Thx for the feedback so far...


@ Coma Devine

It IS "kinda rough", 'cause of several reasons. The main reason is
that the drum-sequences aren't accurate all the time (especially
during the break sections) yet. I didn't want to put maximum effort
into something that isn't perfect yet, so I only recorded them as a
stereo track and did some basic EQ and compression. Same with
the other tracks. I refuse to put some heavy building onto a weak
fundament, you see.

Once I've figured the drums out "to the point" I'll take my time to
record them on multiple tracks (you know what I mean...all things
devided...one track for the kickdrum, one for the snare, etc.).
This will give me the possibility to build a real "wall of sound",
'cause I'll be able to compress, eq and fx every track on it's own
then. That'll be some worthy fundament to put some serious guitars,
bass, keys and vocals on and to start to REALLY fit them into the mix.

Your version of Love? is the worst song I ever heard! Now wait, the uhm...second worst! Right behind Compact!!!



Aaaaaah, come on... You know that I like it! The beginning from Compact (I know that it's not a real "song", more of a collection of riffs and guitar lines used in your project) just doesn't want to get out of my head... So, again (and again and again and again...): Keep up the good work - Wernäää!

Keep up the good work - Wernäää!

Roderich, please...

Thx for the input man...okay, if you're so keen
on "Compact" I'll record it as a real song, too.

compact kicks ass could listen to stuff like that all day ever consider an all instrumental album or ep i the future?

in the future sorry type o

(Dude, instead of posting double...just edit your own post)

Thx for the input man...okay, if you're so keen
on "Compact" I'll record it as a real song, too.

Dear Roderich - that was easier than I thought

News time...

I found the perfect solution to bypass the painful and time-intense way
of drum programming in a sequencer. I just ordered an M-Audio "Trigger
Finger"-unit. It's a midi-input device, armed with 16 touch/pressure
sensitive MPC-pads and multiple faders and knobs. What it does?
That's explained quite easily.

You chose a midi-channel and key note for each individual pad which
allows you to trigger the different cells (Kickdrum, Snare, etc.) of your
sampler ("Battery" in my case) which match these settings. This will
allow me to "play" the drums myself instead of having to put patterns
together in a sequencer via the mouse. I already gave it a try (at the
store) and it's great! You can play so friggin' expressive that (if you
have well sounding samples...and so I do...) it's HARD to tell that
what you're hearing is not a real drummer behind a real drumkit.

The next thing I'll buy is a real audio/recording card for my PC.
One with at least 8 inputs/outputs. So why that again...
I'm recording on an external audio workstation (a Roland VS 1824CD),
but I use the capacity of my PC to create ambient sounds, drum-tracks
and keyboard layers with my software samplers/synths. This (audio)data
has to get/be recorded onto my VS some way. Well, that's where the "fun"
starts. Imagine having to record 16 or more tracks one after another.
I only have two ouput channels (left/right). So I need a recording card
with more outputs to decrease the ammount of repeated overdubbing.
So right now it goes like this:
1.Synchronise PC with external unit.
2.Record Kick Drum
3.Reset VS to position Zero
(luckily the sequencer will follow automatically cause it's sync'd)
4.Record Snare
5.Reset VS to position Zero
6.Record Tom 1
7.Reset VS to position Zero
8.Record Tom2

You get the idea...this is FUCKED! Okay, I COULD record TWO tracks each
time (If I pan them max left/right...) But it takes AGES either way.
So it will REALLY help to be able to push over the data from my PC to my
VS in 3 to 4 turns instead of 16 or so...

