Craizee!

Ah nuts, I've been ignoring the blog again. I am truly sorry! I shall make up for it with extra insanity in today's post, Chef Brian style.

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So Korn have made another album. Once more reminding us of how, despite them being grown men with massive fortunes, everybody is conspiring against them and they have to make records to deal with the hate and pain in their hearts.

Oh please. Grow the hell up. You can at least drop the inane buzzword shooting about how you've "matured". Hell, here's the actual interview excerpt:

"It's a totally mature Korn. The songs have evolved I think with our age."

Good GOD. You can almost SEE the record exec handing them their lines, telling them what to feed the stupid teens who buy their music - but wait, they're not teens anymore. They're ADULTS. Not the depressed, angry "Generation X" kids of the 90's. Now they're the resentful, cynical "Generation X" adults of the 00's.

Of course, that's not going to stop Korn's album from selling like crack in a crack den on payday/robbery day. But thank God that people who actually give a crap about music are listening to something else, while todays teenagers are too cowardly to listen to anything REMOTELY metal. I quote Bullz-Eye.com's article "Bands That Should Break Up" (provided by Ultimate Guitar.com) :

"In the ‘90s, Korn helped millions of 13-year-old boys get through ninth grade by crafting brilliant rock tunes about alienation, sex, violence and children’s nursery rhymes. But now all those angry little kids are all grown up and listening to Modest Mouse, while their little brothers are busy self-loathing to emo."

Quite right. Besides, Nu-Metal is VERY dead. Extremely dead. So dead, it makes dead people feel 18 in comparison. I'm talking parties in graveyards, here.

Anyway. They're just going to continue on making music that sounds the same as everything else they've ever done, ever, until people wizen up. Thankfully, people already are with the likes of Mastodon bringing heavy metal back.

I really don't understand why Korn didn't die when Nu-Metal did. System of a Down didn't die because they're not Nu-Metal. Slipknot didn't die for God knows what reason. Deftones didn't die because they're awesome. Incubus didn't die because...well, I don't know why Incubus didn't die.

The bottom line is, when a scene dies then the founding band dies (unless they had already disbanded). But WHY didn't Korn follow suit? They should be very dead by now! They should be rotting in their grave. Pushing up daisies. Six feet under. But more importantly, NOT MAKING MUSIC.

BAH! We'll have to wait and see if they ever break up or act like the Stones and keep on escaping from their graveyards to go on tour.


Okay, onto other news. Fall Out Boy are working on another vomit-inducing album which will end up rotting the minds of young fools who think dressing up like confused, gothic transvestites is the pinnacle of cool. Which it isn't.

In the interview, he says: "If anybody knows anything about punk rock more than Billie Joe from Green Day, I don't know who it is."

Jesus. H. Christ. That is ridiculous. Billie Joe knows nothing. Thankfully, reading another interview saved my mind from complete implosion thanks to the wonderment of Dave Grohl's sense of humour, by naming one song in the middle of their new album "Cheer Up Boys (Your Make-Up Is Running)". Now there's a guy who actually knows what he's talking about.

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Holy Hell that's a long rant. Hopefully it'll keep you guys happy until tomorrow, where I hit some other stuff for a nice long rant. Again. Or perhaps Stargirl and I shall be making a joint post about the wonderments of Transformers (we saw it on the weekend).


Sraen out.

Review: Shiny Toy Guns @ Portsmouth Wedgewood Rooms

Hello =]

Haven't blogged in a while, mainly due to exams and various other menial commitments. I was also waiting for something worthwhile to write about. As I speak I am currently extremly sore from just doing my Duke of Edinburgh silver final, which is basically 30 miles of hiking over 3 days, carrying tents etc. As i'm feeling so fragile I thought it might be a good time to write about a gig I went to on the 18th.

SHINY TOY GUNS.

They will take over the world. I've already mentioned them in my previous blog and they are one of my favourite newish type bands that i've been championing. I was delighted when my friend and her sister asked if I wanted to come with them to portsmouth to see them even if we did leave late and then got stuck in a stupid traffic jam because there was an accident on the motorway...grr.

BUT I DIGRESS.

