Monday, 22 September 2014

Five tools needed to set up a home recording studio.

                                      Five tools needed to set up a home recording studio:

While using appropriate gear as well as a surprisingly small amount of funds it is possible to build a specialist top quality home recording studio at your house.
Listed below are your five standard tools that you will need:




1. A recording unit:
For a perfectly beneficial digital recording device, look no further than your home computer. Your built-in sound card is likely to work fine, but in case you are serious about home recording, you should consider buying a sound card made exclusively with the purpose, with a high-quality digital camera audio converter (DAC), microphone pre-amps and MIDI input/output.
To record music on your computer, you'll likewise need sequencing software of some 
kind. This is software that records either simple sound from a receiver (Mic) or MIDI information from electronic instruments. Sequencing programming permits you to effectively alter and blend various tracks, include effects, trade sound recordings to Disc. The business standard for expert sound sequencing is Pro-tools (has it's own sound card), however there are choices for any financial plan. 

Computers are such adaptable and compelling home recording devices that nearly everyone picks this alternative. Nonetheless, in case you're a firm adherent that computers and music don't mesh, you can purchase a multi-track digital recorder that records onto a flash card or even copies straight to a cd, ect or go  analogue and purchase a multi track tape recorder. 

2. A decent Mic

Don't hold back on your mouthpiece (haha). Indeed with the greater part of the enchantment of advanced altering and impacts, you can't do much with a terrible source recording. The best type of mic for recording solo acoustic instruments and vocals is a condenser microphone. For vocals, you'll likewise need a pop filter, a modest bit of material that protects the mic from hard "p" and sharp "s" sounds. 

To record a full band, you'll have to mic the majority of the instruments independently utilizing more modest dynamic mics. You should be able to come across great condenser mics for under $200 and dynamic mics for under $100.


3. Monitor speakers and headphones: 

Monitor speakers are unique in relation to typical stereo speakers. They're essential in a recording studio environment as they show the sound precisely as its being recorded, without "coloring" or "sweetening" the sound .This is important to guarantee that your recording will sound precisely how it did when you were playing it. 

It's up to individuals how they go about tackling the recording process,  one typical way to record tunes in a multi-track situation  is, recording each track one by one (drums first , bass second, acoustic guitars third, and so on). The most ideal approach to do this is to utilise a set of headphones to listen to the tracks you recorded before as you put down new tracks. Good headphones keep the sound in, so to minimise spillage onto the new you are recording.



4. A MIDI controller or synthesizer 

A synthesizer is usually  an electronic keyboard that can be setup to play numerous types of sounds. At the same time synthesizers come in numerous distinctive shapes and sizes, for example, guitar synths, wind instrument synths and drum machines. 

A MIDI controller is similar to a synthesizer, however doesn't really deliver any sounds without anyone else's input. The instrument is truly a controller, in the same way as a joystick for a computer game . A MIDI controller produces MIDI information which might be utilized to play different synthesizers, whether fittings  or programming based. Case in point, you can utilize a MIDI controller to play an electronic keyboard plug-in like Protools. Alternately utilize a solitary MIDI controller to play an entire system of interconnected synthesizers and drum machines.

5. An audio interface 

An audio interface is similar to an external sound card. Instead of connecting mics ect, straight into your computer, you connect them to an external box or mixing desk that that connects to your computer with a solitary line, either USB or Firewire. The interface handles analog to digital conversion, taking stress off your computers processing power. This is particularly valuable for laptops, which don't have space for additional inside PCI cards and for the most part have slower processors. 

Sound interfaces, otherwise called breakout boxes, accompany a specific number of microphone preamps( (anywhere in the range of two to twelve) and dials to control the recording level of every amplifier. By and large, each one instrument and vocal needs its own particular amplifier (drums need no less than 3 different mics), so search for an interface with enough preamps to for-fill your needs. 

Saturday, 20 September 2014

Daptone Records.

                                                        Daptone Records.
Daptone records was founded in 2001, by Neal Sugarman and Gabe Roth!
Converting an old 2-story town house in the working class area, Bushwick, Brooklyn, New York
into an analog recording mecca of soul and funk!
Head studio engineer Gabe Roth captures a cool 60s/70s sound. Daptone has a house band The Dap Kings, who are truly a class act, and provide the backing music for star soul singers
Sharon Jones and Charles Bradley,  To list just a couple!
Recordings from Daptone are available in many formats including: vinyl, cassette tape! CD, and mp3 download!

