That's what my girlfriend calls it. And I've actually started to embrace the amount of crap cluttering up my desk and my room in general. I've never seen myself look so fondly upon a stack of wound up ethernet cables and bills sitting on my desk before. What's come over me?
I think I really just need things to happen right now and I can't spend any of my valuable time filing bills or restowing ethernet cables underneath my bed or just generally tidying up, dust be damned. Why are there ethernet cables on my desk anyway? Oh right, that's left over from the massive week long troubleshooting session to figure out what was wrong with my Macbook. That's an interesting story.
I just got it back from the Apple Store and it turns out what I had assumed was the almost worst case scenario, a fried airport card (worst would have been a fried logic board), turned out to only be a fried airport card cable. The culprit. Olives. A few weeks ago, right before this wifi always cutting out and airport card not being recognized business, Alexa and I were at the Tippler eating an over large bowl of olives that we just couldn't finish. One can only handle so many olives. I just get thriftier around her perhaps and wasn't willing to send them back to the kitchen, though, to get trashed, so I asked if they had any kind of container I could carry them out in. They produced, eventually, one of those plastic take out containers that you usually save because they're sturdy enough. I mean, these things are supposed to snap tightly shut and everything. But, no. Olive oil leaked in my bag and some of it soaked into the neoprene case that I keep my laptop in inside my shoulder bag. When I had the thing open the other day, I learned a little about the anatomy of the interior and located the airport card, cable and antenna. Only the next day did it dawn on me that that was the exact corner of the laptop that was probably sitting in olive oil the whole ride home that night.
At any rate, it only cost me $10 for the part and $40 for the labor. And one OS reinstall that has set me back while I sit here and wait for all my files to be copied back over to my Macbook from my PC. That's going to take all night and then I have to reinstall all of my audio software and that's going to take all day tomorrow. With any luck by Wednesday, I'll be back at full operating status and going strong again. And someday maybe I'll clean up this clutter...but it sort of becomes my state of mind right now. I don't need clean right now, I need focused. But I also need, yes, sleep. Eyes = Heavy.
Showing posts with label mac. Show all posts
Showing posts with label mac. Show all posts
Monday, October 15, 2012
Monday, February 6, 2012
Fertile Ground and my electronic music mission statement...
This Thursday evening, Februrary 9th, Tania and I are performing an excerpt of my piece, "Moon, Tides, Cycles"at the National Black Theater in Harlem as part of a concert put on by a group called Fertile Ground. The 2nd Thursday of every month they put on an artist's showcase. Here's a link to this Thursday night's concert. Kinda psyched to be a part of it.
Meanwhile, I have to show up for the dress rehearsal without Tania so that should be interesting. Bringing the usual setup of Macbook, Audio Kontrol 1 interface, microphone, M Audio Axiom controller and all the cables I need to pull this off. Should be in and out of there hopefully rather quick. Since we won't be able to perform the piece in full without Tania there, the aim will just be to get sound out of the speakers and make sure there are no issues.
The amount of times I've performed this piece now, you'd think it'd go more smoothly each time. But, it seems each time, I run across a new problem and have to troubleshoot on the fly. Still, it's a far cry from a year ago when I first started imagining how I would pull off performing the piece when I hadn't even transcribed it. It seemed a monumental task back then but now that I've streamlined the process, and done it a few times, it doesn't seem so gargantuan. I've even thought of things like making sure the night before that the audio preferences in Mainstage are set up so that the audio interface is the main output instead of the speakers on the Macbook. This burned me last time and ate some of our time on stage, because I couldn't get audio out of the speakers and started to freak out a little until I realized what I had done.
It's good also that I've gotten so much use out of this one piece. When I think of the amount of work that went into realizing it, I can't imagine if I had only performed it once. Now the piece has had many different lives, starting out as accompaniment to a dance piece that was never performed again with the music as far as I know, it became my first attempt at live electronic music with a classical performer, and my first use of my laptop to perform music. In many ways, it's going to be a stepping stone to some of the ideas I have for electronic music.