We got there about 8.20 [for the aforementioned reasons) and doors opened at 8 so it was already pretty packed. Fran and Sarah headed off to the bar and me and Jenna made our way to the front. Avec glowsticks. (which taste BAD by the way, don't try it)

The first support were Plastic Toys, a 4-piece from Southampton, which disappointed me a bit because although they were ok, I was expecting Does It Offend You Yeah? and Neon Plastix to be the support acts, so STG must have changed them. Plastic Toys were your average rock, slightly electro, emo-y type band. They were ok, but the crowd didn't really get going much except when they offered free t shirts to the most enthusiastic fans. (A bunch of 19 year old boys to our left immediately started dancing. Laaaame.)

Plastic Toys played a few songs, 'Let Me Feel The Love' (ugh), 'The Tragedy' (not bad) and 'Dirty' (too slow). All in all, they weren't bad, but they were just nothing like STG, nothing like the other proper electro bands that were supposed to be supporting. And plus the lead singer, 'Si Jackson' was a Gerard Way wannabe.

Second supports were 'Midas', won't say much about them because they were pretty shite to be honest. Plastic Toys were better. However, the lead singer was quite nice and chatty, so the banter was good. Their music was just so so wrong for a STG gig. They played 'Red Shoes', 'Don't Dance' and Captain Kirk (to which the lead singer, Kris Lloyd devoted to 'all of you that are old enough remember the original Star Trek').

And now for the good stuff...

The Shinys took quite a while to soundcheck, and the soundcheck guy had a little fun with the mikes, '1 2 uuuhhhhuhh, check' which amused us. He had a little batter of the drums too. After about half an hour the lights finally dimmed and steam started appearing curling over the stage, and obscuring us, the crowd. They arrived to raptuous applause and said simply 'hey, we're Shiny Toy Guns and this is Rocketship'.

Rocketship. WHAT a song to start with. Started off slow, and when the electro breakdown came everyone just went absolutely mental. Anyone who's been to the Wedgewood rooms would know it's a tiny, tiny venue, so everyone was pretty close. I just remember looking around and seeing the whole room jumping up and down and dancing. It was a huge rush.

Next was Le Disko, one of their most popular tracks. Everyone was dancing to this and singing along to the chorus, great song. Fran and I knew all the words, sad little fans that we are.

Jackie Will Save Me - Amazing. A hugely powerful chorus which just totally blew us away. The whole crowd was singing along. Carah strutted her stuff like a true professional.

Rainy Monday - Nice, soft song. Gave us a bit of a break from jumping. Acoustic start, sung well.

Don't Cry Out - One of my personal favourites. Great lyrics. 'Don't cry out, Cease fire.' By this point I was sopping wet with water (they threw it over us), sweat, and other people's sweat. It might be worth mentioning that several girls in front of us were dancing in their bras. Ew.

Chemistry Of A Car Crash - Another of my favourites from the We Are Pilots album. A slowy. Amazing song, vocally. The chorus always gets me. Lyrically sound. Great guitar solo. This was probably the song I was most looking forward to them playing, and they didn't disappoint.

Waiting - For a very vocally challenging song, the lead singer mastered it beautifully. Not the kind of song you can dance to. We just kind of stood there and revered in it. Lovely.

They finished with Starts With One, one of their singles. Guitar riffs at the beginning, then the drums kick in and everyone starts jumping and punching the air. Some people got bollocked for crowd surfing, but you can't blame them. Good song to finish on.

All in all, a fantastic set. I wasn't sure they could pull off their song live as well as the album, but they did, and then some. Everyone had a great time. They are true professionals and I believe they are going to have great success. The crowd was a mixture of teens to 25 year olds, chavs to scene kids to goths. Their fanbase is diverse.

I would go on to describe the crazy shenanigans that went on when we left but i've rambled on enough already! Seriously, see Shiny Toy Guns, it's well worth the money. Go to a gig at Portsmouth wedge. Big bands. Intimate venue. Bar. Booze. Great =]

stargirl out.

FREEDOM!

I have now finished Year 10.


At the start of the year I had a blast. Thought it would go on forever. And then, a few months ago, it went all to hell.