A truly amazing independent Record company full of soul and heart.
I have no affiliation with Daptone! It's a label i came across while browsing on uTube and was so impressed to find a cool old school Record company that record talented people!
I for one will be following this label with keen interest and as a lover of vinyl can't wait to organise my first order of 45s!
Daptones website link is here. 
 http://www.daptonerecords.com
                                                    


















Wednesday, 17 September 2014

Music and Stuff

                                                                 Music and Stuff!
A lot has been said about today's music! To me there is some great stuff and some crap stuff out there.
And having said that, Personal taste is an  individual thing that everyone has and everyones personal taste differs! In most cases it comes down to cost! Record labels aren't making the money they once
made due to the massive amounts of illegal downloading that happens these days so they need to cut recording costs, And they also don't take as many risks on what they put out, So rather than support artists of talent and difference they go for things that sell, 
Now to say that labels didn't do that before the digital age would be wrong! Yes, they did! But and it's a big but! It is hard to see where the next truly lasting big thing is going to come from in the future.
The beatles were turned down by many labels for different reasons, The last reason is famous! Decca
records label heads said to them "guitar bands are on the way OUT! Laughable that in 1961/62 that
that was their attitude! George Martin for some reason could see that they had something! This was a guy that had never before recorded a rock/pop group! But he was prepared to take a risk! And when at  the meeting of EMI label heads he told them of his find and planned signing of them ( The Beatles ) 
They laughed at him! The rest of that great rags to riches story is history, 
These days its doubtful that will happen again! 2 reasons! reason 1, Finding a group or solo artist with 
that emence talent! Reason 2, Finding a real record label with a George Martin type person running it
who is prepared and can afford to take a risk!
Not someone who looks for the best looking girl or boy that can simply be auto tuned and who can dance! 
Now i'm not going to sit here and bag out different artists! There is no point! and all being said, This is
only my point of view, and their are always exceptions! eg: The Arctic Monkey's come to mind,
But not on the scale of yesteryear! 
And on another positive  note, It is fun scraping through the crap and finding some still great bands out there doing some great stuff. eg, Paul Weller, The Kooks, The Kaiser Chiefs  and of corse Windy and I
( The Oompah Roundabout ) we don't use Auto tuning or any music loops, Really we still record the way it was done years ago but we record onto a mac instead of tape.
We are lucky that we have our own studio! We never bothered to try for a contract for many reasons!
Our, age! Our looks! hahaha to name a couple! and the main reason being we want to put out what we want wether it sells or not! 
 





Wednesday, 10 September 2014

Mastering at Abbey Road Studio.

                                                    Mastering at Abbey Road Studio.

Mastering is the final stage in the production process and ensures that the music fits together seamlessly and that it is presented with the best possible sound. It involves editing and compiling the required mixes and tracks in production order, cleaning the audio to remove any unwanted blemishes or corruptions, polishing the mixed sound with equalisation, compression and other outboard processing and then producing the final master. The combination of our award-winning engineers, Abbey Road Studios acoustics and our unrivalled range of traditional and state-of-the-art equipment ensure that we are world leaders in the fields of audio mastering and sound restoration.

We can master to enhance both old and new recordings from any format: 78rpm or LP discs, analogue tape, digital master tape or audio file. We have a range of stereo and surround mastering suites for creating a finished audio master, from mastering for a CD or audio files, cutting lacquer or copper vinyl, through to 5.1 and 7.1 surround production for DVD or High Definition broadcast and Blu-ray disc.

We welcome clients to attend the mastering session and work on a one-to-one basis with our specialist mastering engineers. Alternatively, we offer a tailor-made virtual service for global clients through our Abbey Road Online Mastering service. 









Tuesday, 9 September 2014

Bruce Foxton.

                                                                     Bruce Foxton.
Bruce Foxton, bass player, song writer, singer! was born in working, Surrey England 1 september 1955.
He, Rick Buckler and Paul Weller made up that iconic band from the late 1970s early 1980s The Jam.
Unfortunately The Jam split in 1982! leaving millions of fans, me included! Disappointed!
Bruce went on with a short solo career releasing the album "Touch sensitive" (#68 uk) and had minor
uk hits in 1983-84 with "Freak" and "This is the way" "Makes me wonder" . He later joined "Stiff little fingers" and was in that band for 15 years! Stiff little fingers released 5 albums.
In 1995 he and Jam drummer Rick Buckler collaborated on "our story" a biogrophy on their years in The Jam.
And then in Febuary 2007 Bruce and Rick did what Jam fans around the world could only dream about! They announced that the 2 of them would be reforming along with members from 
"The Gift" a Jam Tribute band and go on tour! In march 2008 they toured Australia and New Zealand! I caught the Perth show ( Western Australia ) And although Paul Weller wasnt in the band they still sounded great and true! My older brother was with me, He being the one to turn me onto The Jam!
Knowing how i was feeling about seeing 2 of my 7 hero's, The others being, John ,Paul, George, Ringo, and Paul Weller, and seeing his face light up made my day! Bruce released a solo album in 2012 called "Back in the room". 
This link is to Bruce Foxton's official web site.







