Mood: Tired
Listening To: Dream Theater - A Change of Seasons.

 

 

 

It's interesting to go through certain stages of life.  Currently, I think I'm at a point where I'm enjoying life in a very sadistic way?

My partners at Starbucks can't seem to understand my enthusiasm towards work, and whatever I do.

Sometimes I wonder how is it possible, myself?

There's The Secret, but then again, it's all about the mind.

Currently, I'm working during closing hours in Starbucks, and it's no joke to try and juggle my schedule.  I don't even see the faces of my housemates/ex-gf anymore when I go home.  Since my laptop's at the HP Service Centre because I either blew the RAM or motherboard's BIOS, I only relax at home with my iPod and what's left of it.

And imagine, having speakers with a subwoofer, but an 320 x 480 resolution based screen just to watch Top Gear.

Very simple, and homely.  I'll post a picture to that when I get the laptop back.  Should be getting a call either today or tomorrow.

Although the loss of my laptop for a total of 5 days sounds kind of .. sad, but I'm extremely contented with what I have at the moment.  The people that surrounds me, the people I'm working with, and .. stuff, I guess?

Currently, I'm checking out my latest project that I've been asked to session, once again.  It's Iz's song - Bersama/Together.  Since the beat's being laid out, my job is to only stuff in the usual guitar nonsense.  And what I have as a draft, sounds a little bit different.

Although the beginning does sound like John Petrucci's solo in Another Day, it somewhat surprises and disappoints me.

But since the ending sounds good enough to overcome that minor problem, I don't mind at all.

And you heard?  DJ Tiesto's coming down to Port Dickson.  I never said that I wasn't a fan of Trance/House/clubbing nonsense before, meaning to say that I have nothing against them.  Therefore, since the event's in Port Dickson @ Admiral Marina Club, guess who got free tickets?  XD ..

As many tickets as I want, and either on single or both nights.  HOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHO.  XDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD

 

 

 

 

But, if I really think about what I'm doing, I don't feel sad.  I feel rather contented.  I don't know why I feel this way, but .. it's not like me to feel this way.  But this whole feeling and perception of life is simply..amazing?  I'm getting paid for work, I'm catching up with studies naturally even when I don't pay attention, and the exposure to this side of the music industry is a great start.

Especially when you're finally getting paid for music, it's an achievement - but it won't last for long, I know.

Plans for Starbucks:
- Work long term even as a part timer till I move to Melbourne.  Try to apply for Coffee Master status (unsure about District Coffee Master title) .. Get to Melbourne, settle down there for a few months till I'm legal to work as a part timer there.  I heard in Melbourne/Starbucks Coffee International (not Berjaya Starbucks Coffee Sdn Bhd, duh), you can apply as a part-time supervisor from my other senior partners in Australia if you worked in Malaysia or something?  Or maybe it's a Starbucks International rule thing that never seem to existed because of Dato Vincent Goh ...

 

 

 

 

Well, being single is fun - if you don't think about needing the significant other.  I'm not saying that I'm stubborn.  I love to share benefits or whatever it is among friends, it's just that.. I have to admit that I do not have the time to care and love for someone .. special?

Besides, I'm out of strength to go on in any relationships.  I'm worn out.  Lol.

 

 

 

 

Oh.  Good news.  I managed to get back on the guitars again.  :)

 

 

 

 

PS.  For those who are working in the F&B line .. Grease traps are probably .. I don't know.  A blessing in disguise to piss off your manager if he's close by.. XD

Mood: Tired
Listening To: Bersama guitar nonsense









I've never written a solo like this before.  It's simple, melodious, and it sounds wicked at parts.  I finally managed to be one with an analogue instrument itself to make it speak my soul, feelings and emotions out for a short period, I guess?

I do dig it, but it needs more work.  Somehow, as nearly perfect as it sounds, there can be more things that can be added to.. make it sound tighter?

... ????

Questions, questions.  I'll hit the recording studio soon, and see what else I can come up with.  After all, recording along with the vocals is a better idea.  More ideas to come up with, and at least I would have an overall view about how the theme for that certain section of the song is supposed to be.

Ooh.

I met Nick Lee!  Huhuhu.  He's simply amazing.  I would want to watch him master Iz's EP, and soon, Kelvyn's other projects.  He hasn't met up with Kelvyn before, but he has heard about him before.  And I'm surprised that he said that he heard that Kelvyn's a good guitarist plays at lightning speed!  Wooo!!!!!!!!

THAT'S THE PENANG MUSIC SCENE FOR YOU LAAAAHH!!!! XDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD










Besides that, I don't think the break up was a good idea.  Not even the break.  Sometimes, it really makes me wonder if I'm able to turn back time and not meet her instead.  It's painful to watch someone else in tears..

.. Or is it?  :)

Mood: Neutral
Listening To: Nothing yet.









Please be warned that you will get lost while reading this journal, but if you're planning to record guitars, and if you're a clumsy player in the studios, please read on.  You might learn a thing or two.

Note to Wormy:  Found a cleaner way to record guitars now.  WHEEEEEEEE

I think there's a new revolution to guitar recording for me, if I'm lazy to practice.  Although it's not really a method that'll earn respect from other great guitarists, but here's a time saving method to record guitars if you're a clumsy/dirty player.

Like, hitting the open strings during a solo, or when you bend your strings too hard, and eventually hitting the other strings which causes an open noted string.  Or unwanted raked notes with the pick/palm.

Kelvyn taught me to use a sock (or anything that you can tie around the guitar neck to muffle any unwanted sounds) and tie around the guitar neck, and start pulling off legato notes .. Or the two hands on the neck technique, like what Steve Vai and Joe Satriani does on concerts.

It would be crazy to have your right hand always holding onto the neck for an hour or two when you're practicing at home, right?  So just use the sock to replace your right hand then.

Not only is this method good for practicing legato solos with, but it's a good 'tool' to use to record solos which are based on the frets which aren't being muffled by the cloth/sock.  I tried it just now, and my playing sounded superb!  No messiness for the first time in my life, but I was cheating myself.

Only in the studios, I guess I'll use this method for a cleaner guitar sound.  Other than that, I'll just keep on practising.










Yum.  Any FDM guitar riffs that needed to be recorded?  :D

Mood: Tired
Listening To: Red Hot Chili Peppers - Dani California

 

 

 

I'm definitely not being myself these days.  I guess I'm going through another metamorphosis stage at the moment.

But then again, some few things amuses me.  Okay, not some things, but I was listening to Joe Satriani's solo in the G3's Little Wing song back in 2004.  I tried to break it down and noticed that his picking is barely audible.  Now I'm wondering, how do some artists eliminitate that DJ wannabe scratching sound from the guitar when you pick the strings with a plucktrum?

I suppose I got all the time in the world to figure that out.  I just don't want to hear that "shrak shrak shrak shrak" sound when we start shredding.

Anyways, there're a couple of bands I just came across again.  Right now, I would recommend you to listen to Within Temptations if you're a fan of both Heavy Metal, and Orchestral music.  The vocalist can go pretty much high too - the usual goth female vocals; meaning to say that they don't use falseto's to hit the high notes.

Amazing.

And best of all; the mixing product is outstanding.  It's not normal, and it reminded me of XMZ's product from his minor project, Malerjia, in Russia.  It's all about plugins, I suppose and I can't use any of those.

Hooray for Vista.

And speaking of odd mixing.  I've never heard of a band that has the bass guitar on one speaker, and the guitars on the other.  That would be Red Hot Chili Peppers.  Surprisingly, the tightness of the band is still at presence; I suppose this is about tone control and coordination of the band before one's responsibility in the song drowns the other?

Yeah, reminds me of how screwed up Six Strings Samurais can be when we go a little bit too wild.  The horror of the acoustic set last Saturday.. Daniel, Paul and Schizzow once witness an average guitarist.. devoluting into  a voilinist who tried to pick up the guitar on his or her very first time.

Right now, I'm listening to one of the best produced Hip Hop album that just came out locally.  Point Blanc's solo album.  Although I left my album back in Penang and only ripped Ipohmali from the CD, I can't enjoy all of that.. Greatness.

The beats are far beyond dope, anyways.

Jaclyn Victor XD.. still love the way how she did the vocals for that song.. hohoho

But anyways, I'm still on the hunt for Huur Huur Tu.  If you happen to find their album lying around in the International section of any music shops, let me know.  I'm dying to listen to their throat singing since the end of the Penang World Music Festival.

 

 

 

 

But now, I guess besides music, I've got another goal.. It's regarding health.  I guess it's beneficial if I happen to exercise from time to time instead of staying home .. I literally feel lazier as the day passes doing nothing..

 

 

 

 

Can I blow myself up like a balloon instead of exericising there, kellyinyee?  If it works, I'll blow you up too.  I just want to be like..Kirk Hammett, numsayin?  I'll try to make it a habit to attend Celebrity Fitness everyday.. hahahahaha.. I can't see myself doing that la..

 

 

 

 

Okay..time for the God forsaken subject in this world..Macroeconomics.. T_T

Mood: Blur
Listening To: Ocean of Fire - Topsy Turvy









I guess being in different projects really benefits.  Of course, I would have not taken the art of mixing seriously if it wasn't for Wormy.. Like Kelvyn to me on guitars, he ignited the spark in me to study a little bit of mixing.

But then, after a while, it gets more..and more.  Then you become a freak for music where you end up listening to songs actively and study the mixing of different engineers..

.. Which also means that the chances of you dosing off in between of songs

I always wanted to know what happens if you record 2 layers of bass guitar and split them to both speakers .. Hidden in Ocean of Fire's album - An Instrumental Rockfunkjazzynotsometal Project - lies the answer.  But then again, it's Kelvyn and the rest of the gang, so that's pretty much unquestonable when it comes to tone.

Besides that, I was thinking of the future if I ever continue this passion of mine..

... Well, I can see the future of it now.  In Malaysia, I would be left at a dead end, and what would be right behind me would be a desert.

