A gift for everyone coming in through 1up
Posted on September 17th, 2005
Filed under: Music News — Karl Olson @ 12:15 pm
Another preview track:
Pertinent notes on this track: I was going for a mix of old-school rap sound, the “screwed & chopped” sound and a bit of game music still too. Lyrically, I was trying to tell a story, and I’m fairly confident in the result, but it’s not really my forte. I’m trying to get into that kind of lyrical content more because it’s got more potential I think.
Lyrics are up on the album page. đ
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âEverybody to the Limitâ – Strong Bad
Posted on September 11th, 2005
Filed under: Music News — Karl Olson @ 7:11 pm
And by everybody, I mean my processor. Figures, I get stuff settled down in one arena, and then I create a song so loaded with post production effects that even after knocking out every last redundant piece of virtual hardware in the track (might be able to weedle it down a bit more, but I risk losing what I want in the mix by doing so,) my processor can’t even properly render it out let alone play it back in real time. Now, I might be able to cheat that for now by breaking up my big vocal files into a series of smaller pieces, therefore negating the noticible latency issues in Reason that exist when rendering processor intensive songs out of the software, but I really need, as Tim Taylor of Home Improvement aptly put it back in the early 90’s, “more power!” I’ve got a plan for this involving swap outs of processors from the main family machine to my machine, and from newegg.com to the main family machine, but this means that even though I should be able to lay down the rest of my vocals this week, I may not be able to render the finalized product out until whenever I get a new processor.
If I were superstitious, I’d take these headaches as a sign that maybe I shouldn’t release my CD. OTOH, the traffic to my site keeps escalating, people are waiting for the reprints of my old disc, people are waiting for the release of my new disc and frankly, I want this new CD to get out there cause I think I’ve brought my skills up a level or two, and I want people to hear it. Besides, I’d rather think of this as a test of my perseverance, if it’s anything at all.
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âDonât ask for it; go win it on your own. Do that youâll succeed.â – Renton, Eureka 7, Ep. 2
Posted on September 10th, 2005
Filed under: Music News — Karl Olson @ 2:45 am
There are lot of changes I’m facing recently, and more in the pipe line.
My computer’s beginning to really show signs of wear and tear. New HD’s aside, it’s just sorta getting tired. Maybe a new PS will save it, maybe it’ll take that and a new mobo and proc, but I’ve got a feeling that’ll I’ll be lucky if I get my album done on it as it is. I’ve already made major changes to the machine thrice while getting it done. Maybe more than that now that I think about it. The thrice is just in the vocal recording stage (2HDs and a video card swap out.) I may have to seriously change things up, and that’s sort of a sad thing to deal with. It’s time consuming, and it’s almost like losing an old friend.
“When you’re as good a mechanic as me, you come to realize that even machines have hearts to them.” – Renton, Eureka 7, Ep. 1
The local anime store (Anime Kingdom) as a hang out has basically come to the end it probably should have come to a long time ago, and I guess I’ll say that it finished pretty spectactularly, given the impromptu sushi and thai get-togethers. Heck, just tonight, even without the core uniting force of Lea, I ended up with a bunch of friends from from AK over here, and it was a darn fun evening of playing Atari emulators and fanmade games on my Xbox. Shoot, Zoe even hung out a little extra while after Dave, Justin and Jason cleared out, so Zoe and I read some “Welcome to the NHK” and some Habanero-tan manga on my computer. It’s almost as good as the AK socialization was at its peak. However, the era where we just meet up there is over I think. Lea got a job that actually supports her, and now she can really move forward with her life since she’s getting payed a living wage now. However, I really hope, nay pray, that everyone (well, more or less to be honest, and I’d rather be honest than duplicitious, atleast in this scenario) who I met there can atleast sorta stay in contact with each other. The memories I made with those people are like unto precious gems, and I hope we can have more fun times in the future. Just like Tuna House sushi last Friday, just like Thai food earlier this week, like Gossip bubble tea a while back, just like the Otaku Sewing Circle back in 2004, just like the Xbox emulation and listen to Karl’s Sealab Commentary night tonight. I really hope we can all keep in contact. Sure, I didn’t even know about a lot of those places before I came into Anime Kingdom, but I also know that it wouldn’t be any fun to go to those places by myself. It’d be lonely and hollow.
