THE BAGAZINE

TALES FROM PRODUCER X #2

2010-12-08T14:59:00.000-08:00

Hey gang, here's an excerpt from a recent conversation with PRODUCER X...

BAG: We're in the meaty part of the holiday season. How's it going for you production-wise?

X: As expected I guess. Even with a bad economy we're still pushing out a lot of spots.

BAG: Really? A ton of spots in this slump?

X: You have to keep in mind that plenty of bonus spots are being added to packages to sweeten deals. I think we're using more barter these days too.

BAG: What about imaging?

X: When the spot load gets big, imaging takes a back seat. Sometimes imaging is just a thing I squeeze in at the end of the day if there's time. Usually, I need to clear my head after a big spot day so, I go home, eat something and produce at night.

BAG: Would you say you're imaging has suffered in a big way?

X: Hmmmm, depends on how you look at it. I don't produce things that sound bad, I just keep them simple so they're quick and easy. They're less complicated and less creative for sure. That keeps me from working 12 hour days.

BAG: How does that compare to the past?

X: In the past, I could just focus on imaging. PDs that I've worked for always liked to have plenty of specialty imaging on around holidays. The challenge was to keep it fresh and to try and tie in to whatever was happening that year. You know, if Tickle Me Elmo is hot, you've got to have a sweeper relating to that.

BAG: And how do PDs feel now that everything is stretched?

X: I've never known a PD that doesn't love having fresh creative imaging on the air. Most of them feel like imaging is one solid thing you can own between songs that you can't own. Still, my PD understands that resources are tight to the point that we can't do what we used to do.

BAG: So, how does the people meter fit into all this?

X: Good question. I don't know. Things are too busy to think about that right now. Personally, I think the PPM will be a nostalgic museum piece as radio figures out how to transition to the web with decent monetization. In fact, PPM may be the motivator for the radio biz to speed up the process. Being a slave to the FCC and the PPM is not good for business when the web runs like a liquor store that sells to minors.

Our thanks to PRODUCER X once again for sharing real life experiences as our business transforms. More from X in the near future.

FREE LOOP CORRECTION

2010-12-03T21:09:00.000-08:00

Some people have had trouble accessing the free loops we've posted on soundcloud.com. Try this link for better results. http://soundcloud.com/brownbagimaging

Get friendly with our soundcloud page cuz more freebies will show up there in the future.

THE SANTA VO SESSION FROM HELL

2010-11-23T20:39:00.000-08:00

If this doesn't get you in the holiday spirit, nothing will.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fN9AZ-N3Npo

Btw, have a great Thanksgiving even though we know you'll be the last one to leave the radio station on Wednesday. Do you think salespeople give thanks to the prod guy before carving the bird? Yeah, we didn't think so either.

BROWNBAGIMAGING.COM...NOW FEATURING THIS GUY

2010-11-18T20:48:00.000-08:00

Sure, we've got accordion samples but that's weak sauce. We go for the real deal and that's why we call this guy. The instrument pictured here was literally rescued from a garbage dump. We think maybe the guy was too. We throw him a few bucks and walk away feeling pretty good that we helped out a fellow music nut.

We're not making this up. This guy is real and so is the squeeze box. We just wanted you to know that we're not a bunch of "chop it to the grid" monkeys who can't get outside the quantizer.

3 QUICK TIPS FOR BETTER USE OF REVERB-video

2010-11-17T21:18:00.000-08:00

Our latest youtube video outlines a few basics for getting better performance from a verb plug. Reverb is of course, complex and we could yammer about it all day but, people generally nod off when we start doing that. Keep in mind that the tips are not the be all end all. Nothing in the audio world is. We suggest rolling off hi and lo freqs but, you may want color from your verb so by all means, leave it if that's your goal. As with anything in production, go nuts cuz it's impossible to break virtual knobs.

Here's the link to the vid. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qhsuhLap88

TALES FROM PRODUCER X

2010-11-16T20:36:00.001-08:00

So many changes have taken place in the radio universe that we thought it would be great to hear from someone who has one foot in the glory days past and one in the constantly evolving present. That was the start of the idea for this series of posts titled "TALES FROM PRODUCER X". X may want to be opinionated from time to time so, no names and not too much personal info will be given out. Let's kick it off with some basics.

BAG: What can you tell us about your radio career?

X: I'm lucky enough to say it's been a long one and still going. I'd rather not say how long or talk about the markets I've worked in. Let's say I've worked in markets big and small and worked in different formats.

BAG: Been around long enough to remember carts?

X: Yeah. I miss carts because they were the perfect size for throwing. They were kinda like production director throwing stars. I always thought that's why they were made obsolete. Too many sales people with concussion by cart.

BAG: So you've been a spot producer.

X: Sure. I started out that way like everybody did. Cranking out spots and pulling swing shift for jocks on vacation.

BAG: Ever want to be on the air instead of production?

X: That's a definite no. Being trapped on the air with the same music everyday and the same 5 kids calling on the phone was torture. You had a stack of liner cards and the PD would always say, don't READ the liner cards...be creative. Then at your aircheck, he would hate whatever you did. The stuff he liked the best was when you practically read the card verbatim. Nuts.

Bag: So production was easier for you?

X: Not easier, just more satisfying. Time didn't exist in the prod studio. I would be in there for hours trying to make a creative commercial with a two track machine and some old jazz records. I didn't care. It was fun and even after a 12 hour day I felt energized if I did something creative.

BAG: What about that frustration you mentioned earlier?

X: Oh, the salespeople? That's the eternal struggle of good and evil. Art vs. commerce I guess. We were both wrong. What I was doing wasn't really art and what they were doing wasn't really business. I hated that they would go home and watch soaps, then come back and hand in an order late to air the next day. Ok, not everyone did that but, it did happen. Then there's the classic move. They would photocopy a yellow pages ad for the client, staple it to the order and write, "be creative" on it. I always imagined myself turning into the Incredible Hulk when I would see that.

BAG: Do you think it's better now?

X: I'm not sure. It's just different. A lot more salespeople write copy now. Production people used to do a lot of it but, there's no time anymore. It's too bad because I think salespeople don't enjoy writing copy but prod people kinda do. It's another creative process.

BAG: So, did you do imaging early in your career as well?

X: We didn't call it imaging back then. I don't even remember when the term imaging started. You were either a spot guy or promo guy. A lot of people, including me, did both since a lot of stations didn't have aggressive production yet. CHR was always the exception. Of course, with an analog 4 track, you couldn't handle a huge promo/sweeper load anyway. You'd never sleep. I remember doing slip cue music edits on 4 track. Sounds crazy and stupid now. You really respected the people who were good at it because it was like using the force. We all respected killer blade editing too. Now I think even blind and deaf people can edit pretty well on a daw.

Let's stop there for this first post. We'll keep this series going as long as Producer X wants to talk to us. Got a question for Producer X? Leave it in the comments.

FREE LOOPS ON SOUNDCLOUD

2010-11-09T15:22:00.000-08:00

We feel like Soundcloud.com is a great place for audio people to hang out. It's not a big deal like Facebook or Twitter but, it's growing steadily while focusing only on audio. We wanted to encourage you to give Soundcloud a spin so, we're trying the oldest trick in the book...free stuff.

Go to Soundcloud.com and search on brownbagimaging. We should pop up first. There are two free loops for you to grab and each has a mixout or two. One loop is called Day By Day and the other is Down.

