StephenKay wrote:
Hi everyone,
For about the last 6 months, I've been working on a personal music/video project... I've now released it on
YouTube - and it uses the Kronos.
Jan 28, 2011 is the 25th anniversary of the Challenger Space Shuttle disaster. 25 years ago, when I was still
a professional musician chasing a record deal and dreaming of writing and recording songs, I was greatly
affected by this event and wrote a memorial song that was completed just two days after the event. My partner
Dave (a guitarist) and I recorded a demo version of it. I tried to get something to happen with it, but 25 years
ago I was an "unsigned artist", there was no internet, no youtube, no self-promotion, and it remained
unreleased and unpublished.
To make a long story short (you can read about it in more detail on the support website
ChallengerTributeSong.com),
this year I decided to re-record it (using the development Kronos I happened to have in my possession),
make an inspirational video to go with it, and release it for the anniversary. Here it is:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nK0QE68_Dds&fmt=18
Note: this song was not, at all, written as a "Kronos Demo" - i.e., it's not about showcasing the various
programs, or synth engines, or "amazing sounds from each model" - not at all. I picked sounds for use that
I felt were appropriate for the creation of a real song, in the style I desired, to capture the message I
wanted to deliver. It's not a demo sequence like I usually do where I try to use every program under the
sun and then throw in the kitchen sink.
It's a real-life usage by an "artist" (ahem...) creating a full-blown
"real song", using essentially one unit (and of course the great "real" guitar work by my partner and our
vocals, done on audio tracks.)
So if you watch/listen to this with the idea that it's supposed to "blow you away" with all the potential of the
Kronos, then I would guess you will be disappointed.
Rather, I hope you will enjoy the song/video for what it is: a heart-felt tribute to the 25th anniversary of the
Challenger disaster, and the Space Shuttle program in general, that coincidentally just happens to have been
created using the Kronos.
Even though I used Digital Performer to record the guitars and vocals (there were approximately 30 tracks
of background vocals and 20 tracks of clean and distorted guitars, although it may not sound like it), all of
the 24-bit 48k audio tracks were bounced down to multiple two-track stereo submixes, and everything was
put into the Kronos - 16 tracks of MIDI, 16 tracks of audio - and it was completely mixed and mastered in the
Kronos using the Kronos' effects, and bounced to a 24-bit WAVE file on the Kronos. In doing so, I had hoped
Korg might use it as a demo sequence, but I think they felt it wasn't appropriate for that use - and maybe
they are correct.
Anyway, what you will hear, for the detail-inclined, are (in various spots):
HD-1
STR-1
MOD-7
AL-1
Polysix
Wave-sequencing (HD-1)
stereo drums and percussion...
Some subtle uses of KARMA (intro, acoustic guitar, mallet sweep glissandoes)
And yes, that's me singing lead - from 25 years ago (the original lead vocal from the demo we created.)
Finally, let me ask a personal favor: if you like this video/song, please forward it to all your friends and
anyone who might be interested in this particular subject - I'd like to spread it around.
Thanks!
