Location: Sec 18, Shah Alam
Reason for sell: Need money!
Contact: 012-2934464 or afiqme[at]afiqme.com
Asking for RM25k RM15k RM8k (complete set)
Non-Negotiable!
Guitar
Samick strat
Falcon Les Paul
Boss MT-2 Metal Zone
Laney MXD120 combo
Bass
Yamaha RBS bass guitar
Laney HCM65B bass amplifier
Drumset
Mixed brand
Paiste & headliner cymbals
Pearl kick pedal
Tama, Pearl hardware
PA system (vocal)
2x Behringer mic
2x 12" loudspeaker
8 channel Mixer
Air cond
1.5HP + 1HP
3 rooms: main studio, control room & another 1 room (can be your 2nd studio).
Every rooms equipped with exhaust fan.
Any questions at all about, please reply here. Thanks!
P/S: I got another 1 amp.. Laney 50 watts Made in UK... add another RM1.5k
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Monday, March 31, 2008
Studio for sale!
Friday, March 28, 2008
New contest for Megadeth Fans!
MFC member who guesses the exact number or closest to the exact number, wins!
You may only submit one guess! In case of a tie, submission received first wins. Details are at the MFC club website!
megafanclub.megadeth.com
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Say my name!
Then I do the same thing in Yahoo! search. Im getting "1 - 10 of about 16,700 for afiqme - 0.35 sec". I'm getting more here!
Then I do the same thing in Yahoo! search. Im getting "1 - 10 of about 16,700 for afiqme - 0.35 sec". I'm getting more here! Haha!
Moral story: If you're bored, then do a search for your name, band, website bla bla bla. If you want to check your backlinks, then you can go to AfiqmeHeck Backlink Checker.
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Thursday, March 27, 2008
Atreyu ESP LTD 'Monster Energy' Guitar Give away
Win Atreyu ESP LTD 'Monster Energy' signature series guitars! 2 guitars to be win, EX400 Monster 2 and Viper400 Monster.
20 1st prize winners will receive one of ten autographed posters or autographed CD's.
How to participate?
Enter the online sweepstakes by simply... Yes! I mean by simply fill in the form at MonsterEnergy.com.
Visit MonsterEnergy.com today before it's too late!
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Tuesday, March 25, 2008
6 helpful tips from Pat on how to make Entrecard a success
Entrecard is the first and only free exchange network for 125x125 ads. Through this revolutionary platform, you can advertise your own 125x125 Entrecard on any blog in the network, for free, for a number of days.
Then, I received 6 helpful tips from Pat on how to make Entrecard a success. I share his message and tips here with his permission.
"Hello, I hope this message finds you well. I noticed that you just joined Entrecard and wanted to take this opportunity to welcome you. You will find that this site is a great way to drive traffic to your site and pick up new daily readers of your blog. Entrecard has increased my Alexa Ranking by over 1 million positions in 2 months.
Here are a few helpful tips on how to make Entrecard a success.
- Drop as many cards as you can every day.
- Always return a drop when someone drops on you
- Introduce yourself and participate in the forums
- Read and comment on others blogs
- Buy some credits if you can afford it to jump start your ad campaign. You can pick up 1000 credits for about $7-$8.
- Read the Entrecard Blog and comment there.
Anyway, here’s to your success with Entrecard. Please let me know if I can help you with anything at all.
Best of Health,
Pat"
In Flames - Only for the Weak (Live)
My fav live concert video from In Flames. Titled "Only for the weak".
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Monday, March 24, 2008
Should I learn every styles in music?
It's always an advantage if you can play many things but be careful of losing your focus. Not everybody can do what Guthrie Govan can do. He's a superb versatile player, but ask him, I can bet he'll tell you that it involves a lot of hard works, concentration, focus and sacrifices!
Many guitarists or musicians today feel like they have to master all types of music. Some ended successfully and some of them get frustrated and losing focus on what they should do. The main thing is getting the job done! If you're in a metal band, you have to study more on metal licks, soloing techniques and riffs. Spending lots of time learning jazz things might be wasting your time as the band doesn't need it. The same thing if you're in a jazz band. You have to learn more how to play well in jazz.