We're not connected with Soundcloud in any way. As audio pigs, we just like it and want to spread the word. We'll post more freebies in the future so stay tuned.

PRO TOOLS 9

2010-11-08T09:21:00.001-08:00

There hasn't been this much buzz about a pro tools release in quite awhile. We would guess that the reason for that is this update answers a lot of complaints that PT users have had for years. Here's a quick overview of some major bullet points...

1. You can now use 3rd party interfaces. Now, Avid will truly have to compete in an open hardware marketplace. Should be interesting to watch.

2.Automatic delay compensation in LE. That's pretty big news. So why would anybody buy an HD rig ever again? Higher level pros or anybody who is tracking will not be able to make do with an LE rig. HD systems will still have more power in key areas like number of instrument tracks, voices for playback, midi tracks, video etc. HD also supports surround...the LE version not so much.

3. Free mp3 export. Ok, this seems small but so many users have complained in the past that Avid should bundle the mp3 option with the software that it's a real victory for bloggers everywhere.

4. More is more. More audio tracks. More aux tracks. More busses. More midi tracks. More instrument tracks. Major juice all over the place. Finally, you can unnecessarily complicate your projects with ease.

5. Support for more controllers. Pick up a C24 and go nuts on your LE rig. If you're not swimming in cash, go for the Euphonix MC Mix, it's now supported. Users know that Avid has been an exclusive little country club in the past. The club is opening up for what feels like the first time.

This is a very short list just to make the point that Avid has both listened to its users and responded to pressure from competitors in a significant way. Anybody who was thinking of switching to another daw will at least have to pause and take a look at version 9.

As for negatives, some are no doubt cheesed off that it's only compatible with Windows 7 and Snow Leopard (10.6.2 and up to be exact). Of course, the internet will suffer no shortage of flamers who love to hate. We'll let them prattle on about all the evils and gross injustices.

The bottom line these days is that you can handle complex audio projects on a lot of different systems. Maybe you choose which one based on price. Maybe on features. Maybe you choose by which one has the coolest logo. It just doesn't matter as long as you're happy with it. As for the flamers, don't buy stuff you hate. Problem solved.

COMPRESSOR HISTORY

2010-11-03T16:57:00.000-07:00

Radio producers often idolize studio engineers who work with racks full of high end gear because so many radio stations now have nothing more than a cost cutter DAW, an RE20 and some cracked plug ins. It wasn't always that way. In fact, when it comes to compressors, radio developed the technology and jealous studio engineers adopted it.

In early radio, excessive audio levels could knock a station off the air. Engineers would manually ride gain to avoid it but, no one can anticipate a sudden spike and the human hand is only so fast. To protect equipment, leveling amplifiers were developed. They automated the process by acting like limiters. Recording engineers had the same desire to control levels and borrowed the idea from radio which was clearly on the cutting edge. Since limiting is just a severe form of compression, the idea for both was born at the same time.

Fast forward to the 1960s when boxes like the Urei 1176 and the LA-2A hit the market. Even by today's standards these units are considered audio rocket sauce. They changed the vibe of music production and are still in use all over the world.

Compression has been a massive force in defining the sound of modern music. Although it's often misused, it is routinely thought of as a must have for any mix whether it's a hit record or a radio promo. Recording studios seek out vintage compressors that can cost up to $25,000. No, that's not a misprint.

But, back to the beginning. It was radio that drove this technology. Imagine a time when audio geeks had to go to a radio station to see the latest gear that was blowing people's minds.

AN HOMAGE TO THE VU METER

2010-10-26T19:34:00.000-07:00

LCDSoundsystem have a song called Daft Punk is Playing at My House. The video for that tune is quite the tribute to our friend the l.e.d. version of the vu meter. Czech it out.

click here to see video

WEB MAKE SMART NOW

2010-10-25T07:29:00.000-07:00

How has the web affected our communication as a culture? The post at the right commenting on a Miley Cyrus video may be a clue.

SUMMING MIXERS ROUND DEUX

2010-10-16T14:41:00.000-07:00

Last year we tested a few summing mixers to see if the buzz about analogue magic was true. While we did notice some small amount of magic, we weren't blown away. We did, however, decide to keep an eye on this type of gear since more and more companies are entering the market.

Now, we're test driving 2 boxes that have had a lot of great stuff written about them. They are the Neve 8816 and the Tonelux summing mixer which is more of a made to order thing. These products are not new to the market, but over time they have developed a good rep with none of the usual web-gear-flaming we're used to seeing with most anything. Thanks to our way cool peeps at Vintage King, we're able to twist knobs on these boxes for the next two weeks. As usual, we'll report to you after lots of pizza and many sleepless nights.

VO WORKPARTS NOW ON ROCKET SCIENCE

2010-10-11T10:10:00.000-07:00

If you've been poking around the site lately, you've noticed a new category called VO Workparts. It's made up of free and clear, dry voice tracks that subscribers can use any way they want. Male and female tracks are posted now. That's pretty cool but, it gets better. If you have something specific you need for imaging, you can let us know and we'll get it posted. Everybody can use an extra, FREE voice now and then right?

Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas tracks all coming this week.

GREG GIRALDO DEAD AT 44

2010-09-30T12:47:00.000-07:00

Right now, it is being said that he died of an accidental overdose of prescription medication. Whatever the case, many will miss Greg's comedy. He was a regular on comedy central celebrity roasts and he was never off of his game.

You don't have to look very hard to see that he was well liked as a person. Even though he was an insult comic, he left people with a good feeling. Here's a link to a performance clip.

http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/0eba527cea/greg-giraldo-is-the-best?=twitter

THE KING OF ROCK AND ROLL

2010-09-26T15:57:00.000-07:00

Ok it's Stephen King but still, this creepy old guy manages to stay relevant. Recently in Entertainment Weekly, he wrote about music. He grew up in a small town that got only one radio station. Worse yet, that station played a lot of Perry Como. As pop and rock slipped in to the playlist, King found his bony feet moving to the new sound of Jerry Lee Lewis. The young geek's life was transformed.

Though EW held him to one page in the mag, which must have been tough for the high priest of blabbity blab, he managed to make good points without going all "The Stand" on us. One in particular says it all. "The best rock isn't about thinking, but about being on fire and delighted to burn".

Well said Mr. King, now get back to your IBM selectric and write something that will give us all emotionally damaging, horrible nightmares.

OCTOBER IS JIMI HENDRIX MONTH ON FIREPOWER

2010-09-19T11:47:00.000-07:00

For the debut of our artist spotlight category,we featured Rush. In August, we published inspired pieces throughout the month so you would have a nice pile of goodies to work with the next time a Rush project makes its way to your in box.

Coming in October, we'll feature Jimi Hendrix. While gathering up all things Hendrix, we came across this Vanity Fair article that discusses the less public side of Jimi. It was written by a woman who got to know him while writing an article for Rolling Stone.

http://www.vanityfair.com/online/daily/2010/09/remembering-jimi-hendrixs-vulnerable-side.html

YES, WHAT YOU DO IS ART

2010-09-17T22:18:00.000-07:00

Music, production, sound design, sweepers, promos, even legal id's. All art. It helps to not think of your audio projects as "noise making" or "knob fiddling" even though your parents may call it that.

If you're creative, you should treat your projects like you treat your mint condition Star Wars collectibles. We found an inspirational quote about producing that sums it up nicely. The quote is from a dude we don't know quoting another dude we don't know so you know it's profound. It goes like dis...

"Greatness in art depends solely on how much love you put in to a work. You put it in, it pays you back, your friends back, and everyone who listens. Moral of this lesson. Never take mixing and mastering lightly."

Sure, sometimes you have to run out on a piece because happy hour drink specials don't last forever and your friends never remember to save you any jalepeno poppers. We've all been there. If your like most people though, true masterpieces don't come out of that scene. The good stuff oozes from long sessions populated by copious amounts of pizza, red bull and a sequestering from the public that rivals the O.J. jury.

WHY YOU DON'T HAVE A BIG CONSOLE

2010-09-15T10:09:00.000-07:00

The first two reasons you don't own a monster console are price and space. But when you think about it, you don't really need a dining room and big consoles can be found used for less than some control surfaces. So now what's stoppin' ya'? After all, every major audio genius is working on one and they all they say nothing beats 'em for sound.

The one thing nobody tells you is what it costs to run juice through that big bucket of knobs. Some producers report electric bills of several thousand dollars a month. That includes outboard gear as well but, you get the idea.

WATCHING TRENDS

2010-09-13T07:51:00.000-07:00

If you don't have your trend radar running 24/7 you can miss some premium pop culture blunders that are great fodder for today's promos/sweepers and in ten years when you're looking back on today.

For example, did this high heel tennis shoe thing show up on your late 1990s radar?

Here's a blurb on these fashion wannabes from http://shoes.lovetoknow.com/High_Heel_Tennis_Shoes...

"It's amazing what a pair of high heel tennis shoes can do to transform a look from sporty to sassy. This unusual style had its heyday back in the late 1990s, when platform styles made a huge comeback and every type of shoe imaginable was treated to an exaggerated heel. Today, they might be less common, but they're still every bit as fun as they once were."

WHAT DOES THAT PLUG REALLY DO?

2010-09-10T12:08:00.000-07:00

So, they make cheeseburger flavored Doritos now. Some people think they're gross while others plow through the bag like there are diamonds at the bottom. Different folks like different flavors, it's that simple.

Same goes for plugs. There are dozens of equalizers on the market and most have their own unique flavor. When you demo a plug, you should be trying to figure out the properties of that flavor.

There's a lot more to consider than presets and interfaces when shopping for your next audio twister. Developers have burned a lot of calories writing code to differentiate their products and you can benefit by building your arsenal based on specific characteristics that you want or need.

Some eq's are more musical than others. Some compressors are good for drums but not so great on other tracks. Some limiters create more artifacts than others. Before you buy another plug ask yourself if you know the properties of the plugs you already own. It may sound geeky but, why not go try 'em out on different projects and make some notes.

MILK WAS A BAD CHOICE

2010-09-02T15:16:00.000-07:00

Today was a good day. We secured our 12 pack of Ron Burgundy collectible trading cards. They come with the Rich Mahogany Edition of Anchorman that's out on blu-ray. Along with the trading cards, it includes Wake Up Ron Burgundy which is the extra movie that was made from unused scenes, out takes and alternate story lines of the original. Bubble gum not included with trading cards. Bummer.

MACHETE THE MOVIE

2010-09-01T13:17:00.000-07:00

We can't wait to see this flick! The cast alone is pulling us toward the theater to pay way too much for popcorn and 98 ounce drinks. Hey, Lindsay Lohan stayed out of prison and rehab long enough to play a nun in this little masterpiece.

We were cruising the Machete website today and found a section where you can chop and post custom photos. Someone apparently is not a Steven Segal fan and the proof is in this piece of art pictured above. Give the guy a break, he was married to Kelly LeBrock. He's had it tough.

NEW SOUNDGARDEN ALBUM SEPT. 28

2010-09-01T11:54:00.000-07:00

For the first time in about 13 years, Soundgarden have reaffirmed their commitment to not getting nice jobs at the DMV like their parents wanted them too and have pushed out another record. That's cool and all but, it gets better. The disc will be distributed with Guitar Hero Warriors of Rock. Reports are that it's the first time something like this has been done.

IT'S A SHILLER!

2010-09-01T11:05:00.000-07:00

Can you tell the difference between the 3 band eq from one company and a similar 3band eq from another? A lot of people can't. It's confusing and companies that make audio gear know it. Competition is heavier than ever in the gear universe and that has led to some greasy behavior.

It's not uncommon to see a video on youtube from a respectable, professional producer that mentions specific gear used in a recording. It's an independent producer so, you think this person is being cool and honest by posting this vid about an audio technique. What you don't know is that sometimes, a producer has a relationship with a particular company and pushes their gear in his "instructional" videos almost exclusively. Beware when someone says "we did a mic shootout and picked this one because it sounded best". Could be legit...could be someone shilling in exchange for free gear or cash.

Keep your bull**** detector in good working order when you go to a free event, sponsored by an audio company. Often, the panelists for a seminar happen to agree the sponsor's gear is the best.

Most of us know enough to give the stink eye to paid endorsements. That guy wearing the lab coat in the tv commercial isn't a real doctor and we get it. Today he wants you to eat healthy and exercise while tomorrow he'll be telling you to get down to Taco Explosion for the 12pack meal deal. Of course, he'll be sans lab coat.

The regular guy nature of youtube and other sites is blurring the line between info and advertising in a new way. Old concept sure but, new way to chrome plate it.

When it comes to gear, the best beta test comes from those two chunks of cartilage on the sides of your head. If you don't trust your own ears, don't be too quick to pick up on skanky internet advice.

FREE PRO TOOLS PLUGS

2010-08-27T10:38:00.000-07:00

Massey is not exactly a new name in plugs but, there are still many who don't know about this small and very cool company. There are two things that make these doods mondo cool.

First, they make great plugs for cheap. You can snag a mastering quality limiter for $89. We compared it to the Waves L3 and had a hard time telling the difference at moderate settings. There is a distinct difference when you crank each to settings you should never use if you're making audio for humans.

Second, Massey has a unique demo deal. They give you the plug for free with no expiration. There are some feature limitations but, no beeps, no static, no crapping out every 30 seconds. You can use the demo with full audio capability in a realistic way. The demos reset to default when you close a session but, hey, they're free. Again, if you like the plug, it's so cheap you'd be half a lunatic not to just buy it.

High level pros use Massey plugs for real. At a recent audio panel discussion in LA, all 5 speakers, who mix audio for the movies, video games, and cds you groove on, gave high marks to all Massey plugs.

Here's the link. Go get yourself some free stuff.

http://www.masseyplugins.com/

HOW MUCH GEAR DO YOU NEED?

2010-08-20T14:16:00.000-07:00

This question is a bear we all have to wrestle to the ground in our own way. Hardware and software are fun to buy and even more fun to use. Every new piece may be the missing link that saves you from hours of tweaking the same old stuff. Finally, when you're released from debtor's prison, you realize that you could have gotten by on less.

One artist has taken "less is more" to the extreme. It's John Mellencamp and on his new record he said no to gear. The equipment list reads like this...1 microphone and 1 reel to reel tape recorder.

One microphone. That means mono folks. Above, you'll see an excerpt from the album credits that states it plainly. He ain't kiddin'.

We previewed some tracks and it certainly doesn't sound like anything you're hearing on the radio...or anywhere else. It's like your great grandparent's 78s without the scratches. Still, Mellencamp writes good songs and usually, no piece of gear can keep a good song down.

