The Vectorman's Blog

"Kill Switch" - A Return to Form

2011-02-26T12:55:00.004-05:00

Man, has it really been a year since I last posted on my "official" blog? I guess it has. For a while, my Myspace blog was seeing more action, but as Myspace started to degenerate into an advertising-congested, bug-riddled mess, I became less inclined to post there and set up a Facebook page instead. Facebook doesn't offer a blog per se, though, so at least for now, I guess this is the place to plaster my musings!

I got a bit confused last year. A desire to get back into doing progressive rock overtook me for a while. It wasn't a totally bad thing - it did produce a couple of decent new guitar/bass/drums-driven songs - but ultimately, it felt strange to be doing music as a solo artist that sounded like it was really intended to be played by a three-piece band. I might still do some more music in that vein and maybe put out an EP just for the heck of it, but for now, I'm more inclined to get back into doing music that plays to my real strengths and is better suited to my solo status. I've played keyboards (starting with piano and then synths) since I was ten years old; that's my main instrument and that's what I really should be putting in the forefront.

"Kill Switch" is my return to form, you could say. Driven by some more aggressive piano and bass playing and injected with a good dose of synths and synthetic drum sounds, this is me sounding more like me. I guess it's no accident that the lyrics revolve around the subject of admitting to oneself when something isn't working and having the fortitude to "go back to the board and start over again." You can listen to the song now on my website at http://www.davidvector.com/, or on my Facebook page.

For those interested in the technical stuff, this is the first song on which I've used my new bass, a Carvin SB4000, and I love it - plays great and has a more aggressive tone that cuts through the mix and inspires me to play a little more busily. Another new tool seeing some action here is Relab LX480, a software recreation of the Lexicon 480L hardware reverb that's great for those cavernous, '80s-esque reverb sounds. Most of the synthetic drum sounds you hear, including the kick drum and snare, were created in the u-he Zebra software synth (mostly sounds created by other sound designers that I tweaked quite a bit). Other synth sounds came from Spectrasonics Omnisphere and Waldorf PPG Wave 3.V.

That's it for this entry. Time to get back to recording on yet another snowy Michigan afternoon (we sure are getting it dumped on us this year). Ciao for now!

DV

"Indigo and Black" - my rock side comes back out to play

2010-02-03T17:51:00.003-05:00

Something rather interesting happened this past month. I mentioned in my last blog that I had started delving back into recording guitar for the first time in about three years. I figured at the time that it would just be a useful tool for adding some organic textures here and there to my more electronic-based tracks. It turned out to have a bigger impact than that. To my surprise, I found myself wanting to do more rock-oriented music again…or at least, my sort of progressive, slightly-left-of-center brand of rock, anyway.

Before I knew it, I had recorded a new song that is more heavy and organic than probably anything I’ve ever done. The synthesizers are still there, of course, but now playing a more textural role with the guitars, bass and drums forming the core of the song. It feels like I’ve come full circle back to a musical territory more like what I was into when I started out, before I veered off into techno/electronica. I’m not completely sure yet what this means for the new album as a whole, but it’s a direction I’m fired up about right now and am going to pursue more.

Since this is a fairly major shift, I’m putting the new song, “Indigo and Black,” up on my website and Myspace profile for you guys to preview. I hope you like it. :-)

Talk to y’all soon!

Recording Update - September 1, 2009

2009-09-01T16:31:00.002-04:00

Hiya gang...

I figured it was time for at least some kind of update from me. There wouldn't be much point in my getting Twitter...heck, I'm lucky to check in once a month with a blog sometimes, let alone doing multiple daily updates on my goings-on!

I'm still hammering away at new material. I have over twenty new songs recorded, but as I told a friend in a recent email, they're kind of scattered stylistically...so much so that I think they wouldn't all hang together on one album so well. What I've finally latched onto as the direction for this album is the more electronic, synth-heavy side of what I've been doing. So, I'll take what I feel are the best of the tracks I've done that fall into that category, record a few more and, with luck, finally wrap it all up by the end of the year. That's the plan and I need to stick to it - it's been WAY too long since I put an album out. After all this time immersed in recording, I'm almost looking forward to the change of pace of working on things like the graphic design, shooting a video, etc.

For those interested in the techno-geek side of things (my standard disclaimer, since I know some just like to listen to music and don't care that much about the "making-of" details), I've made some major changes and additions to the tool box (and no, I'm not talking about that gay bar in Toronto that shut down a few years ago, LOL).

I just switched to Reaper as my main recording software. I had been using Sonar for most of this project, but Sonar has not been entirely stable on my system and I got tired of the quirks. Reaper seems more efficient and less problematic so far and is enabling me to use my software synthesizers more effectively with less glitches. Spectrasonics Omnisphere was always problematic for me in Sonar, but in Reaper, it runs like a top. It's a great synth that's being used in film soundtracks like "Terminator: Salvation" and "District 9," and now I can finally use it properly myself. Another fairly exciting addition is Synth Squad from fxpansion, a collection of synths that more accurately model the sound of classic analog hardware than probably anything thus far has managed to do. I've now pretty much settled into a lineup of stuff that works for me (finally) and can just focus on writing and recording and getting this project finished.

Aside from working on music, I've also just started enjoying watching the series thirtysomething on DVD. I loved that show when it ran originally, even though I was in my teens rather than my thirties when it first aired. I don't think I ever really was a teen in the sense that most go through it - I was more serious-minded and maybe a bit of an "old soul" even then, so the more gritty, real-life stuff the characters were grappling with was much more interesting to me than the kind of entertainment fare most teenagers gravitate towards. Now, being a thirtysomething myself all these years later and having more experience with the dynamics of relationships, I can appreciate the show all the more.

Guess I'd better get back to recording and get a bit more done before Scott gets home at 5:00. We're going to the casino after dinner...which basically means I'll probably sit there sipping a Coke and reading a book or something while he gambles (I can honestly say gambling has never interested me in the slightest). It's fun for him, though, and he needs to get out of here for a few hours and enjoy himself.

Catch y'all later...have exciting fun day!

DV

Character Synths vs. Swiss Army Knife Synths

2009-07-07T09:25:00.004-04:00

Above: The Oberheim OB-X, responsible for (among other things)
many of the synth textures on Rush's classic Moving Pictures album.

This morning's subject of idle, passing rumination (for those into such things) is the merits of what I call "character synths" that provide a specific sonic texture vs. the "do-it-all" modern designs that offer everything but the kitchen sink.

For a while now, I've been kind of big on really deep, complex synths like u-he Zebra that provide a borader canvas on which to paint (sound-wise). It is kind of cool being able to keep stringing oscillators, filters, and all kinds of other components together at will when making a sound, knowing you've got a ton of options at your fingertips to do whatever you want. On the other hand, even synths that claim to be neutral and open-ended still have a certain "sound" of their own that becomes apparent after a while, and they often don't do certain things as well as synths that are dedicated to more specific purposes. The "jack of all trades" thing, I guess.

I've started playing around more with a handful of synths that have simpler layouts and more of a specific sound to them. The two main ones right now are GForce's ImpOSCar and SonicProjects' OP-X Pro. Both are software emulations of classic synths from the early 1980's (the "golden era" of the synthesizer, when synths were still relatively new and made hip by artists like The Eurythmics and Thomas Dolby). Back then, synths only came in the form of expensive and often very bulky hardware. They had far less capabilities, but the good ones had a thick, organic sound to them that software developers are still trying to duplicate in software over two decades later, with varying success.

What I like about ImpOSCar and OP-X is that their focus is on getting a really good fundamental sound with a lot of character rather than incorporating a huge array of complicated options. ImpOSCar in particular has what I think is probably the coolest-sounding filter in any softsynth I've ever heard...ballsy and aggressive and full of personality. OP-X, being an emulation of the classic Oberheim OB-X (used, in its day, by artists like Rush, Depeche Mode, Queen, etc.), has a very thick, substantial sound, especially when you put it into Unison mode and stack all six voices on every note.

You take a handful of "character" synths and mix and match them in an arrangement, and I think you can often end up with a somewhat more three-dimensional-sounding mix than just using one ultra-flexible mega synth for everything. Sort of like having a dash of burnt orange here and a splash of navy blue there instead of doing the whole painting in a dozen different shades of green.

That's what I was thinking about this morning, anyway. Now I'm ready to take a walk and clear my head before getting some recording done. Bit on the cool side for July, but it looks like it's going to be a nice day...

"Enemy of the State" - New Song Preview

2009-06-07T21:29:00.001-04:00

I know, I know, I said the last track I posted would be the final sneak peek at the new material. But hey, us artist types are a fickle, mercurial lot, so I changed my mind! After I recorded the newest track, "Enemy of the State," I decided that with its sharp contrasts between hard and soft, rough and smooth, as well as its more complex structure, that it would do a better job of representing for the new project while you're all waiting for me to finish and release it.

You know how it goes...people make hasty judgments. Someone who's never heard of me could stop by and just listen to "Piston" and think that all I do is Bruce Hornsby-style jazzy piano tracks, or listen to "Wavelength" and assume I'm a techno/dance artist (which, on the whole, I'm not, really). The newest song falls more dead-center and represents me better as a whole, I think.

So as long as I've let another cat claw its way out of the bag ("Rawwwrrrrr!"), I might as well say a few words about the new song. "Enemy of the State" is, in some ways, almost a partial throwback to my progressive rock days. It's the first time I've used an odd time signature (the verses are in 7/4) since the Immovable Mover CD I put out in 2003, not to mention the orchestral strings. But I'd like to think that, having grown a lot since then, I can now do a more complex song like this without it coming across as all stiff and contrived and imitative of Rush or Yes or whatever.

Musicians will notice a lot of fretless bass on this song, more bass playing than I've done in probably half a year or more. I finally got around to working at setting up my Ibanez ATK fretless so that it plays more comfortably, and I found that it actually records pretty darned well for a somewhat battered relic scored off of eBay for $350. It's kind of nice to give a little TLC to what you have and get the most out of it instead of constantly throwing more cash at new toys (something I probably did a little too much of last year!).

So there you go, one last teaser track before I cloister myself away at Vector Labs again to record some additional new material and try to get this sucker wrapped up over the next few months.

Now if we could actually get some rough approximation of Summer happening here in Michigan, that would be a hell of a thing (it's June and I'm sitting here in a t-shirt and a hoodie, for crying out loud!). I have a suspicion that when it finally does hit, it's going to just get ungodly hot all of a sudden. But who knows...the weather can be just as fickle and mercurial as musicians and, like us, there's just no telling what it might do next.