But again, if you decide you want to be a 'session player', guitar hero or dedicated music tutor, you have to learn all styles. As a session player, you will not be asking to play the same type of music every time. Sometimes you have to play rock, blues, jazz, metal etc. For music tutor, mastering all styles in music is needed not only to impress your student, but to be fair to the student. Some might want to learn Green Day style, Silverchair, Blues stuffs or Jazz stuffs. So it's important to be prepare! Unless you're teaching specialty music course, example: metal guitar course. Then you don't have to learn all the things.
It's always an advantage if you can play many things but be careful of losing your focus. Not everybody can do what Guthrie Govan can do. He's a superb versatile player, but ask him, I can bet he'll tell you that it involves a lot of hard works, concentration, focus and sacrifices!
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Saturday, March 22, 2008
Free URL Redirection, No Ads! Short Free Domain Name (YOURBAND.co.nr)
The importance of using short address is to make it easier to remember and look more professional.
The importance of using short address is to make it easier to remember and look more professional.
Check it out at www.freedomain.co.nr.
If you're thinking to buy domain name at .com, .net or .org. I suggest you to buy at Netfirms. It is the cheapest so far. It costs you only $5.95 per year. Visit Netfirms today!
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How to: Guide to EQ your guitar track
- Don't boost too much! More boost equals more noise.
- Apply cut to fix problem and cleaner the track.
- Apply cut in mid frequency to give space for vocals or solo track.
- You don't have to apply all the EQ guides listed below. Try to experiment and use which work best to you.
- Use parametric EQ for better tone-shaping.
- 100 Hz or less – Boominess
- 125-250 Hz – Add body and warmth (fills out)
- 240 Hz – Fullness
- 300 Hz – Muddiness (Boost or cut to thicken/ thin out)
- 300-500 Hz – Eliminate nasal quality (Cut)
- 700 Hz – Create a throaty or woodsy sound
- 1 kHz – Add edge
- 1.5-3 kHz – Add edge
- 2.5 kHz – Bite and presence
- 5 kHz – Helps lead (boost 4-6 dB)
- 5, 8 & 10 kHz – Bright
- 6 kHz – Add clarity
- 10 kHz – Add hiss
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Friday, March 21, 2008
Wishlist: Gears of War V
Dean "Gears of War V"
Mahogany Top/Body
25-1/2” Scale
1-11/16” Nut
Dave Mustaine Spec. Mahogany
“D-Shaped” Neck
Ebony Fingerboard
Pearl Sharks Tooth Inlay
Grover Tuners
Black Hardware
Tone Pros Bridge
Dave Mustaine Duncan Live Wire Pickups
Finishes: Gears of War Graphic
I'm one of the V-shaped guitar fan. This guitar is one of my fav. Check out video below. Dave Mustaine use it in one of Megadeth live performance.
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What the bands should not do on Myspace?
To be honest I hate to see comment like this from other bands. Especially when they're putting their gig flyers. It takes too much space on my profile. I'll simply delete them. How the hell you don't even have a chat with me and now you want to spam my comment box. No way!
I'm not saying you can't do like that but most of the time, people will simply ignore your message and will mark it as spam! What you have to do is, give them a space. It's nice to say hi to them, but don't push them to listen your song or go to your gigs. I believe they'll sure to listen your songs when they have their time.
Honestly, I hate to see comment like this from other bands especially when they put their gig flyers. It takes too much space on my profile. I'll simply delete them. How the hell you don't even have a chat with me and now you want to spam my comment box. No way!
But how the people will know that I've just uploaded a new song or I'll be performing in a gig?
In Myspace, you can use the 'friend status' feature to update your band news. It's better to use it rather than sending comments to all your friendlist. You can save lots of time too.
Next, you may also update your profile 'headline'. Don't hide your headline! Because whenever people are visiting a profile, the very first thing they'll read is the headline. So make sure you always update your Myspace headline to your latest band news.
Done this doesn't mean you don't have to send comment to other people in your friendlist. Sending comment and say hi to others is still important to make they feel like you're really connecting to them. It just that, stay away from pushing people to do this or do that.
