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Building A Dream Recording Studio (Page 10)
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subego  (op)
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Jan 11, 2015, 01:52 PM
 
Lots o cable...



If I do anything right, it's clean cable runs. Nothing is run across the floor unless absolutely necessary.
     
subego  (op)
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Jan 17, 2015, 10:05 AM
 
Well, I survived recording the audition. We're almost done with it, all it needs are titles, which I'm working on now.

Made all kinds of mistakes during the recording. Thankfully, none of them were deal-breakers. The two notable mistakes were:

1) Not having a more robust battery system for the mixer. It can run off of AAs, and I know it chews through them, but I wasn't quite expecting them to burn so quickly. I'd never run that many channels at once.

2) I totally ****ed up the clarinet. Mic wasn't close enough. She's not audible at all. I needed to profusely apologize to her. Thankfully, she's very forgiving.

Otherwise, I'm excited to get this out. I think it sounds pretty good, especially considering how horrible the room is acoustically (drywall, shaped like a shoebox). I would have liked to tweak the lighting a bit, but there wasn't the time or resources.

We want to finish it today. I'll post it as soon as it's done!
     
subego  (op)
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Jan 18, 2015, 07:47 AM
 
Well, it's today... today.

Tear it up, gang.

Video audition for NPR's Tiny Desk Concert series
     
andi*pandi
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Jan 18, 2015, 12:32 PM
 
Very cool. I love their expressions and style. Catchy tune! Some of the lyrics were a tad hard to decipher?
     
subego  (op)
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Jan 18, 2015, 01:27 PM
 
Thank you!

Are the lyrics "can't hear" hard to understand, or "poorly enunciated" hard to understand?
( Last edited by subego; Jan 18, 2015 at 01:39 PM. )
     
subego  (op)
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Jan 18, 2015, 01:33 PM
 
I want to toss in we also have a video on our channel for a Kickstarter we planned to do but never materialized. In fact, it was to raise scratch for the very album we're mixing right now.

It's notable because:

1) Shot with a full DSLR rig, so it's extra purty.
2) 80% of the people are different.

http://youtu.be/-CKK2Wy_g1g
     
subego  (op)
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Jan 18, 2015, 01:38 PM
 
Also, I apologize for begging here, but subscriptions and likes genuinely help us out!
     
andi*pandi
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Jan 19, 2015, 02:12 PM
 
Originally Posted by subego View Post
Thank you!

Are the lyrics "can't hear" hard to understand, or "poorly enunciated" hard to understand?
a little of both, did I mention I'm old? I'm old.
but on the 3rd viewing I think I got it sorted out. Very catchy.
     
subego  (op)
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Jan 20, 2015, 08:05 AM
 
Thank you, again! I'm glad you're willing to give it multiple viewings!

I hope the lyrics turned out "well". Today I was enjoying the song "Raise the Shark".

Imagine my dismay when I find out that's "Razor Sharp". Raise the Shark is much better.
     
subego  (op)
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Jan 20, 2015, 09:46 AM
 
Someone in a relatively well known punk band saw the videos and said they'd pimp us to their booker. The quote was "I want you to succeed".

I've been around long enough to expect absolutely nothing from this, but it's certainly a nice feeling.
     
andi*pandi
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Jan 20, 2015, 10:37 AM
 
I think it's mostly when the male singer leans back from the microphone. Or are those just prop microphones?

It's a good enough song that it's been in my head. Also, my kid went around singsonging "but it's a ver-y NICE desk!" for a good 10 minutes after we watched.
     
subego  (op)
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Jan 20, 2015, 10:40 AM
 
That is awesome.
     
subego  (op)
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Jan 20, 2015, 11:09 AM
 
Forgot to answer your question!

The mics are real, so there was a volume change in the recording when he moves. I didn't mix it, but compared to what it was, I'm sure the guy who did (the lead singer) put a lot of effort into smoothing it out.

I gave him something of a crap recording to deal with, so anything which is hard to hear (coff... CLARINET... coff), you can rest squarely on my shoulders.
     
subego  (op)
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Jan 30, 2015, 11:56 PM
 
Holy shit! NPR put us on their tumblr!

