Just about to jump into a busy day of RPMing...got 4 electric (rhythm) guitar parts, and all lead vocals on the agenda before bedtime. Am happy with the acoustic gtr tracks as well as the other electric gtr stuff done in the last few days. By popular demand I'll post the detailed recording notes for those things in nausiating detail later.
Yesterday? Zero RPM. But an amazing day! Had a great jam with my regular dobro player and a new bass player (along with my acoustic guitar). LOVE playin' with other people! Such a great way to improve as a musician, and soooo much fun. We were all in good form yesterday - jam's even better when it sounds good!
Mile Long Post-It is a solo project - I do all the writing, recording, playing and (almost all the) signing - 'cept for the female background parts :-). I love workin' alone on it. But, for the sheer joy of "making music", nothing beats playing with others!
Rock on!
(Cross-posted to RPMChallenge.com: http://www.rpmchallenge.com/component/option,com_mamblog/Itemid,291/task,show/action,view/id,11759/)
Showing posts with label songwriting. Show all posts
Showing posts with label songwriting. Show all posts
Friday, February 20, 2009
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Ahead or behind schedule?
So, day 11 [RPM2009], got my songs written and arranged, and drums programmed for 9 of 'em (and expect to complete the last in a few hrs). Last year it took me to day 22 to accomplish this, so I should be happy with this year's progress. Emphesis on "should be", as I'm worried...plan is to start bass parts later this evening but I somehow suspect that Jack and I will end up strapping into the Syracuse/Connecticut game instead (go 'CUSE!). Wouldn't be a big deal but I'm gonna be outta town Fri-Mon and can see the time slipping past (like sands thru the hourglass). Might bring a small mobile setup along for the weekend, but suspect there will be more time spent on that as a technical exercise than an actual recording opportunity so would like to avoid it. But I digress...
I want to be done with all recording on 2/21 or sooner to have PLENTY of time to mix (and master, and do artwork, and...). Figure I still have to record:
Well, as Pops used to say, this is indeed a "happy problem". Gettin' to make music is such a blast, and RPM is just the best thing to keep me on my toes...now back to the dance.
Rock on!
(Cross-posted to RPMChallenge website: http://www.rpmchallenge.com/component/option,com_mamblog/Itemid,291/task,show/action,view/id,11177/)
I want to be done with all recording on 2/21 or sooner to have PLENTY of time to mix (and master, and do artwork, and...). Figure I still have to record:
- Bass
- Acoustic Guitar (rhythm parts)
- Electric Guitar (rhythm and texture parts)
- Guitar solos (acoustic and electric)
- Lead Vocals
- Background Vocals
- Keys (Piano/Organ/Synth)
Well, as Pops used to say, this is indeed a "happy problem". Gettin' to make music is such a blast, and RPM is just the best thing to keep me on my toes...now back to the dance.
Rock on!
(Cross-posted to RPMChallenge website: http://www.rpmchallenge.com/component/option,com_mamblog/Itemid,291/task,show/action,view/id,11177/)
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Songwriting "done*" (with an asterisk)
Happy Days! Music and lyrics are done* for the 10 songs going on Mile Long Post-It's RPMChallenge 2009 cd (tentatively titled "2kMi").
Why the asterisk? 'Cause these tunes are in rough shape right now! Veeerrry rough shape. But the turds are laid, and now are ready for polishing (pardon the expression, phew!). I think I did a blog last year called "polishing turds", blabbing in some detail about taking rough drafts and working them into final cd form.
I want time for the songs to live and breath before recording 'em. Last RPM I spent waaaay too much time doing the initial writing (2 weeks!), and then had like a day to do arrangements and then right into recording (not my best approach). This year, I'm determined to have 3-4 days to play these drafts in different keys, different styles, different tempos - to flush out "what works" and "what needs help" before getting near a recording device.
Amazingly, this might work out. I want to start tracking (drum parts) on Sunday, so have about 4 days to whip these songs into shape on the 'ol acoustic guitar. Will try to post some rough drafts in a day or two.
Still, this is a nice hump to be over early in the project. Off to grab some lunch and then start workin' the tunes!!! Rock on!
(Note this is cross-posted to the RPMChallenge site: http://www.rpmchallenge.com/component/option,com_mamblog/Itemid,291/task,show/action,view/id,10600/ )
Why the asterisk? 'Cause these tunes are in rough shape right now! Veeerrry rough shape. But the turds are laid, and now are ready for polishing (pardon the expression, phew!). I think I did a blog last year called "polishing turds", blabbing in some detail about taking rough drafts and working them into final cd form.
I want time for the songs to live and breath before recording 'em. Last RPM I spent waaaay too much time doing the initial writing (2 weeks!), and then had like a day to do arrangements and then right into recording (not my best approach). This year, I'm determined to have 3-4 days to play these drafts in different keys, different styles, different tempos - to flush out "what works" and "what needs help" before getting near a recording device.