Another idea is, put a link to your gig flyer, or band webpage at the end of your comment. It wouldn't take too much space and doesn't look like spam.
There are some bands change their default picture to their latest gig flyer. This is also another great idea. You're not pushing them and of course if they interested, they will click on your picture to see the flyers.
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Thursday, March 20, 2008
Free Ares Music Download
Ares counts with a friendly interface to keep a complete visualization of all files that are downloaded, it also allows you to make differentiated searches in the way you want.
Ares Regular is a P2P file interchange system (peer to peer) to interchange any kind of files, video, MP3, software etc.
Its main characteristic is that you may download files form multiple locations at the same time, what makes downloads quicker.
You may also pause downloads and restart them whenever you want, just in case the connection is lost or if power is off when we are working. It counts with an integrated browser to localize what you are looking for.
Ares counts with a friendly interface to keep a complete visualization of all files that are downloaded, it also allows you to make differentiated searches in the way you want.
Some of its characteristics:
-Short cues
-Chat rooms
-Support for Skins
- Multilanguage
-Multiple search windows
-File pre-visualization
-Web browser
-Instant message
-Multiple downloads
-DHT system
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Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Perfect combination: Boss MT-2 Metal zone + tube preamp
I try a combination of this stompbox with my Behringer Tube Preamp MIC200. Wow! I'm totally impressed with the sound! I have to agree most of Boss distortion pedal will sound better with the combination of tube preamp or tube amp.
For me, with this pedal stand-alone, I can't get my preferred guitar sound. I try a combination of this stompbox with my Behringer Tube Preamp MIC200. Wow! I'm totally impressed with the sound! I have to agree most of Boss distortion pedal will sound better with the combination of tube preamp or tube amp.
If you're looking for tube preamp, I suggest to go for Rocktron or Hughes & Kettner. I've tried both and I can say a metaller never regret with them.
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Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Stay away from crap magazines!
Hello to all friends,
What's the point to beg them? They're suck at writing as they will only make your band looks stupid.
I've just arrived at my hometown. I've to settle up few things here but this wouldn't stop me to continue writing in this blog. Maybe I'll stay here for a week.
Erm, there's a friend sent me a message this morning asking for my opinion about a magazine wrote in their latest issue about a band which has now become famous and almost forget about their root, independent scene (underground). Well, actually I don't want to talk much about this thing as I can smell jealousy in that words. It just that, for me there's not much difference between the independent and mainstream scene today and it's up to the band to decide their way and whatever they want to do.
There's nobody else knows better how the band survive and success. It's only the band who knows how much they have invest their money, how hard they promote the band, getting a gig bla bla bla.
I have to agree with some, yes, there are few crap magazines today are actually killing musicians. They write about something which can let the band down. This crap magazines are only looking and searching for mistake without even pin-point the band potential. If you see this kind of mag, just stay away from it. What's the point to beg them? They're suck at writing as they will only make your band looks stupid. Plus, it's it not the press or mag who make the band better, it's the band itself. Stay with what you believe and protect your band. Your band is your family.
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Monday, March 17, 2008
What else a band need to feed everyday? It's exposure! exposure! exposure!
What else a band need to feed everyday? It's exposure! exposure! exposure!
Then, if you're expecting somebody to comment your music, go to other band's blog first and leave your comment about their music. I'm sure you always heard about karma, "If you do good thing to other, they'll do the same to you".
And some of them might be asking, how to expose? Most of you say it's Myspace! What I can say, Myspace is still a Myspace, it's not totally yours. The space for your creativity and exposure are limited. But you still need Myspace and other social networking site to drag more traffic to your blog later. Do I said it's 'blog'? Well, let me start with blogging. Yeah, you can start blogging about your band and music. Don't worry about your writing style. Just do it! Of course in every single things you do, you've to start from the beginning. A kid who learn to ride a bike will ride the bike slowly at first. Same thing with how bad is your writing when you first time holding a pencil or pen to write.
Next, you have to promote your blog. There are 1001 ways to promote your blog. You may start with promote your blog in social networking site like Myspace, friendster or Facebook. Then, try to do a search at Google or Yahoo! for music site where you can post article or submit a link there. Taking this advantage from bigger & high traffic music site is the best way to promote your blog. You'll realize how much traffic will come to your blog.
