The Tao of Walking Ridge

I struggled to get Audacity to record in Ubuntu Hardy Heron.  Then I discovered that all I needed to do was install the previous version of ubuntu (Gutsy Gibbon) and Audacity recorded fine.  A simple great easy to use multi-track recorder.  My struggles to get the recording function to work caused me to overlook the potential of Audacity to be used as a mixdown app.

My usual workflow is to record to a mult-track digital recorder and transfer the files as wav files to the computer to process and mix.  I’ve used ACID to mix the various tracks together and other programs to add compression, EQ, or reverb.  I generally don’t need other effects, one would hope that a good studio recording did not need noise reduction!  Then I discovered the list of effects available in Audacity.  How nice to apply effects without exiting an application!

The EQ effect is incredibly flexible and intuitive.  Just click on the line and a point or “anchor” is added.  Click at another point and adjust.  You can quickly draw the EQ shape that you want.  Quick, intuitive, and all open source!  As I’m preparing to create my next album tentatively titled “The Coffeehouse Chronicles” I now plan on making it a Windows free album, mastered entirely in Linux using Audacity.  Though Audacity has a version available for Windows users as well.

In addition to the EQ, other useful functions included are the normalize function, fade in, fade out, invert, compressor.  The tremolo, delay, high pass and low pass filters, and pitch change functions may also be handy occasionally.

Audacity is one of the most intuitive and stable multitrack mix software applications I’ve tried, and it is open source!

This review is a sequel to my comparison of the Bluebird to the Shure SM58 dynamic microphone.  I was so impressed with the microphone that I wanted to add more comments specific to the Bluebird.
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I’ll explain why in just a few lines, but what follows will be MP3s of the Bluebird condenser microphone and my trusty SM58 dynamic microphone in a studio setting that will let you decide for yourself if you agree with my conclusions. I came to the conclusion that the Bluebird has clearer sound for my vocals, which becomes especially important when mixing. But I’m still going to use my SM58 for live performance. And as I’ll explain, the disappointing sound that led me to purchase the Bluebird in the first place was mostly due to stuff other than the choice of microphone.
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I was looking to write a socially conscious song and started writing lyrics a couple of weeks ago. Inspired by the self serving actions of government (the man) and the self serving motives of marketing and advertising (madmen). After letting the lyrics sit for a while, I picked up the guitar and tried to put them to a reggae rhythm. That didn’t work out well, but I did find a vibe that I liked. The vocals and guitar were recorded together in one live take. The organ and tambourine were then added.

Madmen and Money, - © 2009 Brian Kelly

I used Gimp to understand and set the initial color palette for “Drummer and Graffiti”.  The painting was loosely based on this photo.  As shown in the triangular color plot from Gimp, the bricks are toward the red end of the orange range (noted by the circle on the outer perimeter).  The top edge of the triangle would indicate all black mixed with the red/orange.  The circle inside the triangle just off the top edge indicates that the color of the bricks will be obtained by adding dark gray (or mostly black with some white) to the red/orange.  This knowledge allowed me to quickly mix colors I liked.
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Inspired by street art and the brick background behind a band, I painted this scene.  I’m inspired to do more works that include street art integrated into a greater scene.  The bricks were also a very satisfying element to add freehand.  I plan on integrating bricks into future works as well.

Drummer and Graffiti - Brian Kelly, 2009 acrylic on canvas board, 9″ x 12″

I was looking for a way to make a local copy of my WordPress blog so I could carry it in my Palm. I wanted static .html pages. If I could do it with Linux, that was even better. I found a great application that creates a local copy on my PC. They have both a Linux and a Windows version. In Ubuntu, in the add/remove application just look for WebHTTrack and install. It worked great. It is a free GPL application. The website is www.httrack.com I haven’t fully worked out how to get it to work on my Palm, as the links look to be written with specific rather than relative directory structures.  But the application was effective in quickly making a local copy of the blog to experiment with.

This new original song is dedicated to everyone who has ever been dumped.  Though meant to be a bit satirical, it also carries with it a lesson that I’ve occasionally learned.  Though initially the negative vibes of being dumped are felt, over time it often seems like a positive, if not downright lucky event.

I’m OK Without You, - © 2009 Brian Kelly

The economic turmoil and unemployment of the first part of the century caused the population at large to become creative and motivated.  Many united to fight in the revolution.  Those that tried to continue their normal working lives were forced to become creative to find work.   Professors became farmers.  Accountants became carpenters.  Those that had done the manual labor were displaced by the competition.  The displaced became the fighters in the revolution, or they became outlaws.
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Black Hat played at the Raven Friday night.  Frankie the K, Caroline and Jim were great fun and very entertaining.  With their jazzy bluesy style I was able to sit in and have some fun on harmonica.  Jim Hart on drums laid down a cool groove.  Frankie on keys filled it up and has me thinking about a Nord keyboard that played some excellent Hammond sounds.  Caroline Maun adds vocals and percussion and writes the lyrics for originals like “Why You Wanna Do Me Like That”, one of my favorites from their repertoire.  With their kind permission, I’ve included a live recording of it from the midst of the crowd so you can hear the cool jazzy vibe.

Why You Wanna Do Me Like That, - © 2009 Black Hat