What we took away from this was that, when everyone is pushing the limits of auto tune, multi fx processing, grid perfect editing and a dumpster full of mod studio tricks, there's only one way to go. The other way. Of course, a lot of that ground has been covered and re-covered in recent times so, maybe you have to get into the wayback machine with Sherman and Mr. Peabody and visit a time not so heavily traveled.

Getting all retro has been cool for a long time but, this record transports you to an era that nearly challenges the beginnings of magnetic recording. We can't wait to see who tries to top that.

RADIO ON TV

2010-08-11T15:40:00.000-07:00

Maybe it started with WKRP. That's as far back as anyone here could remember. Then there was Newsradio. Both great shows set in radio stations that resonated with a lot of people. More recently, VH1 gave us Freeradio. We're lazy on research today so we didn't check to see if it's still on but, you can probably get past eps at least.

With radio coming under fire from many angles lately, would anyone consider making another tv show about this medium in transition? Why not? It's actually a great time to capitalize on all the wild stuff that's going on and how that affects the people in the biz. And who better to do it than a guy who is actually doing morning radio right now?
The creator is LA morning dood Larry Morgan and he's made a pilot for a show called "Indie". It's a funny, inside look at what's happening at a station in trouble. We'll skip the recap and just give you the link. No laugh track, no budget, just good comedy.

http://vimeo.com/13444308

LATE NIGHT MUSIC THIS WEEK

2010-08-09T07:48:00.000-07:00

Here's the deets on late night talk show musical appearances. Remember, Coco comes back in November on TBS.

Monday, August 9

David Letterman: Bettye LaVette (R)
Craig Ferguson: Vampire Weekend
Jimmy Fallon: Menomena

Tuesday, August 10

Carson Daly: Surfer Blood (R)

Wednesday, August 11

Jay Leno: Los Lobos
Jimmy Kimmel: Joanna Newsom
Tavis Smiley: Carolina Chocolate Drops

Thursday, August 12

David Letterman: The Dead Weather (R)
Jay Leno: The Whigs
Jimmy Fallon: The Walkmen
Daily Show: Arcade Fire

Friday, August 13

Jay Leno: Alejandro Escovedo

VIRAL ADS

2010-08-06T15:12:00.000-07:00

Viral has been a big buzzword in marketing. Creating viral content is powerful. For example, that goofy, hamster-voiced kid Fred, turned his viral youtube fame into a movie deal with Nicolodeon.

So, how do you "go viral". We don't have the answer but, maybe you can figure it out by watching these top viral ads compiled by Advertising Age.

http://www.visiblemeasures.com/adage

RUSH MONTH UNDERWAY ON FIREPOWER

2010-08-02T12:42:00.000-07:00

What a year it's been for Rush. Just a few months ago, a documentary was released that chronicled their entire career. This summer, they released two new songs online that will be heard on their upcoming album Clockwork Angels. They appeared on The Colbert Report which was their first American tv appearance in about 30 years.

With the new album likely to drop in the coming months, we thought it would be great for our classic rock Firepower users to have some specialty imaging and workparts to create the appropriate buzz around this amazing band.

This is the start of a new feature on Firepower. We'll be doing more of these artist theme months to fatten up your classic rock imaging arsenal. During an artist theme month, you'll still get regular beds, sounds, sweepers etc. The theme is a bonus.

AUGUST IS RUSH MONTH ON FIREPOWER

2010-07-15T14:25:00.000-07:00

This is brand new for Firepower. Throughout August, we'll be posting some Rush related workparts for artist focused imaging. In the future, we'll be featuring more artists in randomly selected months. It means a new level of depth for our classic rock users. FP will be bigger and better than ever. That's how we roll.

FREELANCE OPPORTUNITY

2010-07-08T10:35:00.000-07:00

Even in these tough times, The Bag is growing. With stations short on staff, we want to provide more turnkey imaging than ever before.

That's why we're looking for a classic rock imaging pro to contribute to Firepower. If you specialize in major market, truly creative, classic rock imaging, we'd like to hear your stuff. We prefer someone who is currently working at a classic rock station so they'll be constantly plugged into what's happening in the format.

Send an mp3 demo (no larger than 3mb) and resume to production@brownbagimaging.com.

COMEDY QUOTE

2010-06-30T20:42:00.000-07:00

Rice is great if you're really hungry and want to eat two thousand of something.

-Mitch Hedberg

Dog vs. Vuvuzela

2010-06-28T10:28:00.000-07:00

Finally, a proper response to that obnoxious sound. Dogs rule.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gqv4Vviod0c

SOCK IT TO ME

2010-06-21T20:24:00.001-07:00

As 3d televisions are moving off the shelves and iphone production fails to keep up with the stampede of demand, something very simple and ancient refuses to give way to all things new. Hand puppets. Pictured right is Warren the Ape. He's the star of a new show on MTV by the same name. Furthermore, he's not much different than the stinky sock puppet you put on your hand as a kid. This show does not attempt to reinvent the puppet or fuse it with modernity. It's a fist shoved into a fuzzy wrag which is then pumped full of the wit and bite of Triumph the Insult Comic Dog.

Perhaps the point is, everything can't be Avatar. We need contrast. And so it is with radio stations and their imaging. Some resemble the complexity and too cool for the room vibe of the iphone and some are more like the unfiltered crudity that comes from making a dirty sock that smells like stale Dorito's do an imitation of your uncle Bob. Yes, crudity is a word. The internet says so.

Both are equally entertaining. Both clearly have a place in media and society. What's better, you can increase their effectiveness and entertainment value by cleverly squishing them together. Remember Dennis Miller Live on HBO? That show seemed to smoothly shift from insightful political and social commentary to rampant eff bombs in 0.0 seconds. John Stewart, Steven Colbert and Bill Maher have a similar formula. Now, they have more credibility than network news.

What we're saying is, it pays to know that your audience has more than one dimension. Soccer moms can have a great sense of humor. Political junkies sometimes talk about who is the better draper on Project Runway. Soccer fans have been known to hold jobs and be productive members of society after intense anger therapy. If you want to prove to your audience that you really understand them, go beyond the obvious. A well thought out sweeper can do it quickly at no cost.

The young, text-crazy, iphone obsessed, video-game-addicted, hi-tech generation loves the oldest trick in the book. A dirty sock. So, what's the dirty sock for your audience? There's a good start to your next brainstorming session.

KATY PARODY

2010-06-15T19:30:00.000-07:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_stcgW8E4o

We love Katy Perry and, we also love parodies. This vid kinda sorta has both.

MORE IMAGING MORE GOODER

2010-06-11T09:48:00.000-07:00

Anger fits are a time honored tradition among many production people. Yelling, colorful rapid fire profanity, throwin' stuff and making idle threats are as much a part of the gig as Red Bull and junk food. Sure it's fun but,eventually you get a bad rep and before you know it, people are pegging you as the grassy knowl guy in the Kennedy assassination. Not cool. Maybe we can help by getting rid of frustration all together. How about a creative powerup that sends you more fully produced, just add water, major market imaging pieces every month? Now there's an idea that doesn't stink too bad. Look for more imaging on Ripped next month. Rocket science too. Firepower soon to follow.

Edit, customize, slap on your calls or just steal the idea. Bag imaging is your production slave. It never takes a vacation, it doesn't get sick, it doesn't talk back and it routinely saves your butt. That means you never have to miss another episode of Judge Judy.