Opss, before that, you have to make sure at least you've already post about 10 posts or articles. This will ensure your blog visitors don't get bored and simply leave your blog. At the main page of your blog, put at least 5 posts or articles. This is the idea to catch their interest to continue reading at your blog. If you just put 2 or 3 posts then expect them to click at the archive or even category to read more articles, then believe me you will lose most of your readers. Think like this? They're like a new person or client who first time come to your office. Then, of course they don't have the idea where is the toilet, photocopy room, rest room, manager's room bla bla bla. So, when you give them a space to read at least 5 posts in the homepage, they will feel more comfortable in your blog and might willing to discover and read more things in your blog.
Then, if you're expecting somebody to comment your music, go to other band's blog first and leave your comment about their music. I'm sure you always heard about karma, "If you do good thing to other, they'll do the same to you". That's how it works! It's a good idea to leave your blog URL inside the comment or simply asking them to comment back your song at your blog.
Finally, always remember, treat you blog as your new band's home. Take care of it. Decorate it! And provide all the informations and articles that will catch the interest for others to read. He or she might be your next die hard fan!
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Electric Guitar parts
Shop online for replacement parts
- zZounds.com
- StewMac.com
- Allparts.com
- WDmusic.com
P/s: Photos taken from www.electric-guitars-guide.com
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Sunday, March 16, 2008
Build your finger strength and speed with metronome
Today I found a free metronome. You can download it at
www.download3000.com/download_8925.html
Start from slow tempo and slowly increase the speed. Make sure you increase the speed only when you able to play comfortably with the current tempo.
Metronome is a very useful tool to build up your finger strength and speed. You can use it when you practice. Start from slow tempo and slowly increase the speed. Make sure you increase the speed only when you able to play comfortably with the current tempo.
If you want to be a professional or recording musician, download this tool and use it now! It's free!
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Saturday, March 15, 2008
My guitar recording secret
But the only thing that I've been using to record most of my guitar works is by using my magic box, Behringer V-Amp 2.
My setup is simple. From guitar connect to V-Amp 2 then straight to the recording console. I'll record the rhythm part twice in mono and pan the first track to hard left and the second track to hard right. Then, I'll compress the track and EQ if necessary. But usually, I just cut few dBs in mid frequency and give a little boost in low frequency.
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Recording tips: Shure SM57, the most universal mic on planet
My friend asked me to suggest him a good microphone to record most of the band instruments. Well, if you're looking for a good single mic for almost all instruments, I would say go for Shure SM57.
This mic is definitely the most universal mic on planet. It can produce great sound for all recordings especially for guitar, snare, vocals and hi hats.
When using this mic, you have to always use the close miking technique to capture the best sound. Distance between 2 to 6 inches on-axis from the sound source usually produce bright sound. This is the most popular miking technique used by almost every professional audio engineer.
Specs
Freq. Response: 40Hz-15kHz
Kind: Dynamic
Notes: All-Purpose Workhorse Microphone
Polar Pattern: Cardioid
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Protect your band name
I just found a website where you can register and copyright your band name.
Establishing prior usage is a key component in protecting your name and avoiding unwelcome legal challenges.
Why Register? Establishing prior usage is a key component in protecting your name and avoiding unwelcome legal challenges. The Worldwide Registry notifies artists and labels where potential territorial name conflicts exist and registers your historical claim to 'name' usage.
For more information, please visit bandname.com.
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Friday, March 14, 2008
Guide for drop tuner guitarist
Most of modern metal bands today prefer to tune down the guitar to drop D, C or B tuning to get more bottom and heavier sound. But without proper setup on your guitar and amp, your guitar will produce dull & muddy sound.
For drop C tuning, I prefer 10-52 gauge. If you're using smaller gauge, the strings will vibrate heavily and resulting in poor notes definition.
First of all, you have to change the guitar string gauge. For drop C tuning, I prefer 10-52 gauge. If you're using smaller gauge, the strings will vibrate heavily and resulting in poor notes definition. It also suggested for you to send the guitar to professional guitar tech to re-setup the guitar after you change the string gauge.