Sunday, 7 September 2014

The Oompah Roundabout shoot new video!

                                          The Oompah Roundabout shoot new video!
The Oompah Roundabout shot the video for their new single "Breed with you" last night. ( 06-09-14 )
Halfanacker film studio came alive with their crazy antics, jumping around like monkeys on heat!
Pre-Production work was carried out at Windy Wobbles studio last week and a recapping viewing had
the boy's in fits of laughter!
They assure me the video will be in good taste!
Some pics from last nights shoot are below this text.
The boy's other video's can be viewed on their uTube channel, https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1gjT6OLguz2bWa1H84jpFwAzuZFalJE-
And this next link is to their website, 
You can find them on facebook as well.






Saturday, 6 September 2014

Thanks for checking out my music and stuff blog!

                                     Thanks for checking out my music and stuff blog!
You guy's rock! Thanks for checking out my music and stuff blog, I love doing it and im think of ways
to improve it to make it better for you as i move forward.
Im also going to be launching other blogs of different types in the near future as well as working on the Oompah blog on The Oompah Roundabouts website! http://www.theoompahroundabout.com/
This is just a short post of thanks. 

my beautiful girlfriend Miss Squeak and i having fun as always! Thanks for all your help miss Squeak! you rock! XXX

Thursday, 4 September 2014

The Beatles at the Hollywood Bowl.

                                             The Beatles at The Hollywood Bowl! 
I love this record! It came out in 1977 when I was 12! After getting my copy of the album I played it over and over on my mum and dads HMV record player.
The set list is taken from the best played songs from the 1964 and 1965 concerts.
Side one
  1. "Twist and Shout" (Phil Medley and Bert Russell) (30 August 1965) – 1:32
  2. "She's a Woman" (30 August 1965) – 2:53
  3. "Dizzy, Miss Lizzy" (Larry Williams) (29/30 August 1965) – 3:37
  4. "Ticket to Ride" (29 August 1965) – 2:51
  5. "Can't Buy Me Love" (30 August 1965) – 2:16
  6. "Things We Said Today" (23 August 1964) – 2:20
  7. "Roll Over Beethoven" (Chuck Berry) (23 August 1964) – 2:28
Side two
  1. "Boys" (Luther Dixon and Wes Farrell) (23 August 1964) – 2:12
  2. "A Hard Day's Night" (30 August 1965) – 3:15
  3. "Help!" (29 August 1965) – 2:46
  4. "All My Loving" (23 August 1964) – 2:14
  5. "She Loves You" (23 August 1964) – 2:31
  6. "Long Tall Sally" (Enotris JohnsonRichard Penniman, and Robert Blackwell) (23 August 1964) – 2:53
Link to concert footage.
Link to The Oompah Roundabouts website.



















Wednesday, 27 August 2014

The Oompah Roundabout's 4th single is out!

The Oompah Roundabout's 4th single is out and is currently available at cdbaby.com http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/TheOompahRoundabout with iTunes,Amizon,Google play and all other online stores to follow! 
The song is called "Breed with you"! A fast paced, rocker reminiscent of The Kinks, The Easybeats, The Knack, with a bit of The Jam and The Beatles thrown in as well! 
Recorded at their home studio ( Gap central recording studio ) and mixed / mastered at The Wave shop in the USA, This is the first recording since the studios upgrade a short time ago! and the boy's are pleased with the results! 
The layout and wall treatments have brightened the drum sound not to mention making more room for  microphone   placement allowing the boy's to try different mic setups!
In this song Hormone used his Rickenbacker for the rythum tracks and his mint coloured Fender stratocaster for the lead and over dubbed strums! adding texture and power to the guitar sound.
The video shoot is planned for early september and should be up on their uTube channel the end of that month!
Be sure to check out their uTube channel http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2M_Vwx-G7MA  like,subscribe and comment on their video's, As well as recording all their songs they also shoot and edit their video's at their home film studio they call ( Halfanacker film studio ) and are planning to not only add their music video's but also other video's, interviews,home studio vids, and what ever else their crazy minds can come up with! 
The Oompah Roundabout, Truly can call themselves an indie band and look like being around for some time! 
Oh, they asked me to say thanks for all the suport you have given them! they are blown away with it! and one last word! Oompah!  :):)