Embellish sounds - Produce music.
Digital Audio Computer Music-Making and MIDI XG
Now more than 10 years old!
This site was originally for users of the good 'ole General MIDI (GM) and Yamaha's superior XG MIDI standard; specifically, the SYXG-50 and SYXG100 softsynths, now discontinued.
Now it's also for musicians using the computer for making music in the digital audio realm too.
But that's not to say TheWhippinipost is abandoning you GM and XG MIDI users. You can still find the comprehensive MIDI XG guide on how to interpret and use XG's specialised commandset to tap into its hidden power.
Mixing music is another area now covered with lots of articles, interviews and tutorials including the popular 10 essential mixing tips.
There's also an overview (plus many reviews) of popular computer music products, including keyboards and midi and recording equipment.
Oh the list just goes on including the ever-popular online music calculators plus a growing bank of online video tutorials for musicians - just get stuck in and discover, learn, tell your friends and enjoy!
Yamaha has confirmed to TheWhippinpost that yes, it's definitely true, it has (long) discontinued support for its erstwhile popular MIDI XG softsynths: the Yamaha SYXG-50, and Yamaha SYXG100.
The Music Industry Landscape Today
Let's first look at the recent numbers to come out (in chronological order)...
Your Record Label - Help? Or Hindrance?
If you're a record company executive, the future doesn't appear to be looking too great at the moment. More appropriately (perhaps), if you're an aspiring up-and-coming artist looking to be signed to a record label that still doggedly holds onto the Digital Rights Management (
There's a few ways to determine the key of a song, each of which depends on the assets you have available - The most powerful of which, your ears!
Tone Deaf
All things being equal, the key of a song can usually be figured out quite easily if you can distinguish between sound pitches (whether a note is higher or lower than another). Some people can't but that doesn't necessarily mean your music-making days are over - Beethoven was deaf remember! It just means you need to rely on other cues like sheet music, software, etc...
So you made it to the last tip, well done. You'll be pleased to know, though, it's all been a load of bollocks! I know - mad aren't I. I bet you are too now.
Ah, just kidding.
So, mixing with headphones? Don't! Do never test!
There are some frequencies in the mix that are basically redundant and do nothing more than steal speaker-power - If we can reclaim this resource-hog, the speaker can concentrate all of its energies onto the important frequencies, and thereby give us more headroom, ie... more volume!
Propellerhead have declared their software to be ready for use within Microsoft's upcoming new operating system, Vista - Seems all the major music software vendors are clamouring to be ready in time now.
Cubase Movie Tutorials
TheWhippinpost presents... Video tutorials for musicians!.
Watch and learn Cubase videos.
If you have a website, blog, or even a MySpace profile containing links to copyrighted MP3's, watch out:
Record industry lawyers have been given the go-ahead to pursue you by the Australian courts.
A court ruling has given the recording industry the green light to go after individuals who link to material from their websites, blogs or MySpace pages that is protected by copyright.
Unseen Video Footage
Mark King shouldn't need any introduction, but just in case he does... well, let's put it this way: if you like bass, Mark King owns bass! And the band he fronted - Level 42 - also owned the arena back in the day too.
But here, in this hitherto secret and previously unseen rare video footage, shot exclusively in my Mega-Bowl Arena - back in the day - I show Mark who has the Title Deeds, in this moving, and thought-provoking slappin' and jammin' session.