Tiny Desk Contest
     
reader50
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Jan 31, 2015, 02:16 AM
 
Moving up in the world. Though I wish they got a photo including your cyborg.

btw, from the NPR website:
There are millions of unknown bands and musicians in the USA...
As written, there are at least 2 million bands in the USA. I can buy 2 million musicians, but not 2 million bands.
     
subego  (op)
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Jan 31, 2015, 12:39 PM
 
We debated whether to have these costumes, or the cabaret ones.

We went with these since we feel they appeal to the widest audience.

The good news is our cyborg (the cat on the left) is no longer going to bow out due to day job friction, so we'll get to see more!


I think NPR is getting their numbers by including air guitar solo acts.
     
Spheric Harlot
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Feb 1, 2015, 11:51 AM
 
Originally Posted by subego View Post
Holy shit! NPR put us on their tumblr!

Tiny Desk Contest
Now there's a bunch of people who know what they're doing.

Nice job.
     
subego  (op)
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Feb 1, 2015, 12:05 PM
 
Thank you!
     
Cap'n Tightpants
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Feb 1, 2015, 01:23 PM
 
"Suffice to say, we were making a lot of people very, very happy!"
*mixed expressions*

I liked that.
"I have a dream, that my four little children will one day live in a
nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin,
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subego  (op)
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Feb 1, 2015, 10:46 PM
 
Thank you as well!
     
Cap'n Tightpants
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Feb 1, 2015, 11:59 PM
 
Who does your scripting?
"I have a dream, that my four little children will one day live in a
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subego  (op)
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Feb 2, 2015, 02:22 AM
 
The lead singer. He also wrote/directed the routines... and the song.
     
andi*pandi
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Feb 2, 2015, 12:20 PM
 
congrats on tumblr!
     
subego  (op)
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Feb 2, 2015, 05:03 PM
 
Danke!
     
subego  (op)
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Feb 12, 2015, 12:50 PM
 
Aaaaaand... we lost.

To be expected though. They they put a clip of us in their compilation video as extra consolation.

Overall, no complaints. We have a video, which we needed. It turned out well and was well received.
     
andi*pandi
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Feb 12, 2015, 01:09 PM
 
Aww. Well, the winner seemed pretty cool too.
     
subego  (op)
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Feb 12, 2015, 01:32 PM
 
I will fully admit I am far too petty to have looked at it.
( Last edited by subego; Feb 12, 2015 at 02:15 PM. )
     
subego  (op)
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Feb 17, 2015, 01:07 PM
 
Logic failed its download of new instruments and is now corrupting any file you open with it. It just changes instrument patches willy-nilly.

What do you mean... you don't want your tubular bells to sound like a French horn?

I hate this ****ing program. **** you, Apple.
     
subego  (op)
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Feb 17, 2015, 09:56 PM
 
Fresh install of Logic on another computer. It won't download instruments.

I have two bricked copies of Logic on two separate computers now. If I didn't have a version on my laptop without the instrument update, that would have been it. Work would have stopped until Apple un****ed this.

This is the point where I register the change. Apple's just another shit company now.
     
subego  (op)
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Feb 17, 2015, 10:45 PM
 
Okay... perhaps I've overreacted slightly. Slightly.

The fresh install was acting like it hadn't loaded any instruments, but it seems to have done so.
     
reader50
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Feb 17, 2015, 10:47 PM
 
Perhaps check your Logic version sys requirements vs your OS version? I've heard of studios staying on older OS versions to avoid breaking mission-critical software.
     
Spheric Harlot
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Feb 18, 2015, 04:19 AM
 
Downloading the new content was a little wonky on my system, as well - it only worked under the main (office) user, not under the studio account. Not seeing any corruption yet, and the Mellotrons are rather nice. The new compressor model is awesome.
     
subego  (op)
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Feb 18, 2015, 02:51 PM
 
Originally Posted by reader50 View Post
Perhaps check your Logic version sys requirements vs your OS version? I've heard of studios staying on older OS versions to avoid breaking mission-critical software.
I've had the instrument download problem on both Yosemite and Mavericks, but the corruption is on Mav.