A LA CART

2010-05-26T15:23:00.000-07:00

So you want to become a podcasting superstar. With enthusiastic dynamism you have embraced all the latest computer technology. Now, at your fingertips, you have the ability to produce your show from your bedroom or local coffee hang. There is one slight problem, you yearn for the "Old School" way of production. Admit it, you wish you could carry around your old trusty cart machine. Retro is cool and we understand your need to get in touch with vintage greatness

Well, if you where born after 1982 you may not be familiar with cart technology, as well as, 8 track, cassette, and vinyl records, as these are all "Old School" artifacts of the trade. Soon to be in the same class is the Instant Replay, the modern cart replacement for radio folks. It's fast, easy and powerful, however, too expensive for a homegrown podcast.

All you need now is your laptop, a mic, and an inexpensive software replacement for the Instant Replay. For you Mac users out there, for just $29 bucks, you can snag Soundboard from Ambrosia Software. With Soundboard you can add your special gloss to your podcasts or broadcasts. Add sound clips, special effects, music, backgrounds, stingers, bumpers, laugh tracks... etc. Create your own libraries of show specific audio clips and fire them off with a hot key from your keyboard. Tap the key and you have just replicated your beloved cart. Soundboard is designed to be easy to use while performing live. You can also edit sounds, drag and drop, and control Soundboard via a MIDI device.

Ambrosia Software has video overviews to get you up and running on their web site.

http://www.ambrosiasw.com

SLIPKNOT BASS PLAYER FOUND DEAD

2010-05-24T14:34:00.000-07:00

Urbandale police say a hotel employee found 38-year-old Paul Dedrick Gray dead in a room at the Town Plaza Hotel. Foul play wasn't suspected. The Polk County Medical Examiner's Office plans an autopsy Tuesday.

Most Slipknot members grew up in the Des Moines area. The band, known for its grotesque masks, released its first album in 1999. It sold more than 1 million copies.

For our Ripped users, we have posted an imaging piece relevant to the announcement. You'll find it on the main page as a media buzz cut.

ROCKET SCIENCE REFRESHED

2010-05-18T16:43:00.000-07:00

We're clicking around the back end of the website to do a nip/tuck on RS. It was time to refresh categories and get the site ready for the new creative that's coming. As Hot AC changes, RS will change with it, this is the beginning of another stage of evolution.

The simple and fast functionality will stay the same, only the organization will change. We'll be making a tutorial video to walk you through the refreshed layout. Keep watching the Bagazine for more details coming soon.

RONNIE JAMES DIO DEAD AT 67

2010-05-17T09:43:00.000-07:00

Just say"Dio" and people know what you're talking about. He made an impression far beyond the world of metal. This link to an NY Times article includes several videos that help illustrate his influence.

http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/05/17/the-lighter-side-of-ronnie-james-dio/

INDY 500 MUSIC

2010-05-11T17:15:00.000-07:00

Memorial Day weekend is just around the corner, and that means it’s time to fire up that Indy 500 production. To get ourselves in the mood, here are some tracks we are listening to while watching Danica Patrick and Milka Duno fight on youtube.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=frcOogBzSY8

This list should also make for a good soundtrack while trying to pass that swervedriver in the Mini-van on the way to the liquor store.

Jimi Hendrix – Crosstown Traffic
Alice Cooper – Under My Wheels
Audioslave - Gasoline
Buckcherry – On the Road Again
Cake –Going The Distance
Chuck Berry – Riding Around in my Automobile
Deep Purple - Highway Star
Fear Factory – Cars
Fuel –Metallica
Gary Numan – Cars
George Jones – The Race Is On
Golden Earring – Radar Love
Jimi Hendrix – Crosstown Traffic
Ministry – Jesus Built My Hotrod
Motely Crue – Kickstart My Heart
Paul Oakenfold – Speed
Primus - Jerry Was A Race Car Driver
Ratt – Round and Round
Sammy Hagar – I Can’t Drive 55
Slayer – Born To Be Wild
Static-X – Speedway
Steppenwolf – Born To Be Wild
The Beatles – Drive my Car
The Cars – Drive
The Prodigy – Speedway
War – Low Rider
White Lion – Radar Love
White Zombie – Thunder Kiss ‘65
Willie Nelson – On the Road Again

SUMMING MIXERS

2010-05-07T09:31:00.001-07:00

Awhile back, we tested 3 summing mixers. We don't want to get into brand names because we don't want to do a shootout. We just want to get some info out there because summing mixers are growing in sales while being the topic of much debate.

First the concept behind the gear. Summing mixers are supposed to help your daw audio sound more like it has gone through an analog console. Your audio is sent through analog circuitry to add warmth but, it's also bypassing your digital summing pipe so you can get better stereo imaging. Some boxes do only that while others claim to add some color to your sound, maybe a little beef on the bottom etc.

Second, our test. It's not so simple to do an accurate test to see exactly what the mixer does compared to your in-the-box mix. The web is loaded with controversy about it and it can be confusing. We talked to reps from the companies to make sure we were using the boxes properly. We chose one inexpensive brand, one middle priced and one high end. All units performed 8 channel summing.

Third, the result. We noticed a difference in sound with all 3 units, however, all of us here at the bag didn't always agree that the difference was an improvement. Overall, the difference was small and sometimes hard to detect. With a little more investigation we found that summing really becomes more significant at 16 channels and beyond. Imagine a 48 channel console. The cumulative effect of all those channels is really where the magic is. For project studios with less than 16 channels of output to be summed, you may find results that leave you wanting more for the money you spent.

More companies are coming out with summing mixers since they've been a hot item and maybe the technology will improve for 8 channel capacity so, this could be an interesting category to watch.

WHAT IS PPM READY?

2010-05-06T15:15:00.000-07:00

Not long ago, the buzz phrase we we're all hearing was "HD ready". Mp3 files were rumored to soon be obsolete in the HD world. Production services were scrambling to position themselves as HD ready. Now, that phrase is clinically dead and ppm ready is the heavyweight champ of radio hyperbole.

What does it mean? How do you get there? Honestly, no one really knows. Stations that have done well in the ppm markets have perhaps done so by default. The technology appears to favor certain formats although not consistently. Programmers and staffers are baffled and from what we hear, the story on ppm changes frequently. It's a moving target. Of course, flatly admitting you don't know what's happening or where things are going is scary and unpopular. So, what do you do?

We're not armed with magic bullets but, we can offer an opinion. We think great radio works regardless of measurement methodology. Compelling is compelling right? Did Rush Limbaugh pack up and go home because he heard ppm favors music intensive pop formats? He knows better and so do his advertisers. Content is still king. If you're providing original, compelling radio everyday, pirates can't touch you and the people meter can't kill you. That's our opinion. If we're wrong, get ready for Hot AC on every frequency, every minute of every day.

MINING RADIO GOLD

2010-05-05T10:05:00.000-07:00

Good or bad, radio is changing. We certainly don’t sit around a wooden box with our families and listen to the radio to our favorite programs anymore. Computers pretty much run the show now (literally) and a lot of the radio we listen to is piped through a mobile phone or some other wi-fi or 3G gadget. But every so often, it’s good for us to look back and see where it all came from. We’ve compiled a list of places you can online to listen to various shows, commercials and other content from the Golden Age of Radio.

