I`m still going through the instruction manual of reaper -it`s a pretty involved piece of software, but the more I understand the more I find it useful. It`s just a patience game… I`ve already started working on a very nerdy electronic piece of music using midi and Reaper`s own basic synthesizer. Might post it some time…
Here`s an introduction to reaper…
I finally bit the bullet and bought a Macbook Pro 13″ (the cheaper one) as well as buying an audio interface after much deliberation: a Saffire USB 6. Even though I’ve been on Windows/PC for the last 15 years, for recording purposes it just made sense to get a mac because of reliability. My previous Vista laptop was OK but the fan simply wasn’t quiet enough for recording using highly sensitive condensor mics. Plus I was having a headache research laptops that were 64 bit and other compatability issues. Once I’d decided on the getting a mac, the real headache of researching audio interfaces began. Rather than talk more, I’ve just scanned in copy of the sheet that I used to compare and take notes.
I just bought a Sony Mp3 player the other day. My ipod had gone bust and I wanted to try something different -also, I might get an iPhone one day (but probably a Galaxy with Android).
It was just coincidental that I saw in the local music rag that Sony has just launched a new streaming service for Australia -which is needed here because I don’t think we can get Spotify or other services like Mog.
I hope it’s successful -the article talks about how it could be a competitor to the ‘dominant’ iTunes. However it’s a streaming service that’s linked up to Sony internet devices that allows the user access to 6 million tracks for $13 Aus dollars (about $12 us) per month. Later it’ll be accessible to certain mobiles as well apparently. And Sony seems to have a fighting chance because, like iTunes, they have a hardware connection and the rights to the majors.
The article goes on to talk about illegal downloading though -with that in mind neither iTunes nor Sony have any dominance or leverage. When I walked into one shop enquiring about mp3 players, I asked if they could play itunes files (mpegs or aacs…) and the guy in the shop just laughed. He referred to some pirate software that converts any file in existence including serial numbers and suggested I get what I want off pirate bay. iTunes doesn’t come across cool nowadays, it comes across naive…
So, I’d like to try the Sony’s “Music Limited” one day but it’s still not practical, even though I bought their mp3 player. And while I’ll still buy CD’s, iTunes tracks or borrow from the library, I think the rest of the tech-savvy population is taking whatever they want straight off the internet.
I will say that I am enjoying the Sony player – to be honest I think it sounds better than the ipod but that could be my imagination (though I wasn’t impressed with the ipod when I first listened to it.) It has noise reduction headphones which means I can hear everything in a track from the bass to the triangle ding at the end of the chorus even when I’m on a bus or train. For me, that’s made a huge difference because I spend an hour each way travelling to work.
However, it’s not as easy to use as the ipod in navigating round the files, but that’s a minor issue for me. Overall thumbs up for the Sony!
This is for a generation with more gizmos and gadgets than you can throw a stick at…
There was a problem with uploading my recent song ‘Been Around’ on to Youtube, so I’ve been uploading an old Rhombic Void song today, and I’ll have to try again in the next few days with “Been Around’. In the meantime here’s another cartoon…
Struggling Muso 