I installed a small shareware OSX app called “Vocal Lab”. It’s basically
a tuner for vocals. If you can sing (which I can’t), you can use
it to test your intonation.
It basically graphs the pitch of your voice (both in terms of
hertz and musical notes).
But the more interesting part is that I now now my speaking
voices ranges from about 105 hertz (A2 or so) up to
about 128 hertz.
played last night with metaArclight.
Went pretty well. Turnout wasnt too bad considering Sonic
Youth was playing in Chapel Hill last night as well.
Myself, badger, and Anthony make up metaArclight.
I played a a usb game controller hooked up to my powerbook
running the “grainstates” instrument from the app Reaktor.
This is basically a granualar resynthesizer (aka, it
takes bits and pieces of a sample and plays back several
chunks at the same time). The controller was setup so
I had control over pitch, volume, grain size, and what
part of the samples the grains were extracted from. I
also had a midi footswitch setup to let me select different
samples and to control the feedback on two delay lines.
The samples themselves were pulled out of various recordings
of Phasmatodea practices.
Anthony had a cd player and various cd’s, a reverse delay,
and a looper. He was also playing the roland handsonic (essentially,
an electronic handdrum) on a tubular bells setting. He was feeding
the handsonic and the cds of chants and other sounds into the delay
and loopers.
badger was setup with the zeta electric upright and
his usual pedal array (well, a good size subset of it anyway…).
We also had two folks (Carlos and Todd) during abstract projections
(custom slides and hand tweaking and manipulation of slide projectors)
during the show. Very cool.
I think it turned out well. I wasn’t should what to expect since
I think all three of us were performing in a fashion we hadn’t done
before live (me on laptop, anthony on samples, steve on bass).
Very swirly churning noises. Fun.
Things I screwed up: I forgot the usb cable I need to hook up
the midi interface and had to run home to get it.
Been looking for an excuse to use my dv camera and the editing
software on the powerbook, maybe this is it.
Who wants to make a movie?
reminder: metaArclight at Bickett Gallery tonight.
Sounds like something badger might enjoy.
Hmm, what have I been up to.
Haven’t been to any shows in a week or two.
More fiddling with the powerbook. I think the music/audio/noise
software I like best so far seems to be Reaktor from
Native Instruments. The demo is quite impressive. Ordered
a real copy.
Also been fiddling with Junxion,
a app that lets you use USB game controllers as midi controllers. Fun.
Speaking of which, it looks like I’ll be playing with metaArchlight this
thursday at 919noise night at Bickett Gallery. I’ll probably be playing
the aforementioned game controller/reaktor/powerbook combo. badger
and Anthony from Subscape Annex are the other folks involved.
Had an idea for “decorating” the powerbook, involving one of the
mac skinz and a cnc laser
cutter. Or perhaps I’ll just paint it.
Phasmatodea practice
yesterday. Listening to the results now. Not bad.
So anyone got an opinion on what the best wave/audio editor for osx is?
So far my favorite is audacity, which is the same one I was using under linux
(its cross platform and open source).
I suspect that since I’m editing ~10-20 minute stereo wav files, I
should be using more of a DAW type thing, so suggestions for
that regard are appreciated as well.
Actually, for that matter, if theres any osx software thats cool
I should check it out, let me know.
Downhill Battle – Music Activism
Interesting site for those of you opposed to the various music corporations[1].
Not sure I agree with them entirely, but at least they are smart enough to
write open source software tools
to help with there goals.
I say I don’t agree completely with them, because their main goal seems
to be to destroy major labels. Which I don’t disagree with, but I don’t
really care that much. Hate major labels? Dont buy from them.
The argument about radio stations makes a little more sense. I don’t
really care what music is on the radio myself, but sense it is
essentially federally dispensed “property” there should probably
be a bit more diversity in the corporations that are allowed to
use that resource.
I also tend to disagree a bit with the idea that it’s okay to
download music. It is copyrighted, and the copyright holders
have the right to limit distribution. No matter how evil
the copyright holders are. Now, that said, I do not believe they
need anymore enforcing power or influence on technology (aka,
see DMCA, INDUCE, various half cocked DRM ideas, etc).
I’m all for civil disobedience for something that important,
but “the new britney album is $19” doesnt exactly seem to
qualify to me.
That said, I think the best thing people making music opposed
to media corporations can do is to choose the license that there
music is distributed under wisely. The
Creative Commons as an example.
[1] “major label” seems like a dumb term to me. It communicates nothing
to most folks about the concern is.
I had written a long entry about my new 1.5ghz/1.5gig ram/80gig hd
powerbook and my various thoughts on it. But then safari crashed and
took my post with it. So here goes version 2.1
It’s ok.
Anyway, its a computer. And therefore subject to the law of
conservation of misery. The interface is pretty, but is difficult
to adjust to. There is lots of software available, but it costs.
The apps are well integrated with each other, but poorly
integrated with anything else.
I’m still getting used to it.
I’ve been thinking about what kind of personal laptop
I wanted for a while. It came down to a powerbook
or a thinkpad. Costwise, they were going to be within
about 20% for equilavent spec hardware.
But I wanted two things that eventually led to the purchase
of the mac. I wanted audio/music apps. And I wanted something
that worked well on the move (power management, wireless,
profiles, etc). Oh, and not Windows.
That pretty much only left one option.
I ordered last sunday, and got it this wednesday. I’ve
already spent way too much money on accessories, and
have more in sight (a nice audio interface and a firewire drive).
It’s kind of odd using a computer and not having a clue how
to do stuff. I had forgotten how much hidden knowledge is
required to become proficient with a computer. In a weird sort
of way, I’m enjoying having to learn the basics and rudiments.
It’s a slightly different feeling being a unexperienced user[1]
after being a poweruser/dumbdeveloper on linux boxes for
about 7 or 8 years.
So far, there are things I love and things I hate. The more
I use it, the more I find faults with the things I love, and
workarounds/etc for the things I hate. [2]
I’ve been taking notes on some of the stuff mentioned
above. I’ll post them at some point. If nothing else,
it might be useful for the next time badger
writes an OS X book.
[1] I _hate_ the term “newbie”. Even dumber variations like
“noob” or “newb” or “N00b” should have their usage punished with
death.
[2] If anyone knows how to kill the startup sound you
get when you boot up, I would be grateful. I want computers
to make horrible noises, but only when I ask them to.
