Ronyn

So glad this track was picked up! Great work man!

NICE I don't think I've heard the final version to this yet. The choir is so working! This has got to be among my favorite tracks.

Has enough time passed I can blame OA my mix is still in the queue? Come on OA, get off your butt...

a. Yes, indeed. More than f@#$ing college even.

Wow, you guys couldn't have made a better pick IMO. Gratz OA! *I still think you're Chris Daughtry's online alter ego, but hey that's cool. *Edit: Also gratz on getting your first review done 4 hours before you were announced. It's like you knew...flush that queue!

Nope that answers all my questions. I just read the 12.2.4 a little too fast, nevermind about the blocks. Thanks for replying, good feedback.

I think he means "a program for tracking", as in recording live players (yes/no?). On a mac, I've heard rave reviews for logic (probably most popular choice), I personally had good success with cubase although there was a learning curve. PC is a tougher animal to snare, what's your primary audio interface? Thinking just generic tracking right off the bat and compatible with most equipment, I'd say Sony Vegas, although keep in mind it's more of a video editing tool but is probably also the most excellent video program for audio, and tracks great, as well as provides a solid basic mixing tool. In fact, you used to be able to download a free trial, you might google for one.

I actually used to work Dell Latitude support, so my opinion is based off many users with problems, yours might be just fine. D830s are on the list of known graphics issues IF you have the chip I mentioned; replacing the mobo wouldn't have changed anything with audio unless you were lucky enough to get a better mobo. Otherwise, yeah you're probably fine. But again, it's only designed for business usage. The CPUs, memory speeds, hard drive speeds, bus speeds and architecture just can't meet the needs of the high performance audio. Yes, they have great support, but they have limits. If you want to do high performance audio (especially in real time) with a Dell, you'll want a precision workstation, their most expensive line.

Try to go for 3 GB and see if the money you save can get you more on the CPU (not that 2.4 isn't good, but you don't need over 3 GB). Also, make sure they sell you a 7200 rpm hard drive. Your problem is that Latitudes are designed for businesses, not audio. Even worse, it's a D830. Not a total crap model, but it is vulnerable to the Nvidia GPU heat issue. If you have the discreet Nvidia graphics cards and haven't had the mobo replaced and you're under onsite warranty, call Dell and tell them you're getting lines on the screen all the time, even when they have you run preboot tests. They will send you a new mobo and "might" (never really know) fix/help your problem. If you warranty is depot, tell them the issue is intermittent, so they'll replace it anyway even if they don't see it.

So far definitely processor (dual core should do it) and memory (CPU more important, but if your system tries to start using paged memory for audio, you'll grind to a crawl) would be most important more than your interface, although a good driver running with your external interface helps some yes, it's all about latency and efficiency, I don't know about that interface too well, I'd check reviews or listen if anyone else here has suggestions. Since the new laptop probably would make a big difference, you might consider just the laptop first, then the interface if still not cutting it (dannthr is dead on, ASIO drivers have lowest latency) Are you recording? That interface has only 2 max inputs, and I don't see how it switches mic to line level so you might need up to two DI boxes on hand depending on your needs to get the levels right. The plus side is it should be very compatible with just about all DAWs.

I've made the mistake of buying an external audio interface kinda like you for college, and then finding out later when I got into a production situation that my external audio device didn't meet my needs. You need to factor in if using Mac or PC, what will be your DAW, what will be your input/output needs. Also, are you getting the clicking and popping from raw audio recordings, exporting from your DAW, or just playback from any sound file? I'll assume you've troubleshot it completely and a new interface would fix it, but if you're not sure, be sure.

Well I'm no pro yet so if you ever find out, I'd love to know too I have heard that people like John Williams, and I'm sure this carries over to game composers and other music artists to some extent, recommend practicing your craft every single day. That way composing what you want isn't an act of time consuming exploration, but efficient routine, which sounds kinda...not creative I know, but then again they are film composers not new age. Time, budget, sanity, sleep, family, quality, audience, scope, etc. From a project management perspective the triangle is always time vs. scope vs. budget. You can't improve one factor without making concessions/adjustments on the other two.

Well I'm not really sure what to best tell you, but some thoughts did come to mind: - Ear fatigue is a real thing. You'll definitely hear a song differently overlistening to it than say forgetting about it and listening to it again later. - Keep in mind the listener doesn't always know what they want. I think the most average music is about what the listener wants, and the greatest/worst music is about what the composer wants. - Every professional will tell you: it's not what you can do, it's what you can do on time. If you aren't satisfied with this until it sounds just "perfect", you aren't thinking professionally, just artistically. Keep the scope of your music in check with your available time. Not meeting quality standards in your time frame? Lower your scope. You're gonna win and lose no matter what you choose. I think it just depends on where your priorities are here.

I wasn't suggesting that techique was better than actual active listening, or actual scoring with real performers. Although, Gario is 100% right that you won't learn limits, you definitely need a book or reference for that. I just meant within the context of the things done here, or perhaps better said, within the context of your own equipment, software, and samples available, it's a much better technique than just guessing. And the downfall of strictly following traditional scoring practices like in the Rimsky-Korsakov book (which is excellent I also recommend), is those practices can't account for your samples. i.e. Sometimes a new age pad that sounds like a flute is a better "flute" in your mix than an actual flute sample. Also, if you have realistic enough samples, sometimes you can play with types of blends and voicings in a simulated environment that isn't possible (in a practical sense) in the real world. Not everyone can take their compositions to a real orchestra, and how many CD's can teach you what an overdrive electric guitar, harpsichord, wagner tuba, and penny whistle all sound like mixed together? No they aren't as good as the real thing, but you can still learn, and it's faster than just trial and error. Outside that context, yes, you guys are right. Anecdotally dPaladin, in my own unique situation, while I already played in an orchestra and could re-play the sounds of instruments in my head, my first experiences with actual orchestration were with midi before I read the books referenced here. I did it backwards just fine since I could imagine what the instructions I heard really sounded like irl. Definitely stupid to suggest everyone normally try it, especially if your goal is to reproduce things that have already been done, but it works for me. I like coming up with slightly or completely irregular orchestrations you'll never find in any book.

Bored at work so forgive posting this rather than pm or something: I knew when I saw how much info on cooling you had this was definitely worth reading. In fact, I'd say it makes you stand out because I haven't read anything this good for cooling info. Overall very cool, what I find most helpful is you've added your experience. necessity is the mother of invention as they say and your stories give people a reason to know why something is important. Also gives people like me who only build computers once in a while more experience vicariously. I hope you update this so every time I need to build a new computer I can come see what you've added and what I need to know that's new. Some questions I had that you can either edit in your pdf or just reply (granted I read it real fast so forgive if I ask a question you actually did answer and I missed, oh and I'm kinda late here so sorry if this is stuff you've already done): I know quad core cpu's aren't great for one program because like you said most aren't written to take advantage, but like you said for dual core, how I'm assuming the OS manages one app on one core, and another app on another, does this principle carry over to quad core? Will the OS manage muliple apps on multiple cores in the quad world effectively? If so, will Vista/7 do better than XP? Just wondering 'cause I noticed a huge improvement going from XP to Vista on my CPU usage, coulda been something else but that's what I thought it was based on my CPUs meters and some tech forums I read. What do you think about Intel vs. AMD in terms of the audio world? I use AMD for cost-effectiveness, but I hear Intel's architecture is much better suited for audio. Is this true and how so? Regarding mobos and why architecture is important, you might mention as an anecdote to audio enthusiasts that digi's mbox2 isn't supported on a regular Macbook (at least pre-2009 as far as I know). They both support USB but something in the architecture and I forget the specifics isn't compatible with ProTools or the driver. I found that out the hard way Regarding memory and graphics, remember when you schooled me on it? (good times) You mentioned what kinds of graphics cards you should get for gamers vs. office types, but what about audio? Would a lower quality/memory graphics card or even integrated be a better option for a desktop designed for audio? Suggestions? For sound cards, you kind of imply it with the manufacturers, but I'd mention for the audio geeks that external is usually better than internal, just for the separation of electrical noise in your signal, as well as more inputs. Thank you for stressing PSUs!!! My biggest frustration working with Dell is they'd sell Optiplex's with 220W PSUs which was just fine to run ok for what they're intended for, until the salesman or idiot consumer bought the most expensive graphics card available and put it in. Can you say BSOD? And they don't even sell PSU upgrades! anyway, not really relevant but like I said I'm bored. Re: RAID. If it helps, I've found RAID is great for backing up, but in the audio world, total crap. There was no noticable difference on my SATA drives streaming samples on a striped array vs. a single drive. You might also mention hardware and software RAIDs. I've never done a hardware RAID, but nvidia's software RAID technology BLOWS for audio. I broke my mirrors every other week. I think it was maybe that raid driver couldn't keep up with the streaming nature of audio apps, but I'm not sure why really. Memory: I think you should mention how much misinformation is out there and warn people why it exists. Remember when you schooled me on this? (you should because it was like 60 seconds ago I already said this). I decided to go to my local professional shop after learning about it to get a cheap video card and see if it helped my memory usage for audio (still not sure if it would help 'cause I got pissed at the guy and left) and somehow ended up in a fight with the OWNER over it. He said he tested it in linux and it addressed all 4 GB. I asked him what kind of video it had and if PAE was supported. He didn't know. I think a lot of retailers SAY 32 bit XP/Vista can run "all" 4 GBs because of the small theoretical loopholes that exist that say you can, but don't actually work, but they just want to sell, sell, sell. (or am I still misunderstanding this, 'cause maybe I am). Since you asked about where it might get too technical, I kinda thought maybe the info on memory timing was a bit more than necessary. Not that it wasn't interesting, but don't most mobo's auto tune these settings to be correct? If not I'd like to know. 10.4 wireless/BT: lol, again, thank you for saying how much these devices suck! You might mention how susceptible this technology is to environmental failure. Everthing you can possibly get wireless (especially 2.4 Ghz phones) running = bad, interference, etc. (could be wrong, again, basing off experience and some little knowledge of radio traffic). Especially for audio systems. the more isolated the device noise/traffic the better. Wires (shielded)=good. Again, love the cooling info. I learned a ton already just now. Edit: Ok now I've pretty well absorbed the cooling techniques. A few questions: I know there's some chassis that come with ambient air temp sensors. I serviced one computer once that had two red/black leads stripped to copper just hanging open in the chassis. The owner insisted this was his temperature sensor. I had a hard time believing that but I was just curious if some sensors operate like this. I didn't think copper actually measured temperature but maybe there's some clever trick behind it, or maybe the owner is an idiot and broke the actual sensor the leads used to attach to or something. Any idea? I'm still not sure what the block coolers actually look like or how they work. They almost sounded like fins. More info? The oil immersion looks awesome, but I was wondering about the downsides. Does this technique severely limit how you can service parts and how much? Does the oil conduct electricity, is there danger of electrical shock touching the oil even unplugged due to capacitors and such? After reading it, I was thinking how awesome it would be to see pics. Maybe add some pics into your pdf? For at least the cooling would be awesome, but anything else is great too. Sorry this post is huge now, holy crap

Listening on some cruddy headphones so I won't judge your production. Overall worth pursuing? Yes. What's good: Good techniques being used. Not overly cliche. Nice catchy tune overall. What's bad: mid section is kinda underdeveloped (maybe cut it altogether?). The rapid fire kick is a bad sound. The "sound FX" are ruining it for me in general, they draw waaay to much attention to themselves for a mix that doesn't seem intended to be ambient. I think overall the song seems to wander and doesn't really commit to what it wants to do. It's 8 bit remix one minute, then 80's another, then classical, etc. I'd lower the scope of this, try to focus on quality not quantity. Also, the judges are kinda partial to interpretation. A beat and the original melody ripped verbatim doesn't usually cut it. I know you kinda mixed it up a little toward the end, but I'd maybe do more.

I wanted to listen to this, but I saw the intro post and got confused and the last page has a new track? This thread is confusing (Yes, I am lazy)

In the context of the kind of stuff done here, take a midi project (especially a classical midi or something from the Internet) and change the orchestration, like take a flute track and make it a trumpet, or change viola to french horn. Always illuminating. Reading about orchestration is a start, but hearing orchestration I think is lightspeed learning.

My recommendations: Don't get anything from BestBuy. Lots of cost factors, but if you can deal with smaller screen get the smallest possible, will in general get you the cheapest laptop. Get the warranty, especially for accidental damage. If you break on purpose or negligence, tell them it was an accident As an ex-Dell employee: If you happen to consider a Dell and it's E series, do NOT put XP on it; if you want a new Dell with XP, forget it, go somewhere else. Also don't buy any D630's they're trying to get rid of, or anything older with an Nvidia GPU for that matter. If you buy a Dell Studio laptop, shoot yourself.

Citing experience Gario?

I'd recommend looking for already licensed arrangements of songs you're looking for; they may actually exist with some of the new game concert crazes you see. Then just "arrange" the legal music under the context of adapting for your performing group. Kinda touts the line, but everyone gets paid, probably wouldn't upset anyone. In the U.S. there might be performance rights issues, but if it's international music? Well maybe I dunno lol.

Parts of Dumb and Dumber were filmed in my hometown of Provo. It's kinda hard to spot since it's the opening scene where he's driving her to the airport there's car accidents and explosions in the background, but that good ol' University Ave.

I never got into it professionally, but I'd say start by asking the people buying them. Find out what kinds of shots they're actually looking for. I'd imagine a high quality, well timed shot from any political event has got to be worth something to the media. There's got to be a stock footage company or animal magazine that would love your nature shots. You've got a good eye by the way, at least your macro shots: good angles, lighting, framing. I bet you could sell something if you tried.

Well like everyone says, this kinda stuff really is a matter of taste and who the hell am I too tell you how this should be finished? That being said, here's a few perspectives on how I'd approach this since I think that's really what you're asking for: 2:02 That weird squishy blockish sound is obnoxious, but interesting. I'd maybe not have that going every measure, maybe once every couple measures or phrase. I kinda felt like where the piece has its weakest points is when the established pad stays static, ex. sits on a string pad, chorus, or synth for just too long. 5:09-6:34 was a good example of a lush, dynamic ambience, giving me more and more the more I lend my ear to it. 6:46-8:00 The motif drags on too long with no ambient pads or changes IMO. Just an idea, but if this were me, and I didn't want to really change what I already have and I'm not really inspired to add more, I'd start attacking this with much heavier and intricate mixing and automation. Some EQ automation might really thin out some of the very thick and stagnant pads towards the beginning, for example. I dunno if that's helpful or not, good luck.

No big deal, I was practically asking for it sounding so matter-of-fact, which isn't quite what I intended to sound like but yeah my own dumb fault. That PAE thing makes sense though. The IT support I do is more tied to retail, and I'll bet they use that PAE info as a marketing excuse to misinform schmucks like me that "sure XP can handle up to 4 gigs of RAM, go ahead and buy all you can!" I've actually heard what I said above from a Microsoft and Cisco certified tech I trust. Good to be straightened out actually, cuz now I can think of a few good things to try on my own system, I'm always running out of memory. thanks!