Call me a hater if you wish. I've been called much worse. I just can't wrap my head around the need for having a professional DJ software program made for iOS like it's an Angry Birds app. I feel like Apple is partnering with just about anyone to make money from its crazed fan base that buy new iPhones and iPads every six months as if their lives depended on it.
I'm slightly disappointed in Native Instruments for even making this a reality, but I guess money is still an important deciding factor. There are certainly enough iPhone and iPad users out there to garner some extra profit. But seriously, we know (and by "we" I mean the REAL DJs who do this for the love of the music and not as a way to pick up college chicks), that the introduction of Traktor on the iPad isn't going to produce any new or real talent to the arena. Trust me, competition is not anything I'm worried about whatsoever. It's more of an annoyance than anything.
I can see impressionable, young "aspiring" DJs looking at the price and thinking that it would be a cheaper and easier way to reach their goal. They can host parties at friends' houses or dorm rooms the world over. No MIDI controllers or turntables needed, just a sound card to port the audio to the speakers. While the overall pitch seems to be great and may very well work, this begs the question of whether or not it's a worthy addition to the field. Should we all throw out our tables and controllers for a touch screen?
Sure I think it's nifty that we have touch screen devices that (partially) eliminate the need for a mouse or other HIDs. Sure I like that the devices are small, compact, portable and look beautiful. But again we find ourselves in that age old dilemma. Just because we can doesn't mean we should. Touting around in the Twittersphere that you're an accomplished and well renowned DJ that uses Traktor on your iPad is about the equivalent of stating that you can remove the lug nuts on your tire by using your teeth. At first you're amazed that such a feat is possible! Then you quickly come to realise that **Look at me! Look at me!** it's completely unnecessary and wonder why the fuck **See what I can do? My iPad is awesome!** anyone would want to lower themselves to such a level. **I'm like a real DJ now!** Maybe it's just for attention? **BRB...the new iPad is available!** I'm not really sure. All I know is it's not for me...it's a mere fad that is cashing in on the idea that anything is possible for a cheaper price.
I'm going to just sit back, work on my next set and enjoy watching from a distance as the attention and stimuli seeking masses bounce around from fad to fad like balls in a pinball machine, enjoying all the bells and whistles and pretty lights. Enjoy your life inside of that glass cage. I'm going to explore the rest of the world.
Saturday, November 2, 2013
Wednesday, October 30, 2013
Friday, October 25, 2013
The Beauty in Simplicity
After posting a new DJ set that I recorded a few days ago, I got a reply from one of my long time friends. He was a co-worker when I was in the Navy and is a fellow music lover and creator. We are always able to have very in-depth discussions about various topics and though our taste in music makes us seem persnickety to some, I like having high standards...especially when it comes to music.
The discussion that we had started my wheels of thought spinning, albeit slowly as I was still waking up...hahaha. Here is an excerpt of my reply,
The discussion that we had started my wheels of thought spinning, albeit slowly as I was still waking up...hahaha. Here is an excerpt of my reply,
"In this day and age, there seems to be too much stimulation. People can't sit still and relax. They are constantly checking their phones for new messages, continuously updating their social media statuses, uploading photos, etc. I feel that we need to take a breather now and again.
I believe in the Less is More mentality. I want my music to influence people to embrace that lifestyle, to take enjoyment in the subtle details, to value patience...for true quality should be an experience that holds its value over the course of time, not just until the next monthly upgrade comes along."I have managed to find emerging artists that share this same frame of mind and it's refreshing to me. I think we all could use a little "me" time, don't you? So if you're down with chillaxin' after a long, arduous day, then grab a pair of headphones and zone out to the following newest mix brought to you by yours truly. Dig in...dig on.
Friday, July 12, 2013
Is perfection really flawless?
With the advancements of modern day music production hardware and software allowing for greater control over the most minute elements of music and sound design, the pursuit of perfection has soared. Perfection in audio quality, quantization and pitch, just name a few, have become much more tangible as we now possess the tools to examine and alter waveforms at such a small level. But is this ultimate achievement in perfection really music to our ears?