But now it's getting better again. I know who my true friends are, and I know who to avoid at all costs.

I have a better idea of what I want to do with myself, and of my long-term goals in life. I know where I want to go, who I want to meet.

But most importantly, I know that I only have one more year to go before I'm out of the shithole that is High School. Before I'm free of the social martyrdom of being a true individual, before I'm out of the ridiculously stereotypical "macho" actions of those around me, before I'm free to do what I want because I want to.

I've only a year to go before I choose my future, a future free of all the shit I've had to put up with for the last six years and free of all the little shits that made it that way. A future where I can just leave if I don't like someone, where I don't have to take it.

A future where it's all better.

And only one more year before it happens.


Sraen out.

Audio Fidelity of Sonic Proportions!

My musics have been uploaded!

My qoob page is here.

And now for a runthrough of the pieces. I must warn you, they do not sound as good as they should through tinny computer speakers. To hear it properly, listen to them with headphones which have good bass response or with a speaker system with a subwoofer.


Intro:
The first piece I wrote while I was there. It's all (obviously) based on that one riff, but the real gem is in the great drum line. Very sci-fi, and made exclusively with the JV 1080. I wasn't aiming for game music at this point, but after listening to it again the next day Richard and I had the idea.

Space Waltz:
Done specifically to try and use some of the stuff I've been taught in GCSE music, but to butcher it beyond repair. I used a regular waltz rhythm, and then added in the weird changes. I based this on formal balls and suchlike that appear in games such as Final Fantasy.

Bad Guy Theme:
Pretty much self explanatory. I decided to make this the music that would play when the final form of the bad guy is revealed. The slow part at the beginning is the monologue right beforehand, and then the crazy ass distorted part is the transformation and proceeding monologue about how he's gonna destroy the heroes or some such horror.

Exposition:
When I was writing this, I thought of old games that were around before voice acting was practical - and text boxes were rife. So, they would need some music playing to give a dramatic effect (such as silent films). This is also meant to be loopable (although the file itself isn't).

Strife of the Marceans:
Ahh. The massive orchestral piece I worked on for days and which I am still not happy with. When I was writing this, I thought more about the story of the "game". The hero needs a motivation, and what better than to be the last survivor of a race which was wiped out by the bad guy? So, I thought about what music would fit. And this is what I came up with. I also have an extended version which clocks in at 13 minutes, but that was FAR above qoob's limit for upload.

Wandering:
Again, Final Fantasy influences me. I was struck specifically by Final Fantasy VIII, where at one section there is a weird fishing town thing which the protagonists use to rest after they escape a massive explosion in a flying military school. (It's Final Fantasy, give it a break). Anyway, the music was very different from the rest of the game and it stuck out. This song is also meant to be looped.

Claws:
Ah. My experiment with the Andromeda. Not a song but a weird ambient track, with derelict ships and alien monsters in mind. Aliens is one of my favourite films, and it influenced me quite a bit. Very long and frightening. DEFINITELY NOT TO BE LOOPED.

Tribe:
My least favourite of the lot. It was made in thirty minutes using one voice and is also meant to be looped. I thought that the protagonists may crash land at one point, and they my find a primitive civilisation from which they will have to live with for a while until they can repair their ship.


Okay, so that's a runthrough and explanation for the songs. Hope you like!


Sraen Out.

Freedom?

I had quite a fun day today. At this time of year, the last week of school, they have activity days. Basically, we get to arse about for three days.

Now, that would usually result in total chaos. ABSOLUTE anarchy to the highest possible degree.

Except for the fact that the majority of the student population are away on various trips.

Which means that the school is almost empty.

Which means I can wander about as I please without having to watch my back constantly.

Which is awesome.


I opted to do none of the trips or anything that requires an obligation on my part. I like it that way. A break from schoolin', and a break from rigid structures. It must be like what living in a shopping centre must be like - seeing it all from a completely different view and going around with total freedom to do as you please.

It was nice, being in an empty school. It's good to see it clean, and without disorderlies gallivanting around, smoking or causing general mayhem.

