Sampling Day

Hi there,

Spent today going through some of my many Akai S1000 sample disks that I have accumulated
over the years of recording and have converted the more quirky ones into EXS 24 instruments within Logic Pro 9.
What could have been an arduous task was made very simple thanks to Logic.
I still have hundreds of disks to go through...but I am not at all daunted by the prospect!
Thank you Logic!

A New Year Studio Update etc

Oh dear...It's been too long since my last entry!!!

What's been happening?
Well..Firstly, I've updated (or migrated) from Cubase to Logic Pro 9.
Why? I hear you cry....well I needed to make use of more ram and my Cubase is an old program.
Would only run in 32-bit, and thus I was limited to 3 or 4 Gig of ram.

However, the desire to update things created a dilemma..how could I access more ram and still use my beloved Tascam 1884?  The Tascam only runs in 32-bit as Tascam in their wisdom decided not to develop 64-bit drivers for Mac! :(

Enter Logic Pro 9.....which runs in 64-bit on a 32-bit operating system, thus giving me all of my ram,
whilst still allowing me to use the Tascam!
Hip-Hip Hoorah!

BTW..I don't like the look of Cubase 7 which has just been released, and probably wouldn't solve my problems anyway.

Next will be another Mac Pro (our third) to run Vienna Ensemble Pro and ProTools 10, or 11 when it's released.

Technology is forever moving forward!

Bye for now!
P.

New Video Showreel

Working with Clareboots today, editing video clips to add to my showreel on Youtube.
Will be making the showreel client-based, so will be available as a Private Video on Youtube.
Anybody wishing to view must contact me for a link and password.

Comparing Advertiser's Brief with Aired Adverts!

Two TV Adverts that I pitched for have recently appeared on British TV.
I won't name them...but it's very interesting in comparing the Agencies "Brief" with the final music
chosen for the advert.
One  was an orchestral piece, loosely based on Grieg's "In the Hall of the Mountain King" and I did quite an in-depth analysis of this classic piece of music and produced what I thought was a suitable tune and arrangement (all within a 30 second length!) that I thought also fitted the brief.
After feedback from the agency, I did two subsequent versions of the tune.

When I saw the final chosen piece of music on TV..... the client had chosen quite a boring un-memorable piece that barely touched on the brief!!!!


The other ad...which features a very well known actress.... ended up using a newish version of a very old tune!

C'est La Vie I suppose.

Until next time..

Touching Base

Had lovely phone call today from a composer friend of mine Steve Wright that I haven't spoken to for many, many years!
He has been very busy composing for the BBC, (His music for chef Raymond Blanc's series was fab!) but finally had a few free moments to chat with yours truly. Time flies by when you are chatting about old friends, music and technology!
Hopefully we might collaborate on some sort of project in the near future, as he is a great guitarist as well as being a great composer and I'm sure we would have fun!
On top of that he's a top bloke too!

Pitching for TV

It's been a while since my last blog (not that anyone reads them anyway?)

Just been pitching for a new national TV Ad campaign, courtesy of one of my London agents.
Full orchestral piece that was great fun to do initially..but the more one adapts to feedback and presents second or third drafts..the harder it becomes and time constraints mean that you don't get very long to sort it out!
Anyway..the pitch is now with the agents and the rest is up to them, hopefully the music fits their brief and now awaiting feedback from the clients!

BTW  if you are reading this, why not become my first follower or drop me a line to my email address?
Cheers for now!

Music Cue used in Film

Good news today....just had one of my cues bought to feature as main theme in a film!
Can't retire on the proceeds....but it's a start!