But besides that, I just found out that I haven't noticed the best sort of music on earth.  I've always appreciated the compositions and arrangements of an orchestra.  And of course, Rock/Metal would be my perfect studies.  But upon the discovery of certain Symphonic Power Metal bands (Lacuna Coil, Nightwish, Visions of Atlantis, Temptation Within/Within Temptation, etc), I guess the dream's coming true.  Wooooo ...

But anything that goes heavier than that, I won't be able to accept.  Not to say that I don't like it, but it's too.. heavy.

Besides that, I was listening to a bunch of good old Metallica songs.. And I was wondering when are they going to scrap Rob Trujillo and get Jason Newsted back - and treat him with more respect in the band instead of bullying him around like he's the youngest there after the death of Cliff Burton anyways ..

Also, I was thinking of covering a couple of Metallica songs on stage live.. but then again, when it comes to the Kirk Hammett solo .. Who's going to nail them all?  Plus it would be a dream to be actually playing The Call of Ktulu on stage too.  That'll be kind of fun just in case Moe suffers from a broken leg.  Hohoho.

Besides that, Rooshie sent me this song by 2 Japanese acoustic guitarists .. Depepapa.. Which I have no idea what sort of a name is that.  I've never heard of guitars having two different tones .. And I've never heard of so much energy before when it comes to strumming.. Guess rhythm guitarists have their own spotlight to hog - if anybody would ever notice of course.

Of course, when it comes to acoustic guitars, the best I've heard so far would be either Justin King and Paul Gilbert.. being the 3rd fastest guitarist in the world.










So I guess even when sometimes our passion is at the same level as our dreams, there's not much to be done but sacrifices.. Sometimes you have to sacrifice all these foolish thoughts and face the real world.










I suppose music'll always be a side hobby for me..










Besides music, I've met some weird people these few months.  And some of them would boldly say that they don't give a shit about friends and they would just not mix around just to show how serious they are.

.. Until they have a problem then they come back whining that they need you again.

But then again, there are some people in the world who would just forget about their friends and move on; with or without them.  These are the sort of people who aren't as loudmouthed as the above mentioned, but who are the more serious type.

Mood: Blur
Listening To: Joe Satriani - Ten Words










When it comes to music, there are two main aspects in terms of musical presentation.  Firstly, would be performing live in front of either a small or big audience.  Secondly, it would be entering the studios.  For today, I will be touching upon personal experiences in recording – Both in the studios, and home recording.

Before I do so, I would like to clarify that both recording and performances can be two different worlds.  You may have a very good tone and band coordination on stage, but your recorded materials may put off some of your fans.  Whereas, your recorded materials may sound good, but lack of practice among you and your band mates may result to a rather embarrassing presentation.  Either ways, none of the above mentioned should demotivate you in presenting your musical creativity.

Firstly, a good album requires a good producer.  Therefore, it is critically important that you search for people that you are comfortable with when it comes to being your sound engineer and when he or she mixes your album.  After all, with technology being constantly upgraded as time passes, your tone and sound can be controlled to any level virtually.  Also, it is important to run a brief background through an existing portfolio of the people you are working with.  You can’t get a sound engineer who spends most of his time mixing Hip Hop or R&B materials to produce audible results for a Death Metal song.

What I am trying to say is that, just because a sound engineer is good in mixing certain types of genres, it doesn’t mean that he’s good in other fields.  For example, it’s hard for a fully-fledged Rock band to play traditional Spanish Flamenco guitar music because they do not have the skills and probably the tone for it.  Unless if they have practiced such materials before, then it is clearly possible.

The people you work with, and the recording studio you go to, will be your second home and your second family.  A closer relationship with the place and the people will allow you to work better and produce better results.  Equipment required for the recording varies upon the musicians and the staffs of the studio.  Depending on how you plan to record your songs lies up to you and the people you are going to work with.  Like placing your order for a certain dish you favour in the restaurant, you should at least have a draft of the song you plan to do, and let your new “friends” listen to, so they can advice you the do’s and don’ts.  But if you’re professionally experienced, meaning to say that you have a specific tone for yourself, then you should inform the sound engineers to follow your tastes.

After you plan your tracks, and when the sound engineers have a basic idea of how your song is going to sound through ideas of the draft recording, comes the hardest part – Recording it.  Recording isn’t as simple as you think, nor is it as tough as you think.  Always do remember that recording is about discipline, like how your father tells you to make your bed after you wake up every morning.  Recording has about the same level of discipline.  In order to record properly, always attend recording sessions with a fresh heart, mind and prepared ideas.  Never enter a studio when you have not planned how your verses, pre-choruses, choruses, bridges and the structure of the song.  Planning it in the studio and experimenting with several ideas on how they should be sung, harmonized and so on, should be done on the post-recording session.  After all, time is precious.  Besides planning the song, always remember to at least have a basic foundation in playing along with the metronome.  If you do not have a metronome – go get one.  Recording can take you can eternity if you don’t prepare yourself to be in proper timing and there is no other methods in this world but to follow the metronome.  Try to treat the metronome as your best friend.  Either that, you can try getting a MIDI-programmer (such as Propellerhead Reason 3.0), programme your song, and play along with it.  Since these programmes are precisely accurate, it provides better training.

