Hans Zimmer Masterclass Review (and a short rant about education!)

A little while ago, I wrote a blog post entitled "The expectations of education and online learning.”, about my experiences of both taking the Hans Zimmer masterclass and then the online commenting in forums and Facebook from other students. I really felt that there was a big gap between some students expectation of what they would be getting and I think this is reflected by the nature of the modern student and instant gratification.So, I put together video on my thoughts on the Masterclass and Hans’ content, you can simply click the video below and enjoy (there is also a little rant in there as well!) Personally, as you can see in the video. I though this was an excellent course and would certainly sign up to others. I feel it offers excellent value for money and has certainly inspired me (which surely is the main aim of any education?)EnjoyPeaceNeil

Understanding Amp Modelling - REMEMBER It’s the sound of a mic'd amp in a (another!) room!!

I know I am preaching to the converted here, but I feel that this is something that comes up a lot with folks who are thinking of switching to modelling and then don’t ‘get’ what they are hearing. I thought I would do a video explaining all about amp modelling and what you are actually meant to be hearing!! Remember people, it is the sound of a mic’d up amp in a room, which is VERY different that the sound of an am in a room.As I come from a recording back ground, so I have made an assumption here. The sound of a mic’d amp in a room I always consider to be a live room in a studio (or the room next door. :) Yes if you have an amp in the room ‘with you’ and put a mic on it, you are still hearing the sound of the amp. I also agree partially with you about the live situation (again showing my age!) but you would get a mix of the mix signal from the amp and the amp itself but nowadays that has changed somewhat where amps are offstage or in ISO boxes, so yes in that situation the helix represents the same thing.EnjoyPeaceNeil

Logic Pro X - Quick Tips - How to Delete Hole (gap) aka Ripple Delete

Mind the gap

A very short Logic Pro quick tip on how to delete a gap or hole (ripple delete) your audio quickly!This is something which I do a fair amount of (mostly when editing the There is another way podcast that I produce every week, but also when working on film dialogue, editing interviews and cutting out selections when I and editing Samples for my sample libraries. I see the question come up quite a lot, but sometimes people aren’t sure of the term to use for this kind of edit. It also has different names in some applications. But think of it as the ripple edit, or delete gap.

Ripple Edit

This isn’t really useful for music production, because you want your audio to stay in the same position because it is in time, but could be useful if cutting out a whole section of a song across multiple tracks.Hope you find it as useful as I do!EnjoyPeaceNeil

Worldizing - breathing life into digital sounds and your music

Worldizing is a sound design term conceived by the great Walter Murch, but it is not limited to sound design, it can be used in your compositions. An easy and effective way to breathe life in your to digital sounds, to make them more organic. Give life to that plug in synth sound, fatten up those drums or guitar parts!Give it a try!!!For more in-depth information on maximising your practice time and finding your own voice on the instrument, check out my book Guitar Creativity - A new way of thinking http://spencerbruce.com/guitar-creati...…Follow me onTwitter http://twitter.com/lightb4soundFacebook https://www.facebook.com/SpencerBruce...Instragram https://instagram.com/lightb4sound/LinkedIn http://uk.linkedin.com/in/neilbrucePeace

