Null Posted March 24, 2014 Share Posted March 24, 2014 I couldn't sleep tonight so I started playing around with my Alesis Drum Machine and scrounged together a nice little jazz improv with it. I used every single piece of equipment on my rack to make this so I hope you enjoy listening to it as much as I did making it. Without further ado here it is... "Jazz-Improv-AA (So Sue Me)" https://soundcloud.com/happyrat1/jazz-improv-aa-so-sue-me?in=happyrat1/sets/gary-g-s-singles Enjoy Gary 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YungGoat Posted March 24, 2014 Share Posted March 24, 2014 I couldn't sleep tonight so I started playing around with my Alesis Drum Machine and scrounged together a nice little jazz improv with it. I used every single piece of equipment on my rack to make this so I hope you enjoy listening to it as much as I did making it. Without further ado here it is... "Jazz-Improv-AA (So Sue Me)" https://soundcloud.com/happyrat1/jazz-improv-aa-so-sue-me?in=happyrat1/sets/gary-g-s-singles Enjoy GaryAlways gotta 1-up me, don'tcha Mr. Ratty? The sound, style, are very unique, I don't think anyone could reproduce it. I loved the drums, bass jive, all of it. You have an Alesis Drum Machine? Do you happen to have the SR-18? Cause, I just bought last Friday.(Not much of a drum selection on the P1) Maybe every Sunday we should jazz-off?... or have a more appropriate name for it . It would be pretty fun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Null Posted March 24, 2014 Author Share Posted March 24, 2014 The way you've been cranking them out this week I just HAD to keep up with the Joneses... Actually it was your jazzy stuff that sort of inspired me to try this one. Anyway, the best thing about musical competitions is that EVERYBODY WINS!!@! Then again if these are the normal hours you keep I can understand how you manage to crank out one or two tunes a day. I always pay for it the next day when I pull an all nighter playing with the gear. Gary 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YungGoat Posted March 24, 2014 Share Posted March 24, 2014 The way you've been cranking them out this week I just HAD to keep up with the Joneses... LOL! yea, my songs were coming out like newborn bunny babes. Actually it was your jazzy stuff that sort of inspired me to try this one. Always happy to give spark to a beautifully vibrant fire Anyway, the best thing about musical competitions is that EVERYBODY WINS!!@! This is true Then again if these are the normal hours you keep I can understand how you manage to crank out one or two tunes a day.Had this weekend off(Alternates, I work next weekend so my quota will be about half-to-normal output) Have to battle a 40-hour work week to get my fix > I always pay for it the next day when I pull an all nighter playing with the gear. Well, you done a good job, at least your feelings of fatigue were not in vain. Gary Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Null Posted March 24, 2014 Author Share Posted March 24, 2014 Yeah, my Alesis is the SR-18. The price was right and I find it a bit easier to program than the P1 Step Sequencer for sequencing. Check out Rhythm number 86 on there and you have 98% of my jazz improv. The bassline and the percussion was strictly canned. Then after I recorded the rhythm and fills into my computer I fed the sequences to my Kurzweil to get a better drum set and used the XW's Organ and the Venom's synth bass sounds layered to create the rhythm. Then finally I improvised the lead track using an orchestral program on my Kurzweil to create the finished product. Sounds simple but it wasn't really. It took more takes than I care to admit to finally get it right. But like everyone here always says, experimenting with the gear is the lion's share of the fun :D Gary 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YungGoat Posted March 24, 2014 Share Posted March 24, 2014 Yeah, my Alesis is the SR-18. The price was right and I find it a bit easier to program than the P1 Step Sequencer for sequencing. Check out Rhythm number 86 on there and you have 98% of my jazz improv. The bassline and the percussion was strictly canned. Then after I recorded the rhythm and fills into my computer I fed the sequences to my Kurzweil to get a better drum set and used the XW's Organ and the Venom's synth bass sounds layered to create the rhythm. Then finally I improvised the lead track using an orchestral program on my Kurzweil to create the finished product. Sounds simple but it wasn't really. It took more takes than I care to admit to finally get it right. But like everyone here always says, experimenting with the gear is the lion's share of the fun :D GaryThat's good to hear. I been digging through youtube reviews about the SR-18, it seems like a sure thing. Glad to hear it coming from a fellow Cassior .You definitely know your way around your electronics, it turned out well.And that's my ideaology: As long as you have fun doing it, it's all gravy on potatoes *hunger cramp activated 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XW-Addict Posted March 24, 2014 Share Posted March 24, 2014 You know what makes me happy you're improv gave me something to work with Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Null Posted March 24, 2014 Author Share Posted March 24, 2014 Music and herpes.... The gifts that keep on giving :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lodger Posted March 26, 2014 Share Posted March 26, 2014 fun stuff- I really like the melodies that came out of it. i do have a few suggestions regarding instrumentation: 1) when everything is large sounding, nothing is. there are a lot of massive sounds and i think that may have overpowered the subtlety that jazzy music tends to favor.if you want to use big sounds as a lead or to add percussive value, i'd encourage you to have more modest elements in the mix. remember: without contrast, there is no distinction and its hard to focus on one particular things 2) you had a lot of different instruments fighting for attention dead center- some panning at least left center right would help keep everything easier to focus on 3) reverb is cool, but too much defeats the illusion of being in a sonic space and makes it sound like its a recording of an orchestra in a well. DIaling this back and reducing the duration of the reverb should help give your instruments much more character and nuance. I enjoyed listening to this- its always good to hear people cut loose and improv Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Null Posted March 26, 2014 Author Share Posted March 26, 2014 Thanks for the constructive criticisms Lodger. I'll take them to heart. All in all I'm pretty green when it comes to jazz. I saw this as more of a learning exercise than a serious production but I realize I have a long way to go before I'm giving Duke Ellington any competition Glad you enjoyed it though Gary Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Null Posted March 27, 2014 Author Share Posted March 27, 2014 well I took your suggestions to heart and remixed the piece. I was originally going for a big band sort of sound, but now it's more akin to airport lounge jazz. Both versions are up on soundcloud right now. I'd appreciate everyone's opinion on which one to keep.https://soundcloud.com/happyrat1/so-sue-me-2Thanks for listening,Gary Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lodger Posted March 28, 2014 Share Posted March 28, 2014 nice changeup- the mellotron sound is a much better fit good job! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Null Posted March 29, 2014 Author Share Posted March 29, 2014 Thanks. I'm humbled that you liked it. I'm basically a self taught player who can barely read a note so coming from someone who puts up your caliber of productions I feel really vindicated. Hopefully I'll be trying a lot more jazzy zazzy stuff if and when the Synthjazz Sundays Competition comes to pass. http://www.casiomusicforums.com/index.php?/topic/5637-synthjazz-sunday-poll/ Regards, Gary 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Null Posted March 29, 2014 Author Share Posted March 29, 2014 Whomped up another one tonight in anticipation of Jazztastic Sunday or whatever the hell we're calling it. This one's titled "Grey Suit March." I think I'm getting the hang of this jazzy stuff https://soundcloud.com/happyrat1/grey-suit-march Gary Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Null Posted March 29, 2014 Author Share Posted March 29, 2014 Here's a LoFi mix that sounds better on crappy laptop and cellphone speakers. https://soundcloud.com/happyrat1/grey-suit-march-lofi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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