Old iTunes commercials – a glimpse into what products were being advertised and how they advertised them (downloads are $0.99 but you can listen to the ads in their entirety for free – link will open iTunes app) - http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/old-time-radio-commercials/id271694368

Radio Lovers - Old Time Radio programs of all sorts including Amos & Andy, Bob Hope and Benny Goodman - http://www.radiolovers.com/

OTR (Old TimeRadio) - Old radio commercials sorted by year starting in the early 20’s up to the 50’s http://www.old-time.com/commercials/

Old Timer Radio Fans – Another place to listen to retro ads from the 50’s and earlier http://www.oldtimeradiofans.com/old_radio_commercials/1957_Chevrolet.php

CREATING PRO TOOLS TEMPLATES

2010-04-28T10:35:00.001-07:00

If you’re constantly re-setting up groups, using the same eq settings for your VO in Pro Tools or any DAW for that matter it’s time to set up a master template. Even if your not grouping, having audio tracks already created with your “go to “ eq ready and your favorite limiter across the stereo buss can save you loads of time whn you add up all the productions you do in a week. I like to route my sfx and drops through a group and apply separate eq and compression to that and if I have more than one VO element run a separate group for that. The same applies to any multiple music tracks as in a hook promo.
If you’ve never set up a group before basically you assign the outputs of the tracks you want to group to a buss (e.g., buss 1 & 2) Create an Aux track and assign the inputs of it to buss 1 & 2, and the outputs of the Aux track to Stereo 1&2 (which feeds the Master fader). Any eq or compression or fx you want to apply to just those in the group you insert across the newly created Aux channel. It also makes it easier to mix if for instance you need to raise the level of all your Music elements.
Once you’ve created your template, choose “Save As” Name the session (e.g. Master template) and click Save. In the Mac finder locate the session and click on it once to select it and press” Command I” or right click it and select “Get Info”. Select the Stationary Pad option, select the locked option and close the window. When you open the template it will ask you whether you want to edit the stationary pad (in case you want to edit your template) or start a new session with your saved template. Click “New Session” which saves a copy of the template for you to work on.

HAPPY BELATED EARTH DAY

2010-04-23T07:49:00.000-07:00

We were busy recycling used mp3 files on Earth Day so we hope you'll forgive our tardiness. Here's a vid to help celebrate even though it's a little late.

biz markie

WOODPECKERS FROM SPACE

2010-04-20T21:22:00.000-07:00

Cool retro sound design and wicked woodpecker rapping make this piece unforgettable.

Click here to see the video.

10 Easy steps to boost your Internet speed without buying stuff

2010-04-19T14:46:00.000-07:00

We here at Brown Bag realize that slow internet speeds can get in the way of productivity. Especially when it comes to downloading the many thousands of cuts we have to offer. That’s why we want to show you 10 easy ways you can tweak your way to a faster internet experience.
1. Adjust your browser settings
Use Mozilla Firefox. Internet Explorer downloads all files on a web page in sequential order – Firefox does not, giving you a little bit o’ bandwidth savings. If you have to use IE make sure you have all the upgrades. If your on a Mac, try the latest Safari. It isn’t bad.
2. Call your friendly neighborhood ISP
In these tough economic times you might be able to negotiate a better internet package for a reasonable (or sometimes even the same) price. If not, talk to the boss about switching the service. There might be something faster and cheaper out there.
3. Tweak your router settings
Check your router’s manual. See if there are ports you can open up to help boost speed.
4. Keep the riff raff out
Make sure those slackers next door in studio B are not piggybacking on your wifi. If they are downloading movies, music or other large files on your wireless network, they can slow things down quite a bit. Encrypt your network with a password (again check your router manual for instructions on how to do this)
5. Trim the bandwidth fat.
A lot of apps like to secretly hog your internet connection behind the scenes. They start up when your computer boots and unless you really know what to look for, you’ll never know about it. Look for programs like Windows Update, Antivirus programs (use caution with this one – try updating manually at the end of your shift etc.), Real Player, MSN, Skype and others. Even when you are not running the app, they can still run your speed into the ground.
6. Get a better router
Ok so this one’s not free but it could save you a ton of time. The router that came from your ISP probably isn’t the fastest on the block. A lot of good routers are pretty cheap these days. But if it’s not in the cards, try placing your wireless router and modem in a place that’s not obstructed by walls, doors or other equipment.
7. Ditch your wireless
If possible, try connecting your computer directly to the router with an Ethernet cable. Keep in mind, the longer the cable, the slower your connection may be.
8. Get techy with it
This one’s for all you geeks out there but rookies…listen closely
Keep in mind this works on Windows only
Click Start-->Run-->type "gpedit.msc" without the "
This opens the group policy editor. Then go to: Local Computer Policy-->Computer Configuration-->Administrative Templates-->Network-->QOS Packet Scheduler-->Limit Reservable Bandwidth
Double click on Limit Reservable bandwidth. It will say it is not configured, but the truth is under the 'Explain' tab :
By default, the Packet Scheduler limits the system to 20 percent of the bandwidth of a connection, but you can use this setting to override the default.
So the trick is to ENABLE reservable bandwidth, then set it to ZERO. This should speed things up a bit.
10. Firefox Addons
There is a Firefox add on called DownloadThemAll. This thing lets you customize download settings and has a download accelerator that can bring you up to ludicrous speed.

MUSIC FOR TAX DAY

2010-04-12T09:40:00.000-07:00

Here are some songs about money that might help get the ball rolling on some Tax Day themed production.

The Beatles “Tax Man”
The Beatles “Can’t Buy Me Love”
Dire Straits “Money for Nothing”
Johnny Paycheck “Me and the I.R.S.”
The Kinks “Sunny Afternoon”
John Lee Hooker “I Need Money”
Barrett Strong “Money (That’s what I want”)
Flying Lizards “Money (That’s what I want”)
Pink Floyd “Money”
Monty Python “Money Song”
Michael Jackson “Money”
Ray Charles “Busted”
Robert Cray Band “1040 Blues”
Spinal Tap “Gimme Some Money”

AVID BUYS EUPHONIX

2010-04-11T22:25:00.000-07:00

Lotsa buzz about this over the weekend. Here's a link to an article on marketwire.com that gives more info.

marketwire.com -avid buys euphonix

SMOOTH JAZZICA

2010-04-07T22:42:00.000-07:00

Nothing says true fame more than Metallica performing hard rock in a smooth jazz style without their fans stoning them to death. What's next, a tour with Kenny G?

http://www.buzzfeed.com/awesomer/smoothjazzica

TUNE UP

2010-04-07T15:48:00.000-07:00

A quick reminder...whenever you read a Bagazine post reviewing a piece of hardware or software, you can be sure that we used it before we tapped out the article. With that, let's talk tuning.

In the music biz, being in tune is a way of life. This little stomp box gem, PolyTune™ from TC Electronic makes it effortless.

Yeah yeah..... this is a guitar product but rest assured you can use a tuner across the entire musical spectrum, but you know this already. What is so cool about this one is, (guitar players get ready to tingle), PolyTune™ is a polyphonic tuner. You can see six strings at once!! This bad boy is a great chromatic tuner, a "chromatic champion" according to TC. You can set reference pitch to your preference and ranges from 435Hz to 445Hz. There are Poly, Needle, and Stream Modes that measure your input signal along with a "true bypass" mode when switching the tuner on and off. It also has a bass guitar mode for you 4 and 5 stringers out there.

If you like gear as much as we do and need an excuse or are jonesing for a new addition to your arsenal you cannot go wrong with a PolyTune™. The build quality is exceptional too.

Check out more at TC Electronic.

