Woke up this morning feeling pretty sick. Tongue felt like I'd tried to drink scalding hot chocolate (I hadn't).
Feel a general lethargy. Doubtful anything will get accomplished today.
Update: did my twenty-five around 1 PM.
Update: Well, I actually put in a lot of work on the Cat Song. In fact, apart from the vocal, I assembled it. Well, there are still details to do. The verse section runs a bit long, and the chorus section is kind of muddy. I may have to re-do some settings on it and re-export it. But overall I'm quite pleased with it. It's not what I imagined it would be--it's better.
And again. Cut the verse section into the proper length, re-did the chorus section and inserted where appropriate. Re-placed the drum bits, and it's basically now in finished form, apart from lack of vocal. Because of the speed, I'm going to have to bellow it, so I'm hoping I can record that at Tom's house.
Later still: did the final tweaking on the Cat Song, and I believe the music is done. Hooray, etc.
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
August 30, 2010
Woke up late, around 9:30 AM. I was hoping to get to the pool around 9. No matter, the pool was clear and I did my twenty-five. Then went immediately to the laundry and spent an hour and a half getting that chore out of the way.
I've had no creative impulses today. I finally glued the broken bits back on my Kindle. That's been about it, really, without any promise of more to come. It may be that breaking through on the Cat project has kind of left a triumphal air that's blanketing other options.
We'll see how that goes for the rest of the day. Probably doesn't help that I just got a double-feature disk from NetFlix, as television requires many of the other senses I would use in creative work.
Perhaps more to come.
I've had no creative impulses today. I finally glued the broken bits back on my Kindle. That's been about it, really, without any promise of more to come. It may be that breaking through on the Cat project has kind of left a triumphal air that's blanketing other options.
We'll see how that goes for the rest of the day. Probably doesn't help that I just got a double-feature disk from NetFlix, as television requires many of the other senses I would use in creative work.
Perhaps more to come.
Monday, August 30, 2010
August 29, 2010
Well, I put the drums I'd worked on last night with the guitars from a few days ago, and damn it it doesn't work just beautifully. Or at least, my tiredness of this project is making me think so. But, in fact, I don't think so. Maybe some distance is required, but I believe I actually have something today. Thank goodness for Audacity. Nothing else I've tried has worked as well. Takes a bit of getting used to, and still has some primitive bits to it, but damn, results matter.
No swimming yet, I figure I'll try that around 7 PM.
Update: Swimming got well in, 25 laps around 6:45 or so. Seems to be a good time on Sunday.
When I came back, I did a complete little section of song from beginning to end--starting with drums, adding bass guitar and rhythm guitar. Assembled in Audacity and you know, it's pretty good. It's only about 14 seconds or so, but long enough (short songs are best). But what makes it most encouraging is that conception to "final" product was only about an hour or so. Either I'm getting pretty good or my idea of quality is dropping enough to compensate.
Two bits of music hardly seem like the sort of thing to constitute a day's activity, but I feel today has been a good one.
No swimming yet, I figure I'll try that around 7 PM.
Update: Swimming got well in, 25 laps around 6:45 or so. Seems to be a good time on Sunday.
When I came back, I did a complete little section of song from beginning to end--starting with drums, adding bass guitar and rhythm guitar. Assembled in Audacity and you know, it's pretty good. It's only about 14 seconds or so, but long enough (short songs are best). But what makes it most encouraging is that conception to "final" product was only about an hour or so. Either I'm getting pretty good or my idea of quality is dropping enough to compensate.
Two bits of music hardly seem like the sort of thing to constitute a day's activity, but I feel today has been a good one.
Saturday, August 28, 2010
August 28, 2010
Tried several software drum machines, and wasn't really happy with any of them. There was one I remember using years ago which would be perfect, alas I cannot remember the name.
Spent some time instead trying to build drum tracks in Audacity. The more I use the program, the more I like it, but there are certain things I wish it would do that it does not.
Later: built up a pretty decent drum track. Not perfect, but pretty close to what I want. Now to see if I can meld some guitars to it.
This has certainly been an instructive project. Especially considering it was kind of a throwaway.
Spent some time instead trying to build drum tracks in Audacity. The more I use the program, the more I like it, but there are certain things I wish it would do that it does not.