The best part is that now that the majority of the.... "questionable" students are gone, the good guys - the geeks and the nerds - have brought in geeky and nerdy goodies. Such as a PS3 and Wii. Both of which I played today.

One more good thing is the silence. It's so quiet, and rather tranquil. I may do some writing. But who knows, it's only for three days.


Anyway, I've got another two days of that. But now for some good news - I have uploaded the muzaks to en.qoob.tv and they are soon to be there for t3h listening! I'll make another post with linkys.


For now, Sraen out

SUITS OF DOOM

I had to wear a suit today.


I hate suits.


But other than that, today was good. We were basically consolidating our work experience with some pointless busywork and then a mock interview to see how well we would do in a real one. I did well!


Sorry I haven't got my tunes up as soon as i said - I've been distracted by Final Fantasy XII. But don't worry, as I type I am editing them for web uploading. I may even be finished tonight, but I shall be making no promises as the season 1 finale of Heroes is on in about ten minutes. I'll try and do a proper post in the next few days, maybe even one at school (as I am doing nothing for the next three days). But who knows. I have to fit it in between my Final Fantasying and ..... my....

Oh dear. That fell apart rather spectacularly. I promise that the next time I try and find an excuse for my sheer laziness, I'll have two ready just in case.


Sraen out (Heroes!).

"Soo what do we do now then?"

Well, I finished my Work Experience placement yesterday.

I was a bit sad to leave. I had a great time while I was there, and it was a lot less like work and a lot more like what I want my life to be.

But, there is good news. Right before I left, I was given an offer - when I am sixteen (six months time) I could come down and work around the place in exchange for time on the equipment and teaching and suchlike. As you might imagine, I was very eager to do that - in my two weeks there, I didn't get the chance to interact with any bands.

So, my adventures at Airtight may not have had their final chapter. This is good. Very good.


Anyway, I have my album. I've named it, too - "Zombie Space Monkeys And The Intervention Of Jimy Battling In The Space Dust Pits Of Andromeda".

Yes I like long names.


Anyway, I'll work on putting some songs on qoob.com this weekend for you people to have a listen to. And that's all.


Sraen out.

OH NOES!

Bugger. Tomorrow is my last day of Work Experience.


I have nine 'songs' done. To be fair, they aren't proper songs. They are to set the mood in a game. Only one or two can be considered songs and the rest are either loopable, unorthodox song structures or 13 minute orchestral epics. Well, sorta.


Anyway, I'm recording it all tomorrow. I'll have my master disk and hopefully another disk (so I can copyright the first one - don't ask). Then I'll upload it to qoob.com, see if that works, and then hopefully you'll be able to hear some.

Sorry about missing a post yesterday. I just forgot. It wasn't that interesting a day anyway, I did some cropping and pasting and burning. Nothing serious. I did have a very nice chat with Richard about the actual act of recording and about idiotic people.

Today I was sculpting out my songs again. I also recorded a quick one using a pan pipe synth, another looped song. But it's the most bare of all of them, being a real quicky just to fill the last hour.

Anyway, It's getting late. I'll try and make a more proper post tomorrow.



Sraen out.

SOOO LOOOONG

Today was my last day of writing music. Tomorrow I'm doing some editing, then some production and then that's the end of my Work Experience.


And since it was my last day, I was going through what I've done so far and fixing any problems. And then I came across my orchestral piece.

And promptly became intensely dissatisfied.

So, I worked on it for the whole day. The whole five hours on this one song.

And, from a starting point at 4 minutes, I ended up with a 13 minute epic.


Oh dear. I should be restrained from the keyboards when I do something like that. It sounds great, but it wore me out so much that I actually fell asleep while playing it back. I tell yah, it would be much easier if I actually knew what the hell I was doing and knew how to play the keyboard. It doesn't matter, it sounds great, but it's just another thing on my life's "TO DO" list.

Oh no, not another one. Yes, I have a To Do list for my life. Although it's nothing like those silly lists which has "swim with dolphins" and other suck pansy stuff on it. As nice as swimming with dolphins may be, it's not one of my life priorities.

