#music

Still experimenting with ‘SO FAR’.

14 Comments

This is not a song, but a little SO FAR tester in carrying on with a little experimenting. At the bottom of this short blog is an update to the home studio 40 seconds self written audio experiment on the Apple Mac M2 mini.

SO FAR? Well, that’s what I find myself saying in all this. Trying to make sense of this technology is what this 40 seconds burst is still about.

“SO FAR, it seems to be okay-ish”

I just keep this little burst of sounds around. Simply adding bits and pieces. I read and check out YouTube uploads of what to do when I need to learn something. Try this or that out.

The Akai keyboard has 8 square soft pads for tapping onto. Also a keyboard to add sounds too. I can’t play piano. The pads being ‘finger tapped’ result in being able to get a bit of self played percussion, singular drums, cymbals, etc. Finger tapping a basic base rhythm of drum and a ‘clapping’ beat on these little sensitive pads has allowed me to put both a simple C, F and A chord strumming sequence and a little single notes bass pattern on my Guild acoustic guitar. Layering over the rhythms. The mic is the Shure MV88 condenser for recording guitar and vocals to go over the percussion. Just found a deep piano sound and added single notes to give a bit of depth. As said, not an intentional song. Just sang what first came into my head. Both words and tune.

Nothing in this part of the process is mixed or tweaked. There are so many dials to consider getting balance for each layer section. So this is essentially raw. Echo on vocals, for example, has to be brought down. Ongoing learning curves still exist. I have no clue currently of ‘fine tuning’ and then moving on to mixing.

Speaking of singing. As stated, I can’t get the reverb balance down presently without messing everything up on vocals. So echo is a presence that isn’t welcome. There are dials on dials to tweak with purpose and intent. The vocal through this system has choices too. Natural, bright, condensed, dance, experimental, etc. Once chosen, they can be altered even more. And so, this is a basic hit to record and then just take the sound it as it is.

A decent condenser microphone specifically for only the vocals is something I would love to now consider getting. Give a bit of dampened down to warmth energy. The settings on all this SO FAR are extremely naive. There is no ‘mix’ on getting intentional balance to each sound recorded. Just an overall this sounds okay-ish.

And so this little journey continues.

LINK BELOW SHOULD PLAY THIS LITTLE 40 SECONDS ‘SO FAR’.

number-1-trial-track.-22052024-14.47.m4a

14 thoughts on “Still experimenting with ‘SO FAR’.”

    1. Thank you. It’s a sharp learning curve with a new direction of how to get my new and older songs self recorded and…………it’s nice to find a different blog theme. Cheers and all the best.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

    1. Thank you Sheila. You will know definitely this thought I had after singing this ditty. Your subconscious works in very subliminal ways. You sing deeper thoughts and feelings when ‘off the cuff’. The tune had to fit what was an experimental thing already in place. It had created its own party. But it, the simple tune, just lolloped along as if it had just met its best friends. Funny how music works isn’t it? Cheers Sheila. Another step here, hopefully in the right direction.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  3. I feel like it does matter to you. As you have said, there is a learning curve. My photography teacher once told me (in 1980), take pictures of everything. You never know what is going to be the “wow” picture and you don’t print the rest. In this case, the “delete” key will be your friend.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Cheers Danny. I wrote a blog a short while ago which had the words in there ‘warts and all’. The thing is, there is nothing to hide that can make me feel challenged. I have many great experiences from the distant past to give me comfort that things were, and still are, fantastic experiences. I suppose having that comfort gives confidence to seek new adventures. It means it is also great to share the successes and inconsistencies. When you yourself Danny, and others, give certain pointers to me they are welcomed with open arms. Yes, it does matter that the end result is a nice outcome. The delete button has been a nice option a fair few times already. I listened to a guy today who has an internet site on recording advice. He spoke of the ‘red light record’ producing nervousness. It certainly happens. You put your finger to record, wait for the music to get to the bar to start the vocal lyric of first verse vocal……and hit a wrong note! 😆

      I feel obliged to upload the mistakes as I realise I want this to be an insightful progression blog. Today? As you yourself did with vinyl turntable seeking, I looked at the technology of what was best. In this post I mentioned getting a decent condenser microphone. After much research, the answer was already under my nose. I have a USA built 1970s dynamic cardioid Shure SM58 microphone which is a classic. A much loved microphone built initially in the mid 1960s. It picks up direct close vocals directionally and doesn’t pick up surround sound from the traffic in the road or breathing! Needed an interface for the XLR old connection and ‘Bob’s your Uncle’.

      I suppose this is what I mean. Just sharing. When you do your fountain pen write ups they help so many to give guidance. And you are very insightful to how to overcome problems.

      Cheers Danny. Again long reply. All the best.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

      1. Thank you Gray. I find your musical posts fascinating, entertaining and informative. As I do not have a musical bone in my body, I still enjoy and treasury music. I guess you could say I am living my musical life vicariously through your endeavors. All the best.

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Made me smile Danny. Why? Because your current choice is a much considered vinyl choice. And what it means to you specifically is your own story. Your ‘musical bone’ is self underrated. You have chosen what, to me also, is perfection. Like vintage pens that are our fascination. We all have that inherent rhythm of connection to both music listening choice and expressive writing choice. Vintage? Or recently found new expressive similars? Both are relevant. When you consider your own vinyl wall art and explanation of what you love about music holistically. Says it all. Can you manipulate and upgrade vinyl? Not then. And actually not now. You have to ‘Get Back’ 😉 to original taped recordings that transferred to vinyl. And find source.

        If you think of how The Beatles have been revisited and updated for modern ? consumption, you realise modern needs. It’s heartless. Me, yourself and specific others appreciate vintage for vintage sake. We do not require vintage to be improved. Just to keep alive, and keeping on giving what it was intended to do. But they keep seeking enhancing the original. Myself? Nope! Still get goosebumps from what was special for at that time. Scratch vinyl that spoke its own meaning. Clean or enhance and you take away the ‘scratch of viny’ that speaks personally to you.

        Yet! Here I am trying to get to grips with new technology. The modern World is full of conundrums. That song I wrote on a lunch break?…Satisified’. There is no way I can improve on the original. It is my moment in a specific time that holds more memories than I can hold a candle flame to. It’s definitely something to think about. Cheers as ever Danny.

        Liked by 1 person

    1. Cheers Skinner. My fave of your name choices. I like the ‘Summers’ reply from you too. So cheers. I have just written a reply to a blog friend Danny. So. I understand how you yourself keep on keeping on, with self expressive capturing of your rock and roll choices. With that? Rock on too brother. Keep writing those self penned songs. Be good to see where they lead to and belong to in the future. All the best.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

      1. Me too my friend, me too…with the way mainstream media has been going, and the world getting all up in a whirlwind; I decided to write my own story…”one without brimstone and fire, one without death and fear…one without just one but with all the others…”

        Liked by 1 person

Leave a comment