pboaz

You have totally lost me!

Pancho and Lefty -- Townes Van Zandt

Crosstown Traffic -- JHE

If you could also do a guitar audio to MIDI translator I'd buy it. This would be kind of like a virtual guitar synth. Would be incredible! A good way to import the output into Garageband/ProTools etc. would also be invaluable.

I understood it that the app would recognize the notes and timing played on a piano and output MIDI, i.e. you'd play a regular piano and the device would use its microphone to 'listen' to what you play, identify pitch and duration, interpret the time signature etc. I could imagine that being incredibly useful for someone who wants to create lead sheets, but doesn't want to write music. Technically the DSP trickery required would be substantial, but if you could pull it off it would be very impressive. The Shazam music recognition system proves that this kind of thing would be possible though. If I were you I'd patent the method if you get that far. Most developers develop for iOS first, Android second by the way.

Mashed Potatoes -- James Brown

I'm a Garagebander too. Haven't bumped up against any limitations that would cause me to upgrade to Logic yet. I find the most frustrating thing is drums. I just use loops and occasional MIDI triggered drums. I plan on either buying a Jam Pack or getting EZ Drummer at some point. I once tried a Lite version of ProTools on a PC and was most unimpressed relative to Garageband.

It would be pretty easy to set up a Songstuff group on Soundcloud. You could set post minimum here to become a member. Once that group is set up then setting up play lists within that group should be pretty trivial. Not exactly a radio station, but a way to stream tunes.

I'm really new to a couple of things: 1. Finishing songs. First one I finished in many years was in March this year... 2. Letting people listen to my stuff. So I've found the welcoming and supportive atmosphere to be just what I needed. However, I do like the more detailed/robust critique that I've received. If you want to check out the critique process working well, go check out my Winter Storms thread. Or The Business Class, where Rob (above) gave very useful feedback on vocal EQ that I now bear in mind whenever I record anything. I appreciate forthright and detailed critique, but I think there are several reasons why this doesn't happen in all cases - Drive by posters. If somebody has 5 posts to their name do you want to spend 10-15 minutes listening to a track and giving thoughtful critique when maybe their only motivation is to promote their stuff - Posters who are only interested in discussing their own songs. Similar to the above. People who stick around the board, but have 90% of their posts on their own threads - Fear of offense. People have different levels of tolerance for critique. I don't want to rain on anybody's parade and if they haven't got their critique preferences (great idea that by the way) set then I need to get an understanding of their personality before I get too critical Ultimately in a community like this, a culture emerges which is largely beyond the control of the forum moderators. You can push it in the right direction, but really the culture will just emerge.

Cool. I look forward to reading this. And will contribute when I can.

And of course if you get a Mac instead of a PC, then you get Garageband for free. I've also tried a 'lite' version of ProTools that I got with my M-Audio Fast Track audio interface, but Garageband is much easier. I've also yet to find any reason to upgrade from Garageband to its big brother Logic. Plus I have Garageband on my iPad for recording ideas, then I can transfer them to the Mac for further work.

I've been blogging a little about my GAS issues this year. But I think compared to many of you, I'm a bit of a bottom feeder. Latest addition is a cheapo Chinese Les Paul knock off http://axestogrind.wordpress.com/2012/08/13/cheapo-les-paul-addition-what-was-i-thinking/ Recently also got a MIM Tele with an unusual finish and a nice discount http://axestogrind.wordpress.com/2012/04/12/the-new-addition-7/ Earlier in the year I picked up an Ibanez Artcore hollowbody, which i love http://axestogrind.wordpress.com/2012/03/06/middle-aged-british-male-succumbs-to-guitar-acquisition-syndrome-gas-in-scottsdale-az/

I'm no expert, but I would say the important thing for you to do is to just write, even if you're not impressing yourself. Take one of your ideas and turn it into a finished song with intro, verses a chorus and a middle 8. The most basic pop song structure. Then work out how to improve it, see if you can start to feel inspired. When you hit a wall, move onto the next most promising idea. I believe that writing is a skill that can be improved through practice. Or at least that's what I'm hoping Also, be realistic. Very few people have the ability of Jack White/Bob Dylan/Paul McCartney/insert name of your hero here. Aiming for that level from the word go is not realistic. Aim for as good as you can do then aim to improve. I think you should also be aiming to enjoy the process as much as you can. Be humble and don't be too hard on yourself. And who knows, you might suddenly surprise yourself? I recently read that McCartney of of all people didn't really impress himself as a songwriter until he wrote And I Love Her. Also don't be afraid to share your work here and take the crits. I've only been a member here for 2 weeks, but I find people to be very supportive of each others efforts. Good luck!

The number of guitars I need is always one more than I currently have GAS is a dangerous disease. Could leave you like me -- scanning Craigslist every day looking for bargains. Tragic Will be interested to hear which one you land on By the way, when shopping for an acoustic, get the sales person to play them as well. The sound projects out of the sound hole forward, so it will sound different to the player as opposed to the listener (some guitars even have additional sound holes in the top of the guitar, directed to the player) I'd also think about getting an acoustic electric for recording purposes. The plugged intone of an AE is never as nice as unplugged, but for recording its much easier to go into a High Z input rather than mess around with microphones Good luck!

Hi folks I am a big fan of The Walking Dead, the zombie series that will begin again in the US in September. I'm also a big fan of the music that accompanies the action. It's a blend of guitars, electronic dance elements, metal and orchestral score by composer Bear McCreary. McCreary also keeps an excellent blog about his creative process, which I am starting to explore. Thought the recording geeks on here would enjoy the link. For example check out his post on the WD Season 2 Finale here http://www.bearmccreary.com/#blog/the-walking-dead/the-walking-dead-beside-the-dying-fire/ A kazoo choir?!? I just know I'm gonna try that one!

Some of the greatest songs ever written have terrible lyrics, when you read them on the page e.g. "The movement you need is on your shoulder" -- WTF!?!? But in pop often the delivery and sound of the word is what counts and a more 'meaningful' lyric wouldn't necessarily be better. Then of course some other of the greatest songs ever written have incredible lyrics. But personally I don't really 'get going' on a tune until I work out what it's about, what the lyrical point of view is, who's 'talking'. Typically things will start as one line of lyric or a guitar riff, a couple of chords, but for it to really turn into something I need the lyrical voice to be there, then I let that voice take the driving seat in developing the song. This is just a long-winded way of saying "it depends"; you should take them as seriously as you want to.