As far as the list goes, it's mostly some skills. Learn to play guitar. Learn to play keyboard. Learn music theory. Learn to drive. Get a classic Mustang/Charger/Corvette/GTO/Impala (I've a thing for American muscle cars). Have my own exhibition.

We'll see how that goes.



Sraen out.

Alesis Andromeda A6

So today I was given an Alesis Andromeda A6 to play with.

Let me tell you, those things are scary advanced. I am no keyboardist, and regular keyboards are enough for me.

But I still used this. I have no idea why. Am I insane, or such a super geek that my skill boundaries are pushed beyond the limits of this mortal plane? I don't know.

What I do know is that it's scary good. SCARY GOOD.

All I did was scroll though some presets and I was BLOWN AWAY. Not just a little. ACTUALLY BLOWN AWAY BY THE SOUNDS.

Ahem.

So yes, today was good. I once again questioned the point of going to a "Business and Enterprise College", seeing as all it does it try and prepare us to run our own businesses even though I have no intention of doing so.

What's worse is that the tasks expect you to be an entrepreneur. I am not an entrepreneur. I am not a businessman. I am a creative person, who feels stifled in a suit and tie. It completely eludes me, this 'upstart' attitude. I am not an upstart, I am a creative person. I do not think in numbers and statistics, i think in images and sounds.

Eh. Whatever, I only have one more year of this trite to go and then I'm free for (potentially) the rest of my life.

One more year and I'm out of the social shithole that is High School. Hell yeah.


Sraen out.

Yippee-Ki-Yay, jerk

So, I saw Die Hard 4.0 today.


God damn. It was a good ass movie.

As I said, I had some reservations about the rating. And, as I expected, the violence was not as gratuitous as the previous installments. There were no squibs used, extreme violence was offscreen and it had the regulation shots of people getting up after something bad happens.

However, they did not dilute the experience. Only three off-screen "get ups" were shown, two of which were necessary (they show two of the main bad guys) with only one redundant one (the pilot near the end).

Also, he said his full catchphrase. Granted, it was the only instance in the film (or they would have gained an 18 (R in the states) rating and I would have been unable to see it if he had, and it also made it all the sweeter. Thankfully, they did not cut out all of John's swearing and insults in the film - just made them less explicit. However, I found this just fine - too many f-bombs and a film crosses a line into lazy writing.

Although I do think that the plot was, in the long run, a little predictable. In the end, they are just thieves (although they are far more fanatical than the thieves in the first or third films) and I disliked the Parkour-using henchman. James Bond did it already, don't jump on the bandwagon.

The characters were good as well - a little deeper than the usual action-movie cardboard cutouts. In particular I related somewhat with Jason Long's character. Also, McClane's appearance deteriorates admirably throughout, ending up not in a vest (unlike the previous films) but still in pretty beat up shape.

One thing I do wish to nitpick is the product placement. Nokia, Ford, BMW, Xbox, Alienware, more Ford. Thankfully, they didn't dwell on the products but showed them only as tools. However, I may only have noticed because of my inherent geekiness. They didn't seem to make any obtuse references (except for Gears of War, which was unnecessary after the first segment) and the Nokia smartphone thing.

As usual in films, they use a fake OS with fictional and cool ways of using them (lots and lots of typing and pretty graphics). Although for once there was a main character (McClane, obviously) who was completely clueless instead of a gang of people speaking gibberish technobabble.

However, I was close to laughing my ass off at the beginning. Jason Long is known for being the Mac guy in Apple's current ad campaign - and his character's main computer screen is an Apple Cinema Display.

...yes, I am a geek. Get over it.

The setpiece with the F35 was (despite some glorification over it's abilities and the fact it's not even in service yet [check wikipedia]) magnificent. Explosions, property damage, and then some insanely expensive military equipment blowing up (sorta reminds me of the first film with the FBI agents getting blown to Limbo while in a helicopter). One thing I know people will nitpick is the fact that using just guns it blew apart a large metal truck; I remind you that military planes carry cannons with explosive shells, so it is plausible.

Another hardware thing I thought was slightly odd was that, for the first time, McClane doesn't use his trademark Beretta and instead swaps it for something that looks like a Sig. Although this didn't piss me off too much, I would have liked to see him use one of his trademarks, a big ol' metal gun from decades ago instead of a modern weapon which blends in with the rest of the arms in the film.

