old studio story Posted by poolboyjames on May 25, 2010 at 3:18 PM comments (0)1st off.. if ur not into music recording then DO NOT read this.. it is only for other people who do music.. this is just for me to put some of my recording background out there for my fellow music peeps
ok yesterday i was at a store and i got the idea to talk about my old studio setup i've gone through multiple different phases with setups, i started making beats on playstation music generator, then i went to fruity loops, then i went to acid, then the reason demo.. the list goes on however i'm going to talk about my main setup i used for when i made love is elusive the setup i used for love is elusive was the best possible quality i could get with the tools i had ok so here we go computer - vpr matrix/ ram 512mb/ hard drive 60gb http://www.vprmatrix.com/products_desktop_180R.asp its obsolete now however i got this computer in fall of 02.. it was during the first generation of computers without the huge glass screens with the protruding backside.. so people would be like wow ur flat screen monitor is dope! and it was for the time, however i still had to carry around that huge tower between school and home and it was HEAVY.. i want to say it was at least about 60lbs this computer held up well until it died in summer of 08 mic - sony asked for one for Christmas and got it.. it was from best buy.. just a regular old cheap mic.. this was before best buy sold actual real audio gear.. my mom probably found the mic in the karaoke section.. it had an 1/8' hook up as opposed to xlr my computer had a mic-in which wasn't the best however it worked with a little messing around.. for example i realized that holding the mic was ruining the sound a lot so i got my sister's lamp stand and used it for a mic stand (thanks tia, lol) .. i took a bulb out and put the mic in it.. i shoved a sock in there too to absorb shock or potential movement of the mic at the school of audio engineering one thing i always remembered was what they taught about mic screens or (pop-guards).. they said the only proper way to have it is to have 2 layers due to how sound works, so i got the proper pop-guard and i started using it.. then i realized the acoustics of my room were bad for recording, so i wrapped a shirt around the mic to capture all sound and create a "warm" environment.. this way instead of hearing the acoustics of my square room with echo and extra garbage, u just hear my voice coming in through the pop-guard in a steady condensed stream of sound some people didn't really understand why i did this, but essentially a thick shirt (i used a polo) has the same effect as carpet or foam.. it absorbs sound as opposed to reflecting it basically it took a little time to begin to understand all these subtleties of sound but after a while u begin to see that music is a series of small details.. each change u make is a subtle change, but when u combine every alteration together then u have a superior and easily distinguishable sound quality audio editing software - nuendo 2 i ran into this guy named Q and he knew a lot about music.. he helped me out for a while with learning how to do it properly like for example i had been trying to record vocals in stereo and he was the guy who told me basic stuff like vocals are always recorded mono etc. Q gave me a ton of software to help get me started on the right path in music.. among the software he gave me, there was nuendo 2.. i didn't really know how to use it but i knew it was better than what i had at the time, so i switched and never went back.. nuendo 2 is great, i never really hit a wall with that software.. i always seemed to be able to do what i wanted to do with it interface - m-audio firewire 410 i HATED this thing... i hated it so much it got to where i actually took it outside one day and threw it on the ground and stomped on it and everything it just never worked right.. the headphone jacks were screwed up and i'd get static, and don't even get me started on the whole "install the driver" thing.. i'd do it and hey what does system32 mean? oh crap my whole hard drive has just been formatted! LOL.. i HATED that thing Q was the one who gave me the interface.. i didn't really understand what an interface did, because my computer had a mic line-in.. and i didn't have real studio monitors, i just had speakers that i hooked up to my computer via stereo red and white and a 1/8' jack.. i remember the interface just having latency issues and just being garbage.. but if i remember correct, i had gotten it to work a few times and so i used it for the time keyboard: one day Q said "i need a mac laptop" ...i had one from going to