In essence, yes it is. Music can be perceived better the more pleasing its sound is. Too much squelching or feedback, dissonance or distortion can be distracting and possibly lose the listener's interest. That being said, there is a flip side to this metaphorical coin.
Pop music has exploded in the recent decades gaining high listener volumes near the top of the food chain alongside rock, inching ahead of hip hop and country. And although pop music has mostly strived to attain that perfect balance of sound, I've noticed that same desire bleeding over into the other genres. Pop rock music especially has seen a tremendous change in sound production when compared to bands produced by legend Steve Albini in the late 90s.
As I delve farther into my music production degree I've seen a push to create and deliver clean mixes with the more or less mandatory implementation of quantization. Personally, I understand this requirement as it instills a certain mindset that forms a good base for our production knowledge. Also, a majority of the students working on these types of degree programs are looking to get into.the mainstream media field. Obviously there is a demand for producers that can deliver the sounds which are driving the industry.
So, I guess my reasoning for writing this article is to express my fear of future producers and writers constraining themselves to a boxed ideology. One that pushes for that perfect, clean sound. Look around you. Perfection is talked about everywhere now. Anti-aging skin products, advancements in cosmetic surgical procedures, video games and movies that portray beauty and youth as purity and innocence. People are afraid to get dirty, to see the slightly less "attractive" objects as something that possess unique qualities and is equally important to the overall spectrum.
Now, this is isn't to say that we need to shift our perception in the opposite direction. I'm not an extremist by any means. I believe in balance. And when it comes to the realm of music and sound, I feel it is imperative that we learn to see the strengths within all that we hear and stop the urge to "fix" those which we don't perceive as pristine. There is beauty in chaos just as much as there can be chaos in perfection.
In essence, yes it is. Music can be perceived better the more pleasing its sound is. Too much squelching or feedback, dissonance or distortion can be distracting and possibly lose the listener's interest. That being said, there is a flip side to this metaphorical coin.
Pop music has exploded in the recent decades gaining high listener volumes near the top of the food chain alongside rock, inching ahead of hip hop and country. And although pop music has mostly strived to attain that perfect balance of sound, I've noticed that same desire bleeding over into the other genres. Pop rock music especially has seen a tremendous change in sound production when compared to bands produced by legend Steve Albini in the late 90s.
As I delve farther into my music production degree I've seen a push to create and deliver clean mixes with the more or less mandatory implementation of quantization. Personally, I understand this requirement as it instills a certain mindset that forms a good base for our production knowledge. Also, a majority of the students working on these types of degree programs are looking to get into.the mainstream media field. Obviously there is a demand for producers that can deliver the sounds which are driving the industry.
So, I guess my reasoning for writing this article is to express my fear of future producers and writers constraining themselves to a boxed ideology. One that pushes for that perfect, clean sound. Look around you. Perfection is talked about everywhere now. Anti-aging skin products, advancements in cosmetic surgical procedures, video games and movies that portray beauty and youth as purity and innocence. People are afraid to get dirty, to see the slightly less "attractive" objects as something that possess unique qualities and is equally important to the overall spectrum.
Now, this is isn't to say that we need to shift our perception in the opposite direction. I'm not an extremist by any means. I believe in balance. And when it comes to the realm of music and sound, I feel it is imperative that we learn to see the strengths within all that we hear and stop the urge to "fix" those which we don't perceive as pristine. There is beauty in chaos just as much as there can be chaos in perfection.
Monday, December 10, 2012
Santa, I wanna Push!
So I've been salivating for some time now as the end of 2012 approaches and 2013 edges closer. Why you ask? Well, because of the release of Ableton's Live 9 as well as their MIDI controller - Push.
With Push, there are so many possibilities for composing music by combining the aspects of a beat machine, a keyboard as well as having many other functions such as loop division, effects, library browsing and so much more! As I learn to use Ableton (as well as Logic Pro, Pro Tools and Garage Band), I see the need for a multifunctional control surface like the Push. I'm super stoked about the upcoming release! If you would like to see it in action, take a look at Ableton's teaser trailer:
In other news, I'm also on the list to get the Leap Motion. It looks to be a promising new way to interact with your computers and I'm anxiously awaiting that little delight to ship out. Here's a sneak peak at the Leap Motion:
Have a happy holiday everyone!
