January 2008
Saturday, Jan 28
Another Wanda Land mix completed.
It required some trickery. I chose to use Drumagog instead of spending a terribly long and tedious time drawing in MIDI events and adjusting velocites to match the drummer's performance. I have mixed opinions of DG that I'll share later.
For the first mix, I'd tried the H8000 for vocal reverb, then a demo of Breverb. Breverb was quite good for a plugin; I ultimately prefer hardware. Then, as luck would have it, a Gearslutz member had some TC Electronic plugins for sale, and I bought his license for the VSS3 reverb plug at a very attractive price.
On this second mix, I used the VSS3 for vocals, acoustic guitars, and cello. I'm very pleased with it.
In fact, I'm very pleased overall with all results so far, drum track challenges notwithstanding.
Ethel's Blues.
Thursday, Jan 24
New work underway.
Wanda Land has an album of songs that she wants mixed. She has existing mixes, but they're not happening for her, and I will be re-mixing everything. We're one down, nine to go.
Her phone call was a complete surprise. In the spring of '95, I worked with Terry Wilemon and realized a song for Wanda, in the media studio I was based from at the time. It involved a couple of other players, Terry's guitars, me on congas, synth, and hammered dulcimer, and early random-access digital recording technology. We did it, then went on with life.
Now, here we are. Her music is outstanding, and very well executed. I have the luxury of taking the time I need, and working at a non-deadline pace.
She will have it mastered; meanwhile, I'm making mix files for listening. I'll talk technical details in later posts.
First one ready: Pale Blue Dot by Wanda Land.
Wednesday, Jan 9
Yippee skippee - new music.
I'm happy with it.
But, I am NOT happy with my current work method. I need more real-time, hands-on factor, and am not sure how to obtain it. Is it a physical interface, or well-prepared templates? I'm pointing/clicking far too much, and spending lots of time keeping things properly labeled and tidy - which I should be doing, but it really slows things down.
Anyway, I like this piece. The kernel started several months ago, around late August, I think. I'd done a handful of random ideas, and I took a few seconds from one of those, imported the three original tracks to reference, and proceeded from there.
I feel as though there was far too much "throw it and see if it sticks", but after assembling some elements I liked, I arranged them in a cohesive fashion. The piece grew legs and walked.
The first for 2008 - "Forgotten Doors."
Saturday, Jan 6
This evening's Cloverbottom rehearsal went well. We ran through "Sandbox Army" for the first time in probably twenty-seven years (unless somebody can correct me). Our rehearsals from July through the December gig have paid off; we picked right up and are tight.
We rock hard, loud and fast.
Wednesday, Jan 2
I am sincerely hoping for a better year in '08. I do wonder how relative our emphasis on calendar dates is to what actually happens, and if this New Year hoohah has any significance. But, it is the turn of the season cycle, so I suppose there is something to it.
My sister and I spent New Year's in Georgia with a portion of my vastly extended family. There are but six of us here, and around thirty-eight of them there. It is always good to connect with them. There was a fairly large party, with several extended family members and in-laws of South American descent. I slept too little the night before driving down (actually, my sister drove, and I helped with fuel expense), and slept too little both nights we were there.
Three of us had a lovely New Year's Eve lunch at Atkins Park in Atlanta. The place is around ninety years old, and the food and atmosphere are outstanding.
Last night, I made two attempts at posting about the weekend, but the effects of travel, inadequate sleep, and an entire bottle of Shiraz caused me to inadvertently wipe out all my typing or accidentally close the internet browser. After the second mishap, I shut the computer down and went to bed. (Drunken dumbass.)
Cheers all.
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