My normal update policy is to not when I'm in the middle of a project, but I thought:

A) It's only instruments, what could go wrong?
B) I wanted the frigging notification "there are new instruments" to stop.
     
subego  (op)
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Feb 18, 2015, 02:53 PM
 
Originally Posted by Spheric Harlot View Post
Downloading the new content was a little wonky on my system, as well - it only worked under the main (office) user, not under the studio account. Not seeing any corruption yet, and the Mellotrons are rather nice. The new compressor model is awesome.
Permissions issue maybe?

I don't let my day to day accounts have admin privileges. Those are the accounts I used for the installs.
     
Spheric Harlot
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Feb 18, 2015, 03:30 PM
 
Both Admin accounts. Both set to English (there were download issues with accounts set to German).
     
subego  (op)
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Feb 18, 2015, 03:46 PM
 
Cross that one off then.

The corruption problems were 99% likely my fault. What threw me was my fresh install of Logic seemed to have its entire instrument section borked.

That turned out not to be the case. Logic just behaved that way for a minute, causing me to have a meltdown.
     
subego  (op)
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May 22, 2015, 01:49 PM
 
Things are going way slow, but there's finally some semi-fun activity.

We're playing at the Double Door, which is the top venue in the city which still considers itself a bar. We decided to shoot a little commercial for it.

Thus, my office from the Tiny Desk audition is now our greenscreen studio.



I haven't done this in frigging ages.

The grey panels are to try and cut down on how "live" the room is. We're probably going to end up dubbing in all the dialogue, though we're trying to get something we can use on the original recording.
     
subego  (op)
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May 23, 2015, 02:04 AM
 


It'll do.
     
Laminar
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May 23, 2015, 08:12 AM
 
Hahaha awesome.
     
Cap'n Tightpants
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May 23, 2015, 08:43 AM
 
You forgot to slather jam on his head.
"I have a dream, that my four little children will one day live in a
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subego  (op)
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Jun 3, 2015, 09:20 AM
 
About as late as we could get it out to promote the show it's for, we finished a grand total of one out of a planned three commercials.

Just under a minute.

     
unicast reversepath
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Jun 3, 2015, 03:55 PM
 
Nice!
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Cap'n Tightpants
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Jun 3, 2015, 07:39 PM
 
Hell, I'd go (if I weren't currently 2400 miles away).
"I have a dream, that my four little children will one day live in a
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subego  (op)
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Jun 3, 2015, 09:47 PM
 
Thank you both!

It's good to hear people like it. I may just have been soaking in it to long, but it's not my favorite work. It's a good percentage of the way there, but I feel it needs a week or two more of polish.
     
andi*pandi
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Jun 4, 2015, 12:23 PM
 
Sometimes the hardest part about design is knowing when to stop yourself. Perfection doesn't matter if the deadline comes and goes...

I like it. Is that the same lead singer? Looks thinner.
     
subego  (op)
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Jun 4, 2015, 01:00 PM
 
Thank you!

This is the cat on the left when she's not a cat... sorta like the cat on the right becomes the zombie, catholic school cyborg.
     
subego  (op)
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Jun 4, 2015, 01:29 PM
 
Whoops!

I just made this cool, minute-long promo for my band... I'd love for you to check it out! : chicago

This link to reddit just fell out of my pocket... this can't be me trawling for upvotes because that's totally against the rules.
     
subego  (op)
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Jun 4, 2015, 02:16 PM
 
People can also comment on my reddit marketing acumen. I think I got the right shape to dodge reddit's fickle attitude about being advertised to, but kinda blew it on the execution. I've already needed to add a post where I call myself an idiot.

Likewise... posting at midnight was the wrong call.
     
subego  (op)
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Jun 4, 2015, 03:02 PM
 
I'm getting complaints it's not particularly effective if you know nothing about the band.

I kinda have to agree with that.
     
Laminar
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Jun 5, 2015, 10:40 AM
 
Timing is everything.
     
 
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