Robot Cousin Soundworks

So, here’s a thing…

Sound effects by me, game by Svampson, or Patrik Riström. Sound’s not nearly done, but it’s something. Much more fine-tuning to go, of course. Needs footsteps!

Aside from this (and work), I’ve begun working in Unity3D, slowly-but-surely developing my own game. The idea I have isn’t original, and I’m fine with that. What matters is whether or not it’s fun. I’m aiming for it to be (really, who wouldn’t be aiming for that?) and so right now, I’m learning how to script proper physics. In my opinion, when it comes to side-scrollers, you can’t beat the ‘feel’ of Super Mario Bros 3. I don’t aim to beat it, I am to match it.

I’ll post more on the development as it comes along.

In other news, once again, I’m all set to try and make an album in the month of February. I’m planning on mixing shoegaze with chiptune. We’ll see how well that turns out.

Been going through a few audio-related troubles as of late, but anyone who’s on my facebook (both readers of this website) already know the basics. I came home Friday to find that the Firewire light on my Presonus Firestudio was solid red (rather than its usual blue) when the unit was powered on.

Damn.

After troubleshooting my ass off, I basically learn that it’s the unit, and Presonus, because I’ve registered it, say that I can send it back, no charge, and they’ll fix it (also no charge). Yay for 1-year warranties! However, I took a guess at the date that I had purchased it, and called Long & Mcquade in Fredericton to confirm, because they keep EVERYTHING on file. I was off by 27 days (I registered the product and said it was purchased April 30th, but it was actually April 3rd.) Anyway, Graeme, who I originally bought it from, casually asked why I was needing that info, and I mentioned that it was because it was no longer working.

“Well, don’t worry, just bring it right into the Long & Mcquade in Moncton and they’ll send it off for you, and give you a rental unit of something similar at no charge until yours comes back.”

I practically had hearts in my eyes. So here I sit, after installing drivers, and updating firmware, with a Presonus Firestudio Project, one level down from the unit I own (the 2626 model. Main difference is that mine has additional ADAT connections). I could not be more pleased by the service I received from both Long & Mcquade and Presonus themselves.

And it turns out that, even if this had happened outside my warranty, it would’ve been about $90 to repair it. Considering the price and quality of the Firestudio (I stand by that my issue was caused by me, leaving it on when the computer is off, or in sleep mode), that’s a bit of a steal. Still, very glad I got it for free.

As for RPM, I am still considering getting started this year, albeit late. Honestly, I don’t feel as bad if I don’t do it, since I’m constantly writing new music (that I’m not allowed to post here) at work.

Speaking of which, I finally, FINALLY got my copy of EastWest Gold Symphonic Composers Collection. I’ll definitely whip something up in the near future for your listening pleasure, so you can hear the sheer Disney-esque quality of the sampled instruments.

In other news, Bombs Away is still being worked on. I’m also whipping up a theme song (just for fun) based on a webcomic/graphic novel my friend Ben produces (writes/illustrates) called Zom-Ben. That’s been years in the making, but I’m finally getting to it. Also, Ben and I have a project in the works that looks like it may actually happen, but I don’t want to jinx it too much by mentioning what it is yet, so I’ll just leave it at that. Let’s just say, this time, I might do it right.

Oh, and just to make this post at least somewhat interesting, even though I’ve posted this on Facebook, as well as my Twitter (oh yeah, I have a twitter now. @robot_cousin if you care about that kind of thing. I don’t even know if I do yet), but here you go again. The general sound of Bombs Away, thus far. Warning: Not mixed, not editing, and definitely not finished.

Bombs Away (demo medley)

Sonically yours,

Jordan.

Project R/’Recession: The Rock Opera’ is still being hammered out, note by note, instrument by instrument. I’m having a bit of difficulty with one of the pieces, as there’ll be a lot of orchestration from things like horns and strings, and those are some of the hardest to fake through virtual instruments. Also, my computer is choking. Yay for the ‘Track Freeze’ option (think “Flatten Layers”, if coming from the Photoshop side of things), but even then, you can only freeze so much and get away with it.

On the RPM side of things, I’m actually coming up with a lot of good stuff… which is a problem (for RPM at least). I actually want to turn these into real tracks. And I know that just because they’re for RPM doesn’t mean they didn’t happen, but I don’t think I could bring myself to put a song into two groups. If I actually had a record deal, and was making songs, b-sides would be b-sides, and the track list of an album would be that and only that, not songs from another place or anything like that. Billy Corgan has the same sort of hangup, so I guess I have him to thank for that way of thinking. I can’t help it! It’s a rule, but one I haven’t had to enforce just yet.

So I’m left with about 3 tracks worth of stuff I really, really like, and refuse to put towards RPM, even though I’ve come up with them, and recorded them within February. Will I finish my RPM album? Looks like no. Does this bother me? Not in the least.

RPM is doing what it was meant to do, and for that, I am thankful.

Second track completed.

Before you listen, while I hate making excuses, I really must stress that I plugged in my guitar, loaded up Addictive Drums and the ImpOscar, and said “screw it”. This is what happened. Barely mixed, barely edited, I do enjoy how it feels like a celebration of sound, as if you were to put a soundtrack to a flashy, abstract painting.

Just keep that in mind.

Sleeper

Just finished my first track (which will actually be track 3) of my RPM Challenge 2010 album. I have a name for the album, but I’m not putting that out until the artwork is all done. Yeah, I’m going all the way.

Anyway, I’ve already gotten farther than I did last year, and I don’t plan on stopping. I have a few other half-finished tracks on the go, hopefully will be uploading them within the week. Also, this track, along with any other RPM tracks, will not appear in the flash player below until they’re all done, or when February ends. So for now, here you go;

Element Zero

Site update 50% done. Actually, all I really did was change the background image (still not happy with it, but perhaps I’ll change it yet) and the header image. Anyway, at least it’s all blue now. Might work out the grey on the page as well.

In music-news, work began on my RPM album last night. I put down the basics of the first track. I know it’s going to be the first track because it’s precisely how I want to open the whole thing. A sonic kick in the face to let you know “You’re Here Now.” Hmm.. maybe I’ll call it that.

Work continues on the musical. Getting a really good, gradiose chord progression, but I won’t say yet what it is. It’s got to be something that sounds grand, something that causes people to immediately take notice. It also has to kick you in the face, sonically.

So much violence, next to no silence.

With the RPM album (that’s already got a title!), I’m finding it a bit tought to make music for myself. Does it sound good to me? Does it really, really matter this time? Sort of yes to both. All I know is, good or bad, I’m going to release this by March 1st. Well, I’ll be putting it online for my site probably the same time it goes up on rpmchallenge.com, so you can decide where you want to listen to it (or if you want to listen to it at all).

I wish I had more to add, but I don’t.

February is going to be a busy month. People reading this can look forward to the following:

• New Site Layout – Not too radically different than what’s already here, but as mentioned previously, you’ll have to update your bookmarks (unless subscribing via RSS, which you should be) to go to www.robotcousin.com/blog. Also, a colour change is happening. Apparently, orange is the colour of unpredictability and being unstable. As much as I would like to say that I’m going to model it after the music I want to make, for visitors, it doesn’t seem that welcoming.
• More music – RPM Challenge 2010 is soon underway (and if you’re not making music for it, at least check out the page to see what’s what. Root for me or something), and I’ll be posting a bit of music on here at first, I think. A little way to keep myself motivated. When it’s all said and done, I’ll take whatever half-finished idea I posted and exchange it for the ‘real-deal’, so there won’t be two versions of tracks floating around.
• Some Third Thing I Can’t Remember.
• Updated clips for the demo reel – I did music and sound for Manic Chiropractic, why not put a clip up? Why am I asking you?

Out.

RPM Challenge 2010 is a go! Sign up here. Don’t know what I’m on about?

From the site…

This is The Challenge - Record an album in 28 days, just because you can.That’s 10 songs or 35 minutes of original material recorded during the month of February. Go ahead… put it to tape.

It’s a little like National Novel Writing Month, (NaNoWriMo.org) where writers challenge each other to write 1,700 words a day for 30 days, or the great folks over at February Album Writing Month (fawm.org), who encourage artists to write 14 new songs in February. Maybe they don’t have “Grapes of Wrath” or “Abbey Road” at the end of the month, or maybe they do—but that’s not the point. The point is they get busy and stop waiting around for the muse to appear. Get the gears moving. Do something. You can’t write 1,700 words a day and not get better.

