This is the new dance that goes on in my head 24/7. Sorry Carlton, you have been replaced.

Breakbeats, you will be my bitch.

Wow, it’s been a long-ass time since I wrote in my Lost blog. I thought this was news worthy, ABC has released their Lost season five poster. I think it tells us what to expect in season five. It’s also interesting that they’ve included the new season four characters as important main characters (go Faraday!). It also has a weird “Light” and “Dark” quality about it. Hmm….

Is it January yet?

I’ve been moving some of my music equipment to my work office for the simple sake of being able to use speakers at night and not have to worry about bothering anyone. My new Edirol monitors and interface arrived today. I can’t wait to hook these suckers up tonight after work.

So, I got my 61 key Evolution MK-361c and Evolution UC-33e control surface along with my 25 key M-Audio Oxygen 8v2 keyboard. The Edirol UA-25EX is behind the Oxygen, and my new Edirol monitors are there but not yet hooked up. I ordered a cheap HOSA optical cable that didn’t fit either the monitors or the interface (grumble), so I’m going to have to use sub-standard RCA cables for now.

I can’t wait…

Ok, I haven’t posted in a while. For the three people that actually read this site, this is what’s going on. I’m still working on the songs, but as I’m recording I’m finding all sorts of inadequacies about my computer set-up. Right now, I’m mainly using Reason and Ableton Live to lay tracks and arrange stuff. The problem is that my computer is too slow to handle the stuff I want to do. I’ve also come to learn that I totally lack any sort of mastering capabilities. I can get a good mix, but it won’t sound great across different types of speakers.

Today I purchased a pair of audio monitors (Edirol’s MA-15D) and a new audio USB interface (also Edirol UA-25EX). The monitors are nowhere near the quality I’m trying to achieve, but they’re in my price range for now. I’ll upgrade later when I have the money and the economy improves. The audio interface is mainly for the monitors (both have S/PDIF optical) but it comes with a compressor/limiter that might allow me to grab some real-world sounds without crying. Ideally, I would have liked to have bought the Mbox 2 - along with it’s ProTools LE software and the Alesis M1 MkII monitors - but that would have shot me totally beyond my budget. So, baby steps…

I’m also at the point where I can start selling off my older equipment. Craigslist, you’re my hero. I’m sticking to my self-created rule that I can only buy something if I sell off something in return. I have a 49 key M-Audio Keystation, and my mobilePre audio interface listed currently. I’ll probably get rid of some more stuff too.

Eventually, I’m going to need a new laptop. My Powerbook has served me well over these years, but the screen is going dark and it just doesn’t have the horsepower to drive all my software synths and samplers. Also, I’m going to need some mastering plug-ins - I’m eyeing the IK T-Racks bundle, a VST plugin, but first the computer, then the stuff that can actually run on it.

So in the meantime, I’m still learning.

I was at the polls this morning at 6:30 am, after walking 10 blocks to my polling station. I stood in line for an hour and a half. I had a choice between paper and electronic ballot - I chose paper (I don’t trust the electronic ones and probably never will). I did my duty as an American, a right granted to me by the Constitution.

And I got a nifty sticker.

Vote today (despite some mailings that have gone out telling Democrats that they are supposed to vote on the 5th - THIS IS NOT TRUE - everybody votes on the 4th). If you have registered to vote and have ID - VOTE TODAY.

Somedays I just get bored. Other days I kick ass. You decide:

(This is from the awesome flickr group here)

And because I can: