Friday, August 28, 2009

Korg EMX-1 Flip Style Template

A very nice template of the Korg EMX-1 from Sytle flip:
http://www.styleflip.com/index.php?main_page=flash_designer&cPath=1_16_18&products_id=56&face_id=1

Funny Cookie Monster Guitar

Funny Guitar Monster Guitar pictures, for my friend Scott A. Sundberg (aka. Blue Monster) :O)
From:
http://images3.wikia.nocookie.net/muppet/images/thumb/4/4c/Tara1982CookieGuitar.jpg/94px-Tara1982CookieGuitar.jpg
http://media.photobucket.com/image/cookie monster guitar/riotgrrl593/cookie_monster_guitar.gif?o=1

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Yamaha RX7


Just got a near mint, fully functional RX7 and really happy about it..the overall condition: LCD, drum pads, sliders, everything are amazing for a 22 yo device :D a great example of a drum machine which built to last.

The samples are from great to ok..to ooh yeah (seriously!), but I like the overall sound character. The Simmons style BD/SD are nice, as well as the FM percussion, fx, hi-hat and some other. But the Latin Percussion and Cymbals are classy 12 bit goodness.
There are 100 samples (94 plus 6 reversed version): 52 are from the RX5 and the included WRC-01 Basic Percussion Cartridge which is hard to find. It's mentioned that the rest are a kind of the best selection from other harder to get Cartridges: the WRC-02 Jazz & Fusion, WRC-03 Heavy Metal, WRC-04 Effects. I used to want a RX5, for it's ability to use those cartridges. To know that most are already built in is wonderful. There supposed to be another cards for the RX5, not sure if it's from Sound Source Unlimited or Metra Sound, those are sought after for the 808/909 samples.
Hardly hope for more samples or at least throw those silly (useful when edited) samples such as vocal/guitar, and replace em with more kick and snare. But with the effective sound editing, the unit can be wonderful for what it is.

Editing is surprisingly straightforward and fun to work with and actually one of the most enjoyable to me.
- Bend: controlling Rate/Range, works well with the single value data to produce real time sound experiment. Other thing that I like is that the quality of the pitches sound are somehow very nice and useful in a "quality" way instead of just weird or trashy. Supposed to be some quality processing for this.
- Pitch and Decay: the same can be said for the pitch parameter, while the decay will instantly turn a boring snare into a nice bass&drum type of sound..or unique percussion fx.
- Voice Level and Pan: These are self explanatory, but clearly the part where I miss the RX5 volume sliders.
- The LFO: this little part is my favorite and where the unit shine. Other than the usual vibrato and tremolo this parameters would create some cool stuff..by tweaking what Yamaha called AMD (Amplitude Modulation Depth) and PMD (Pitch Modulation Depth) a bit extreme, it will colored or mildly "distort" the edited sound. Don't expect heavy distorted sound as if using a dedicated distortion unit, but some "lo-bit game" style noise might be produced. Combined with the pitch/bend edit, it can create instant blip and unique percussion or game fx.
- The FX: almost a combination simple delay and a pitch shifter. with a creative use, it can be useful. sounds a bit analogish to me.

The whole save, clear, drum kit assignment, are very easy and fast. Snappy is what I call for the unit processing and operation process. It is nice to see small red lights for almost every functions such as: Pattern - Song - Sync - Multi - Effect - Damp - Run. Also dedicated sliders for volume, click level, tempo and data. Even there's a foot switch feature.

Real time recording in the pattern sequencer is again, both easy and straightforward. As well as the quantize, swing, tempo change, click volume control, delete, etc. But the non graphical step recording might need a lot of training. The song sequencer is simply a pattern chain sequencer. It can be fun working with the sequencer, but also can be very confusing sometime. But I'm more into the sound and realtime pattern sequencing anyway, while relying on other machine/pc for deeper sequencing.

What's missing from the RX5 are:
- Sample Cartridge slot: not really miss this, since most of the Yamaha Cartridge samples are already built-in and I'm not looking for another 808/909 samples in it anyway. Plus, those are so hard to find
- Individual outs: not really a problem for what I'm going to use it, but 4 outs are going to be better
- Individual volume sliders and bigger unit size: Those Sliders are nice..but again, the RX7 is smaller
- Attack parameter: do not miss this, the LFO trade off is worth it

In short, a wonderful 12 bit drum machine for what I'm currently looking.

Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Amazing Food for Friendship

Last weekend, I came to the 1901 Hot Dog booth at La Piazza, Jakarta. And happily found an amazing eating experience there!
http://www.1901.com
It's almost like Veni Vidi Vici..I came, bought around 20+ hot dogs, ate 7 Hot dogs + Sausages on the spot..3 for my wife at home and We are all extremely happy!
It might sounds a little bit too religious, but I challenge you to find a better deal!
We are talking about quality - tasty - crunchy Hot dogs for just Rp. 10.000,- each within a special package of 3 Hot dogs for just Rp. 30.000,-!
I speak loud about quality for such a low-low-low price for this "Super Brand" product:
http://www.1901.com/about.asp
There are many wonderful choices too, but my favorites are:
Texas Ted, Chicago Beef, New York Chicken and the lite but Tasty Soakin' Ted
http://www.1901.com/menu.asp
By eating Soakin'n Ted, which is actualy just a quality sausage, you can experience the material quality and delicious taste. Stated by a Sausage lover with a lot of tasting experience.
Have I mentioned about the very nice French Fries for just Rp. 6000,- /pax?
You guys simply must try this Friendly Food for Friendship by yourself, family and friend!
Highly Recommended.

Friday, April 17, 2009

Waldof Music: Rare Album 3





Waldorf Project 3 - Main Output
Is the Third of Waldorf's Demo CD, featuring the newly released Q and the older Wave, MicrowaveII, MicrowaveXT and Pulse. Which instantly made me got the uQ to join the existing Waldorf's Whales in the studio :O) Again, this wonderful CD is among my all time favorite electronic music album.

Thursday, April 9, 2009

Boss DR-880


The DR-880 is nice, but notice that I got it mainly for banging some srx/v-drums style noises at night, with a headphone. Just to have some fun. And the headphone amp is nice and clean, while could be hotter. For that, the unit is a wonderful stuff!
The pads are a bit small, but they are playable and react to velocity well. Supporting the multilayered sample. Not as musical as my RY30 but better than the MC-909 pads. It didn't have an aftertouch as many earlier top of the line Boss unit have. The unit is light enough to carry, but bigger than earlier Boss DR line. All made of plastic, but looks aesthetically nice and clean.
If you are a fan of older Roland's drums (derived from the R-8mkII to the DR-770 era), may be the unit won't make you happy. To me these older boxex have more aggressive, more in your face quality, just like most of the 90's beat box. Even the SC-880 engine in my MC-80ex has more punch and dynamic to it sounds compared to the DR-880. Also forget about the analog drum sounds, my MC-909 got that covered much more better. The percussion sounds are crisp and clean with some details, but again thinner compared to the MC-909 or older stuff, which could be a better source for current pop music mix.
Sounds like I hate it? NO, I love it!
Because, it covers the type of sounds that I'm looking for. Nice, clean, with the simple - up front "Boss" style sound and "fun" to play with/listen to. It cover stuffs that's missing from the MC-909 or my older Roland's drum collection. Also sounds different from the Bass & Drum board sounds in my JV-1080 which again sounds punchier, has more dynamics and raw. Even may be with the same samples.
For the best source of an acoustic drum kit emulation, may be something like the E-mu protean/beat shop or installing the Dynamic Drums SRX (for more editing power in the MC-909) would do the job better. Listening to the the DR-880 sound is almost like listening to a V-drum instead of a real acoustic drum, which sounds great on a progressive music and the type of sound that I'm currently looking for. I'm using my trusty audio technica M-40fs phones, and it sounds great (as I like it), even sometime sounds a bit "bossy" (cheesy) which could be because of the simpler/lower end engine compared to the Fantom Class MC-909's engine.
The Kick and Snare are my favorite, followed by the tom. The hi-hat, crash, ride, china sounds good, but thin compare to the older line. But yet, sounds more ready mix too and sounds musical as a whole. Great for one, looking for a typical "current" Roland's drum samples type, V-drum style.
As most of us agree, that a drum machine should sound like one. I prefer drum loops for a better acoustic drum track. And the DR-880 sounds more like a hybrid machine :O) which sounds music to me. But if there are any E-mu PX-7 for cheap, I'd prolly got it too, just to bang some rythm, because I like to do finger drumming with a great acoustic drum kits. Plus it has a way deeper engine, and I still can use the component such as the tom, crash, cymbal and synthesis to enrich the drum loop track.
The filterless engine is simple but effective, just around the pitch and decay. There's no way to layer sample, to make thicker sound. But the DR-880 has 3 separate inserts (eq and comp) which is a bit effective to make it sounds more mix ready. TSC which basically just a total eq and reverb, sounds a bit cheesy sometime. But it's better than nothing, since it would add some musical ambiance to the playing and would not to noticable in a mix for a fast demo track.
I haven't make any song with it's sequencer, or using the step editing to make patterns, instead of doing realtime finger drumming. But I did play around a bit with the ez compose beat editing, which is simply a mix and match of drum elements from one pattern to another. The process is easy and fun. This alone, could make the unit as a great practice device. The fill-in library is also nice and effective, but not as instant as the fill-in operation such in the early Boss unit or as in the SR-16.
People said that the video manual is very nice and un-leashed the unit's potential. It featuring the the same person featured on the MC-909 dvd manual.
I haven't tried the GT-6 based fx for the guitar in, but it supposed to be not bad. If you play guitarthen this is going to be another plus point. I hardly wish that those effects can be used with the drum sounds..but no such luck.
Above all the weaknesses, with the right touch, I can see that this unit got a potential to do a finished, slammin hot rhtym tracks. Not to mention a great drum source for a demo track and a jamming/practicing unit.
Hope that this humble review, would give an honest view of this humble device which I really like.