NAMM 2017 Rumours

So it is that time of year again!! Doesn't come around so quickly there days?? The NAMM show in January 2017. is a time to start thinking and dreaming of what might be coming out in this year. It seems like quite a few companies like Korg, Supro and various pedal companies (to name the two that I have seen) have done pre-release press releases, so we already know what is coming. A bit of a shame, as I love the excitement.....but I a very excited about the Korg Gadget getting a desktop version!! Amazing!So what am I hoping for this year? Well, I think I am going to be disappointed (as always it would seem), but one can dream. TC Electronic (now part of Music group i.e Behringer) seem to only be concentrating on single stomp boxes now, which is a real shame. My other wish is for Spectrsonics to update Stylus RMX, but given keyscape only just came out I doubt that they will. NAMM used to be big for them, but they seem to have gone very quite of late.Like most years, (if you have read any of my blog previously), really I am only looking for a couple of companies to do a couple of things (which are actually pretty much the same from year to year!!!), so I am guessing there must be a gap in the market, and one thing in particular, the TC Electronic Nova System is right up there. Given by just how popular my review and videos on the unit are, it would seem I am not alone. So for the fifth year running, this is what I am  hoping for.But, otherwise here are my NAMM 2017 wishes1) (This is the big one!) A new Nova System from TC Electronic. Well to be honest, I love the Nova System, I have been gigging mine for over five years now, but there are a few omissions and small things that would make it totally perfect. These are, a filter section (Autowah, envelope filter perhaps, I would have these over the pitch if I had to), and improved tuner (insert a polytune please!!!) and perhaps another way to access patch v presets. I would also love for it to be Toneprintable, how incredible would it be to be able to download Toneprints to the Nova System. Oh okay maybe one more, to make it the most perfect object of all time, perhaps adding in a few basic amp models (Fender, Marshall, Vox perhaps?), so that it could be used direct into a PA or as a basic modeller. That would make it perfection!! Particular on the last point that the TC Halicon Voice Channel can do this, and Tech 21 have introduced this concept with the FlyRig, it would be perfect. But sadly I don't think it is coming.2)Love to see an update to the Ibanez RG Prestige range, perhaps a natural finish guitar??3)Spectrasonics?? Where are you???????….maybe some new libraries for Stylus RMX?  and how about the next generation of awesome software that we know you are capable of!!4)Logic 11? 2013 was the year of Logic X, I am very cautious with Apple at the moment and their (what feels to me) move away from supporting the creatives that carried them through the bad times. They are a phone company now and not a computer company, evidenced by their latest update to the Mac Mini, a total backward step IMHO.5) I also use Digital Performer 9 a fair amount and whilst it is great for audio and film stuff, I still prefer Logic for straight composition and song writing, probably because of the ability to work with looped regions. Maybe this will come to DP one day?6) A decent Marshall amp (we can dream!)7) Atomic Amplifire - actually you guys totally rock! I am loving my amplifier so maybe I don't need a replacement for the Nova System now. I am sure if you have something new it will blow us away!I would be very interested to hear what you are waiting for/hoping for.Maybe I'll get my book there next year ;)

A lifetime of guitar knowledge for only £6.95Take the next step with your playing...

Or Kindle version....

So what is on your list?

PeaceNeil

Spitfire Audio Albion V Tundra Review - First Impressions.

I have just downloaded Spitfire Audio's amazing Albion V Tundra library and thought I would do a very quick first impressions video!! The thing that got me hooked was how it was recorded (as they put it) "on the edge of silence". The orchestra all playing a soft and as quiet as they can using the inspiration of Scandinavian composers such as Arvo Pärt, Sibelius and Gorecki, the sounds I have heard on my first few hours with the instrument do really conjure up and evoke the cold, mystical tundra.I am so excited to have been able to get this library and it is very, very useful for the kind of music I write. I will be putting together a proper composed demo soon, but it in the meantime it is safe to say, I totally love it so far!EnjoyPeaceNeil

Steve Vai's Guitar Intervals Ear Training

Training the Ear

So, I thought today I would share an ear training method that I have borrowed from a lesson that I had with Steve Vai. I will put this out there first that there are so many good ways of practicing ear training and.....there are SO many good apps out there are well.

Personally, I recommend having a look at EarBeater (you can use it for free on the website) or download the app.

Visualisation : Auralisation

The best way to start with ear training is to start listening out for intervals, the relationship of one note to another and with each of these relationships for an octave (12 intervals) try and assign a aural ‘clue’ or a visualisation of something you can recognise as the interval from an existing song or theme.For example, a descending 5th is the interval of the first two notes of the Flintstones, an ascending b2 (and descending) is the theme from Jaws.

The link below is a list of intervals that I use to make these associations, you may not know some of these tunes or songs, and I would encourage to use your own if you ‘hear’ something more obvious to you.

Interval list.

Now you have an idea of what intervals sound like and hopefully have some strong associations with existing themes, you should be able to start naming intervals when you hear them.

Steve Vai ?

So where does Steve come in?

Well, Steve suggested a number of great methods for working on your ear, including singing the note before you play it, and singing harmonies to the lines you are playing. The one I am going to expand on here is using an existing recording of lots of intervals with them names after they are played, this should enable you to hear the interval, guess the interval and then get the confirmation of the interval.

He suggests recording a whole series of intervals, both ascending and descending and listening to them when you can.For those of us with busy lives, we could then listen to these recordings on the way to work or on the train or at the gym.

And as a BONUS for my loyal readers, I have recorded a series of ear training intervals for you to download for FREE here.

I hope you find them useful and enjoy this exercise and that it helps you with your ear training. Remember it is a continual learning experience!

Enjoy!

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I hope that you found this article useful and enjoy my blog, podcast and YouTube channel. I’m always happy to share my thoughts and to help others as much as I can and I will never charge for my blog content. Having said that, I truly appreciate when someone supports me in return for the time it takes to write articles, produce podcasts and videos, where I share my years of work and experience with you.

Here are some ways you can show your appreciation:

• sharing my content online.

