Studio Renovation Preparation

Praise God! I'm finally in the last stages in preparation for my studio renovation. Anybody who has visited my humble bedroom studio knows that it needs a total makeover. It's about time... So i'd have to delay the Macbook, delay the Stratocaster, and delay some car aesthetics hehe time to get the studio together and finally be comfortable working and receiving people here. I've found and talked to key people for design to implementation already and i'm just waitin to finalize everything. I'm just glad God poured out the blessings just in time for this that have more than enough to fund the renovation and have a buffer for whatever. Of course it's kinda sad delayin some items but i'm more excited bout seeing the studio changed and finally having my room back. But as preparations progress, i can't help but reminisce how much this shack has sustained me for yrs. Despite the leaky ceiling, and basically the condition of it, it has served me well. But on
with the new... I'm planning to do a makeover of everything from roof, to ceiling, to flooring and carpets, new windows, new doors, paint, panels, the whole deal. If i have extra, i'll go straight with the recording booth, and studio furniture. I'm psyched about it, really and i can't wait to see the finished product. I even bought my new studio clock as early as this week! Haha talk about excited. Anyway, it's gonna be a long way ahead and i'm so glad we're on our way to doin this, finally. Wo0ho0w!

Can't wait...

Cy - silverfilter
www.silverfilter.com

Gear attachment

I've always been attached to my equipment at some degree. There's a certain sense of fulfillment and satisfaction once i got those dream machines of mine like my synths etc, that it's hard letting go of them. I know a lot of my friends from electronica manila share the same view. I lot of them even regret letting go of certain pieces of equipment. I don't want to be that hehe but i must say i experienced it once before when i sold my Roland JD800 synth. It was one of my most prized possessions but during that time, i had certain emergencies that i had to let it go. I regretted selling that. Now i'm wiser and even if some are gathering dust and never get to be played, let's say it's my little collection like those who collect model cars, figures, etc. On the other hand, i still of course let go of certain pieces like those i've upgraded. Take for example my Korg es1 sampler. I sold it once i got my mpc. I guess in a way you really outgrow some pieces but
all my hardware synths i'm keeping hehe i also sold one true analog synth, and traded my other analog synth for a bunch of guitar effects. Somehow i wasn't attached to those so it was easy for me.

It's just hard with the whole wave of software, that you can do away with hardware gear and go straight with software like in most of my productions that are done in Reason. I've read a lot of big name acts in europe and USA who actually sold all their hardware stacked in their studios and went for the minimalist software studio. BUT... The big thing about people stickin to their hardware is the difference in sound. Now don't get me wrong, i'm not a hardware purist... In fact, 'm far from it. With others though, they just can't replace the warmth, sound, and oomph of hardware that's why they often just scribble ideas in software then translate it into hardware. A few examples are The Prodigy and The Crystal Method. They work in reason then just translate sounds into their hardware units then sometimes back to reason just to make sure they're using their hardware and analog synths.

So i guess with the rise of software, there still are dedicated people out there who keep the hardware scene alive and as a hardware guy myself, it's really fun especially using it for live performances.

Til nxt tym.

Cy - silverfilter
www.silverfilter.com

Slow and Unproductive...

Yesterday was a slow and unproductive day for me. I woke up late with a terrible headache which lasted til midnight so i pretty much couldn't work and do anything but to rest, sit down, and watch a little tv. Good thing my good friend, madz aka Neon8 dropped by with his girlfriend.

Once my headache subsided, i was able to start mixing the single of my band entitled, "walis tambo." i wasn't able to finish the whole mix but it was nice to finally find my way through it. I'll finish it this week. I'll post more about my band next time.

One more thing that made it hard for me yesterday was my dry cough. I hate it. I was asked once what i hated most. Was it cough, colds, or sore throat. I always put cough last in the hate list. But after what i've been through the past days, i'd put it right on top.... Hasel kang ubo kah! Hehe it's really hard especially since it's dry cough. You cough and cough but nothing comes out. You just have a terribly itchy throat and your head feels the pressure as you try to cough. I hate it. Oh well...

Cy - silverfilter
www.silverfilter.com

Nokia 5220 launch party in Cebu

As mentioned in the updates and previous blog entries, we played at the nokia event last saturday in cebu... As promised, here's the rundown.

We arrived at The Loft around 10pm and by 11 we took the stage as Ms Badkiss lead as I along with suntheory jammed along to her first set. The main show started between midnight and 1am where jun, kevin, and skarlet sang and jammed with brian, juno, and myself. For that show, the songs i arranged were Fever and Light My Fire. I would also like to mention the setup of madz outside the venue where he handled the outer area of the venue during the early part of the night.

After our set with the singers, Patch took over for an hour with his set. I did a very short jam dj set, then brian, then all 3 of us did a quick switching deal. We played until 3am and then tunes were back to Ms Badkiss delivering an awesome final set which had me goin. After the gig, we all headed back to the hotel. My good friend from Cebu, Dj Marc, picked me up from the hotel to grab somethin to eat before i hit the sack and to do some catchin up as well. Once i got back, i slept and that was it.

No gigs anytime soon so i'm back to work. We'll be havin our Electronica Manila night on Sept 5 and that's my next live appearance. I hope to finish my latest live set by then. If not, i might have to pass my slot on. We'll see...

Cy - silverfilter
www.silverfilter.com

Bigskymind Halloween 2004

Halloween gig. silverfilter guitar set!