Tag: Music and Sound

Rethinking My Studio Layout, Part 4: Correcting Some Issues With My Desk

In the previous part of this series, I showed my finished studio desk, and talked about some things I would have done differently in hindsight. After using the desk for some time, I’ve decided to rebuild the entire top half, which consists of the main surface and the rack bays. After thinking about it for… Continue reading Rethinking My Studio Layout, Part 4: Correcting Some Issues With My Desk

Free Notification Sounds

I’ve created three original sound effects for use as notifications on your phone/device. I designed them to sound neutral, non-musical, and unobtrusive while still being recognizable as notifications. I created these because I didn’t like any of the included notification sounds on my new phone–they were all way too aggressive, up-front, and distracting. Download them… Continue reading Free Notification Sounds

Rethinking My Studio Layout, Part 3: New Desk Finished

Continuing from Part 2 of this series, I finally have photos of the new desk. Actually it has been finished for awhile now, but I’ve been reluctant to show photos of it because my studio space is nowhere near final. So, don’t mind the clutter: There are a lot of things I like about this… Continue reading Rethinking My Studio Layout, Part 3: New Desk Finished

Music Producers: Feeling Discouraged? Workflow Issues Could Be To Blame

Creative dry spells have plagued musicians and artists for all of human history. But what if your creative process itself is actually causing the dry spell? I have a simple trick that I use to maximize productivity when I’m having a creative dry spell. The trick is that I use those times to focus on… Continue reading Music Producers: Feeling Discouraged? Workflow Issues Could Be To Blame

Rethinking My Studio Layout, Part 2: A Quick Desk Update

Continuing my previous post about this topic, I have designed a new music production desk, and I’ve started to build it. While I don’t have any drawings or graphics to show you (because my brain is weird and I tend to design things purely mentally), I’ll describe what I’ve decided to do and why. Hopefully,… Continue reading Rethinking My Studio Layout, Part 2: A Quick Desk Update

Shure KSM137 and KSM141: Fantastic Small-Diaphragm Condenser Microphones

Just wanted to pass along this tip about an amazing set of mics. If you need to record acoustic guitar, drums, piano, or entire acoustic bands/ensembles in stereo, you might be looking for the right pair of small-diaphragm condenser microphones. After trying them out on a friend’s acoustic guitar, I’m convinced that the Shure KSM137… Continue reading Shure KSM137 and KSM141: Fantastic Small-Diaphragm Condenser Microphones

The Unreleased E.T. Game for PlayStation 2 Has Fantastic Music

It’s no secret that the score to the movie E.T., composed by the legendary John Williams, is one of my favorite film scores of all time. So it made me happy to discover this unreleased PlayStation 2 E.T. game and its music on YouTube, in which the composer (Dean Evans, I believe?) incorporated a lot… Continue reading The Unreleased E.T. Game for PlayStation 2 Has Fantastic Music

Rethinking My Studio Layout: First Thoughts

My old studio desk just isn’t doing it for me anymore. I cobbled this desk together about 10 years ago from scrap wood with the intention that it would fit my gigantic heavy 88-key keyboard at the time, while still allowing room for the speaker stands, and also minimizing the amount of acoustically reflective surface… Continue reading Rethinking My Studio Layout: First Thoughts

I’m Building a Tube Microphone, and I’m Going to Sell It

Believe it or not, this isn’t as hard as it sounds. I’ve built a microphone before. This week I will be challenging myself by building the V-251 vacuum tube microphone kit sold by the company known as Microphone Parts. I’m also going to build their VPS1 premium power supply, and am getting the premium Gotham… Continue reading I’m Building a Tube Microphone, and I’m Going to Sell It

“The Lunarians” by Nobuo Uematsu recreated on NES sound chip

I’ve always been intrigued by a piece of software called FamiTracker, which lets you create music for the NES console sound hardware. If you are used to using your DAW to create music, then FamiTracker presents a significant learning curve compared to that. But as with anything, if you are patient and committed to learning… Continue reading “The Lunarians” by Nobuo Uematsu recreated on NES sound chip