“Just because you believe in something, doesn’t mean it’ll come true.” – Eureka, Eureka 7, Ep. 1
I’ve got get much more serious about school, even over the 3.785 GPA I pulled last year. I’ve gotta talk to my advisor and get the graduation process underway and I’ve got to make sure I’m clear on my classes for transfer. Then I’ve got to get the transfer process underway. I’ve got to apply to some schools. I’ve got some ideas, but I could use with more. I need to get ready to make some sacrifices. I need to get ready to leave some dreams by the wayside, or atleast be acclimatized to the reality that as much as I enjoy watching anime, reading manga and making music, that’s not a life I can hope to turn a dime on, atleast if things stay the same. I’ve got learn how to move both my education and hobbies forward at the same time. I’ve got to think about maybe opening up my world view beyond just the Everett-Seattle-Tacoma area when it comes to my education, maybe even think about looking beyond the state of Washington. I can’t let memories, or even friendship, be a deterrent in my utilizing my full intectual capacity.
“I can fly.” – Renton, Eureka 7, Ep. 2
I’ve gotten another 2 and 1/4 tracks with vocals recorded for them. I think I should be able to get the last two and 3/4 done next week, atleast my parts. I’ve still got the Nurse Hella collab (which is sorta out there indefinitely until she can either get her own studio-grade outboard sound card for her machine, or get down to Spellah to record vocals,) and I’ve still got to figure out how to contact Tycho from PA about his interest in doing vocal work. I’ve got to get replication sorted for re-pressing my older CD. I’ve got to hope that enough people want to buy it (I’m figuring I’ll need about 30-40 more people interested just to break even, depending on replication and how much I price the new run at.)
And the only who can make all of this happen, is me (more or less.) I am undoubtedly afraid of the challenges and changes ahead, as I’m almost assuredly going to face some that will force me to increase my skills to do accomplish them at all. I’m also ready to take it on, and excited by all the possibilities that may be stretched out before me if I can rise to the occaision.
“Don’t ask for it; go win it on your own. Do that you’ll succeed.” – Renton, Eureka 7, Ep. 2
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Crappy Preview Encode!
Posted on September 3rd, 2005
Filed under: Music News — Karl Olson @ 3:28 am
Hopefully that holds over people waiting for my next CD and waiting for reprints of my old CD for little while. Lyrics here.
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I am my own 1000th Visitor/Iâm such a character/Musics
Posted on August 25th, 2005
Filed under: Music News — Karl Olson @ 10:47 am
Subject 1: Yep, I’m visitor number 1000th. Still no clue as to why people are visiting, cause this blog isn’t interesting.
Subject A: On an interesting note, I’ve now been featured on the USA Show Us Your Character main page. Screenshot here and link to the actual site with it’s loud annoying ads that should be good for a couple of days here.
Musics: 4ish songs more to record vocals for and then I’m done with that part of the album. Yay!
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Nothing Of Note
Posted on July 26th, 2005
Filed under: Music News — Karl Olson @ 7:55 pm
Seriously, today was pretty hohum. Nothing big on the net, nothing big around drifting around Duluth. Only stuff of note is that I’ve got Kodocha and some other stuff waiting at home for me to watch. And I read 5 volumes of Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou on my laptop and 3 volumes of Kare Kano. Ambience and Emo in manga… yeah that’s about the right vibe for this.
