Ray’s Friends

Choices in creative tools...hmmm

nobody@vox.com(Fresh!) — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 13:44:39 -0700

Originally published at ::: Vibes N Scribes :::. You can comment here or there.

Now that I am getting comfortable in using Logic Studio as my digital audio workstation to compose my music, I come from the outboard world where I've been using hardware drum machines to program and compose my drum tracks.Â Where others are used to it (because of they started on it), I find it difficult to programming drum tracks (beats) on my keyboard controller. Enter the Akai MPC 1000 and the Akai MPD32 pad controller.

The MPC 1000 isÂ a full-fledged music production center in which u can produce full tracks on via the use of samples. Logic Studio (Logic Pro 8) is the same thing, software-wise with not only the EXS24 with GBs of factory samples, but the ability to also load samples into it.

The MPD32 is simple a controller (no built in sounds or the ability to import samples). It can trigger samples via its 16 pads and sends various MIDI messages, transport control messages,Â via its knobs andÂ faders by way of a USB connection to the computer.

In a way, having the MPC 1000 may defeat the use of having Logic (especially if one was to be interested primarily in producing hip-hop sample based tracks), but, I kind of like having the ability of composing hardware wise, without the need for a computer (although, I have a Roland MC-808 already too). The MPD32 appears to be better suited to programming my drum samples already loaded into the EXS24 sampler or Ultrabeat in Logic 8....hmmm.

Decisions, decisions. I just sold $400 worth of older studio equipment I know longer have a need for because of the jump to Logic Studio (with another $200 worth of equipment under pending sale).....The key of using the MPC 1000 is to find the best way to incorporate it into my Logic Studio setup....we'll see...stay tuned.

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Tweet Treats =)

nobody@vox.com(VoxEfx) — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 07:05:01 -0700

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Ubiquity FTW

@Sithiche fascinating concept, have fun!

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Clouds, Candy and Cousins

nobody@vox.com(VoxEfx) — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 14:54:19 -0700

Clouds, Candy and Cousins, originally uploaded by Vox Efx.

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Tweet Treats =)

nobody@vox.com(VoxEfx) — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 07:04:52 -0700

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Fifth graders to the third floor

nobody@vox.com(VoxEfx) — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 14:42:38 -0700

Fifth graders to the third floor, originally uploaded by Vox Efx.

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22 days...

nobody@vox.com(anewlis) — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 13:35:42 -0700

Originally published at iam.anewlis. You can comment here or there.

... till the big 4-0~ hee hee

I'm in a random mood...

I have more ideas than I have time.Â That is frustrating.Â

I've never been one to trip on age and aging.Â I am,Â however, trippin on the fact that I'm getting older.Â As a grown folk, there are certain things you can not and should not do.Â For example.Â It is now too late for me to live the life of Janet Jackson (even though she and I are the same age I believe).

I just scored Janet Jackson tix (ironically on my bday) and I am not the least bit thrilled about it! LOLSometimes being married - and the fact that you do have to compromise ... sux.Â Sometimes I just want it my own darn way for no other reason than that I want it my own darn way.

Having two college aged kids lets me know that despite how I good I feel, i am getting older.

Michelle Obama is phenomenal!Â I loved her speech at the DNC!Â She has set the bar so high for a first lady - no one has ever and will ever touch her.Â Go head sista!

It's sad that as great as First Lady Obama was last night, there are some that will still attempt to cast a negative light on her speech.

Every time I am saying 'Joe Biden' I have to stop myself from saying 'Joe Budden'

Sad that someone apparently thinks they'd like to take Barack out and made efforts to do so.

I find myself thinking 'is this it?' every once in a while.Â Sad.

I'm reading 'Pathway to Purpose' in hopes of getting it together!

I'm thinking this salad spritzer will loose it's effectiveness if i keep spraying it onto this one salad!

Listening to old Alicia Keys which I like much better than the new stuff.

Upset that I can have a bazillion plans during the day of what I'm going to do when I get home, but when I get there - NOT!

I wish I could rock a no hair / short hair doo.Â I hate hair.

I'm sleepy.Â As usual.Â Of course come midnight, I magically will not be.

I'm feeling very anti social these days - that is so unchristianlike.

I'm envious of all the greek chicks.Â I'm going to start a Sorority for women who didn't go to college.

I wonder if my son will pledge one day.

I am SO glad it's a 3 day weekend coming up.

Is it me, or does life seem extra complicated these days?

I'm bored with all 1,308 in my iTunes.

I need a tootsie roll (the candy not the dance! LOL)

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Still Missing Aaliyah - A Tribute

nobody@vox.com(luvSels) — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 09:36:45 -0700

Originally published at Essence Grooves. You can comment here or there.

Seven years ago on August 25th we lost an angel. Aaliyah was a rising star who was taken from us far too soon. She lives on in her music, videos and movies but of course that's not enough to erase the pain. Aaliyah had the potential for greatness while remaining down to earth.

I have to admit, when Aaliyah first came out I wasn't really feeling her. I was in high school and had a friend who was going to school with her. So of course everything out of his mouth was Aaliyah this, Aaliyah that. But Back and Forth and Age Ain't Nothing But A Number were playing everywhere. With her hometown status, Aaliyah's first album eventually grew on me. It wasn't until One In A Million dropped that I became a true fan. Timbaland was still an up and coming producer and graced his now signature sound on Aaliyah's sophomore album.

This was a difficult mix to make between trying not to put just about every song of Aaliyah's in it and keeping myself from crying while mixing it. I probably have a story to go with most of her songs. Her talent, style, beauty and grace has left a mark on all of us.

We still miss you Aaliyah, rest in peace Baby Girl.

The Playlist:

Turn It Up Intro
Try Again
Back and Forth
If Your Girl Only Knew
More Than A Woman
Age Ain't Nothing But A Number
Rock The Boat
One In A Million
I Refuse
I Don't Wanna
Are You That Somebody
Don't Know What To Tell Ya
We Need A Resolution
Hot Like Fire
I Care 4 You
At Your Best
The One I Gave My Heart To
Miss You

Download Here

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Tweet Treats =)

nobody@vox.com(VoxEfx) — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 07:05:28 -0700

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Obama praises wife's convention speech - NYTimes.com

nobody@vox.com(SerenityLife) — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 05:43:36 -0700

Obama praises wife's convention speech - NYTimes.com

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/washi...

''Now you know why I asked her out so many times, even though she said no,'' Barack Obama, the Democratic presidential nominee-in-waiting, told delegates by satellite Monday night after she delivered the first major speech of the Democratic convention.

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Toni Morrison Revisits Slavery in 'A Mercy' - Fall Preview 2008 -- New York Magazine

nobody@vox.com(SerenityLife) — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 22:18:29 -0700

Toni Morrison Revisits Slavery in 'A Mercy' - Fall Preview 2008 -- New York Magazine

http://nymag.com/guides/fallpreview/2...

Those millions of readers familiar with Toni Morrison’s work, in particular her novel Beloved, won’t be surprised at the numerous instances of brutality and deprivation in her new book, A Mercy, the Nobel Prize winner’s ninth novel and her first since Beloved to depict American slaveryalbeit in a very early, seventeenth-century form. What may well throw them for a loop is the redemptive tone: a pristine landscape, a compassionate white Northern farmer, and a notable absence of racial animosityfelt even more keenly in an election year with a full deck of race cards. In A Mercy, Jacob Vaark’s collection of laborer-charges (a Native American, a black child, an orphan, and two indentured servants) are united by and against a spreading culture of servitude that has little to do with skin color.

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