I was doing a little research these past few days and stumbled on something on Ableton's website, with a guy who had looped piano and I started to get a little pissed because that's literally my next move, looping, sampling and tweaking. But then I watched the video and realized that there was nothing terribly special about this guy's music (no offense to him). It was nothing like what I'm intending to do. He was just playing choppy Latin sounding rhythms on the piano and looping and layering them while a DJ spun some beats behind him.
My plan? Oh so much more. I'm going to have the pianist play an odd rhythmic chordal ostinato, which I will then loop and run through some effects while she performs a second piano part over top of it. Meanwhile, I will be taking samples of her performance of the first part of the piece and mangling them, slicing them and creating ethereal soundscapes with them.
In all honesty, my work with piano and electronics is in a far different genre. In fact, any time I think of electronic music, I have no inclination to mimic the bass thumping, beat driven stuff that's out there. My main motive is to take all the software is out there and do something unique that pushes the envelope of what can be done live. The question is, "why do something that I can do without software if I just had more performers playing with me?" The software is not just there to allow me to realize a song without a band, but also so that I can do things that no one can do without software.
How's that for a mission statement? On that note, I'd better go because I have a long night ahead of me (reaching the last stretch though) and another music project to work on for a friend's narrative cinematography reel. And this week is proving to be a busy one as per usual. Luckily, I'm taking the day of the concert off from NY1. Wish me luck. And come see the show!
Meanwhile, I have to show up for the dress rehearsal without Tania so that should be interesting. Bringing the usual setup of Macbook, Audio Kontrol 1 interface, microphone, M Audio Axiom controller and all the cables I need to pull this off. Should be in and out of there hopefully rather quick. Since we won't be able to perform the piece in full without Tania there, the aim will just be to get sound out of the speakers and make sure there are no issues.
The amount of times I've performed this piece now, you'd think it'd go more smoothly each time. But, it seems each time, I run across a new problem and have to troubleshoot on the fly. Still, it's a far cry from a year ago when I first started imagining how I would pull off performing the piece when I hadn't even transcribed it. It seemed a monumental task back then but now that I've streamlined the process, and done it a few times, it doesn't seem so gargantuan. I've even thought of things like making sure the night before that the audio preferences in Mainstage are set up so that the audio interface is the main output instead of the speakers on the Macbook. This burned me last time and ate some of our time on stage, because I couldn't get audio out of the speakers and started to freak out a little until I realized what I had done.
It's good also that I've gotten so much use out of this one piece. When I think of the amount of work that went into realizing it, I can't imagine if I had only performed it once. Now the piece has had many different lives, starting out as accompaniment to a dance piece that was never performed again with the music as far as I know, it became my first attempt at live electronic music with a classical performer, and my first use of my laptop to perform music. In many ways, it's going to be a stepping stone to some of the ideas I have for electronic music.
I was doing a little research these past few days and stumbled on something on Ableton's website, with a guy who had looped piano and I started to get a little pissed because that's literally my next move, looping, sampling and tweaking. But then I watched the video and realized that there was nothing terribly special about this guy's music (no offense to him). It was nothing like what I'm intending to do. He was just playing choppy Latin sounding rhythms on the piano and looping and layering them while a DJ spun some beats behind him.
My plan? Oh so much more. I'm going to have the pianist play an odd rhythmic chordal ostinato, which I will then loop and run through some effects while she performs a second piano part over top of it. Meanwhile, I will be taking samples of her performance of the first part of the piece and mangling them, slicing them and creating ethereal soundscapes with them.
In all honesty, my work with piano and electronics is in a far different genre. In fact, any time I think of electronic music, I have no inclination to mimic the bass thumping, beat driven stuff that's out there. My main motive is to take all the software is out there and do something unique that pushes the envelope of what can be done live. The question is, "why do something that I can do without software if I just had more performers playing with me?" The software is not just there to allow me to realize a song without a band, but also so that I can do things that no one can do without software.
How's that for a mission statement? On that note, I'd better go because I have a long night ahead of me (reaching the last stretch though) and another music project to work on for a friend's narrative cinematography reel. And this week is proving to be a busy one as per usual. Luckily, I'm taking the day of the concert off from NY1. Wish me luck. And come see the show!
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Cornelia Street Cafe...
The concert tonight at Cornelia Street Cafe went really really well. It's funny how after three performances of Moon, Tides, Cycles, there are still technical difficulties that come up but fortunately, I've been getting better and better at troubleshooting under pressure. Plus, we've been getting better at performing the piece together.
The night begins with me arriving early and having to wait upstairs since the previous show was still going on and the venue was packed. So, I'm thinking already, it's going to be pretty small downstairs. Old West Village building, tiny staircase leading to basement performance space. I sat drinking my wine at the bar upstairs trying to imagine how little space we'd have to set up. When Tania arrived, the downstairs was emptying so we wiggled our way downstairs, me with all of my equipment taking up the whole width of the stairs practically, making it near impossible for people to get out. So that took a bit.
When I came to the bottom of the stairs and through the doorway into the space, I saw that it was, in fact, fairly long with many tables lining the walls with a full service bar just to the right as you walk in the door. The stage, though small, fit a baby grand piano with just enough space for me to tuck myself into the corner with one of the tables from the dining area to set up all of my equipment on top of, and still have room to stand comfortably without knocking anything over. No rickety music stand for my laptop this time either.
Once I finished setting up my equipment, we tested the sound. Our sound guy, a Bulgarian as well, hit it off with Tania right away. In fact, they were conversing in rapid-fire Bulgarian from the moment they were acquainted leaving yours truly half confused as to what they were discussing. He was very helpful though when it came to setting up my equipment and understood all of my requests without questioning me or seeming confused.
So, I was pretty confident from the beginning that, barring any problems with my equipment, we'd at least get good sound. However, upon powering up the M Audio Axiom 25 that Lacy gave me, I realized it wasn't talking to my audio interface. Instead of freaking out, (okay, I freaked out a little), I used the track pad on the laptop to twist some knobs so we could at least test the audio, while the place was empty. After that I tried talking to my equipment a little until it occurred to me to use their wifi to download the manual for the keyboard and figure out how to do a hard reset. I remembered that the other night, while we were rehearsing, I may have hit some buttons and changed some settings inadvertently. I was trying to get the USB cable to function (which it won't because I stupid broke it…long story) because I didn't have my MIDI cable with me that night and in the process I was aware that some of the things I was doing to test it might need to be undone. Luckily, I had the presence of mind to remember that little episode so, I knew exactly what to look up in the manual: how to do a hard reset. After clicking on a few articles, I learned all one must do is hold the + and - buttons while powering up the keyboard. Easy.
After that, I twiddled the knobs to check it was working, solicited a high five from the sound guy and slipped out to use the restroom. On the way out, I overheard someone in the ticket line coming in saying they had heard about this event in the paper. Wow! I thought. Then I looked at the crowd and realized that they were mostly comprised of people who looked as though they either were regulars there or just walked in off the street for dinner and a show. A co worker of mine also showed up along with a lot of Tania's friends whom I've met before. So overall a great turnout. I think it was even one of the best turnouts we've had, other than the Metropolitan Room. I, unfortunately, had to come right in here to work on the overnight so I didn't get to socialize a whole lot with the audience and Tania's friends but I did get to chat a bit before leaving. But I did get to hear some compliments and talk with one of Tania's friends about the software that I use.
There's been some talk about us doing this again in Boston but now I'm looking forward to the next piece that we will perform together, a new longer version of a piano sketch that I'm turning into a piano and electronics piece. This should be pretty awesome…I will say more about it in another blog soon hopefully. For now, I must get back to work. Good night! Pictures from the concert are coming soon!
The night begins with me arriving early and having to wait upstairs since the previous show was still going on and the venue was packed. So, I'm thinking already, it's going to be pretty small downstairs. Old West Village building, tiny staircase leading to basement performance space. I sat drinking my wine at the bar upstairs trying to imagine how little space we'd have to set up. When Tania arrived, the downstairs was emptying so we wiggled our way downstairs, me with all of my equipment taking up the whole width of the stairs practically, making it near impossible for people to get out. So that took a bit.
When I came to the bottom of the stairs and through the doorway into the space, I saw that it was, in fact, fairly long with many tables lining the walls with a full service bar just to the right as you walk in the door. The stage, though small, fit a baby grand piano with just enough space for me to tuck myself into the corner with one of the tables from the dining area to set up all of my equipment on top of, and still have room to stand comfortably without knocking anything over. No rickety music stand for my laptop this time either.
Once I finished setting up my equipment, we tested the sound. Our sound guy, a Bulgarian as well, hit it off with Tania right away. In fact, they were conversing in rapid-fire Bulgarian from the moment they were acquainted leaving yours truly half confused as to what they were discussing. He was very helpful though when it came to setting up my equipment and understood all of my requests without questioning me or seeming confused.
So, I was pretty confident from the beginning that, barring any problems with my equipment, we'd at least get good sound. However, upon powering up the M Audio Axiom 25 that Lacy gave me, I realized it wasn't talking to my audio interface. Instead of freaking out, (okay, I freaked out a little), I used the track pad on the laptop to twist some knobs so we could at least test the audio, while the place was empty. After that I tried talking to my equipment a little until it occurred to me to use their wifi to download the manual for the keyboard and figure out how to do a hard reset. I remembered that the other night, while we were rehearsing, I may have hit some buttons and changed some settings inadvertently. I was trying to get the USB cable to function (which it won't because I stupid broke it…long story) because I didn't have my MIDI cable with me that night and in the process I was aware that some of the things I was doing to test it might need to be undone. Luckily, I had the presence of mind to remember that little episode so, I knew exactly what to look up in the manual: how to do a hard reset. After clicking on a few articles, I learned all one must do is hold the + and - buttons while powering up the keyboard. Easy.
After that, I twiddled the knobs to check it was working, solicited a high five from the sound guy and slipped out to use the restroom. On the way out, I overheard someone in the ticket line coming in saying they had heard about this event in the paper. Wow! I thought. Then I looked at the crowd and realized that they were mostly comprised of people who looked as though they either were regulars there or just walked in off the street for dinner and a show. A co worker of mine also showed up along with a lot of Tania's friends whom I've met before. So overall a great turnout. I think it was even one of the best turnouts we've had, other than the Metropolitan Room. I, unfortunately, had to come right in here to work on the overnight so I didn't get to socialize a whole lot with the audience and Tania's friends but I did get to chat a bit before leaving. But I did get to hear some compliments and talk with one of Tania's friends about the software that I use.
There's been some talk about us doing this again in Boston but now I'm looking forward to the next piece that we will perform together, a new longer version of a piano sketch that I'm turning into a piano and electronics piece. This should be pretty awesome…I will say more about it in another blog soon hopefully. For now, I must get back to work. Good night! Pictures from the concert are coming soon!
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Productivity and functionality...
I have the Macbook Pro now. I'm slowly getting to know it and installing all of the software I use, synths, notation software, samplers and most exciting, Logic Pro, my DAW. It's giving me the most problems so far. Logic is one of those programs where you have to connect a USB dongle (love the word dongle) each time you use the program. I'm not sure whether or not this is the problem but the first time I installed it, it would close and spit out an error report every time I tried to open it. Fooey. But beyond that, any frustrations with software installation and whatnot have been dwarfed by the excitement of having such ease of functionality and sheer portability on my side for once. I was able to do a lot of these things while on my break at work...since someone clued me in to the free wi-fi from Google's offices that you can tap into from the far conference room at NY1. Shhh! Our little secret.
Anyhow, I've decided to stay in tonight and mess around with my new toy, in lieu of my jam session which was canceled. I need the night in at this point, too. It's been a busy week with a lot of revelry squeezed in the empty spaces. Lacy and I had a great practice on Wednesday followed by a nice French dinner and a bottle of wine at the location of one of the open mic nights we've been researching. The lounge area where they hold the open mic at Belleville Bistro on 5th Avenue was regrettably closed for renovation. Tomorrow, we plan on rehearsing some more and then going to the open mic night at Pete's Candy Store in Williamsburg. This one we may actually perform, depending on how practice goes.
