Power Out Light Bulb Idea

So, I decided to head out to the studio to work on song I've already demoed (sp?) but needed to refine. As I was sitting there I started fiddling around with my guitar with the capo in a position I don't always use. I started strumming some open notes and soon a little melody flew out.

I decided to open up ProTools and get this idea onto "tape". Just as I got ready to push record the lights went out and everything shut off. A second or two later the power returned. I left the room to check on the family and talk to the neighbors to make sure everything was ok. It was.

Whew. Idea not gone. I proceeded to hop on the family computer using a cheesy lapel mic thing. It works. Here it is. Raw tuna. Nothing yet...but you heard it hear first if it becomes something later. Don't go stealing it now.

;)


light bulb image by misserion

A germ of a seed of an idea.

I Can't Get Over It: The Making Of

My first ever techno drumbeat song. Drum loops. Ahhh...see my previous post about that. Also my first "Making of a Song" video.

Here's my June offering.


I Can't Get Over It

This time, this time, next time, this time, past times
I can't get over it
Last times, first time, down time, fast times, we're fine?
Can we get over it?

I...
I need you to be
I need you to try
I need you to listen
I need you to cry


We're fine, we're fine, sublime, align, real time
Are we on top of it?

Six times I've tried no lie, this time, last time
That I'll put up with it.

I...
I need you to be
I need you to try
I need you to listen
I need you to cry
I need you to feel
This pain in my heart
I need you to get alive
Before it all comes apart

You won't need to worry, honey
We've got time to burn
You don't need to hurry, baby
Cause we're bound to learn

If we make half-time adjustments
If we watch the score
I have heard that wives and husbands
Know what compromise is for
Know what compromise is for

I need you to be
I need you to try
I need you to listen
I need you to cry
I need you to feel
This pain in my heart
I need you to get alive
Before it all comes apart

This time, this time
I can't get over it.

Here's the making of link:

Pro Tools for the Complete Idiot

I'm not really a complete idiot, only a partial one. I've been experimenting more and more with my ProTools set up with a recently purchased book called ProTools for Musicians and Songwriters by Gina Fant-Saez. It's colorful and has lots of pictures, so I felt less intimidated by a program that can seem very intimidating. It's very well written and only once so far in the book (and I'm about halfway through) did something not match up on my screen with what she wrote and illustrated. Everything else has been spot on.

I wish I had purchased this book earlier and straight from Amazon, but I made an impulse buy at my local Barnes and Noble. Be wise and use Amazon...at least for purchasing specialty books that are expensive.

Enough of my mistakes in purchasing, buying this book was definitely NOT a mistake. This book is sort of like taking a class. It works step-by-step through the process of using ProTools LE 7 and M-Powered 7, giving equal airtime to Mac and Windows controls and nuances. Even though the author is obviously MAC biased, she never bashes the Windows version and does a great job of simply explaining the program.

One of the activities in the book was to make your own drum loop from scratch using samples. You can even download those samples to try on your own computer! Here's her website: www.protoolsformusicians.com


The advantage of using drum loops to record with rather than a click track is that you are working with an actual groove. It brings out different ideas and makes you play differently than if you just strummed along to a click track. As far as songwriting goes, it's a great way to take your song in a different direction.

By the way, I can't hype this website enough:

Looperman.com

Free drum and percussion loops (and tons of other things). It tends to lean more toward the techno crowd, but I've found it extremely useful in creating music on the fly without having to worry about creating a drum track.