walked away feeling extremely positive. I think we will def be able to collaborate in some form or function. I also continued to recieve responses and had a couple more good vocal samples land in my inbox. I'll probably keep the posting up for another week or two and see what happens. I may put a call out there for another turtablist to work with, although I know of a couple I could hit up. I think working with an actual turntablist will only make me better, and it could free me up to focus on Ableton Live and even the lyrics.As far as tech and music goes, I finally hooked up a phono pre amp direct from the turntable to the laptop (the Bandit), this instantly increased the signal of the phono line and know i can use the second lappy and Ableton live as an FX box, as well as sample, recording and beat playing tool, which i can run right into my pioneer 707 dj mixer. Ideally ill have an interface with 2 sep line outs, which i can then run the track dedicated for turntables to one mixer channel and any other beats and sounds to the other.... the never ending quest for the optimal set up continues.... I'll be picking up the decent condensor Mic this week, so the lab will be open for vocals soon. This will enable me to get cracking on the AxFace ep as well as bringing people in to sing when ever.
Also started 2 new decent tracks last night. I'll try to post a clip or a screen shot at least asap.
Studio photos coming this week. Maskatron sent a few good shots last week, and ill be taking a few of my lab asap. Id like to have the new mic in there. for proper studio pron effects. You know you are a geek when you browse the internet to look at pictures of peoples home studios.
Sunday, August 13, 2006
new snare drum
i have never really been happy with my drum kit's sound - the snare drum in particular. if i tuned it too low, the action was bad. if i tuned it too high, the sound started to get weird. anyway, i had a couple of free hours today so i went to the local music shop to check out their snare drums. i walked in and basically walked up to a used Pearl bronze snare drum. i struck it a few times and fell in love with the sound. it is so much better than my old tama one. anyway, i ended up buying it and a used sizzle ride that some guy and custom made himself from another cymbal. the sound is dark and a bit dull (likely because it has been thinned down and is groove-less), but it has a nice unique tone to it. and when it add in the rivets it, well, sizzles. i think it'll be great for some jazzy trip hop stuff.Category: TechPost
Tuesday, August 08, 2006
music, fame, money
this reminded me of why it is i make music in the first place. one out of three isn't bad...Bands find large Web fanbase doesn't equal big money
Category: BizPost
maskatron is onboard
i'm looking forward to working on this project; i think there are some good things on the horizon. here's a short song i wrote recently.Overhead
I looked out my window today
I felt better than bad but worse than ok
My limbs are numb to the sensations
My brain goes through the same machinations
Chorus
I see a hawk flying overhead
I think I touched the sky
I see a hawk flying overhead
And it makes me high
The feeling, I think it is gone
I can't tell if my TV is off or on
It is all the same to me now
I'd break free but can't recall how
Is life just another drug?
That my cells need more of
It seems like my brain wants to die
I glance inward towards the sky
Category: LyricPost
Monday, August 07, 2006
Weekend update
We were finally able to get W.d. up and running on his laptop with Ableton Live, and his new Toneport and Gearbox software. This is a great thing, because we will now be able to hit him up for live basslines at any time of the day or night. This will help the creative process greatly. This also now gives 3 of us the ability to share files and work in the same platform and share files a number of ways.Also have recieved several promising responses from my open call for vocalists. Still reviewing... I hope to make some progress along those lines this week.
Hoping to post some images of the Gamma Lab at Funkcycle headquarters, as well as some images from the Alpha Lab located on the curvedspace mothership.
Also will be posting links to our "clips in progress" this week as well.
More to come soon.
Category: TechPost