Next, if you can afford to change your guitar pickup, replace the pickup to the pickup that specially designed for drop tuner.
You must also know that when playing with bigger string gauge and drop tune, it will produce more bassy sound. So you have to play around with your guitar amp EQ by cutting few in low frequency and boosting a little bit in high frequency. This will give more defined and balanced sound.
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Sunday, March 9, 2008
Who is your Guitar Hero today?
Here's my top 10 favourite guitar heroes and their songs.
There are still many of my favourite guitarists such as John Petrucci, Ritchie Kotzen, Al Pitelli and many others. But list above are my all time favourites.
1. Dave Mustaine (Megadeth) - Burnt Ice & Holy Wars
2. Marty Friedman (ex-Megadeth) - Hangar 18, Symphony of destruction & Lust for life
3. Gary Moore - The Loner
4. Joe Satriani - What Breaks a heart?
5. Steve Vai - Tender Surrender & Bad Horsie
6. Yngwie Malmsteen - Crash and burn
7. Alexi Laiho (Children of Bodom) - Sixpounder & Everytime I die
8. Jimi Hendrix - Little Wing
9. Dimebag Darrel (Pantera) - Cowboys from Hell & Psycho Holiday
10. Paul Gilbert - Technical difficulties
There are still many of my favourite guitarists such as John Petrucci, Ritchie Kotzen, Al Pitelli and many others. But list above are my all time favourites.
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Saturday, March 8, 2008
Home studio: I want to record with my PC but I got no extra money. What should I do?
Here is a guide for low budget home studio musician.
Cable bring the signal from guitar to sound card. Good cable will bring good signal. Using cheap cable will result in losing few frequencies and inviting more noise.
First of all, you have to download and install a recording & sound editing software (mixing tools). Professional will say go for Cubase, Sonar, Pro Tools or Logic Audio. But all those softwares are expensive. If you want a free software, you might try to use Audacity.
Next, we take a look at hardware and all the other tools for recording. Let say you want to record guitar and vocals. So you need a microphone, guitar, cable, soundcard or audio interface, monitoring system and a PC. For recording guitar and vocals only, 256RAM is enough but I recommend you to have at least 512MB RAM for smooth recording process. For the soundcard, if you can't afford a good quality audio interface, I suggest you to download ASIO4ALL driver for improve sound in recording and to solve latency problem.
Then, using a high quality cable is also an important thing to get a good sound. For now, I use Belden cables which I made custom from an audio shop. Cable bring the signal from guitar to sound card. Good cable will bring good signal. Using cheap cable will result in losing few frequencies and inviting more noise. From guitar or mic, connect the cable to the line input (if you're using standard soundcard). Stay away from the mic input as the input is hotter than the line input.
Open up the software and make sure you can listen to your guitar or microphone in the monitoring system. Monitoring system can be a headphone or monitor speaker. If you can't listen to your sound, please read the manual on how to set up the software or participate in their forum to get the solution.
Then, you can start recording, applying effects and mixdown.
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More on Say NO to Pay to Play gig
More on Say NO to Pay to Play gig.
The bar staff still get paid, the bouncers get paid, and in most cases the venue makes a tidy profit from each drink sold at the bar. The only person who doesn’t get paid is you.
"don’t cover part of the venue costs, and don’t pay a promoter back for their expenses if they end up out of pocket at the end of that night. That is the risk they take as promoters, and any promoter worth their salt will never ask you to chip in to cover the expenses of a show they are putting on." ... read more
- Heather McDonald
"They only harm the music scene in the long term and they just rip off local talent by making them pay to play a gig." ... read more
- Say NO to Pay to Play Myspace
"What has happened to the days when bands got paid to play ? Bands are already paying out to rehearse, record, produce demos, print flyers, promotion etc, just so as they can gig... Why should we have to pat to gig as well." ... read more
- Musicians Against Pay-To-Play Petition
"A band who have paid to play a gig, having already paid lots to practice, buy equipment etc are right to wonder why THEY should consistently have to spend money. These pay-to-play promoters haven’t poured time and money and LOVE into crafting and practicing their art. They’ve sat back and exploited the bands who have." ... read more
- Mascot Fight
"The bar staff still get paid, the bouncers get paid, and in most cases the venue makes a tidy profit from each drink sold at the bar. The only person who doesn’t get paid is you." ... read more
- Gary Marshall, The Cut The Crap! Guide to Music Business
Support the campaign! Get this button here!