Later: built up a pretty decent drum track. Not perfect, but pretty close to what I want. Now to see if I can meld some guitars to it.
This has certainly been an instructive project. Especially considering it was kind of a throwaway.
Friday, August 27, 2010
August 27, 2010
Up around 8 AM, yes (successfully), then set out to do twenty-five laps.
Thought about the Cat Project. I think that what I've got son far is good, though I'm concerned that it's a bit too fast. I'll listen to it a bit later and see if I can't do one of two things: either adapt what I have, or re-record at a somewhat more singable speed.
Later: well, I did some re-recording, though I'm not sure how good (or usable, I should say) it is. However, I'm encouraged by the fact that doing re-recording doesn't automatically mean, "Abandon ship, nothing is possible." I feel as though I can be dissatisfied with elements to the point where I can do them better, if that makes any sense. In other words, acknowledged defeat can lead to a better campaign, rather than the idea of inevitable defeat.
Later still: I thought that perhaps I was making the wrong approach to this song. What if, instead of going from the top down, perhaps I should start with the drums and build a solid foundation, and then go upward? With that in mind, I thought perhaps drum machine software might be better than me trying to pound out something from the PSA-5 via keyboard.
I also started a new painting. We'll see how that goes.
All in all not a bad day. I'd like to have done more, but I'll take what I can get.
Thought about the Cat Project. I think that what I've got son far is good, though I'm concerned that it's a bit too fast. I'll listen to it a bit later and see if I can't do one of two things: either adapt what I have, or re-record at a somewhat more singable speed.
Later: well, I did some re-recording, though I'm not sure how good (or usable, I should say) it is. However, I'm encouraged by the fact that doing re-recording doesn't automatically mean, "Abandon ship, nothing is possible." I feel as though I can be dissatisfied with elements to the point where I can do them better, if that makes any sense. In other words, acknowledged defeat can lead to a better campaign, rather than the idea of inevitable defeat.
Later still: I thought that perhaps I was making the wrong approach to this song. What if, instead of going from the top down, perhaps I should start with the drums and build a solid foundation, and then go upward? With that in mind, I thought perhaps drum machine software might be better than me trying to pound out something from the PSA-5 via keyboard.
I also started a new painting. We'll see how that goes.
All in all not a bad day. I'd like to have done more, but I'll take what I can get.
August 26, 2010
Got off to a fairly early start back home. Stopped at the pool and did twenty-five laps. Was heartened to see that the parking lot work had been completed while I was gone; I dreaded another notice, "Due to bad weather, the parking lot project has been put off to next week..."
Too exhausted to do much of anything. Spent a great deal of time sleeping. This may end up being little more than a recovery day.
Update: pretty much.
Too exhausted to do much of anything. Spent a great deal of time sleeping. This may end up being little more than a recovery day.
Update: pretty much.
Thursday, August 26, 2010
August 24, 2010
Post-filed. Did more swimming around 5:30 AM, then got on the road. Had a good chat with my friend Tom about story-telling theories and so on.
Monday, August 23, 2010
August 23, 2010
Good start to the day. I was actually up fairly late last night, and as I was uploading to YouTube I did some painting on the "rib cage" painting. I think it's shaping up nicely, and has gone from something of a time-filler to something that might be worthwhile.
Got my swimming out of the way around 9AM, which is good to free up the rest of the day. We'll see how that shapes up.
Update: Well, this places a damper over the next couple of days. Apparently, the apartment complex where I live has decided that they are going to resurface the parking lot. Tomorrow. At 7:00 AM. I was informed of this just now. Today. At 5:00 PM. Cars are to be moved or towed.
Wonderful.
I'm slightly pissed, but more depressed. Why can't people tell things like this, say, a week in advance? Is that too much to ask? Apparently. I'm appealing to friends at the moment for a place to stay, but it does put everything in a damper.
Did some project work, recording drums, but probably nothing usable. Bit too angry to work. Later, after midnight, swam another twenty-five laps.
Got my swimming out of the way around 9AM, which is good to free up the rest of the day. We'll see how that shapes up.
Update: Well, this places a damper over the next couple of days. Apparently, the apartment complex where I live has decided that they are going to resurface the parking lot. Tomorrow. At 7:00 AM. I was informed of this just now. Today. At 5:00 PM. Cars are to be moved or towed.
