Spitfire Audio Albion V Tundra Review - First Impressions.

I have just downloaded Spitfire Audio's amazing Albion V Tundra library and thought I would do a very quick first impressions video!! The thing that got me hooked was how it was recorded (as they put it) "on the edge of silence". The orchestra all playing a soft and as quiet as they can using the inspiration of Scandinavian composers such as Arvo Pärt, Sibelius and Gorecki, the sounds I have heard on my first few hours with the instrument do really conjure up and evoke the cold, mystical tundra.I am so excited to have been able to get this library and it is very, very useful for the kind of music I write. I will be putting together a proper composed demo soon, but it in the meantime it is safe to say, I totally love it so far!EnjoyPeaceNeil

Steve Vai's Guitar Intervals Ear Training

Training the Ear

So, I thought today I would share an ear training method that I have borrowed from a lesson that I had with Steve Vai. I will put this out there first that there are so many good ways of practicing ear training and.....there are SO many good apps out there are well.

Personally, I recommend having a look at EarBeater (you can use it for free on the website) or download the app.

Visualisation : Auralisation

The best way to start with ear training is to start listening out for intervals, the relationship of one note to another and with each of these relationships for an octave (12 intervals) try and assign a aural ‘clue’ or a visualisation of something you can recognise as the interval from an existing song or theme.For example, a descending 5th is the interval of the first two notes of the Flintstones, an ascending b2 (and descending) is the theme from Jaws.

The link below is a list of intervals that I use to make these associations, you may not know some of these tunes or songs, and I would encourage to use your own if you ‘hear’ something more obvious to you.

Interval list.

Now you have an idea of what intervals sound like and hopefully have some strong associations with existing themes, you should be able to start naming intervals when you hear them.

Steve Vai ?

So where does Steve come in?

Well, Steve suggested a number of great methods for working on your ear, including singing the note before you play it, and singing harmonies to the lines you are playing. The one I am going to expand on here is using an existing recording of lots of intervals with them names after they are played, this should enable you to hear the interval, guess the interval and then get the confirmation of the interval.

He suggests recording a whole series of intervals, both ascending and descending and listening to them when you can.For those of us with busy lives, we could then listen to these recordings on the way to work or on the train or at the gym.

And as a BONUS for my loyal readers, I have recorded a series of ear training intervals for you to download for FREE here.

I hope you find them useful and enjoy this exercise and that it helps you with your ear training. Remember it is a continual learning experience!

Enjoy!

Request

I hope that you found this article useful and enjoy my blog, podcast and YouTube channel. I’m always happy to share my thoughts and to help others as much as I can and I will never charge for my blog content. Having said that, I truly appreciate when someone supports me in return for the time it takes to write articles, produce podcasts and videos, where I share my years of work and experience with you.

Here are some ways you can show your appreciation:

• sharing my content online.

• buying me a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/SpencerBruce

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Peace

Neil

Focusrite Clarett 4 Pre Thunderbolt Review

Focusrite Clarett 4 Pre Thunderbolt Review

The Focusrite Clarett 4 Pre is a new range of Thunderbolt Interfaces continuing the 'Red' theme from their other firewire and usb interfaces (Scarlett and Sapphire!) and keeps up the tradition of red!I have been looking for a new interface for sometime now as I was a little unahppy with the Presonus Firestudio soundcard that I had. Now, please don't get me wrong this is a great little soundcard with some great features, plus the preamps don't sound that bad at all. But I personally had a no end of problems with the firewire implementation, and I put a large part of the blame down to Apple. Partly for firstly removing firewire 400 and then 800 connections from their machines and thus the only way to use this was soundcard with a MacBook Pro was via a series of hideous adaptors and connectors!I find this slightly ironic, given how much Apple pride themselves on function and looks as my laptop with a whole bunch of strange connectors and devices hang it off it looks pretty appauling. I should also add, that part of my quest for a new audio interface was because I didn't really like the gain staging on the Presonus. I found it was very hard to get the level controls just right with the level either being too quiet or distorting the source and the sweet spot was difficult to find.

