:: anne in the attic ::

Create Your Own Countdown

:: Sunday, June 17, 2007 ::

For a couple of weeks now, I've had passing "post" ideas, but my energies have been so divided among so many other requirements that now, when I finally have a moment and think, "it's been awhile-- I should post a blog entry," and sit down to do it, I draw a blank. Or maybe a translucence. So instead of posting pithy life observations, I'll stick to the facts today. Boring? Maybe, but I spent some more on techno-toys, which is always fun for a music geek.

Time pressure is as it's always been-- not enough large blocks of time to spend guiltlessly pursuing the creative endeavors that feed my soul. Last week I dropped some cash at the guitar mega-store, as the Firepod I've been wanting for the past year dropped substantially in price (a loss leader, no doubt). Of course, I had to look over some other things I'd been researching as well, and ended up buying a Furman M-8 power conditioner, and a Lexicon MX300 effects processor (pictured below), all of which fit nicely into that Odyssey rack I got last fall.

I bought the Lexicon to enhance my sorry vocals and give them some umph (everyone says they're too quiet), but there's also a wealth of electric guitar effects, as well as for drums and bass. The little Digitech RP50 I have does do some of that-- it has some nice presets, but it's limited in scope within each effect. What I did realize, as I was running my fx out through the Crate guitar amp, is that I need a better vocals monitor. Not a big one, but one that's meant for voice and will produce a clearer, quieter sound for recording. Suggestions, anyone? My main vocals mic is not an expensive one, an AKG C 2000 B, but I like it a lot-- it seems to generate very little self-noise for multi-tracking (which can compound air hiss if you're stacking several vocal tracks upon one another, as I often do).

So, I think I'm heading toward a more produced sound with some of my music, though I'll stick to acoustics for some of the songs that were written specifically so. But avenues for experimentation have opened up with these new tools, so I'll be exploring to the perimeters of all my skills (HATE it when I reach my limitations!) to create some work in new areas. I am ready for that.

The rest of the work goes on. The doc needs to be storyboarded, and the DVC tapes transferred, as well as transcripted, especially the interviews. It's a big job that looms large on the horizon, and could really darken it if not taken by task, Annie Lamott-style: Bird By Bird. And that I hope to do. But today, there is work to be done in the yard. And a beautiful day it is.

:: Anne 12:33 PM [smartass remarks] ::
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