Hi everyone,
I've just joined and I'm still"picking" my way around.
I'm old (in my 60s) - but, inside, I'm 25 - wondering where everyone went!!
I've been playing my keyboards since they were called "electric organs" ? and have been involved for about 30 years in recording in one form or another.
I've recently made the jump from Cubase 4 to 10 - and boy - what a learning curve!!!!
I've only recently come back to my music after 8 years not playing - after breaking my back and ending up in a wheelchair. I sort of "lost my mojo" and went to a "very dark place".
I had built myself a lovely air conditioned studio - which was my pride and joy. After my accident, I couldn't even get in door and live playing was just too painful.
I sorta lost the will to live to be honest....
Last year, my "music room" was built - which is a fully functioning studio, packed with technology - designed so I can operate it all from my "special" chair.
It has given me a new lease of life - so, as they say, "I'm back"!!!
I play keyboards and, although I've got a number that I used to use live, I tend to just use a Novation 61 key midi controller. I do play bass - but, playing it sat down can be tricky - and, with all the software I've got, I can do it easier on the keys.
Left to my own devices, I tend to write "classical" type of music (with the occasional numbers that I don't even know the genre of).
I've always found that working and writing with others tends to get the creative juices flowing and all sorts of stuff "happens" (from heavy rock, through Pink Floyd onto folk rock and all stations musical).
I can't get other people in my "studio" and I can't really get out to visit them or play live - hence my arrival on this site.
I'm just "dipping my toe in water" (bit pointless for me really ?) to see what might happen.
I've got some projects I'm working on - but no idea where to go with them.
Perhaps that might be a starting point.
I'm hoping this might help me replace the bit of my life I lost and look forward to making some new friends.
Sorry it's a bit of an essay - I do that ....?
Paul
Originally posted by paulkearnsmusic on Sun 29 Sep, 2019
#3988 Posted Mon 30 Sep, 2019 2:25 pm
Hi Paul, Welcome. I found your story touching. Sounds like you've been through some very rough times. As long as you are content with your new music room, I'm sure you'll find this site a great help and a lot of fun. You'll probably find others here with the same musical tastes and interests. I am a fan of Pink Floyd and have been from the early days. When I first got involved with music back in the early 70's, the only keyboardist's I liked was Richard Wright and Jon Lord. I initially shunned the era of Hammond B3 (the 60's Rascals and such) because I associated it with the music my parents liked. I did eventually grow up and now can appreciate anything done well. Anyway, good times are ahead if you give it a chance and be patient. If you want to make up for lost time, you'll likley have more work here than you'll have time to complete! It is work. But it's fun. Cheers, Vic
Originally posted by V1CTOR on Mon 30 Sep, 2019
Hi Vic,
Thanks for your lovely welcome. Yes, it's been a tough decade, not just because of my back problems, but the fact that Lloyd's bank decided that I was a "spent force" and pulled the plug on my two businesses at the same time - simply because they thought I couldn't run them any more!! We were the biggest importer in the UK of vaping products (shifting 2000 units a week 10 years ago!!) and had a 10 bedroom backpacker's hostel. They took all our working capital and paid back the business loans we had (illegally) - leaving us high and dry because "they couldn't see a future in electronic cigarettes". Cost me about £10m and most of our pension fund. The legal ramifications are still rumbling on. No wonder I almost went under!! How to go from well off to benefits in 2 years - through no fault of your own!!
Still - onward and upward.
You mentioned Pink Floyd - "Comfortably numb" was our "party piece" in my last band. We'd wack that out through our 7.5kw pa system as our last number. I recorded it once ( https://youtu.be/ZKImwhr6oxM ). Play it LOUD :). Recorded it live on a Yamaha AWG16 - but the bass drum mic failed. Luckily, I listened to the overhead mic and there was a very small rattle every time the bass drum was kicked. So I "notch filtered" the rattle, used it as a midi trigger to fire a sampler containing a single bass drum "thump" and, hey presto - the bass drum was back :). That's how I put that track together - actually managed that using Cubase 3!!
