Tag Archives: Synth Pop

Updated Song – I’m Still Here

About three weeks ago I posted a new video. I hated my voice on it, so I decided to do an all instrumental version. Well, I’ve been thinking about it and decided to rerecord the vocals. The results are more in tune (good!), but I am not sure if my voice is better…. Of course, being in tune helps a lot ;)

Before we go on, here is the new version:

(Click here if you don’t see the video below)

Lyrics are on video and also original post. Tech details on original post except the added organ is the Rev 2.

OK, a little info about the changes.

I practiced it a little, which I didn’t do before. Part of it is memorizing the words. I still held the lyrics in my hand (you can hear them rustling in a few places…), but I didn’t have to concentrate on the words as much. I also practiced hitting the right notes. Sounds obvious, but if it is brand new, you are reading the words, etc., well… I played around with interpretation, but when I recorded I found that if I didn’t put 100% into singing in tune, I was just as bad as the original version.

I also added a vocal harmony line on the chorus. It isn’t perfect, but I like it :)

I also added an organ part to the chorus the second and third time through, and another organ part just the third time – that makes the chorus grow each time. To me it makes the entire song less static.

One problem is that I didn’t spend a lot of time on the levels and mix, so there are a few mix issues with that fuller third chorus :( (Technical part – to avoid bad distortion, compressor and limiter change volume, which causes “pumping” in the volume.) But I noticed after I posted the video, so… There are a few places where the vocal was over-recorded, so a little distortion there. Overall, though, I think it is much better. (Singing in tune helps 😉 )

Anyway, I do hope this is better than the original vocal version and even better than the instrumental version.

The GraveYard Strut – New Music (Instrumental…)

I recorded a new song the other day and put up a video. I think the animation I made for it is pretty cool – watch for the animation! Anyway, it is only two minutes long and I do not sing. Yea, no awful voice! So here it is, just a quick ditty:

(Click here if you don’t see the video below)

Now the story:

I was playing around with my music gear on Friday. At one point I decided to try to recreate a bass sound similar to the Arp Odyssey bass sounds that I like on my Prophet Rev 2. Listen to the beginning of the video in my review of the Korg version of the Odyssey to hear what I am talking about. Anyway, I came up with a sound I like, then changed it ;) Playing with my new sound, I soon had a little bass line that I liked. I decided to record it so I could figure out something to play with it.

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New Song – I’m Still Here

I mentioned in my coffee share that I wrote and recorded a new song last week. So, here it is!

Well, in just a minute. First, I did a vocal version and hate my voice so I did an instrumental version as well. I left the lyrics up in the instrumental version, so you can see what should have been said. So I will post both before going and farther:

Version with my voice (note – this is a newer version, slightly better, but…):

(Click here if you don’t see the video below)

And here is the Instrumental Version:

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She Talks Each Night to Ariel – Music Video

On Friday I post a new song onto Youtube. This was a pop/rock tune, which might be good after posting several classical pieces in a row.  A quick comment – in this song “Ariel” refers to the moon of Uranus (in a way), not a person of that name – just wanted to point that out since I do know some Ariels and this song is not about any of them.  OK, here it is:

(Click here if you don’t see the video below)

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Song Writing Part 2

In a post last week I said that I was working on a new song.  Well, I finished it over the weekend.  It started with a little part I wanted to record so that I would remember it.  From there it turned into a real pop song. Yeah, with words and everything!

A few quick comments before I turn you lose with this.  Although parts of this recording are “finished”, this is very much just a quick demo, or, if this were one of my stories, this is a rough, first draft (don’t worry – if you have read a story on my blog, it was a rough draft….).  I can hear many things I will change if I decided do this a little more seriously. And I might.

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Weekly Smile Week 17 #weeklysmile

Weekly Smile #WeeklySmile

Weekly Smile #WeeklySmile

I’ve posted smiles that have run a large rang. There have been simple things and complex, old and new, and.. wait… that sounds like something for this weeks smile :)

I received my first music synthesizer when I graduated high school.  It was part graduation present and I paid for part of it.  The instrument was a Realistic MG-1.  That’s right, it came from Radio Shack!  That being said, the basic synthesizer was built by Moog, a company that at one time was almost synonymous with synthesizer.  Through the years I bought newer and better instruments.  The MG-1 had two ways to make sounds – the Moog analog synth, which played one note at a time.  This sound quickly became dated as the 80s progressed.  Then there was an organ tone that I almost never used.  The newer instruments had a “modern” sound and could play more than one note at a time.  As time went by the keyboard had issues and other problems cropped up.

So, my first synthesizer has spent about 2 decades in a closet. Continue reading

The Anti-Rap Rap (Music Video)

Trent Grin

A few weeks ago, when I was still dong my A Smile a Day, I wrote a silly poem as my smile.  A few people thought I should make it into a rap, so I did.  I hope you enjoy!

(Click here if you don’t see the video)

A few words.  Yes, that is me trying to rap and sing background vocals :)  All of the other sounds are also me playing a modular synthesizer.  There are some shots of the synthesizer in the video – the thing with all of the cables/patch cords.  Thinking of cables, I wore a few patch cords as “bling” when I took the pictures, but they were cut off.  When patching, it is convenient to have a few around your neck so they are readily accessible… Continue reading

New Music – Flashback Now

Trent's studio

I just made a little recording for fun. Don’t take this music, called Flashback Now, too seriously. Don’t expect anything like the symphony, orchestrated art song or the piano sonata I’ve posted. Don’t even expect the twisted pop song I put up a while ago. This might remind you more of background music to a science TV show from the 1970s. Continue reading

A Cup of You – Blues

A Cup of You

It’s been a while
Since I’ve seen your face
You’ve disappeared
Without a trace
Has somebody come
To take my place?
I just hope
That aint the case

I need a cup of you darling
I need you real bad
I need a cup of you baby
You’re making me sad
I wish I knew
All the things you do
All I know is….
I need a cup of you

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