Meanwhile, I'm on my third attempt to get my Audio Kontrol interface to work with the Macbook Pro. Reading up on Macbook troubleshooting stuff I think I'm close to trying out some solution that might work. For a second there I was worried it was a faulty USB output on the device itself because the light was blinking on and off. Then when I realized it was a regular blinking, I figured it was probably a sign of something. More on my progress later though. Isn't troubleshooting fun?
I'll tell you what is fun. The new version of Sibelius, version 6. I've been using it on the new Macbook while on my break from work, and I'm finding out just how much I love being able to use my breaks to make advances on my various projects. Plus, the new program has some new features that are making life so much easier on me. Stand by for a short blog about its functions and features. I've been starting to blog on the new site, which should be up any day now, about audio and music software, and other music related topics.
Meanwhile, because of the added productivity of the new laptop, I'm hoping to have Collapsing Elbows and the choral piece done within a few days now. Wish me luck!
Anyhow, I've decided to stay in tonight and mess around with my new toy, in lieu of my jam session which was canceled. I need the night in at this point, too. It's been a busy week with a lot of revelry squeezed in the empty spaces. Lacy and I had a great practice on Wednesday followed by a nice French dinner and a bottle of wine at the location of one of the open mic nights we've been researching. The lounge area where they hold the open mic at Belleville Bistro on 5th Avenue was regrettably closed for renovation. Tomorrow, we plan on rehearsing some more and then going to the open mic night at Pete's Candy Store in Williamsburg. This one we may actually perform, depending on how practice goes.
Meanwhile, I'm on my third attempt to get my Audio Kontrol interface to work with the Macbook Pro. Reading up on Macbook troubleshooting stuff I think I'm close to trying out some solution that might work. For a second there I was worried it was a faulty USB output on the device itself because the light was blinking on and off. Then when I realized it was a regular blinking, I figured it was probably a sign of something. More on my progress later though. Isn't troubleshooting fun?
I'll tell you what is fun. The new version of Sibelius, version 6. I've been using it on the new Macbook while on my break from work, and I'm finding out just how much I love being able to use my breaks to make advances on my various projects. Plus, the new program has some new features that are making life so much easier on me. Stand by for a short blog about its functions and features. I've been starting to blog on the new site, which should be up any day now, about audio and music software, and other music related topics.
Meanwhile, because of the added productivity of the new laptop, I'm hoping to have Collapsing Elbows and the choral piece done within a few days now. Wish me luck!
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Music, music, music, music, music!!!
My plate is full and lots of stuff on the horizon, almost all of it musical. Tania and I are trying to sort out her booking for Le Poisson Rouge in early May, the show where she'll be premiering my piano sketch and performing my piece for dance, piano and electronics from last year, Collapsing Elbows. The jazz choir is performing in a little over a month and I've been asked to trasncribe a trio that will be sung by myself, a soprano from the group and my friend Rick, who is also a member of the group. Rick will be playing ukulele and I, guitar. I'm also finally starting to get a grip on the structure of the choral piece I'm writing and should have that mostly done within the week. As for when it'll be performed, hopefully before the summertime. Lacy and I are also getting ready to start taking on the NYC open mic scene in a few weeks as well. We had the one rehearsal and I'm starting now to learn the songs we didn't go over as well as practicing the ones we did.
I'm exceedingly happy right now because I finally purchased a Mac Book Pro, the device that is going to set me free, literally. I will now be untethered with my music. Meaning in a few weeks to months when Lacy and I start performing out, I can bring all of my effects and not just my guitar. Plus, it means that I can really start working out and programming all of my songs, too. I'm quite excited about it all. Ideas for the electronic music project are flying around left and right and it's all I can do to get them written down in some form, whether it's just notes about how to implement and innovate, or actually putting together new beats and learning the ins and outs of my synths and software.