With Push, there are so many possibilities for composing music by combining the aspects of a beat machine, a keyboard as well as having many other functions such as loop division, effects, library browsing and so much more! As I learn to use Ableton (as well as Logic Pro, Pro Tools and Garage Band), I see the need for a multifunctional control surface like the Push. I'm super stoked about the upcoming release! If you would like to see it in action, take a look at Ableton's teaser trailer:
In other news, I'm also on the list to get the Leap Motion. It looks to be a promising new way to interact with your computers and I'm anxiously awaiting that little delight to ship out. Here's a sneak peak at the Leap Motion:
Have a happy holiday everyone!
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
Amazing builds
So as many of you know, P!nk has a new album out - The Truth About Love. My girlfriend was extremely excited to get a hold of it as soon as possible. The first track that I heard from it was Blow Me (One Last Kiss) which I thought was a pretty clever title. I liked it, I won't lie. As far as that realm of music is concerned, I'd pick P!nk and Katy Pery to listen to all day considering the other choices out there in that specific genre. I'd pick those ladies for a few other things, too. ;)
Anywho, I bought the album as soon as I could and gave it to my girlfriend (who absolutely loves it). We were listening to some of her songs as we were driving down the thruway and I heard track number three - Try. Now being that I'm almost always up for hearing some new music and really try to look at what makes a song great beyond just the lyrics, I found this track's build to be amazing. You only get the full effect in the beginning before the first chorus, but it's worth it. The second time around it's watered down and accompanied by P!nk's vocals, but that's okay. I like her voice.
If you haven't heard it yet and you love a good melodic, spacey and trancey build, give it a listen while wearing a good pair of headphones. It's a magical 10 seconds that was excellently constructed for this song and blends the genres of P!nk's pop rock sound with an epic sounding EDM build.
Anywho, I bought the album as soon as I could and gave it to my girlfriend (who absolutely loves it). We were listening to some of her songs as we were driving down the thruway and I heard track number three - Try. Now being that I'm almost always up for hearing some new music and really try to look at what makes a song great beyond just the lyrics, I found this track's build to be amazing. You only get the full effect in the beginning before the first chorus, but it's worth it. The second time around it's watered down and accompanied by P!nk's vocals, but that's okay. I like her voice.
If you haven't heard it yet and you love a good melodic, spacey and trancey build, give it a listen while wearing a good pair of headphones. It's a magical 10 seconds that was excellently constructed for this song and blends the genres of P!nk's pop rock sound with an epic sounding EDM build.
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Working with Ableton Live 8
I have been using the Internet to search for help in various arenas in order to better hone my skills. Obviously dedication to the DAW and constant usage will help the most, but it also pays to learn some tips, tricks and shortcuts to speed the process along. Watching tutorial vids or product feature overviews gives the basic user some insight as to what the DAW can do for you, but it's not always the best way to learn. For me, I needed to get some more real world usage help.
As I bounced around from site to site, sifting through the myriad of search results, I happened to come across some info from Vespers, a Glitch Hop DJ from Canada, who is also a certified Ableton Trainer. He had some of his tracks available for download along with a PDF he put together with some tips he uses in his Ableton studio setup. It was a mix of things that I already knew alongside some new tricks that I was unaware of. All in all, I learned a lot from reading the document and I'll be referring back to it to brush up on the keyboard shortcuts and MIDI mapping section.
Now that I have a MIDI keyboard from school to use, I can start to program settings into the knobs and buttons and get my Live sessions setup in hopes of working more efficiently. Vespers made a very good point that when you know your DAW and your hardware, you spend less time worrying about how to accomplish certain tasks and you can focus more time on creating music. This will pay off for me big time since a large part of my frustration has been not knowing how to get certain effects and/or sounds from my DAW. And by the time I figured it out, so much time had passed that I had forgotten what I was trying to accomplish. Talk about a total waste of time!
So, I feel that Vespers, along with so many other successful computer music producers, have become so by putting the time and effort in to learn the tools of their trade. I'll be spending some time learning keyboard shortcuts, macros and creating Racks and Session Templates.
Does anyone else have a secret about how they learn?
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