songblog

Aftermath plus Music and Technology

I have been taking a break for a bit from the blog, there has been so much happening that there wasn't time for this.

I have finished the 120 Ways song.........that is what I thought anyway. It has become clear now that I am in another bit of gear binging. After a long and protracted discussion with Jay at Your Music Forums, I finally bought a preamp, and ART TPS II. I have been thinking about this for some time, off and on, mostly when I have to crank the mics so far up as I am recording something.
Finally I take the plunge and its pretty good: I now have more control over what I record, which is really a novelty for the synths, since up till this time I just hit the record button and let it rip. Now that part of the process has become much more interesting, especially when its combined with some of the techniques that Jay laid out here - so I won't repeat that, but I will say that technique is really kind of a revalation to me.
Also should mention that my friend Cass remixed this song, which you can get here
Its a stunningly better mix, and some of that - not by any means all of that - is due to the better equipment Cass has in his studio. But as always I must emphasize that gear does not equal talent - Cass has great ears and lots of experice, and it really shows. Makes my original mix sound like soggy cereal!
In reference to 120 Ways, I have rewritten the snare drum part and changed the sample I have been using. One thing from that link I will say, I have started recording all the drum tracks in stereo - much, much fuller. In fact I went and re-recorded most all the tracks on this song, so I am not quite done yet. I may ask Cass to work his magic on it again, since I just don't think I can get those kinds of results myself.
Other upgrades: I have been saving for a year to buy a new computer to run Sonar 3, since I was told that my box wouldn't cut it. Long story short - not quite true. I still needed to upgrade the RAM, but at least for the present time I think I will be OK on the computer I have now. And the longer I wait to upgrade the computer, the better one I will be able to afford. Can't wait to get my new sequencer!
I was also blessed with the gift of a copy of Reaktor from Native Instruments, you know? This thing is just killing my time, I find myself staying up way too late getting lost in the odd noises it gives off. Plus it has made me interested again in sampling, so much so that I am getting a copy of Kontakt, the NI sampler, and Battery, the NI drum sampler. I think I will be going crazy now.........
So is it all chasing my tail? Is the upgrade cycle endless? I think abou this technological aspect of my musical obsession in a slightly different way than the physical instruments. Although I have had for instance several saxophones in my life, now I just have my beloved Martin tenor; while I may lust after a soprano or an alto, I never need to shop for another tenor sax again - haven't needed to since what? 1985 or something? So that is a comfort, like having an old friend lives close by that you can visit as often as you'd like.
I suppose its all just aspects of the same thing - no matter how you can make music, the important thing is to keep progressing, keep advancing your thinking, keeping the creative flame alive in your brain. Cause I can tell you with a straight face, once I quit being creative, I will quit breathing.