Kev's Take on Music Making and More

New micro dance track

2009-07-14T04:33:00.000-07:00

It's been a long time since I have done any micro dance. For those who do not know what the micro dance is i will try to explain.

Micro dance is a sub genre of dance music (it's my invention, of course). The music is as simple as possible. Very few instruments and musical phrases are being used. No mastering. No post production. No polish at all. It's rough and pure. Usually, the first take on some pre-made midi clips in ableton may be considered micro dance music.

So here we go! Enjoy a new micro piece from me (see below). You can check out my micro dance album too. it's called Thursday Blues.

Listen to kevkondro_revival.mp3 (right click + save target as to download)

2YouKauke MixTape Playlist

2009-07-13T23:13:00.000-07:00

2YouKauke MixTape playlist

1. Alek Stark & J. The Barber – Without the Music
2. Tonic – Phoenix
3. White Trash – White Trash (We need each other)
4. Freaq Nasty – Sil Num Tao
5. Initial Research – Step up
6. Backdraft – Off the Wall
7. Plaza de Funk – Get On Down (JDS remix)
8. Neztic – Aerosoul (Pilch Rmx)
9. DJ Wood – Poppa Large
10. Fly by Night – Bring the Chicken
11. The Killergroove Formula – Out of Money (Malente’s Stupid Ass Remix)
12. Seb Marx – 70’ Bratz
13. Dr. Awkward – Survival Instinct
14. Gerry King & Matt Fair – Totally Lose Control
15. Koushik – Be With

Download mix (right click and save target as to download)

Alternatively, you can listen to it right online. Just use the flash player to your right.

Ableton Live - Slice Wave to Midi

2009-07-13T05:16:00.000-07:00

Extremely useful tutorial on how to convert wave sample into midi clip in ableton. It allows you to control sliced pieces of the wave sample (e.g. drum re-edits).

Slice Wave to Midi

How to Create Breakdowns | Audiotuts Screencasts

2009-07-12T23:11:00.000-07:00

My favorite audio tips and tricks site audiotuts+ has launched a new audio tut on creating breakdowns. However, besides posting mp3 samples accompanying the text they now have screencasts available. See below.

Step 1

Step 2

Step3

Free breaks djset by 2YouKauke

2009-07-10T02:44:00.000-07:00

Hereby presenting a breaks mixtape from 2YouKauke from Unsound Method.

Download mix (right click and save target as to download)

Alternatively, you can listen to it right online. Just use the flash player to your right.

Quit Your Day Job and Become Pro Musician

2009-07-09T23:27:00.001-07:00

No really? Think about it. How long you think you can handle that rat's race anymore? Maybe just quit your day job and go on tour? Watch the video first!

Mrs. Robinson - Pomplamoose covers Simon and Garfunkel

2009-07-07T12:51:00.000-07:00

Guys do it again ;)

previously:

http://kev-on-music.blogspot.com/2009/02/hail-mary-pomplamoose-videosong.html

http://kev-on-music.blogspot.com/2009/01/electro-harmonix-voice-box-or-piece-of.html

Ableton live act no1 | take8

2009-07-02T13:49:00.000-07:00

Take8 has come very shortly after the take7. I've followed some of the advice found in audiotuts+ post about the saturation effect and what it does to the mix. Now and again the set has got a completely new feel to it's mood and expression.

listen to kevkondro_live_act_no1_take8.mp3 (right click and save target as to download)

Empire of the Sun videos

2009-07-01T14:15:00.000-07:00

Empire of the sun has really got a uniquely pleasant electric feel to their music and the below tracks just prove it. Vocals somewhat remind of the MGMT guys. Learned about them just a few days ago from a mate.

Empire of the Sun - We Are The People (HD)

Empire of the sun Standing on the shore

Ableton live act no1 | take7

2009-07-01T01:25:00.000-07:00

Take7 that i have just mixed includes all of the latest changes i had to the liveset by far: Most recent samples, drum sequences. Also theme development is somewhat different from the last go. I've also changed the live's reverb effect to ariesverb in most parts.

download kevkondro_live_act_no1_take7.mp3 (right click and save target as to download)

Sound Designer’s Telephone Game { sound + collab }

2009-06-30T14:09:00.001-07:00

Play the old game “telephone (aka broken telephone)” in a completely new way.

How will it work?

If you want to get involved, send me an email, add a comment below or use twitter @soundplusdesign and I will put you on a list.

When it’s your turn, I’ll send you the sound in its current state for you to add one (only one) effect. You don’t have to over do it, by the time a few of us are involved, I’m sure it will sound pretty wacky.

Make sure to keep the sound at [16bit; 44.1kHz; .wav or .aif].

When you’re done, send it back to me. Please let me know what effect or plugin you used and give me any info you want added (url, name…)

When everyone on the list has processed the sound, I will post the original, the last and all the ones in between with the description you gave to me.

This should be a fun experiment. Don’t hesitate to email me with any questions!

