Some New Gear... and free software

I wish these were in my forever being renovated studio. (I really pray it gets finished soon).

Anyway, as promised, I shall not fill my blog with every story that happens to my life but also make it a resource for anyone into electronic music. I'll also post some thoughts after every write up I make 

And I'm off...

Yamaha just released their latest gadget, the Tenori-on Orange. This is an affordable version of the original. Slashing off 200 brit pounds (roughly), it aims to be more within reach for people who are very much into the music making concept behind the original. To cut costs of production, Yamaha removed the battery panel, the back part of the original which also lit up, as well as changed the material to plastic from the original magnesium. It's slated for release just in time for Christmas. 

- I've always wanted the original Tenori-on. It's just so expensive and with the way I make music, I know it's going to be more toy (to me) than actual tool. That's one reason I can hold off from getting it haha the main attraction for me is the lights and its potential for live use. Oh well...

Novation Launchpad's been around online creating its own buzz as the counterpart to Akai's APC. But this time, it has finally hit stores! The launchpad is built behind the workflow of the typical ableton user particularly those who work in session view or the "live" view. Like the APC, it has controls for mostly all of the parameters that are in front of you in your usual Ableton Live session. However, the big difference is with the APC having everything in front of you, the LP requires some page switching for certain parameters like Volume, panning, etc. Another big difference, which will definitely attract users is that the LP is half the price of the APC. The LP also is powered direct by USB unlike the APC which requires AC power. One nice thing about the LP is that it has more pads unlike the APC. It would be nice to pair the LP with the Remote SL. That would be a killer combination. One strength that I see that the LP has over the APC is the ability to control instrument racks off the bat. It's built into it. Whereas in the APC, you need to hack it with midi just for that functionality. Makes me want to get one...

- There's nothing huge for people to turn down the Launchpad. I honestly want one as well but that would be gear lust already. I'm happy with my APC but I can see the attraction in the price and the portability of the unit. For an easier workflow in Production, I can see the strength of the Launchpad. But for me, the APC wins more for the immediacy of the controls when I play out live. I really don't want to be bothered by page switching and such. But that's just me. 

For people who love freebies... here's something I got from some of my subscriptions...

A free Mellotron emulator. Windows only VST.

http://www.sonicstate.com/news/2009/11/05/free-mellotron-m400-emulation/

Enjoy!

Cy

Few more freebies for the Workshop!

Hey everyone!

I'm inviting everyone who are aspiring producers to check out the workshop this December! This is open not only for electronic music enthusiasts but even indie bands and songwriters!

[img]http://silverfilter.com/pix/sf%20monthly/EM-Production-Workshop.gif[/img]

If you can't see the poster, click here http://www.silverfilter.com/electronicamanilaprops

Electronica Manila in cooperation with Propellerhead Software and Loopmasters Sample Boutique presents:

PROP YOUR HEAD

A Music Production Workshop using Propellerhead's Reason and Record

Coverage
Introduction to Record
Songwriting with Record
Indie bands and Record
Integrating Record with Reason
Producing with the Props
Remixing inside Reason and Record
Expanding your sound and more!

Speaker
silverfilter - Live PA, Remixer, Composer, Arranger, Founder: Electronica Manila

With Performances By
silverfilter
Flavours and Caffeine

Details
December 19, 2009
4PM Sharp
U-View  Fully Booked
Bonifacio High Street

Registration
Php500.00 inclusive of snacks

Win Reason & Record!
Make your own and come in your custom-designed Propellerhead shirt! Best design takes a full version of Reason home!

All participants have a chance to take home a full copy of Record!

Loopmasters Giveaway
Win sample CD's for more sounds!

*seats are limited to first 60 registrants

Cy

Anybody Care To Learn Music Production?

Electronica Manila in cooperation with Propellerhead Software and Loopmasters Sample Boutique presents:

PROP YOUR HEAD

A Music Production Workshop using Propellerhead's Reason and Record

Coverage
Introduction to Record
Songwriting with Record
Indie bands and Record
Integrating Record with Reason
Producing with the Props
Remixing inside Reason and Record
Expanding your sound and more!