Wonderful.
I'm slightly pissed, but more depressed. Why can't people tell things like this, say, a week in advance? Is that too much to ask? Apparently. I'm appealing to friends at the moment for a place to stay, but it does put everything in a damper.
Did some project work, recording drums, but probably nothing usable. Bit too angry to work. Later, after midnight, swam another twenty-five laps.
August 22, 2010
A good start. Slept poorly, kind of awoke close to 8AM, then decided near 9, "I'll go swimming and get that out of the way." And I did.
Later in the afternoon, I recorded some guitar noise. Basic setup, going from Hello Kitty guitar through Thrash Metal pedal and into the Nanoverb, before ending up in the BR-600. Nice sheets of sound, sharp with infinite sustain. Unrecognizable as guitar for the most part. One thing I have got to remember is to check the BR when I do a new song: by default it wants to throw its own effects in there, and while I appreciate the gesture, I'd rather it didn't. Perhaps there's a default I can set.
Anyway, I'm not sure what I did will be useful at all in any projects now or down the road, but it was nice being able to create without the pressure of some existing project forcing its NEED on me. (Yes, I'm talking about you, Cat Song.)
Speaking of Cat Song, finally got the words written down so I won't have to rely on memory. RV supplied some good lines, though they tended to...wander off point, which I guess is what he does anyway. I forgot to ask him if he'll do the vocal when the music is polished off. Since that time is likely far off, there's no urgency to the task.
Update: perhaps spoke a bit soonish. Decided a tad reluctantly, to work on the Cat Song and, heaven forfend! I actually got a good paste up of the verse-workings. It sounds actually pretty good, to my admittedly wanting-to-be-done-with-this ears. Still have to put together the chorus, but heck, I'll take this.
The bad news: ACID doesn't want to import the resultant WAV properly. It insists on...well, I can't describe it. It sort of robotizes it, gets the choppy rhythm all smoothed out. Hence, unusable. Maybe I'll have to do the whole thing in Audacity. (Shudder.) (Perhaps that's unfair. Audacity is free, after all, and has been an enormous help. I take it back, Audacity.)
Spent the rest of the evening digitizing old VHS tapes.
Later in the afternoon, I recorded some guitar noise. Basic setup, going from Hello Kitty guitar through Thrash Metal pedal and into the Nanoverb, before ending up in the BR-600. Nice sheets of sound, sharp with infinite sustain. Unrecognizable as guitar for the most part. One thing I have got to remember is to check the BR when I do a new song: by default it wants to throw its own effects in there, and while I appreciate the gesture, I'd rather it didn't. Perhaps there's a default I can set.
Anyway, I'm not sure what I did will be useful at all in any projects now or down the road, but it was nice being able to create without the pressure of some existing project forcing its NEED on me. (Yes, I'm talking about you, Cat Song.)
Speaking of Cat Song, finally got the words written down so I won't have to rely on memory. RV supplied some good lines, though they tended to...wander off point, which I guess is what he does anyway. I forgot to ask him if he'll do the vocal when the music is polished off. Since that time is likely far off, there's no urgency to the task.
Update: perhaps spoke a bit soonish. Decided a tad reluctantly, to work on the Cat Song and, heaven forfend! I actually got a good paste up of the verse-workings. It sounds actually pretty good, to my admittedly wanting-to-be-done-with-this ears. Still have to put together the chorus, but heck, I'll take this.
The bad news: ACID doesn't want to import the resultant WAV properly. It insists on...well, I can't describe it. It sort of robotizes it, gets the choppy rhythm all smoothed out. Hence, unusable. Maybe I'll have to do the whole thing in Audacity. (Shudder.) (Perhaps that's unfair. Audacity is free, after all, and has been an enormous help. I take it back, Audacity.)
Spent the rest of the evening digitizing old VHS tapes.
Saturday, August 21, 2010
August 21, 2010
I don't really feeling like doing much of anything today, let alone anything creative. It's a semi-overcast day that feels, to use the scientific term, blaugh.
A non-swimming day for which I feel almost guilty. I'm sure tomorrow, a swimming day, I'll be back to resisting it.
Update: other than reading, I accomplished nothing today. A day off, to go with the day off from swimming.
