Tunes & Goons

64 bit Music Authoring

Whas1an — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 05:13:46 +0000

For those of us trying to keep on top of the latest computing trends as well as produce music from our homes, it seems that 64-bit computing would be the next logical step. Afterall, 64-bit operating systems process data more efficiently, allowing for a smoother computing experience. And biggest of all, it allows for more RAM to be recognized.

I ran into this problem recently while I was composing music on Windows XP (32-bit of course). I was loading in string orchestra samples, when pro tools would crash… like, all the time! So here’s the problem: Windows can’t allocate more than 2 gigs of RAM per process. I have 4 gigs in my computer. While 2 gigs should be plenty of space for Samples, Pro tools itself takes up about 700 megs of RAM just to run all the other junk i have going, and since i’m running my string synth via pro tools, Windows thinks it’s part of the same process.

I’ve thought long and hard about this, and here are my workarounds.

1) Slave Computers
Yep, that’s right. Pull out all my old computer from retirement and set them up as barebone computers ready to do my master computer’s bidding. In essence, run the synths on the other computers, control the synths through MIDI, and send the audio back through my audio interface. I can probably quickly throw together a “synth-farm” of sorts. I actually think I have enough monitors for all of them. I discovered this program called “MIDI over LAN” which would allow me to send all the MIDI data through the existing LAN in my house without the need to wire everything via MIDI throughput (how well would it work? That remains to be seen…) The main reason I wouldn’t want to do this is space and power issues… but I’ll probably end up doing it eventually. Let’s explore my other options though, shall we?

2) Run the synths as an external process and find some way to chain them into protools via Midi and clever audio routing (probably utilizing my on-board audio card).
The hardest thing about this idea was trying to figure out how to route MIDI internally. But if I ran the synths as an external process, theoretically I can dedicate a full 2 gigs of RAM to the soft synth and keep the other 1.25 gigs (because XP won’t recognize more than 3.25 gigs) for Pro Tools. But this way I’m still wasting .75 gigs of ram!

3) Install a 64-bit OS
64 bit operating systems would recognize all my RAM and allow me to run all the synths I could within pro tools… but pro tools won’t work on a 64-bit OS! Grrr. Actually, because Vista 64 has something built into it called WOW64 that allows 32 bit programs to work, theoretically the pro tools SOFTWARE would run just fine. But WOW64 won’t support 32 bit drivers. Without the drivers, you have no hardware. Without the hardware, the software won’t run, and Digidesign hasn’t released any drivers to support 64-bit operating systems! So blarg.

But here’s my new theory. M-Audio has released 64-bit drivers for their main line of audio hardware. As I’m sure we all know, digidesign actually releases versions of protools called ProTools M-powered that are compatible with M-Audio hardware. So, A + B = C, right? A) Theoretically Vista64 can run 32-bit programs (which ProTools M-Powered is). B) Pro-Tools needs the audio drivers to run which M-Audio can provide for 64 bit operating systems… therefore C) Pro Tools running on a 64 bit system!

We shall see what happens… I guess I’m gonna scour ebay for some M-Audio hardware deals…

Pimp-My-Toilet

Whas1an — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 14:29:05 +0000

Unnecessary beyond a doubt, and extremely awesome beyond a doubt. Who doesn’t need their own laptop, Xbox 360, mini-fridge, iPod dock, LCD TV, and Beer Tap in their John? Huh? I wonder if there’s a bidet built in?

Via [texasworldtangle]

Auditory Illusions

Whas1an — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 13:46:11 +0000

We’ve all seen optical illusions. I have many fond memories of staring into those Magic Eye books back when I was younger. When I was in college, I took a course called “Science of Vision and Audition,” and in that class our professor showed us some auditory illusions.

New Scientist compiled a list of 5 auditory illusions that are pretty cool to listen to. I know these aren’t all of them, so I’m going to track down a few more and post them a little later. For now though, hit the link and check out some cool auditory illusions… it’ll blow your mind.

