12 Days of Murder Demo 2018

Dear Grandpa - FREE Single Release

Dear Grandpa was one of the most difficult songs I have ever written.  The emotion and memories and all that.  This was done shortly after the death of my last remaining grandfather.  He had been ill for a long time but it was still a shock to get the news, as it always is.

On my mother’s side, my grandfather was someone I admired greatly growing up.  He knew about everything, built things, played drums (although I could never get him to play my kit), made me parts for my own drums when I had toy kits in the beginning and was someone I always wanted to be around.  On my father’s side, my grandfather was at work a lot of the time, where he preferred to be.  I spent very little time with him but he was a kind man with a loving heart.  We would go on day trips on the weekends sometimes but never an overnight.  In early years, he smoked cigars and I can still remember the smell.  They did not create the best aroma but there is a comfort in that memory just the same.

The rest of the story I will let the song tell.

On location filming Cult Cartel with MoviesMakingADifference (Check them out  they do truly fantastic things that affect people's lives in an amazing way!), I looked up between takes and saw these two clouds that were a perfect representation of the story.  So close but so far.  The same but very different.  I immediately connected them with the song and snapped a quick picture on my phone.  I had been planning on releasing the song already so this was just perfect.

Originally, the idea for the song was going to be licensing Return to Innocence by Enigma and putting the beat and chanting from the song as the background to me rapping  these letters to my grandfathers ala Eminem’s song Stan.  Not having the resources for that, I composed the music after playing around with some cello sounds.  I then did a demo version where I rapped but then changed it to a straight read.

I hope you enjoy it.  It may be an emotional connection for you or it may not.  Relationships are unique to each person.  Some people are raised by their grandparents and others never even meet them.  Both were very special to me in their own ways.

Exclusive release on CDBaby

Click to listen or download for free: Dear Grandpa

DEADLY CHRISTMAS - Dark Christmas Horror Tales | Creepy Dark Storytellin...

My Haunted Holidays: Deadly Christmas album is now being promoted by Horror Music World.  Check out their channel and send them some love.  And this video, of course :)

Carnival Music

Mental Sauna V: Maternity

Today marks the release of my newest album and fifth in the Mental Sauna series.

This album is geared toward pre-delivery through birth and after to help create a serene environment for parents and child. Try it on your birthing playlist!

Photo by Kelly Kincart
Model: Melissa Robin
Lettering: Rebecca Poole

Although it has a maternity focus, this music can also be used as all Mental Sauna music - relaxation, sleep, yoga, meditation and more.

Listen to samples on my Facebook Player:

1) What Do Babies Dream About?
2) It's All New
3) Toy Piano
4) Everything's A Pillow
5) The Long Slumber
6) Warm Glow in My Room
7) Play Mobile
8) Filled With Love
9) The Gentle Rattle
10) Fuzzy Blanket
11) Mother's Heartbeat
12) Music Box

Amazon

iTunes

Google Play

Please remember to leave reviews and ratings - so vital to artists these days!  Thank you and enjoy!!!

This is an update to my review of the Ozone series.  To see the initial review, please follow this link:

http://www.scorecastonline.com/2014/12/20/review-ozone-6-izotope/

One thing that I can tell you is that since I purchased Ozone 3, which now seems so basic by comparison, it is very rare for me to send any music out without running it through Ozone first.  Usually, if I do, it is more likely to be sound design or something for a quick demo.  Anything that is going to be final audio or an audition piece goes through Ozone first.  Period.  I work with Ozone and RX (another huge program for cleaning audio) nearly every single day in my studio and can’t imagine living without them.

As a side note, Ozone Elements can be a great way to get your feet wet in the world of mastering.  Personally, if you are serious about it, just go for the full version.  It is worth it in the long run. 

New Modules:

These modules have a different look than the others.  They have a crème and gray background that give them a warmer look and let you know immediately you are looking at screens different than what you are used to seeing, if you are a previous user.  You can still setup a chain of up to 6, including plugins not in Ozone.

Vintage EQ (Advanced Only) – Mid/Side or Stereo options as well as low and high boost and cut.  Individual settings are available for Low, Low Mid, Mid, High-Mid, High Boost and High Cut, giving you great dynamic control in shaping your master.

Vintage Tape – I am especially excited to see this addition as I use tape warmers quite a bit in my music, especially in my Mental Sauna series.  Input Drive, Bias (at either 15 or 30 ips) Harmonics and separate Low and High Emphasis settings (with graphic examples showing the extremes).

