Speaking Of Careers in Music… Recording Engineer, What’s That About?

Known as Recording Engineers, Sound Engineers or Audio Engineers… this is your desired title, and the “who’s you” of professions. Your on your way to becoming partly responsible for possibly some of the most explosive music in existence! Actually, you could be partly responsible for some of the most interesting commercials and/or movies also. (depending on what directions and opportunities you pursue)

So how does it work? Well before any recording is done, the producer, artists and YOU will discuss the “desired sound” of the recordings. This may be done to some extent before the project is started or may be specific to certain tracks after the project has begun.

Here’s what you’ll most likely be in for. (this is just an example of many) It’s 6:00… PM! You arrive at the studio and start setting up the equipment and instruments needed for the upcoming… 12 HOUR session! You’re 1 to 2 hours earlier then everyone else. It’s your job to have the studio ready for recording before the music artists and producer arrives.

Finally, the recording party arrives and recording begins. The engineer is responsible for working the track board, computers and other technologies to achieve the “desired sound” earlier discussed by the recording party. That’s basically what goes on during sessions.

In addition the engineer is responsible for mastering the recordings usually after the session is over. This is often overseen by the producer. Basically the engineer will “balance” the recordings to sound consistent to listening. To elaborate… often when recording, the artists may not sound exactly as you would hear when listening to a finished album. Sometimes the vocals may be a little louder then the music or visa versa. It’s the engineer’s job to smooth the recordings out. An engineer may also add certain sound effects to a project to reach the “desired sound”, sometimes an echo here or synthesized vocals there, etc. It’s the engineer’s job to polish the recordings to what ever extent. Finally, the engineer will break down the equipment and instruments when the session is over.

So how do you find yourself in the studio recording some of the biggest names in showbiz?

Nowadays it starts with schooling. You will need vast knowledge of computers and recording equipment. From there expect to be an intern or assistant engineer. Through time and experience you will be trusted to engineer on you own and obtain some of the most valuable connections in entertainment. Have Fun!

Now getting back to your computer, right now your cursor is blinking at the end of the words: careers in music recording engineer…

Hit Enter!

Dave Weston is a music industry entrepreneur, song writer and music artist affiliate. He is also the author of the Insider Music Careers Guide. You can learn more about music industry careers at http://www.music-career-guide.com

An Introduction to 8-string guitar

8-String guitar comes with eight strings. There are many variants of this musical instrument guitar, one maybe invented from Russia along with the 7-string guitar alternative in the 19th century. The musical instrument 8-string guitar has started gaining popularity very recently, notably among jazz artists such as Charlie Hunter, The Special Purpose, Richard Scott, and Terje Rypdal and other metal artists like Meshuggah, Korn guitarist James “Munky” Shaffer also had also been appeared with 8 string guitar during occasional live shows.

There are constantly increasing the number of online musical instrument store and musical instrument store offering 8 string guitars, and a production eight stings is been released during 2007 by Ibanez. Some of the other main manufacturing companies of 8 and also 9 strings guitars are Novax Guitars launched by Ralph Novak and Conklin Guitars.

Advantages of 8 string guitars:

• Full range of bass notes appears from A an octave lowers than the 5th guitar string, and up to the drop-D string.
• Latest 19-century model smaller scale and thin neck facilitates access to all 8 strings, for even Barres.
• It has the ability to play 10-string range of Mertz, and 7-string Coste range.
• It has the ability to play Baroque transcriptions at actual pitch.
• It plays Baroque 8-course lute pieces from originals.
• Play drop-D pieces with contact to the usual 6-string and drop-D fingerings.
• Low D and A quiver understandingly with 2 open strings.

This period balanced 8-string guitar shaped by Reis in about 1840 is a hard surviving example of the multi-bass guitars. It is designed after the well-known Viennese builder Anton Stauffer, as many Viennese builders copied the same Stauffer's design. Note that the additional 2 strings are not fretted and they are only the open string could be played. The headstock is a usual figure 8 shape, where the gathering for the 7th and 8th strings is interlocked.

The musical instrument 8 string variations can also be found in classical nylon strung instruments. They are usually tuned with two additional basses, which differ in pitch depending on the piece being played. Another general variation is to add an additional bass and treble string. The additional treble is almost forever tuned to A, while the added bass string generally falls on A, B, or C.

