Sponsored by "Hawkwind".
I wasn't expecting to be able to do any work on the album today, but an unexpected bit of fortuitous timing, realword-wise, gave me a few hours to play around with.
I tracked the various VST plugin parts (Voyager Brain Salad/Shifting Sands/reset) in CE5 via the Behringer Xenyx 1202 mixer and the Phonic Firefly. Audio cleanup in AA3.
And I accidentally solved a long-running problem I have had when tracking VST plugins to audio (or at least I think I have...). I would frequently gets clicks and pops breaking through on the audio. I always assumed that this was due to various bits of electrical activity around the gaff (fridges switching on/off etc.) breaking into the signal chain, but it seems to be a feature of my PC's graphics card when scrolling along the track while tracking. No pops/clicks occur when I zoom out sufficiently so that I can see the entire track without scrolling.
"Did you not know that before? Feckin' eejit!!!"
Never said I wasn't...;-).
Regards,
djp
Wednesday, April 30, 2014
Tuesday, April 29, 2014
Is Everybody Happy Yet? - 290414
Sponsored by "Grizzly Bear".
Programmed and edited various MIDI drum parts in CE5, using the Roland Juno-D/Phonic Firefly/Kore Player Sky Kit/HALion One Jazzy Kit.
Still haven't had the Juno-D serviced yet. Will do so in due course. In the meantime I found a workaround that will allow me to program the drum parts on it OK. Not sure if I'm happy with all the tones I've chosen, but that can be remedied in due course.
That's it for now. Real life kicks in this afternoon...;-).
Regards,
djp
Programmed and edited various MIDI drum parts in CE5, using the Roland Juno-D/Phonic Firefly/Kore Player Sky Kit/HALion One Jazzy Kit.
Still haven't had the Juno-D serviced yet. Will do so in due course. In the meantime I found a workaround that will allow me to program the drum parts on it OK. Not sure if I'm happy with all the tones I've chosen, but that can be remedied in due course.
That's it for now. Real life kicks in this afternoon...;-).
Regards,
djp
Monday, April 28, 2014
Mare Nostrum - 280414
Sponsored by "Giorgio Moroder".
Edited the Ric bass parts and the Squier Strat parts in CE5.
The bass parts were relatively straightforward, as I was editing between two "identical" parts, so it was a case of going through the parts "line-by-line", finding the best lines and muting those that didn't work so well. In some cases, a line might be composed of two different parts, topped-and-tailed. In other cases, neither line was good enough, so the bass just drops out.
The Strat parts were more difficult, since I was looking at seven completely different parts. Again, it was a case of muting the lines that clearly didn't work, and then trying to put together a reasonably coherent guitar arrangement with what was left over. I may well split the parts in to one melodic group and one rhythmic group, and treat the groups different inna dub stylee.
Fun and games.
More work tomorrow, then two road trips on Wednesday and Thursday. Not looking forward to the latter, but no need to worry yourselves about that...;-).
Regards,
djp
Edited the Ric bass parts and the Squier Strat parts in CE5.
The bass parts were relatively straightforward, as I was editing between two "identical" parts, so it was a case of going through the parts "line-by-line", finding the best lines and muting those that didn't work so well. In some cases, a line might be composed of two different parts, topped-and-tailed. In other cases, neither line was good enough, so the bass just drops out.
The Strat parts were more difficult, since I was looking at seven completely different parts. Again, it was a case of muting the lines that clearly didn't work, and then trying to put together a reasonably coherent guitar arrangement with what was left over. I may well split the parts in to one melodic group and one rhythmic group, and treat the groups different inna dub stylee.
Fun and games.
More work tomorrow, then two road trips on Wednesday and Thursday. Not looking forward to the latter, but no need to worry yourselves about that...;-).
Regards,
djp
Thursday, April 24, 2014
Mare Nostrum - 240414
Sponsored by "Free etc.".
Attempted to edit the 4Front Rhode VST plugin parts in CE5, but it just wasn't working out, so I re-programmed them using the Yamaha DX100 and the Phonic Firefly. Then I edited them. Worked out a lot better, but a very tedious job.
I had to edit "by ear", and some of the edits are probably better than others, so it's likely that I'll do some dub-style dropouts where appropriate.
That's enough for today. You're not the boss of me!
Regards,
djp
Attempted to edit the 4Front Rhode VST plugin parts in CE5, but it just wasn't working out, so I re-programmed them using the Yamaha DX100 and the Phonic Firefly. Then I edited them. Worked out a lot better, but a very tedious job.
I had to edit "by ear", and some of the edits are probably better than others, so it's likely that I'll do some dub-style dropouts where appropriate.
That's enough for today. You're not the boss of me!
Regards,
djp
Wednesday, April 16, 2014
You'll Never Miss Your Mother Till The Well Runs Dry - 160414
Sponsored by "Elvis Presley".