Once you start recording, you will realize that you need to be precise in whatever you do.  The most important thing now is to lay down your prepared ideas with timing efficiency, and always be calm.  Recording can be both fun and frustrating at the same time especially when you have problems hitting the right notes.  Always remember to learn from your mistakes, and analyse whatever you do before, during and after recording sessions.  Also, always keep calm, mentally.  I cannot spare too much detail in how to record songs as it is up to practicing along with the metronome.  The keyword that will make your recording sessions short is to practise, whether you like it or not.

I will now explain what would be the easiest to record, and hardest to record.  In terms of studio recording, the hardest would be the vocals.  Second hardest would be drums.  The rest would be kind of easy.  Do understand that the human vocals are prone to go out of tune because through certain vocal studies, it is controlled by the human’s mind unconsciously.  After a few rounds of unsuccessful recordings, the vocalist will get tired and sometimes, the vocals will get stressed out.  Thus, resulting for the vocalist to easily go out of tune during the following recording sessions on the same day.  For drummers, on the other hand, needs to have the most practice with the metronome because the snare, bass drum, and the toms, starts on a single.  Everything is like a click.

When I mentioned that you should be prepared with a fresh mind, I would mean that if you are inexperienced, you should record your songs, or allow your band mates to record on several days instead of rushing through everything together in just a single session through a few hours.

Recording is one thing.  Mixing is another.  Mixing is a stage that sound engineers would go through after the recording sessions to level volumes of all the recorded instruments so all is clear, and audible. To record certain songs, you must understand some concepts about recording.  As I mentioned above, performers may sound good through albums, but they might not sound good live.  This is because that the songs they presented through their albums sounds good through proper mixing.  But when they play live, the sound isn’t as “thick” as you might have liked it on the album.  Here’s when I share my experiences regarding recording rock music at home.  Taking Blink 182 for example, there’s only one guitarist.  But for a single guitarist in the band, he has a very thick and heavy sound on the album.  This is because that he had recorded more than 2 tracks of the same rhythm for the sound engineer to mix properly.  There are three sections in every song.  The left speaker, the right speaker and the centre.  If you have noticed some recorded materials, especially orchestra based recordings (I would suggest original soundtracks like the Final Fantasy series (from 7 – 10), Chronicles of Narnia and Metallica’s 2001 S&M Concert DVD), you should get a basic idea regarding these whole left-right speaker concept.  Not all the instruments are focused on the middle speaker.  Sometimes the leading instrument for the verse may take on the centre speaker, whereas a violin, which takes upon the role of the pre-chorus, may be 35% to 38% on left speaker.  By doing so, it allows more mixing opportunities and a better stereo result.

The keyword here about recording rock music is “stereo”.  In order to make things sound very big, large, and thick, you need to think stereo.  Most importantly, I feel that all recorded materials should be recorded in mono, so that the recording is not biased upon a certain speaker.  Regardless whether if it is the lead guitarist which is record, or the rhythm guitarist, it should be recorded in mono.  All recorded mono tracks gives an easier time for the sound engineer (or yourself) to mix the product.

Now, let me focus upon how you should record.  There is always a limit to everything in this world, and the same goes for recording.  When you record, you should see that the master peak bar is present to show the level of your recorded tracks, or the level of your overall song.  Of course, it is very safe for a song to be under 0dB because that it the peak level that would distort speakers – thus destroying speakers of all sorts.  For any sort of instruments being recorded, it is safe to record them at any level equal or less than 6dB.  Once you record all instruments onto a session, it is easier to mix when all of them does not exceed 6dB.  Just think of it as an acceptable point if you plan to mix songs right.

Now, imagine that you are in a room.  If a certain note is being played, but you’re standing in the middle of where the sound is being projected, what would you hear?  And if someone places two seperate speakers on your left and right, what would you hear?  If you do not understand this, let us try a more painful example.  Imagine someone shoots you with a gun from the middle, then imagine 2 gunners shooting you from each side at the same time, at the same rate.  Which one would be more painful?  This phenomena works the same way in recording sessions, and it is the most crucial point for rock music.  It works for everything; snare drums, vocals, lead guitars, rhythm guitars, and whatever supporting instruments you have in mind, as long as it’s analogue and not digital.  The crucial point here is to layer the recorded materials upon different speakers.

Out of the examples, I am going to take a typical distorted electric guitar as an example.  Recording a mono-track distorted rhythm guitar, and leaving it on the centre speaker with a lot of distortion may really make it noisy to some listeners.  And no matter how hard you crank up the distortion even to its highest level, you won’t be able to achieve that certain “thick” sound.  But if you happen to crank up the distortion, record two layers of the same riffs precisely, you would notice that both of the tracks would make the guitars sound a little bit louder than the single track.  That is not the end of it just yet.  If you pan the guitars to the left and to the right speakers, you will get that “thick” sound you require for songs like these.  This would even work for certain instruments.  Taking the typical 5-piece rock band, the results would be:

Vocals – having greater support (especially during choruses or the climax of the song)
Snare drum – usually a second round of recording to capture the human playing of the snare drum to make it sound thicker by layering it with several layers through the recordings.
Distorted guitars – As explained above, it will sound more louder and heavier.
Bass – Do not even bother trying.

