Since I've decided to focus on working at home on mixing and recording and no longer attend classes, I've also decided this blog isn't going to be up-dated. I don't know how long but I created it to report on getting an education in sound engineering.
I actually didn't have too many classes to take to get the certificates. Sadly most were just repeats of classes I already took because they required two semesters of them. Sadly the teachers were not willing to offer more material beyond what they taught in one semester. That plus the fact that one teacher was using students as free labor for her projects of recording school events with video (which has nothing to do with sound but I kept getting stuck doing camera work). Given that it was eating up my time with me learning nothing new I decided did not want to continue.
I'm getting a lot more done now with music and enjoying it way more. Every day I'm adding to what I know. So with that in mind, thanks for reading.
Monday, November 8, 2010
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Funny
Tonight I finally did a little mixing again. However, it wasn't happening on Cubase 5 LE. Because it has no compressors.
I ended up using Audacity and it's not bad so far. Sadly though one of the tracks I'm working on, the main vocal, has a bit of popping. I guess from the board that was used. Will see what I can do about that beyond dropping the high end using equalization.
At least I feel good that I did something.
Oh yeah class tonight, didn't learn anything new. Such a waste of time.
I ended up using Audacity and it's not bad so far. Sadly though one of the tracks I'm working on, the main vocal, has a bit of popping. I guess from the board that was used. Will see what I can do about that beyond dropping the high end using equalization.
At least I feel good that I did something.
Oh yeah class tonight, didn't learn anything new. Such a waste of time.
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
I'm in a good mood today
Music is a weird thing to be into. At one time musicians, engineers and all the rest either worked for studios or had to have lots of money or be extremely creative to record. But thanks to computers it's changed.
Odd intro to me talking about my little home recording studio but then it's an odd thing in itself. Because it's not much but I think too it proves a person can put together something workable with not a lot of cash. Knowledge though is key.
Not here to talk about where to learn about it but I will say that don't believe all the hype put out by the big companies and stores.
So, when I started learning about recording I had a Windows computer running XP and a Pro Tools Mini M Box. My only microphone was a Shure SM57. I used this mostly for mixing with a little bit of recording. Because I was doing most of my recording at the school studios.
With time my goals for learning this all has changed. While it's fun doing live sound and studio recording, I know being female and older it's highly unlikely anyone would ever hire me let alone have me as an intern. It's okay because part of it is really physically demanding and the other part has a lot of down time while being there. With little or no compensation.
Also my computer bit the dust and I ended up with a 64 bit Windows computer running Windows 7. I like it a lot. However, forget Pro Tools. I discovered I had to start from scratch and that most hardware and software is not too compatible with 64 bit. Which is sad because the machines are so much faster and have way more memory.
This did give me a chance to try out different recording and mixing programs. The other thing is I bought a Micro Korg XL synthesizer. If I haven't said how much I love it, I am now. So my main goal was to be able to record it plus have playback through speakers or monitors. My secondary goal was to be able to mix files that were school projects.
Now the school I go to is very much Pro Tools orientated. However that was not happening because the company that sells Pro Tools now, Avid, has not done much at all in regards to compatibility. Plus the price was more than what I wanted to pay. Again. I tried out Audacity, however lacks the ability to record midi. Reaper was next but I felt a bit lost. I had tried Sonar previously but also was not so intuitive.
Now I have taken a year and a half of Pro Tool classes so I'm not a novice at this stuff. But I really wanted something that would have similar features for editing but be more intuitive.
In the meantime I was also looking at Audio/MIDI Interfaces. I came across the Tascam US-1474MK II and it seemed to have what I wanted at a reasonable price. A plus is that it has phantom power. It came with Cubase 5 LE. I've seen Nuendo used and I like how it feels more intuitive and logical.
Well last night I got Cubase going, figured out how to have it be compatible with my 64 bit machine and even figured out the signal flow. I'm using the line ins at this time for the Micro Korg with the USB from the Tascam to the computer. And signal out to my little computer speakers for now. And it works.
I've got a long way to go with this but already I've received the Naiant X-M Condenser microphones I ordered. My plans are if I record anything decent to then try a little stereo re-recording of the tracks. I don't know where all of this will end up but I feel a bit satisfied that I figured all this out on my own. I just want to have the ability to do something with what I've learned and what I like to do. Which is more likely with me doing it on my own.
Odd intro to me talking about my little home recording studio but then it's an odd thing in itself. Because it's not much but I think too it proves a person can put together something workable with not a lot of cash. Knowledge though is key.
Not here to talk about where to learn about it but I will say that don't believe all the hype put out by the big companies and stores.
So, when I started learning about recording I had a Windows computer running XP and a Pro Tools Mini M Box. My only microphone was a Shure SM57. I used this mostly for mixing with a little bit of recording. Because I was doing most of my recording at the school studios.
With time my goals for learning this all has changed. While it's fun doing live sound and studio recording, I know being female and older it's highly unlikely anyone would ever hire me let alone have me as an intern. It's okay because part of it is really physically demanding and the other part has a lot of down time while being there. With little or no compensation.
Also my computer bit the dust and I ended up with a 64 bit Windows computer running Windows 7. I like it a lot. However, forget Pro Tools. I discovered I had to start from scratch and that most hardware and software is not too compatible with 64 bit. Which is sad because the machines are so much faster and have way more memory.
This did give me a chance to try out different recording and mixing programs. The other thing is I bought a Micro Korg XL synthesizer. If I haven't said how much I love it, I am now. So my main goal was to be able to record it plus have playback through speakers or monitors. My secondary goal was to be able to mix files that were school projects.