Speaker
silverfilter - Live PA, Remixer, Composer, Arranger, Founder: Electronica Manila

With Performances By
silverfilter
Flavours and Caffeine

Details
December 19, 2009
4PM Sharp
U-View  Fully Booked
Bonifacio High Street

Registration
Php500.00 inclusive of snacks

Win Reason & Record!
Make your own and come in your custom-designed Propellerhead shirt! Best design takes a full version of Reason home!

All participants have a chance to take home a full copy of Record!

*seats are limited to first 60 registrants

Cy

A Free Tune For Everyone

As promised, I got clearance and I can share this with the world...

This is a remix of a song entitled Stand Up. It's originally used in a campaign for a global housing project in the Philippines where architects/designers from all over the world would be part in designing a home that fits the housing budget for people affected by typhoons. (this is from what I understood and remember hehe)

Anyway, enjoy!

http://www.mediafire.com/file/yty2j1gdjim/Stand Up - silverfilter Minimalife Mix.mp3

Cy

I loved the Moon Last Night

Driving to church, I saw the nicest view of the moon I've seen in my life. I dunno. The Full moon hidden behind a stretch of clouds was something else. 

I tried to catch it with my point and shoot but it didn't do the view justice. It was something to be seen in person. 

Cy

I Try...

I'd like my blogs/accounts to be a resource. It may have the occasional stories about my day and such but i'd like it to also be something people that people can take something from and learn so I'll try my best to put more of those in my coming blogs. 

At the same time, I'd also keep things as they were with some additions as mentioned. I'd like to keep the fun in. 

I actually hope people with the same interests as mine would check it out and learn. I'd really like to share a lot and be a resource for new things for them and to you who's reading this. 

Let's hope for a future of discovery!

God bless

Cy

Monday blues... literally

So I wake up for my flight, head out to the port. It was such a blessing that once again, MTV made the necessary arrangements for a smooth trip back even for our extension. 

Praise God it was on time (later this will bite me in the arse) and we had the bigger plane. The cushion on my seat wasn't connected to the actual seat though. Couldn't they have it repaired!?

Anyway, so I got to the airport in Manila right before 9am... I decided to wait for Bernice at the airport, on a chair,since her flight arrives at 12:30. That's roughly a 4-hour wait. I thought that I could just sit and maybe watch some movies on my Ipod...

Wrong move.

Her flight was delayed and I ended up waiting for 6 hours at the airport. Even the airport employees were looking at me funny already like "kawawa naman walang sumundo sa kanya..." It was that bad. I was so sleepy but i had to keep myself up and alert in a way, since I had all my gear with me. I did all the possible sitting positions you could think of in those 6 hours of waiting. I couldn't even leave to go to the restroom. 

When Bernice finally arrived, I headed home and slept for 24 hours and woke up thrice just for meals. My body had to make up for lost sleep.

And for my photo? well, that's me and the whole airport with nobody in sight but few airport employees. sheeesh....

Sunday, bloody Sunday

Ok. I didn't get any decent sleep last Sunday. probably why I slept for 24 hours last monday til tues with only 3 breaks to eat... but that's for another blog. 

It was because of the rebooking and all. We didn't just have to worry about our flight, but also our ticket. We also had to worry about being kicked out of Alta Vista since our stay was only till Sunday. After the weird morning, I had a nice final lunch at Alta Vista care of Perry (Thanks Perry!) and she also made sure we had a place to stay. We were transferred to Microtel and I must also say that it's a nice place! I love that it has its own little private beach area and pool. If I would go back to Bora for vacation, I'd probably stay there coz of the relaxing atmosphere. Boracay has (I'm sorry) lost its magic. I'd be bold enough to say it looks like it's been raped and the once nice little island has become a mall with sand. It has Yellowcab (with delivery!), Starbucks, and Pancake House! Wow... Goin back, we checked in to Microtel and after we settled down, I headed to the beach to meet with Berns and Claude. Time to swim. But it was too late in the afternoon that I only enjoyed swimming in the dark around 6-7pm. 