Amazingly, this might work out. I want to start tracking (drum parts) on Sunday, so have about 4 days to whip these songs into shape on the 'ol acoustic guitar. Will try to post some rough drafts in a day or two.
Still, this is a nice hump to be over early in the project. Off to grab some lunch and then start workin' the tunes!!! Rock on!
(Note this is cross-posted to the RPMChallenge site: http://www.rpmchallenge.com/component/option,com_mamblog/Itemid,291/task,show/action,view/id,10600/ )
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Writin' like a madman
I REALLY want to get the songwriting part of this challenge done ASAP, and have been VERY lucky so far. Got five songs written already, and it's looking like I really might get all 10 done before the end of week.
I like having a chance for the songs to "breath" before recording them - to try playing them in different styles and different arrangements. And practically, in different keys (to find the sweet spot for my voice). Also to allow time to fine-tune and fix things before starting recording.
I'd like to get the remaining four written before end-of-Wednesday and plan to start recording on Sunday. That would be AMAZING and I'm optimistic that I can pull it off.
Rock on!
(Note this is cross-posted to the RPMChallenge site: http://www.rpmchallenge.com/component/option,com_mamblog/Itemid,291/task,show/action,view/id,10453/)
I like having a chance for the songs to "breath" before recording them - to try playing them in different styles and different arrangements. And practically, in different keys (to find the sweet spot for my voice). Also to allow time to fine-tune and fix things before starting recording.
I'd like to get the remaining four written before end-of-Wednesday and plan to start recording on Sunday. That would be AMAZING and I'm optimistic that I can pull it off.
Rock on!
(Note this is cross-posted to the RPMChallenge site: http://www.rpmchallenge.com/component/option,com_mamblog/Itemid,291/task,show/action,view/id,10453/)
Friday, January 30, 2009
One day and a wakeup...(RPMChallenge 2009)
It's here It's Here it's Here (almost!!!)...no, not Santa(!), but RPM2009! I had a total blast doing RPM 2008 and can't wait to get rolling this year. Gonna spend the next 1-day-11-hours (according to the handy "countdown" clock on the right of this page) chillin, relaxin' with my sweetie, raging it up a bit. Then wake up on Sunday AM and get writing! And then get SuperBowlin' (man, if only Plaxico had left that gun at home I might be watching the NYGiants try to go back-to-back, but no such luck).
I'm aiming to complete all the writing during the first week (by endOfDay 7-Feb). Gonna make for a busy week but if I write one song in the AM before day job, and another in PM after day job, I should be golden. This'll leave a few days to nail down arrangements, and then almost three weeks to record, mix, master (as it is), and ship. Last year it took me 2 wks to write, and trying to record/mix/master/ship in the remaining two weeks was hairy...very hairy.
Last night, spent some time updating software (latest BFD patch) and setting up a default "template" in my recording software for RPM tunes. Basically, two audio tracks ready to go, and multiple outputs from BFD (which is my drum "plug-in"). BFD is amazingly powerful with a ton of options - last year I did all my drum mixing within BFD and just sent a stereo mix to the recording software (SONAR), but this year want individual outputs from BFD going to Sonar to allow for a bit more flexibility during mixing. That is, SONAR will see separate Kick, Snare, Hat, etc. outputs. A PITA to set up, but once the template is done I'll be able to reuse it on all the songs.
Anyway, really excited to CHILL the next few days ("day", I guess), and then rock out with my (proverbial) *ock out for the next month! Good luck to my fellow RPMers and cheers to all visiting/supporting RPMChallenge!
(note this is cross-posted to the RPMChallenge site: http://www.rpmchallenge.com/component/option,com_mamblog/Itemid,291/task,show/action,view/id,10037/
I'm aiming to complete all the writing during the first week (by endOfDay 7-Feb). Gonna make for a busy week but if I write one song in the AM before day job, and another in PM after day job, I should be golden. This'll leave a few days to nail down arrangements, and then almost three weeks to record, mix, master (as it is), and ship. Last year it took me 2 wks to write, and trying to record/mix/master/ship in the remaining two weeks was hairy...very hairy.
Last night, spent some time updating software (latest BFD patch) and setting up a default "template" in my recording software for RPM tunes. Basically, two audio tracks ready to go, and multiple outputs from BFD (which is my drum "plug-in"). BFD is amazingly powerful with a ton of options - last year I did all my drum mixing within BFD and just sent a stereo mix to the recording software (SONAR), but this year want individual outputs from BFD going to Sonar to allow for a bit more flexibility during mixing. That is, SONAR will see separate Kick, Snare, Hat, etc. outputs. A PITA to set up, but once the template is done I'll be able to reuse it on all the songs.
Anyway, really excited to CHILL the next few days ("day", I guess), and then rock out with my (proverbial) *ock out for the next month! Good luck to my fellow RPMers and cheers to all visiting/supporting RPMChallenge!
(note this is cross-posted to the RPMChallenge site: http://www.rpmchallenge.com/component/option,com_mamblog/Itemid,291/task,show/action,view/id,10037/
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
