Taking on Windows 8

You might be asking yourself if Windows 8 is going to be the OS that you've been waiting for; with all of it's new productivity and efficiency upgrades, or, is it, with it's "Metro" UI, an incomplete transition into touch based desktop and laptop computing, which represents little of what Windows users liked about the previous OS and then also not that much of what the future may hold for Microsoft's next generation of OS?

Gear Review: Roland R-26 Portable Recorder

Just arrived this week, a shiny new Roland R-26 portable recorder. This little device has the best and most complete feature list of anything on the market in this form factor. Compared with the ubiquitous Zoom H4n, the Roland R-26 is quite simply another level above, putting it close to devices in the 4+ channel recorder segment. In my five hours with the device since I got home from work, and then charged some AA batteries, I've only been impressed with how it performs. The depth and quality of features on show is quite astounding. I would put it right at the top of the pecking order of portable recorders available right now.

Site Updates 2-10-2012

I've made a few small updates to the site:

Additions to the Photography galleries available from the link in the tab bar:

The new galleries are not the most recent photo's but should have been on here a fair while ago.

The first is a collection of images from a feature film I did sound on, called Looking over the Dragon; and two music concerts I went to quite a while ago now. ATP presents the Flaming Lips and Dinosaur Jr. at Alexandra Palace; and Dorje with the Drills at The Boileroom in Guildford:

As a side note, all of those thumbnails were also produced using Adobe Photoshop Touch on my Android tablet. As I've stopped using "trial" versions of the desktop edition of Photoshop, this cut down £7 release does 90% of everything I need to do using Photoshop. In the coming weeks I might put together a quick review of the app as it's really a very powerful tool for creating and editing web graphics on the go.

The second update I've done is under the Services tab, where I've listed a selection of things that I can do for you. The list isn't exhaustive but should give a general idea of my skill set and what I can bring to your projects.

No I don't work for free...

I get a lot of offers for free and expenses only work these days, which means I also have to turn a lot of work down. The thing is that people seem to think that I'll work for free purely because I did it for a little while during a period in which, I was trying to get into sound recording for films and TV.

The typical request pans out a little like this:

     “Hi, I'm a film producer, can you come and work for us for 6 days? It's just that the guy we called first said he couldn't do it... but he said you might be interested and said you were very good at what you do... The thing is, we don't have any money, so we can only pay your expenses... But we will provide you with free sandwiches and coffee all weekend... Oh you need equipment to do your job? Well can't you bring your own? That would help us out if we didn't have to hire it in...”

Gear Review: Blackstar HT Dual "Pure Valve Distortion" pedal

    This pedal is part of Blackstars HT range of tube driven effects pedals. The HT-Dual is one of seven distinct drive pedals in the range and sits in a position that makes it probably the most versatile of the bunch. Similar to the HT-Metal, it is a two channel, foot-switchable, distortion pedal; with a drive circuit that is powered/flavoured by a standard 12AX7/ECC83 pre-amp valve.
   I've been using for about a year now in a whole host of environments and usage scenarios so I thought I'd share my experiences.

Gear Review: Lovepedal Redhead

    The Redhead is a limited run pedal which re-releases an older Lovepedal design, the Superlead, in a new shell and with a tweaked EQ/Tone control circuit. The circuit isn't completely original, it is said to be derived from something like an old Marshall Guv'nor circuit, but with simplified tone shaping controls. Some would question why you would pay the kind of money you do for boutique effects, when you could effectively build them yourself for a fraction of the cost; I say who cares. This thing looks good and sounds great, and it wasn't built by me, a second rate solderer at best.

New Audio Stuff: iZotope Ozone 5 and RX2

   I took the plunge a few days ago and decided to actually spend some money on the activity I like to call my profession. Based on a wide selection of reviews and from speaking to fellow "sound guys" I bought iZotopes Ozone 5 mastering suite and RX 2 noise reduction software. I decided that I couldn't afford the Advanced versions but the lower priced standard editions are still incredibly powerful tools.

Go to the iZotope website for more information on them and their advanced bretheren:

Ozone 5
RX2

   My initial impressions are extremely positive. Even though I'm no expert at operating them, the various presets are actually very good and work as excellent starting positions for most work you'd care to do in them.

Gear Review: AKG K271 MKII studio headphones

     The AKG K271 mkII headphones are the, closed-back, bigger brother to AKG's own K240 mkII headphones. They feature very similar design aspects, but have a few little tweaks to make them much more suitable in use as your go-to set of professional cans. Keen readers will know that I reviewed the K240 mkII's last year, and that I liked them quite a lot; but they weren't without their flaws (not least their open backed-ness).

Music: New original track by me "Supernova"

I've been off work and ill since Friday, but I haven't wasted my time in front of the TV or playing video games... I've wasted it making music! Well maybe not wasted, but used for extra curricular pursuits. I've been toying with idea of writing an album/EP for a very long time, and I've always had a few little ideas which needed turning into bigger ones to make something worthwhile (longer than 1minute 30 anyway).

I had a little idea at the start of January. Just a lick over a little melody. It lasted maybe 10 seconds. It's become a monster 3:30ish song with at least two parts of a song structure! I'm relatively pleased with it in it's embryotic state. Have a listen


http://soundcloud.com/churst/supernova-full-wip-1st-draft

Tech: Android: Creative Essentials

Android gets slated occasionally for not having the same wealth of creative apps that iOS devices deliver for musicians and artists, but the fact is there's a good fewapps on the Android Market that can quench your mobile creative requirements. Whether you are a musician, artist, writer or whatever there is probably something on there for every need. Obviously this list isn't an exhaustive one, but I reckon I've found a few essentials everyone should check out.

Recording: Setting up Ableton Live for Recording

I wrote this beginners guide last year on the DV247 music forum, but for some reason never thought to re-post it on here. I think it's a useful guide to getting more from Live once you've got the default install up and running. Re-reading it has reminded me about a few features that I rarely use, so it could be worth a read for anyone using Live out there. Any edits on the original have been made in the classic square brackets.

2011: A Year in Gear

I spent more money on guitar related gear last year than I ever have in the past (and more than I'm likely to ever again!).