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Friday, March 7, 2008
Cibol 'Itu Kamu' cover
Today, a friend, Cibol give me to listen his cover song 'Itu Kamu'. Even this is not a metal song but I like the melodies and his voice too. He sings like professional. You can listen the song at his blog:
http://cibolution.com/2008/03/07/itu-kamu-cibols-version
Even this is not a metal song but I like the melodies and his voice too. He sings like professional.
The track was originally recorded with Audacity. I mixed it back with little touch of compressor and EQ. Then I duplicate the track and pan the original track 50% left and the duplicated track 50% right. I add few reverb on the right track to make the sound brighter and alive.
Listen to the song and tell me what you think of it.
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What do you guys think about Pay to Play gig?
When people are asking me from where a band can get some funds?
Then my answer is from selling your CD/mp3, performing, royalties and selling merchandise.
For me it doesn't sound right, think of the band. They need to practice, buy and maintain their gears, transportation, recording costs and lots of things to do with the band. All of these need money.
Now we talk about performing. How would you expect after 10-12 hours of practices, changing guitar strings and have to spend few bucks more for transport then you got nothing when you go out to play. Even you have to pay to play!
What do you guys think about Pay to Play gig?
For me it doesn't sound right, think of the band. They need to practice, buy and maintain their gears, transportation, recording costs and lots of things to do with the band. All of these need money.
I just don't understand what's on the organizer's mind? If he afraid of losing money when organizing a gig, then he should plan it well. Have a good promotion or street team and try few strategies and methods to attract people to come to the gig. Maybe you could offer freebies such as stickers or tags.
When a gig is failed to attract people, don't simply point your finger to the bands. They have a lot more things to take care about their bands. It's your job to take care of your event. At least you have to thanks to the bands because they still put their efforts to promote the events.
Or else, if you still afraid the risk of losing money, simply don't organize a gig. Do something else!
I'm against this thing, if you're with me, you are free to copy button below and point the link to this post.
Link to this post:
http://www.afiqme.com/2008/03/what-do-you-guys-think-about-pay-to.html
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Songstuff and BlogMalaysia, your next pit stop!
Recently, I've joined a forum, 'Songstuff - Songwriting and music forum'. Most of the forum users there are so nice. Currently they have 1,162 registered members.
All the members from both forums are so friendly and will sure to welcome you as a family. What else we want in this world beside meeting new friends and gain knowledges.
If you're looking for a place to promote your music or gain more knowledges about music, I would recommend you to join this forum. They have a lot of discussions and most of them are willing to share their knowledges and experiences with you. From songwriting, music business and technical issues, everything is there!
The forum also have special board where you can post your song & lyrics for critique. This will give you more idea and picture to improve your songwriting, lyrics and sound recording.
No matter you're a songwriter, vocalist, guitar or bass player, drummer, producer or anyone in this music world, this forum should be your next pit stop.
Another one forum that I joined is 'BlogMalaysia forum'. This forum is specially dedicated to all bloggers in Malaysia. Here is where you can promote and get opinions from others about your blog and design.
You can also submit your blog in the blog directory, get featured and detail statistics for your blog.
I really enjoy both forums. All the members from both forums are so friendly and will sure to welcome you as a family. What else we want in this world beside meeting new friends and gain knowledges. Am I right?
Songstuff: forums.songstuff.com
BlogMalaysia: blogmalaysia.com/forum
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20 songs in my playlist
Today I want to share 20 songs in my playlist.
