Last Day But Certainly Not The Last

So today is my last day interning the Platinum Studio, but the fact is the learning never seize.

There's a very general yet specific rule for almost and everything related to the recording & mixing business - doowutchyalike. No, really do what you feel is right. All the engineers that I've meet said:



But all in all, I feel that this lesson isn't the ultimate ticket or permission to go wild or crazy, behind those loose words lie a firm and historical sense. It is not simply the abundance of freedom one should feel, but the appreciation for the appropriate action one must take to reach certain goals. If anything, the client always comes first. But your opinion cannot be discounted simply because a decision's been made, because you told the trigger to the finished product and your job.

This lesson applies to almost everything (if not, all) jobs and responsibility. This general rule isn't something entirely new to me, but it should motivate us to perform better than most day to day workers, which brings me this gift you all:



So, shoutout to my friend Kaez, whom today I called on skype and feelin below the weather when he woke up. The choice is yours:



Speaking on choice, what makes the world go around is a nihlistic statistical ratio of 75% bad and 25% good. But in actuality it is because of this 75% bad that makes the 25% good. Without contrast, where lies the comparison?

Learning, still, as life is like water, never seize to flow.

Alright, it's been another while since I've written anything, not much has changed besides the knowledge of wealth. But current events is brought me here and there, and it's always up to me to interpret my way of life. The question would always be - was it worth the trip?

(Spot me if you can haha, I'm in the front row)

SO, where do I begin? I'm in Taiwan of Asia, and at this moment of writing, I am in one of the most prestigious studio known to Asia (without pride, also world class famous), they have no need of advertisement as their reputation precedes them already. Many known Chinese pop stars have made their appearance within the studio, however not limiting to Asian vocalists but world class pop stars as well. One of the more famous appearance was Micheal Jackson (RIP) unfortunately his trip to this studio was canceled due to his illness during his tour in Malaysia. But despite the the level of fame to the studio, the real value is within its resources and people.

More about this studio: the recording studio is called Platinum Recording Studio, you will find better results if you copy and paste onto a search bar with "白金錄音室", this studio has been in business 40+ years and there is more than just a reason - rather, it is several defining factors surround this business.

Business:
Let's talk about business, I won't go into detailed structure (since I don't understand as much) but the jist of the business is their services personnel, and equipment & designated space rental. However the recording services is strictly recording, that includes vocals, instruments, or live performance (within the studio of course). While equipment rental is limited to mixing and mastering, and not external rentals. Besides the engineers, there are assistants that are responsible to everyday maintenance of the entire floor and equipment. They are paid by the hour and weekly, and are the most important personnel to the whole business layout. They are considered as interns, since they will be promoted to a specific engineering position.


Structure Layout:
The whole studio is consist of one entire floor (over the years they focused from different floors into just the 2nd floor of the building). There are 4 recording rooms and 4 control rooms, each of various sizes for different purpose. Most of the rooms are interconnected, so it is possible to reach different rooms with 2 entrances and exits. Since the studio is located within an office building of the city, their structure has several important factors embedded into the overall construction.
1.)Soundproofing, both internally and externally. The external soundproofing starting with the out most layer is the building wall, then about a foot and a half of empty space for air flow and soundproofing, and then another foot of soundproofing material surrounding the whole floor and top and bottom as well.  Internally, each control room and recording room has about an average of 2 feet of soundproofing material surrounding each room. Each of the control rooms and recording has at least one (some rooms have 2) 3~4 inch thick door weighting about 500 pounds and they are all construct of steel and other unspecified materials both effective in soundproofing and extremely heavy.

(Those are very very heavy doors. HEAVY!!!)

2.) Quake Resistant, yes equipment such as a professional CD player are as sensitive to a temporarily lost of  the ability to playback with a slight bump applies the principle of no momentum abuse to the rest of the expensive collection of equipment. Therefore the whole floor as the manager stated is a "hanging box", because the space surrounding the entire building with special padding between the first floor and the second would serve as a pendulum. Basically while the whole building is shaking, the whole floor remains intact.

(You can see there alot of expensive equipment, there are 4 of those rooms)

3.) Data Lost Prevention System, while the earthquakes are pretty common, power lost is even more common in the Formosa Island. So naturally the whole studio power is equipped with industrial duty serge protector and clean power converters, along with UPS that allows system backup during power outages.

Equipment:

Well, what good is a recording studio without the equipment? There are way too many to list, but I will list a few categories and few specifics:

1.)Microphones, way too many to specifically list, loads of dynamic mics, for instruments (drums, guitars, amps, all that good stuff), but more importantly tube and condenser microphones are the most important tools of the trade. Two of the most memorable microphones are noted below. Of course there are much more not listed (since there are more than 100 mics), but hopefully you can understand the scale and the importance.