There’s a difference between copying a recorded track and recording a separate track although the same chords, pickings or rhythm is the same.  The easiest way to experience this for yourself would be that if you get a MIDI-programmer and programme a simple riff of any sort, bounce (or import) two of the same tracks into your digital audio workstation (DAW – a.k.a. recording programme), and pan one track to the left, and the other to the right.  It would sound the same, even if you toggle the EQ any of the tracks.  This is because the MIDI-programmed notes are too precise.

To achieve this certain thick sound, it is better to do it through a human sense.  What is needed is just a small pinch of that minor human error of a few milliseconds of inaccuracy to make multi-layer and to make the recorded material sound “thick”.  Just replay the same recorded structure as many times as you want, so the sound engineer (or you) can pan all the tracks to the desired speakers depending on how many layers you have recorded to result in a thicker and more stereo sound.

Always remember that if you are recording strummed chords with distortion, your playing must be precise.  The more layers you record, the more dangerous it can get if you happen to run out of tempo for either one.  It may not be audible to some listeners, but those who have the “educated ear” can easily notice it.  If you happen to have 6 layers of distorted guitars, and each of them having minor mistakes at different areas, the result can be very messy.  Once again, it is very important to be accurate in terms of timing.

If you are new to recording, I suggest that you practice recording at home by yourself and see what you can come up with several recorded layers.  You will be surprised with the differences between rhythms or solos being recorded on a single track, dual-layers, triple layers, quadruple layers, so on and so forth.  Of course, it would be insane to record up to twelve layers of guitars to achieve that extreme “thick” distortion, but it’s not possible. There is a living proof you are able to refer to – Joe Satriani’s Redshift Riders from his 2006 album, Super Colossal.

I can only say that you are able to find out how hard recording can get only when you start recording yourself.  Everything must be precise, starting from what you record, to the certain specific tone that fits the song.

This is just the recording section.  Mixing, on the other hand, would be a whole different side.  Remember that during the recording stage, the goal is to only record what lies in you – your musical creativity.  How good it will sound is how well the mixing is done.  Besides stressing yourself out during recording sessions, learn how to enjoy it.  Recording sessions are like the canvases you can simply paint on, erase and add more flavours to and getting unexpected results from.










And no, I didn't write this out of boredom.  I had this lying around in my HDD since the previous Six String Samurais recording session.  Wrote this because Emily asked me to write an article about my sharing my experiences and advising others about recording.. So, since sharing is caring, it takes a greater man to share his wealth and knowledge is power, I decided to post this up..

Of course, it would be compared nothing to Wormy's experience as a sound engineer, so if you happened to stumble upon this website and you are no Multiply user, drop by his site.

Mood: XDDDDDDDD
Listening To: Six String Samurais - Better Than This (Instrumental w/ Guitars)









I can't believe I played this way... Wooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo hooooo XDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD

I think i'm a step closer to being one of those guitar gods.. in a very messy way... WHEEEEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEH

And I'm gonna scrap that 12-l;ayer guitar track thing.  sounds like fun, but it's not once you start recording it.. only recorded 6 layers and it sounds soooooooooooo.. gOOOOOOOOOOOD










I AM SO HAPPYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYy

I've got class in about 3 hours time.  time to sleeeps.

Mood: Cheerful
Listening To: Six String Samurais - Better Than This (Instrumental)









Finally.  From a scratch piano track, it took me endless mouse clicks to get Ying Kit's assignment-song done.  Of course, he just asked me to add in a little bit more instruments, but I ended up trying to perfect it.  The mixing is.. I don't know.  I'm not a sound engineer though I try to be one.

I'm not posting the song on Multiply because people are able to download that.  So, I left it on the band's MySpace website.

On the other hand, things aren't that bad after all.  Finally, one fruitful product after my absence from Reason..  Of course, I ran out of ideas and I had no midi-controller to check out effects Reason 3.0 can provide, so I re-used a lot of flutes.  I think there are 2 or 3 flutes there, no?










and gosh.. Boom boom. XD .. EQ-ed the bass to the maximum limit.. Wahahahahahahaahahahahahaha..

Go check out the song, yeah?

Mood: Blur
Listening To: Nothing









I'm reviewing whatever I'm doing socially at the moment.  It seems like as if I've lost everybody mainly because of my own attitude.  Not to say that I treat them badly, but I don't feel like socialising so much these days.  No idea why.

Well, it depends.  Especially this last minute trip back to Penang without my parents (and many of you) knowledge, I just want to relax after the days of subjects that I despise of in KDU PJ.  And taking only 3 subjects is pretty light, which frustrates me, and it makes me feel depressed.

I should take up a job in Starbucks or in that music shop at The Curve since it's close by my area..

The old influences are coming back to me; the ones that made me "a little bit" violent back in form 3.. I keep hearing the repeated verses and choruses to Metallica, Slipknot, In Flames and Children of Bodom for no reason.. Those heavy riffs..The angry lyrics.. And all that hatred..

I've got no idea what's coming up me.

