Acoustic Guitar Recording, Editing and Effects Part TWO!

This is the second part to recording the acoustic for Dream Away.  Keep building your songs and I will keep building mine.  If you have any production questions or suggestions for videos, how to this, how to that, etc, please feel free to email me at stevenkristopher@gmail.com  Also, check out http://www.reaper.fm

Recording Acoustic Guitar, Adding Effects, Editing Part One

This is part one of two of recording acoustic guitar for the song Dream Away.  Still building the song step by step.  I found a great way to fill out the doubled acoustic guitar with a third track of kapo'd guitar.  Thanks for watching.  Remember to check out  http://www.reaper.fm  And don't forget to watch part two.

Drum Loop Editing

Here is the first Vlog.  I have recorded a loop to be my metronome for the song Dream Away.  If you'd like to download my first album for free, please visit www.noisetrade.com/stevenkristopher   Also, visit www.reaper.fm to learn about Reaper Recording Software, which is what I will be using throughout this Blog.  Thanks.  Comment with any ideas on recording, I'd love to hear other people's opinion, experience, troubleshooting tips, etc.

Why R.E.A.P.E.R. Recording Software is so great.....

I have used REAPER now to do my first four albums, and I am working on my fifth.  I will put some technical info below, but for me, REAPER is the best.  I have used ProTools, Cakewalk Sonar, Cubase, Etc.  And as I've used REAPER, I love it more and more.  

http://www.reaper.fm/

It is so user-friendly.  It is very easy to maneuver through and is very inexpensive.  You can download the entire version of the program for 30 days, no limitations, and then when you decide to purchase, because you WILL decide to purchase it, it is totally worth the price.  In fact, I would've paid three times the amount for this program, which is merely a download, no disc, no installation of many discs, just downloads straight to your computer.  It comes with a ton of full Plugin effects, and it is truly making my music sound better and better.  With each update, they offer new features based on their users suggestions in forums and emails.  This company has truly created an amazing recording software that can help you and I and anyone make their own amazing sounding music right in their own home studio.  No, I don't work for  REAPER, and No, I'm not getting commission for promoting them.  They are getting my blessing as a home recording Do It Yourself Artist, because they have not only stepped up to the plate to create something great, but they keep making it great day in and day out.  So go check it out.  I will be doing a lot more blog posts and videos right here about recording and I will solely be using REAPER.  So, go check out their site, read what they have to offer, and find out if they are right for you.  I say they are, but you can go make sure for yourself.

Things you do for love...

My lovely fiance got me to agree to watch this season of The Bachelor. Yes, though I was on the computer most of the episodes or waiting to flip to an alternate channel during commercials, I actually saw enough of it to understand that this guy, Brad, who was on the show for a season before, rejected both girls at the end of that show, which I thought was pretty bad ass. He was "totally open to falling in love" and finding the love of his life. So, I was hoping that he'd pull a repeat and reject both girls again. Or another cool ending would be if both girls rejected him in some sort of twisted revenge scheme. I did enjoy making fun of these girls who so incredibly ready to fall for a guy they barely even know. I also learned that one of the girls' occupation was a "Manscaper". I turned to my fiance and said "what's a Manscaper?" She said, well, its a girl who instead of landscaping, manscapes, and it hit me, she shaves men for a living. And I was like, how did this girl get on this show?! That is tasteless and tacky, and this show tries to be utterly classy with the house, the roses, the beautiful people, the scenery, etc. So, here I sat for the final episode of this show and though I was on the computer, I was a little nervous for these two girls. My fiance read earlier in the season, a spoiler alert that said the girl he chose was Chantel. So, we, sitting here on the couch, gasped when he rejected her for a beautiful girl named Emily. The truth is I'm an incredible sap and kind of enjoyed the show even though its a totally girly show. Although, when he proposed to Emily, I loved the very huge lettering inside the ring box, Neal Lane. Ladies and Gentlemen, go out there and get a Neal Lane diamond. ABC's gotta pay the bills somehow, right? Alright, now on to the next show, I hope there's another season of I Wanna Work for Diddy. I miss that show. :)
So, men, if you love the girl you're with, do something like watch a season of The Bachelor with them, cause in some weird way, it'll make her a little happier, or is it sappier.

Gnomeo and Juliet Movie Review

I went to see this with my friends' kids and it was a fun movie. I must tell you first that i've always had a bit of an obsession with gnomes, for some reason, whenever I see them, they always make me smile. Most of my friends who hear that think i'm weird, and most of them think that gnomes are going to come to life and kill you in your sleep. Nothing could be further from the truth, believe me. Anyway, I digress.....you would think because of this obsession of mine, I would automatically love the movie whether it was good or bad....not true. I watched this movie like I watch every other movie, with a critical eye, but still trying to enjoy it if its good. So, Gnomeo and Juliet was funny, it had a good story, and was cute in the tradition of "A Bug's Life" or Toy Story, but wasn't quite as good as those two. It had its moments though, like when Hulk Hogan narrated a lawnmower commercial, the gnomes race lawn mowers, so they needed a super mower to win the race, thus Hulk Hogan would narrate such a mower. Also, there was a bit of poking fun at Shakespeare's writing style, which I thought was funny. Some other highlights were a funny flamingo, a ninja scene, a reference to Disneyland's Tiki Tiki Room, and some funny pokes at the inanimacy of gnomes. But overall I would give the movie a strong B or 3 out of 5 stars. I would definitely suggest a matinee showing price for this one. The kids loved it and your kids will love it. For the record, I still have an obsession with gnomes, and collect them. :) You should too.

Gettin' Married......

Since the proposal, we have a pastor, a venue, a dress, a suit, a photographer, a caterer, almost done with planning, still have a ways to go, but it isn't a horribly stressful thing like i've heard it can be. Had a man draw on me with chalk for the fitting of the suit, got it on sale, and Pam actually got teary-eyed when I was putting on my coat in the mirror, I guess it kind of hit her that we're close to being married....the odd thing is, she didn't tear up at her bridal dress fitting, but her bridesmaids tell me they did, even though she did. Also, time must be flying cause the men's store owner asked us, "how long have you been engaged?" I said, "about a month", and then Pam jumped in and said, "actually its been two months". Time flies when you're havin' fun right? Anyway, we are both very happy and excited to spend our lives together, even though we have developed the habit of going grocery shopping together for our respective residences, we still pay separately. Sometimes I offer to buy her bananas or a bottle of wine. She sometimes tries to sneak her food on my side of the grocery store line divider. That little rubber piece is very powerful. Anyway, i've gone off on a tangent, I must go. You all have a great week.

Steven