(The Neumann U 87 Ai, around $4,000, there are about 7~8 of those in the studio)

(This is the Sony C800G look up the price if you don't believe me, round $10,000 and there are two of those in the studio)

2.)Headphones, although there isn't any jacks for the studio console/board mixer to use, it is essential for the recording artist to hear the instrumental without being recorded into the microphone. There are basically 3 different headphone monitors, AKG K240 and Sony MDR series (CD900, CD900ST...) In fact

(The headphone amp on the right shows a bit of the Sony MDR series headphones)

3.) Console, yup, normally I thought they use a larger than life board mixer, but nope. This large analog mixer is actually a console and computer all in one, and the it is digitally hooked up to function with pro tools with a mac pro. It all looks like this:

So basically I'm here to learn. The engineers are often referred to as teachers, since they are the ones responsible to teach/guide us. But overall there's much I didn't mention but for now, those pictures shall be the common place between me and my readers.

CURSE YOU LAZINESS!!!!

DAMN!
It's been how long? Since my last post????

Well for those readers who's been discovering my site through random blogs, I thank you all. Sadly even though I have no idea WHO you are, neverthaless I thank you any way. It's been so damned busy those months leading up til today, an although progress cannot be accomplished in one day I must say neither is free time and thought to write those essays for a blog.

First and foremost, my first gift among many is this:

http://theridingwriter.blogspot.com/ 

and what this is, is exactly how it is: a URL to a blog that inspired me greatly to write again. This blog contains many great things such as poems, childhood history, and current thoughts. More importantly it provides a nonstandard insight into a young adult female's emotional content which my memes/misogyny lovin readers would much love to hear about might find this MUCH MUCH MORE juicy than your one time chuckle jokes.

SO many of you may not care to ask, but I will indulge myself to proactively respond:

How have I been? Been good, worked chilled, partied, schooled, learned, forgot, tired, excited, timed, consumed, bigger in waist size, more experienced, and above all, still alive and happy.

Back then I probably would have answered this in a paragraph but along the many things I have learned during my missing year, I realized the best things still come from being concise. I mean - especially me being a hypocrite, I don't want to read forever either!

Where have I been? The US up and down the east coast - NY, PA, all that good stuff. Germany and Austria during winter. Yea pretty dope, all with family. And as I'm writing now I'm in Taiwan of Asia. It's a pretty good year I suppose. I understand that many can't even afford to travel 2 states away let alone overseas. So I just want to add that I appreciate all that is given to me.

What have I been? A student for any or all, since learning how to do what I love is most certainly lesson of a lifetime. Which brings me to happily announce that I have also been a producer, I am, after all a lover of Hip Hop, you should see the books I have bought on my shelf for all the Hip Hop related culture and biographies and all that good stuff I've bought for my music. Which one blog by one blog I will hopefully expand on. But thats the biggest thing, is that I have been working my ass off in school and hobby wise to catch up on whereas everybody already have been doing for at least 10 years (yes old school producers, I'm talking to you!)

Here's another story that must be heard...

http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/23731038

Although it is ustream, I still can't embed into my player so unfortunately you must right click and new tab it.

Well enough about my self, what about you, if you cared to comment, leave a message about you read, thanks!

Why Hip Hop DJs Are Selfish(Secret to Co-op in the Art of DJing) Pt.3

Let me ask you readers a trivial question, what is the suggested solution to better co op with other DJs? The answer lies in the last word of paragraph 2 in my last article. "Shared !?!?" Many of you are probably confused by such choice of words. A skill can't be shared! Of course it can't, but the hint is: what does it take for a band to be a band?

Here we have the World Famous Beat Junkies and here they demonstrate how to collaborate as DJs. While we find this highly entertaining, to note the least it also takes some form of cooperation. Yes ladies and gentlemen DJ bands do exist, and the work it takes to join different forces together means undivided teamwork. Just like any teamed sports you take different roles/positions and follow through. That is my biggest hint in the secret to co-op in the art of DJing. You can do your best in a single player field but to work with others there must be communication and a certain etiquette. And it all falls on those individual's attitude.

Most likely you will encounter those who have a good amount of experience already, or you will introduce some one new to this wonderful world. In my case I've experienced both. Since my startup I had a strict coach about mixing, and I've influenced a few to the world of scratch. While like most teachers both my coach and I have one thing in common - the mold we placed ourselves into to grow we intend to place it on another. Liberally speaking, it's restrictive and linear. But discipline wise it certainly helps to get the basics. Like any other forms of musical training, turntablism requires as many skills as any violin players would need. Until we have the basics down, we would not have an easier time in the progression through normal sessionings. Think what you will, but if we are the new generation to continue to prove that we can turn turntables into instruments, we must prove that we are capable to withstand the test of skills.

This impressive clip is from the movie "Scratch", and it is a wonderful documentary about turntablism because we are given a grand introduction. Within the movie we would see many individual DJs as well as groups and some brief showcasing of their performances. What it takes for DJs to be DJs and for DJs to work with each other is that DJs know (in some way) how to manipulate music or audio. While for DJs to work together is by not trying to be selfish in his/her performances or sessions. Of course through different skills and purpose comes the difference in the will to collaborate. Because if you are in a club, chances are you don't want to lower your ratings by trying to collaborate because it makes you much less desirable to be hired. However in Hip Hop - a part of the general definition for it means: it is the culture to share, expand, and have fun in it's appreciation and development. To say you are part of Hip Hop means its as if you've taken an oath for the responsibility as well. Of course I'm being a little too serious or too sarcastic about the subject, all in all why this secret is a secret is because we know it by instinct and subliminal thoughts. But the very fact that we people do not practice or reach a higher understanding of this matter is the same as to neglect in ignorance.

So to generalize even further in my opinionated review, DJs or "Disc-Jockies" are known for their knowledge and skills in manipulating music/audio. Turntablists intend to use music/audio on turntables as an instrument. Individually we work for a better solo performance while to hone our skills, and together we work to further demonstrate our combined efforts for a better display. We Hip Hop DJs are selfish because we believe in the security for recognition of our rank through competition. And the secret to smoothly collaborate our DJ efforts is to NOT be selfish because our efforts & results are shared. The world of Hip Hop is probably the one of the most liberal subculture/culture in the world, well... depending your purpose. You could always improve and you can always humble yourself to learn. Humility is another art, but perhaps the least obvious yet most useful virtues. You would do well to listen and learn and expand while the learning opportunity is available, and it would be easier if you care to share yourself through humility.

Why Hip Hop DJs Are Selfish(Secret to Co-op in the Art of DJing) Pt.2

So any way continuing our quest to understand why Hip Hop DJ are selfish, another reason being is that when playing WITH music (Note: not only pressing the play button) there are different styles in how music can be manipulated. Having said that there are different styles that exist, the mentality of choosing what music to play is completely different than even your closest friend. No surprise here, because everybody is different. But it is because of that difference, it is the one of the main reason why Hip Hop DJs couldn't work with each other.


QBert + Kid Koala - Mayhem at the Mid from React Presents on Vimeo.


Just a recent video post I found through recommended, but for those unfamiliar with Qbert (or respectably Grand-mixer Qbert) he is known for his precision and variety of scratches as a turntablist. His credentials is his ability to out perform many other turntablists but just like breakdancing - even if you are SPY - "man with a thousand moves" there are many other b-boys that are just as good through other styles. The other turntablist Kid Koala is known for his skills through precise manipulation of turntables to turn those tools into instruments. Two seemingly unrelated in their skills and level working together. It's definitely easier discussed than done. Mainly because we live in a "Me Me Me" world where everybody wants to make their OWN mark. Well, from experience I can certainly tell you that it's easier to focus and improve without collaboration, but it's hard when you don't have some one to compare notes with. This principle goes to the philosophy of "Everybody's gotta have friends, because having friends just makes life more fun." Any way, philosophy aside they can work together because they are able to communicate before actually working together, most Hip Hop DJs only want to perform what they excel most and that often leads to the lack of understanding and compromising for another. Little do most of us know that the tricks and skills we do best can be "shared".

Following the path of individualism is what makes us who we strive to be, because there are less distractions to deviate us. But co op reaps many benefits both in the short and long run. I have met many DJs who claims truth to their status of popularity and efforts. But at the same time they either lack skill or understanding of true art of DJing. Although knowing two sides of a coin, the definition for the art of DJing is ever shifting because of it's purpose and ideals. A mobile DJ does not need to scratch because his/her job is to serve the public, a club DJ does not need to understand turntablism because their audience desire only the music. In short, different discipline leads to different focus and efforts, because the similarity ends with the general use of audio for an audience.

Next on Secret to Co-op in the Art of DJing Pt.3
To be continued...

