Ok I will confess - I have not been very 'creative' of late. But I have started.
Armed with Ozone, I have started to finish some tracks. Essentially demos but I have to start someplace. I suspect it will take me a while to get used to Ozone - it is a rather complex bit of software. My initial results sound a little harsh and the bass end still sounds rather muddy and lacking in 'punch'. Practise makes perfect, etc.
Still working up the courage to discuss with SHMBO my desire for a nice shiny new Mac Pro. Sigh. Yeah I know. What a wimp. Are you a mouse or a man.
Mouse apparently.
Saturday, April 21, 2007
Monday, February 26, 2007
Lethally Dangerous Nonsense
I have just finished reading 'Letter to a Christian Nation' by Sam Harris.
What is most disturbing is just how hidden religious nonsense actually is in our society. There is this desperate attempt to be inclusive in the face of Islamic extremism despite the obviousness of Islam's real nature. And meanwhile our supposed kindly and compassionate Christianity is nothing of the sort.
Islam is the fastest growing religion in Europe apparently. Nukes are being developed by people who believe to die for their religion is a good thing (instant paradise!). I really do fear for my kids and the world they will inherit.
Oh and meanwhile people with a rational, ethical, genuinely compassionate view of the world are branded as being the worst kind of people imaginable. To be an atheist is to be pariah. Apostate. Kafr.
Nightmare.
What is most disturbing is just how hidden religious nonsense actually is in our society. There is this desperate attempt to be inclusive in the face of Islamic extremism despite the obviousness of Islam's real nature. And meanwhile our supposed kindly and compassionate Christianity is nothing of the sort.
Islam is the fastest growing religion in Europe apparently. Nukes are being developed by people who believe to die for their religion is a good thing (instant paradise!). I really do fear for my kids and the world they will inherit.
Oh and meanwhile people with a rational, ethical, genuinely compassionate view of the world are branded as being the worst kind of people imaginable. To be an atheist is to be pariah. Apostate. Kafr.
Nightmare.
Sunday, February 18, 2007
Ug
With that highly articulate subject line, I find myself with flu. Now on the mend but damn it quickly arrives and then is loath to leave.
Considering the run of colds since before Xmas I am sick (hahah) of these niggles. 'Niggles' in this case confining me to bed.
So still feeling unwell but at least the fever is broken. Rest. Drink. Ibuprofen. Sigh.
Normal service to this blog will resume in due course (etc).
Considering the run of colds since before Xmas I am sick (hahah) of these niggles. 'Niggles' in this case confining me to bed.
So still feeling unwell but at least the fever is broken. Rest. Drink. Ibuprofen. Sigh.
Normal service to this blog will resume in due course (etc).
Sunday, January 21, 2007
First ICS virtual game done!
It was great fun but hard work with my sons sharing the attic space. Their constant noise and chatter was quite distracting and I didn't get into my stride until they left to watch TV.
So the first lesson: don't participate unless you can work uninterrupted! Or expect to work slowly.
The second lesson is don't work when knackered but that's not an option in the game and part of the fun! One of the tracks really shows the period when I was feeling completely wrecked. It sounds disjointed and reviewing it I discovered why - the time signature is completely off! Well I had to laugh but really, how stupid. Oh well.
A couple of other things struck me as I worked. The first is that I seriously lack good drum samples outside of Kontakt 2 . Without a decent drum mapper I doubt I will tackle Kontakt's drum sets from Live.
This is one of the reasons I have avoided software like Battery and BFD. Since I want to focus on song writing, not messing about with potentially complex mappings/mapping work-arounds.
However if I can upgrade my computer, then Battery 3 has to be in my sights. I suspect Battery is more appropriate for the kind of music I am producing (as opposed to BFD... but of course both would be fantastic).
Ah the music.
I cannot say I am satisfied with my current sound. But I have to go with the flow. With no guitar and no immediate prospect of getting a guitar the electro noise I am currently making will at least get me into the software.
I also need to focus on sound design. I need a toolbox to work with, something in line with where I want to go musically.
My current lack of a working guitar is really hurting. I was surprised how much I wanted to pick up a guitar and just jam a little. Instead I have this tiny Axiom 25 that I cannot get two hand to play on. Very frustrating.
Of course learning to work within a set of constraints is a useful tool in and of itself. Of course my only real constraints are my 'input' devices. The computer grants me a huge unconstrained working environment well beyond anything I have experienced previously. Right up to the point my PC hits about 65% CPU utilisation!
Final note - roll on the next virtual event!
So the first lesson: don't participate unless you can work uninterrupted! Or expect to work slowly.
The second lesson is don't work when knackered but that's not an option in the game and part of the fun! One of the tracks really shows the period when I was feeling completely wrecked. It sounds disjointed and reviewing it I discovered why - the time signature is completely off! Well I had to laugh but really, how stupid. Oh well.
A couple of other things struck me as I worked. The first is that I seriously lack good drum samples outside of Kontakt 2 . Without a decent drum mapper I doubt I will tackle Kontakt's drum sets from Live.
This is one of the reasons I have avoided software like Battery and BFD. Since I want to focus on song writing, not messing about with potentially complex mappings/mapping work-arounds.
However if I can upgrade my computer, then Battery 3 has to be in my sights. I suspect Battery is more appropriate for the kind of music I am producing (as opposed to BFD... but of course both would be fantastic).
Ah the music.
I cannot say I am satisfied with my current sound. But I have to go with the flow. With no guitar and no immediate prospect of getting a guitar the electro noise I am currently making will at least get me into the software.
I also need to focus on sound design. I need a toolbox to work with, something in line with where I want to go musically.
My current lack of a working guitar is really hurting. I was surprised how much I wanted to pick up a guitar and just jam a little. Instead I have this tiny Axiom 25 that I cannot get two hand to play on. Very frustrating.
Of course learning to work within a set of constraints is a useful tool in and of itself. Of course my only real constraints are my 'input' devices. The computer grants me a huge unconstrained working environment well beyond anything I have experienced previously. Right up to the point my PC hits about 65% CPU utilisation!
Final note - roll on the next virtual event!
Thursday, January 18, 2007
New Synths
At long last we have the imminent arrival of a Roland Jupiter 8 soft synth. Arturia are to release the Jupiter 8V. About time! I was never a fan of Roland analog synths but the Jupiter series was special. They had this wonderful sound...
The only problem with Arturia is that they use one of those awful USB dongles. Yak.
Fortunately PropellerHeads are not so paranoid and they look as though they may be about to announce Reason version 4. Their website has a very nice picture of Thor - a modular synth for the Reason rack. Very nice.
NAMM will be interesting methinks...
The only problem with Arturia is that they use one of those awful USB dongles. Yak.
Fortunately PropellerHeads are not so paranoid and they look as though they may be about to announce Reason version 4. Their website has a very nice picture of Thor - a modular synth for the Reason rack. Very nice.
NAMM will be interesting methinks...
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