=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- APPLE II MUSIC & SOUND FORUM CONFERENCE LOG April 10, 1991 10 PM ET Topic: Starting Your Own Band Forum Leader: Joyce Madden (AFL JoyceM), Forum Assistant: Gene Koh (AFA Gene) Forum Consultants: Greg Dib (ELECTMUSIC), Ed Rosenblatt (AFC Eddie), Lindsay Hough (LindsayGS) Copyright (c) 1991 America Online All Rights Reserved =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- AFC Eddie Tonite's topic is bands, bands, bands - how to start 'em, what you need. Mako Cool.... AFC Eddie Leading our discussion will be the great band man: AFA Gene!!! Mako I'm starting one... So this is a big help. AFC Eddie Tell me about it, Mako. Mako Well, me and 4 of my friends are starting a band. AFC Eddie What kind of music will you be doing? Mako We have three guitarists/keyborders and a trumpeter/saxophoner\. We do rock... and Jazzy stuff... We need 2 things: songs and a drummer AFC Eddie Sounds like fun! Any originals? Mako NOt yet...I'm workin' on a bass line now. AFC Eddie Is that all? Mako We use Soundsmith as our drummer. It can keep a good beat :) Mako So far, eddie. BTW.. we don't play music like the guy in Q.Leap is. AFC Eddie Will any of you be using MIDI? Mako I will.... So will the other keyboarders. AFC Eddie Great! AFC Eddie Gene, Mako was just telling us about a new band he's forming. AFL Marty Are you in a band Gene? AFA Gene Really? sounds interesting... Yep marty. AFC SteveB I become Overhead after the 18th :) AFA Gene Well, Mako, considering that you're the only subscriber here, we can do away with the formalities and concentrate on your questions. More bang for the buck! AFA Gene Eddie tells me you have just formed a band? Mako Yep. No name yet. Any ideas? AFA Gene what inst do you play? Mako Guitar, keyboard. AFA Gene re the name: well, what types of music do you play? Mako Harmonica, and violin, too. AFA Gene Sounds like an interesting combo :) Mako We play rock and Jazz.... AFC Eddie Where's the band located, Mako? Mako Long Beach Island, New Jersey AFA Gene well, first impressions are very important, and the name is what gives the first impression, so try to think of something that fits your style and your music best. I know, you've probably heard that b4 AFC Eddie Yeah, Mako, how about smirk? Mako :) LOL! Mako ::scribbling it down anyway:: AFA Gene okay, so how about we come up with a name for mako's band everyone! what possibilities have you thought of, mako? AFC Eddie Tell us more about the music you play, and we'll try. Mako Have any of you heard Take It or Two Four Three Four? (SS Songs) AFC Eddie Yes. Mako Our music is sort of like that. AFC Eddie OK, how about Blaise? AFC Eddie Just kidding! Mako blaise? AFA Gene how about Take It as a name? Mako :scribbling it down: AFC Eddie How about four-four! Pun on time signature! AFC SteveB LOL! I like it! :) AFL Marty How about Optime. It's Latin... means "the absolute best" But also plays on the word "time" ELECTMUSIC Or "Common Time" Mako I know a better way y'all can help! AFC SteveB How about II- Productive? ;) ;) AFA Gene Sounds like a good name for a software company. nice software ring to it :) ELECTMUSIC Write a song called "Fanfare for the Common Time" AFC Eddie How else can we help, Mako? Mako How about Radioactive Waste Mutants from Atlantic Ocean Sludge! You can help by writing me some songs!! AFC Eddie How about Gamma! AFC Eddie I'll write for you. AFA Gene Well, Radioactive Waste Mutants by itself sounds very cool. R.W.M.! Mako Bula! I'm not the only loser here. Thanx eddie!!! AFC Eddie You're the big winner, Mako! Mako Winner?!? AFC Eddie Look at all the attention you're getting here! AFC Eddie What kind of equipment does Gamma have? Mako :o good point. gamma? or R.W.M.? AFC Eddie Just using it for discussion purposes, of course! ELECTMUSIC Question about balance... why is it that most live band can never achieve the kinda of balance between vocals and instrumnets that are usually achieved in the studio? AFA Gene Because of extensive studio overdubbing on the original album that "perfects" the sound. AFC Eddie Agreed. Mako We have synthesizers, trumpet, sax, elec. guitar, aco. guitar, and Soundsmith Bula Man Oh ya'! I gotta' question! :) AFA Gene and SoundSmith? Mako Yep. AFA Gene GA bula whenver you're ready AFA Gene Do you actually play WITH soundsmith or just use it for material? ELECTMUSIC Gene, It appears to me, that the mix down live, need to TURN DOWN the mix on the instruments in order to BRING OUT the vocals Mako And SynthLab, Music Stuio, Audio Zap, and Music Construction Set. Gene- drums with Soundsmith. The rest we play. AFC Eddie How about Mastertracks, the one you might really use for performance! Bula Man Do you know what kinda' sound chip the GS uses?? ELECTMUSIC Most Young rock group never do that Bula Man I heard it's one of the best around... Is it true?!?! Mako Good Idea. AFA Gene interesting, mako! never heard of a band that plays with soundsmith b4! novel idea! ELECTMUSIC The Big guys have the $ to invest in great sound systems that can bring out the vocals. Mako thanx. AFA Gene Yep, Bula, it's an Ensoniq (forgot the model #) sampling synthesizer. The best you can get built into any computer. AFC Eddie Ensoniq 5033, and it is great, Bula. Mako How 'bout IBMs Roland Mt-32....that kicks... ELECTMUSIC The beginners want the LOUD sound, but in the process sacrifice the vocals Bula Man What do the sound boards