I'm really looking forward to getting involved collaborating with others. I've always worked better when bouncing ideas around with other people.
For a while, I'm just going the mooch around until I get the nerve to get involved. One thing the last decade did to me was destroy my self confidence - and this "adventure" is me trying to "get back to normal" - or as close as that's possible for me now. I might need a little help and will probably ask some daft questions from time to time.
Anyway - nice to hear from you. Thanks for taking the time :).
If that link works, enjoy the track!!
Cheers
Paul.
Thanks for your lovely welcome. Yes, it's been a tough decade, not just because of my back problems, but the fact that Lloyd's bank decided that I was a "spent force" and pulled the plug on my two businesses at the same time - simply because they thought I couldn't run them any more!! We were the biggest importer in the UK of vaping products (shifting 2000 units a week 10 years ago!!) and had a 10 bedroom backpacker's hostel. They took all our working capital and paid back the business loans we had (illegally) - leaving us high and dry because "they couldn't see a future in electronic cigarettes". Cost me about £10m and most of our pension fund. The legal ramifications are still rumbling on. No wonder I almost went under!! How to go from well off to benefits in 2 years - through no fault of your own!!
Still - onward and upward.
You mentioned Pink Floyd - "Comfortably numb" was our "party piece" in my last band. We'd wack that out through our 7.5kw pa system as our last number. I recorded it once ( https://youtu.be/ZKImwhr6oxM ). Play it LOUD :). Recorded it live on a Yamaha AWG16 - but the bass drum mic failed. Luckily, I listened to the overhead mic and there was a very small rattle every time the bass drum was kicked. So I "notch filtered" the rattle, used it as a midi trigger to fire a sampler containing a single bass drum "thump" and, hey presto - the bass drum was back :). That's how I put that track together - actually managed that using Cubase 3!!
I'm really looking forward to getting involved collaborating with others. I've always worked better when bouncing ideas around with other people.
For a while, I'm just going the mooch around until I get the nerve to get involved. One thing the last decade did to me was destroy my self confidence - and this "adventure" is me trying to "get back to normal" - or as close as that's possible for me now. I might need a little help and will probably ask some daft questions from time to time.
Anyway - nice to hear from you. Thanks for taking the time :).
If that link works, enjoy the track!!
Cheers
Paul.
#3989 Posted Tue 01 Oct, 2019 3:46 am
Hi Everyone. I just joined up here. I go by Zen Duder that's a long story. It looks like a super site here. I'm excited about learning my way around. I currently own and operate Zen Duder Studio at the Boffin Hollow Resort in North Carolina. I am also a photographer and I sell my work primarily through Adobe stock but I have a photography website at zenduder.zenfolio.com with a large studio photo gallery. If you want more info about our studio and gear please visit zenduder.com and check out our gear list. I started recording things in second grade. By high school I was in a band and recording with a TEAC A3340s Reel to Reel tape recorder I worked all summer as a bagboy for that's how old I am. Went to college, got an engineering degree and worked in computers for a while so I do have a technical background. So I have been working inside the box since Cool Edit Pro I doubt many people remember that one. That's around 25 years of working with software DAWS. I have kept plug ins from the very beginning. I have over 2 decades of professional experience mixing and mastering but I am mostly a behind the scenes sort of dude. I also do a lot of work outside the box we have a large collection of vintage amps and instruments as well as a large investment in outboard preamps/compressors etc.
I started out playing electric guitar but over the years have progressed to electric bass, electronic rhythm, acoustic guitar, lap steel guitar, keyboards, and mandolin. I am happy to audition for session work and can play in just about any genre.