I’d like to post some grand thing describing the sights or whatever, but even having had lunch at a little restuarant that over looked Lake Superior, there was one little ship puttering around on “World of Endless Blue” (haha… Blue Sub #6.) There is some nice old architecture around here I’d like to get some pictures of for album covers and stuff, but I don’t think I’ll have time to get to that, even though we are gonna be another day (more visiting.) I also really, really, really want write and make some music now. It’s driving me crazy, and the volumes of Kare Kano I read (the Kazuma/Tsubasa arc) only made it way worse. Only thing that would have excerbated it more would have been Beck or Gravitation. When I get home, I’m gonna finish my next nerdcore CD ASAP. I really want to work on it and make it excellent. I want to write some Drum n’ Bass too, or atleast polish my long overdue LPs I’ve been messing with.
I feel refreshed, remotivated, and I guess it’s thanks to nothing. Or something like that.
PS: 500+ hits on the new site. Yay me!
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What the critics have to say part 1 and music done.
Posted on July 14th, 2005
Filed under: Music News — Karl Olson @ 2:16 am
Part a: Some critics on my commentary for sealab:
“The last commentary is an ‘angry commentary’ on ‘Tornado Shanks,’ performed by Anime Forum Moderator and reporter for Toon Zone, Karl Olson. He was asked by Matt and Adam to do commentary on this episode because many people, Karl included, consider this to be the episode that ‘jumps the frigginââŹâ˘ sharkââŹÂŚ big time.’ All of the commentaries have funny moments in them, but like the last batch, they are really something youââŹâ˘ll only listen to once.” – DVDFanatic
“The only commentary that goes along with the episode it plays with comes from Karl Olson of toonzone.net. He talks over ‘Tornado Shanks’ and offers his reasons for disliking, what else, Tornado Shanks. Olson offers some valid points, but goes on to nit-pick so much it’s hard to take his opinion seriously.” – IGN
Hopefully more review fun turns up as time wears on. đ
Part b: Got another song done, and not just any song, but the title track. Lets see if I bag another one or two tomorrow!
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âItâs not as much fun to pick up the piecesâ – Trent Reznor
Posted on July 10th, 2005
Filed under: Music News — Karl Olson @ 5:05 pm
So, we (me + family) got a call from Charley. Situation sounds miserable, but we (me + family + anime kingdom otaku sewing circle crews) are here to support her because she’s a good person and a friend. No one deserves to be told to fit in when they aren’t do anything harmful to anyone. So she’s likes anime? Too bad. Better to have a hobby where you can be constructive, artistic and creative than destructive and/or violent. I may not like fan fiction particularly, but it’s ultimately a positive outlet for energy. Certainly better than vandalism or something.
Meanwhile, my computer does seem healthy again, and this “project” did result in enough lyrics to complete the album, so I guess it’s been positive on the whole. Still wasn’t fun though. Hopefully I can get really serious about recording vocals this week and atleast get a rough cut done before I go out to Minnesota with my bro, dad and grandpa to visit relatives and old friends. More importantly, maybe I can get some sleep. Staying up to til 1am? Great. Staying up til 3-4am? No way. I need more sleep than that.
PS: I watched the PPG Movie again today on CN. I wish they still made cartoons like that. That era was fantastic. Just fantastic.
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DoujinOSTpreview II
Posted on July 7th, 2005
Filed under: Music News — Karl Olson @ 1:24 am
I’ve got no clue how generic filter disco is suppose to work with anything in the doujinshi, but it was fun to make. Yay for tempo syncable oscillators and delays and cheesy ready made house loops. BTW, I made this in like 3 hours, so if it sucks, too bad. It’s a goof track.
And no, this isn’t a distraction from working on the nerdcore LP, it’s random inspiration striking and me running with it. For better or worse.
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Doujinshi OST Preview Round 1
Posted on July 5th, 2005
Filed under: Music News — Karl Olson @ 1:57 am
So I’ll be making an OST for a doujinshi a few friends of mine are putting together for SakuraCon 2k6. Here’s one of tracks from it:
It’s glitchy and pop drum n’bass-ish at the same time. Think Aphex Twin via Outkast.