Ableton live act no1 | take6

2009-06-24T06:27:00.000-07:00

Here comes take number 6. Considerably longer set, a couple of new themes added. Planned additions: more samples, more varied beats, as it is still pretty minimal in sound. Overall, i am almost there! Yet, need to master mixing!

download kevkondro_live_act_no1_take6.mp3 (right click and save target as to download)

AriesVerb sample tune

2009-06-19T04:42:00.000-07:00

Just composed a tune with AriesVerb effect applied.

ariesverb.mp3 (right click save target as to download)

Free VST | AriesVerb

2009-06-19T00:19:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I had a little fiddle diddle with a free VST plugin, the AriesVerb. it's basically a multi effects processor with reverb, delay, tube, and chorus fx's on board. I wanted to bring some life in the static bass sound. Think i achieved it by applying AriesVerb presets for bass (bass fatten I, II, or III).

It's probably the most common of all audio effects including equalizer, chorus, delay, compressor etc. yet I am still learning to use the reverb fx effectively. More importantly, i am training my ears to hear it as I change dry/wet setting let alone its other settings. Hope this little finding will help my cause. Some bits and pieces about the AriesVerb.

Multi-effects processor

AriesVerb is a multi-effects processor in VST format with extremely low CPU usage. Examples of what it is capable of include but are not limited to:

Reverbs
Delays, Echoes and Reflections
Choruses and Flangers
Stereo Transformations
Body Resonances, Filters
Distortion
Dynamics
Pitch shifting
FM effects
... plus arbitrary blends and crossovers of any of the above

NOTE. The newest version is not yet available but you can download previous versions.

Ableton live act no1 | take5

2009-06-17T11:26:00.000-07:00

Practice makes perfect they say... Back with another take. The fifth one... Tried to remedy the glitches and bugs from take4... I did this set having my monitor volume a bit louder. Think it helped a lot. No more I played around with the drum track levels. Kept them subtly in the same position and focused on other instruments adjusting to the drums and performing on filter frequencies.

Instrument and arrangement wise i edited a few things. Varied some drum sequences. Changed some notation in one of the tracks. Think I am all set this far. Need to start a new theme...

download kevkondro_live_act_no1_take5.mp3 (right click and save target as to download)

Oops! Site Revamped

2009-06-17T06:16:00.000-07:00

Just revamped kev on music...

Ableton live act no1 | take4!

2009-06-16T10:24:00.000-07:00

Hours ago had a session... Posting the recording of take4 at my ableton liveset number 1. On this go i am doing the liveset with more samples in, also one more theme has been added. Samples used this far:

and some house drum samples I've had from long ago. The set is sort of shaping up but still lacks the backbone, which i am still working on. The main 4x4 beat that sometimes kicks in too loud or too silent is i think the main issue still.

download kevkondro_live_act_no1_take4.mp3 (right click and save target as to download)

Ableton Live Act No1 | Take3

2009-06-12T00:21:00.000-07:00

Still tweaking some stuff & adding more melodies, themes. Considering the matter objectively, must say a lot of work still needs to be done. One thing i am still stuggling with is the level adjusment. In some cases i am slamming in the new midi clips way too loud.

download kevkondro_live_act_no1_take3.mp3 (right click and save target as to download)

Ableton Live Act No1 | Take2

2009-06-09T00:11:00.000-07:00

download live act no1 take2 (right click and save target as to download)

Ableton Live Act No 1 | Take1

2009-06-07T14:18:00.000-07:00

Before too long I'm on a mission again. It's this time I am doing a live act or live set on ableton. Differently than in lauras project on this set I am playing pre-written midi clips, and samples. I have mapped 2 channels of my m-audio oxygen v2 controls: levels & cutoffs.

download live act no1 take1 (right click and save target as to download)

Lauras Fairytale Project Final Take

2009-06-02T01:05:00.000-07:00

download final take (right click and save target as to download)

Lauras fairytale project live video

2009-06-01T03:21:00.000-07:00

lauras fairytale project live from kev on Vimeo.

The concert as well as the project are now over. Now it's time to take a small vacation from music making. Unfortunately, in the turmoil of the festivity i did forget to record the performance. However, I will do the final studio liveset and it will available here on kev-on-music.

Up to date photo of my bedroom studio

2009-05-28T23:04:00.001-07:00

Take 7 Lauras Fairytale Project

2009-05-28T00:53:00.000-07:00

Alrighty. I have a new version. At the moment that's the one i will chase in the concert. Take7 is much shorter, more intense, yet softer. The composition pieces are clearer. The intro scene is now set to properly fade away.

download take7 (right click and save target as to download)

Lauras Fairytale Project take6

2009-05-26T13:59:00.000-07:00

download take6 (right click and save target as to download)

Notes:
Added intro scene, changed the structure a bit too. Feel somewhat different.
mapped more audio levels to the midi keyboard (drums, bass, keys).