Creativity to Spare is a Video Podcast designed to instruct, showcase, and inspire creativity. Our purpose, is to honor the DIY spirit and to encourage others in their creative pursuits. Projects, helpful tips, and interviews will be featured in the fields of digital filmmaking, photography, and music. With this podcast and this companion website we will help you get the most out of your creative pursuits.
I got Rockband for my Birthday. Someone knows I’ve always wanted to drum. So here’s how you can use the Xbox360 version of the Drum Controller with Garageband. It involves to small pieces of software and just a couple of seconds of configuration. Here are links to the 2 pieces of software you need. They will be installed into your preferences. Both of these programs are shareware so donate if you like it and will be using it. Rock on!
Garage Band has a feature hidden deep inside that I’ve discovered. It can import Standard Midi Files through drag and drop (that is something many people know) but did you know it recognizes General Midi Program Changes?
General Midi is a compatibility system for MIDI sound playback devices (sound modules/keyboards/tone generators) The standard includes a list of 128 instruments and sound effects (one bank), a standardized drum map and channel, along with a couple of other concepts. It was meant as a stamp of approval for the consumer. It allowed someone to create a performance for one MIDI device, and then be able to move that sequenced music to another MIDI sound module or keyboard, for playback. It would insure the playback of the correct instruments and drums, instead of getting the typical circus music that occurs when the wrong programs are selected for playback on the keyboard or sound module.
Unfortunately most people have avoided using GM sounds for their MIDI sequences because the manufacturers have relegated them to the lamest, leftover sounds in the sound bank. Shame on Yamaha/Roland/Korg/Alesis and others for making GM, a very good idea for compatibility, instead sound as bad as it has.
Well now all that has changed.
Garage Band will understand the same programs that a keyboard would for GM, and its built in instruments are great.
There is one suggestion in order for this to work completely. You need to purchase the Orchestral Jam Pack. If you don’t have this already, and are a regular Garage Band or Logic user, you are truly missing out. This is a STEAL. For $99 you get 2 DVD’s of instruments and loops, weighing in somewhere around 8-9 Gigabytes. These are some of the more playable orchestral sounds I have ever used. The mapping of changes for articulation of string instruments, such as Cello and Violin, to the modulation wheel is genius. Do yourself a favor and get this upgrade right away.
Here’s how to try it out. You need a Standard Midi File (file extension .mid) that conforms to the General Midi patch list.
So let’s say you need some orchestral music for a movie you are doing, maybe its a StarWars fan film. Well you can’t use John Williams music or their lawyers will track you down quickly. How about using the same source of inspiration for Williams himself. Locate some standard midi files of Gustav Holst’s ‘The Planets’. This music will seem very familiar for many science fiction and space epic movie fans. And here is the beautiful thing; this material is currently public domain, so no copyright issues. And you are creating your own mix / arrangement so no sound recording copyright issues either.
Most classical music is in the Public Domain, that’s why its featured in so many movies and TV shows and cartoons. So search the net and you might be pleasantly surprised.
Full Compass Parts will be cheaper in bulk. This is as high as they could be.
NC3MDL-1 XLR 3pin Male Panel Connector
$2.70
NC3FDL-1 XLR Female Panel Conector
$2.82
This is the old style I used for the mic itself. It’s a bit difficult to put the mic element in the end.
NC3MX Male XLR Connector
$2.52
This part will be more money, but could make assembly way easier.
NC3MRC 3pin XLR Male Right Angle
$7.42
Then you need point to point wire for inside the box.
Thin very flexible wire for wiring to the mic itself.
Solder and irons. Heat shrink tubing can be useful.
Junction boxes and covers.
Screws to mount the panel XLR connectors.
Other Misc; A metal file – The knock-outs on the junction boxes are just a tad small for the Neutrik XLR panel connectors, so the hole on the ends will have to be enlarged. I have tried everything and a simple metal file (round) is the answer.
Drill Bits to make the hole for the screws for the panel Connectors. These Have to be able to drill into really hard metal (ie Buy a FEW).
One tube of 5 min epoxy will do for many Mics.
A 9 volt battery.
Something to test it with. (ie a mixer and headphones, and mic cables)
Hardest part of the whole thing is soldering the back of the mic, it is small and if you leave your iron on it for to long it will fry the mic electronics.
Suggestion buy some extra mic elements – they are cheap.
As far as my lavalier modification is concerned, you can use the wire that comes with inexpensive headphones if you want to sacrifice a set. And you will need something like an alligator clip to attach the mic to the speakers clothing.
They are similar to earthworks or any or small diaphragm microphones, they do not have a color to them, the microphones sound like how the instrument or voice sounds in that room.
Part 2-2 Continued Interview with Dave Shirk of Sonorous Mastering – Conversation about the mastering process and marketing a small business.
Dave fielded questions about monitoring on multiple sets of speakers and also headphones. We also spoke about being a small business and how to market yourself.
Subscribe to the Podcast to download the video.
Or you can watch it by clicking this link to Blip.tv
Part 1-2. An Interview with Dave Shirk of Sonorous Mastering – A conversation about the mastering process for audio engineers and musicians.
Mastering is a subtle art and Dave takes us through some questions an engineer or musician will want to know before showing up at the Mastering Lab. I asked dave about common pitfalls engineers get themselves in that could be avoided. We spoke about mixing trends and also industry trends. We spent little time talking about the gear and more about the relationship of engineer and the mastering engineer.
Subscribe to the Podcast to download the video.
Or you can watch it by clicking this link to Blip.tv
Creativity to Spare is a Video Podcast designed to instruct, showcase, and inspire creativity. Our purpose, is to honor the DIY spirit and to encourage others in their creative pursuits. Projects, helpful tips, and interviews will be featured in the fields of digital filmmaking, photography, and music. With this podcast and this companion website we will help you get the most out of your creative pursuits.