All I know it's affecting my guitar in terms of theory and recording.  My next project would be to test out 12 layers of distorted rhythm guitar of different distortions in a studio (which is going to be costly for the band) for the song Better Than This.  Your typical emo-rock ballad commercial song.  The drums sounds sweet, but the same problem exist.. Joshua keeps going out of tempo, but at least he improved a lot since the first time I met him ..

Harmonising with Ying Kit on the solo for Better Than This is going to be fun.. But what's going to be more challenging would be the rhythm.  Anybody can play lead if they practice hard enough.  But certain rhythmic skills require a lot of concentration.  Example, for the pinch harmonics of the 7th fret of the 5th (A) string, is..well, somewhere around there.  A photographic memory would be require to achieve the right note.

Or it'll seriously sound out of scale.

Maybe there's no secret to pinch harmonics.. It's all in the right hand picking and positioning across the body of the guitar..

And just a few days ago, I managed to pull off an accidental pinch/artificial harmonic with the palm.  Seems like an interesting skill, but takes a few milliseconds..










.. Whatever.

Anyways, I went to Borders to check out Guitar Grimoire, and I felt like a kindergarten student trying to learn how to read and write.  I didn't understand the terms being used in the book, but it comes with a DVD (I think) that teaches you to understand the terms a little bit better... Which I've already downloaded off the net, but it's useless without the book.  It's about RM111.90 .. Reasonable for a thick textbook.  Plus there's so many secrets in it..

Besides that, I'm still trying to figure out the Pitch Axis Theory..










.. And RM65 for vocals and drum recording is kind of cheap in Kuala Lumpur.  The band (or more specifically - Joshua) found a studio which is owned by a very talented jazz bassist, Rikki Omar.  If my memory doesn't serve me wrong, he plays in the same jazz group with Lewis Pragasam during the annual Penang Jazz Festival.

And I managed to lay my eyes on Lewis Pragasam's drum set in the studio .. Odd setting, but very cute sound.. Of course, I didn't dare touch it since everything looked..custom made.

But hey!  Guitar recording is only at RM 55.. Which is kind of odd as I always expected KL studios to be more expensive.  Besides that, we don't record Audition for vocals unlike in Penang.. This time, it's Pro Tools..

And unlike KDU PG, it's updated.  Lol










And sch-wweeeeeeeeeeeet... There's so many things you can do with Pro Tools.










Okay.. I'm off.. I gotta do my crappy form 3 mathematics tutorials since I overslept on Friday ..

Mood: -_-
Listening To: Nothing









I love my finals as much as how I love stepping myself on my toes, running into concrete walls, breaking the JEM JR into 2, smashing my effect pedals into pieces, locking up the rear bike tyre to slide and nearly knocking into a Ford Ranger, and how'd I'd get a writer's block when I feel like producing sweet music.

-_-

SUEY LAH.

Anyways, my final examinations are up next week, and this time, KDU tweeked my schedule to kill off lazy bums like me..and probably, the entire semester.  Having 2 of the most difficult subjects on the same day isn't anybody's cup of tea.

Microeconomics and Company Law.

-_-

Besides all that, all of us in the family had a major arguement, which means that things aren't going on so smoothly in a lot of aspects.  Would love to post a rant blog about it, but my time is over.  I've finally gotten lazy to try breaking any keyboards off laptops or computers by publishing my anger through words.

And besides the above, Joshua is going to record one of Panic Overdrive's songs.  Probably the easiest; A heavy-metal/rock ballad semi-inspired by Metallica and a little bit of Evanesence (SP?).  Which means that I have to record a draft sample for him to practice on.


If I could just plug my brains into a USB port on this computer and let it read through my brain waves without manually programming everything with mouse clicks, things would be faster.  Then again, I seriously think I'm missing of a MIDI keyboard.

Mood: Blur
Listening To: Nothing









And I think I'm serious.  I think I will record a full track for Metallica's Nothing Else Matters - without the vocals and the harmonic part for Metallica's Master of Puppets... My personal favourites.  Besides, Metallica is just like Jimi Hendrix.. They pretty much inspired a large number of bands out there in the 1980s back then.. Like how Jimi Hendrix inspired the likes of Steve Vai, Joe Satriani, Eric Johnson, and Metallica's very own Kirk Hammett and James Hetfield.  So.. The Gods of Rock n' Roll/Metal?  x)

I would record Enter Sandman but I wouldn't want to end up embarassing myself to leave the solo bit empty due to insufficient skills.  Lol.

I'll be programming the drums and bass for the bits and pieces very soon, and I'm looking forward to use these snippets to warm myself up before I take on the Giant Golden Spermatoonz project.  Still in the midst of composing, and I'm running out of ideas.

And a piece of advice to musicians:  Never ever try composing anything when you're depressed due to several reasons.  It works when you just argued with your girlfriend and all that, it'll turn out to be good.  But you can't definitely write about you hating the whole world.  Lol.

And don't even think of composing a song based in a major key when you're depressed.. It'll never work..Gah.