Until next time, sports fans...
DV

Vector Laboratories Update 12-7-08

2008-12-07T15:17:00.004-05:00

"Christmas Time Is Here..."
Happy Holidays, y'all!

They sure did creep up fast this year, while I was busy doing various things. Scott and I ran up north today to do a bit of Christmas shopping. Getting out and seeing all the lights and decorations and people out wandering the snowy streets looking for gifts does help get you "in the mode," so to speak. We had a nice dinner with Scott's parents and then it was off to "Wally World." Scott was eager to make the shift to Hi-Def, so we did some browsing through the Blu-Ray movie racks and found a number of older films like Stargate and Terminator 2 on sale for $10 each. New releases on Blu-Ray are rather expensive, so that was a good way to start off the collection for cheap. It makes me glad that we had never really built up a very big DVD collection...right about the time you do, they have to come out with some new format!

I'm looking forward to maybe actually getting to enjoy the holidays a little more this year. Last year at this time, I was buried in work and had to be putting in long days right before and after Christmas. This year, the workload is a bit lighter and the pressure isn't so great, which is fine by me!

"Discovering New Tools and Rediscovering Not-New Ones..."

Meanwhile, on the music front, things are pushing forward. After going back to playing real bass on the last track, I seem to have gone all-electronic again on the one that's coming together now. It's not that I don't still enjoy playing bass guitar - I definitely do - but for some reason, I've just been on a major synthesizer kick for the last year. I love having such an infinite palette of sounds at my fingertips with synths, and being able to completely change the bass sound after the part has been recorded if I want to (something you can't really do with acoustic instruments).

A really intriguing and unusual item that just found its way into the "toolbox" is u-he Filterscape (from the same developer who created Zebra, one of my favorite synths). It's a piece of effects software that, as the name suggests, filters what you put through it to sculpt the sound and provide various kinds of sonic movement. It applies morphing EQ curves and synth-style filtering that shifts over time and makes sounds more dynamic. I've barely begun to explore it, but it promises to offer all kinds of sonic spice to the mix.

In the "Not-New" category, I've been rediscovering a software synthesizer I picked up this past summer and hadn't really taken much advantage of. I got Lennar Digital Sylenth and used it here and there on "Compass" (which was previewed on my Myspace page a few months back), and then kind of forgot about it. A few days ago, I decided I really needed to wheel it back out and start exploring it more, and I really like this synth. It doesn't have the sound design depth and flexibility of Zebra, but it has a core sound that is markedly different from Zebra's and it sounds very, very good. Whereas Zebra tends to sound more liquidy smooth and streamlined, Sylenth has more high frequency content (i.e. it sounds a little more bright and airy) and in some ways, it puts me more in mind of an old analog synthesizer. It's a great tool for getting a different kind of sound...another color for the canvas. Finding a "hidden diamond" that had already been installed on my computer for months that I'd never really taken the time to appreciate before is definitely a nice thing. Or, as the Joker put it in the 1989 Batman flick, "Where can I get these fine new items? Well, that's the gag - chances are, you bought 'em already!"

You'll be hearing both on the new track, which finally bucks the recent trend and is going to be a more uptempo, high-energy song that you could actually dance to (if so inclined!).

Time to sign off...I'll probably be back with you one more time before Christmas, but just in case you don't hear from me again before then, I hope yours is a wonderful one.

Talk to you soon!
DV

"Rainy Day Angel" - New Song Preview

2008-11-15T14:10:00.002-05:00

Well, hello there...

I guess it's been a while since you've heard from me! I usually try to keep in touch with all of you more often...the last couple of months have been pretty busy. I finally managed to get a decent block of time this past week to just immerse myself in recording and complete a new song I'd been whittling away at when I could find spare moments. It reminded me how much more happy and centered I feel when I'm doing creative work. I'm in the process of simplifying some things in my life so that I can focus more on working away at this album and getting it finished. By the end of the year, I should be back to having a lot more time for that again. Yay!

Since it's been three months since I last checked in, I figured I should post a little new music as well. On the one hand, I hate to dilute the impact of a new release by sharing too much in advance, but since I just have one or two new tracks on my player at a time spanned out over a year or more, most of the songs will be like new to you again when you get the album (unless your memory is better than mine!). The new song preview is "Rainy Day Angel," another rather dark and atmospheric piece, which most of them this time out seem to be!

It occurred to me that this is the first song on which I've played an actual bass guitar line instead of synth bass in a YEAR (well, apart from a few fretless bass melodic lines on the last few tracks here and there). Not sure how that happened, but I've broken the pattern, anyway. Last month, I switched to Spector basses, and I couldn't be happier with them. They have just the right mix of snarly aggressiveness and bottom end and, unlike the Bongo I was using late last year, they feel very comfortable for me to play as well. I used my Spector Euro 4LX on the new song.

In the synthesizer department, "Rainy Day Angel" also features the newest addition to my synth toolkit, Spectrasonics Omnipshere. Among other things, Omnisphere features a boatload of sounds sampled from classic '70s and '80s analog synthesizers like the old Moogs and Oberheims. You get a little taste of that, and roughly the other 50% of the sounds on this came from my long-running favorite synth, u-he Zebra.

Leaving aside the "techy" stuff, I've been seeing some common threads starting to emerge in the material and have been mulling over potential album titles and cover concepts in the back of my mind, but it's still too early for any decisions on that. I might just have to keep all that to myself and not spring it on you until the day the album is released. Always nice to keep some surprises for the end!

Okay, it's time to forge ahead and get back to recording some music. I'm sure I'll be talking to you guys again before the end of the year. Have a great Thanksgiving (for those in areas that celebrate it) and be good. Well, not too good...bad enough to have a little fun and good enough not to muck things up in your life, how's that?

Seeya soon!
DV

P.S. - You can drop by my website, www.davidvector.com or my Myspace page, www.myspace.com/davidvector, to hear the new preview.

"Compass" - Latest New Song Preview

2008-07-29T20:43:00.002-04:00

Hey, my friends!

I'm sitting here having a cup of reheated coffee and feeling a little lethargic from the heat...I finally broke down and put the A/C on a few minutes ago. I guess I shouldn't complain - three or four months from now, that icy wind will be whipping off of Lake Huron as we head into another winter (but we don't want to hear that word just yet, do we?). Lacey (our Yorkie/Lab mix pooch) is laying next to Scott on the couch looking fairly dragged out too...she gets a haircut on Friday and must be burning up with that long fur, poor critter.

Anyway, on to the recording update...

The new song is called "Compass," and it's a little different from what I've been doing for the last two or three years. Whereas a lot of what I've done lately has been more groove-oriented and often danceable, this one is more of a "sit and listen" or "play it in the car" type of song. It harks back, just a bit, to the more progressive path I followed earlier on as a musician. I believe this is the first time I've strayed from 4/4 time since my Realty Show CD (and even there, I only did it for part of one song). Lately, I've kind of been revisiting some of what got me interested in music...listening to the kinds of albums that made me want to do this in the first place...looking at where I started and where I've gone since, thinking about what worked for me and what didn't. I guess it's no surprise that my little personal retrospective found its way into the lyrics on this one, which deal with how easy it can be in life to go off on various side roads and forget where the main road was!

On the more technical side, I'm pretty much over my briefly renewed flirtation with hardware synths and have come to find that software instruments work better for me after all. I've settled into Native Instruments Kontakt 3 as my main "axe" - you can use it as a straight sampler for drum and piano sounds and such, or you can get into some pretty deep sound design too - it covers a lot of sonic ground. I also made an interesting find a few days ago - a software synth called Sylenth that I think gets pretty sweet analog-style sounds. I wasn't expecting to be impressed, having become a little disenchanted with "virtual analogs," but it surprised me. I used it for the bass line on this song and a handful of other sounds too. Actually, all the synth sounds on this song are of the analog variety...I do love those warm, '70s style synthesizer sounds used by guys like Vangelis and Jean-Michel Jarre, and that's where I went with this one.

Time to quit babbling about the song and the toys used on it and just let you enjoy it, I guess! And it's also time to get off the computer and go climb into bed and try to find a movie to watch (it'll have to be a rerun, we don't have our new batch of Netflix yet). For my readers in the northern latitudes, enjoy the rest of the summer while it's still here. Talk to you soon! :-)

DV

Chemicals

2008-07-05T09:15:00.010-04:00

"All my tubes and wires and careful notes...and antiquated notions..." - Thomas Dolby

Antiquated notions...like working my way back to preferring interesting arrangements and offbeat song ideas vs. trendy, danceable grooves...or returning to an interest in sampling and more vintage synthesizer sounds instead of the latest shiny gadget. Tubes and wires and the trappings of music technology. Random things to ponder over morning coffee flavored with "Cinnamon Bun" creamer that contains God knows what (chemicals).

I've changed things up at Vector Laboratories again. I finally decided to pony up the modest fee to upgrade my Native Instruments Kontakt software to version 3. Kontakt is largely viewed as a software sampler, but its architecture has become so extensive over the last few years that it offers a more potent set of sound design tools than most so-called "synthesizers." It's an amazing sonic "chemistry set" (more chemicals). You can take raw sonic materials and bend and twist and mix and process them in all sorts of cool ways.

In addition to the new sound design tools, Kontakt 3 also comes with an extensive sound library, and of course I gravitated straight to the synthesizer stuff. The real gems (for me) are the sounds sampled from classic Moog synths. I think this is the first time I've played a Minimoog bass or lead sound on a software instrument and actually found the sound completely satisfying, since the sounds are derived straight from the source. Those old, real analog synths just have a power and personality and "phatness" to them that you don't quite get with modern virtual analog synths (software or hardware). Before I knew it, I was digging into using some of those sounds as raw material for programming, and I started picking up some additional libraries for Kontakt to provide even more sonic material (yes, chemicals) to mix and match and transform.

As I was having more fun working with sound than I had in a while using Kontakt, I realized I hadn't even turned my Virus TI on in over a week. So I put it up for sale one evening and it sold and got shipped off the next day (gotta love eBay). To be honest, it's nice to have the hardware "clutter" gone and be back to a streamlined, efficient, software-only setup again. I took a bit of the money from the TI's sale and invested in some additional sound libraries for Kontakt, as well as a more compact 61-note controller keyboard that I could have right in front of me on my desk so I'm not having to reach in two directions constantly (my 88-note controller is too big for the desk).

