I can see the end!

The graphic design, logo, home page changes, and log/mastering instructions sheets are all filled. Now to finish the little “interludes” between a couple songs and mix the new version of “etoile filante” and I’ll let it be taken into the mastering engineer’s capable hands. I like the track sequence and all of the mixes. I’m not a mixing engineer, so I’m hoping that what I have is good enough to work with for them. The only thing that really concerns me with the mix is “Can you hear all of the parts?” and “If there is a distinct melody, is it clear?” I use EQ and panning to make sure that I am getting the clarity I want out of a mix. At times, and very sparingly unless it is for vocals or an acoustic instrument, I use compression.

Like going through design ideas, the whole thing is a process that requires a lot of patience. No one hears these songs as much as I do; I can’t tell you how many mix CDs I’ve tested on all kinds of systems – P.A. in a room with a concrete floor, a nice home theater system, a carpeted studio room, in the car, in my computer at work, with my AT headphones directly from my laptop, and even MP3s on my iPod. Half a dozen mixes for each track. Whenever I change an instrument, the song needs to be adjusted again.

All in all, it means that you are getting the best possible quality product that an amateur can produce. I take great care in what I do, because I love dealing with the details to the end that you will hear the music, not the production. At least, I try to make that experience happen for all who kindly listen to my music. I really do hope that you enjoy it. It has really been a labor of love and trying to accomplish a life-long dream: to make a recording and make it available to as many people as I can. If anything, something to give to my family and friends. Something to give to my children and grandchildren, even!

More Album News

One song is left to record. I’m just not happy with Vent Frais. I love the song, but I’m not sure this is the time or place to put it. That, and I have so many original compositions that would fit into the TTC puzzle that I feel that I should put one of those in instead. There are a couple of options. The one that comes to mind first is The Oak Leaf, a piece that fits into the Chronology (1993-2006) and is written on the piano, like all of the others. I would also like to re-record Where the Wild Lilacs Grow, because the recording is so soft and almost inaudible, though it is on my favorite piano of all time (for sentimental reasons)–the 1905 Cable-Nelson upright.

Mixes are going well…There are a few things I’m going to remix. I do really like many of the mixes and think that all the parts are coming through in the right places. The only difficult mix is really the bear–Valse D’Arbre–which has more parts in the mid-range than I’d like. That’s the way it turned out, though, so I’m going to have to work with it. Possibly removing one of the parts would clear up the mix a lot without sacrificing integrity.

This is what I’ll be using my day off of work to do today!

Things that I’ve already done over the last month include : Label logo design (three hours–I think that’s a design record for me!) ; album artwork for four-panel eco pack and disc design (I did four different concepts from start to finish and finally settled on the fourth one after weeks of work) ; track sequencing, one remix of Etoile Filante that was very unexpected ; listening to mixes several times in the car, my headphones at work, the home studio, a PA system, and pretty much anywhere I could think of to play it to test the mixes ; edited a few songs for what I like to call “Intra-song Redundancies,” as when I play three chords in a row and repeat them too often without much sense of build-up or two parts are taking up the same frequency space without much added interest (still working on this!) ; and finally, getting together all of the papers needed to accompany my package to the mastering engineer and printer/disc manufacturer.

I hope that it will be all worth it for my first disc … I don’t know if I’m putting too much time into it (revising constantly and slowing the release down more) or too little time (with mixing and all that), but I know that I really need to just let go and release it into the Wild. It’s almost cathartic to bring this songs to the light after being with me for so long and also very scary. I hope that people enjoy it, but I don’t handle criticism very well (about the songs themselves; about the production I am all ears).

I hope that the people who have expressed interest and are patiently waiting will be rewarded with some nice songs that show how hard I work at my craft and that I think over time I am definitely getting better at writing and arranging..and maybe even a little better at production than I used to be. I hope that it takes them to the places I was when I wrote them–into my imagination, into the woods…

Back from China

I am still tired! It’s been about five days since I arrived back in my hometown after a whirlwind (almost literally on a few occasions!) tour of China. Over about nine days, we visited Beijing, Hangzhou, Shanghai, and Dalian, China. Our hosts were very gracious and kind, even if the weather was not.