Finished off editing the Ric bass parts in CE5. The track is sounding a lot better now. Tight, but loose...
That's all for the momo.
Regards,
djp
Finished off editing the Ric bass parts in CE5. The track is sounding a lot better now. Tight, but loose...
That's all for the momo.
Regards,
djp
Tuesday, April 15, 2014
You'll Never Miss Your Mother Till The Well Runs Dry - 150414
Sponsored by "Ella Fitzgerald".
Edited all the Squier Strat parts and some of the Ric bass parts in CE5. I'll try and finish these tomorrow. A good bit of tightening-up required, but I've got to marry the best parts in the right places first.
It looks like there's going to be a vaguely Tame Impala-esque vibe about the Strat parts. Lovely slow phasing....
Regards,
djp
Monday, April 14, 2014
Mare Nostrum - 140414
Sponsored by "Electronic etc.".
Quick session today. Tracked 7 Squier Strat parts on the Tascam 2488 using the Line 6 Pod 2.0. Audio cleanup in AA3 and inserted into the relevant project file in CE5.
Not sure how impressed Charlie Burchill would be with my efforts. Quite a lot of editing to be done here. All, some or none of the parts will be used.
Speaking of editing, I'm well overdue doing some more work on some tracks I've already worked on. So I'll do that over the next few days. Oh, the joys...;-).
Regards,
djp
Quick session today. Tracked 7 Squier Strat parts on the Tascam 2488 using the Line 6 Pod 2.0. Audio cleanup in AA3 and inserted into the relevant project file in CE5.
Not sure how impressed Charlie Burchill would be with my efforts. Quite a lot of editing to be done here. All, some or none of the parts will be used.
Speaking of editing, I'm well overdue doing some more work on some tracks I've already worked on. So I'll do that over the next few days. Oh, the joys...;-).
Regards,
djp
Friday, April 11, 2014
Mare Nostrum - 110414
Sponsored by "Dummy Mixes".
Track 3 Ric bass parts on the Tascam 2488 using the Line 6 Bass Pod XT. Audio cleanup in AA3 and inserted into the relevant project file in CE5.
Had difficulty getting a decent bass tone with the plectrum that would cut through the mix, so I had to use fingering (steady now). It worked fine, tonewise, but I ended up with a bit of a blister on my plucking finger (well, really, if you're going to keep sniggering like that...).
Track 3 Ric bass parts on the Tascam 2488 using the Line 6 Bass Pod XT. Audio cleanup in AA3 and inserted into the relevant project file in CE5.
Had difficulty getting a decent bass tone with the plectrum that would cut through the mix, so I had to use fingering (steady now). It worked fine, tonewise, but I ended up with a bit of a blister on my plucking finger (well, really, if you're going to keep sniggering like that...).
 | |||||
| Hey, mistah - itzah blistah... |
The only time I ever play bass by fingering is when I play my Aria AMB-50 electro-acoustic, because I can't get any decent sound out of it acoustically with a plectrum.
 | |
| Aria - having a lovely time...? |
I've tried using the fingering technique in recording sessions before, but not successfully. That was a long time ago, though, and my technique has improved with age...look, stop it! NOW!!!
As mentioned in an earlier post, I was recording against a live drum track, so precision in timing cannot be guaranteed. I had to play by ear ( I know, I was using my finger. No need to remind me...). I think I hit most of my spots pretty accurately. I recorded two different versions of the main bass part, so hopefully I can edit between them. I also recorded a separate intro.
The bass line is in a rather rigid eurofunk-style, รก la (but nowhere near as good as) Derek Forbes from Simple Minds. Had I been able to record against a strict temp beat, I might have thrown in a bit more in the way of stylistic variation, but I was trying to get out of Dodge here. Still, I think it holds together well and with some judicious editing and the odd dub-style dropout, I should be able to get away with it.
God knows what I'm going to do for the guitar parts, though. Charlie Burchill, perhaps?
Regards,
djp
Wednesday, April 2, 2014
Mare Nostrum - 020414
Sponsored by "Deep Purple".
New song today.
Are you ready for a long story? Good, pull up a sheep and sit down...
You will be aware that I generally track audio on my Tascam 2488. Turns out I actually have two of 'em - one is permanently set-up in the Gulag, while the other one (the Gulag Mobile) is used when I record outside the studio (as in vocals, which are recorded in a walk-in wardrobe). I bought the second one secondhand several years ago with a view to working on a particular project which never materialised (but that's another story). It was in storage for several years, and it was only when I moved into the new gaff that I decided to take it out of the box and, like, see if it actually worked. It did.
A while back, I decided to clear out the second one in preparation for some recording. I discovered that the previous owner had left a lot of recorded material on the machine - band rehearsals for a metal band. Most of it wasn't to my taste, but I was very impressed with the drumming - pretty good time-keeping and quite "busy". The drums were recorded over several tracks of audio and while possibly not the best recordings you'll have ever heard (rather "hot" and no separation between the tracks), I decided to save all the drum tracks with a view to potentially using them some day in the future...
