Gball? heheh April Fools joke by Google.com.au

Here's an april fools joke on google today.

it's called Gball - april fools 2009!


Wasn't fooled nope.

Peace

Josef Horhay

Vocals: Removing Sibilance

Here's an article by EQMag.com on removing Sibilance and Plosives.

It also contains an advertisement on Studio Solutions - With some interesting shots of Logic Studio.

800 to 400 firewire adapters

Universal FireWire 400 to 800 Adapter.
Click here.




As the newest 2009 March, MAC Pros no longer have firewire 400.

The Cheapest Online Apple Reseller Claims to be

Here's the Store, MacToFront.com.au

They claim to be the cheapest best priced in Australia.

What do you think?

On that note, have you seen the latest Mac Pro realease this March 2009?
Two Quad-Core Intel Xeon “Nehalem” processors, a total of eight processor cores for the ultimate in power and performance - but the catch here is the price. Oh boy. The minimum you'll have to pay for an 8 core with Nehalem processors will be

• A$ 5,899.00 GST (8 x 2.26GHz and it comes standard with 6GB of memory)
  

I remembered my Mac Pro 8 x 2.8 GHz (previous model) costing only around $3999, that's like a jump of around $1.9k!!!

The next model up is:
A$ 8,649.00 GST (8 x 2.66GHz and it comes standard with 6GB of memory)

Value for money? Do check it out at apple.com

What's the Difference's original sample

Here's a Video where rewriteris - recreates the hit "What's the Difference's" by Dr Dre after finding the original song where the sample came from.

see it here. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mN_aJtH8spw&feature=related

Peace.

The Acoustic Guitar Re-INVENTED & Africa

It's acoustic heaven. Check out this acoustic Guitar

Andy Plays the Harp Guitar. Hear The friend I never met. Live

Sounds amazing & ethereal. Go Andy!

Andy Mckee also does a great version of Africa by Toto. It's amazing and fun to watch. Highly recommended. See it here, Africa cover by Andy McKee

The Harp Guitar Retails for around 3000 USD. For more info do check out this store that has Harp Guitars for sale.

Peace
Josef Horhay
mix engineer.

Passion Covers Steve Curtis Chapman "I will be here"

I will be here by Passion


This by far the best cover I've heard.

The expression is right. Sincere and so good.

Peace

Josef

Missing U, Covered by Michelle Martinez

Missing You cover on YouTube

by Michelle Martinez.

promising vocal talent.





Keep working on your craft.

Peace.

babyporridge on YouTUBE

This is a fun video. A first for YOUtube Duets.

Do check her out.


Entertaining atleast.

Here's the same song covered live by KinnaGrannis







Peace.

Acoustic Album Production for Singer/Songwriters

Acoostic Zoo News.

We cater for Acoustic Album Recording and Production for Acoustic Singer Songwriters. Excelllent sound and service. You can find us in google under Acoostic Zoo. See you soon.



Hi End Recording, with Manley Labs, Amek, Empirical Labs, and ofcourse Cranesong Mastering Convertors. WHAM! get BIG, Get Acoostic Today!

:)


Peace
Josef Horhay
Mix Engineer

Improving Your Song Craft, the Art and Science.

The Intro is key to recognizing your song. Make it Count.

The First Line of the Verse should be Good enough to get them to listen to the rest of the Verse and get into your story.

The Chorus must contain a memorable hook with a central message that is easy to remember but still interesting enough not to get annoying with repeated listens. Repetition is good as it instills familiarity which our ears love. Finding a balance between familiarity and annoying repetitiveness is the key to ensuring repeated listens and a long radio shelf life. Use contrast in your melody, lyrics, rhythmic phrasing to create dynamics and interest. The beat is the foundation and vital to the feel and success of your song. Make it groove with lots of "tap, nod & bounce" factor.

Then 2nd verse continues the rest of the story, it should contain similar structure to the 1st verse to maintain familiarity.

Now the Chorus kicks in for the 2nd time, if you get them to listen this far then the likability of the chorus determine whether this song is a hit or a miss. Now the bridge.

The bridge must a create a lift to the song with a new dimension and feel . It provides contrast and and release from the set frame work of what came before. It's a welcome momentary rest stop before getting back into the Chorus. The end of the bridge should build and grow with intensity creating anticipation for the last Chorus.


Key points to notes is the our brain only remembers only what's important. That usually means the hook, the 1st line of Verse, and the intro of a song.


For more info on songwriting, please check out
www.taxi.com/faq/songwriting

ES2 YOUtube tut

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3


This video tut show hands on how to use the ES2 and which includes router and vector parts of this incredible synth. Video by SFlogicNinja.