A non-swimming day for which I feel almost guilty. I'm sure tomorrow, a swimming day, I'll be back to resisting it.
Update: other than reading, I accomplished nothing today. A day off, to go with the day off from swimming.
Friday, August 20, 2010
August 20, 2010
Late night last night, and trouble sleeping, but here it is nearly 9:30 AM and I don't feel like going back to bed, so let's see if we're seeing a pattern form. A pattern of one!
Well, I listened to the recordings I made earlier in the week, and I'm slightly encouraged by them. They're not bad at all, I'm just skittish about saying "Maybe I can use that." Yeah, well, maybe I can use my cat's litter-box for something, I'm just not sure I would want to or that it would be worth it.
I should note that I took another crack at the "Cats and Dogs" essay that I've been thinking about forever yesterday, and forgot to note it in yesterday's entry.
Tonight, dissatisfied with the recordings I've accumulated, I did some more. I am rapidly coming to realize that it's going to be more difficult to assemble the individual pieces than to simply play them live. The problem: I am a terrible musician. So more guitarings, more trying to beef up those guitarings.
The biggest problem with the song is that it has reached that stage as a "Project" that all projects inevitably come to: the realization that what I've been carrying around in my head is going to fight me all the way to completion. This usually occurs in the first third or so of the work, and it's the most frustrating aspect because nothing seems to be accumulating into being. It's at this stage that a number of project are banished to be "thought about" later, and some are simply abandoned. The urge to abandon is very powerful, and has to be fought while morale is at its lowest.
Oh, and twenty-five laps in the pool.
Well, I listened to the recordings I made earlier in the week, and I'm slightly encouraged by them. They're not bad at all, I'm just skittish about saying "Maybe I can use that." Yeah, well, maybe I can use my cat's litter-box for something, I'm just not sure I would want to or that it would be worth it.
I should note that I took another crack at the "Cats and Dogs" essay that I've been thinking about forever yesterday, and forgot to note it in yesterday's entry.
Tonight, dissatisfied with the recordings I've accumulated, I did some more. I am rapidly coming to realize that it's going to be more difficult to assemble the individual pieces than to simply play them live. The problem: I am a terrible musician. So more guitarings, more trying to beef up those guitarings.
The biggest problem with the song is that it has reached that stage as a "Project" that all projects inevitably come to: the realization that what I've been carrying around in my head is going to fight me all the way to completion. This usually occurs in the first third or so of the work, and it's the most frustrating aspect because nothing seems to be accumulating into being. It's at this stage that a number of project are banished to be "thought about" later, and some are simply abandoned. The urge to abandon is very powerful, and has to be fought while morale is at its lowest.
Oh, and twenty-five laps in the pool.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
August 19, 2010
Another difficult sleep, troubled by very vivid dreams. In the first, I was trying to find a place to sleep in a large mansion during a rainstorm. The second, about getting my car either inspected or sold, or perhaps buying auto parts. The third, walking along an autumnal country road with a young woman while waiting for her car to be returned to her. I'm never sure what dreams mean.
Anyway, today. Here it is upon us. I feel good about possibly doing some painting, and perhaps even listening to the audio recordings I made a few days back. We'll see what holds.
Well, I did some painting. Thought a bit about recording, which unfortunately meant suddenly there were more verses. Oh well...
Anyway, today. Here it is upon us. I feel good about possibly doing some painting, and perhaps even listening to the audio recordings I made a few days back. We'll see what holds.
Well, I did some painting. Thought a bit about recording, which unfortunately meant suddenly there were more verses. Oh well...
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
August 18, 2010
Another slow day. Slept well enough, but failed to find much energy. Did the twenty-five laps, read more of Palin's Diaries.
Work: did a little painting on the "Islands" painting. Some highlights on the legs and I think it'll be done. Problem: used orange, which I think takes some time to dry.
Off to tomorrow.
Work: did a little painting on the "Islands" painting. Some highlights on the legs and I think it'll be done. Problem: used orange, which I think takes some time to dry.
Off to tomorrow.
August 17, 2010
Another pretty bad night's sleep, but I got up at 9:30 ish anyway - just to show 'em! Read a bit of Michael Palin's Diaries then rested a bit more.