the school of audio engineering.. so he told me he'd buy mine if i let him.. so i agreed so i could purchase a keyboard he told me not to get such a big and pricey keyboard but i didn't listen because i still thought i'd need it.. it was a huge yamaha.. it was more for like personal enjoyment and live performances but luckily it still had usb midi capability so i used it with reason 3.0 for the time music creation software - reason 3.0 full version and re-cycle reason 3.0 was pretty much perfect for me for the time.. i told my friend derek i wanted it and he somehow got it for me online and mailed the discs to me.. i was SO thankful, it was crazy because i didn't have the money for it.. and derek wasn't even into making music, out of nowhere one day i just told him that i wanted this thing called reason 3 and he said some ish like "give me ur address and hold tight" next thing i knew i had the whole thing at the doorstep (it was somewhere around $300 or $400 at the time) i used it for years so thanks again derek! i used reason as-is for a while until i finally realized i wanted to try and sample a bit.. then i learned about re-cycle.. which is reason's main way of sampling however it is an add-on.. i just got on the computer and attempted to find it.. luckily i did and i was able to crack the code and get everything working on it.. because of the re-cycle i was able to capture and sequence the guitar on "hott-friend" and the melody on "rain" speakers - just a regular old stereo system i had hooked up to the output of my computer.. i got the stereo in 1998 for my 14th birthday so it was just a regular thing, nothing special or professional ok that should cover it.. i just found a picture also.. it shows pretty much everything i talked about
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keyboard: acquired Posted by poolboyjames on May 24, 2010 at 1:06 PM comments (2)i just wanted to show how the keyboard (aka midi controller.. whatever u choose to call it) looks since its the last thing i got
i love it so far when i first started to really try to buy items to do music a long time ago i bought a $500 keyboard.. it was huge and it was on its own stand.. someone said "james u don't need sound to be in the keyboard, u just need it to be able to trigger computersound" but because i didn't understand really understand how midi worked, i got a keyboard that was too big, and cost too much money. recently i sold that huge thing.. some people were like why are u selling it? .. for me it was kinda symbolic.. it was like me washing my hands of a ridiculous mistake so.. this is part of why i love this new keyboard so much.. because it actually makes sense lol, the small size is superimportant to me after dealing with that old monstrosity so yeah here's the pic.. and ^^that's the story btw everything in my setup is shown here except the mic and stand (and headphones i guess) uk renaissance Posted by poolboyjames on May 24, 2010 at 2:30 PM comments (0)a few years ago there was (what i would call) a renaissance of music out in the UK
it was a magical time i remember one day i was watching mtv and the "fix up look sharp" video came on... all i could do was laugh.. it was so weird i didn't know how else to react.. then i went to the store and got the cd from there i learned more about the music scene in the uk i learned about some of their big artists and to my surprise i really began to love their scene in general they had this extreme originality thing going on over there.. everything was BRAND NEW.. grime was fresh out the womb and journalists were all over it trying to keep up even the music that wasn't necessarily "grime" was still very original and musically astounding the musical rennaissance there lasted from about 02-05 it was as if God just opened the windows of creativity over the UK for that period of time.. and while it wasn't a long period of time.. it was EXTREMELY potent and it spawned lots of great talent and new acts there was a steady stream of instant modern classic albums i suppose i am the only one who considers it to have been a renaissance period, but i feel it was because it was a time of extreme originality and creativity so i'm just putting it out there that it was a great time for me.. i mean seriously in about 02-03 i was looking for something new and then this huge uk scene just exploded right when i was completely bored of music in general here are a few of the best from the time: balla boys Posted by poolboyjames on May 23, 2010 at 1:01 AM comments (0)today my homie confuzion (www.melodicmizeryrecords.com) sent me a song we did way back in like.. man i don't even know.. i'm guessing about 05?