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

Pinball Music Walkstation


This is one of my imagination of a portable pinball music system :O)
Those portable walkstations have some serious noise making power, the battery powered music devices are getting better and better.Sometime when making music on such device, I feel some excitement from playing a pinball table, which is instant, interactive and addicting.

Friday, March 27, 2009

Waldorf Music: Rare Album 2


Waldorf Project 2 - Alien Control
This is the Second Waldorf's Demo CD, featuring the Wave, Microwave II, XT and Pulse. Also some Novation Drum Station sounds. This is among my all time favorite electronic music album,
which made me bought both the MicrowaveXT (32 voices) and the Pulse +. So happy with the decisions :O)

Saturday, March 14, 2009

Motivation of the day


"It's not the mountain that we conquer, but ourselves" Sir Edmund Hillary, the first Mount Everest Conquerer.

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Waldorf Music: Rare Album 1

Waldorf Project - Planet Wave

Is the first of the Waldorf's Rare Music album CD, released for their instruments product demonstration CD. Featuring the Wave and Microwave. They've released an older demos on cassette, but this is their first full track music on CD.

Saturday, March 7, 2009

Beautiful Meditating Place 2


Another spot from my favorite meditating place, surroundings with beautiful view, pond and plants on a valley.

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Music Walkstation - Duo


The Yamaha QY70 and SU10 pair is my favorite portable workstations combo. While the QY providing a full sequencing strength with a reasonable XG engine and nice fx, the SU10 providing all the bits and slices of samples and loops to make things even more fun. Those puppies might thrown in some reasonably good material and some punchy samples. I even sometime view the SU10 as a poor's man SP12/1200 :O) Both run on batteries and portable enough to take anywhere.
Even Freezepop, prefer the QY70 over the QY100! haha..http://www.freezepop.com/gear/index.html

Sunday, March 1, 2009

Nuansa

Nuansa (2002) is Dwiki Dharmawan's personal album, which to me considered as a more easy litening compared to the usual Krakatau's masterpieces. Which I really like to listen over and over again, since it is relaxing, musical and fun to listen.

This album featuring some world class musicians such as: Mike Stern Trio(Mike Stern, Lincol Goiness dan Ritchie Morales), Ricky Lawson(drummer for Phil Collins and Michael Jackson Band), Michael Thompson(Celine Dion's guitarist), Neil Stubenhaus(bassist) and Los Angeles Studio Orchestra, which all are from USA. From Australia: Steve Hunter (bass), Glenn Wilson(drum), Guy Strazullo(gitar), David Jones(drum) and Victoria Philharmonic Orchestra.

Off course from fellow Indonesian musicians, such as: Oelle Pattiselano, Budhy Haryono, Bintang Indiarto, Indro Hardjodikoro, Hendry Lamiri, Dian Pramana Putra, Victoria(Warna), and more.
Also taking part is two senior orchestrator, Erwin Gutawa and Singgih Sanjaya.

Friday, February 27, 2009

Waldorf Records: Zeitlos


Waldorf Records,
http://www.waldorf-records.com/
Releasing Zeitlos some years ago which is one of my all time favorite Synthesizer driven, Chill out album. Made by a company who made legendary synthesizers such as the Wave, Microwave, Q and Pulse, this album exlusively featuring their instrument as the highlight.

It contained 11 tracks of great recorded materials, which samples can be listened from the web site.

The Album, along with more Waldorf Records release can be had from their online shop.

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Rhythm of Reformation

Rhythm of Reformation
This Album is another breakthrough from Krakatau, which is a supreme art work of Indonesian Traditional Percussions, featuring: Genjring, Terbang, Rebana, Kendang, Dog-dog, Ceng-ceng, Kempli, Jengglong, Lodang, Bedug, Taganing, Gondang, Karinding, Bonang, Kempul, Selentem, Gong and Drum Kit.