So, with all that screwing around with equipment largely behind me now (I think), I'm happily working away on a new song. This one uses nothing but Kontakt so far, loaded up with some delicious old Moog and Oberheim analog synth sounds. I also have a sample library of PPG sounds on the way (sounds derived from a real PPG Wave 2.2, not the modern software emulation thereof), which might arrive in time to get used a bit on this song as well.

Now I'm done drinking my chemical-laced coffee and it's time to stop thinking out loud and get on with it. Say hello to Miss Sakamoto for me if you see her around...

DV

New Song Preview - "Watch the Skies"

2008-06-17T21:42:00.003-04:00

"Hellooooo......is anybody out there...?"
(I shouldn't say it too loud..."they" might hear me...)

A New Song for "Spooky"

I might have mentioned a time or two that I really enjoyed The X-Files. I watched at least 100 episodes over the winter, ordering up DVD's from Netflix (handy little service, that). With the new movie coming out in July, I suddenly got a weird notion to record a song inspired by the show. Since I've also been on a bit of a Thomas Dolby kick lately, I was in the right state of mind to do something more left-of-center (and maybe just a little bit nerdy).

Hence, "Watch the Skies," the latest song preview for the new project to roll off the hard drives and straight to your speakers, via the worldwide immediacy of the Net.

This song also sees me deviating a bit from the more dance-friendly track I'd been more or less following for a while. With its ebb and flow in and out of half time, it's more the kind of thing you sit and listen to. I have a feeling there's going to be more of that coming. It's good to have a few toe-tappers on an album and those kinds of songs do come in handy when playing clubs, but I like to poke into stranger corners sometimes too. Worrying about whether people will be able to dance to a song you're working on can be limiting...you shy away from doing things that would interrupt the groove too much, and may not do what you're naturally wanting to do with a given song, so it becomes a bit more contrived and not as instinctive and genuine.

Let's Play "Swap the Synths"

For those fascinated by the technical stuff, this song features a bit of the Waldorf synthesizers I mentioned in my last blog. But I actually just sold them both (aren't I fickle?) and replaced them with an Access Virus TI, which is also used on this song here and there. It wasn't that I didn't like the Waldorfs...the Virus is just way easier to use, since it interfaces more completely with the computer and can be totally controlled and programmed on screen - essentially, it's a hardware synth that behaves like software. In addition to those, there's also a bit of u-he Zebra 2 (my favorite software synth) on here too, using some new sounds from the Adam Van Baker collection.

"When Will We Get There?"

I've been asked more than once lately when the new album will be finished and released. Truth is, I don't know exactly. The past eight or ten months have thrown a lot of distractions my way which slowed me down, plus I've been going in a few different directions creatively. I've recorded enough new songs to fill an album, but they're a bit scattered style-wise and not all of them would hang together well on one CD, so not everything will make the cut. I suspect I'll probably keep cranking out some new ideas for a while yet, and with any luck, have something that feels cohesive and ready to roll out by the end of the year. It sounds like a plan, anyway!

I also need to find a little time here and there to enjoy some small part of the summer, before another one slips by. Damn, they go fast anymore. So on that note, it's time to get off the computer, have a small glass of Zinfandel, and chill out for a few.

See you on the mother ship....

DV

Hardware

2008-05-10T22:37:00.008-04:00

I haven't really used hardware-based synthesizers since I did my first CD in 2002. It just became so convenient to use synths that only exist as software on the computer; everything's right there on the PC already, so there's no running patch cords and MIDI cables, plus it's so easy to deal with big onscreen point-and-click interfaces.

For a while, it seemed like I really had the bases covered and had everything I needed in that department. But the last few months, I just found myself missing having synthesizers that came in a metal box with knobs...something tangible. Also, there's a certain percentage of musicians who feel that hardware synthesizers still have a bit of an edge...that, for whatever reason, they just sound a little better (a subject that gets debated almost as often as "Mac vs. PC").

I'd been fascinated by the synthesizers made by a German company called Waldorf for a long time. Not to bore you too much with the history, but Waldorf got their start around 1990 with a rack-mount version of the classic '80s PPG Wave keyboards (the rack unit was called, cleverly enough, the "Microwave"). The PPG was a heavy hitter on '80s recordings by artists like Thomas Dolby, Depeche Mode, Rush, etc, and was popular for its very digital, metallic and bell-like textures. Through the '90s, Waldorf kept the PPG concept alive and applied it to newer instruments like the Microwave XT and the Q.

A few months ago, Waldorf wheeled out their latest model, the Blofeld (they seem to have a fondness for James Bond films, LOL). The Blofeld takes most of the company's previous sound engines and combines them in one little desktop unit with a few extras thrown in. I couldn't help but order one. I spent a big chunk of two days going through all the preset sounds and messing with doing a bit of my own programming and fell in love with it. I liked it so much that I sold off a couple of bits of gear I never used anymore and bought another Waldorf, this time a Micro-Q (a previous generation Waldorf synth).

How do they sound? For my taste, downright delicious. Tons of personality. To my ears, there may be something to the hardware vs. software debate; the Waldorfs seem to have a harder, punchier attack than any of the software synths I've used. They cut like the proverbial hot knife through butter (but they can take a softer approach when needed, too). As always, I'm working on another new song, and so far I've used Waldorfs for almost everything on it. You'll definitely notice a difference when I post the next song preview.

Anyway, that's what I've been up to the last couple of weeks. I think I'm all done swapping out gear for a while now and will be finishing out the new album with the current lineup of toys. Exploring new tools is fun, but it also slows down the creative process while you're busy learning to use them, and I have to admit by now I'm pretty tired of leafing through manuals!

What else is new? I wish I could think of something, but I've been so busy with work of one kind or another that there just hasn't been time to get up to much else. Scott and I need a vacation soon. We really need a vacation.

Until next time....
DV

Recording Journal - April 9, 2008

2008-04-09T19:57:00.001-04:00

Hey there, my friends...

Hooboy, the weather's getting warmer around here finally! A few days ago we hit 62 degrees. By April, I'm usually so sick of winter that I'm about to climb out of my freaking skin. The first few warm days always seem to give me a renewed shot of energy and ambition to get things done.

The last few weeks, I left the bass on its stand for a while (sacrilege!) and have been enjoying a renewed fascination with getting deeper into the synthesizer side. It's almost like when I was fifteen and first got bitten by the bug, endlessly thumbing through issues of Keyboard Magazine and trying to figure it all out.

One thing I wanted to delve into further is vocoders. A vocoder basically takes one audio signal and uses a second audio signal to manipulate the frequency response of the first one. The most common use is modulating a synthesizer sound with an input from a microphone, giving the synthesizer speech-like characteristics (i.e. the "robot voices" sometimes heard in dance music). Talking synthesizers are just the tip of the iceberg, though. You can use your voice to shape synth sounds in all kinds of ways besides just making the synth "speak"...listen to The Fixx's "One Thing Leads to Another" for a good example.

My quest to get more into vocoders started with getting an old Korg Wavestation A/D module off of eBay (a synthesizer with a built-in vocoder). It sounded pretty cool and was fun to play with, but it didn't quite offer the kind of clarity and sound quality I was looking for. So next I downloaded the Eiosis ELS Vocoder, which is a software vocoder that I can patch into my virtual mixer on the computer and apply to any synth I choose. I started running Zebra 2 (my favorite softsynth) through it, and bingo...it sounded amazing.

It's really addicting stuff, making all kinds of weird vocal noises into the mic...scat singing, growling, you name it...and making a synthesizer sound come to life and sound like a living, breathing thing. I put that to a lot of use on the newest track, "Life As a Boy." It's a sparse, slinky little groove with a slightly jazzy bent, so it left plenty of open space for the experiments.

Hope you enjoy the new preview. I'm already kicking around ideas for the next song (time to get this thing shifted into high gear). Talk to y'all soon!

DV

New Song Preview - "The God of Speed"

2008-02-28T09:08:00.001-05:00

Hello there,

It's me...I'm still alive...honest! The last few months have been busy as heck, so I've been really bad about keeping everybody updated on the progress with the new album and everything in general. A thousand apologies. I deserve a good spanking (okay, that wouldn't really be much of a punishment since I kinda like that thing - D'OH!).

To borrow a line from M, though, "Don't I always make it up to you?" This time I'm making it up to you by posting not only another preview of a new song but also a new video blog (albeit a brief one) for the first time in over a year.

The new song is a track called "The God of Speed," which was very loosely inspired by the film, The World's Fastest Indian. It seems that at least half the songs I write these days are inspired by movies I've watched, so it's a good thing we have a Net Flix account and have fresh "inspiration" arriving in the mailbox every week!

I gave myself a major challenge while working on this song - I completely rebuilt my recording system from the ground up with a new computer and new recording software (in this case, Sonar 7). Wasn't I brave? So, as a result, it took a while to record this one because I was literally having to re-learn how to accomplish the most basic tasks!

I went a little more synthesizer-heavy on this track...it's the first one in a while that I've done that includes no piano at all. While I was recording this, I also snagged a '90s Ibanez ATK fretless bass on eBay. It's a little beaten up and has obviously seen some action, but it sounds great. I ended up adding a few melodic fretless parts to "The God of Speed" with it, and it brought a nice additional organic element to a song that is largely dominated by synths.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy the new preview. Things have calmed down a bit in life lately, so I should be able to start making faster progress on the new project again. With any luck, I might even still have it done by summer. Let's hope!Hit me up when you get the chance - always great to hear from you guys!

DV

Time for a New Engine

2007-12-09T19:10:00.001-05:00

Nopers, not the car kind...the recording computer kind! I tend to resist computer upgrades as long as I can - if it ain't broke...well, you know. But the old Pentium 4 was really showing its age and just can't keep up with all those software synthesizers and processing tools I've been asking it to run while concocting new songs lately, so it was time.

I looked into a few different options. A new iMac seemed kind of enticing...very elegant computers. But at $1,200 for the cheapest entry-level model (or $2G+ for the cheapest tower-style Mac), it just seemed like I could get a lot more for my money on the PC side. Since I've had great results using Dells for recording PCs in the past, I compared Dell's offerings and decided to go with an Optiplex 755. I found one with an Intel Quad-Core CPU and Windows XP Pro (not ready to make the Vista plunge just yet) at a very reasonable price and was able to get that plus a 22" wide screen flat panel for less than the cost of the entry-level iMac. Schweeeeet.

