Dee - April 08 - The New Stuff Blues

Dee · Post by **Dee** » Wed Apr 23, 2008 2:44 pm

Hi Everyone

As you know I have all this new stuff to learn about, so I put together a simple song for April just to have something to play with in Pro tools.

I have been having a TERRIBLE time trying to get this song recorded as 4 MIDI tracks. So I abandoned that idea and just recorded 1 audio track.

There are some silly words for it which I will write here, so you can sing along

(Words going across 2 notes are hyphenated)

http://www.korgforums.com/mp3/Dee_The_N ... _Blues.mp3

The New Stuff Blues

I'm feelin' the blues
Right down to my pink shoes
Just got all this new stuff
And findin' it tough
But just you wait and see
My KF friends and me
Will be-at...m-y...ne-w...stu-uff....blu-es

Some guy was singin'
About Elisabeth Shue
That's when I began
Feelin' so blue!
So I rushed on out
Without knowing what it was all about
And joined the club of fools who u-se Pro...Tools

(2 bars instr)
Then there's that box
Yes the mbox 2
Sits there on my desk
It had to be blue
But just you wait and see
My KF friends and me
Will be-at...m-y...Ne-w...Stu-uff....Blu-es
My new stuff blu-es
My new stuff blu-es

-----------------------------------------------------
Hope this qualifies me for a check-off, George!

Regards from
Dee

Stephen · Post by **Stephen** » Wed Apr 23, 2008 4:35 pm

Yes, the Pro Tools Blues! Been there....Done that!
I didn't want to say anything before, but I struggled with Pro Tools also, and finally decided it wasn't for me at all.
I truly hope you have a better time with it than I did.
I like what you've done so far.
Regards,

ellll · Post by **ellll** » Wed Apr 23, 2008 7:08 pm

How Dee, ..

So this is it..A new and exciting song from the gurll....

I think it's neeto!!! GREAT!! Real fun...needing a few things, but so nicely thought out to me...

Love the words...but we will weight to hear them sung as I am sure it might be a weight...!!

Grab one of these hot KF blues singers and put it together...(No!!... Not me...haven't sung a note in years...(I have sung a few rests, however....)

The balance might be a bit better between parts in a few places...I'll listen again and tell you...

The others more familiar with this genre will surely give you the needed help..(or beating...which ever is most needed..

)

As for me..it is just fun....and good to listen to...

Thanks Resident gurll, Dee..I REALLY enjoyed it!!!

Johnny

ellll

JonSolo · Post by **JonSolo** » Wed Apr 23, 2008 7:21 pm

What a great "60's" blues vibe this song has! The words totally made my day (obviously)!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dee you crack me up. You WILL get it just because of this whole approach. Anyone who can face ProTools with humor is half-way there.

I think the words alone would get you a check-off. But this is great!

jon

Dee · Post by **Dee** » Wed Apr 23, 2008 9:06 pm

Hi

Thanks for listening!

Now Stephen what exactly was the problem with Pro Tools??? I would like some specific details please

And John those were very encouraging comments! Yes I'm good at singing rests too. ---

Hope you didn't mind feauring in my song Jon!

Now come on, help me get the MIDI working

Regards from
Dee

Stephen · Post by **Stephen** » Wed Apr 23, 2008 10:29 pm

Stephen what exactly was the problem with Pro Tools???

The only thing I specifically remember, is how unintuitive it was for editing, and when I looked into how to figure it out, I found that they offered a long, expensive class, and that really was the final straw for me, but I can't help wondering, if it would be the same now, knowing Sonar as well as I do, I'm sure there are similarities.

georgeinar · Post by **georgeinar** » Wed Apr 23, 2008 10:49 pm

I think this sounds fabulous, and as I was mentioning somewhere else, do something simple (as far as technology goes) that you can do and begin producing music, which you did. I love how this sounds. I'm not sure what all you did to get here, but that's not the point, this is very well recorded and performed to my ears. I love the vintage vibe and the softness, yet everything is really clear and well balanced. That's my opinion anyway. And you know being early and well within the month's time frame gets you points, not to mention those excellent lyrics. That's what I'm doing now, lyrics. For those who are doing instrumentals only, hey, give us some lyrics even just as an experiment. It's a whole nother level of challenge. Very proud of you so far Dee, and I know you will find great new tricks to do with your gear. The main thing I believe is are you able to produce great sounding music, and not so much about how many techniques you mastered or how many bells and whistles you blew. Nice job. You inspire the rest of us.