Different types of Guitar Amps

Once you have selected your guitar, you require finding an amp to go with it. Today there are various options available depending on size, sound, amplifier technology and configuration. We are here to give you some useful and necessary information that would steer you through the maze.

Various types of Amplifiers

There are basically four types of guitar amplifiers: Solid-state (analog), Tube, Modeling (digital), and Hybrids.

Solid-state Amps - These guitar amps are recognized solid-state as they use transistors for their preamp and for power sections as an alternative of tubes. They are extremely trustworthy and hardly ever require repairs. They normally have a very fresh tone, even though many come with "distortion" channels also. These amps are all the rage with players looking for a strong, dependable touring amp.

Tube Amps - Tube amps are favored by many guitarists for their tepid, fat tone and as well for the "organic" distortion. Tube amps are generally sound louder than solid-state amps of the same wattage and have an exact "feel", which you do not acquire from solid-state amps. Most tube amps have different channels, which could be switched from clean to distorted tones instantly. Tube performance could also be deteriorating over time, so tubes require changing occasionally.

Modeling Amps (Digital Amps) - Modeling amp uses digital processors to reproduce the sound of traditional and contemporary tube technology. Using software that "models" the sound of tube amplifiers (and cabinets); these amps put the sound of various amps in one box. Modeling amps are programmable, and frequently have fitted digital effects like delay, chorus, etc. Some as well comprise of digital or even for analog outputs with orator simulation for going direct in to a recording border or P A system.

Hybrid Amps - Combining the best of each kind of guitar amp into one package, these amps use a real tube in combination with the solid state power part of their amps. Marshall Valve state amps use tubes in the preamp part and solid state circuitry in the power section to make a tube tone with no necessity the use of power tubes.

Rocky is a Copywriter of www.gigasonic.com

He has written many articles in various topics.For more information visit:For more information visit:
www.gigasonic.com/alesis-hd24-recorder.html

Prophetic Music & The Arts

I believe that music and art is the language of God's heart and when we abide in Him, He communicates with our heart through music and song, revealing Himself to us and giving us revelations of His love and identity. In turn, we communicate to His heart our adoration and awe of who He is and all that is in Him. This is my definition of prophetic worship. As words connect with our minds, music connects with our heart. Music is able to convey a message which only our heart can understand. If our heart could speak, it would come out music. You can "feel" music and it provokes an emotional response. Through prophetic music and the arts, we are able to relate to His emotions, His pain and His love.
Prophetic music and art can capture the very heartbeat of God in a song, a tone, or a brush stroke, or even a splash of paint. We can experience prophetic revelations through many different styles of music and art as well. After all, God is the Master Creator. He creates through us and speaks to us through His vast and beautiful creation. God loves to communicate with us through prophetic music and art... Of course there are so many other ways in which the Lord will speak to us, but there is something about prophetic music and art that can communicate His love and carry us into the very heart of God Himself... the Oracle Flame.
The "Oracle" was the innermost sanctuary of the temple in the Old Testament where the glory of God resided. It is the inner nucleus of all that is Him and is now accessible through the conduit of His blood. This is the place in which we encounter the energy of God, which is His love. An "oracle" is also a revelation or a place of revelation. A place in which we experience the immensity and fervor of this love in it's many facets and expressions. Only here may we know Him. Only here may we be transformed into His likeness and reflect the light of His glory. Only here may we know true love. Only from this place may we truly love. Here we fall in love with Him again and become His Bride. Here we receive His authority, His power, His energy, the all-encompassing, eternal force of God... love.
In the Oracle there is a Flame. A massive, raging, roaring, violent, searing, all-consuming pillar of fire. This fire is His love. It is the source of all that is good. It is life, it is the very energy that sustains us. It was the creative force that caused the universe to be. It is His life-giving and death-crushing power, which heals and destroys. It is a balm and it is a weapon. It is the nucleus of life itself. The Lord wants to fan these flames of love upon us until we are completely consumed in it. Here we must abide. Here we must remain, never to leave. He is calling us to abide in the Flame, to live in the Flame and to become the Flame. To be flames of love in this dark age.
When we engage the Flame and immerse ourselves in His love, we will take on His nature, we will become like Him. We will become His intermediaries on the earth, just as a bride represents her husband. We will be His emissaries of love, directly channeling this life-giving energy into the hearts of those with whom we connect. This is the power which transforms entire communities, it is the power which heals our land, it is the power which can disarm the greatest of foes. It is not our knowledge or words or actions or faith alone which can do this, but love. Through His love, we receive His vast knowledge. His words will be on our tongue. We will act out of love and have the faith of a child. Our very existence will be love. Everything we do will be motivated by love. Love will be the source and root of all that we are, all that we say and all that we do.
We are called into the heart of God. He is inviting, enticing and drawing us into the realm of His holy presence. He has been softly whispering and gently persuading, and now He is persistently beckoning, adamantly warning, intently shouting and fiercely roaring. He is desperately crying out to us to come away with Him to the intimate love chamber of His heart. Will His Bride respond?
My heart is to see the Church return to the source, return to the Flame of their first love to become once again His true Bride on the earth. My vision is to see His Bride arise to her rightful place of authority beside her Lover in a perfect and death-defying union which will cause even the greatest of Hell's beasts to tremble in sheer terror. It will cause the entire world to stand in awe. It will cause angels to salute in respect. We have not known this kind of power because we have not known this kind of love. In His love we will have greater vision because we will see through His eyes. In His love we will have the courage to follow our dreams because we will be motivated by love. In His love, we will abandon all fear, we will know His truth, we will feel His emotions, we will speak His words. Our hearts will beat with His love. We will absorb His nature. We will be one with Him. We must abide in His love continually and let His flame consume us. We must get back to the Oracle Flame and here we must remain.
My purpose is to allow the heart of the Lord to communicate with His Bride through the spiritual conduit of music and art and to allow our hearts to communicate back to Him in worship. When this exchange takes place and we truly have a revelation of who He is, we will then have the authority to prophesy to the nations the mysteries of God and the wonders of His love. This prophetic worship is the key.
My vision is to facilitate a journey into the heart of God through prophetic worship, to express and declare His heart, passion, emotions and message to His Bride and to the nations of the world through a revelation of His love in the Oracle Flame.
The purpose of http://www.oracleflame.com is to encourage you in experiencing this revelation through the prophetic arts.
So sample the music, browse the art, explore the revelation vault or go connect with others of like mind in the blog or chat... and let the Master Creator speak to your heart and drench you in the flames of His love.