The time has also come to change recording software. I got my last album done fine with Mackie Tracktion, but despite its nice simple layout, it was starting to feel a bit lacking in features compared to Pro Tools and other software I'd used previously.

So I went through the whole researching process again and finally landed on Sonar 7 Producer Edition. In terms of stability, feature set, and bundled extras, it just seems to have the edge right now. I'll basically be able to do everything in one program that it took 3 different pieces of software to accomplish before, which will speed up my recording process big time. Sonar also takes full advantage of Quad-Core processors (unlike some other programs), which was another strong selling point for me.

Now I just have to hope everything decides to play nice when I set it up and that I don't end up wasting several days working out bugs, of course!

I was already nice enough to myself playing Santa, but I also ordered a few clothes, something I seldom do for myself. Mainly some pants that actually fit me and grab my little behind nice and tight - out with the baggies, in with the ass-huggers!

So there we go...my "Christmas shopping" for myself is all done. Now I just have to finish the last of my shopping for everyone else. I'm actually ahead of the game this year and am about 90% done with that too. Damn, maybe I'm actually going to be ready for the holidays this year?

Nah...no matter how much we try to prepare, we're never really ready for the holidays. One way or another, it always seems to turn into a Christmas Vacation scenario. "Don't throw me down, Clark!" "I'll...try not to, Aunt Bethany." :-)

"Vector Laboratories" Update - Oct 10, 2007

2007-10-10T22:13:00.000-04:00

In the words of Peter Gabriel, "Hi there!"

What an interesting last few weeks. Summer and fall duking it out. Record-setting heat that felt more like July than October, and now suddenly today we're back in Fall mode with 55-degree weather.

The first thing I should mention is that my brother, Mark and 7-year-old nephew, Blaine were in a car accident a couple of weeks ago. A car went through a stop sign and hit their SUV from the side, rolling it three or four times. They were very lucky. My nephew ended up with a very minor skull fracture and bruise above one eye; he has to wear his bicycle helmet during gym and recess for the next few weeks but should be fine. My brother only ended up with a few abrasions on his arm. Apart from the door that was hit, their Mazda SUV held up reasonably well and protected them. We all breathed a very big sigh of relief on that one.

After mentioning something like that, it's hard to shift gears and move on to other subjects...it really puts things in perspective when you have a near miss with close family members. But life keeps moving forward and we move on with it (perhaps with a little more appreciation for how much every day we're still here means!).

So...what's else is new? Well, I sold my car last month. It was too small for hauling equipment to gigs, so I decided to just sell it and save on the expenses over the winter, then buy something with more hauling capacity in the spring. I do kind of miss the stereo, though - it tended to help me pinpoint certain sonic flaws in my song mixes and get them adjusted. I was seen fairly often shooting up and down US-23 with the stereo blaring testing out my mixes in the car, hehehe.

We've had some equipment changes, too. That Fender bass seen in my last blog is gone; I decided to try one more bass and ended up with an Ibanez ATK that I absolutely love. It has probably the most comfortable neck I've ever used and sounds fantastic...probably somewhere between a MusicMan Stingray and a Fender Jazz. Very warm and full. Mind you, it's a pretty massive thing and is very heavy, but I can live with that when it feels and sounds so great.

Another new (and probably long overdue) addition to the toolbox is an Audio-Technica AT-4047 condenser microphone, which I just bought as a present to myself for my efforts in trying to quit smoking again (doing very well - down to about 4 or 5 cigarettes a day now instead of a pack and a half and think I'll be able to quit altogether before long). It occurred to me that I've made improvements to my recording setup in various other areas, but I was still using a little $150 stage microphone for something as important as vocals. It was time to bring the production values on the vocal tracks up to a higher level. You'll definitely hear the difference the next time I post a sneak preview of a new song.

Speaking of new songs, they're still flowing freely. I think I'm working on the ninth new song now, so I guess this is going to be more like a new full-length album than an EP. I still don't know what the title will be or exactly when it will come out. As soon as I know, I'll let you know!

That's it for now...be good and have fun and I'll talk to you soon!

Stuff...

2007-09-12T22:47:00.001-04:00

Well, hello there...

I though summer had passed us by, but at the last minute, Scott and I decided to get in a trip while the weather was still warm.

So, we drove down to Saugatuck and spent a couple of days camping. No tent this time, though - we rented a cabin on the grounds, complete with an air conditioner and a tiny refrigerator. Boy, we were roughing it, weren't we? No microwave, though, so I had to walk up to the pool house where there was a kitchenette to heat up some water for instant coffee.

On the subject of coffee, I bought some bluberry-flavored coffee creamer on the way and it was okay, but it also confirmed my feeling that there are probably some flavors that are just not meant to be adapted into a coffee creamer. What's next? Licorice Avocado?

Then we spent a day with my brother, sister-in-law and nephew. We went to see Stardust at the theater and had a nice dinner at an Italian restaurant in Lansing that we really like.

The weather had been beautiful all weekend, and then we returned up north to 55-degree weather and rain. What a nice welcome home (not!). Nothing like enjoying a weekend of summer fun and then having a preview of autumn thrust in your face the very next day.

On a brighter note, though, the Fender Precision Special bass guitar that I had bought on eBay had arrived and was waiting for me when we got back (candy apple red with gold pickguard and rosewood fretboard - it's a nice lookin' thing). As those of you who have been following my bass exploits (and care about such things) already know, I've been playing Steinbergers the last several months. They're great basses and very practical, but I started to find myself missing the warm, fat bottom end of a good Fender. It also seems like that more "vintage" sound that Fenders have is a little more in step with the more organic, vaguely jazzy material I've been doing lately.

It's kind of cool to buy a used bass, dings and scratches and all...it already feels broken in, like a comfy old pair of shoes. I'm giving this one an upgrade soon with new pickups and new passive electronics from HAS Sound. I don't enjoy tearing basses apart and soldering (at all!), but I want this bass to sound the best it possibly can so I can finally settle in with an instrument and let it become my "baby." Changing basses every few months was fun for a while, but I'd really like to simplify my life at this point, stop dicking around with equipment, and just make music.

Speaking of which, time to grab another cup of coffee and get on with it. Hope y'all have a good one!

DV

News from "Vector Laboratories" - September '07

2007-09-02T12:45:00.001-04:00

Yes, I'm still alive, dear friends...I may not blog every day like some do (just not enough hours in the day for that), but I'm still here and forging ahead!

I hope you've all had a great summer! I spent most of mine working, it seems. Scott and I only managed to get out of town once for two days for a getaway while he was recovering from minor surgery. It just flew by, somehow. So now the nights are growing cooler and some of the leaves are starting to turn color. God, it's hard to believe we're at this point again already...can we just come live with one of you guys in southern California or Arizona until next April? Argh!

Despite a ton of distractions, I'm moving full steam ahead on the new project. I've recorded two more songs since finishing "Shame" and am about to start on another. One of the new songs is called "Incestuous Kiss" and was inspired by the film, Twin Falls Idaho, which is about Siamese twins - that one was interesting to do. As was the case with Go, it seems like this is threatening to turn from an EP into another full-length album. I didn't intend that, but when the ideas are flowing you have to give them the keys and let them drive.

This is a good time for me as a musician; I feel like I'm self-actualizing a lot with this material, like it's flowing out of me in a more natural way and isn't as forced and contrived as some of what I've done in the past. Some of the songs are fairly urban/jazzy and piano-based and some of them are more synth-heavy. Whatever I feel like delving into when I start fresh on a new song, I go with it!

As far as other developments, I've been snatching some footage here and there for a video blog or possible use in a "making-of" video to go with the new album, but I've just been too busy lately to have time to put a video blog together and post it. I will eventually!

I'd better sign off for now and get back to making music while I have a block of free time to do it. Drop by and leave me a comment sometime...always love hearing from you guys!

DV

2007-07-07T13:38:00.000-04:00

"Shame" - The Emmett and Drew Song?

Well, sort of...I think the initial idea for "Shame" probably did come from the Queer as Folk storyline in which Emmett is having a very secret affair with pro football player Drew Boyd (so secret that Drew buys out an entire restaurant for the evening so he can take Emmett "out" to dinner without anyone seeing them). I came across a few guys in my single days who were very deeply closeted too, and as I commented in my last blog, trying to have a relationship beyond pure and simple sex with someone who has to keep you hidden away like a guilty pleasure or a shameful secret would wear pretty thin after a while (as any woman who has been a married guy's mistress could also tell you, I'm sure).

A Continuing Evolution...

This track definitely finds me in a more jazzy, urban frame of mind again, kind of a common thread on this project. It sure is a far cry from the more rocked-out, aggressive approach of my Reality Show CD from 2005. Lately, I've just been getting into recording songs that hit your ear in a smoother, less abrasive way, giving the distorted guitars a rest and building up the arrangements around piano and layered bass parts instead. Slowing things down a little and going for a more downtempo flavor also brings a more sultry, sexy vibe into the songs. Uptempo tracks are great for the dance floor (and I still plan to continue doing some of those too), but "Shame" is moreso the kind of song you'd listen to when you're relaxing with someone at your place after you get home and the clothes are starting to feel like a burden (grin).

Anyway, hope you enjoy the current "sneak peek" at the work in progress. It's hotter than hell here in Michigan today and I need a bottle of water big time. So for now, I'm off like a prom tux. Catch you later!

Holed Up in the Home Studio for the 4th

2007-07-04T09:36:00.000-04:00

Another Fourth...

And am I barbecueing or going boating or buzzing up and down the highway and beach checking out half-naked hotties? Oh hell, no...I'll be spending most of today finishing the recording and mixing on another new track. Well, okay, maybe not the entire day; I am taking a short break right now and I'll probably knock off by early evening and hang with friends for a bit. Living in an area that's big on tourism, town gets pretty crowded and insane around summer holidays, so staying off the roads filled with crazy drivers isn't always a bad thing!

Should I Call the New CD "Naked in Public?"

Uhm, well, probably not (grin), but it does seem like my emotions are closer to the surface on a lot of this material; the lyrics are more intimate and less philosophical this time out. The song I'm working on now, "Shame," definitely follows that trend, dealing with the pitfalls of seeing a guy who is completely closeted and makes the relationship feel like a covert operation. Back in my single days, I encountered a few, and while that might be okay for purely "recreational" purposes, it's best not to get too attached; heartache will surely follow. Actually, I don't think I got gender-specific in the song, though, so I suppose it could really be about anyone who has fallen for someone who insists, for whatever reason, that the relationship be kept behind closed doors. At any rate, not fun in the long run for the one who is made to feel like the other person's "dirty little secret."

