Auditioning!

Well, Fearless Leader has been hanging out in the shadows.  We haven't been doing much of anything lately music-wise...




However, I hear we may have a bass player...  We'll see if they jam well.  I've got my fingers crossed!




In the meantime, I'm preparing for an audition with America's Got Talent!
Why not?
The hardest part is choosing a song...
It will be performed a capella, and I'd like to show off as much of my voice as possible.
...popular tunes are recommended...




I have no idea where to start!!

Back in the studio

We've been experimenting in the studio.  The first part is finding the right combination of setting that allow my real voice to come through in the recording the way it does in real life.  That's not my department, though... I just sing...

Fearless Leader has had me sing with several different microphones and fussed with the vocal booth.  Something continued to elude the sound we were seeking.

When I listen to the playback, I am always astounded.  I can't help but think, "That's really me!"
After all the dinking around with the vocal booth, we finally just moved the mic out into the open area of the main room, and suddenly, we had the rest of the sound we were looking for!

We've been laying down some new music, and finished a little bit of writing.  I'm pretty stoked to get back into regular recording/jam time!  I think we're back on track!

More, please!

Sometimes, I find myself alone in large spaces. I find those moments to be opportune times to just belt it out!
Whatever track is playing on my inner playlist just comes right out my mouth and reverberates throughout the area. It is glorious! I feel son liberated!!
Inevitably, someone arrives in the public space, so I tone it down or stop completely. I understand that not everyone wants my vocals filling their leisure time, and I don't consider it an insult. 

However, last night, a young girl leaned around a door to tell me, "You are really good! Seriously! You have an amazing voice!"
I graciously thanked her and continued my activities sans vocals. A short while later, she asked if I would please sing some more. I was tickled to oblige, and spent a good hour vocalizing that inner playlist a cappella.
Young girls were enthralled. I even went for the highest notes with no worries about nailing them. Amazingly enough, that also makes them easier to hit...
I'm a perfectionist. It's hard not to strive for perfect high notes...

I always find it remarkable to sing for an audience that really want to listen. Thank you!!

Rumors...

I heard a rumor that the band is fleshing out!  Thank you, Fearless leader!
Sounds like we need a guitarist and a male vocalist...

https://www.reverbnation.com/takenbyflame

Relativity

Let's talk about the speed of light.

how fast it that?

speed of light =

299,792,458 m / s

What about the speed of sound?

speed of sound at sea level =

340.29 m / s

And how fast does electricity travel?

Well, theoretically, electricity travels at the speed of light…  BUT! Physics insists that the wire through which it travels offers resistance, however slight…

You see, I’m having this issue in the studio…

Fearless Leader thinks I’m behind the beat.  I think I’m on top of the beat.  He thinks I need to be ahead of the beat…

So, we dialed in some new equipment.  Early on, Fearless leader set it up so that the final output feeds back into my headset and I could hear exactly what is recorded.  Yes, I could hear an echo, but even when the echo effect was removed, I heard a delay.  I failed to explain this clearly.

Later, I sang along with a pre-recorded song so he could dial the equipment in further and play with microphones.  With the final output coming back to my ear, I could adjust for the delay and sing ahead of the music so that my vocals ended up in the right spot rather than late.  I was coming in as much as 2 words early in some spots to compensate for the delay.  I also failed to explain this clearly.

This is what I *think* is happening…

1 - The music tracks are already recorded, so they are instantaneous.

2 – The music must travel from the computer to my headphones at “the speed of electricity” where it converts to sound than then travels from headphones to my ear at “the speed of sound”.

3 – I anticipate the beats and the music that I will hear and time my vocals to come in on the beat.

4 – the vocals travel at “the speed of sound” to the microphone where it converts to a digital signal and travels at “the speed of electricity” back to the processor, which then PROCESSES the vocals before RECORDING the final output.

Remember that delay I hear?

5 – Upon playback, the vocals sound delayed.  Late.  Behind the beat.

I continue to fail to explain this effect to Fearless leader.  Am I crazy?  Is this delay a common thing?  How am I supposed to sing at the right time?

He will be testing for latency...  Can't wait to hear what he finds out!

VIP!

Yes.  It's official.  I'll be attending Kamelot's performance with Delain and Eklipse.  And I will be VIP.

I might feel a little girlish for being excited about my VIP ticket, but Fearless leader is just as excited as I am with his own VIP tickets...

It's like getting published!

Thank you, Fearless Leader!

I learned this morning that we have been selected to be included on the ProgPower 2013 compilation CD.
http://www.progpowerusa.com/index.html

What a fantastic way to start the morning!

Will you be there?