New Year's Eve: Is it the single biggest letdown of the year?

It’s the last week of the year and suddenly everybody you know is on this crazed mission to find a rocking party for New Year’s Eve. The big question you ask everybody you bump into is “What are you doing on New Year’s Eve”? and some of them has a perfectly planned out response – so as to not look like a loser – and some people just haven’t given the idea a second thought.

What is it about New Year’s Eve that gets everybody so worked up? No matter where in the world you are on the 31st of December, if you’re not “doing anything” you’re automatically classified as a loser. You spend all your energy chasing this surreal dream of a magical night. But what for?

A great party, gorgeous people and an international DJ..
A perfect way to spend New Year’s Eve entails a great party with gorgeous people and an international DJ playing the most amazing set. Sounds almost perfect on paper, just as long as it’s not superficial. Obviously there are people who are into those types of parties otherwise it wouldn’t be such a huge success, year after year after year. But if you’re not into that type of thing and you’re spending you’re week’s pay on a VIP all areas access pass just to show everybody that you were there, then who are you actually fooling?

Let’s face it, if you’re not into trance, dance and house beats there really is nothing for you to do on the most important night of the year. Or is there?

Here’s the deal..
The solution is simple. Instead of having that frantic, panicked grin on your face every time someone asks you what you are going to do on New Years Eve, throw the question right back at them. The only reason why they’re asking you is probably because they don’t know what they are going to be doing themselves. So why not invite him/her with you and your buddies, the more people the more interesting the party. And it doesn’t have to be a raucous, call-the-cops-to-put-the-music-off kind of party. The possibilities are endless and the sky’s the limit.

Make your own night to remember
Different people means different personalities and there is guaranteed at least one interesting person in the room, one person you have failed to get to know properly, one joker, one hot chic/guy who came with your friend from work, one person that knows how to work the grill and one person who knows someone that knows someone whose cousin has an empty house that night. Isn’t it also weird that you bump into all the people that you haven’t seen in like decades, just before New Year’s? So make the most of it. Invite them round too.

And even if you don’t have an empty house, go out to an arb place where all of you can just chill out and have fun (whatever that’s supposed to mean).