Break's over, back to work, catch ya later....

Friday Morning Musings

2007-06-29T10:12:00.001-04:00

Fun With Technology

I got brave and installed a second hard drive in my recording computer the other day. I know, for most who are technologically savvy, it's hardly an accomplishment, but it felt like one to me, hehe. Had to take a few things apart to get it in there, and then when I rebooted the PC wasn't seeing it. It turned out I just needed to go into the BIOS and turn on the second SATA port. Now I can just dedicate the original 40GB hard drive (which was almost full) to being a system drive and use the new 250GB drive the actual recording projects. (And yes, by the way, I do back up my projects often and also keep a set of backup DVD-Rs at another location in case the house burns down - I'm paranoid that way!).

Another New Song in the Works

I'm also working away at another new track. This one is another kind of mid-tempo piece, so on the dance floor it would be more suitable for the slow, steamy, "bump and grind" kind of moves, I guess. I've been doing a fair amount of that kind of thing on this project - those more snaky, hypnotic kinds of grooves that just sort of unfold and envelop you. Beats that go boom-boom-boom-boom at 124 to 132 beats per minute are all fine and well, but God forbid I should be stuck doing that kind of thing all the time; it gets monotonous after a while. The more "organic" approach of "Surface Tension" is continuing on this song, too. Lots of piano and layered bass tracks.

A little while ago, I was briefly flirting with the idea of going back to a Fender Precision Bass, just because my recordings of late are taking on a slightly more "old school" vibe, but the notion kind of came and went. The Steinbergers just seem to be the right basses for me - they feel more comfortable than anything else I've played and they sure do stand out in a mix. Given the humid weather lately, I'm also appreciating the fact that the Steinbergers' graphite necks don't go out of adjustment every time the weather changes!

Time to go get something to eat...and get some more recording done. And later, I really need to take the time for a workout. I'm at least trying to make an effort to get into better shape - I spend way too much time parked in front of a computer. Not to mention, working out helps you look better when you're running around naked outdoors. :-)

DV

"Surface Tension" - Stripping Down on a New Track

2007-06-12T14:25:00.000-04:00

Striving for Simplicity

Another blog entry, another new piece of "candy" for your ears. "Surface Tension" is playing now on my Myspace page in its entirety (although it's not a final, mastered mix, since this CD isn't at that stage yet). I guess I should note that by "stripping down," I'm not talking about getting naked (for once!) but rather a more stripped-down approach to song arrangement. It's something I've been trying to do on this new project to some degree - focusing more on the core of the song and a little less on all the gimmicks and hip sounds and effects.

Now that I'm playing a lot of piano again for the first time in a few years, there's almost a slight "urban jazz" kind of flavor coming into the mix, or at least a touch of jazz with a pop sensibility (a la Bruce Hornsby or Sting, maybe). I get into a different mindset when I play piano, grabbing more interesting chord shapes, sometimes almost at random just to see what they sound like. And it tends to result in music that has more of an ebb and flow and a more human feel than tracks that are primarily based around loops. One thing that's cool about "Surface Tension" is that I could play it as a trio with just piano, bass and drums, and it would probably work just fine.

"Swim Below the Surface Tension..."

Isn't that what many of us are trying to do a lot of the time? I swear, there are days that I just want to stop answering the phone, lock the doors, close the blinds, and just generally tell the world to leave me the hell alone or else! You know the state of mind I'm talking about? I thought so. I think almost everyone can relate to this song, even if you're not a disillusioned cubicle worker like the gent in the lyrics who's having fantasies of jumping out the twenty-second floor window!

We just have to find our own way to "swim below the surface tension" and smooth out those rough edges a little bit so that we can deal. Not necessarily "bend and be not broken" to the point that we tolerate things we shouldn't put up with, mind you, but just hang on to enough inner stillness to keep from going postal. Even if you do end up in your dream job or inherit a big pile of money, that state of total bliss we imagine we will someday arrive at when we're young is never really reached - even in the most "perfect" life, there is always some kind of stress.

Speaking of Which...

I've kind of had "one of those days" myself, so I'm going to go take a short walk through the woods and try to smooth out my own rough edges. I hope that, whever you are right now as you read this, that you find a way to alleviate your own "surface tension." Or at least that you don't snap and knock somebody out cold with a desk lamp.

Later!

What I Want to Be When I Grow Up

2007-06-01T22:03:00.002-04:00

“The struggle for definition is the struggle for life itself”
- Thomas Szasz

Truer words were never spoken. Some of us are lucky and self-actualize and know exactly who we are fairly early in life...for others, the process goes on and on and is pretty traumatic. But I think we have to have a fairly strong sense of ourselves before we can go after lofty aspirations and go out to "conquer the world"; otherwise, we'll fold like a house of cards as soon as we encounter resistance and rejection.

I'm working on it. I don't know if even the new project I'm working on will necessarily be a major "solidification point," but I do feel like I'm getting closer. Maybe some of you guys out there are trying to get it all figured out in your own lives too, and can hopefully forgive me if I've been a little erratic while deciding "what I want to be when I grow up."

What the hell, maybe I'll just opt not to grow up at all. Forget "David Vector." Just call me "Peter Pan."

DV

The Future of Recorded Music - YOUR THOUGHTS?

2007-05-31T09:57:00.000-04:00

"It's a New World..."

I was just reading an article that someone posted on a message board about severely declining record sales and how the entire face of the music industry is shifting. It's a strange time we find ourselves in.

The whole paradigm of buying music as a physical product like an LP or a CD that we've been used to for decades is shifting. Digital downloads become more popular all the time and, now that music is being seen more as downloaded "data" instead of something you can hold in your hands, there almost seems to be a "devaluation" of it going on, wherein people are looking for ever greater bargains and the ability to download a cartload of music at cut-rate prices. Digital download services sell tracks at ever-lower rates, sometimes offering access to a huge amount of downloads for a base monthly "subscription" fee. It represents a great value-for-money for the consumer, but on the other side of that it continually decreases the amount of financial return seen by the artist who had to invest a lot of hard work and money into creating the product now being sold at cutout bin prices. Pros and cons, pros and cons.

An Industry in Decline?

A lot of people are blaming the major record labels themselves for the declining sales. It's true, the labels are putting out a lot of vapid, shallow, commercial fare that doesn't really inspire the kind of passionate, deep love for an artist's music that existed in past decades. A lot of what comes out now might be fine as background music when you're out at the clubs, but how much of it is the kind of thing that you'd want to sit down with late at night with a pair of headphones and really get into for its own sake? A lot of times, there's not much under the surface glitter.

Granted, sex and popular music have always been somewhat intertwined, but it seems like it's gotten totally out of proportion to the point that music is marketed 90% by sex appeal and trendy visuals and maybe 10% for the actual music...and bought by the consumer for the same skewed, backward reasons. If that's how it's to be, those of us making music might as well just put away our instruments and set up webcam porn sites instead - at least we wouldn't be under any illusions about what it is we're actually selling.

Anyway, the point being that when music has become as shallow and disposable as an issue of Cosmo, it shouldn't be so surprising that people aren't willing to pay much for it anymore. And if music is marketed as if it was softcore porn, well, you can get plenty of porn for free on the Internet now - so why would people want to pay for music either?

Changing with the Times...

Back to the subject of how the music gets from artist to listener, I don't have a problem with the digital revolution. I think it's cool as hell that I can create something in my home studio and share it with listeners almost immediately after I finish it. I definitely embraced the new medium with my last album, Go, which I made available as a download package including high-quality MP3s, a lengthy PDF booklet, and video content. I love the idea of being able to offer all that extra stuff to my listeners to make a release more special. It's also more economical too and lets me set a lower price, since I get to keep more of the profits than I do with CDs, which are much more expensive to produce and sell via online retailers.

I plan to go even further in that area with my next album, putting video on there that will be iPod-ready and such. I'm also thinking about adopting a different format and timetable for releasing music, putting out a new 6 or 7-song "digital EP" every 8-12 months (at a somewhat lower price, as befitting the smaller number of songs) instead of making listeners wait 2 years to get a new 12-song album. Why not? It's a whole new medium, so why not try some different ideas instead of conforming to the way things have always been done in the past? I think that approach might actually be more enjoyable for fans than having a deluge of new music dumped on them all at once and then going through a long drought before they get anything new.

What Do YOU Think?

So, what's your take on all of this? How do you feel about the shift from compact discs to digital downloads? What would you like to see in that area that would make the whole thing more convenient and satisfying for you as a music fan? If your own record buying has declined, is it because you don't like a lot of what's been coming out lately or are there other reasons involved too? On a more personal note, what would you like to see me do to make my releases more enjoyable for you? Do you like the idea of getting a smaller number of songs in each "package" on a more frequent basis instead of one big chunk every 1 1/2 to 2 years?

Maybe you have other thoughts on this admittedly broad subject that aren't necessarily direct answers to those questions. If you have anything to chip in, go for it. I know a lot of folks read my blogs but don't usually post responses, but this time it would be great to hear from you. Musicians are (or at least should be) interested in keeping in touch with their listeners. What would you like to see happen?

You have the floor...

"Vector Laboratories" Update - May 23, 2007

2007-05-24T11:12:00.000-04:00

Photo: David outside his home in northeast Michigan with Lake Huron in the background across the highway. Photo by Scott Smith.

Hello, my friends...

Summer would finally seem to be here in Michigan. It's already almost 80 degrees this morning. The forecast says we'll have highs in the 60s for the next week after this, but I'm sure more hot days are soon to follow. Bring 'em on and let's ditch the clothes! (Shame, shame!)

I had originally hoped to be out playing live shows by the time summer got into full swing, but at this point I'm still working away on the new recording project; by the time I get it finished and get some rehearsal time in, I'd say autumn is more realistic for that at this point. I've come to realize by now that almost everything takes longer than you think it will and that life always has a wrench or two to toss into the best laid plans!

The recording itself is coming along great. I'm working on the 6th new song right now, a track called "Surface Tension." If I had to pin down any particular common thread with the new material, I'd have to say it sounds a little more "organic" than my last album or two. I'm playing a lot of piano on this one and often putting down two or three tracks of bass doing chordal parts and such. I'm still using plenty of synthesizers, mind you...but the focus is a little different this time and the synths are being used more for texture and atmosphere. Lately I'm finding myself not caring quite as much about creating tracks that are as slick and full of sonic "gimmicks," instead going for a more human and visceral way of communicating my feelings and thoughts.