Why Hip Hop DJs Are Selfish(Secret to Co-op in the Art of DJing) Pt.1

Ever since I've been exposed to DJing I've been dragged into the world of "sessioning". Most of you music appreciators would say, "Sessioning? DJs can jam?" As history goes, as soon as DJs are introduced to the world of turntablism brought to you by the DJing art of Hip Hop. Sessioning was a very popular activity among DJs because it is fun, competitive, and mainly it is a way to compare notes in improving skills for turntablists. However many DJs today are either united through the Scratch Academy of NYC or the Skratch University of Thud Rumble online. In my opinion saddens me that I must pay money to an art that used to only requires the equipment and time to learn this skill. The price to buy all the equipment today is already an ugly fee, let alone paying more money to learn it. It's great when you have money but there comes a time when Hip Hop started from being poor and saving up money only to get the cheapest gear from pawn shops. Back then it was all parties, sessions & battles. What happened to them?



But going back to my main point why Hip Hop DJs are selfish, there are many reasons but mainly because in Hip Hop there is a different form of ego similar to MCs or rap artists. The pride of an MC shows in their lyrical contents, which is a more direct approach, but DJs cannot directly tell the tales of their struggles. Therefore DJs' pride are shown in their skills and the music they choose to play. In a general understanding, DJs aren't normally designated to play music with another, in fact - an individual alone by the music appreciator's standard should not even have more than 1 turntable! Here's an early example:



Hahahaha, that was fun. Such jokes aside, we should always consider that while battles and parties are ever important, sessioning is also another important activity of DJing, because it creates new tracks and it sharpens our ever itchings skills. But sessions can be in different fashions, be it the Qbert's Octagonal scratch session or DJ Moppy's Cut on Kutz sessions (http://www.ustream.tv/channel/cutz-on-cuts) it is all part of an individual's contribution. However with the mentality of DJing today, when you mention the words "DJ" your audience are most likely have an image of DJs in radio stations or mobile DJs that work for entertainment companies. Right or wrong, those (again by example) only act as individuals. This only contributes more to the death of sessioning because nobody wants to have fun piecing tracks together. You can only go far by yourself in the art of hip hop, but when you piece another style to the art - it's like magic! Or it can sound like shit and be frustrated about it, but THAT is all part of the journey in DJ sessioning.

I've been very fortunate to have public battle experiences in my early exposure in DJing, more than anything I crave for more battles to fill the bloodthrist, but as my cousin or any one in NJ says "Being a DJ in NJ is a slow death..." I intent to prove that statement wrong, so any of you readers want to battle, or know of some one who would like to battle or session. LET ME KNOW. Let us take part in this activity together and alone no longer!

Next on The Secret To Co-op In The Art of DJing
Pt.2 to be continued...

DJs? WHAT IS IT?

Damn once again I've been neglecting my own hip hop blog for awhile, but honestly I've been doing a bit soul searching, and studying of hip hop around here & there. But the truth is I still have no conclusion to who, what, where, when, & why "Hip Hop" is "Hip Hop"? So moving forward towards my point today...

When it comes down to hip hop, more specifically one of the 4 elements - "DJing" in Central NJ. Unless you're in the inner circle(like any where else) you can't really get much exposure to the REAL idea about "DJing" because no one is around to tell you about it. Especially when you're so close to the big apple, really... the real of arts of hip hop isn't really exposed let alone DJing. This form of art has be so degraded by today's standards (kids/yound adults today) it's really hard to tell most people who enjoy music DJing is hard. It's definately easier to tell people they're wack than explain to them what DJing really means.





First up for the hate, we get hipsters. Takes one to know one, so to say the least I'm the worst kind, because I'm always true to my words. One of my reason to be a DJ is no different than the any musician out there, it is to get better with my craft so I can hope to challenge those in the lead. But we get hipsters who always claim they are who they are when they DO NOT practice the art. It's no surprise everybody's a DJ since they know how to play music, but music is as easy as being played by a press of a button. The real skill is the ability to manipulate and/or use songs in a fashion that you can use in different scenarios. Mainly in short (I will try to explain more about each later...) the skills of DJing are tested through parties/events, production, sessions, and battles.

If you do all the above or at least some of the above, that's great. In parties/events I don't hate on playlists because it is what I am weak at the most and in all honestly that fits the events. But you CAN NEVER call your self a DJ if you DO have a playlist on itunes or windows media player and play them in an AUTO CROSSFADE. Specifically you cannot fade one song into another random unrelated song because it is NOT apart of the art of DJ.



This is by example an outrageous attempt but it should bring you the idea of a session, when "you" a DJ that sessions, should be like one of the few turntables in the video above - a contributing factor. Unfortunately the lack of healthy DJ exposure makes the art of sessioning a dying practice.

Production... well... that's another story for another blog.

But for now the ones who read this should understand that being a DJ isn't hard, but being good is never easy.