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Peace

Neil

Focusrite Clarett 4 Pre Thunderbolt Review

Focusrite Clarett 4 Pre Thunderbolt Review

The Focusrite Clarett 4 Pre is a new range of Thunderbolt Interfaces continuing the 'Red' theme from their other firewire and usb interfaces (Scarlett and Sapphire!) and keeps up the tradition of red!I have been looking for a new interface for sometime now as I was a little unahppy with the Presonus Firestudio soundcard that I had. Now, please don't get me wrong this is a great little soundcard with some great features, plus the preamps don't sound that bad at all. But I personally had a no end of problems with the firewire implementation, and I put a large part of the blame down to Apple. Partly for firstly removing firewire 400 and then 800 connections from their machines and thus the only way to use this was soundcard with a MacBook Pro was via a series of hideous adaptors and connectors!I find this slightly ironic, given how much Apple pride themselves on function and looks as my laptop with a whole bunch of strange connectors and devices hang it off it looks pretty appauling. I should also add, that part of my quest for a new audio interface was because I didn't really like the gain staging on the Presonus. I found it was very hard to get the level controls just right with the level either being too quiet or distorting the source and the sweet spot was difficult to find.

Considerations

My considerations in the quest for a new sound card, first had me looking at the UAD Apollo Duo. Now this really looks like a fantastic device and I love the fact you can use UAD plugins with it and from what I read (and hear on line) the preamps are phenomenal! I was literally about to pull the plug (yes it was in the shopping basket), but I got a bit sidetracked with something out, and when I came back, the Focusrite Clarett 4 Pre had popped up into my radar.With the UAD, I was willing to overlook some of my requirements for more inputs and particular more outputs in favoure of the device due to it's functions and the plug-ins. But, when I read about the Clarett and my ears (eyes!) pricked up. I am a big Focusrite fan, I have had a number of their devices over the years (although lets not talk about the terrible original Saffire firewire soundcard that we had at work.....we managed to blow three of them up, and when we actually got them working they keep crashing! I have put that in the past, I am willing to forgive and forget!).On top of that, I have always really wanted (since working in MI retail in the early 90's and selling a whole bunch of them) the Red and Green series compressors and EQs. So this seems to have a good heritage.Take the next step in your guitar playing

Thunderbolt and Lightning

So what appealed to me?Well, first off, the 4 Mic Preamps, that is pretty cool for my home studio, as with the ADAT in, I can always connect another 8 channels, so that was a tick and a plus point over the UAD (the 4 pre amps inputs, not the ADAT which you can do on both). As much as I could work with 2 mics, I like the option of being able to have four, for example, when recording a vocalist and stereo mic'd acoustic, or for doing some strange multimicing techniques for sound design, which is something I like to do a lot of.So the Focusrite Clarett 4 Pre gives you a few easy options (so that is a tick). The next thing was the AIR option. The Air option models the ISA preamp in analogue domain by adjusting the input characteristics of the Clarett, again is a massive selling point. This does of course compare to the UAD which does something similar with it's preamp modelling on the input stage, and of course you can have a wider variety of preamps with the UAD, but I know the sound of the ISA and  like the sound if the ISA units (so another tick).Next up, two headphone outputs, so this is only a little thing but I wish more units had multiple headphone outputs, as this makes it so much easier in the smaller studio to set up two seperate mixs, and more importantly, working the same room with a performer, being able to hear what you wish and letting them hear what you want, without having to use up your outputs to create separate mixes! Okay, perhaps this is a case of two different ways to do the same thing, but I love the fact that there are two headphone sockets on the front and they have their own independent levels controls which also have easy access.

Focusrite control

Focusrite control is a nice little app bundled with the unit, which enables you to set up your own studio routing, it is a god send and really a necessity these days. Of course it is a requirement with this unit as you can't turn the AIR function on or switch the Inst/Line input for the first two channels without it. But this is a great and clear implementation of routing sets ups and it has a variety of options, which you can save which saves a lot of time if you might have different requirements for routing on different days.This takes me to my next point, I would liked to have had some of the options that the UAD Apollo Twin has, this being the way that there are buttons on the front panel to switch things on and off and to control say switching between Line and Inst. I would have also REALLY liked a Pad switch, a High pass filter and Phase switch on the panel (or EVEN in the software),The way the dials light up is very helpful, the Halo around the control is pretty awesome where green is good, orange oooh you better watch out, red, tooo late! Although a proper meter might be more precise.