So I'm really happy to be here. I'm hoping to meet some new friends. I started out in hard rock zeppelin pink floyd to name a few and jazz but at the moment personally I am interested collaberating in the downtempo/lounge/ambient/trip hop area, working on soundtracks and things like that, but I am interested in any project from rock to trance and have worked in all of those genres. Spent most of my professional time last year mixing jazz. Spending most of my time this year working with a very talented country artist and his manager to get him a record deal.
Thanks for taking the time to get through all of my ramblings LOL. Zen Duder
Anyway, I am friendly and am looking forward to meeting some new friends who also love to make music.
I love music. I know a lot of people in music, and I'm a team player. I have also worked out a new system for music lessons, mostly for already mid to advanced [professional] students. It's about re wiring your brain body connections for rhythm. If you're interested, I do a sequence of 10 lessons for $300 and I charge at the back end. In other words if you aren't happy with the results you don't pay. More of our services are available at our website.
So anyway I didn't want this to read like an advertisement even though it probably does, I'm just here to make new friends and get involved in interesting projects.
I started out playing electric guitar but over the years have progressed to electric bass, electronic rhythm, acoustic guitar, lap steel guitar, keyboards, and mandolin. I am happy to audition for session work and can play in just about any genre.
So I'm really happy to be here. I'm hoping to meet some new friends. I started out in hard rock zeppelin pink floyd to name a few and jazz but at the moment personally I am interested collaberating in the downtempo/lounge/ambient/trip hop area, working on soundtracks and things like that, but I am interested in any project from rock to trance and have worked in all of those genres. Spent most of my professional time last year mixing jazz. Spending most of my time this year working with a very talented country artist and his manager to get him a record deal.
Thanks for taking the time to get through all of my ramblings LOL. Zen Duder
Anyway, I am friendly and am looking forward to meeting some new friends who also love to make music.
I love music. I know a lot of people in music, and I'm a team player. I have also worked out a new system for music lessons, mostly for already mid to advanced [professional] students. It's about re wiring your brain body connections for rhythm. If you're interested, I do a sequence of 10 lessons for $300 and I charge at the back end. In other words if you aren't happy with the results you don't pay. More of our services are available at our website.
So anyway I didn't want this to read like an advertisement even though it probably does, I'm just here to make new friends and get involved in interesting projects.
#4021 Posted Mon 21 Oct, 2019 5:39 pm
Hi Everyone. I just joined up here. I go by Zen Duder that's a long story. It looks like a super site here. I'm excited about learning my way around. I currently own and operate Zen Duder Studio at the Boffin Hollow Resort in North Carolina. I am also a photographer and I sell my work primarily through Adobe stock but I have a photography website at zenduder.zenfolio.com with a large studio photo gallery. If you want more info about our studio and gear please visit zenduder.com and check out our gear list. I started recording things in second grade. By high school I was in a band and recording with a TEAC A3340s Reel to Reel tape recorder I worked all summer as a bagboy for that's how old I am. Went to college, got an engineering degree and worked in computers for a while so I do have a technical background. So I have been working inside the box since Cool Edit Pro I doubt many people remember that one. That's around 25 years of working with software DAWS. I have kept plug ins from the very beginning. I have over 2 decades of professional experience mixing and mastering but I am mostly a behind the scenes sort of dude. I also do a lot of work outside the box we have a large collection of vintage amps and instruments as well as a large investment in outboard preamps/compressors etc.
I started out playing electric guitar but over the years have progressed to electric bass, electronic rhythm, acoustic guitar, lap steel guitar, keyboards, and mandolin. I am happy to audition for session work and can play in just about any genre.
So I'm really happy to be here. I'm hoping to meet some new friends. I started out in hard rock zeppelin pink floyd to name a few and jazz but at the moment personally I am interested collaberating in the downtempo/lounge/ambient/trip hop area, working on soundtracks and things like that, but I am interested in any project from rock to trance and have worked in all of those genres. Spent most of my professional time last year mixing jazz. Spending most of my time this year working with a very talented country artist and his manager to get him a record deal.
