Bilbo

Just got its first review on Amazon. Pretty fair, I'd say.

My button appears to be broken......

If you want jazz, go for Geoff Gascoyne.

Actually, that is genuinely disturbing.......

Vote for MEEEEE!

Wow. And I didn't even vote for me

I just re-discovered the Lojac Music section on Dave Holland's website and become aware that his charts (lead sheets, quintet and band arrangements) and transcribed solos are available for download. The charts cost a couple of dollars apiece but still represent fantastic value for money. I have just downloaded three (the first of many). I always meant to get them but the previous ordering process put me off. This new method is immediate and very cheap. Great study material for players and composers alike. Go to www.daveholland.com and click on the Lojac music logo

Only 6 entries? Disappointing.

Music is just an interesting way to join up silences -Mick Goodrick

I am struggling to get more than one vst to start at a time. I press play and one midi track starts but a second one doesn't start until I click on it. Any ideas?

Thanks to the wonders of Spotify, I have just heard Sheik Yerbouti for the first time. Interesting but a bit like using nanotechnology to create artificial dog poo.

Morrison's original was all at sea....

I can see how that would work.

[quote name='lowdown' timestamp='1358786672' post='1944977'] Bounce/render the MIDI tracks down to Audio [If you are happy with the notes] It then takes a big load of your CPU - You are then free to add more FX's and the MIDI tracks won't misbehave. Nice track by the way, it builds well. Garry [/quote] How do I make that work turning a midi track into an audio one, Garry?

I propose that composition is a mixture of heart AND head. The ideas germinate emotionally but the process of development is partly inspiration and partly good old-fashioned graft.

I too have started writing with Sibelius and letting my ears lead me rather than my 'intellect'. It has resulted in interesting melodies and bass lines but the harmony is weak.

The Art of Composition Like many of us, I have taken part in the monthly composition competition under the ‘Recording’ forum and enjoyed the various approaches we all have to the problem of composing to images. I have learned and continue to learn a lot in the process. One of the things that I find frustrating about a lot of the entries (including and especially my own) is the over reliance on riffs and repetition, two chord vamps (usually a whole tone apart) or ‘classic’ forms such as blues etc. We all seem able to work quite effectively with these ‘simple’ structures. Personally, I am frustrated by my own inability to integrate complex structures like sophisticated chord sequences or interesting rhythmic ideas into my composing. I keep trying but I can’t seem to break out of simple little boxes. I wonder how many of us [i]choose[/i] to use these simple ideas and how many of us do so because we can’t find ways to move away from them? I consider myself to be the latter. I also wonder how much of it is less about what we can compose as it is about what we can actually [i]play[/i]. Most of us are playing all of the instruments on each recording so are confined by our ability to play second and third instruments, to sing in tune or to the availability of decent midi kit. I can’t complain in that are as any shortcomings in my recording is about my limited experience in the studio and with midi in particular but, as I said, are we frustrated because we need to get things played by proper players instead of by ham-fisted bass players like me. I can play ‘Lush Life’ and get around similar mad chord sequences (except Giant Steps) but I do struggle to create anything that is as deep or as beautiful as the stuff I love to listen to. I guess it is a case of valuing what we can and do create rather than regretting what we can’t but I would love to get into composing more sophisticated material. What does everyone else think about the Art of Composing?

Just taken delivery of my first three cables from Dave (2 instrument and one mic). They even smell good! Good comms and quick and efficient service as so often and consistently reported here.

I did a gig with my own trio last Sunday. What is more, the gig featured 16 of my tunes and only 2 standards. I have enough material to not any but some of my stuff needs rehearsing and is too hard to read cold. We ripped the material apart in the playing, which is how I like it, but I have to admit, I am feeling a bit sore now Oh and I debuted my new Acoustic Image set up. Early days but very promising.

Its my Vsts, Mike. They are slippery little suckers

Good outcome for me this month. I have, for a long time, struggled with mixing midi as it kept missing bits out. But I know why now so made progress! May remix mine in light of this new knowledge as there is a layer missing!

I would bridge it with one finger and work on the intonation