Dee · Post by **Dee** » Thu Apr 24, 2008 2:39 am

Hi Stephen
I'm totally new to this so that could be why I'm "findin' it tough" (to quote myself here

). I couldn't get the hang of even simple editing operations, and then got all muddled up in trying to get MIDI to work. I think your knowledge of Sonar will definitely help if you ever tried it again. Well, I won't stop trying!! There are many tutorial DVDs on youtube as well, so I still have many options to explore.

Hi George
You know George you guys are the ones who have inspired me to have a go at this! Thanks for your support and encouraging words.......I did take your advice actually and just got some music going on the triton as I used to do before. All I managed was to set up a new session in pt with one audio track and record onto it!!! WOW.........a real baby step..........but already I can hear how much better this sounds than what I used to come up with. It's so clear!
Now back to that MIDI stuff........
I can feel my next song coming on......."The Total Stuff-Up MIDI Blues"

Dee
-----

chordial · Post by **chordial** » Thu Apr 24, 2008 11:57 am

Love it Dee,
I was following the lyric sheet too

Some really lovely mournful progressions and chords, and then the groove gets you too.
Sounds like you're starting to finding your way around Pro Tools, great to hear.
Look forward to the 'midi clock blues'!

Post by **Sharp** » Fri Apr 25, 2008 3:12 am

Wow... very enjoyable.

Regards.
Sharp.

Dee · Post by **Dee** » Fri Apr 25, 2008 4:06 am

Hi Simon

Good to hear from you and glad you enjoyed it. Just had a bit of fun to get something up. But still have loads to learn about pro tools.

Hi Sharp

Well well well! I'm honoured indeed to have you stop by to listen. So whaddya think? Think I'm sounding a bit better than back in 2005?

This is good time to remember that OSAM was really your idea in the first place! And what a brilliant idea it was! There's a group of us who have benefited HUGELY from this commitment to a deadline, sometimes in unexpected ways too! ---

Regards from
Dee

DrWho · Post by **DrWho** » Sun Apr 27, 2008 2:43 pm

Good One Dee !!

I must say - At first I was really excited thinking I was going to actually hear you belt out the blues - but it was not 2B. So I used my imagination - and I found that you really can belt out the blues

The cool intro. faked me out too - I was thinking I must have clicked on the wrong tune - but then you delivered

I like that sort of unconventional approach.

I liked the mix - the drums were cool - ProTools ??

This was fun - each time I listened to it. I like your piano playing.

One thing - the fade at the very very very end - cuts off before the fade gets to complete the fading.

jazlover · Post by **jazlover** » Fri May 02, 2008 9:59 pm

Sorry to be so late. You are very courageous. I'm with Art on this one, you owe us a song with you belting out the blues.

I am ashamed to say that I do not ever use Midi when I record. If I get two shekels to rub together, I may get a software recorder one day. It is amazing that you did a song under your circumstances. You still got it done before me.......Ok, maybe that part is not so amazing.

I'm anxious to hear you after you become a Pro Tool wizard.

Thanks sister!

Daz · Post by **Daz** » Fri May 02, 2008 10:30 pm

Congratulations Dee on your first DAW based piece ... it sounds great and this is only your first crack at it ! You're already a great player, as this piece demonstrates to us (again!), and that's a much harder place to get to than operating the software well.

If it's any help I wrote a document a while back that details how to use the Triton with an external MIDI sequencer :

http://www.korgforums.com/support/tutor ... SeqTut.pdf

Daz.

Dee · Post by **Dee** » Sun May 04, 2008 9:34 am

I should have said that I DON'T actually sing on this one, shouldn't I?

Everyone must have got their hopes up..........and then.........no singing!

SORRY!

Hi Dr Who,
Thanks for the listen! I don't know what you mean about the fade at the very end that gets cut off before the fade completes the fading....

Anyway........I probably won't be doing anything with this one ever again, but I'm still curious to know what you mean.

Hello jazlover
I had to do something quick or else I would have had NOTHING for April. At least I did start a session in pro tools and record something. Now that WAS something!
Will work towards belting out the blues one day....

And finally..

Hi Daz!
Thanks for the tutorial! I will try everything you have on there. I certainly hadn't set the MIDI clock correctly and didn't do anything at all about MIDI Thru in pro tools.
I had all the classic MIDI muddle-ups occurring with programs on the triton getting set to A000 FastSynth unexpectedly, sometimes even when I wasn't actually doing anything, or playing anything. I would turn around and

something has changed to A000 again!
It was kind of funny......well my kids nearly died laughing at the resulting noises.........but I was beyond laughing..........felt more like crying!

Thanks again, will let you know how it goes once I have tried it.

Regards from
Dee