Just a small album status update: I’m working the details on the artwork, have chosen packaging and mastering options, and hope to have all of this together in the next month or so. Right now, I’m again in the middle of finals and papers, along with jet lag and the holidays, I am just spent. I’m hopeful that everything will be done in due time. Some of you (family & friends) have been waiting so very patiently for my album to be finished and I have no plans to disappoint.

I’ll post more details on China and album when I’m over the jet lag portion as my mind is pretty much mush at this point.

Talk to you then,
Kate

Craft in America / Album Art

I am in the midst of a Craft in America marathon…of sorts. The shows are one hour a-piece, and there are only two shows, so it doesn’t seem like a marathon. Even for someone with as short an attention span as I have. It is truly keeping my interest, though. Each show is actually made up of several vignettes about different American craftspeople. The crafts are varied–textiles, ceramics, glassblowing, metalwork, beading–and that was all in the first show I watched!

It inspires me to paint. I had always planned to paint an original artwork for the album cover of The Tree Chronology, as either a stand-alone work or incorporated in a mixed media sort of way. I’m sure after midterms are over, I’ll be painting on several “free” Saturdays to create it. From concept to completion, it will probably take me around four or five weekends total. Ooooh, this one is about violin-making and lithography…

Watched This Lovely Film Today

http://www.pbs.org/ribbonofsand/

I finally baked that acorn squash that’s been sitting on the counter for longer than I’d like to admit. Now I’m further embarrassed that I’d not eaten it sooner, because it was delicious and perfect! I’d post a photo, but I scarfed it down before thinking of it.

Home updates ~ New design, photos, etc…

Now I feel a lot more organized. The site is looking a lot more earthy (tree-y to be more schpecific), which I really loved. I heard three words when I did this photo and redesign “Warm.” “Woodsy.” “Dark.” I did add a warming filter and a green filter for just the part of the photo that was the tree bark. It already had some really nice green accents in it from whatever was growing on the bark. I don’t think that I was allergic to it. I’m sure something would’ve shown up on my skin by now, right? … Right? … So, enjoy! the photo and secret video and all that.

Music. I’ve been working on many tracks right now. Fleshing out lyrics and arrangements. Trying to make it fit and dealing with my ever-present perfectionism. It does really get in the way sometimes. Aaron thinks that I should just release something. I’ll just spend a few more weeks on the instrumentals and a few more months on songs. We’ll see where I am in that time. I would’ve really liked a fall release, but there are far too many things to plan, coordinate, and just DO before getting out the quality releases that I want. So…Patience is not one of my virtues, but I sure hope it’s yours! Because it will definitely be a little while. Until then, I’ll be posting things on MySpace and VIRB* from time to time…Just so y’all can get a feel for what the songs are sounding like in the various stages. Until then, toodeloo!

Reading a bit more of Blood Meridian, then off to Sandburg’s stones to grab painting supplies and maybe a round of coffee.

Let’s see if this is working. Apologies for all the mess. I need to find my way into the light, like all technologically inept converts.

Aaron’s Aaronness

Steamboats and Time Travel

I really need to read these. Considering that PJF lived in the same town (albeit I grew up in a neighboring town up until about two years ago), I can really actually see where he got some of his inspiration. The reason I am so fascinated by this particular in the series is that it deals with someone with whom I’ve had a bit of an interest in since childhood – Samuel Clemens. It’s hard to grow up in the public school system without having read at least a few novels or short stories by Twain. Time travel “What If?” elements (a device Twain himself used more directly when he hypothesized what kind of trouble a kid would get into while at King Arthur’s court), the rivers and woods, the afterlife. I’ve known about the Riverworld series for a few years now, but haven’t made room for them in my growing “To Read” queue yet. Consider yourselves added, baby!