Included plugins

With the Focusrite Clarett  range you get two plugins free from the Focurite Red range. So!!!! Whooo!!! Yes I finally own a Red Compressor! Kind of!!!I have to say that these are great additions to the package but in no way comparable to those on offer from UAD (in terms of different plugins that is not quality!). I think I will stick with the EQ's I have already, but the Red 2 Compressor is going to see a lot of use, it has such a smooth and transpartent character, which I remember from the hardware days. I am very happy with that inclusion.GainIn my first recordings I have had a few issues of setting the gain right, I didn't have the same problems with distortion as I did with the Presonus and it's very narrow window of the sweet spot. I just undercooked a couple of test recordings as I felt that I was WAY too far up the dial then where I should be for the sound source I was recording.But, I should have trusted my ears more than my eyes! I guess that is one issue I have with the Clarrett, the fact the input gain goes from 0-10, which isn't very helpful, I would have like it to have a dB scale and actually would have expected it.

Sounds

As always I say this with a caveat, that the SOUND of a unit is a very subjective area!Personally, I really like the sound of the Clarett. It is very transparent, clean and uncoloured. I think if you are looking for some form of 'character' preamp, then you might need to stick one in front of this, or use plugins. Which is fine totally with me!I like the purity of the sound and when you kick in the Air option, you get a very lovely HF crispness to the sound which isn't overly bright but more 'well founded'. I think I will probably leave this on most of the time for all of the brightest of sources. The output as well has a refinded quality to it, it is much more airy and open than my Presonus (as you would expect)I still would have loved many of the features from the UAD Apollo, but it seemed buying into the UAD ecosystem would mean a large investment in new plugins. I have a large collection of Waves plug-ins, which I do like and as I get older (or maybe more mature), I am actually trying to limit my plug in envy and limit myself to a few which I really love (and I kind of already have those!).I was hankering over the UAD EMT 140 plate, which sounds so nice, but then I was pointed in the direction of Valhalla DSP and wow!!!! I am in love with the Plate Plugin, it is fantastic, and it was only $50!!! Everyone should check this one out for sure! (NB. I don't work for the company or have any affiliation, I just appreciate good DSP work!)

Conclusion

[ctt title="Overall I am very happy with the Focusrite Clarett 4Pre" tweet="Focusrite Clarett 4Pre reviewed @lightb4sound http://bit.ly/1LAGi95 #musictech #review" coverup="hF6bf"]All in all, I am very happy with this unit and I am looking forward to doing many many hours of recording with it.....and I have already started on a few projects and I am very happy!Do I still have a crush on the UAD? Yes, but I think I would realistically have to have gone for the larger (and much more expensive) units to meet my needs.Does the Focusrite Clarett 4 Pre do everything I want? Pretty much and it leaves me cash to get a few more esoteric character plugins. I should also add, knowing my studio and the acoustic wherein, the limitations of this space mean that more cash spent on high-end equipment would have been slightly futile, as I dont have the best or most correct acoustic space to fully apprecaite the subtleties of the units and they would only stand to highlight the problems I have with my recording space.SO yes, this is well worth a look.BUT......the biggest bug bear was the lack of a Thunderbolt cable. Please watch my rant video about this. This isn't just a Focurite issue, it seems all manufacturers produdcing Thunderbolt products are doing the same. It is mostly an Apple thing, but if I have to buy a cable anyway, why not just stick one in a charge me for it. I have to pay anyway!No Thunderbolt Cable IncludedOkay, so the 'hippy zen me' rarely goes on a rant, but here is a little rant video I made about something which really bugged me. Why when you buy Thunderbolt products can't the producer supply an included cable. I know that Apple charge a premimun for these bloody cables, and that is Apple through and through. But seriously, include the cable and charge me for it, I am more happy with that, then getting a device and then having to wait another couple of days to use it while I wait for a cable to be delivered. It actually gives me a negative perception of your company. You could buy a whole bunch at cost and just charge me the same thing and bundle it. It is a good marketing thing! Okay rant over!!![gallery ids="4873,4872,4871"]Pros

• Sounds fantastic
• AIR is amazing
• Functionality and
• Very stable
• Low Latency
• Lovely controls
• Looks awesome in RED!

Cons

• Would have liked a few more outs (even two more!)
• No Pad switch, a High pass filter and Phase options, either in software or on panel.
• Don't like the 1-10 input level control, would have preferred dB level
• THUNDERBOLT CABLE NOT INCLUDED!!! (Watch my RANT video here)

Enjoy!PeaceNeil

Logic Pro X - Quick Tips - Marquee tool and fast editing

So here is the first in a series of Music Tech tutorials I am going to start doing now after a number of requests from you guys out there (and some of my students!). The first is about how to make Logic X behave a little bit more like Pro Tools or Digital Perfomer when it comes to editing using the much misunderstood and neglected Marquee Tool. Using this tool and changing the way you access it will speed up your editing in now time at all and enable you to do in one click what I know some people out there take about 2-4 to achieve.Let me know of any other aspects of Logic which would help you.EnjoyPeaceNeil