Considerations

My considerations in the quest for a new sound card, first had me looking at the UAD Apollo Duo. Now this really looks like a fantastic device and I love the fact you can use UAD plugins with it and from what I read (and hear on line) the preamps are phenomenal! I was literally about to pull the plug (yes it was in the shopping basket), but I got a bit sidetracked with something out, and when I came back, the Focusrite Clarett 4 Pre had popped up into my radar.With the UAD, I was willing to overlook some of my requirements for more inputs and particular more outputs in favoure of the device due to it's functions and the plug-ins. But, when I read about the Clarett and my ears (eyes!) pricked up. I am a big Focusrite fan, I have had a number of their devices over the years (although lets not talk about the terrible original Saffire firewire soundcard that we had at work.....we managed to blow three of them up, and when we actually got them working they keep crashing! I have put that in the past, I am willing to forgive and forget!).On top of that, I have always really wanted (since working in MI retail in the early 90's and selling a whole bunch of them) the Red and Green series compressors and EQs. So this seems to have a good heritage.Take the next step in your guitar playing

Thunderbolt and Lightning

So what appealed to me?Well, first off, the 4 Mic Preamps, that is pretty cool for my home studio, as with the ADAT in, I can always connect another 8 channels, so that was a tick and a plus point over the UAD (the 4 pre amps inputs, not the ADAT which you can do on both). As much as I could work with 2 mics, I like the option of being able to have four, for example, when recording a vocalist and stereo mic'd acoustic, or for doing some strange multimicing techniques for sound design, which is something I like to do a lot of.So the Focusrite Clarett 4 Pre gives you a few easy options (so that is a tick). The next thing was the AIR option. The Air option models the ISA preamp in analogue domain by adjusting the input characteristics of the Clarett, again is a massive selling point. This does of course compare to the UAD which does something similar with it's preamp modelling on the input stage, and of course you can have a wider variety of preamps with the UAD, but I know the sound of the ISA and  like the sound if the ISA units (so another tick).Next up, two headphone outputs, so this is only a little thing but I wish more units had multiple headphone outputs, as this makes it so much easier in the smaller studio to set up two seperate mixs, and more importantly, working the same room with a performer, being able to hear what you wish and letting them hear what you want, without having to use up your outputs to create separate mixes! Okay, perhaps this is a case of two different ways to do the same thing, but I love the fact that there are two headphone sockets on the front and they have their own independent levels controls which also have easy access.

Focusrite control

Focusrite control is a nice little app bundled with the unit, which enables you to set up your own studio routing, it is a god send and really a necessity these days. Of course it is a requirement with this unit as you can't turn the AIR function on or switch the Inst/Line input for the first two channels without it. But this is a great and clear implementation of routing sets ups and it has a variety of options, which you can save which saves a lot of time if you might have different requirements for routing on different days.This takes me to my next point, I would liked to have had some of the options that the UAD Apollo Twin has, this being the way that there are buttons on the front panel to switch things on and off and to control say switching between Line and Inst. I would have also REALLY liked a Pad switch, a High pass filter and Phase switch on the panel (or EVEN in the software),The way the dials light up is very helpful, the Halo around the control is pretty awesome where green is good, orange oooh you better watch out, red, tooo late! Although a proper meter might be more precise.

Included plugins

With the Focusrite Clarett  range you get two plugins free from the Focurite Red range. So!!!! Whooo!!! Yes I finally own a Red Compressor! Kind of!!!I have to say that these are great additions to the package but in no way comparable to those on offer from UAD (in terms of different plugins that is not quality!). I think I will stick with the EQ's I have already, but the Red 2 Compressor is going to see a lot of use, it has such a smooth and transpartent character, which I remember from the hardware days. I am very happy with that inclusion.GainIn my first recordings I have had a few issues of setting the gain right, I didn't have the same problems with distortion as I did with the Presonus and it's very narrow window of the sweet spot. I just undercooked a couple of test recordings as I felt that I was WAY too far up the dial then where I should be for the sound source I was recording.But, I should have trusted my ears more than my eyes! I guess that is one issue I have with the Clarrett, the fact the input gain goes from 0-10, which isn't very helpful, I would have like it to have a dB scale and actually would have expected it.

Sounds

As always I say this with a caveat, that the SOUND of a unit is a very subjective area!Personally, I really like the sound of the Clarett. It is very transparent, clean and uncoloured. I think if you are looking for some form of 'character' preamp, then you might need to stick one in front of this, or use plugins. Which is fine totally with me!I like the purity of the sound and when you kick in the Air option, you get a very lovely HF crispness to the sound which isn't overly bright but more 'well founded'. I think I will probably leave this on most of the time for all of the brightest of sources. The output as well has a refinded quality to it, it is much more airy and open than my Presonus (as you would expect)I still would have loved many of the features from the UAD Apollo, but it seemed buying into the UAD ecosystem would mean a large investment in new plugins. I have a large collection of Waves plug-ins, which I do like and as I get older (or maybe more mature), I am actually trying to limit my plug in envy and limit myself to a few which I really love (and I kind of already have those!).I was hankering over the UAD EMT 140 plate, which sounds so nice, but then I was pointed in the direction of Valhalla DSP and wow!!!! I am in love with the Plate Plugin, it is fantastic, and it was only $50!!! Everyone should check this one out for sure! (NB. I don't work for the company or have any affiliation, I just appreciate good DSP work!)