Today I'm uncertain what I will do. Painting sounds attractive, and the audio project does not. (No wonder bands rehearse all the time--not necessarily to hone their own parts, but the coordinate them with those of the other members.)
Will putter about a bit longer here then go to the pool.
Later: went to the pool and did the laps. Later, did some painting on the "sphere" thing and was encouraged. That was about it for the day.
Got some good ideas about some of the other paintings in the "not quite done" stage, maybe we will see those tomorrow.
No enthusiasm for audio projects, as yet.
Today I'm uncertain what I will do. Painting sounds attractive, and the audio project does not. (No wonder bands rehearse all the time--not necessarily to hone their own parts, but the coordinate them with those of the other members.)
Will putter about a bit longer here then go to the pool.
Later: went to the pool and did the laps. Later, did some painting on the "sphere" thing and was encouraged. That was about it for the day.
Got some good ideas about some of the other paintings in the "not quite done" stage, maybe we will see those tomorrow.
No enthusiasm for audio projects, as yet.
Monday, August 16, 2010
August 16, 2010
Looks like another light day of work. More trouble sleeping last night, which seems to be a bad sign and sure enough I wasn't fully awake until close to noon. Argh.
Did twenty five laps in the pool (did that yesterday too and forgot to note it. Saturday is a day off from the pool).
Work today has been mostly just messing around. Spent an hour or so modifying pictures I found on the web. Perhaps some painting later in the day, we'll have to see. I absolutely do not feel like touching any audio recordings.
Update: Did some work on the painting. Pretty satisfactory. Not exactly what I was looking for...but better.
Did twenty five laps in the pool (did that yesterday too and forgot to note it. Saturday is a day off from the pool).
Work today has been mostly just messing around. Spent an hour or so modifying pictures I found on the web. Perhaps some painting later in the day, we'll have to see. I absolutely do not feel like touching any audio recordings.
Update: Did some work on the painting. Pretty satisfactory. Not exactly what I was looking for...but better.
Sunday, August 15, 2010
August 15, 2010
Not much accomplished today. I made a bit of headway with ACID, enough to make me realize that perhaps my reach is exceeding my grasp in this project. Recorded some more guitar and bass lines, and maybe they'll be a bit easier to assemble into something workable.
Saturday, August 14, 2010
August 14, 2010
Well, three days in and I've run across my first self-generated impediment: I just don't feel like doing anything. I suppose there will be several of these days.
Drove up to Mt. Mitchell and shot some video of fog. The fog was not amenable to direction and kept swamping everything without being dramatic. Maybe there's something usable in there.
Worked on the cat song. Well, actually re-recorded some bass guitar as well as some chording on the other guitar. Audacity is a nice program but it's not the best one for detailed work. Perhaps I ought to clip things into WAVs and use ACID instead. It would, if nothing else, give me a bit of practice on that software.
Well, I fired up the Sony, still can't make much headway with it. Cracked up the book and started my way. Overall, I think I have some good pieces today, but nothing of substance or anything close to a finished state. I have basically taken out some puzzle pieces and put them on the table. Assembly is more difficult than I thought it would be.
On to tomorrow.
Drove up to Mt. Mitchell and shot some video of fog. The fog was not amenable to direction and kept swamping everything without being dramatic. Maybe there's something usable in there.
Worked on the cat song. Well, actually re-recorded some bass guitar as well as some chording on the other guitar. Audacity is a nice program but it's not the best one for detailed work. Perhaps I ought to clip things into WAVs and use ACID instead. It would, if nothing else, give me a bit of practice on that software.
Well, I fired up the Sony, still can't make much headway with it. Cracked up the book and started my way. Overall, I think I have some good pieces today, but nothing of substance or anything close to a finished state. I have basically taken out some puzzle pieces and put them on the table. Assembly is more difficult than I thought it would be.
On to tomorrow.
Friday, August 13, 2010
August 13, 2010
Today may be a write-off. I had a great deal of trouble getting any sleep last night, so when I finally decided I had to get up in the morning (this was close to nine), I almost immediate decided I was too tired to do anything and I went back to bed.
I woke up again shortly after noon. I went and did 25 laps in the pool, drove for a bit, did some much-needed grocery shopping, then suddenly felt incredibly sick. Not sure why, and before you ask, no I hadn't had any alcohol for a couple of days. A quick shower and then back to bed. It's now quarter to six and I haven't done anything.
We'll see if that remains true for the rest of the day. The sky is rumbling right now, so there might be an electrical storm. Since most of what I want to do depends on electricity, well...
Update: I did some painting on the sphere. I think it was quite successful--instead of looking like something vaguely interesting of no fixed character, it now looks definitely like some old ruined structure, purpose unknown.
I also recorded some bass guitar for the cat song. I think I got what I needed, perhaps tomorrow I'll have more luck with the guitar parts. Thinking maybe RV should do his own vocal, perhaps I'll ask.
All in all, the day could have gone much better, but it certainly could have gone much worse as well.
I woke up again shortly after noon. I went and did 25 laps in the pool, drove for a bit, did some much-needed grocery shopping, then suddenly felt incredibly sick. Not sure why, and before you ask, no I hadn't had any alcohol for a couple of days. A quick shower and then back to bed. It's now quarter to six and I haven't done anything.
We'll see if that remains true for the rest of the day. The sky is rumbling right now, so there might be an electrical storm. Since most of what I want to do depends on electricity, well...
Update: I did some painting on the sphere. I think it was quite successful--instead of looking like something vaguely interesting of no fixed character, it now looks definitely like some old ruined structure, purpose unknown.
I also recorded some bass guitar for the cat song. I think I got what I needed, perhaps tomorrow I'll have more luck with the guitar parts. Thinking maybe RV should do his own vocal, perhaps I'll ask.
All in all, the day could have gone much better, but it certainly could have gone much worse as well.
Thursday, August 12, 2010
August 12, 2010
I decided that I ought to keep track of the day's progress on various projects, because otherwise the days just pass in a wasteful stretch.
So, today I did five vocal takes for the planned cat video, one of which I think is usable. Tried to find the guitar chord I want (without success). The vocal is about 20 seconds long, including the "1-2-3-4" I put in to gear myself up for singing. The best take was when I decided not to use headphones. Hearing my voice makes me incredibly self-conscious. I did listen to it eventually, of course.
A few minutes of painting on the "floating sphere" work which will probably end up being another entry in Sick World, which is what I've come to call the rather greenish works of the last couple of years.
Twenty-five laps in the pool.
I put some wire-ties on ROGER's shoulders to keep his inner plumbing in line. The way they were sliding all over everything made working on him fairly difficult.
Finally, I did a quick Sony project for the "Noise No. 5" soundtrack I'd recorded a few weeks ago. I found some old Mavica videos and pasted them together long enough to last the two-minute soundtrack. Not anything profound (or even useful) but fun to do. No effects this time around, and Sony decided not to give me much in the way of difficulty. Posted to YouTube as "Headache No. 02." Made me feel better about not getting more done on the cat video, though heaven knows getting a usable vocal take from me might be the single most difficult bit.
Approximately 10:15 PM, and I of course would have liked to have done more, but I feel pretty satisfied that I've at least accomplished something.
So, today I did five vocal takes for the planned cat video, one of which I think is usable. Tried to find the guitar chord I want (without success). The vocal is about 20 seconds long, including the "1-2-3-4" I put in to gear myself up for singing. The best take was when I decided not to use headphones. Hearing my voice makes me incredibly self-conscious. I did listen to it eventually, of course.
A few minutes of painting on the "floating sphere" work which will probably end up being another entry in Sick World, which is what I've come to call the rather greenish works of the last couple of years.
Twenty-five laps in the pool.
I put some wire-ties on ROGER's shoulders to keep his inner plumbing in line. The way they were sliding all over everything made working on him fairly difficult.
Finally, I did a quick Sony project for the "Noise No. 5" soundtrack I'd recorded a few weeks ago. I found some old Mavica videos and pasted them together long enough to last the two-minute soundtrack. Not anything profound (or even useful) but fun to do. No effects this time around, and Sony decided not to give me much in the way of difficulty. Posted to YouTube as "Headache No. 02." Made me feel better about not getting more done on the cat video, though heaven knows getting a usable vocal take from me might be the single most difficult bit.
Approximately 10:15 PM, and I of course would have liked to have done more, but I feel pretty satisfied that I've at least accomplished something.
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