Now the school I go to is very much Pro Tools orientated. However that was not happening because the company that sells Pro Tools now, Avid, has not done much at all in regards to compatibility. Plus the price was more than what I wanted to pay. Again. I tried out Audacity, however lacks the ability to record midi. Reaper was next but I felt a bit lost. I had tried Sonar previously but also was not so intuitive.
Now I have taken a year and a half of Pro Tool classes so I'm not a novice at this stuff. But I really wanted something that would have similar features for editing but be more intuitive.
In the meantime I was also looking at Audio/MIDI Interfaces. I came across the Tascam US-1474MK II and it seemed to have what I wanted at a reasonable price. A plus is that it has phantom power. It came with Cubase 5 LE. I've seen Nuendo used and I like how it feels more intuitive and logical.
Well last night I got Cubase going, figured out how to have it be compatible with my 64 bit machine and even figured out the signal flow. I'm using the line ins at this time for the Micro Korg with the USB from the Tascam to the computer. And signal out to my little computer speakers for now. And it works.
I've got a long way to go with this but already I've received the Naiant X-M Condenser microphones I ordered. My plans are if I record anything decent to then try a little stereo re-recording of the tracks. I don't know where all of this will end up but I feel a bit satisfied that I figured all this out on my own. I just want to have the ability to do something with what I've learned and what I like to do. Which is more likely with me doing it on my own.
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Blog not gone, just been thinking a lot instead of posting
My intention was to perhaps post stuff from school. However it's been rather odd and frustrating.
I do have a few photos and such that I may put up to show a few interesting things I was around for.
But I am finding the same problems as before. There is still division between the teachers and some negative comments by one about the other. Plus this is also being done by a few students and I find it distracting and actually not necessarily true what they are saying. Since I've had classes with both teachers. It's discouraging that nothing has changed.
The same "teacher's pets" thing is also going on. At least it's not affecting me like it did last time. It's also discouraging to see certain people getting all the attention and such, all the encouragement, work and more. But then I am not in the same place as before and also realize that because I am older they are not going to offer me anything.
Yes ageism is alive and well in post secondary education. At least some of the younger students do talk with me. But I also experienced total ignorance at an event I worked at, and more. I'm not going to go into it, but it and the overall lack of feeling like I'm learning much of anything really has me discouraged and I end up missing classes because I'm so bored when I am there. Plus the time driving there and that sometimes I just physically hurt too much to make it worth it.
Now I don't think the program is all bad. For the money you can't find a sound engineer program that is cheaper. But the amount of time it takes and the fact that some classes only teach so much but then you have to take them a second time...there is a lot of wasted time. Plus there are so many students it's hard to get hands-on experience with a teacher.
Also one of the teachers keeps changing the day the class is suppose to be on. I think it's only been twice on the actual day in the schedule. Or she is taking time off to go do other things. It's rather frustrating because it makes it hard when I have something planned and all of the sudden now there is class.
The one thing through all of this is I have clarified a bit what I think I want to do. I've been buying a few pieces of equipment, going to try out Cubase for mixing, and perhaps I may put together some ambient music pieces of my own. I am going to keep trying to go to these classes. I would like to finish and get the certificates. Just wish my time was being better used. That may be the breaking point for me.
I do have a few photos and such that I may put up to show a few interesting things I was around for.
But I am finding the same problems as before. There is still division between the teachers and some negative comments by one about the other. Plus this is also being done by a few students and I find it distracting and actually not necessarily true what they are saying. Since I've had classes with both teachers. It's discouraging that nothing has changed.
The same "teacher's pets" thing is also going on. At least it's not affecting me like it did last time. It's also discouraging to see certain people getting all the attention and such, all the encouragement, work and more. But then I am not in the same place as before and also realize that because I am older they are not going to offer me anything.
Yes ageism is alive and well in post secondary education. At least some of the younger students do talk with me. But I also experienced total ignorance at an event I worked at, and more. I'm not going to go into it, but it and the overall lack of feeling like I'm learning much of anything really has me discouraged and I end up missing classes because I'm so bored when I am there. Plus the time driving there and that sometimes I just physically hurt too much to make it worth it.
Now I don't think the program is all bad. For the money you can't find a sound engineer program that is cheaper. But the amount of time it takes and the fact that some classes only teach so much but then you have to take them a second time...there is a lot of wasted time. Plus there are so many students it's hard to get hands-on experience with a teacher.
Also one of the teachers keeps changing the day the class is suppose to be on. I think it's only been twice on the actual day in the schedule. Or she is taking time off to go do other things. It's rather frustrating because it makes it hard when I have something planned and all of the sudden now there is class.
The one thing through all of this is I have clarified a bit what I think I want to do. I've been buying a few pieces of equipment, going to try out Cubase for mixing, and perhaps I may put together some ambient music pieces of my own. I am going to keep trying to go to these classes. I would like to finish and get the certificates. Just wish my time was being better used. That may be the breaking point for me.
Sunday, October 10, 2010
How about a little late night Sunday blues?
The fabulous Jimmie Vaughan with Lou Ann Barton doing "Come Love". Thank you Elwood.
Friday, September 17, 2010
Monday, September 13, 2010
Working on things
One good thing, I found the old log-on for my little music production MySpace page.
Baka Neko Productions
I made this up a few years ago just as a place to put some things I made. Now that I'm getting back into it, it will be fun to have a place to put some new music.
Baka Neko Productions
I made this up a few years ago just as a place to put some things I made. Now that I'm getting back into it, it will be fun to have a place to put some new music.
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