have that make them enhance the sound?? AFC Eddie The MT-32 is not a computer chip, but a separate module that you can use with any computer. ELECTMUSIC I have heard some very good quality voices, totally drowned out by the instruments AFA Gene Do you have any particular groups in mind, greg? ELECTMUSIC And what about vocal harmony.... AFC SteveB The GS is _the_ best sound machine :) Mako Does anyone else want to write songs for Gamma/ R.W.M.? Bula Man I think so too! :) DouglasT6 The MT-32 is only 12-bit resolution... I would get a Korg M3r or Kawai K4r ELECTMUSIC In my Rock group days... we spent HOURS going over the Beatles 3 part Harmony AFL Marty I think the sound cards you're talking about... are those that provide stereo sound, Bula. AFC Eddie Vocal harmony is the thing that separates the men from the boys in bands. Bula Man Yep! ELECTMUSIC WOW, talk about musical excitement, listening to and matching the vocal parts DouglasT6 The GS does have the BEST built-in sound! Bula Man I do mean that. ELECTMUSIC was truly awesome (to coin a phrase) Mako Does anyone else want to write for Gamma/R.W.M.?? AFA Gene greg: then transcribing them into a sequencer :) AFL Marty They're not really enhancing the sound (IMHO)... they're just making the stereo that's already there available. (Why Apple didn't do it in the first place is a mystery to me.) Mako BTW<--I'm lead singer. Anyone else? ELECTMUSIC Today, most groups will use a lead singer and thats the extent of the vocals Mako Is anyone logging this? ELECTMUSIC Usually that lead singer is overpowered by the instruments, as well AFC Eddie Yes. AFA Gene neh, I'm taken already :) AFC Eddie This chat will be made available for download. Mako I dont think you need to upload it. Major disk waste. AFC Eddie This is a good chat! AFC SteveB I agree! :) Bula Man So, to get real stereo, you need a sound board? I just plugged some into the earphone port on the back... AFA Gene lol, mako! tis true but that policy is up to each individual FL. Mako Steve, Marty you guys wanna write for RWM/Gamma ELECTMUSIC In conclusion... I would like to see more emphasis placed on the vocals, by todays live bands# DouglasT6 Any know if Passport is still doing GS development? AFL Marty I don't know how to write music, Mako. AFC Eddie I agree completely, Greg. 100% AFA Gene Are there any bands that I might have heard of, greg, that suffer from this? AFC SteveB I don't believe so, Doug. AFL Marty I believe that's true, Bula. AFC Eddie The answer is no, Doug. ELECTMUSIC That would be accomplished by carefully mixing the instruments and vocals as well as the inclusion of more harmonic vocal parts AFC Eddie But Greg, part of the answer has to do with the type of music that is popular right now. ELECTMUSIC Eddie... what one style of music is popular, right now? AFC Eddie A style which, unfortunately, does not call for multi-part vocals. Due in part to the fact that it's hard to do, and can't be achieved with technology alone. You need people who can sing. All the samples and sequences in the world can't help with that! Bula Man I gotta' another question! What is MIDI used for? Input from instruments?? Like a Elec. Keyboard? AFC Eddie Yes, Bula, or other instruments. Bula Man Ahhh! :) DouglasT6 I can do "multi-part" vocals with my SPX-90 (harmonizer)... ELECTMUSIC Maybe I missing the point in today's music, but it seems the popular music is kinda looking for a clearer direction as far as musical style is concerned AFA Gene Greg, you should hear "Eyes of a Stranger" by Queensryche for some cool vocal harmony! :) (even though it's all done in parallel motion :( ) AFA Gene got any questions we can help ya with, doug? ELECTMUSIC Gene, I always trust your musical judgement DouglasT6 I guess not... I am a music engineering major after all... I have come to the conclusion that I can't do without a Mac for prof. work.. ELECTMUSIC I also see similiar sentiments from my students. When a group comes out, and really does some interesting musical work they recognize it. I guess when there's alot of garbage around, its somewhat easy to recognize something interesting AFA Gene well, if you mean in the studio, i'd have to agree, doug. MTV and image are much more important than the music in today's world. It's sad but true. DouglasT6 Yes... I can still use the GS a synth module in my studio with Synthlab :-) AFC Eddie I think you're right, Greg. AFA Gene yep doug, even in the studio the gs is great to do quick experimenting on. True greg AFA Gene As far as pop music goes, though, MTV controls what becomes popular and what does not. 100%. AFC Eddie It's replaced radio. Unfortunately. For new music. AFA Gene yep, for directing the market, at least. radio is still very popular but they play only what MTV plays. AFC Eddie I agree with what you said about vocals before. ELECTMUSIC I hear such great vocal work from the students in school, its ashame that it all gets lost when they get to the electronics AFC Eddie My old band was very big on 2 and 3 part vocals, but that was because we did 50s and 60s stuff. Today's stuff doesn't lend itself as well. ELECTMUSIC Its as if, no one knows any better AFC Eddie It's reliance on the machine. AFC Eddie The easy short term way out. AFC Eddie Like our whole society, I think. AFC Eddie Sorry, didn't mean to wax philosophical. ELECTMUSIC Yea... I guess thats a good analogy AFC Eddie --------------------Log Off------------------#