Peace
Josef

ES2 Patches for sale/download

ES2 patches
$20

Dancemidisamples ES2 sound set
$8.44 USD

Waves Works Ebay Store Has ES2 Patches for Sale
$20 Aust


Synthation.net has ES2 Patches
$55 Eu
also available here for around $95 AUD

Simpleton Presets for ES2 Patches
Free Download.

Yahoo groups on ES2 contains Patches
Free to Download for members

A bunch of ES2 Patches uploaded by members on Logic Pro Help Forum

For Digital DJ, download remixes of @ Progressive House Releases

For Trance Fans/Producers a dedicated community awaits @ Trance.Nu - The Home of Music
And Finally For all you dance fans, do check out trackitdown.net

Logic Studios ES2 tutorial by SOS

Ever wondered how to get better use of this synth on Logic Studio? Well, this article by Sound on Sound attempts to breakdown the inner workings of ES2 to unlock the sound designer's bug in you. See the tutorial here.

Along with the Side-Chain tips by Tom, I think ES2 can prove very useful when you need to design new Patches.

Peace
Josef Horhay.

Great Tip on Using LOGIC Studios Synths with Side Chaining

Here a tut on Side chain with Logic Synth. by Tom. It comes complete with an audio example.

A great technique to create interest riffs and textures using on free synths on board Logic Studio.

THanks Tom.


Peace
Josef

The Ultimate Acoustic Drum Library

Check out this article from emusician. "The Ultimate Acoustic Drum Library"

Here a breakdown of the Kits reviewed

DISTRIBUTOR	TITLE	FORMATS	DESCRIPTION	PRICE
Big Fish Audio	MIXtended Drums	EXS24/Battery, HALion/LM4	2 CDs	$99.95
Big Fish Audio	Platinum 24 Acoustic Drums	Akai	2 CDs	$99.95
Big Fish Audio	Ross Garfield Drums 1	Akai, Audio, E-mu, Kurzweli Roland, SampleCell	1 CD	$199.95 Akai, E-mu, Kurzweil, Roland, SampleCell; $79.95 Audio
Big Fish Audio	Ross Garfield Drums 2	Akai, Audio, Giga, Kurzweil, SampleCell	1 CD: Akai, Audio, Kurzweil, SampleCell; 2 CDs: Giga	$199.95 Akai, Giga, Kurzweil, SampleCell; $79.95 Audio
EastWest	Pure Drums	Akai, EXS24, Giga	1 CD	$149.95
EastWest	Real Giga Drums	Akai S5000/6000, E-mu, Giga	3 CDs	$199.95
Roland	SRX-01 Dynamic Drum Kits	XV-series synths, RD-700, Fantom, Fantom-S, MC-909	expansion card	$395
Sonic Network	Sonic Implants Drum Series 1	Akai, EXS24, Giga, Kontakt, Kurzweil, SoundFonts	1 CD	$199.95
Studio Cat Software	Purrrfect Drums	Giga, HALion	8 CDs	$249
Sweetwater Sound	Total Stereo Session Drums	Kurzweil	1 CD	$199

This article dates back 2003.

Was sampling our own drum kit at acoostic zoo yesterday and the results were great. We used our own hi-end gear and sampled at 24bit after going through a cranesong HEDD with TAPE Saturation on. After being inspired by how our High Quality it sounded after we made our own Sampler Instrument in Logic Studios EXS24, I went in search for others who had done the same unprocessed high quality of drum samples and found this article. I wanted to find more 24 bit hi definition recordings of great sounding drums.

NI releases Maschine

Maschine looks impressive, it reminds me of a MPC. However, this 21st drum module is truly powerful. It has effects, instrument patches and offcourse drum samples (over 5GB, includes 300!! kits). RRP $669 USD. Do check out the demos, it's interesting.

The beauty is that you can smack those pads for crafting the ultimate groove.

Will keep an eye on this one, we already have all the sounds we could possibly need in our recording studio. However, I wouldn't mind adding this drum machine at a later date - 300 kits with the ease of loading sounds ggrrreeeeat. Will sit patient and see what bugs need to be ironed out before deciding.

Well done NI.

Peace
Josef Horhay.
www.acoosticzoo.com

SAE project Questions.

Brisbane based, SAE are giving out assignments. This was an email I received from a student about record producer/manager. 15mins later.... read on for the answers.

1 – What does your role as a record producer involve?
listening to, experimenting with, and polishing recorded music.

2 – What part does your occupation play in the greater audio industry?
record & mix and produce music ready for mastering.

3 – What is your workload like (do you work full time, long hours etc)?
mostly 12hrs days, 5-6 days a week.