APRIL FOOL MUSIC LIST

2010-03-29T15:35:00.001-07:00

I pity the fool that doesn’t have music for April Fools Day production!

With that in mind, here are some suggestions to get you started.

A Tribe Called Quest “Description of a Fool”
The Beatles “Fool on the hill”
Cinderella “Nobody’s Fool”
Deep Purple “You Fool No One”
Def Leppard “Foolin’”
Delfonics “Trying to make a fool of me”
The Doobie Brothers “What a fool believes”
Elvis Presley “Fool”
Foghat “Fool for the City”
Frank Sinatra “A day in the life of a fool”
Ludacris “Act a Fool”
Styx “Fooling Yourself”
Ween “You were the fool”
The Who “Won’t get fooled again”
World Party “Ship of Fools”

GOT A MATCH?

2010-03-26T15:27:00.001-07:00

You are jamming to get your session finished and you are missing a certain "sound" to your project. You admit you are not an EQ guru and really don't have time to pull out your scalpel to do sonic surgery. You need a fix and you need it fast. Well, your EARS are the best tools to use of course, but in a jam, might we suggest an assist from a spectral analyzing or EQ matching plug-in.

If you don't know the ins and outs of equalization, you need to know some basics. What can we hear? Our ears only hear sounds in the range 20 Hertz to 20,000 KiloHertz (20 kHz), you may have seen or heard tech jabber like 20 to 20 or a 2 db (decibel) boost at 3500k etc. This all relates to the frequency range we hear and how we design, mix and edit our audio. In radio land we focus on 50Hz to 15kHz since broadcasters basically chop off the bottom and top of the spectral range when sending out the radio transmission. Only your dog will really miss the stuff above 15k anyway. With this very basic understanding you need to know that spectral analyzing or EQ matching is how certain software plug-ins can copy or mimic a preexisting EQ curve. The EQ curve is made up of points across the frequency range, 20Hz to 20kHz, that we can hear as it makes up a distinct sound or sonic effect. An example would be the sound coming from a small radio or earbuds. You recognize a nasal or thin sound that accompanies the small speaker output. Say the sound is more complicated or you need to match prerecorded tracks, spaces, sounds, and voice treatments etc. You should try the spectral / matching EQ solution for fast results. These can really save you time when trying to "dial in" the right EQ curves. You feed the plug-in the source that you would like to match and the software will generate a spectral/EQ analysis and apply that to your sound. Now you have a similar EQ curve at your disposal. Go ahead and apply the result to your sound or use it as a starting point to help you tailor your desired tone. Again, your ears and practicing with equalization are the sure fire way to achieve what you want. The matching EQ plug-ins are, however, very effective and can be a real time saver!

There are a few solutions out there. Some plug-ins are part of your DAW, like Match EQ in Apple's Logic Studio. Try the demos from iZotope: Ozone 4, Roger Nichols Digital: Frequal-izer, and Voxengo: CurveEQ.

These tools will really help you out of a jam. Remember, practice makes perfect.... always try your ears!

LINKS

http://www.apple.com/logicstudio

http://www.izotope.com/products/audio/ozone

http://www.rndigital.com/frequal-izer.html

http://www.voxengo.com/product/curveeq

KILLER BEATS

2010-03-22T17:14:00.000-07:00

Ever wonder if that last drum or music loop you used in your last piece of production was legal? If you are throwing Acid loops into your projects and calling them your own, chances you are violating some copyright law or breeching a licensing contract/agreement of some kind. Don’t worry, we’re not here to rat you out, but we are going to do our best to keep you out of trouble and save you some time and your company some money. Using a little instrument in Ableton Live called Impulse may be the creative, simple and legal solution to beat processing you never knew you had.
Last April in this blog http://brownbagazine.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2009-05-08T11%3A44%3A00-07%3A00&max-results=7) we showed you how to get your free copy of Ableton Live Lite. Now it’s time to get your money’s worth. With each free copy of Live comes the previously mentioned instrument, Impulse. It’s essentially a drum trigger that you populate with sounds/audio of your choosing. The Impulse module can be found in the browser window on the left side of the Ableton interface under “Live Devices”. Click on Impulse and right away you’ll see 8 empty boxes or slots surrounded by various parameters such as Decay, Volume, etc. All you do is drag a sample or audio file into any of the 8 empty boxes, adjust some volumes as needed and you’re pretty much ready to go. Record your midi info with a midi instrument or draw it yourself with the cursor. When you have your drum “kit” set up the way you like it, simply rename it and drag the module back into the browser under Impulse and all of your settings and sounds are saved for next time. If your company’s purse strings are so tight that they can’t even squeeze a Trigger Finger or a Korg Nano into the budget, don’t fret. Ableton Live lets you map almost anything that triggers midi, including the computer keyboard that’s under your fingers. Loops, software synths and midi triggers cost money. Everything mentioned in this article is free. Hashing out beats with Impulse is almost as fast as dropping an acid loop into your session once you have it set up. So we’d say your just about out of excuses.

SOCIAL NETWORK DISEASE

2010-03-18T16:00:00.000-07:00

Social networking is a blast. For better or worse, millions are hooked on it and it ain't goin' away. With a radio production schedule, however, you may have to rethink how big a part it plays in your day. You may see it as a harmless interruption since it only takes a minute to update your FB status or peck out 140 characters of pure brilliance. Even if that's true, the real cost may be in the mental fissure it creates in your creative energy or concentration. When you're in the zone (or trying to be), intrusions can drain your momentum.

Remember The Shining? Jack was looking forward to isolation so he could focus on writing his book. Ok, not a great example because of the subsequent killing spree. You get the idea though right? Creativity and productivity require the right environment. You've probably heard stories of production directors locking the studio door sometimes to prevent productus interruptus. Great idea if you can get away with it. What good is that though if you allow yourself mucho barge-ins from tweets, IMs, texts, status updates, pokes and vampire bites?

Bottom line - productive people control interruptions. Social networking should be your slave, not the other way around.

IT'S SCIENCE

2010-03-17T22:04:00.000-07:00

We spent St. Patrick's day doing some research on all things Irish. Most of our findings were predictable save one. After putting a four leaf clover under a microscope we found nothing unusual but, the three leaf version is another story. Fascinating captain.

VO RECORDING REFRESHER

2010-03-15T09:30:00.000-07:00

The human voice is highly dynamic and care must be taken to make it intelligible over loud background sources. Assuming your station has made the mic choice and pre amp choice for you here’s some tips to help improve the quality of your VO recording without going to the PD for more cash.
If you don’t already have a pop filter you can always fashion one from a nylon stocking (preferably a new one) and a metal coat hanger. Another method in a pinch is to tape a pencil (or two) right over the center of the mic to disperse air around the capsule.
Try and deaden the sound around the mic. Move the mic into a corner of the room that has been deadened with packing blankets. You can also isolate the mic from the rest of the room by using a mic boom stand with blankets hanging over them to reduce reflections from bouncing back into the mic
Don’t over compress during recording, you can always add more during mixdown to get the VO above your mix. Make use of a 60hz high pass filter to remove rumble and reduce any pops that might sneak through. If you need to warm up the sound try adding a bump in the 200-500hz range and to increase intelligibility perhaps a little boost in the 7k area.
It’s always a safe bet to get a good full sound recorded, that way you can take the sound in any direction you want at mixdown. Above all make sure your message is being heard. It may be obvious to you because you know the script. Remember it’s going to go by the listener really fast, when balancing do so at a low level and make sure you can make out the dialog.