Thanks for taking the time to get through all of my ramblings LOL. Zen Duder
Anyway, I am friendly and am looking forward to meeting some new friends who also love to make music.
I love music. I know a lot of people in music, and I'm a team player. I have also worked out a new system for music lessons, mostly for already mid to advanced [professional] students. It's about re wiring your brain body connections for rhythm. If you're interested, I do a sequence of 10 lessons for $300 and I charge at the back end. In other words if you aren't happy with the results you don't pay. More of our services are available at our website.
So anyway I didn't want this to read like an advertisement even though it probably does, I'm just here to make new friends and get involved in interesting projects.
Originally posted by ZenDuder on Mon 21 Oct, 2019
Hi Zen, welcome to ProCollabs - you've certainly got an impressive back story, I'll be checking out your studio's website.
Looking forward to hearing some of your music and collaborations :-)
#4022 Posted Tue 22 Oct, 2019 4:00 am
Hi Zen, welcome to ProCollabs - you've certainly got an impressive back story, I'll be checking out your studio's website.
Looking forward to hearing some of your music and collaborations :-)
Originally posted by Vuya on Tue 22 Oct, 2019
Thank you for taking the time to read it Vuya. Also thanks for taking a look at the studio. We did the studio website ourselves I'm sure it could be better but like many of us here I imagine, I wish I could just make music. I don't do any social media etc. I just don't have the time or interest really see above lol. But I'm hoping to make some new friends here. I'm networked pretty good I know a lot of IRL artists and studio guys so if you or anyone else need anything or have a question I might be able to help anyone out with don't be shy about getting in touch that's why I'm here.
#4023 Posted Tue 22 Oct, 2019 9:48 am
Hi Everyone. I just joined up here. I go by Zen Duder that's a long story. It looks like a super site here. I'm excited about learning my way around. I currently own and operate Zen Duder Studio at the Boffin Hollow Resort in North Carolina. I am also a photographer and I sell my work primarily through Adobe stock but I have a photography website at zenduder.zenfolio.com with a large studio photo gallery. If you want more info about our studio and gear please visit zenduder.com and check out our gear list. I started recording things in second grade. By high school I was in a band and recording with a TEAC A3340s Reel to Reel tape recorder I worked all summer as a bagboy for that's how old I am. Went to college, got an engineering degree and worked in computers for a while so I do have a technical background. So I have been working inside the box since Cool Edit Pro I doubt many people remember that one. That's around 25 years of working with software DAWS. I have kept plug ins from the very beginning. I have over 2 decades of professional experience mixing and mastering but I am mostly a behind the scenes sort of dude. I also do a lot of work outside the box we have a large collection of vintage amps and instruments as well as a large investment in outboard preamps/compressors etc.
I started out playing electric guitar but over the years have progressed to electric bass, electronic rhythm, acoustic guitar, lap steel guitar, keyboards, and mandolin. I am happy to audition for session work and can play in just about any genre.
So I'm really happy to be here. I'm hoping to meet some new friends. I started out in hard rock zeppelin pink floyd to name a few and jazz but at the moment personally I am interested collaberating in the downtempo/lounge/ambient/trip hop area, working on soundtracks and things like that, but I am interested in any project from rock to trance and have worked in all of those genres. Spent most of my professional time last year mixing jazz. Spending most of my time this year working with a very talented country artist and his manager to get him a record deal.
Thanks for taking the time to get through all of my ramblings LOL. Zen Duder
Anyway, I am friendly and am looking forward to meeting some new friends who also love to make music.
I love music. I know a lot of people in music, and I'm a team player. I have also worked out a new system for music lessons, mostly for already mid to advanced [professional] students. It's about re wiring your brain body connections for rhythm. If you're interested, I do a sequence of 10 lessons for $300 and I charge at the back end. In other words if you aren't happy with the results you don't pay. More of our services are available at our website.
