July 2008

on sound on sound on sound

Now I’ve got my money back from Turnkey it’s party time! But what to buy?

I’ve done some research on how I can turn my macbook a portable studio. I only know the basics when it comes to recording and at this early stage in my career I have limited funds to work with. Something that’s really helped me make the most of my investment is the magazine Sound On Sound. It’s crackin’!

Okay fine, I had to google some of the sound tech speak that I found in there but it’s a good read and has some great price lists in it.

A really useful purchase when it comes to researching mic’s, interfaces, head-phones, speakers and other audio technology.

It’s been 3 months but I’ve finally got my money back from Turnkey. I bought a mic and and interface from them in May and then things went wrong.

On the upside I now have the money to try again. That means Podcast, Voice-overs and instrument recordings. Winner!

Just to make sure that my site is nice and easy to navigate around I’ve installed a new bar.

 This link will take you right to my Virb Page which hosts my Music Player. There you can a hear a few of the things that I’ve recorded. These include me soloing with the 50+ piece film orchestra I created whilst at the conservatoire, a few big band recordings I play lead on and a few others.

I hope to get my Piano and Trumpet Duo samples up there over the next few months.

I’ve spent many hours this week finalizing and converting over 200 video clips form Eurobusk Tour. Finally I put them all into my mac and looked on in despair at the 15 hours of footage I had.

Many hours later I was left with enough footage to fill a feature length film. This is the rough edit and I’m sure it’ll be cut down some more. Then all that’s left to do is to make and edit in our pick up shots, split it into episodes and add in the voice overs. Simple . . . sort of.

Because the pick up shots and voice overs will probably be done after the move to London I’m guessing the first episode will be released some time in October. Let me tell you now - it’s well worth the wait. Even in it’s raw form it’s pretty dam good!!

But at least it’s well on the way and while I’m waiting I might even have a chance fpr Master Musician Episode 2.

Watch This Space!!

This past week has been crazy busy! I’ve been to see my older kids play in their final concert at school, seen others through their ABRSM exams and had a heavy weekend of gigs on top of that. I have loads to post but that will have to wait until tomorrow.

I’ve driven 182 miles today, played 2 gigs and even managed to fit in a private lesson. Killer!!!

Got him! I think he must be doing a tour of the Classic Jazz Albums.

Thanks to Alicia who found him within the fits couple of hours that he was missing. I found him there on friday but thought I should let him stay there and think about what he had done!!

I’m hoping he’s learnt his lesson now although he wasn’t to pleased with Alicia who mocked his poor hiding skills.

I’m sure the next one will be harder now!!! Thanks

No one was injured in the following picture

This was a sight to see on the motor way. It’s worried me to know that cars can do this outside of the movies. Mainly because I’m running mine into the ground. Lets hope it doesn’t reach a similar end (at least not whilst I’m in it!).

I’ve been playing for Indian Weddings for a few years now but this year the work has really picked up with these gigs. They’re not the toughest or the most typical gigs you’ll ever do but these days we have a great group of musicians and make a ace show.

I’ve had a number of interesting gigs doing these weddings but the other week turned out to be pretty funny.

Waiting to play outside the grooms house in the morning they asked us to play. We knew that its was going to be an intensive set and we’d made up out set list so not wanting to repeat anything we had to come Butch (our Dohl player) told us we should improvised something.

The Dohl’s began to play and the horn section (Consisting of Me and my mates Neil-Sax and Mark-Trombone) looked at one another trying to think of something appropriate to play. It as then that neil started playing the background rift from Michael Jackson’s Thriller, Mark came in with the stabs and I put the tune over the top.

I chipped in with Mercy Mercy Mercy next and the horns followed with bass line and harmonies and we finished with Mark who played the bass line from the Chicken (Neil and I putting in the tune).

It’s awesome playing with great musicians. I’m not entirely sureit was the most appropriate music but the groom told our manager how great he thought we were - Winner!!!

This is a picture of my buddy Neil in the gear we wear for the weddings plus a few Jackson-like additions : )

Here’s a picture I found on my computer the other day from the Eurobusk ‘07 Tour.

I think it’s cool!