If you are going to be at one of those infamous parties that gets people talking about it for the next year, remember that it’s the people you spend it with that actually count. You don’t NEED to be at the trendiest hotspots or the most elite nightclubs to have a great time. It's the people you're with and the mindset you have that all form part of the makings of a great night.

About The Author:
MyMusicSearch.co.za is the South African music portal for music and music lifestyle in South Africa. Find everything you'll ever need to get fuelled on local talent, this one's for the fans.

Police Tickets Keep Fans Wrapped Around Their Finger

Legendary rock band, The Police are set to bring their crowd-pleasing performance to both Toronto and Montreal with two shows apiece in late July, before returning to the Air Canada Centre for a final Canadian date in November. There are plenty of ticket deals to be found, as amateur ticket speculators and professional ticket brokers from all over North America have flooded the secondary ticket market with various quantities of inventory, which they had purchased in hopes of turning a quick profit in the volatile and sometimes lucrative secondary market.

The Police Tour is arguably the most sought after ticket of the year with over 1,770,000 tickets sold to date, according to ThePolice.com. The 80抯 rock-trio kicked off their highly anticipated reunion tour last month with a three-night run in Vancouver, BC, initiating the start of a world tour with more than 70 performances currently scheduled.

With face value prices originally as high as $240 per ticket and two to three times that amount in the secondary market, it came as a pleasant surprise to fans in Vancouver, that come opening night, prices had dropped 200% from where they were when the tour was first announced. For their first official concert in 23 years, prices bottomed out to the point where tickets were sold for half of the face value, ($49-$89 each), as listed on ShowTimeTickets.com.

The world tour is scheduled to end early next year, following two North American legs, a European tour, and dates throughout Latin America, Japan, Australia and New Zealand. The last date of the European tour, October 19th at Cardiff抯 Millennium Stadium, sold out within an hour of going on sale, setting a record for the venue previously held at three hours by Oasis and the Foo Fighters in 2005, as reported by BBC News.

Remaining Canadian Dates:

Air Canada Centre - Toronto - July 22, 2007 - Tickets starting at $165

Air Canada Centre - Toronto - July 23, 2007 - Tickets starting at $165

Bell Centre - Montreal - July 25, 2007 - Tickets starting at $150

Bell Centre - Montreal - July 26, 2007 - Tickets starting at $75

Air Canada Centre - Toronto - Nov 8, 2007 - Tickets starting at $315

*All prices as of June 21st, 2007 on ShowTimeTickets.com

Alison Moyet The Turn CD Review (W14)

With so much fine music available today, do we really need a new album from 80's songstress Alison Moyet? Well, yes, actually we do - a new Alison Moyet album is always welcome to this reviewer's ears.

Alison's career went commercially south with the release of the Hoodoo album back in 1991, and she hasn't been able to recapture her former commercial success since. However, while Alison was hemorrhaging fans at an alarming rate, those who stuck by her were rewarded with some of the best music of her career; the aforementioned "Hoodoo", the brilliant "Essex" (1994) and the career-defining "Hometime" (2002). Quality control took a sharp decline with the release of her utterly forgettable album of covers, "Voice", in 2004.

Alison is back with her first album of original material in 5 years, "The Turn", which has been described by her label, W14, as being the album that "Alison Moyet was born to write and record." Fantastic for her - but is it any good?

Well, yes and no.

The album kicks off strongly with the cracking lead single 'One More Time', which acts as a brilliant warm up for the album's standout track 'Anytime at All' - a song of soaring beauty which showcases Alison's voice superbly. 'Can't Say It Like I mean It', 'The Sharpest Corner (Hollow), 'It's Not The Thing Henry' and 'A Guy Like You' are each trademark Alison Moyet, and are delivered with the passion that you would expect from one of the best female artists that England has ever produced.

The inclusion of the three songs from the play "Smaller", in which Alison starred alongside comic genius Dawn French, seems odd and unnecessary considering that these songs were heard more than 12 months ago; their placement on an album of new material smacks of filler rather than killer. 'Fire' is one of the weakest songs on the album and Alison seems to have forgotten to write a chorus for it.

Overall it's a strong collection of songs, and is a marked improvement over Voice, but you can't help feeling that it's all been done and heard before. Perhaps it's time for Alison to bring something new to the table to keep her remaining fans happy.

3 out of 5.

To learn more about Alison Moyet or The Turn, visit the Alison Moyet Forum.

This review may be republished in unedited form.