I've been shooting a bit of video here and there too during the process, so once again the new CD will probably come with a little "making-of" type video so you can get a small glimpse into the process.

Well, one more quick cup of coffee and I'd better get down to work. Time is the enemy and there are just never enough hours in the day. Take care and I'll be talking to you soon!

l8r!
DV

NEW SONG PREVIEW - "Desert Power"

2007-05-02T12:07:00.001-04:00

Note: A few of my recent blogs were posted only to Myspace and never made it here. See them at www.myspace.com/davidvector

Hiya kids!

How goes it, boys and girls? Life been good to you lately? If not, hopefully better things are looming in the near future. We've had a few warm days lately that have given us a taste of impending summer, and I say not a freaking moment too soon!!!

As some of you know, I've been working on a fresh batch of songs for a new EP since the first of the year (partly to keep me occupied for the winter, since it's such a lousy time of year to think about gigging - who wants to drive for hours on bad roads?). I've recorded five new songs, and it's really a mixed bag so far, maybe even moreso than my most recent album, Go.

I figured it was time I offered a "teaser" of what I've been working on, so playing now on my Myspace profile, you can hear a prerelease version of "Desert Power," for which I just finished a rough mix this morning. How's that for the immediacy of the Internet - from my recording computer to your ears in less than a day! This song was originally conceived as an instrumental, but I started getting lyrical ideas as I worked on the music; so I dropped a few vocals in there but still left most of it instrumental.

In the "Toys and Tools" department, I used one of the new Steinberger XQ basses on this track (mentioned in a previous thread). I can't say enough good things about them - wonderfully balanced tone with a lot of clarity. To me, they just sound perfect in a mix, and they're very comfortable to play too.

Anyway, stay tuned...a lot of interesting things are coming along in the near future. Until next time, be good and do good work!

DV

The New CD is Mixed and Mastered

2006-10-13T16:30:00.000-04:00

Greetings once again from the lake...

We've had a small taste of winter around here the last day or two. It actually started snowing for a few minutes this afternoon. Damn, I'm not ready for another winter. I'm just not a winter kind of guy. I'd rather wear shorts and go barefoot than trudge around in heavy coats and boots. Granted, we keep it toasty warm around here with the fireplace (furnace hasn't even had to kick on yet), so I can hang around the house in as little clothing as I want (smile), but I'm going to miss going for walks.

On to the album news...

I'm basically done with the final mixing and mastering on the new album now. Mastering this one myself was even more of a bear than I thought it would be. I think I did a reasonably competent job - at least enough so that there shouldn't be any sonic issues with the CD serious enough to interefere with anyone's enjoyment of the music. I gave in to the itch to record "just one more song," so the new album will feature 12 new tracks.

I plan to shoot a video for the first single, "Go," towards the end of this month. Then it's just a matter of getting the rest of the packaging and (hopefully) CD-ROM content together in order to get the album released by late November or the beginning of December. My main website will also get a complete revamping at that point; it's long overdue, but I've just been so damned busy getting the CD finished that it's been hard to find the time. One skinny little punk can only do so much at once, LOL.

Stay tuned and look for the new video sometime in the first half of November!

DV

Almost Finished Recording the New Album

2006-08-11T21:11:00.000-04:00

August 2006 New Album Update

Hullo, m'friends...how's everyone doing? Hope you've been having a great summer (unless you're in the southern hemisphere and it's winter, LOL!). I've been having a pretty good one - somehow, in the midst of working on this album and various other things, I've found time to make a few trips here and there and enjoy it. I remember when I used to be a very reclusive guy and never seemed to get out and do anything all summer - things have surely gone the other way since then!

I have eleven new songs recorded now. I think I have enough variety and scope in the material at this point to make a good, nicely-balanced album (unless I decide to do "just one more" at the last minute - it's happened before, hehe). It's always a bittersweet thing coming to the end of a project. It's definitely exciting to complete another collection of songs and be able to share them with everyone, but it's also hard to cut myself off - I think I always feel like that "ultimate song" is still in me and I'm always wanting to take one more stab at "getting it right."

The new album will be called Go, deriving its title from the newest song I just recorded (which will also likely be the opening song and first single/video). A similar thing happened with Reality Show - "Out of the Closet" was written in a last-minute burst of spontaneity and ended up becoming the album's "flagship" song. It's kind of a cool thing that seems to happen at the very end of a project - you look back at everything you've done for an album and suddenly feel the urge to ramp it up one more notch by doing something really cool and different.

At this point, I'm going back and tweaking the mixes on everything, fixing problems and making subtle improvements to get things more ready for the mastering stage. I'm also driving myself halfway insane working on cover concepts; I wavered back and forth and agonized over the graphics on Reality Show quite a bit and this time is no different. With any luck (and as long as I don't decide to record that "one more song"), I should be able to have the new CD out in October. Most likely the "Go" single and video will be released a week or two before the album itself.

That's the news for now. Off and running again. Have fun and behave yourselves (or at least be good enough to stay out of jail!).

David

Chicago, Madonna, Modding My Bass...

2006-06-29T21:49:00.000-04:00

Halooooooooooooooooo out there...

Boy, June has been a busy month.

The first weekend, we went camping downstate. Wouldn't you know it, the weather turned unseasonably cold just in time for it and we froze our asses off at night. Still a nice weekend, though.

The second weekend, we took a trip to Chicago (the first time for both of us in the "Windy City") to catch the Madonna show. Chicago...wow, what an amazing city. So much stimulation and so many things only a walk or a short bus ride away. Our friend, Bert, who is the production manager for Gay Chicago Magazine, very kindly put us up for the weekend and showed us around town. A big city is a lot less intimidating when you're with someone who knows his way around. The Madonna concert was great fun - from what I've heard, it wasn't quite as an elaborate a production as she has featured on previous tours, but it was still quite a spectacle of sight and sound. Madge does know how to throw a party!

Then it was back to Michgan (and reality) to spend the rest of the week taking care of everything that had been let go during all of this. Ugh.

Finally, I was able to get around to installing the mods for my Fender Jazz fretless bass that I'd been wanting to do for the past month. A set of Dimarzio Model J pickups, a new Gotoh bridge and a new pickguard later, I have it sounding and looking mucho better. The new pickups have really brought that bass to life with a big bottom end and a "vintage" vibe. It put me in such a "retro" frame of mind that I'm now working on a downtempo track with an almost '70s feel to it for the 10th song on the new CD. I wonder if Madonna would lend me her "John Travolta" suit if I do a video for this song? It would probably almost fit my skinny ass...although the sleeves and pant legs would be a little short... ;-)

Time to kick back with a glass of wine for a few. George Carlin is on TV - I can't think of a better way to cap off the day. :-)

Fretless Bass (part two), and a New Interview

2006-05-06T11:23:00.001-04:00

For those interested in the "techy" stuff...

Yeah, stop the presses...I changed my mind and opted for a different fretless bass (availing myself of the fickle, flighty musician's prerogative, LOL).

I should say first that the Steinberger Synapse was a nice instrument in its own right. Interesting design and a very different sound. But the longer I had it, the more I realized I'd really rather have a 4-string fretless instead of a 5, and that I kind of missed a more traditional body shape.

So I had a Fender Jazz 4-string fretless sent over to try out as well. After putting lighter gauge strings on and getting the action right, it plays beautifully. I just need to put a different bridge on it and make one or two other tweaks and I'll be stylin'. So the Steinberger is on its way back to the retailer and the Jazz, in its rather slick Midnight Wine finish, is now sitting happily in its new home in my studio, waiting to be used on the last few tracks for the new album. I have a feeling I'll end up getting rid of my other basses and buying another Jazz fretless (maybe with a different type of pickups in each for sonic variety). I never thought I'd find another bass that feels even more comfortable to play than my Carvin, but I'll be darned...

My First Published Interview...

I hadn't thought about it, but I guess this my first real interview published on the web. I'm the featured artist for May 2006 at Gay Guitarists Worldwide, a site run by Robert Urban, a musician well known and respected in the GLBT community. You can read it here:

http://roberturban.com/gayguitaristsworldwide.html

More New Areas to Explore on the New CD

2006-04-26T15:22:00.000-04:00

"The Vectorman Goes Fretless"

I have seven songs "in the can" for the still-untitled new CD and I've already delved into so many different, new sonic areas. Presenting this rather ambitious material live is already going to be a challenge, so what did I go and do? Why, I decided to take up a "new" instrument and make it even more difficult, LOL!

I've been a fan of fretless bass players Patrick O'Hearn and Tony Franklin for years and have always wanted to delve into fretless. The other day, I got the itch again and figured, what the hell, why not go for it now? I've also been very intrigued by the new Steinberger Synapse basses, so I decided to satisfy both curiosities at once and get a Synapse 5-string fretless (see photo). I've only had a few days with it, but my initial impression is that it's a very slick design and very comfortable to play. I just used it for some overdubbed parts on a new song I finished up yesterday, and it sounds great in the track - its sound has a lot of definition and personality.

Playing fretless isn't easy, mind you...a certain amount of nuance/inaccuracy in pitch is part of the fretless "sound," but keeping everything in-tune enough to sound good without the aid of frets takes some practice. I have a long way to go to master this thing, but the rewards in terms of the added expressiveness will be worth it. I just hope I can get it sufficiently under control not to suck too badly when I go to play it live at gigs, hehehe. :-)

I'm still really fond of my Carvin 4-string, of course - it's a fine bass and Carvin make beautiful instruments. Given how different the Carvin and the Steinberger feel, though, I don't know that I'll be wanting to switch back and forth during gigs, so I'll likely just play everything on the Steinberger fretless. (I wonder if I can get an endorsement out of this...? LOL)

Meanwhile, I'm starting on song #8 for the new album. Might actually get this sucker done before the end of the summer after all...

"In-Flight Movie" - This Month's Song Preview

2006-03-11T09:02:00.000-05:00

"In-Flight Movie"

Preview Now Playing at http://www.myspace.com/davidvector

(Approved for all audiences)

Greetings, m'friends! Here we are with this month's sneak peak at the new album. You have your boarding pass - let's go airborne for a few. :-)

Inspiration comes from the strangest places. The initial idea for "In-Flight Movie" actually occurred to me while watching the Jodie Foster movie, Flightplan. I found myself pondering the imagery of aircraft and flight, and thinking that it might be interesting to use a person taking off on a deserted airplane from a deserted airport at night as sort of a metaphor for those who have lost the joy of being alive and are in danger of "drifting out of the world" if someone doesn't intervene.