Don’t wait for inspiration – taking action puts you in a position to get inspired. You’ll stumble across ideas you would have never come up with otherwise, and maybe only because you were trying to meet a day’s quota of (song)writing. Show up and get something done, and invest in yourself and each other.

Anyone can come up with an excuse to say “no,” so don’t. Many of you are thinking “But, I can’t do that! I don’t have any songs/recording gear/money/blah blah blah…” But this doesn’t have to be the album, it’s just an album. Remember, this is an artistic exercise. Just do your best using what you have in order to get it done. If you have a four-track, become a four-track badass! A mini disc, a pro-tools rig, a Walkman, an 80’s tape recorder – use it. Do your best. Use the limitations of time and gear as an opportunity to explore things you might not try otherwise. If you can afford studio time in a “real” studio, fine, but let’s be completely free of any lingering idea that “good” records can only be made in a studio. If that were so, then all the old scratchy blues records or Alan Lomax field recordings that have changed our culture – the world’s culture – wouldn’t still resonate with us today as they do. Springsteen’s haunting classic “Nebraska” was a demo he did at home on a crappy machine. That album is fricking awesome. What label would put those recordings out now? (See: who cares) There are a million examples of this kind of stuff, but the fact will always be: Well written, honest music is compelling and undeniable no matter what it was recorded on. So put it to tape.

February will come and go whether you’ve joined in or not, but do you really want to be left out?

So there you have it. I feel like crap because of last year’s “one song” entry, so I’ll be sure and AT LEAST get farther this time around. All tracks will be posted here as well, denoted as being part of the RPM Challenge.

For all music makers out there, sign up! What have you got to lose?

I, like many other people, don’t really like New Years resolutions. Some empty promise you make to yourself that, within about 2 weeks, you usually forget or lose interest in. Lose weight, read more, etc, etc, etc.

And yet, here I am, thinking about making one. But not only to I want to be resolute for just the new year, but from this point forward.

I find myself not reaching my full potential, and I definitely see room for improvement with my music, but more so, I see room for improvement with my attitude towards my work. I am far too critical on myself, and therefore I end up with many, many half-finished ideas that are still sitting on my hard drive, collecting digital dust.

What to do, what to do. Get motivated, that’s what! First off, I’ve noticed that if my work area is a mess, my brain is a mess. Guess what kind of state my work area has been in for the last little while?

Yeah.

Secondly, I feel like I have to rekindle that love I know I still have for discovering new musical ideas, and working on new projects. There are a few projects that are currently on the go, and I’m happy to have them, but I don’t feel that they’re 100% mine to play with. Don’t get me wrong, I have much respect and trust in the ideas and plans of the people that I’ll be doing them with, and wouldn’t want it any other way, but there still needs to be a little section of my work where I have total control, no matter what. A little artistic endeavor that I’ve had in my head for quite a while that includes better versions of a few tracks I’ve already posted here. There are a bunch that I’m not showing off until the album is actually done. I WANT to show them off, but it acts as a bit of a motivator, having to guard them close until they’re all ready.

That brings me to February. RPM 2010 is coming up, and I am very excited! A few people over at www.logicprohelp.com will hopefully be joining in. I have promised myself to get more done than I did last year (one track, “Acquaintances”), and that one I didn’t actually finish (drums are off, and it’s missing a few change-ups.)

Back to the motivation I was referring to, the Beatles are, of course, becoming a large part of that. My music will never sound like theirs, and I’m not about to put myself anywhere near the pedestal that they so rightfully deserve to be on, but who can’t be inspired by them? I don’t own any of their albums, and growing up, my dad only had “the hits”, but recently (as in the past 3 years), My fianceé has been introducing me to a lot of their full album work, and they’ve been playing almost constantly now that we have The Beatles: Rock Band. Yes, it took buying a video game that uses plastic instruments for me to finally hear all of Abbey Road. Sad, I know.

I’m not going to go on and on about what I find inspiring, because everyone has either already been inspired in one way or another,  or they’ve heard about people being inspired. The bottom line is, I feel like once I get some cleaning done, the sounds will follow.

They’re all there, they just can’t seem to find a way out amidst all the clutter.