Sept 4 2011- sunday 10am   Making music is what I do everyday. These days my compositions are composed on Logic and Native Instruments Maschine. One of my favorite softsynths are Zebra 2 by u-he. among  others I also like and use FXpansion Geist and Strobe, Subboom Bass by Rob Papen …and actually many more…. Maschine  is a whole world in itself. I’ve been attempting to do whole tracks on it. It of course reminds me of my days on the Oberheim DMX DSX OB8 system, Linn 9000 and then the MPC series.

I’ve been making music with the electronic instrument palette since  fall 1981 when it became possible to “play” a part into a sequencer (DSX) and have it play back. Before that there were only step sequencers which I just was not inclined to use. Being a fairly competent Jazz and Classical pianist I guess I needed to be able to play/hear things in real time and play more than one note at a time (!)

It’s sunday morning and I’m doing this…..and I just watched an episode of Pensado’s Place which is an informative web tv show about mixing music and production put on by Dave Pensado. The episode was ostensibly about stereo bus compression. One of the things Dave is good at is making his work relationships personal and always conveying a positive  attitude. I wish I was more like you Dave!  But make no mistake about his mission. The sound of the mixes are the number 1 priority and he has proven his excellence and mastery of the art over and over.

My priority and love of music has always been based on the underlying Harmonic/melodic content. More to come…

Sept 17, 2011- Mic and I just worked all week on new songs for our album in New York City.I’m going home tonight. I brought a laptop, Maschine Controller and Keyboard Controller.  We also took a trip to New Jersey to work with excellent songwriter/remixer/DJ/mixer Mr Mig. I learned so much about mixing and making a laptop rock using sidechaining etc. Check him out. Mr Mig.  We wrote a really great song.

I tried to write tracks in Maschine Standalone mode most of the week.

Sept 26, 2011- Well  I love working with Maschine. However it is so convenient to put  entire vocal stems on audio tracks in logic and get creative with the musical track. You can still loop sections and use the Maschine patterns but it does become more complicated….

I have been listening to, playing and appreciating a lot of new AND old music lately. among others, Bassnectar, Schostacovich piano prelude in D,  Flux Pavilion, Bach Partita’s, Datsik, various Debussy pieces, Sarah Vaughn, Hazel Scott, and Bass and Breaks with Mike Swaine BBC Electro/Dubstep podcasts. I’m not sure what century I live in but I know I love all kinds of music. I just wish I had time to be good at all of it. Can anyone else identify with that?

Nov 30, 2011- I’ve been enjoying working with a new software synth called Razor. It has a most detailed visual representation of what is transpiring audiowise. I’ve always thought that I might compromise the sound if I am looking at a pretty graphic rep when I’m programming. I still think that: however, Razors animated graph seems useful so far. The System Album is coming along. 6 songs down 3 to go. We are exploring different final mixing options now.