The "disillusioned dreamers and the weary with care" are taking one-way flights out of life every day, of course. The "dreamers" around us can be more susceptible to these unexpected departures than many realize. They expect so much from their lives and feel everything so intensely that when things appear to have gone all wrong, making a seemingly romantic exit like a character in a tragic movie can become an appealing notion. Better to be dead than to live a failed, mediocre life and all that. I'm not endorsing that line of thinking, mind you (if I did, I would have been gone long ago after the many disappointments I've weathered, and I never would have been around to see things get better).

Anyway, I hope you enjoy the clip (the song itself is 5 1/2 minutes long, this is just the first 2 1/2 minutes or so). As I just told a friend, I really need to do a more upbeat, happy song after this...I do gravitate to the moodier side oftentimes, but I don't want to get all depressing and start having people trying to label me as "emo" for heaven's sake. :-)

As a side note, I also set up a camcorder in the home studio during the recording of this song so that I can include a few brief snippets of the recording process in a "making-of" video that I'll put online when the new album is released. Don't worry...contrary to rumor, I do NOT record my vocals in the nude, so the vid will be entirely work safe, LOL.

Hope you enjoy your weekend! Write me when you get the chance and tell me what's new. The Internet goes both ways and I always enjoy hearing from you guys. :-)

Dave

"Get Real" - New Song Sample from the Next CD

2006-02-14T19:36:00.000-05:00

"Bass Guitar is back in the mix on a brand-new song preview."

Click the link below to check out a preview of "Get Real":

http://www.davidvector.com/new_album_previews/Get_Real_sample.mp3

Hiya, boys and girls...

Still working away on the new album as the bitter cold here in northeast Michigan keeps me indoors. Hope you're keeping warm wherever you are, unless you're in a climate where it's warm all the time (in which case, I hate you, LOL).
Thought I'd share a partial clip of a new song I just finished recording, mainly because this one features something I haven't used on the last few tracks: bass guitar. I pulled my "baby", my Carvin custom 4-string bass, out of its case for the first time in a while, and rekindled the love affair. It's been cool doing some more heavily electronic stuff for the CD, but I thought it was time to bring my bass playing back into the picture; it's one of the things that helps set me apart from a lot of other techno/dance music, since most of that kind of thing uses nothing but synthesizer bass.
The lyrics on "Get Real" describe something we all encounter on Myspace, elsewhere on the Net, on MTV and the radio, and in everyday life: fake, shallow people. You know the type. As Rush's Neil Peart put it in "Limelight", they're the ones who wish to seem rather than wish to be. The ones who have to read GQ, Cosmo, Instinct, etc. to know how to dress, how to decorate their homes, what music to listen to in order to be perceived as part of the "in crowd". Sure, there's nothing wrong with wanting to have a little style and glamour injected into your life. It can be fun. But life isn't meant to be a 24/7 fashion show, a nonstop indulgence in empty vanity that makes you lose all perspective.
And then there's reality TV (a recurring subject on my last album), which is so good at making buffoons of people for the sake of "entertainment". But a lot of people want it, don't they? Fame for no real reason and a short-lived moment of glory at any price. Instead of "What would you do for a Klondike Bar?" it's "How much of an ass are you willing to make of yourself just to get thousands or millions of people to notice you for five minutes?"
Of course, the irony of the fact that I'm forced to play the "game of hype" a little bit myself isn't lost on me. You can't be in the music biz and not do the PR thing (unless you want to be playing for 8 or 10 people). But to me, the "glamour shots on Myspace" and all that are secondary to making good music. I'd like to think that most people dig me for the music first and foremost, not just because they're having daydreams about what they'd do with me if they got me naked, LOL. ;-)
Aaaaaanyway....enough of my babbling. Hope you enjoy the song preview. Making a video for that one is going to be fun - a great opportunity to poke some much-deserved fun at the more fake and pretentious aspects of the music biz and of modern society in general (evil grin).

Talk to you soon!
Dave

What's In a Name?

2005-12-12T21:38:00.000-05:00

What indeed...

Well, nothing...and everything. Once people get to know you and your work, the name just becomes a "handle" to carry you by, so to speak. But in my case, the handle didn't really fit the package (okay, bad metaphor!). You see, I settled on "Project Vector" as a name because, at the time, I still intended to get a full-time band together eventually. The name was intended to be suitable for a band.

In the nine months since I released Reality Show, however, I've come to realize that working solo suits me, especially after my last unsuccessful attempt at getting a collaboration going this past summer. I have kind of an offbeat musical personality, and I haven't had much luck finding people who are in sync with what I want to do. I don't know, maybe I'm just a control freak (grin), but I like being able to do exactly what I want to do when I'm writing and recording without having to take a vote and compromise on anything.

So, back to the name thing. I've been realizing since Reality Show's release that the "Project Vector" name has been confusing people. It sounds like a band name (which it was intended to), so everyone assumed that Project Vector was a band, not realizing I'm a solo artist. Then I have to explain: "My name is such-and-such and Project Vector is the name under which I release my music." It's an unnecessary extra layer of complication and an extra name for everyone to remember, and now that I've decided to just stay solo, it's something I don't want to deal with when I start playing live next year.

That's why I've opted to make the slight name shift. Now I can introduce myself at gigs or talk to contacts and just say, "I'm David Vector." Simple and direct - no confusion. The name is similar enough to my previous handle that I don't think listeners already familiar with me will be thrown too badly by the change.

The next album and any subsequent releases will bear the "David Vector" name. Reality Show will of course still say "Project Vector" on the packaging until the first pressing has sold out, and the next run will have modified graphics that say "David Vector" (so those who have copies from the first run will have a minor sort of collector's item, I guess!).

Okay, that's taken care of...now we can move on! Best wishes to all of you for a great holiday season if I don't talk to you again in the next few weeks. I hope you all have a wonderful time with your family and friends and keep plenty of TUMS and Prilosec OTC handy! ;-)

All my best,

David Vector

"Steamville" - A brief glimpse into the new album

2005-11-09T12:03:00.001-05:00

Click the link below to listen (or right-click and save)

http://www.projectvector.com/new_album_samples/Steamville_sample.mp3

Hello there, folks...

Change is in the air and things are gaining speed. After doing the "Out of the Closet" music video, I got back to work on the new album and started thinking about what direction I really wanted to take with this. And, despite my short-lived fascination with grunge a few months ago when I started playing guitar, I realized that what I really want to do is delve further into techno and continue evolving along the path I began following with Reality Show. I guess there was a brief moment where I found myself wanting to go backwards to a more hard rock-oriented sound again, but I realized that's not progress for me...it's just a familiar "safe zone" that I don't need to hang onto anymore.

Moving right along, I thought this would be a cool time to share a small preview of what's in store next, now that I finally have a clear focus on what I want to do with this album. "Steamville" represents the kind of thing I'm doing now; it has edge and impact but also plenty of atmosphere and texture, and it's very well suited to the dance club environment while still having some depth and substance in the lyrics and arrangement. It's not an easy balancing act, but I like to think I'm getting better at it, and it's kind of becoming my musical trademark.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy the partial song sample and that it helps tide you over for the next few months while I continue working on the new CD. Keep in touch and write me sometime, even if it's just to say "hello"!

Catch ya later,
Dave

The New VIDEO - "Out of the Closet"

2005-09-13T12:58:00.000-04:00

WATCH THE NEW VIDEO FOR "OUT OF THE CLOSET":
http://www.projectvector.com/videos/Out_of_the_Closet_LOW.wmv

Hey gang!

Long time no speak...sorry, I've been busy as all hell! Just got back from a much-needed vacation camping downstate in Saugatuck. The weather was perfect - 80s in the daytime and 60s at night. Lots of hanging out by the pool, laughing with friends, and wandering the campgrounds wearing nothing but denim cutoffs or a sarong. I wish I could go there at least once or twice a month...it would do wonders for my nerves!

Have some news to report on the music front. First off, Project Vector is going to remain my solo...uhm...project. It became apparent that the Chadster just has too many irons in the fire to have time for this. It's understandable - he has three kids and is involved in a lot of activities to boot. I still love the guy to death and certainly won't rule out the possibility of collaborating with him in a more limited fashion sometime down the road.

The other news is that I've just released the first Project Vector VIDEO, "Out of the Closet". Yep, you heard it right. In the midst of working on new material, I found myself thinking that I really should have done a video for at least one song from Reality Show. So...better late than never, right?

I didn't have the time or budget to be making elaborate sets or doing a bunch of on-location stuff, so instead I made it into more of a tongue-in-cheek performance-oriented vid, using compositing and other digital video effects to make things more interesting. This is my first attempt at making a music vid and I'm basically a dabbling amateur, but I had some fun doing it and I don't think the end result is that bad for a first try, really. There's a little bit of suggestive imagery in there (the song pretty much demands it), but nothing R-rated, so you don't have to be afraid to watch it at work or in mixed company (unless watching videos at work period is apt to get you fired, of course!).

For me, it was kind of fun (and surreal) seeing myself playing and singing on my computer screen as it came together. We live in an age where music is also a visual experience, not just an aural one, so I fully intend to continue making videos and exploring that side of things in the future.

So anyway, hope you enjoy the video. Take care, stay out of trouble, and I'll be talking to ya soon... ;-)))

Moving Ahead...

2005-06-29T17:41:00.000-04:00

"Fifteen Minutes" Demo - Click to download a song-in-progress from the new EP

The "Great White North" has turned hotter than hell, friends and neighbors! Man, we went right from a disappointingly cool spring into 90-degree heat. Guess I shouldn't complain, though - we wait all year for the maybe four or five months of really nice weather we actually get up here. The vacation a couple of weeks back was great, by the way. Four days of lazing around soaking up the sun and sitting by campfires is a rare thing for me, and I even have a tan for once (with no tan lines, hehe - is that TMI?). I'm looking forward to going camping again in August.

On the music front, I have the first song for the new EP project with Chad demoed and I expect him to be coming in next week to track vocals for it (the demo version now posted has a guide vocal from yours truly in there for now). This is going to be the litmus test, so to speak, that kind of tells us how compatible we're going to be working together and whether things are going to mesh.

If things go well, hopefully we can have the new EP (or shorter album, whatever you want to call it) recorded by late this year or the beginning of next, and then finally get out and gig in support of Reality Show as well as the new album-to-be.