Clicky [New Scientist]

100 Greatest Guitar Songs

Whas1an — Fri, 30 May 2008 14:55:25 +0000

Ah, Rolling Stone. So good for so many top 100 lists of this and that. Rolling Stone is actually notorious among music affectionados for being too pop-centric, but this list is pretty good!

So 100 Greatest Guitar songs. It’s not about the guitar solos (which most of them have), but when you think of the song, the guitar riffs come to mind. I 100% agree with almost everything on this list. My notables:

#1 - Johnny B. Goode - Chuck Berry
#2 - Purple Haze - Jimi Hendrix
#24 - Killing in the Name - Rage Against the Machine
#29 - Back in Black - AC/DC
#33 - Master of Puppets - Metallica
#34 - Walk This Way - Aerosmith
#46 - Miserlou - Dick Dale & the Del-Tones

and others… of course Van Halen appears multiple times and the Beatles, who were known more for their songwriting than guitar work, also make an appearance a couple of times. Check it out at the link.

Read [rollingstone]

Guitar Hero on the DS

Whas1an — Fri, 30 May 2008 14:31:47 +0000

I was kinda curious how this was gonna work. I kinda figured they would just have you tapping the notes as they came down the screen, but this is actually pretty neat. Too bad they only have 4 buttons. And also too bad the video is so cheesy. Check it out:

Guitar Hero IV Trailer

Whas1an — Wed, 28 May 2008 19:04:56 +0000

Welp! They’ve released the first GH IV trailer which lets us peep the drumset! I’m gonna post two videos here. First is the trailer, second is a little documentary giving insight into the development of the drums. You can see Travis Barker all prettied up in the motion tracking suit, so I guess he’s in the game! The drumset does look cool. Only 3 pads, one kick, and 2 crash cymbals. They claim to have good collapse-ability, so the space-conscious need not worry. Like I said… I’ll probably end up getting it…

Best PB&J Jar Design Ever

Whas1an — Tue, 27 May 2008 15:08:41 +0000

Decidedly not gaming or music related, but… I can’t believe no one has ever thought of this before. No more pesky peanut butter eluding you at the bottom of the jar. Dual lids! Genius!

Via [skforlee]

Billboard Tracks 120 Years of Chart Data

Whas1an — Tue, 27 May 2008 14:39:47 +0000

An interesting visual representation of top 100 songs throughout the last century. First thing I noticed? Songs are staying on the charts longer nowadays than they used to. Second thing I noticed? Fewer songs are making it into the top 100 nowadays than they were in the 50’s and 60’s.

The charts about one hit wonders were particularly interesting. Check out the link for the whole post.

Read [Whitburn Project]

Music From Games

Whas1an — Tue, 27 May 2008 14:26:40 +0000

Don’t be fooled by the title of this post! This isn’t your typical music from a video game. Ever sinnce games have been ripped from their cartridges and played on a computer via an emulator, people have been tweaking the ROMs (games). They’ve produced some great stuff, like custom translations of games that were never released in the US.

Well, somebody has created a custom level for Super Mario World that has Mario automatically going through a level creating music as he goes. When I first started watching this I was kinda confused, as I didn’t have my audio on. I thought someone just created a ridiculously difficult level and was showing a playthrough. On closer inspection, I noticed that Mario seemed to be going through the level automatically. Even the textures that weren’t the auto-moving walkways seemed to push Mario along (watch his feet).

Anyway, from what I understand, the songs are from various video games and anime. Still crazy to watch though.

Guitar Picks Made From Meteorite?

Whas1an — Fri, 23 May 2008 04:45:32 +0000

They’ll run you about $5,000… $4,674 to be exact. Starpics is a company that fashions guitar picks out of rare and valuable metals, and they’ve made some of their most expensive picks to date by fashioning them out of meteorite!

Read [WallStreetFighter]