Megadeth
1. The scorpion
2. Never walk alone
3. Burnt ice
4. Washington is next
5. Holy wars (fav of all time)
6. United Abominations
7. Gears of War
8. Paul Gilbert - Technical difficulties
9. KoRn - Coming undone
10. In flames - Only for the weak
11. Children of bodom - Sixpounder
12. Slipknot - Duality
Pantera
13. Psycho Holiday
14. 5 minutes alone
Creed
15. Higher
16. Bullets
17. Fuel - Hemorrhage
18. Kreator - Impossible brutality
19. Celine Dion - My Heart will go on
20. Silverchair - Miss you love
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Thursday, March 6, 2008
VST plugins
Today I was looking for more useful VST plugins to use for my recording. So I started to search and I found a very useful website with many links to all the plugins I need. It is AudioMastermind. Please click here to visit the website. Most of the VST plugins are FREE!
I found a very useful website with many links to all the plugins I need. It is AudioMastermind. Please click here to visit the website. Most of the VST plugins are FREE!
There are 3 types of VST plugins.
1. VST instruments
A VST plugin that generates audio. They are generally either virtual synthesizers or samplers. Example: Native Instruments Battery
2. VST effects
A VST plugin that is used to process an audio input, such as reverb and phaser effects.
Example: Native Instruments Guitar Rig
3. VST MIDI effects
A VST plugin that is used to process MIDI messages prior to routing the MIDI data to other VST instruments or hardware devices; for example, to transpose or create arpeggios.
So what do I really need?
I can say that the most important plugins for
1. Guitar
Compressor, Amp simulator & Modulation effects (chorus, reverb, delay etc).
2. Bass
Compressor & Amp simulator
3. Drums
Compressor & Reverb
4. Vocals
Compressor, De-esser (eliminate excess sibilance in sound recordings of the human voice) & Reverb
5. Mixdown
Compressor
6. VST instruments
EZDrummer & Native Instruments Battery (Both for drum sampling)
Some of my suggestions
Compressor: Endorphin
Amp simulator: TubeBaby
Note: To use VST plugins, you need a VST host such as Ableton Live, Cubase, FL Studio, REAPER and Sonar.
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This is what I like to call 'Happy Metal' riffs
This riffs was recorded few days ago and sounded so happy and funny for metal song. I don't know how I come out with the riff idea. Don't ask me, just listen to it. Haha!
This riffs was recorded few days ago and sounded so happy and funny for metal song. I don't know how I come out with the riff idea. Don't ask me, just listen to it. Haha!
Have a nice day!
Download: Click here!
Stream: Click here!
Enjoy the music!
- 9 tips and tricks to record your guitar tracks
Read the article and for free tips and tricks to get better guitar sound in recording.
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Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Do I need a Myspace Friend Adder?
If you're asking me do I need a Myspace friend adder tool, then it depends on
For me, this kind of tool help me a lot for promoting my music. Even you have a great music, you still need to reach more people to listen your music. Marketing is one of the key in show business.
1. Do you need more friends in Myspace? If you're a band, of course you need to add more friends to promote your music.
2. How willingly you to spend your time to add friends in Myspace manually? If you got lots of free time, then it would be no problem for you to add friends manually.
3. How many new friends you want everyday? If you're asking me, then my answer would be thousands or millions per day because they're potential to be my next fan. But Myspace has limit up to 400 max adds per day. Daily I'll add around 200-300 new friends and usually 50-70 from them will send me 'thanks for the add' comment. If you're thinking to add more than a hundred new friends, will you do that manually?
For me, this kind of tool help me a lot for promoting my music. Even you have a great music, you still need to reach more people to listen your music. Marketing is one of the key in show business.
I've been using MassBots Myspace Adder. It costs me $19.77. But I can say that I love this tool so much! Check it out at massbots.com.
If you buy this tool or already bought it, then I suggest you to read my few tips for Myspace band profile (Click here!).
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Tuesday, March 4, 2008
How to: 9 tips and tricks to record your guitar tracks
Referring to my post 'Mystical Kingdom recording track (click here)', there was a reader sending me an e-mail asking for few tips to record guitar tracks. So here 9 tips & tricks for all of you.
Experiment! Experiment & Experiment! Ask from expert if you need more help. Join recording forums. There are many experts in forums willing to share their knowledges with you.
1. Don't set too much 'gain' on your distortion or preamp. If you set too much gain, when all the guitar tracks blend altogether you'll hear a lot of noise + can't really hear the notes you're playing.