i COMPLETELY forgot about this song he had like 24 bars and i had a 16.. we used that beat from that smitty track "diamonds on my neck" the idea behind it was we started a group called the BALLA-BOYS about being rich rap thugs and gangstas like kinda just to make fun of that style of rap, but still have fun with it too i may post it on here eventually if someone wants to peep it it was a good laugh current music thoughts Posted by poolboyjames on May 22, 2010 at 2:29 PM comments (0)i've been thinking about rap recently
a lot of people who i SHOULD like.. i don't like them a lot of the rappers who actually have insightful things to say try too hard they're trying to be the best lyricists and not just letting things flow out i think its ok, i'm not dissing them for it.. but i'm saying for ME PERSONALLY, it doesn't make me want to listen to it i hate when i turn on a rap song and u have some hyper lyrical cat rapping at like 140bpm and hitting each 16th note in a bar its like they're beating u over the head with their words or something its ok to have great lyrics but there are a few precautions rappers need to take here they are in no particular order: (sidenote, i'm sure there are exceptions to these rules, but generally i think these are pretty good guidelines to make good enjoyable songs for everyone) 1. write to the alotted beat u are using vocals should be an extension of the music and not just words with a point.. it is in fact, a song and not a lecture.. writing to the beat will give u a better idea of how to match the song rythmically 2. no matter what the tempo or bpm of the song, speak in a way to where the listener can easily decipher each word this allows the listener to relax.. lessen the tension on the listener.. make it so they don't have to listen hard just to hear what it is ur trying to say.. i have a general theory that music in general should be able to be background noise rappers who are trying to be super technical make it so theirmusic is not enjoyed unless u are closely listening and deciphering everything.. for many people this feels too much like work.. they likely turned your cd on in hope to hear goodmusic.. not in hope to be inundated with your message/agenda if u want to have meaning in your music that is fine but i recommend A.) slide it in gently and B.) wrap a good deal of it in personal experience 3. don't use big words.. the thing here is.. remember u are doing a SONG.. if u want to do a scholarly essay then do a scholarly essay.. if u want to do a song then make it fun and approachable 4. ................meh.. u know what.. i'm gnna stop at 3 i could go on but that is enough for now overall its kinda like.. a lot of rappers have talent but they refuse to work on the "appearance" or "packaging" of their music like if your music says to the listener "i'm smarter than u and i can prove it" then they probably won't enjoy your album much lol each song has lyrics but each song says something on its own too.. each song has its own voice and it communicates a message basically a lot of rappers are making songs and they are forgetting to have fun and/or be entertaining.. in general i just don't agree with that its kinda like.. u have a girl who pays no attention to the respectful guy and instead goes out with the man-whore because the man-whore makes her feel beautiful whereas the respectful guy respects her to the point where she isn't feeling beautiful.. she's like why aren't u trying to touch me or kiss me or anything? its like as a listener i'm wondering why aren't u helping me have fun? if your song does not serve a positive emotional purpose then i am not sure if it is really worth anything.. and when i say positive i don't mean every song has to make u happy, i mean every song has to touch u in some emotional way and not be a robotic lecture put to a beat give and receive Posted by poolboyjames on May 17, 2010 at 8:32 AM comments (0)i have a little cousin he's like.. 12
recently we were chillin and he asked me a question.. i forgot what he asked me.. he said something like "are u popular?" or "do u have a girlfriend?" or something.. i think we were talking about girls or something and i was like "no" he was like "why not?" i said "because i'm a nerd i guess" and he said "well ur the coolest nerd i've ever seen" LOL i know he is 12 but that made me feel real good, like u know that's really what counts the fact that he thinks i'm cool means a lot to me, when he says stuff like that it makes me feel like i'm being a good role model and it makes me feel like i'm accomplishing somethingimportant overall, my relationship with him is one of the most rewarding ones i have anniversary soon Posted by poolboyjames on May 16, 2010 at 5:31 AM comments (0)may 20th will mark the 1 yr anniversary of my blog andwebsite!!!