...and today was that "some day".
I took one set of drum tracks (over 6-channels) and imported them into a new project file in CE5. I couldn't be bothered trying to work out what the tempo was (which would possibly have changed throughout the track anyway), so today's task was to play keyboards (always a challenge anyway) by ear.
I programmed a variety of MIDI VST plugins in CE5, using the Yamaha DX100/Phonic Firefly/HALion One Dreamy Spheres/4Front Rhode/Kore Player Holographic Lights. I edited most of the tracks "by ear", as I have no strict reference points to go by in terms of bars and beats. Worked out way better than I expected.
The track has a huge post-punk sound, with the live drum parts adding a wonderful dynamic dimension. The track is going to end up sounding like classic Simple Minds with John Bonham on the traps. You'll be impressed. Got the vibe of a single about it.
I must do some more synth editing, and then track guitar/bass parts. It'll be much easier to play the axes by ear than synths. I have form in this regard...
Regards,
djp
New song today.
Are you ready for a long story? Good, pull up a sheep and sit down...
You will be aware that I generally track audio on my Tascam 2488. Turns out I actually have two of 'em - one is permanently set-up in the Gulag, while the other one (the Gulag Mobile) is used when I record outside the studio (as in vocals, which are recorded in a walk-in wardrobe). I bought the second one secondhand several years ago with a view to working on a particular project which never materialised (but that's another story). It was in storage for several years, and it was only when I moved into the new gaff that I decided to take it out of the box and, like, see if it actually worked. It did.
A while back, I decided to clear out the second one in preparation for some recording. I discovered that the previous owner had left a lot of recorded material on the machine - band rehearsals for a metal band. Most of it wasn't to my taste, but I was very impressed with the drumming - pretty good time-keeping and quite "busy". The drums were recorded over several tracks of audio and while possibly not the best recordings you'll have ever heard (rather "hot" and no separation between the tracks), I decided to save all the drum tracks with a view to potentially using them some day in the future...
...and today was that "some day".
I took one set of drum tracks (over 6-channels) and imported them into a new project file in CE5. I couldn't be bothered trying to work out what the tempo was (which would possibly have changed throughout the track anyway), so today's task was to play keyboards (always a challenge anyway) by ear.
I programmed a variety of MIDI VST plugins in CE5, using the Yamaha DX100/Phonic Firefly/HALion One Dreamy Spheres/4Front Rhode/Kore Player Holographic Lights. I edited most of the tracks "by ear", as I have no strict reference points to go by in terms of bars and beats. Worked out way better than I expected.
The track has a huge post-punk sound, with the live drum parts adding a wonderful dynamic dimension. The track is going to end up sounding like classic Simple Minds with John Bonham on the traps. You'll be impressed. Got the vibe of a single about it.
I must do some more synth editing, and then track guitar/bass parts. It'll be much easier to play the axes by ear than synths. I have form in this regard...
Regards,
djp
Tuesday, April 1, 2014
A Plague On Both My Houses - 010414
Sponsored by "Deep Elm".
Had a busy morning this morning, and found I didn't have time to track guitar/bass parts, so I decided to run up a quicky electronic track in CE5.
Programmed various VST plugin parts using the Yamaha DX100/Phonic Firefly/Viral Outbreak init/Motion 2.8 Opium TC/ Sophia_1_1 departure.
Essentially, I copied the original MIDI part for init and applied it to the other two parts, moving them around to suit. Cheating, I know...
Since there wasn't much else to do with the track, I decided to mix and master it. However, the departure part didn't seem to like my mastering settings, so it distorted significantly. I decided to do a remix minus the departure part, and this sounds much better. I decided to keep the distorted mix as well, and will use it as an EP track in due course.
So, two tracks for the price of one then...;-).
In other news, I am getting quotes for servicing the Roland Juno-D. One is better than the other, but I suspect the other may be better than the one. If you have me...
More tomorrow.
Regards,
djp
Had a busy morning this morning, and found I didn't have time to track guitar/bass parts, so I decided to run up a quicky electronic track in CE5.
Programmed various VST plugin parts using the Yamaha DX100/Phonic Firefly/Viral Outbreak init/Motion 2.8 Opium TC/ Sophia_1_1 departure.
Essentially, I copied the original MIDI part for init and applied it to the other two parts, moving them around to suit. Cheating, I know...
Since there wasn't much else to do with the track, I decided to mix and master it. However, the departure part didn't seem to like my mastering settings, so it distorted significantly. I decided to do a remix minus the departure part, and this sounds much better. I decided to keep the distorted mix as well, and will use it as an EP track in due course.
So, two tracks for the price of one then...;-).
In other news, I am getting quotes for servicing the Roland Juno-D. One is better than the other, but I suspect the other may be better than the one. If you have me...
More tomorrow.
Regards,
djp
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