4 – What training or knowledge is required to work in the role of record producer?
People Skills, Positive mindset, Creative Personality, Highly Developed sense of hearing, A strong music background, the ability to meld technical duties with the creative side of music. Determination, Persistence. Being confident and humble at the same time.

5 – Are there any unions or industry organisations that are relevant to your position?
APRA, AMCOS

6 – Are there any opportunities for advancement with your position, and if so what are they?
In regards to Record Production, the Producer contributes to the end product. Record Production takes years to master and the road is long and difficult and not for everyone. It's extremely costly, and doesnt pay well initially (nothing even).

7 – Do you foresee any threats to the industry and in particular your job in the next three years?
The opportunity for success in the music industry has never been easy. In 3 years time, I predict that music will become better and cheaper to produce and purchase. This is just the beginning of a bigger and better evolution of the music industry. The next generation of record producers, mixers and audio engineers have greater excess to high end tools for record production at a fraction of the price. Nevertheless there's no substitute for time spent to gain the required skills and experience.
The threats? Stay current with trends and adapt. Be honest to yourself about your reasons for wanting to be in this industry.

8 – What sort of legal issues do you face in your position as a record producer?
Don't steal and copy/sample things that aren't yours. Be fair and honest and upfront with your intentions. Excersise common sense and you'll be right. You only face legal problems if you steal.

Peace.
Josef

Taxi's Letters - march 2009

I thought this letter from TAXI really hits home the importance of commitment and betterment of once's ability. It can apply to any industry really. To summarise, there's no substitute for time spent to gain experience. It's a day by day exercise which requires money, commitment and determination. For those who didn't get this email. Here it is in it's. (The original author is Michael from Taxi)

Dear Passengers,

As I continue my journey trying to find and better understand the souls of songwriters and artists, I flashed on something I read on our forum not long ago. A member had gone online to say that he had decided not to renew his TAXI membership.

He had no issues with the company. He found that he just didn't have the time required to write better songs, record demos, or do the work required to pitch his music. Fair enough.

As I reflected, I realized how his lack of time for something he was passionate about was very analogous to my lack of time for golf. I used to play about ten rounds a year, now I'm lucky if I find the time to play two.

The difference is that I wasn't playing golf to learn how to earn my income from it. Maybe I'm being presumptuous, but don't most people join TAXI to make money from doing something they love?

Hit songwriters aren't born great. They might be born with some innate talent, but they have to learn and hone their craft over a period of years. Tiger Woods started playing golf when he was just a little tike.

If you were to dedicate five years to becoming a great songwriter, you'd have to work at it for 38.46 hours per week to log ten thousand hours – in other words, it's a full time job. Not surprising is it?

But who has that much time, what with full-time jobs, kids and a multitude of other responsibilities? Then again, if you spent 12.8 hours per week for fifteen years, by Mr. Gladwell's math, you'd likely become great.

That feels achievable.

Let's say that you spend four hours each day on Saturdays and Sundays, then you'd only need to spend less than one hour per day on the other five days per week. Could you watch one less TV show per day?

Yes, if you're passionate about achieving your goal.

As you progress and become more competent, your passion will grow. As your passion grows, the work feels less like work and more like you're doing something you're passionate about.

Do you have any doubt that I could become a great golfer if I went to the driving range every morning for an hour and played a round every Saturday and Sunday. Somebody alert my wife!

I'll bet you've already got five or ten years under your belt. You might be closer than you realize.

But there's a rub! Have you spent those years working on your song craft, or on musicianship? Practicing guitar doesn't count toward songwriting all that much, unless of course you're learning the chords you'll need to write the songs.

Would I golf more often if I could hit 300 yard drives every time I tee'd off? You bet!

Would you write songs more often if the majority of them sounded like potential hits? You know the answer.

Wouldn't we both get better much more quickly if we used a professional coach?

As I think about the gentleman who didn't renew his membership because he couldn't find the time to become great, I'd like to ask him just one question. Why did you quit using your coach when you might have been 8,972 hours into your 10,000 hours?

I'm staring at the crumpled Post-Its on which I scribbled down my thoughts about this early this morning. As I sit alone in the quiet of my office typing those notes into more complete thoughts, I've realized that I only "sell" two things — neither of which I originally intended to sell in this email — opportunity and education.

Want to see what happens to people who read what I write and occasionally buy what I sell? Click here.

Talk to you soon,
Michael

P.S. Make sure to check out all the great new Industry Listings this month. In case you missed the memo, we've got a new Vice President of A&R, Andrea Torchia-Alford. She's kicking butt and taking names.

What type of music do you excel at? Pick the genre you're best at and click the link.

----end of email.

Peace.

Tim Muirhead is responsible for mixing audio for Audio Post. Tittles include the cartoon Bakugan Battle Brawlers".