Conclusion

[ctt title="Overall I am very happy with the Focusrite Clarett 4Pre" tweet="Focusrite Clarett 4Pre reviewed @lightb4sound http://bit.ly/1LAGi95 #musictech #review" coverup="hF6bf"]All in all, I am very happy with this unit and I am looking forward to doing many many hours of recording with it.....and I have already started on a few projects and I am very happy!Do I still have a crush on the UAD? Yes, but I think I would realistically have to have gone for the larger (and much more expensive) units to meet my needs.Does the Focusrite Clarett 4 Pre do everything I want? Pretty much and it leaves me cash to get a few more esoteric character plugins. I should also add, knowing my studio and the acoustic wherein, the limitations of this space mean that more cash spent on high-end equipment would have been slightly futile, as I dont have the best or most correct acoustic space to fully apprecaite the subtleties of the units and they would only stand to highlight the problems I have with my recording space.SO yes, this is well worth a look.BUT......the biggest bug bear was the lack of a Thunderbolt cable. Please watch my rant video about this. This isn't just a Focurite issue, it seems all manufacturers produdcing Thunderbolt products are doing the same. It is mostly an Apple thing, but if I have to buy a cable anyway, why not just stick one in a charge me for it. I have to pay anyway!No Thunderbolt Cable IncludedOkay, so the 'hippy zen me' rarely goes on a rant, but here is a little rant video I made about something which really bugged me. Why when you buy Thunderbolt products can't the producer supply an included cable. I know that Apple charge a premimun for these bloody cables, and that is Apple through and through. But seriously, include the cable and charge me for it, I am more happy with that, then getting a device and then having to wait another couple of days to use it while I wait for a cable to be delivered. It actually gives me a negative perception of your company. You could buy a whole bunch at cost and just charge me the same thing and bundle it. It is a good marketing thing! Okay rant over!!![gallery ids="4873,4872,4871"]Pros

• Sounds fantastic
• AIR is amazing
• Functionality and
• Very stable
• Low Latency
• Lovely controls
• Looks awesome in RED!

Cons

• Would have liked a few more outs (even two more!)
• No Pad switch, a High pass filter and Phase options, either in software or on panel.
• Don't like the 1-10 input level control, would have preferred dB level
• THUNDERBOLT CABLE NOT INCLUDED!!! (Watch my RANT video here)

Enjoy!PeaceNeil

Logic Pro X - Quick Tips - Marquee tool and fast editing

So here is the first in a series of Music Tech tutorials I am going to start doing now after a number of requests from you guys out there (and some of my students!). The first is about how to make Logic X behave a little bit more like Pro Tools or Digital Perfomer when it comes to editing using the much misunderstood and neglected Marquee Tool. Using this tool and changing the way you access it will speed up your editing in now time at all and enable you to do in one click what I know some people out there take about 2-4 to achieve.Let me know of any other aspects of Logic which would help you.EnjoyPeaceNeil

Logic Pro X 10.2 review released with Alchemy !!!

Logic Pro X 10.2 review released with Alchemy, this has just popped up on the Apple Website and wow! I have been a Camel Audio user since the days when it was just Ben and he had just released Cameleon 5000 and have all of their products, so was a bit disturbed when I heard they were shutting the doors recently. But now we know why (well the rumours were out there), the fantastic Alchemy is the new synth in Logic. Alchemy has been my go to secret weapon since it came out, so I am guessing that cat is now out of the bag!The interface has been updated and it really does look stunning now! There is much more information about the Alchemy updates here, but in short these seem to be some of the other stand out features updates.Logic internet integrationLogic Pro X lets you publish directly to Apple Music from inside the app, should that rock your world, I am never totally sure about this, but if that is your thing, there it is. Apparently, there is also now built-in support for Gobbler, which means  you can share, collaborate and probably back up too from within Logic. That’s a big deal for both Apple and Gobbler – there’s never been cloud integration like this in a major DAW.From the article some of the other things are as follows

• Force Touch trackpad support for the latest Apple laptops
• Expanded MIDI functionality, including expanded clock options.
• Non-destructively reverse audio regions. YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
• Globally nudge by key command to note values.
• Editing improvements.