i just looked and it says that i currently (including this entry) have 354 blogs posted!!!! i have deleted a lot of entries for various reasons so that means i have averaged more than one entry per day.. if u have kept up with my blog u have likely seen hmm.. maybe somewhere around 400 this is great.. i always wanted a website.. like i wanted a websiteyears before i created this one so yeah.. just givin a little heads up that the anniversary is coming up!!! my site has been a great outlet for me and i appreciate everyone who keeps up with me here aight!? peaCe! for the past week Posted by poolboyjames on May 15, 2010 at 7:45 PM comments (0)i've been running around like mad trying to hunt and gather all the tools to complete my personal studio
i have been through a lot with this music stuff.. it can be kinda difficult because u don't always know if something will work with another thing, or u don't know how everything works together or what cords to buy or whatever u just sit on the computer trying to learn what to buy then once u have an idea of what to buy, u get to the store and realize u have 100 selections to choose from like u could know that u need a microphone, but if u don't know which one to get- and u just buy the first one u see.. who knows, u could end up with a kick-drum mic or some ish when u really need one for vocals so u go and try to learn exactly what type of thing u want then u have to figure out what brand and what model to get u have to oversee everything and make sure everything is working together so that u can accomplish your goal.. making a decent studio is a job in itself.. its not like.. "hey lets make a song" so u buy a mic and its over.. no.. its a lot more than that at this point it looks like i am wrapping up the final details on my studio and the feeling is insane its almost like.. its like how u want high school to end the entire time but during those last few weeks u can't help but to savor every moment.. u know u can't go back and its time for u to make something of yourself once u graduate i'm at that point where i am almost done with phase one and phase 2 is looming in the distance.. will i be able to make a great new album? the fact is i have to i have put so much effort into it that i have to deliver.. even if only for peace of mind to know that my work so far hasn't been in vain this has been the biggest personal project of my life.. it has given me a sense of duty at every moment of every day once i decided to really make strides toward a good studio then everything in my life kinda began to make more sense it reminds me of the Bible where it says "where there is no vision, the people perish" because my life was kinda like blah.. but i started to get visions for my life and where i want to be and now things are much different does not compute Posted by poolboyjames on May 14, 2010 at 3:26 PM comments (0)sooo
i came across this thing online a chick wrote a blog about something she saw on the news she saw that a woman had 8 abortions the chick who wrote the blog said "i am 100% pro-choice, but EIGHT!? DAMN she needs to be institutionalized!" on some level i understand where she was coming from with that statement however at the same time i don't if u are pro-choice then u are pro-choice u know what i'm sayin? like to me she has conflicting ideas does it make sense to say "i'm pro-choice, but only to a certain extent" ?? like on what grounds can she deem having 8 abortions wrong if she has already stated that having abortions in general is a morally sound decision? i don't understand when people operate with conflicting ideas my sister does it too.. for example: one time we got on the discussion of what she will teach her kids about sex she said she wants them to abstain until marriage but she is going to make sure they have condoms and contraceptives when they're teens to me that is ridiculous its like saying "don't eat chocolate.. by the way.. here's a hershey bar" why would u try to get ur kids to not have sex and then turn around and enable them to have it "successfully" ?? i just do not get how people have these inconsistent ways of thinking high marks Posted by poolboyjames on May 13, 2010 at 5:06 PM comments (0)just to put this out there for anyone possibly keeping up with my blog..
i got 3 B's and 2 A's this past semester here's why i am happy about this 1. i didn't get any C's 2. i finished my last history class i hate history.. it is so depressing to me.. u go through the years and all u really find is murder, war, corruption, pain, suffering, racism etc. etc. ..i just don't want to hear it.. its just disgusting to me 3. i finished that incredibly wack literature class.. like WOW it was terrible.. like boring met boring and birthed that class.. i was so burnt out on that class that i didn't do any of the final readings lol we had quizzes and i just put my name on them with a sad-face with a question mark and turned them in LOL.. and i wrote the last essay in RECORD TIME lol.. i was just like i don't care what i get on this i just want it done.. but the funny thing was that last essay didn't even count for a grade, i just had to do it to pass, so i turned it in 2 days late and everything.. i was SO over it all the other classes i had this semester were pretty decent, so i guess that about covers it i'm thankful i got through a full year of austin peay stateuniversity with a successful year behind me i can honestly say it was worth the weight it made me gain (sitting in a room for hours trying to memorize book facts will do that to u) but its time to get back to eating better and exercising more regularly nonetheless! peaCe |
JaimsHere are my 2010 blogs. I can honestly say I like looking back over these, so check them out. They're teh hotness. Archives
December 2010
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