So I am getting a free guitar, Squier most likely but maybe a Fender if I can sell a couple of those things in the next two days.

Benefit of working at a corporate guitar store, corporate guitar contests!

I haven't played guitar in literally about four or five months.

I was surprised to learn today that i haven't really forgotten how to play, and my fingers don't seem very stupid at all. Fingertips are missing some callouses, but i really would expect more of a drop-off for so long not playing. I know i couldn't just jump in and start playing drums this well, right now, today.

Shit is strange. Maybe it is more about just how much(err, too much?) i was playing four or five months ago?

It's like riding a bicycle. Or something. Only, totally different, and you don't need feet- or legs, for that matter- to do it.

I've never found I really drop off in skill, just endurance or speed, when I let things sit for a while. Granted, I don't think I can go for a week without touching a guitar or keyboard. A bass, yes. Drums, I never really get any worse, even though it's often months between my touching a kit- but I'm no good anyhow.



I submitted me résumé in re: to an ad that sounds suspiciously like a former employer, who has told me explicitly they'd hire me back (I left on good terms with them for a full-time position a few years back). That would be fabulous.

Bandnews: we are getting a smaller studio space on the fifth floor. So, like a smaller Snaxodrome, but more a synthcave + vocal booth. Which I can deal with.

Mistakes that would be more difficult to make on an analog console: routing my reverbs into the delay for the guitar lead. And then offline-bouncing the mix, walking away and listening back wondering what, exactly, I managed to do to eff things up.

Been demo'ing a few Waves plugins and have gotta say they are making my sounds quite a few shades nicer. I don't quite fully know what to do with the knobbers so I have mostly just used presets and then tweak them a little but the shit makes my stuff sound a lot more crisp and clear. Been mostly messing with the 550B EQ and their 1176 plug and the CLA-3A. I want the CLA compressor bundle and I also really want the API EQ stuff, and balls is that quite a lot of money .

So pop band has been a 6 six guitar, bass drums, m & f vox and me (keys & guitar). The other guitarist has an odd work schedule (air traffic controller) so he makes most gig, and then some he can't, but has always lacked effort like the rest of us in the band. He's just out for himself. That's not a bad thing usually but this band everyone pitches in to help others, setting up the PA, working on stuff for the band outside of practice, (talking to club owners, making banners, artwork, backing tracks, whatever) He's never done that. We get along real we as guitarists, which is not always an easy thing. But he warned us he was going to be missing a few upcoming gigs but once February hit all would be good, well yesterday he quit. It's probably better off overall for the band, but I hate looking for band members. We are fortunate that we are very busy and high profile and have the top management company so we should do ok. Biggest problem is it's pop... Most musicians don't want to play pop. I do it for the money but obviously if I had my choice I would be playing a different style.

[/rant]

They occasionally have deals on 'em; I saw a random ad for the API EQs for eighty bucks the other day.

A hint with the 1176: the attack and release controls are sorta reverse from normal, with 1 being slowest and 7 being fastest. They're interesting in that you can actually get less compression with higher ratio settings depending on how you set the input level. Also of note, the 1176 has an extremely fast attack time. 20-800 microseconds. That's 20-800 µs, not ms. That means the slowest attack time is a whopping 0.8 milliseconds. The release time is a slightly less ridonkulous 50-1100 milliseconds.

LA2A has a fixed 10ms attack time and variable release depending on what's going through it. For such a seemingly simple thing, it's kinda wonky to use, IMO.



And a potentially useful trick re: using both: http://www.uaudio.com/blog/chaining-1176ln-la2a-compressors

Just won a free pair of Monster Turbine Pro Coppers ...

'twould look sexy with a verdegris patina.

I feel like a moron: I've been running Logic in 32-bit mode the whole time.

Been working odd jobs through an agency, finally getting some income after an extended down time. Crushed my foot under a falling vat today, mostly my bad. Now I can't really walk. I had a driving test for Monday, a gig on drums for Saturday, and more work, but all of that has to go on hold. Fuck, whatever.

Went out in a suit for a mates birthday last night, some bitch stole my tie

How's the foot feeling today dude? So what was in the vat?

Been looking at a few houses today, feels weird knowing I'll probably have a mortgage and shit in a few months time. waaahh

The vat was empty but it was very very big. It's meant to hold the water and dust that comes off of granite as they carve it. Foot don't feel good but I'm making do. I went to the driving test anyway and I am now licensed.

Hope everyone is doing well. Ive been super busy with school. On a good note, I placed 3rd in the BMI John Lennon scholarship. You can check it out here.

http://www.bmifoundation.org/news/16th_ ... _announced

Last on the page. Dont think they have had any finalists having to do with the metal genre yet so that was pretty cool. Not really promoting my win in this but I figured I would show you fine mapzeticians.

Beyond sick, Michael-san.

Dooooooood.

That is fucking awesome.

It is especially awesome because you're the only metaldood in there.

And because of what appears to be a sleeveless jean thrashjacket.

Awesome Mike. Cool to see a Maplitonian get rekkognized. Also, you should send them an acceptance speech thanking BELT.

Cong-rats to, in no particular order:

Tom, for the upgrade in your career and housing situation
Geoff, on the driving thing. My condolences on the foot.
Mike, on the thing. Praise be unto BELT.



I had meself a job interview today; I have the second interview tomorrow; they were openly impressed (were it the woman who runs the print shop's decision, they'd hire me on the spot) and are basically fast-tracking the thing to get me in there. I can't complain. Maybe then I can stop selling gear?