So anyway I didn't want this to read like an advertisement even though it probably does, I'm just here to make new friends and get involved in interesting projects.
Originally posted by ZenDuder on Mon 21 Oct, 2019
Hey Zen - welcome to the site, hope we can work together on something. :)
#4024 Posted Tue 22 Oct, 2019 1:31 pm
Hey everyone new here! Is this site still active? It doesn't seem like there is alot
#4060 Posted Fri 29 Nov, 2019 4:20 pm
Hey everyone new here! Is this site still active? It doesn't seem like there is alot
Originally posted by DreInfinite on Fri 29 Nov, 2019
Hi DreInfinite
Welcome! Yes, the site is active. It looks like you just joined yesterday and have only just posted a project. I'm wondering what it was that led you to the conclusion that there is not a lot here?
Have you tried inviting vocalists to your project directly yet? That's probably a good first move if you didn't already. If you did, then you probably need to exercise some more patience and respect for people's time. Most will reply to you in reasonable timeframe. If they don't, just put them on your personal blacklist as there are many members that open accounts and never do anything on the site (welcome to the internet). You can look for vocalists in the 'Find Artists' area and you can also see from there who are the more active members too.
If your intentions are more towards professional vocalists then you should also consider indicating that on your project (like what the project goals are for the song's release etc.) or by offering to pay them using the 'work for hire' feature in your project.
If your project is just something for fun, then probably the best thing you can do is start to become active yourself and try to generate some rapor with other members. You can do that by listening and commenting on other projects, posting in forums, and giving likes on songs. This will take time and effort, but you can't expect members to jump all over a project posted by a new member with no reputation. It takes time to write lyrics or prepare and record an audition, and often times, new members post and vanish, resulting in a lot of wasted time for our more serious and dedicated members; hence, rapor and trust is extremly important if you want results here.
If you have any questions about how things work or need any help, just post in the forums and someone will hopefully be able to point you in the right direction.
Welcome to the site. Great to have you here and looking forward to hearing your music!
#4061 Posted Sat 30 Nov, 2019 6:06 am
A message posted on Mon 16 Dec, 2019 7:37 pm was deleted
hi, everyone!
I am a 37yr guitarist that's good at most musical instruments "violins" are my kryptonite! I have this friend named autism that makes it hard for people to understand him or the way he communicates at time's but he is getting better every day. anyway! ..Eye Roll! it's hard for me to talk about my self, music is a way I best express my emotions! I am better at that than typing or talking lol! I just joined up to this cool site from Kompoz. been there 8+ years and needed an upgrade! people I collaborated on Kompoz moved on to better things:( so now it's my turn lol:)
I am a 37yr guitarist that's good at most musical instruments "violins" are my kryptonite! I have this friend named autism that makes it hard for people to understand him or the way he communicates at time's but he is getting better every day. anyway! ..Eye Roll! it's hard for me to talk about my self, music is a way I best express my emotions! I am better at that than typing or talking lol! I just joined up to this cool site from Kompoz. been there 8+ years and needed an upgrade! people I collaborated on Kompoz moved on to better things:( so now it's my turn lol:)
#4085 Posted Mon 27 Jan, 2020 4:16 am
Hi Paul, Welcome. I found your story touching. Sounds like you've been through some very rough times. As long as you are content with your new music room, I'm sure you'll find this site a great help and a lot of fun. You'll probably find others here with the same musical tastes and interests. I am a fan of Pink Floyd and have been from the early days. When I first got involved with music back in the early 70's, the only keyboardist's I liked was Richard Wright and Jon Lord. I initially shunned the era of Hammond B3 (the 60's Rascals and such) because I associated it with the music my parents liked. I did eventually grow up and now can appreciate anything done well. Anyway, good times are ahead if you give it a chance and be patient. If you want to make up for lost time, you'll likley have more work here than you'll have time to complete! It is work. But it's fun. Cheers, Vic