So it is a buggy with Alchemy included, and means that there is a really awesome synth, and powerful sample manipulation tool within Logic!!FantasticEnjoyPeaceNeil 

Digital Performer 9 Review

Well it doesn't seem a lifetime ago since DP8 was released and low and behold Motu have just announced Digital Performer 9 review. As you may have read on some of my previous posts I have been a Digital Performer user from version 3.1 onwards, but more and more tend to use Logic these days all the time. That is not a slight at DP, it is just that for some things (and mainly the way I work and my knowledge of Logic means that it is quicker and more efficient to work in Logic) and those things are mainly composing. Why, because call me lazy but I do like region based editing and manipulation, something which is still lacking in DP, I know you can loop sections, but it just seems clunky to me. Having said that when it comes to sound design or film projects, DP really does pip Logic in terms of functionality, so as such I am a bit of a DAW switcher. Anyway, back to DP 9, what does it offer?Well according to the press release, the following

• MX4™ MultiSynth — Now included with DP, MX4 is a powerful 64-bit virtual instrument plug-in featuring a hybrid synthesis engine that combines several forms of synthesis, including subtractive, wavetable, frequency modulation (FM), amplitude modulation (AM) and analog emulation. Included is a new EDM-inspired soundbank with 120 new presets.
• Five new plug-ins — Meticulously crafted plug-ins include DP's new MasterWorks™ FET-76™ emulation of the classic 1176LN limiting amplifier (Revision D/E), MultiFuzz™ model of Craig Anderton's seminal QuadraFuzz™ distortion kit from the 70's, MicroG™ and MicroB™ polyphonic octave generators for guitar and bass, and the mind-blowing MegaSynth™ subtractive synth processor.
• Automation lanes in the Sequence Editor — Display audio and MIDI automation data (volume, pan, plug-in settings, etc.) in separate lanes below each track for easier viewing and editing. Show and hide as many lanes as you wish.
• Spectrogram display in the Sequence Editor — View the spectral content of each audio track, side by side with their waveforms, directly in the Sequence Editor timeline with a colorful, informative visual representation of the frequency content of your audio material.
• Retina display support — View DP's carefully crafted UI themes like Carbon Fiber, Producer and all-new DP9 theme in stunning detail on the exceptionally high image resolution of your Mac's Retina display.
• MusicXML export — Export your DP QuickScribe notation scores as a MusicXML file, which can then be imported into popular music notation applications like Finale™ and Sibelius™. QuickScribe's renowned notation transcription, along with dynamics and many other musical symbols, are preserved during the file transfer.
• Create Tracks command — Add many tracks to your project in one step — even different types of tracks (MIDI, audio, aux, master faders, etc.) all at once.
• Floating plug-in windows — Keep plug-in windows in front of all other DP windows. Set the floating preference globally or choose to float on a per-window basis.
• MIDI Learn for audio plug-ins — Map knobs, faders and switches on your MIDI controller to audio plug-in parameters. Use Digital Performer’s powerful Custom Consoles feature to access advanced programming for the connection.
• Mute MIDI Notes — Use the Mute Tool to temporarily silence both audio regions and MIDI notes, including multiple selected notes.
• Project Notes — Save text notes in your DP project, rather than a separate text document. Log production info, keep a To Do list, build up liner notes.
• More searching — Find Markers, Chunks and plug-in preferences faster with newly added search fields.

Hmm is that really a whole point version upgrade, I am not completely sure, feels more like a point version upgrade. It is SO great that they are adding more synths and plugins to DP, I guess to keep it competitive against the others out there in particularly Logic, but to be honest in 2015 don't most of us have our own favourite external plug-ins and instruments already (many just me). I really like the floating plug-in windows, that has always been a bit of a PITA to the way I work. Finally there is the mute midi notes, but that should have been there from the start perhaps. Automation lanes is great feature finally and so is the spectrogram display, especially for me as I am so used to working with spectrograms. And that kind of is it. We shall have to see what the first reports suggest when they start coming in.Will I upgrade, not sure at the momentEnjoyPeaceNeil

A Father's Love - Amanda-Rose Hill's new Single

Here is a little teaser of UK Country artist Amanda-Rose Hill's new Single A father's love, which I co-wrote and recorded vocals for here in the UK, before it was sent off to be recorded in Nashville. Check it out, more info to follow!EnjoyPeaceNeil