From oldzuto@yahoo.com Fri Sep 28 07:39:18 2007
Subject:Re: OT-OT-NEW MUSIC-avoid if uninterested!

Norm,
Thanks for asking...and I've got a lot of cover and orginal material recorded, but I have no myspace setup...hopefully soon.
I'm working with three groups now. Passage, the classic rock cover band, is still gigging a lot but does no original stuff and is getting kinda boring, so I formed a duo that still is a cover band but has been a great help in teaching me how to record music. In my studio (ya right...it's my basement!) I record all the tracks of a cover song and leave out the main vocal track and one keyboard part. The only thing I have used some help with are the drum tracks. No matter how good you get a programing a drum machine, or playing drums on a midi drum pad, there sometimes is no way to replace a real drum track. I have learned so much about recording techniques just from trial and error. It is a lot of fun!
I think you said you are using a Yamaha DAW, right? I started off with one of those and moved to Adobe Audition and it is WAY BETTER. For those who are familiar with this world (most use Pro Tools) this is old news, but if you ever want to get going with this platform call me and we can discuss details.
As to original tunes, I've been recording some of my own as well as many from another guy who I've performed with in his classic rock cover band a few times this summer when he had festival gigs and wanted a keyboard player. At his gigs he usually performs a couple of his originals and he gave me a copy of them on a CD and asked me to learn them. I learned as well as ripped them into Audition and added a dozen new tracks (vocals, keys, strings, synths, etc.) and gave it back to him. He was blown away by how they sounded and asked me to work with him on recording all his work. We should have his CDs done soon (working on 30 tunes!). This guy writes great music.
I'm mostly using either my Muse (B4II, Ivory, Elektrik Piano, Minimonsta, Pro53) or my Motif ES rack. Some of the EPs are from my Nord Electro.
Nuff said, again thanks for asking, mostly I'm having a blast being creative!
And keep playing those guitar licks. I played you Santana copy for a guitar player friend and he was very impressed.
Bob

Norman Peterson wrote:
Wow thanx all you guys for the nice responses!
A few questions people asked;
No I did not score it and write it out! Too much Work! I just play by ear
mostly and as I stated I played in cover bands for a living since 1973 so
it is just another song. I did all the early Santana songs back in the 70's
on Hammond so it's just another tune. I had my iPod running through my mixer
as I was recording it and going phrase by phrase. I think that is why the
"guitar" playing was a little sterile as I was trying to get the notes right
instead of playing emotionaly. I am going to redo the "guitar" part and put
this song on the CD. The organ part I am redoing as well as the EQ ain't
right. A little pointer about recording that type of organ part is to put a
semi-long delay on it. It makes the "leslie" sim (or a real spinner) sound
cool. I am liking that effect. I am new at recording at home so I am
learning as I go.
As to "too much time on my hands"
No I work 40+ hrs. a week with my wife running a golf course, we have a farm
with 8 horses, 5 dogs including 3 Corgi puppies and 5 cats. My wife gives me
big "honeydo" lists.I need more spare time! I am only gigging 1-2 times a
month and I don't watch a lot of TV and I don't hang out in bars so I just
go to my room with a couple glasses of good red wine and jam!
As to the Motif patch I am using for guitar:
On that song I amusing "65 Combo" . On "Saratoga Passage" I use "Tex
Boogie". I have a Motif "Classic" rackmount not an ES.
And to Bo;
Jimmy (my guitarist partner) is too busy to rehearse or record much with me
so I do it all myself. He'll wanna learn this one though. Carlos pretty much
"rules"!
Anyway great to have an audience of peers that I respect. My wife just goes
"Oh yeah, that's great" and shuts my door!! LOL ! She's the business person
and I am the artsy guy.
So thanx everyone and enuf about me already, let's check out Tony's Catch 22
at www.myspace.com/tonyorant
Bob Manzitti, ya got anything from your duo??
Norm