Vintage Compressor (Advanced Only) – Same view as Vintage Limiter.  Options for mid and side.  Detection Filter. 1) -40000 Hz and -400 Hz (Left and right only), 2) 800 Hz to 9000 Hz and -8 Db to +8 dB, 3) 4000 Hz to 12000 Hz and -8 Db to +8 dB.  Threshold 0 to -60 dB.  Ratio, Aspect and Release.  Modes include Sharp, Balanced and Smooth.  There is also a slider for Gain Make Up (manual or auto).

Vintage Limiter - This is very easy and simple to use with straight forward settings.  View the waveform in two different settings (upper left of screen) Choose between Analog, Tube or Modern.  Set your Floor and ceiling between -20db and 0db.  Decide how much character you want it to have (slow is 10, fast is 0). 

Additions to Previous Modules:

Main Interface (Advanced Only) – A button was added for Codecs where you can set the bit rate from 96 to 320 kps.  MP3, AAC.  Solo Codec Artifacts Preview.  This allows you to preview what your audio will sound like in different formats so you can prevent signal loss in your final.  Each type of coding can make different changes so it is extremely beneficial to be able to prevent that.

*** Make sure to bypass this in your final export ***

It also appears they have expended the export selection from just WAV to also include AIFF, MP3 and AAC.  You can also now add metadata to your track upon export.  That means I no longer have to go back into Sonar, open my track and export it again JUST to add the metadata.  Great, time saving addition.

Dynamics – Added an Adaptive Release mode.  This allows you to automate your release times, which gives you a lot more freedom and control over your sound.

Maximizer – IRC IV (Intelligent Release Control) has been added to the selections.  This has been designed to prevent distortion while allowing you to maximize your volume.  IRC I is the basic model.  It will work quickly with transients and slowly to bass sounds where IRC II focuses more on clarity.  IRC III would be great for EDM and anything that really pumps.  IRC IV builds on III but preserves the detail and less on transients.  Each of these have their own character so play around and see what each can do to your audio.  I don’t like to define things to specifically because it may limit creativity and experimentation.     

There are also additional stock presets to get you started.  These can be great for rush demos and various things but, personally, I find I use them as a foundation and make little tweaks and save as new presets.  Keep in mind that the majority of music I compose is for relaxation and I also do a lot of horror music so my settings and needs may be quite different from what others need.

Additional Notes:

Don’t think of these modules as limited to use in Ozone.  I have often used an EQ or a compressor on an individual track as well.  I can see adding Vintage tape to my master bus or even an individual track if it sounds too cold and digital.

Downside:

I would love to be able to expand this to full screen however, like many tools on our business the user is unable to change the size of the GUI.  I can understand if it causes issues with the performance but, otherwise it would be nice to be able to stretch or shrink it since people sue different resolutions based on their setups.  I don’t know the specifics with Ozone but it seems all the iZotope products I have work in the same manner.

Overall, there are some great additions and certainly a reason to upgrade from previous versions.  If you are stubborn and stayed on Ozone 3, don’t make the mistake I made.  Get the new version ASAP!

Tony & Tina’s Wedding 2018 - Las Vegas

At Bally’s Las Vegas inside Buca Di Beppo

Isn’t it funny that in my last Blog, I spoke about my dislike for audience interaction at a show and the very next show I attend is nothing but audience interaction?  This was completely different, though.  Instead of being brought on stage and being asked to do whatever crazy thing, this dinner show puts you in the family – which family depends on where your table is.  I sat right next to the bride’s mother, who could cut steel with her gaze.

For a small room, it certainly felt big as the entire wedding and reception was held there.  As usual, I don’t want to give the experience away but I will say that you could see this show 5 times in a row and have a completely different experience every time, which I love.  Total props to actors that can roll with whatever random thing may happen or an audience member says.  They do a great job with that!

There is a full dinner service and more props to the wait staff for finding ways to work around the show, which constantly moves around them.  I am sure that, over time, this process will become the norm for them and they will be even more efficient than they already are.

The downside is that there are, at times, multiple things happening and you don’t know what to pay attention to.  The reality of this at a wedding, however, was true to form.  You want to pay attention to everything and everyone but it isn’t possible.  Also, depending on where you are seated, you may have to readjust the angle of your chair or seating position, especially during dinner, because the show does not stop (nor should it). 

The challenge of blogging about a show is how much to reveal and I really have a goal of keeping things spoiler free.  If I seem like I lack a lot of detail or am vague, that is why.  This show is worth experiencing as it unfolds on the night you go.  Sit back and enjoy!

Open to the public Friday, June 15^th, 2018.  Remember dinner and dessert are built into the ticket price so be hungry – there is plenty of food.
Tickets:
https://www.caesars.com/ballys-las-vegas/shows/tony-n-tinas-wedding#.Wx9k19VKipo