Monday July 21

As mentioned here sometime last month, I played solo Jill and Tom Wear's wedding a few weeks ago and forgot that this picture was taken just before the ceremony: 

Seeing this photo reminds me of my 'yellow' phase during SGC and Roadshow shows in 1999 and 2000.  Does anyone besides me miss those fashion-challenged days?

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Mail today from DavidS forwarded from RF regarding potential use of an ironically twisted quote from "Exposure" -- RF feels it would be inappropriate, and he is correct. 

Voice manipulation in audio editing tools is so easy today.   However, despite the irony-value of the original inspiration for the beginning of the instrumental piece "BootlegTV, an even better solution has arisen in the flames of the rejected quote:  I'm going to approach the Vicar about doing a voice over.  His voice also carries a certain irony and still builds on the 1980 Exposure original. 

How even more appropriate.

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Tuesday July 22

Some time has now passed since the weekend Mastering marathon.  Sharing some results with TravisM to get a read on whether this approach is working.   Consensus: it's better than it was, but it's still not quite there.

The dilemma now: where to draw the line?  This will take some consideration and creativity.  Need to keep listening and open my ears to alternative solutions. 

One obvious issue: the mastering only ever amplifies (or squashes) what is already in the mixes.  In this case, the mixes were mixed on my system as if they were the finished product.

One other not so obvious issue: my studio has a lot of ambient background noise: PCs in the closet, white noise from Seattle, misc background noise from my building. 

And another: my 'near field' monitors are about 2 feet further back than they should be for critical 'sweet spot' listening.  

All of these have led to unmastered tracks that sound good (to my ears) in my studio, sound fine while driving amidst background noise in my car, and sound too bright to average ears in very quiet listening environment.

Mastering (not to mention mixing, arranging, orchestrating) are very subjective.  The good news in this: I know what I am after in both sound quality and tone. 

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Half the battle in making art (whether music, painting, photography, writing) is knowing (or discovering) what you like.  The other half of the battle is in 'showing up ' -- that is getting off your duff and working on it every day. 

If these two elements are active, the rest takes care of itself.

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Wednesday July 23

Listened to some of my favorite CDs today to get a sense of how the recent masters hold up against known great CDs:

The Story, Angel in the House
Peter Gabriel, So
David Sylvian, Dead Bees
Sheryl Crow, the Globe Sessions
Tori Amos, Boys for Pele

These CDs sound great in a boombox or in an expensive sound system.  The vocals are crisp, clear, and way up front.  The background instrumentation is clean and each instrument is woven into a coherent image.  Interesting how little like "being in a room with live musicians" any of these CDs really sound.

Observation: I'm not interested in 'audio verite'  -- I'm nore interested in 'emotional verite.'  It's a bit like my recent 'Drawing of the Day" project that has evolved into the cover artwork fot the Box Set - I'm not after realism - I'm interested in telling a high-contrast story in a language that is extra-ordinary, larger (and more colorful) than mundane day to day, just-doing-my-job life.  

And now, back to listening to the recent masters..Hmmm... I'm not very happy.  So, what to do?

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Thursday July 24


Julie, John, SB from their recent visit to Seattle.

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Congratulations to Martin and Cecilia and Balthasar Schwutke for the birth of Béla Sebastian Schwutke! 

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Friday July 25

The Vicar has said "yes" to the request for a voice over for the beginning of BootlegTV.   "Disadvantage --> advantage" in action again.  

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Some good exchanges with and Travis about the ongoing mastering conundrum.  The bright side: I've learned a great deal in the process.  The dark side: it is clear there is some work that I must not do to recalibrate and DIM (do it myself.)    Translation:  I'm going to re-mix some of the pieces that have some sibilance and EQ issues.   This means, once again, another production delay.

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Saturday July 26

Noises flying around in email about a potential GC course in Seattle next year.  Yes, it's about time.  The Atlanta L3 is happening because RobR made the space (and by extension) the course happen. 

After nearly 17 years of watching and making GC courses happen all over the globe, it always comes down to this: one person delivers a space and the rest falls into place.  it is not magic, or rocket science, or even difficult.  It just takes one person with the will and the means to make it happen.

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SBRS duo at Pitcairn Scott Gallery this evening.  A great crowd including John and Cloe and many friends.   A strong show and a strong show of support. 

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Sunday July 27

Off.

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home

Monday July 28


Interesting article about Seattle's Hugo House in the local paper this week. 

http://www.thestranger.com/current/feature.html 

Interesting parallels to Seattle Circle struggles. 

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Seattle Circle open board meeting this evening to discuss what to do with HQ.   A good turn out and a somewhat surprising turn of events.  Looks like we may be letting go to make room for an unknown, but potentially better, future.

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Tuesday July 29

This in from an email exchange with David LaVallee:

VALOX thermoplastic polyester resins are semi-crystalline materials based on polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) polymers. The product line includes many performance-matched grades, each designed to provide a unique property profile. Grades range from 100% unmodified PBT resins to combinations of glass-fiber reinforced, mineral filled, mineral/glass reinforced and flame resistant grades.

Can you say "Herdim replacement" ?  Sure,... I knew you could.

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Wednesday July 30

Mail from RF today expressing support for the "Plague of Crafty Guitarists" compilation project.  Green light.   Amy is in NYC meeting with David Sylvian so next steps are postponed until next week.  DS new CD is really nice btw.   Buy it here.

Also, mail sent from Joel today to the SC community about decision to let HQ go so that we may discover a better future.  Diplomacy and effective action wafting nicely from our new president.

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Thursday July 31

Communications about the "Plague" compilations on hold for now because Amy is in NYC meeting with David Sylvian...  Ah, priorities, priorities.

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Friday August 01

Confirmation and logistics for the upcoming "Feast of Fields" event on Whidbey Island. 

Also new SC board members are in place and ready to roll for a new year of increased potential hiding within short term uncertainties.

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Saturday August 02

Mastering struggles.

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Sunday August 03

More mastering struggles. 

End of this process: where are you?

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