Month: August 2015

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Music Monday: Software Amps

Here’s Dweezil Zappa endorsing Native Instrument’s Guitar Rig 5. I’ve used this software, it’s actually pretty good, very flexible, awesome sounding, and costs about $200.

There are now several kinds of software amplifier emulators, some of which are 100% free and are just as good. The biggest advantage to using a software guitar setup is that you can not only configure it in ways that a physical setup can’t be, you can pack dozens of amps and effects into a laptop and bring them with you. You can also share those sounds with other players!

[youtube_sc url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0gqCtPcN5NE”]

Zappa hits on a lot of these points, which are true for software setups as a whole. Obviously, some will sound better or have more features than others, but for the most part, they all work the same.

Some things to keep in mind when using a software amp (or any modeler, for that matter):

  • It can be as simple or complex as you want
  • It can do things physical setups can’t
  • Just like an amp, it’s going to have a unique sound
  • It may not “feel” the same, but that’s not bad

Once you get past the idea of it not sounding like you “think” it should sound, you can start playing with the unlimited possibilities, and make something useful with it. Make your own sounds, your own set lists, play with effects and see what you can do. You are free to create!

Is a software amp/effect setup right for you? They’re more flexible and cheaper than vintage/boutique hardware. If nothing else, it’s a good tool to have in your arsenal. I, for one, have no qualms about using a laptop guitar amp simulator live. And if you try a free one, what have you got to lose?

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Caustic 3.1 In Linux

As I previously wrote about Caustic 2 running in Linux with wine emulation, version 3.1 of Caustic has come out with loads of great new features. Simply put, it’s now practically a full-blown electronic music production program. The Android version is $10 (well worth it) and the Windows desktop version remains free.

The list of improvements is substantial:

  • More instruments per project
  • New instruments
  • New features in old instruments
  • more effects
  • more MIDI functions (yay!)
  • Export features
  • UI improvements

I can’t say enough good things about this app. The fact that it runs under Linux is even more exciting, as that wasn’t done intentionally, but it works anyway. I highly recommend it. Continue reading “Caustic 3.1 In Linux”

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Trust In the Lord

This post is probably one of the hardest I’ve ever had to write. I’ve been thinking about it, off and on, for 9 months.

I’ve got plenty of family and friends who care about me, but wholeheartedly reject my religion. I’m going on record saying that I can care about somebody and disagree with their lifestyle, opinions and choices. I think there’s much more to a person than who they want to sleep with, what substances they use, or what religion they follow. But people are selfish and narcissistic, and sometimes it’s easier for them to just shout “Prejudice! Bigotry!” than actually dealing with the issue. If you really believe in accepting the person as a whole, then you need to read this entire post. I just pray that if you disagree, you can disagree without hate, because I wrote this without any malice or hate. It’s just a simple observation, nothing more. Continue reading “Trust In the Lord”

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My Thoughts On the 2015 Hugo Awards

As a (admittedly lacking) science fiction reader/author, I’ve been following the rumpus surrounding the 2015 Hugo Awards for Science Fiction. Simply put, they’re fan-based awards, given to works of science fiction* that exemplify the best talent in the industry.

* Or at least, that’s what it used to be. In the last 2 years, we’ve discovered it was a thinly disguised club who used it to promote works that were neither science fiction, nor the best that the industry had to offer.

Naturally, people were upset about this and pressed back, and so the Hugo Awards ended up burning themselves to the ground instead of letting “unapproved” authors and editors get their coveted awards.

Honestly, Larry Corriea explains it perfectly here.

I’ve noticed over the last year or so, with GamerGate and now the Hugo Awards, that being a moderate in these areas is ineffective and counterproductive. Not wanting to hurt people’s feelings ends up backfiring 99% of the time, because the people you’re trying not to offend don’t care if they offend you.

So as believers, do we simply smile and back away? Do we take our toys and go play in another sandbox? Or do we put our foot down, insist on playing by the same rules, and beat them at their own game? Continue reading “My Thoughts On the 2015 Hugo Awards”

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Monday Motivation

As of yesterday, I weighed 165 pounds, which means I’ve lost approximately 10 pounds in the last 6 weeks. I think I’m going to focus on nutrition and building muscle mass at this point. Even though I could probably lose a bit more weight, I think I would be better served by increasing my strength and endurance, now that I’m within a few pounds of my ideal weight.

Here’s some music to get you moving on this Monday morning.

[youtube_sc url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbVZJEeq2Ms”]

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Upgrading The Trucker

I’m stuck here. I’m debating on what to upgrade on the Beast of Burden. It has to be sturdy, reliable, inexpensive, and functional.

My Surly LHT is currently using Tektro V-brakes and Tektro R520 levers (which work well). It has 7-sp downtube shifters which are problematic for shifting while sprinting through intersections. It has a custom built (by me) dynohub front wheel and a 7-sp cassette rear wheel (still rolling well). Cheap Shimano Deore/Tourney derailleurs (which work well).

I guess my real dilemma is that I want to get the bike lighter, and modernize it somewhat, but without having to buy a whole new drivetrain. I don’t really need more gears. I want to be able to commute on it, and use it for group rides. This will require me to get a separate wheelset… keep the dynohub for commuting, and a lightweight set for charity group weekend rides. I can just strip off the rack and lights, and ride it with light wheels.

Do I just upgrade shifters and keep it 3×7? Future wheels can use a cassette spacer. I’m okay with that. But that requires going to mini-V brakes, which rules out fenders and fat tires in the future. (I won’t do cantis or Travel Agents… they just suck. Too complicated.) Continue reading “Upgrading The Trucker”

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Blood Pressure Check

After a month of riding my bike to work, my blood pressure has dropped from 140/90 to 110/80, and I think it will keep going lower.

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While riding mountain bikes with my Scout troop this past weekend, I did manage to drop my bike’s chain, causing me to smash my left knee into the handlebar. I’ve got a nice fat knot the size of a golf ball just above my kneecap!

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Perfection Is The Enemy Of Creativity

For a lot of people, the desire to be creative has been stamped out of their daily thinking. It never crosses their mind that they have the time or the ability to create something.

For me, the realization of this happened when I wrote my first book, during NaNoWriMo. One of the tips they give is to “lock away your inner editor” and just write whatever comes to your mind. And for people like me who have high standards of quality, that works, surprisingly.

Why is this? It’s because of the fear of our output being “not good enough” from only the first draft. We look at our incomplete musical or graphical or literary first drafts, and think “this really sucks.” But if you stop there, that’s the end of the story (pun intended), and nothing gets created.

Freedom to create comes when you lock away your inner editor long enough to get past the initial aversion. Even if it’s bad, a written book is closer to publication than an incomplete one. A song with all the parts there is closer to being “finished” than one with a well-mixed intro and nothing else.

You can’t edit or polish something that isn’t there. Worry about perfection after you’ve actually completed something. In some cases, you’ll realize that the end result probably doesn’t need that much fixing anyway. You get better with it over time.

So quit double-guessing yourself, put aside the fear, and finish something. Anything, even if it’s bad, is better than not creating at all.