Speaking of weapons, the main bad guy used a Jericho 941 (once known as the "Baby Eagle"), the same weapon that Spike uses in Cowboby Bebop.



So, that was my review of Die Hard 4.0. It's a great action film, and everything you expect from a film in the Die Hard franchise; also, since it's slightly toned down you can introduce youngsters who've not seen it to a full cinema experience and then hit them with the original.


Sraen out.


(photo courtesy of Wikipedia)

FINALLY

HELL YES.

I finished that song today. It was a massive relief, finally finishing it. Of course, I had to stop listening to it so I didn't nitpick it to death.


I was also introduced to qoob.com, which may allow me to upload songs for listening and downloading. So, I may yet be inflicting my muzaks upon you!


Anyway, back to a post of some degree. I've come to realise that I've not been going into enough proper depth with my posts, and that I should do some proper writing rather than regurgitating news stories. So, here goes. Less news, more content.


****

So, Samsonite revealed a designer suitcase which is modeled on a human ribcage. It's something which is sure to appeal to all those with morbid minds out there, as well as any fans of the Alien series.

That made me wonder about what other types of human bodypart could be transformed into luggage.

There's the heart, for instance. Of course, we all have the stylized cartoon heart which has been made into luggage. But what if someone created a suitcase which was a working model of the heart? With two working valves which have to 'pump' out their contents instead of opening with a zip.

Or better yet, a working model of the entire organ system with each organ corresponding to a different type of object. For instance, large things should be kept in the stomach and water kept in the gall bladder. Valuable things in the heart (iPhone holder, anyone?) and medication in the spleen (it needs a use!) and a protective ribcage. The lungs are portable aircon or, for those who have medical issues, oxygen tanks.

I'm going to see Die Hard 4.0 tomorrow. I hope TO GOD that they don't dilute John McClane into a pansy fool. He started hardcore, and he should end hardcore. He had better call someone a motherfucker in this film, or I will be sorely disappointed. But still. He kills a helicopter with a car while the Mac guy watches on.


Also, I am going to try and get a MIDI setup. After making some music extremely easily using a MIDI keyboard this past week, I want to get set up so I can still create music without getting stonewalled with my guitar playing limits. Although I will still learn guitar. It's a great instrument.

Although, despite that, I have to remember that my first proper experience with all this stuff was with studio-grade equipment. Very expensive equipment. Roland JV 2080s don't come cheap. So I wonder, if I do get myself setup with stuff within my price range will I just be disappointed with the results?

Oh well. Only time will tell.



Sraen out.

Lack of eye pain!

Oooh. So I worked on that one piece all day today. It's infuriating, having these beautiful melodies all working in my head and then having it come out wrong which takes ages to repair.


But it is absolutely worth it. It is going to be a great piece and I will try to find a way for you people to listen.

Okay, time for non-Work Experience related post content.


* * * * *


Logitech’s HD Webcams Raise The Bar

Oh wonderful. I could talk about all the good things this will end up giving, but all I can think of is one thing.

Numa Numa in HD.

...

Yes, I'm scared too.


Zelda Voted ‘Greatest Game Ever’

Oh please. It's a great game, but not number one.

And they didn't include Super Mario Bros in the top 10. And that's disgraceful.

Steampunk Lights Illuminate Your Home or Invade the Planet

God damn that looks good. I really like the whole steampunk style, and it references a bygone age where things were actually powered by steam. I'd love to have a setup where I'm using a steampunk lamp next to a steampunk laptop while I pile together a steampunk keyboard and monitor while I await a steampunk Mac Pro.


In case you hadn't guessed, today's star link is The Steampunk Workshop. If you are interested at all, I suggest you check out his links page for some interesting reading.


UK Gears Up For Xbox 360 Elite

Well it's about bloody time they released a properly HD enabled Xbox. I know it got released a while ago in the States, but HD stuff is rarer and thus more significant over here. Also it's in black.


Okay, that's about it.


Oh, the title. Right. Well, you try sitting in a small dark room recording MIDI music while looking at a computer screen for five hours. Today was better.