2. Record in mono track. This will save your disk spaces.
3. Record at least 2 tracks for rhythms and pan a track to hard left and another one to hard right.
4. Record each side with different sound. For left guitar sound, more brighter and right guitar sound, more beef! Try to experiment.
5. Use compressor to tighten up your guitar tracks.
6. Get rid from too much boost in EQ. This will only make the guitar sound noisier. Cut few dBs in mid area and boost few dBs in low area for rhythm guitar. Boost few dBs in mid and high area and cut few dBs in low area for lead tracks. These will give you more balance guitar sound.
7. Use amp modeler plugin; Steinberg Warp VST, Amplitube, Native Instruments Guitar Rig. It can saves you from headache!
8. Put all the guitar rhythm tracks in a group track. This will make you easier to mixdown with other tracks.
9. Experiment! Experiment & Experiment! Ask from expert if you need more help. Join recording forums. There are many experts in forum willing to share their knowledges with you.
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Monday, March 3, 2008
New song recorded 'Mystical Kingdom' with my craziest midi drum programming
I've just recorded a song titled 'Mystical Kingdom' with midi drum programming. This is so far the craziest drumming style I've ever programmed. Feel free to listen or download the track:
Play with the velocity controller to make your drums sound real as drummer doesn't hit the snare & the rest at the same level.
Download: Click here!
Stream: Click here!
Few tips for midi drum programming:
- Get a good sample drum sampling. Drumkit From Hell is one of the best!
- Play with the velocity controller to make your drums sound real as drummer doesn't hit the snare & the rest at the same level.
- Use EzDrummer. It will saves you a lot of time.
- Use compressor to tighten up your drum sound.
How much Myspace is helping you in promoting your music?
After few years I've been using Myspace to promote my music, I can say that Myspace is helping me very much in promoting my music.
Even though at the time I was doing mass adding friends but still many of them are willing to listen to my music. If they found your music is cool, they'll sure to drop a comment.
Even though at the time I was doing mass adding friends but still many of them are willing to listen to my music. If they found your music is cool, they'll sure to drop a comment.
The only thing I've seen there are few artists and bands that are not really communicating with others. Myspace is a social networking site. So it's a must for you to communicate with others to grow up your fan base. This is also to show up your appreciation to them for listening to your music.
Few tips for bands in Myspace:
- Put your best die hard fan in your top friend list.
- Put your killer songs in your Myspace.
- Put links to your website, forum or blogs.
- Put banners.
- Well-designed your Myspace profile.
- Update your gig/ tour schedule.
- Comment moderation. This to make sure you can deny bad comments to appear. Why you have to show the comment that talking shit bout your band?
- Make it easier for other users to add you.
- Full use the bulletin to inform your band updates.
How to: 12 guideline for artists and bands to start a website or blog
Have you ever think what do your fans and others want to read and know about you or your band? Here's a few guideline for artists and bands to start a website or blog.
if you want to be successful, work for your band! Building a website or blog is a great way to promote your band.
2. News. Always update your band news. At least once a week.
3. Full line up. All info about the band members. Share your influences and experiences with your fans and readers.
4. Equipment lists. List down all the gears use by you and your band. You may also share your experiences using your gears.
5. Gig/Show schedule. This is important if you gigging. Show the gig flyers on your site.
6. Discography. List all your releases. Where to buy? Any free mp3 downloads? Where to download it?
7. Audio page. Where you host your music? Put the link to it.
8. Lyrics. Put your lyrics for others to sing your song.
9. Band photos. Put a nice & professional band photos. This is important for your band image.
10. Press reviews. Include all your interview and press reviews session for better impression!
11. Forum board. Create an online forum board for your fans and others to discuss about your band and other things. But be sure you or one of the band members active in the forum.
12. Merchandise, Mp3 & album store. Tell your fans and readers where to buy your stuffs online.
There are still so many things you can put in your blog or website but the list above is the most important things. For example, you may write a few tips about playing guitar, drums etc.
You have to keep in mind that nobody cares so much about your band beside you. So if you want to be successful, work for your band! Building a website or blog is a great way to promote your band. Good luck to all of you!
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