Mood: Blur
Listening To: Schizzow feat YonLynn - Love Letter









It's been a week since my brother changed the rear motorcycle tyres.  Somehow, it affected the alignment in a way.  I think he used thicker tube tyres?  I don't know.  I've experienced understeer on a car, but I've never experienced such things on a bike.  I tend to over or understeer during some corners..

And I can't believe it.. I can actually feel the grip being present after the new tyres are fitted.. Hmmm.. Guess I've been riding around on a botak rear tyre way too long.  2 years perhaps?  Causing me to skid during gear downshifts.. Especially if I downshift by 2 gears.. Wheee...










But besides that, I managed to use the RM20 horse condom.. Which is actually a full set of 0.09 guitar strings by D'Addario.. For those who really believed it was a horse condom, why the hell do you think I would want to collect horse condoms?  And if we need to reproduce more horses, why bother using a condom?  Lol

The sounds a little bit tight.. Like all new strings, it sounds sharper than the old strings, therefore I needed to re-configure my settings all over again to match the new strings.  Now it sounds even better - thanks to the new strings, it's really warm.  But if I want it to be warmer, the pickups will have to go and I don't have the heart to do so.. x(

During the string stretching session last night, something came over me, and I ended up playing a whole great number of Metallica hits.  Master of Puppets, Enter Sandman, Nothing Else Matters, etc.. Since I was in the mood and I had the passion to play the parts originally without adding more melodic feels through scales, it sounded... superb.. For the first time, I felt I was one with the guitar and melody..

The wonders of music.. It's like meditation..










But then again, not many would understand what I'm talking about.. But this is my blog..so.. jeah.  Lol










I might be recording some snippets of Metallica's stuff just to re-practice on recording and metronome, though.. I doubt I'll have the time X_X

Mood: Blur
Listening To: Nothing.. Please.. no.. more...top gear..!!!!!!!!!!!!!!









I'm going to go nuts one day if I ever finish watching Top Gear.. which I AM going to do so because I can't download the other seasons yet :(

Anyways, I decided to get more shirts, especially white shirts (if possible), because handwashing 1 single white shirt to keep its print quality is a waste of soap powder and softener.

So I went to Island Plaza's Fila, met Schizzow Koh at Nike's, Giodanno, then went to Gurney Plaza's Giodanno.. And well, either that the designs were just weird, or only available in black or other colours than white.

And besides that, I'm given an opportunity of recording again.. Sweet sweet sweeeeeeeeeet joy!! x)

During Business Statistics class, the lecturer were teaching us contingency tables regarding the question while I was making my own table regarding the shirts I picked..

Costing at least minimum of RM29.90, I was pretty limited to at least 2 shirts if I still want to eat.. :(

Then the thought of my shirt that was scribbled by Wormy and Schizzow on LooLoo's birthday last year (don't even ask.  I don't know why I got scribbled when it wasn't my birthday.  LOL) came into my mind, therefore, leading me to Komtar.  The oldest place that's still standing.  Gah.  After several games of hide and seek, I found out that the shop I got that shirt from was closed.. There goes all that Rocker's shirt.. Fender, Ibanez, Iron Maiden, Slipknot, etc..

But then again, I sourced and searched out other shops, and I came home with 6 other shirts.. Here's 5 that I got for RM 50 x)
























Paiseh.. This one's blur..





This one also T.T

Then I spent RM 20 on collecting this..

I found an ultra rare horse condom!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

All days are well, once that blackcurrant juice is drunk X))))))))))))))))))))










And I saw one of the most decent LP shirts there just now.. But was on budget, or I would've came back with a shirt with Joey Jordison, James Hetfield, Iron Maiden, Gibson guitars..etc.. Wooooooo..










But we shall test the quality after it is being washed.. Hmmmm..x(

Mood: Blur
Listening To: Some tribal horn shit thingy on WoW..









This is the 3rd time so far I've reformatted my external hard disk due to the same bloody virus.  I nearly forgot to reformat it until I read my previous journal.  Talk about memos!

Looks like Moe finally realised the frustration of recordings! Now he knows that recording isn't easy. Well, it depends if the musicians or anything screws up, of course. Our case is different.

Anyways, we'll be heading to the studios again later on to record one of my personal favourites that Panic Overdrive composed before I entered the band - Better Than This - only because the other 2 tracks were, put in short, screwed up.

Since Better Than This fits perfectly as an acoustic song, we're planning to use this song to buy us some time so that we're able to complete Waiting For You and My Friend. My Friend is nearly completed, but Waiting For You is more onto the type of song that would be played on the radio anytime.

Problems, problems.

These recording sessions are starting to get onto my nerves man. I can't even find the time to give my JEM JR a nice body polish like I used to during Christmas. Arrrgh.

I have to remind myself that it's about time to change the strings and experience the fun and joy of worrying about alan keys and the Ibanez ILR bridge. Hmmm. Can't wait!

Yummy..

Mood: Blur and tired
Listening To: Holy Throne









Looks like lady luck isn't on our side.

For both of the songs for Panic Overdrive, there were several noticable mistakes, so I can rather say that the tracks are screwed, and the deadline's on Thursday.  Unlike assignments, recordings can never be done on a last minute basis.  Once it's screwed, it's screwed.