Why all that? Sound Engineers will know the answer...
I want FULL control over EVERY single instrument. Especially over every
single drum/tom/cymbal. I want to be able to EQ, compress and FX 'em
individually. Okay, I could do a premix in my PC and just record them as
a stereo track. But premixes STINK! Force you to compromise. You're
never able to build up a wall of sound on a premix. You have to build
AROUND it. Why? Cause you can't change the tone or volume of the
individual drums later on. The more you add (guitars, vocals etc.) the
more you realize that the kick could be a little louder, that it would be
nice if the snare would cut through a lil bit more, that the toms are too
thundery, etc... You then have TWO options.
You alter the sound of your guitars, vocals, keyboards etc. to keep up
the "well-sounding vs. all clearly audible"-balance and to bring out your
drums better in the mix this way. Or you have to do a new pre-mix (this
time oriented on the overall sound) and replace the old drum track with it.
Both options are a compromise and BOTH options STINK!
That's why I like to have control over anything anytime.

That's it for now.
I'll be back in some days with more news.

Dan

The M-Audio "Trigger Finger" arrived, and it's KILLER!

Well okay, it's definitely NOT suited to play complex
patterns on it. Remeber, you have to do it all with
your fingers alone (including bassdrum and hi-hat).
It may be possible for a REALLY fast and skilled
performer to handle it all, but it's DAMN tricky.
Thumb here, middlefinger-tip there, ringfinger
over there...You get the idea...
But I knew that before and I'm not mad about this.
I don't wanna use it to simulate a real drummer in a
live performance. I see the unit as an assistant.
Programming rolls, flams etc. is a REAL pain in the
ass for everyone who builds midi-drum sequences.
Not for me anymore. I just PLAY 'em...
It all sounds so much more "alive" now. No quantisize
option in the world can match human performance.

Stay tuned...

Sweet, ive always wondered if anyone was skilled enough to use those things to acually program a drum track, must be thousands of times eaisier than programming with a mouse note by note.

sounds like fun

(ever played donkey konga on the gamecube?)

Groundbreaking news...

I made a decision...
I will NOT wait to publish the songs untill I the project is finished.
With other words...as soon as a new song will be finished it'll be
available for download on my upcoming "LO-FI SONIC"-page.
On this page I'll publish ALL of my songs, sorted in projects.

Now some reasons for this decision:

Along with "Terraformer" I have lots of other stuff going on.
Ranging from Stoner-Rock (a'la KYUSS) over Death Metal (a'la
DISMEMBER) to Industrial (a'la N.I.N.) over Pop (a'la Placebo),
etc...
Inspiration strikes every day. So I decided to record whatever
comes to my mind, no matter what kinda song it is.
If I feel like recording a stoner-rock song today...so be it...
If I wanna do some mellow stuff the other day...so be it...
This a a quite chaotic way of getting my songs out of my system,
but I made the experience that my overall workflow suffers from
focussing too much onto one particular thing.
And in the end it doesn't matter which songs I record first.

Oh, another thing. All songs will be available for free.
But as soon as I'll have collected enough songs for a project
to compile them into an album you'll also be able to order it
on disk for a small donation. You won't HAVE to pay for the music.
The mp3-files will STAY free. But if you like my stuff and want to
support me, you're welcome.
I hope this decision won't ruin me completely, financially seen.

How do you like the idea? Comments (as always) are welcome.
Stay tuned...

P.S.

Sorry, but my next output WON'T be a TF song.
It'll be a song called "CLS" (from my "PAINSCRAPE"-project)
and it should be interesting for the ones among you who are
into elder N.I.N.-stuff. If it WAS an N.I.N. song it would be
somewhere between "TDS" and "Fragile". VERY dark and
gloomy. Not quite a "cut your wrist and let it go"-attitude song,
but dark...hell, you'll HEAR!

this is excellent news.
and a fantastic idea too!

hell, whenever you get famous, you can sell the demos at a more appropriate price. im looking forward to hearing each of these projects especially the stoner idea. in my band i have always wanted to play a few fu manchu style songs but my more-metal-than-metal mates have threatened me with pain if i keep writing in that vein.

anyway, keep it up

rock hard, rock heavy, rock animal

Hey, lads!

Just wanted to let you know that TF is still alive and kicking.
First songs will be available on my homepage soon.

Stay tuned!

Danny

!