What else?! Well, I got to see some more music Saturday night as well. I was bouncing back and forth between The Living Room and White Rabbit where a friend was having her birthday party. And it was really cold to be doing so but I managed. My friend Rick organizes a ukulele salon once a month at The Googies Lounge above The Living Room on Ludlow St. His group, The Suaverinos, is the headliner for the evening and each time it's an eclectic mix of anything from hip hop ukulele (which I'm sure I blogged about last time) to straight up Polynesian music to professional comedians like the one I saw Saturday night. Esther Ku was absolutely hilarious. I never saw her on Last Comic Standing but I heard that's one of her many claims to fame...one of them being rewriting oldies with lyrics about masturbation, a feat I witnessed first hand amongst some embarrassed patrons of that particular bar. It was pretty damned funny.
I split after her set to make an appearance at the White Rabbit with the intention of stopping back by to hear Rick's set at 10pm. The Suaverinos played a great set with a couple of standards, the highlight for me being "'Round Midnight." They had a sultry alto singing with them that wasn't there the last time I saw them and she just blew me away.
After the Suaverinos I dodged back over to White Rabbit to rejoin the party already in progress. The scene had changed from a few scattered groups of people, hanging out at the tables, watching the video installations and chatting to being semi-packed with much louder music playing...much louder. I had conversations that I had no idea what they were about with people whose names I never heard. But that's how you know you're having fun, right? See all the photos I was tagged in on facebook this past weekend.
Friday night was a fun one too, matter of fact. A co-worker was having a going away party so I actually got to hang out with people I work with and meet people that I only ever talk to on the phone. Again, loud bar, though. This time Meatpacking District. Place called Brass Monkey. Regrettably, it was too packed to enjoy the rooftop area in this four level bar. The weather was incredible. It would have been nice.
But here we are, 20 degree weather and another snowfall (this time pretty weak, only 2-4 inches that melted right away). Soon, this winter will be over. I can feel it. And it's going to be a great summer.
I'm exceedingly happy right now because I finally purchased a Mac Book Pro, the device that is going to set me free, literally. I will now be untethered with my music. Meaning in a few weeks to months when Lacy and I start performing out, I can bring all of my effects and not just my guitar. Plus, it means that I can really start working out and programming all of my songs, too. I'm quite excited about it all. Ideas for the electronic music project are flying around left and right and it's all I can do to get them written down in some form, whether it's just notes about how to implement and innovate, or actually putting together new beats and learning the ins and outs of my synths and software.
What else?! Well, I got to see some more music Saturday night as well. I was bouncing back and forth between The Living Room and White Rabbit where a friend was having her birthday party. And it was really cold to be doing so but I managed. My friend Rick organizes a ukulele salon once a month at The Googies Lounge above The Living Room on Ludlow St. His group, The Suaverinos, is the headliner for the evening and each time it's an eclectic mix of anything from hip hop ukulele (which I'm sure I blogged about last time) to straight up Polynesian music to professional comedians like the one I saw Saturday night. Esther Ku was absolutely hilarious. I never saw her on Last Comic Standing but I heard that's one of her many claims to fame...one of them being rewriting oldies with lyrics about masturbation, a feat I witnessed first hand amongst some embarrassed patrons of that particular bar. It was pretty damned funny.
I split after her set to make an appearance at the White Rabbit with the intention of stopping back by to hear Rick's set at 10pm. The Suaverinos played a great set with a couple of standards, the highlight for me being "'Round Midnight." They had a sultry alto singing with them that wasn't there the last time I saw them and she just blew me away.
After the Suaverinos I dodged back over to White Rabbit to rejoin the party already in progress. The scene had changed from a few scattered groups of people, hanging out at the tables, watching the video installations and chatting to being semi-packed with much louder music playing...much louder. I had conversations that I had no idea what they were about with people whose names I never heard. But that's how you know you're having fun, right? See all the photos I was tagged in on facebook this past weekend.
Friday night was a fun one too, matter of fact. A co-worker was having a going away party so I actually got to hang out with people I work with and meet people that I only ever talk to on the phone. Again, loud bar, though. This time Meatpacking District. Place called Brass Monkey. Regrettably, it was too packed to enjoy the rooftop area in this four level bar. The weather was incredible. It would have been nice.
But here we are, 20 degree weather and another snowfall (this time pretty weak, only 2-4 inches that melted right away). Soon, this winter will be over. I can feel it. And it's going to be a great summer.
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