I guess I'm over exhausted by all these musical junk and I would need time to regain my consciousness before I continue any productivity.

Although screwed up, that wouldn't stop us from having future plans.  I wonder how is Moe going to face Deathstar Productions now.  He's pretty determined to move on though.  Gotta admire his spirit.

Maybe that's why I don't even feel like quitting the band.  Sweet!

We did vocal recording, yes.  But not in Hits.  Location of this studio will be disclosed.  Although small, and a little bit messy, but I stepped into heaven.  Wormy would've went nuts if he saw whatever I saw.  Even Kelvyn went nuts when he saw the guitars there.  And I laid my eyes on an actual Midi flute!  Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.










Oh well.  I suppose I should get some shut eye as I'm extremely restless.  Tis a Wednesday.  No class, no plans.. No nothing..

Mood: XD
Listening To: Glacius - A Night In The Sky









Recording has taken me into another level.  That is to search for a nice external HDD to fit all of my experimental junk for Reason for warm up.  And the picked song to experiment on is A Night In The Sky .. The instrumental version.

Sweetness.  I just blew RM 160 on this:







80GBs, 3.5inch Hitachi Ext. HDD.  Had some problems trying to detect the HDD on the computer as I didn't know how to format it at first.. Computer illiterate, numsayin?

What a n00b..

Thanks a lot, Jean Yves XD.. Nyehehehehe.  I save RM85 for the external casing because he's not using his anymore.  Wheeee!

I skipped college for 2 days already.  Skipped out on yesterday's F&B presentation class, IT and Moral class (I think there was none yesterday?), and today's English class.  Went to 1stop and made up my mind to buy the External HDD.  Great.  Now I've got RM40 with me left :(.  So sad wans.










Oh.  And at the motorcycle parking area, I saw this cute "booster" for bikes.  It was on an Ah Beng's modified Ex5.. I've seen blank boosters, but this was rather extra ordinary..



Nice idea to quench thirsty days..










Time for more Reason!  A Night In The Sky sounds a lot much more better now, since I have the tools to actually work on songs!  WHEeeeeeeeeeee..!!!

Mood: 
Listening To: Glacius - Personal Space









I forgot to mention that after I came back yesterday and started working on the song I suddenly composed, my brother approached me and told me his accident.

A car overtook him in front of Uplands, and squeezed onto the left side of the road, then jammed on the brakes - maybe he found a parking lot out of a sudden or something, causing my brother not to have enough time to brake, and banged into the bumper of the car.

My brother landed on his right elbow to reduce the injury on the rest of his body.  He has a wound on his right elbow now.

Oh well.  At least he's okay.  And like what most ah beng bikers say.  Once you have a wound from a bike accident, you officially own a licence to ride a bike.  XD

Finally, he got into an accident.. Hohoho.. And I thought I was the only one.  At least I didn't screw up the bike XD.. Nyahahahaha..

Oh.  And for some reason, I spotted a NetCity shirt in the room. 







Anyways, I need to start studying right after I'm done with this new song XD.. I'm happy about it, because it's something I never expected myself to play.  So mellow, soothing and.. Hawaiian-ish?

So nice wans.

x)..

I need to clean the tracks after I'm done recording because of my faulty cable + convertor.  It's going to make the guitar sound like a rusty harpischord again .




Reminder:  BBQ tomorrow night at Edmund's place to celebrate every Octoberian's birthday!

Michelle OhMyGoodness:  HA-HA-HA.  You're NOT in Penang XD

Mood: 
Listening To: Glacius - Personal Space








Although I should be concentrating on my assignments, studies and all that after a total of 4 days' rest, but...

I realised that I was neglecting my guitar a lot, lately.  I picked up, and sang along with the weird chords I came up with, and my throat started to hurt.  Of course, I was never meant to be a singer, but it sounded good.  Only if I could remember what I sang, of course. 

But that doesn't matter.  I changed some parts of the chords, and had a really nice guitar tune going on.  I messed around with some octaves, and got a nice melody.  And the best thing is that, I managed to finalise it.  Which means, I'm able to test and add harmonies.

And I've improved in mixing tracks.  After watching Wormy and Freddie in the studios (and on wormy's MBP), I managed to get the hang of Adobe Audition.  Finally found out the volume control for the tracks, making them softer when the solo comes in, so it doesn't sound so stupid like the previous stuff I recorded and uploaded here in Multiply.










I'm satisfied with this track, although it's not done.  It's just a scratch copy, so I can continue more tomorrow.  Or after this journal.  Whichever comes first.  Lol.

Wheee!

So nice wans.

Mood: Tired
Listening To: MSN beeps. You wouldn't wanna know how many people I'm chatting with right now -_-








So, he planned it 2 days ago, and well, tis the birth of No Piss - No Peace. He's got a song coming up, but I forgot the chords, and the tempo, so he'll come by again next week. More to a daily routine, I guess.

Anyways, here's Pat @ Choo Kok Cheng..

Mood: Energetic
Listening To: Greenday - Bouveyard of Broken Dreams








... And also, before any assholes starts calling me an arrogant bastard..


I would like to take this moment to say the following: