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Home Studio Scene – Take One

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Took some time to set up the home studio. I was thinking of naming it Silent Z Studio (really want to make it Studios as I think it sounds better, but there is only one – “Two Studios” Bejzak?) as I’ve wanted to use that name since I was a young man, but there was(is?) a New Jersey band named Silent Z (http://silent-z.com/) – listened to one of the tracks on the site & kinda liked it. Anyway…  Set up mostly involved making things more accessible for now so that I can work on the songs and ready them to make some demos.
[Disclaimer: Some items were positioned specifically for the photo – probably no surprise. The didgeridoo is not always at the ready.]

Speaking of Demos
A friend on Facebook mentioned Audacity, which I have used to convert my vinyl to digital, but hadn’t thought about to use for recording my songs. I’m thinking I will still need a hardware interface to my laptop as it only has a mic input.

Song ‘Stylings’
Worked on Christie some. This is one I’ve wanted to go all “Power Pop” on – we’ll see. Added a bridge that I was never aware it needed. It just kinda happened. I love that! Think I’ll work on the bass part next.

Found the lyrics to another song I had started, on my iPod Touch. It’s called Your Only Option and I actually remember how it sounded in my head – I just need to figure out the chords.

-Moving Edward

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Software Resolution To Be Determined

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I researched the 2 recommendations I had for recording software.

http://www.presonus.com/products/AudioBox-i-Series
PreSonus Studio One:  The Artist version comes with the AudioBox USB 2X2 interface box purchase ($99). This seems to be enough to get me started with the option to upgrade to Professional. A key here for me is the requirement of monitor resolution no lower than 1280 x 768 pixels. I did see a few questionable comments on the box reliability/durability.

https://www.cakewalk.com/Products/SONAR/X3-Producer
SONAR X3 Producer (Cakewalk): This is their top of the line product ($329). They had a Studio version ($199) and a base version ($99). I would still need to get an interface box. Also, their requirement for monitor resolution is 1280 x 800 (my laptop max is1366 x 768 – could be a show-stopper),

This is going to require some more thought and research.

Perhaps a trip to Guitar Center is in order.

-LoadEd

 

 

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Lyrically Serious Fun

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I don’t know that I plan to blog absolutely every day (but most days of the week).

Working  on getting ideas together from the several places I’ve “scribbled” them (post-its, iPod Touch, Android phone, Google Docs/Drive) and massaging lyrics.

Screen Shot
Edeas

Current proposed tracks include the aforementioned Christie and Policy of Love with:

  • Fool Play (initially thinking a hint of Motown/Hall  & Oates soul for this one)
  • Summer Wanes
  • Future Psychic Girlfriend
  • Make Fun
  • The Christmas Door [possible bonus holiday track]. Thought up for a proposed door decorating contest at work a few years back that never came to fruition.
  • If there is an instrumental, I might go with Monster Pie Sandwich – I’ve had that name at the ready for many years

I plan to have some serious fun throughout this process.

-Jiggy Stardust

 

 

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Words from the Wise

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Already beginning to get some good advice. From the simplicity of “Do it!” to the suggestion of adding pictures and a few recommendations from the boys in the band for recording software/interfaces:

1) SONAR X3 Producer (with the caveat “…it is expensive”)
2) ProSonus Studio One. (Rumour, without Graham Parker, has it that “If you buy an interface for about $150, you get the software free.”)

Plan to mic my legendary Standell amp. Procured by my father from a co-worker for $75 (a better offer was made to the seller, but  dad poured out a sob story about how the guy had promised it to me) and once partially backed over with me at the wheel of my 1st car – a 1976 Pontiac Ventura.

Amplifier
The Legendary Standell

The decision to mic comes solely from my one extracurricular recording affair (I swear, it meant nothing). I met a few times with a good group of guys that, at that time, were Stamina led by talented guitarist Ron Russikoff (who I was put in touch with by my friend, and Get-Up fan club president, Ian Skuse). I went into the recording studio (I have no idea which one it was) and made it through one track – not sure if it ever saw the light of day. Anyway, the Standell was in a separate room with a microphone.

I also tickled some “ivories” (here at home) to get the creative juices flowing (a Carolina Pale Ale was enjoyed as well). Full disclosure: I don’t technically play keyboard. No piano lessons, just self-taught (with a little tutoring from David Husted a long time ago).

I am a bassist with enough 6-string experience to write songs and hopefully support my tracks.

-Bejzak B. Nimble

 

 

 

 

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Record Ed

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I like to fancy myself a songwriter – writing more than a handful over the years (and co-writing quite a good lot more) and I’ve got it in my head that I can home brew an album. I’ve been inspired by the fine work of my good friend David Husted (his album is available on Spotify: Love’s Marrow and readily purchased at cdbaby).

I will attempt to “amateurize” my way through. I’ll start out with one old song, Christie, that I could never quite make work for our band, The Get-Up (which includes the aforementioned Mr. Husted, Bill O’Driscoll & Alan Schwartz – though the 2 songs available via the link are minus the talents of Bill O. ) and another, fairly recent, one: The Policy of Love (SoundCloud demo see below).  (Thinking of dedicating a future post to some Get-Up history – currently, we gather annually at a cabin for a weekend to play our songs and some covers for an audience of birds and squirrels.)

Instrumentation will include: Ibanez acoustic guitar, (maybe electric if I can fix it), Fender Bass (the bass is Precision, the playing probably not so much), Casio keyboard (more than a toy, but not a professional model – if they even make one), possibly additions of clarinet (if it still works), accordion (if I can find it) and/or didgeridoo (if I can get the drone going). Percussion will be handled via the keyboard and anything else I can tap, bang on, shake, etc.

Not sure on the software yet.  I have FourTracks Lite on my phone to at least get the ideas down (I used that to record the Policy of Love demo).

My musical tastes/influences cover a broad spectrum (loosely categorized here): Pop (XTC, Elvis Costello, Francis Dunnery, Madness), Progrock (Gentle Giant, Genesis, Triumvirat), Jazzrock (Gong, Passport)

Suggestions, as well as positive vibes, are always welcome.

-RecordEd