“Everybody to the Limit” – 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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“Don’t ask for it; go win it on your own. Do that you’ll succeed.” – 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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Sushi/Peppermint Mochas/Ramune
Posted on September 3rd, 2005
Filed under: General — Karl Olson @ 12:16 am
Make for a totally crescent fresh friday
Hanging out at Anime Kingdom in Bellevue
Braggin’ bout how my CDs can sell through
At a gaming convention
Then I repeatedly mentioned
The new collaborations
That should cause a sensation
Watch it they won’t work
Then I’ll feel like a jerk
And I’ll be back to a blog with no traffic
Sitting alone writing my life as a fanfic
–On a more serious note though, it was a darn fun day today. Shout outs to the whole Anime Kingdom crew, especially those who underwrote my evening with monies (namely Jim, Jason, Microsoft Mike and Kyle “CN’s Worst Nightmare” Pope.) That sushi owned all. Mmmm… eel. Even the bosses at Anime Kingdom get respect for giving me a ramune after I tied down the boxes full of plushies to the roof of their minivan. Oh, and we can’t forget the ever present contribution of McDonalds foods on the part of Ben to the AK crew.
Kudos for everyone. Well, cept me, I was just annoying. 😉 (/self deprecation)
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OH SNAP.
Posted on September 2nd, 2005
Filed under: General — Karl Olson @ 12:50 am
pertinent screencaps:
1 – 2 – 3 – 4 – 5 – 6 – 7 – 8
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One more bonus pic from PAX
Posted on August 31st, 2005
Filed under: General — Karl Olson @ 1:17 am
Super Cobra + Adult Swim Shirt = Undeniably Nerdcore, atleast in theory.
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“You’ve upset the natural order!” – Billy and Mandy
Posted on August 30th, 2005
Filed under: General — Karl Olson @ 9:04 pm
Because too many of my friends have livejournal, I’ve relented and gotten the ID but only so I can actually read the friends’d only entries and stuff. Tryed to open ID, but to no avail. Anyway, I’m still using this blog as my only blog, and I intend to keep it that way. I proudly host my own emo rantings on my own dime in my own personal, wholy-owned space, thank you very much. I can just properly annoy my friends now 😉 Yay.
Next Up: A myspace account I’ll never use.
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ZOMG PICS
Posted on August 29th, 2005
Filed under: General — Karl Olson @ 11:30 am
Respect goes out to Ferquin, TZ member and photographer of my PAXtion (PAX action.)
Picture 1 is myself with nerdcore producer Baddd Spellah and his wife
Picture 2 is just me at the concert
More pictures should be forthcoming should the 1up and G4 interviews run. I’ve also got 1up photo luggage tag to scan in that’d also has a pic that can be used on it.
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Penny Arcade Expo Rules You All
Posted on August 28th, 2005
Filed under: General — Karl Olson @ 6:59 pm
Reason 1: MC Frontalot and mc chris. Both of them rocked the mic. Both signed stuff for me. Both were happy to see me. Both now each have a copy of Revision they can listen to/frisbee/burninate/whatever. Other people who recieved promotional copies include G4TV (yeah, I know they are lame, and I’ve got more on that later on in this post, but promotion is promotion.) But seriously their sets were awesome. Actually, every act there did an outstanding job.
Reason 2: A lot of people bought my CD at the con. Including a man writing a book on Causasian rappers (he interviewed me for the book btw,) and Frontalot’s homeboy and back up vocalist Yook. Oh, and a couple of ToonZoners, and some Valued Suckers, and some other friends, and some random people who I can’t even properly place.
Reason 3: Media Attention. G4’s Attack of the Show interviewed me and did a bit with me. Highly scripted and cheesy, but it was an opportunity to plug the CD. I also did a couple interviews with 1up.
Reason 4: Meeting people, both brand new and relatively new. I met the first female nerdcore rapper, a delightful young lady with the handle of Nurse Hella, aka Danielle. Not only is she awesome for her nerdcore verbal expression, but also for being a hardcore gamer, a hardcore anime/manga fan and a hardcore Dexter’s Lab fan who was so hardcore Genndy freakin’ Tartokovsky wrote her a letter and called her on the phone. I met Glenn Case who I knew both threw the Sockheads Sifl and Olly Fanclub and threw MC Frontalot’s Valued Sucker forums. Not only was he cool enough to buy my CD, he called Matt Crocco, co-creator of Sifl and Olly, and then let me leave a message on Matt’s voicemail. That’s just the tip of the cresent fresh people I met.
Reason 5: Tycho from Penny Arcade says he wants to be on my next CD. I will make this happen. Besides, he’s a pretty good vocalist, as per his score on Karaoke Revolution.
First though, I’ve gotta eat, then sleep.
I’m burnt out… and so happy I could cry. Thank you everyone who made this possible.
Tune in next time when karma balances itself with my computer exploding or something equivalent.
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I am my own 1000th Visitor/I’m 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!