A great taster of the energetic and mystical Indonesia world of music, mainly for those who like to explore the more universal side of percussion based music.

Also available as an i-tunes download:
http://www.musikita.biz/releases-krakatau-rhythm-of-reformation.html

Saturday, February 21, 2009

Inspiration of the day


"Life is like music, it must be composed by ear, feeling and instinct, not by rule. Nevertheless, one had better know the rules" -Samuel Butler, novelist and satirist

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Mystical Mist - Magical Match



Mystical Mist - Magical Match,
http://www.dwiki.com/discography/
Are two of my favorite album of the older form of Krakatau Band. Featuring Dwiki Dharmawan as the Keyboardist and a mixture of Jazz Music and Indonesian Traditional Instruments such as:
Rebab, Suling, Kendang, Saron and Bonang.

For the fans of such type of music, these album are now very rare and hard to get. But sometime Warta Jazz might have a copy or two:
http://www.wartajazz.com/store/indonesia.html

Monday, February 16, 2009

Music for World's Peace

Enter World Peace Orchestra;
http://www.dwiki.com/2007/08/10/dwiki-dharmawan-world-peace-orchestra-recording-tour/
Directed by Dwiki Dharmawan as a keyboardist, featured in the July 2008 edition of Keyboard Magazine, USA:
http://www.keyboardmag.com/article/global-harmony/jul-08/85829
My Highest salute to Dwiki and the whole team that put music in such a glorious way.

Saturday, February 14, 2009

Slumdog Millionaire


Last nite I just saw a very good moral movie, which imho going to be a great watch for the whole family.

The film called: Slumdog Millionaire


It's amazing that a UK director could tell a story about India like that. I enjoy everything about this award winning movie, the picture, the music,the energy. The acting are just regular, but the overall of "feel good" ambiance is refreshing and teach something about being "grateful".

Thursday, February 12, 2009

Favorite Korean Soup


Do you like Korean food? Nice dishes during cold, such as:
Yukaejang (also called: Yookaejang/Yukejon/Yuhkejahng); a spicy beef soup, which is a
fav of mine.
http://www.chow.com/recipes/11335
or

Samgyetang; a ginseng chicken soup, which is my mom's fav, mainly during recovery from flu.
http://www.chow.com/recipes/11318

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Warta Jazz


The best place to follow about the latest information about Jazz Music in Indonesia, mainly about the mixture with Indonesian Traditional Instrument.
http://www.wartajazz.com
Also don't forget the visit or e-mail the store to buy directly, at:
http://www.wartajazz.com/store/indonesia.html

Saturday, February 7, 2009

2009 Dream Home Studio


A happy surroundings really supporting the creativity.
I do enjoy the interior aspect and the studio comfort factor and found it rather inspiring.
Lately, I'm thinking, If I were starting up again (or win a lottery )..may be I'd start with just:
- A powerful PC with a single 22" LCD, using a decent PCI express VGA card, running sonar 8 PE, plus:
* a Sonic Core XITE-1 + Solaris 5 and other synth plug-ins
http://www.sonic-core.net/en/products/xite-1.html
http://www.sonic-core.net/en/products/zargmusic.html
* a TC powercore Express + Virus, MD3, Harmony4 plug in (I love vocal harmony)
http://www.tcelectronic.com/Default.asp?Id=11861
- Kurzweil PC3x 88 weighted keys and the free editor
http://www.kurzweilmusicsystems.com/Product.php?product=37
- CME UF 70 76 synth action keyboard controller + ASX board
- A Korg Wavedrum + Charlie Labs Digitar which I currently own
- Adam Audio active speaker monitor + sub woofer
- A decent headphone + Some decent mics
- Small Digital/USB2 mixer (+ high quality audio cables) with fx
- an 8 in/out USB midi interface
- A rack for some of my current analogs such as:
MKS-70 + PG-800
Pulse+, BSR, MED (doubled as analog filter processors)
- Analog pedals such as: Rat's and BOSS Hyperfuzz and SYB-3
- A bunch of plug-ins (including freebies) such as:
Korg Legacy collection, Proteus VX, etc

THAT's about it.
Less Cables
Less Hassles
Less Maintenance
and more energy for the creativity and budget for the room's acoustic and other comfort factor

Thursday, February 5, 2009

Melacca Peaceful Evening


A peaceful evening on an empty street during our trip to Melacca. Which has a very nice old town with some traditional food and merchandise..

Monday, February 2, 2009

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Beautiful Meditating Place



A Beautiful and Inspiring meditating place, in Istana Bunga, Lembang, Bandung. With plenty of fresh air, flowers and smell. It's calming, relaxing and enlightening.