Speaking of the new album, as you can probably tell from the "Fifteen Minutes" demo, this one seems to be going in a heavier and more "organic" direction than Reality Show. I guess taking up guitar and recording my own guitar parts for the first time has a lot to do with it. My music has always been so streamlined and produced in the past - it feels kind of good to be taking a more laid-back approach, just getting a good vibe on the material and not being such a perfectionist about everything. That isn't to say I'm in any way unhappy with Reality Show - I'm really proud of the way it turned out. This is just the direction I'm moving towards now, keeping some aspects of that techno/industrial sound but bringing it back into a heavier, more rock context again.

So anyway, drop by the site every once in a while and you can follow our progress on the new album over the following months and hear a few more audio clips here and there. I was a little disappointed that I won't be playing live this year as expected, but I can't deny that creating new songs and watching a new album take shape is what I love most. I'm kinda excited...

...but right now I'm also worn out from what's already been a long week, so I'm going to veg out with a good movie and hit the sack, so I can get up early tomorrow and start on another new song. Talk to ya soon....

New Developments...

2005-05-01T08:22:00.000-04:00

Working on new material with Mackie Tracktion2

Hello again from the edge of the Great White North...

A lot has been going on since my last entry - let's start with the bad news. I've had to bow out of the Bearapalooza Nashville show I was to play in July. Unfortunately I'm just too bogged down (and from the looks of it will be all summer) to be able to take off for 4-5 days for the trip at this point. I hated to disappoint the event organizers, who were looking forward to my coming. I was looking forward to it as well, but I have to accept the fact that I'm not Superman and can only do so much with a finite amount of time. I do plan to take a raincheck and join them for a future Bearapalooza show, however, so it's not really cancelled - just postponed.

On to the good news. For a while now, a really amazing local singer with whom I played in a cover band a few years back has been talking to me about working together on original material. We met yesterday and are both enthusiastic about actually doing it now. For the past month, I had been mulling over options in regard to putting a live performing unit together to gig in support of my new CD, Reality Show. I'd been contemplating getting a guitarist and maybe a female backup singer, but then it occurred to me - why not hook up with Chad instead? He's a fantastic singer and a great frontman with tons of charisma; it would take the pressure of having to do all the lead vocals off my shoulders and let me concentrate moreso on playing bass and keyboards. I have to admit, it's really hard trying to be a solo artist and having to do everything yourself; it's a LOT of pressure. It's a lot easier to have at least one "partner in crime" so you can play off of one another's strengths and lean on each other when your resolve falters.

So, what we now plan to do is record 4 or 5 new songs for a new Project Vector EP with Chad doing most of the lead vocals, so we have a disc that represents us as a duo that we can release and sell at gigs along with the first Project Vector album. It would also give us more original material to draw from and decrease the amount of covers we would have to play. Once the EP is complete, we would then find a guitarist and hopefully also a drummer to hire for gigs (but most likely continue recording as a duo).

The first step, of course, is for me to put a song or two together, pass it on to Chad so he can work out his vocal parts, and see what comes out. The main thing is to arrive at a sound we can both get fired up about. The general guideline I have for myself is that I want to do something a little heavier and more rock-oriented than Reality Show but still retain a little bit of that techno edge and sophistication to keep it interesting and unique. To enable us to be a completely self-contained recording unit, I've started delving into playing guitar (after many years of playing only bass and keyboards), and while I won't be a world-class guitarist anytime soon, I'm finding that I can already play a lot of the kind of things I want to record. Continuing my newfound love affair with Steinbergers, I opted for a Steinberger GT, which is working out really well. I wish I'd done this sooner, actually - I'm finding that playing guitar is a hell of a lot of fun!

So that's what's new for now! Hopefully, in another month or so, I'll be able to report back on some tangible progress and maybe even share a sound clip from the new project if things go well. Meanwhile, warm weather is just around the corner and I'm looking forward to going on a short vacation downstate in a couple of weeks. Life is good....

Taking Reality Show to the Stage...

2005-04-02T19:59:00.000-05:00

Hey Friends!

I know, I know, it's been over a month since my last entry. Things have been busy! The new album, Reality Show, was released on March 10th and I've been doing what I can to get the word out to radio, print media, and the world at large (I've only scratched the surface - there's still so much to do).

It's also time to start shifting into gigging mode. I hadn't even started looking for additional musicians or done any real planning yet when, very unexpectedly, an invitation to play at the Bearapalooza festival in Nashville in July came my way. I'm kind of hoping I might have another player or two on board by then, but I guess if I have to take the stage all by my lonesome and play to backing tracks, that's what I'll do! I think it's going to be a lot of fun, and after all the time I've spent holed up in my home studio recording the new CD, I'm looking forward to being out there playing live this summer.

In gearing up to gig, I knew I needed to start playing a 5-string bass to reproduce the bass parts on Reality Show live (I just tuned down my 4-string when recording, but that's not as practical a solution for live gigs). I picked up a Steinberger XT-25 5-string, which I expected would just be a "learning" bass, but despite the fact that it cost less than 1/3 of what I paid for my other basses , I love the thing! Mastering the changes in technique needed to play a 5-string is going to take some woodshedding on my part, but what the hey, I love a good challenge. If the "love affair" continues, I'll probably use Steinbergers for all my gigging and very likely on the next album as well. They really are cool instruments and not only look different, they have a very distinctive sound too.

What else is new? Uhm, let's see...I've also been getting more exercise, breaking a good sweat on the elliptical machine almost every day and using the Bowflex a few days a week too. I was WAY too inactive all winter and it's time to get back into shape a little bit (even if it kills me!).

Think that's it for now. I'll try not to let another six weeks go by before I write in here again, hehe. Talk to ya soon, gang!

Hurry up and Wait...

2005-02-18T11:21:00.000-05:00

I have a brief moment of quiet in the hurricane seems to be my life lately (if you saw the house at the moment, you'd see plenty of evidence of it!), so a quick update is in order.

The mastering went great this time. Bill Plummer from TinderArts did a fine job remastering the album and got the sound I was looking for...very pleasurable experience working with him. So, as long as there are no unforseen snags in the CD pressing and printing, the discs are estimated to be done by March 1st. It'll probably be about another week or so beyond that before they'll be available to order from CDBaby and other distributors. I'm looking forward to finally getting this album out. I've already been approached by a few radio programmers about sending a copy when it becomes available, so I'm really eager to see what everyone thinks of it.

Meanwhile, I'm already starting to think about some of the things I'd like to do on the next album. Man, it's too soon for that...this one's not even out yet!

Time to go get on the road and deal with some work-related matters...boy, that moment of quiet didn't last long.

Sometimes it Pays to Ask for Help...

2005-02-09T18:44:00.000-05:00

Sitting here having a smoke (I know, I need to lay off those things) and contemplating how fast things can turn around...and then turn around again...and again (getting dizzy yet?).

STRESS:
The second reference CD mentioned in the last post showed up, and I was not pleased. The opening song, which I'd remixed in hopes of a better-sounding master, was now completely unusable. The more I listened to the ref CDs, the more I realized that the overall sound on everything was just not what I wanted. Everything was just too "hyped" sounding; my ears were feeling tired after listening to one or two songs. So, just to try and get an "echo" from someone else and confirm that things were indeed as dire as I thought, I posted "before" and "after" samples of a couple of songs on my webspace and posted a link to them in a forum for professional engineers and musicians. It was embarrassing to admit that I was lost and needed a hand, but it's better to swallow your pride and get straightened out than to keep stumbling around getting nowhere.

RELIEF:
The first poster seemed to like the mastering job. I began to think maybe I was being overly critical and that it didn't really sound so bad (I know, that sounds really flighty and erratic on my part, but that's how stressed out I was getting...I couldn't even tell what I was listening to anymore).

STRESS:
I checked back a while later and subsequent replies to my post were pointing out the same flaws that had been bugging me...the harsh, grating upper mid frequencies and cloudy bottom end. It wasn't just me - things were indeed not right.

RELIEF:
To my amazement, one of the respondents to my thread took it upon himself to do a quick impromptu remastering of one of my songs from one of the "before" files I'd posted and emailed it to me. It sounded great...natural, not overhyped, and more true to the sound I'd been going for when I was mixing. I emailed him back and asked if he did mastering work as a regular thing. I spoke to him on the phone today, we came to an agreement, and he'll be tackling the remastering of my album as soon as his schedule permits, hopefully within a couple of weeks (he's currently working on mixing the audio for a concert DVD). I feel reasonably confident that he'll do a good job for me, and I actually feel relaxed now for the first time in weeks.

Needless to say, the new CD will now probably not be out until early March, but it's worth it to wait a little longer and have an album I can be happy with.

So, on that note, I think I'll go have a cup of hot chocolate, plunk Dangerous Liaisons into the DVD player, and let the last of my tension flow out of me. Tune in next time when we'll be talking about the safest positions for avoiding back injury when having sex in the modern SUV.

Yes, I'm kidding. ;-)}

On the air...

2005-02-08T09:40:00.000-05:00

"Hello out there in Reality TV land..."

Welcome to my new blog, which is going to be kind of a combination recording journal and general news forum for Project Vector and also a space for more general musings about life, music, pop culture, sexuality...and probably some other stuff. ;-)

As I sit here having my third cup of morning java, I'm not really relaxed; UPS will be delivering my second reference CD for the new album from the mastering facility today, and I'm just keeping my toes crossed that all will be well on this one (I'd cross my fingers, but it makes typing rather difficult). If I have to request more mastering changes, it'll hold things up even more, and the chances of getting it released this month will rapidly start to evaporate. But I'm being optimistic and hopefully we'll be good to go and can finally start getting those CDs pressed!

Meanwhile, I've been thinking lately about the state of music in general in 2005 and wondering where I'm going to fit into all of this and how Reality Show, the new album will be received. You know, you work so hard recording a CD and you do what you can to get the word out there, but it's not easy. People are bombarded by so much from the Internet and media anymore that they're in a state of information overload...managing to be heard at all in the midst of that cacophany is no small feat. It's hard for me sometimes, because I really just want to express myself in music, and so much of what's involved in releasing a CD has nothing to do with the creative process. But as P.T. Barnum once said, "without publicty, a terrible thing happens...nothing." So, we do what we have to do!

Well, I guess it's time to sign off for now, pull some clothes on, and go for a short walk to clear my head before I get down to the day's business. Not to mention take the puppy out before she does something uncool on the carpet(!). Take care, my friends - talk to you soon...