After swimming, we checked out an event at White House just to take a peek then headed to Hawaiian Barbecue. It was the only thing I made sure I'd do when I get to Boracay haha I know there's one in Tagaytay but I just had to eat there in Bora. Bernice even saw Derek Ramsay but that's a different story hehehe she'll kill me if I blogged about it. 

Anyway, After dinner, I went back to the hotel to freshen up since I came from the beach. headed down again to check out the anniversary party of Hey Jude. I was jumping from Hey Jude to Bombom's (tama ba?) though and ended up longer in Bombom's where Tropical Depression did an impromptu set. It was a fun set. 

Stayed till around 2am then headed back to the hotel to take a quick nap before the flight. 

For the pic, you just gotta love those ribs!!! Looking at it just makes me hungry!

Monday to follow since I slept most of the day anyway hehe

Cy

Bora Gig Day

I don't usually try to get up early for no reason but hotel breakfast is one of them so I got up around 9 to make it for breakfast deadline haha

After breakfast, we hung out and chatted with Funkavy, DJ Red-I, Soulflowa, and Wendell from MTV. We talked quite long that it was almost lunch when we finished so we headed down to Pearl of the Pacific for our lunch and soundcheck. 

Unfortunately, when we were about to go for soundcheck, it rained hard. Everyone was in that "scared" mood coz the event was just a few hours away. It was a blessing that it was only a quick but hard shower. Once everything was wiped down, we did soundcheck. Good thing the sound system was kinda slow in setting up that we hadn't set up anything at all before the rain poured. 

After soundcheck, we headed back to the hotel and I went back to sleep to prepare for the long night ahead. 

When I woke up, I took a quick shower then i was off for make up and costume since MTV provided for our costumes for the night. I didn't want to look scary since my costume was already that of a zombie so I went with a white masked zoro type of make up haha

After preparation, we all headed down to Pearl for the gig. It was around 11pm already and Soulflowa was spinning some serious dubstep. She was owning those dubstep beats. Made me a fan of the genre immediately! hehe Anyway, after her, Tropical took on the stage then my duo set with Funkavy. Mid-set, we had tropical Depression come up again for our jam with them as they sang over remixes I did of Bilog ang Buwan and some other reggae tunes. After our jam, We went back to our duo DJ-live set and I closed the night with a short live set. 

After pack-up, we took our gear back to the hotel and went down again to check out the party at Hey Jude which was pretty much still alive at that time. I didn't stay long though when I found out that my flight was not Monday but Sunday. I kinda lost my "good gig mood" and kinda felt bad that I had to get up early to arrange everything to rebook. 

Sunday to follow...

But before I end, the photo here is the money shot hahaha

I was silent because of Boracay...

A quick recap of my Boracay gig...

Friday AM : Flight was at 6:50am and we checked in at 6:30! The person at the check in counter "scolded" us lightly for coming in late. I was actually early but my ticket was with Funkavy so the rest is history...

Flight : Turns out, we were on a 19-seater plane with the whole crew of MTV so it was fun. It felt like a private plane trip that smelled like gas. Are Sea Air flights always like that? hehe

Arrival : I thought we were checked in at Pearl of The Pacific since our show was to be held there but was told that we're gonna be staying at Alta Vista. At first I wasn't excited to be staying somewhere else but I changed my mind when we got there. The place is gorgeous! I highly recommend the place! It's far from the beach, which can be seen as a plus so you can feel that you're in two places during the whole stay. Beach and mountain... Nice! Rooms are great and I loved the whole experience! I must say without any biases, MTV does take care of their talents. Seriously. I had a room all to myself with 2 huge beds and a 32" LCD TV!

We had a quick breakfast and we were off... to bed. seeing that we didn't sleep the night before coz of the early flight, we hit the sack. I Woke up early evening for the MTV welcoming party down by the pool. It was a nice pool party with good food and good vibes. I simply enjoyed the evening as DJ Red-I and Funkavy took on the decks that night. I tweeted some parts of the evening haha

We then Ended the evening early to prepare for the long day ahead, which was gig day. It was a nice closing though as we hung around the lobby showing funny youtube videos. We had a nice laugh before sleeping...

I attached only one photo of the pool in Alta. More pics when I upload the whole album of the trip!

Saturday to follow.

Cy