Sraen out.

Just a heads up...

O2 'to get iPhone contract in UK'


Yaaaay! I am an 02 customer, and I really want to get an iPhone. That's why I was a bit disappointed to hear that Vodafone had won the contract.

Or so I thought.


Anyway, I've got to get ready. Back at work in a few hours and whatnot.


Sraen out.

Humph.

Well, I had another good day.


Except that I hate myself for having good ideas. I have one great idea for a song, but it's so hard to get out and put together because it's very orchestral. It's all hard!


Anyway, I also got some homework. It's a part of my Work Experience, to try and find a problem with the company and solve it.

But then Rich came by and proved his coolness.

Instead of setting me a boring task about customer-to-profit ratios or some such useless twaddle, he asked me to get a list of contacts in the computer game music industry.

God, I love this guy.


Anyway, the album is going well. I've started to think about a storyline and created a short, loopable song for dramatic sequences (think text games).

See you tomorrow.



Sraen out.

Sorry 'bout that.

Okay, I'm sorry. I really am. I wanted to make a post yesterday. I did. Honest.


Buuuut.... it just got on top of me a bit.

Anyway, I'm doing it now.


* * * * *

Day 1

I arrived there at 11:30 and met Stewart, who runs Megafan Records and the business side of Airtight. We had a chat about life, the universe and everything (that's a lie, We talked about prog rock, his unfortunate name [Stewart Muff] and the iPhone).

Then Richard arrived, and we got set. He gave me the obligatory tour and health/safety brief, then led me to the main mixing room. He proceeded to show me how to operate their Roland Super JV 64 voice synthesizer module JV-1080 [I swear to god the guy who made the soundtrack to Tiberium Sun has one, cause one of the voices sounds JUST LIKE the alarm sound] - a rack-mounted device which Rich described to me as "the brain of one of those massive synthesizers without the massive part" - and gave me a quick tutorial of Cubase and of the various MIDI ins and outs.

Then he left me, with these "instructions": "'Ave a mess about".

So, I did. For hours. Although I was kind of uncomfortable acclimatising to such a new environment, which meant I only managed to do one song which (at the time) I thought was crap. I went home and began dreading the next day.

But then I woke up this morning.

And everything was fine again. I felt good (despite a dentist's appointment) and immediately threw myself into it.

He listened to the song I did (he didn't have the time yesterday) and suddenly gave me an idea. At first, all I thought was that the idea was a shitty first attempt. But then I listened to it unburdened by my various neuroses and found that it was good. Quite good in fact. Very 8-bit. Very gamey.

So that's what I'm gonna do. Over the course of the next two weeks, since there's nothing else to do (bands only come in after I leave) I'm going to spend my time using the various synths, the MIDI keyboard and Cubase to record a whole lot of sci-fi game muzak.

I've got two finished songs and one which is almost done. On day two.

I think that's pretty good. That's gonna be what, 21 songs.

Wow. That's kinda daunting.

I'll try and keep you posted.



Sraen out.



P.S.

WOO 50th POST YAY!

I'm shaking in my boots...

As I type this, I am sitting at our dinner table having breakfast (why do they call it a dinner table anyway? It's for all meals of the day!) while "getting ready" for my first day at Airtight Studios.

I'm actually getting pretty nervous about this whole thing, and instead of hitting me earlier when I could have done something about it it hits me now when there's nothing I can do but make my neuroses more and more intense.

Okay, so I exaggerated a little. But still. I'm pretty bloody nervous. I will write up a diary-like post while I'm there (with 24 style time stamps) to chronicle this event for all you wonderful readers [read: that one guy at the back who's too nervous to leave] and hopefully into a usable speech-type-thing for when I go back to school (LAST WEEK OF IT FOR THE YEAR, BOOYAH!).

Also, I just realised that I am about to make my 50th post. It's kinda cool that the 50th is gonna be in real time. Ish. Kinda. If I'm not breaking my back carrying a Marshall Stack.

Also, Miscellany Symposium is also up to 50 posts. GO READ, GO READ, HE IS VERY GOOD!


Sraen out.