WHAT'S THE BPM KENNETH?

2010-03-08T09:30:00.000-08:00

Here at The Bag, we always list the tempo of our beds and loops so you can easily toss them into Acid or whatever and get funky. But if you want to use a piece of popular music and edit accurately you’ll need to figure out the tempo on your own.

In Pro Tools, although the same method applies to all, you can usually start by editing a 2 bar phrase from the song. Then zoom in on the first downbeat and trim it up nice and tight. Next, cut just before the beginning of the 3rd measure. Place the start of the edited region on a downbeat in grid mode and then adjust the projects tempo so that the end of the edited region lines up with the bar markers. This usually means moving your edited section every time you make a change in tempo so that the beginning lines up on a downbeat, but if you keep it in Grid mode it will snap to it. Once you’ve found the tempo simply stretch the front and back of the region to include the whole song and edit away!

This is the ghetto method for those who don't have beat detective or something like it.

NEW VO FEATURE ON RIPPED

2010-03-01T11:22:00.000-08:00

Users already know that Ripped offers free custom voice over. Now, we're taking it a step further. We're creating some imaging pieces that feature a vo track you can use as is. Literally just add your calls and you're done.

The tracks will be easy to find because they'll contain a green text box (pictured right). This new feature is just getting started so you'll see just a few cuts pop up this month. More coming. Every track that contains free and clear vo will be marked so, a quick glance is all you need. Fast, easy and free. Get Ripped!

WHO KILLED RICK ROLLING?

2010-02-24T13:10:00.000-08:00

Youtube killed it. They removed the Rick rolling video from their site for legal reasons. Even more shocking to us was that the video has accumulated 30 million views.

No doubt Rick rolling will continue living on the web illegally somewhere else but, we may be looking at the end of an era.

R.I.P.
Rick Rolling
2007-2010

WHERE'S THE BEEF UPDATE

2010-02-23T12:42:00.000-08:00

Decapitator from SoundToys

In our series of "Where's The Beef" we are happy to pass along this little gem.
Decapitator is a great analog saturation modeling plug-in that definitely adds "The Beef" and other "Special Mojo" to your sounds. Right now SoundToys has a public beta of the plug, that means free.... for now. Get ready to break your piggy bank, we guarantee you will hock something for this puppy.

Decapitator will deliver the subtle warmth to blistering mayhem. Basically the analog gooeyness that you have been looking for in a software.
Best of all, it is as simple as turning a knob. Get ready to say ahhhhh!!!

LINK:

http://www.soundtoys.com/products/Decapitator

BETTER CREATIVITY: WAIT FOR IT

2010-02-18T10:37:00.000-08:00

Filling a blank page with great stuff is never easy. It's even harder when you're imaging 3 stations, doing an air shift and trying to run a freelance business on the side. With all of the physical and mental crunch that goes along with that, one thing remains constant. Great creativity rarely happens quickly. You have to give it time. You have to have a clear head and allow your brain to do what it does when it's free of clutter.

Think about the spontaneous creativity that comes from children seemingly without effort. Their brains are clean. Their minds can wander without worrying about deadlines, rules, paying bills, getting to the dry cleaner before they close etc. They are loaded with imagination because the human brain naturally gets funky when you unshackle it.

If you want to get better results in your production, you need to start with your writing, or more specifically, your ideas. Better ideas on paper equal better production pieces.

So, how can you get better ideas? One truth seems to bubble out among a lot of creative types. You have to take the time to craft better concepts. In radio, you often don't have much time to stare into the computer waiting for inspiration but, sometimes that what it takes. Many songwriters want to avoid cliche's just like you want to avoid writing another commercial that says "friendly service and convenient location". They accomplish that by isolating themselves from distractions to endure silent spaces and blank pages. It can be rough but many different types of creative people will tell you that's what it takes.

We get that this isn't realistic for the average imaging/production director. That being the case, we suggest picking a special project now and then to try this. Give yourself time to brainstorm, write, rewrite and punch up your ideas. Make something a little more epic and you'll get a rush from doing it. Also, it will beef up your demo. Cliche production done fast food style will leave you empty when it's time to round up your best stuff to shop around.

THE MODERN CAVE WALL

2010-02-15T09:49:00.000-08:00

Since the dawn of time, mankind has been recording ideas. It started with paintings on cave walls and has continually grown in importance for about the last million years. If your reading this blog, you're probably connected to the creative biz so, you know the value of hanging on to ideas. You also know that they notoriously come at odd times and can be quickly forgotten. Luckily, modern tech has offered up many new versions of the cave wall so your random thoughts in the dentist's waiting room are never lost to the sounds of screams (from patient to insurance company) and the allure of out of date magazines.

One such device is likely mixing it up with your pocket lint right now. Aside from being a mighty communicator filled with cool apps, music and other goodies your phone may have a built in voice recorder. Most of us are so caught up with the apps that steer model helicopters that we often forget about the built in stuff. When it comes to creating and remembering your cool ideas, the voice recorder can be your best app. It’s always with you, in the car, on the street or at your nightstand – ready to record and playback in an instant.
If you’ve got a standard, run-of-the-mill cell phone and it’s not from the 90’s your voice recorder will probably be found in Tools on your Main Menu. Recording will be pretty self explanatory and indicated by a small microphone icon at the top of the screen. If you’ve got an iPhone, there’s an app call Voice Memos http://www.apple.com/iphone/iphone-3gs/voice-memos.html that let’s you record yourself in mono (or stereo with a mic sold separately).

GAMERS: GET READY TO ROCK AND LAUGH

2010-02-13T13:40:00.000-08:00

Some of you will relate to this in a very personal way. Put down the bottle of sleeping pills and learn to laugh about it.

http://g4tv.com/attackoftheshow/comedy/64042/Red-Ring-of-Death.html

HD PROMO VID

2010-02-08T17:04:00.000-08:00

This link takes you hdradio.com to peep a vid. Just sharing this in case you're too busy to hunt for promotional videos about hd radio.

http://www.hdradio.com/radioSizzles.html

DANNY BOY ON THE BAG

2010-02-05T09:55:00.000-08:00

For St. Patty's day we wanted to do something we haven't done before. We decided to track a traditional version of Danny B0y and get a singer to belt out some lyrics. Seems like a good thing for anyone to have on hand as the greenest of holidays approaches. The singer who did us a solid is Chrissy Lomax.

Chrissy is a Singer/Songwriter originally from Toronto Canada, currently living in LA. Chrissy has performed solo and with her band across Canada and all around Los Angeles. She has two Independently released CDs out on her own label Spare Room Records, and is currently recording her third. Check out her website at http://chrissylomax.com/

WILD HAIRY CREATIVITY

2010-02-05T09:43:00.001-08:00

We heard from a person or two that had trouble playing the Chewbacca piece from Ripped we posted awhile ago. Here's a link so you can catch it on youtube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2t9Hyge8-Q&feature=channel

PULP NON-FICTION

2010-01-25T10:48:00.001-08:00

What do you do when you’re at work and you wanna kick some Scritti Politti but forgot to load it on your iPod? This is an easy one.

Pulptunes http://www.pulptunes.com/ has a solution that will allow you to listen to all of the music in your iTunes from any location via the web. All you do is download an app and follow a few simple instructions – opening firewall ports and such. What’s great is that there is nothing to install on the remote computers. The player opens in your browser and is very user friendly. Mac and Windows supported

Socko http://sockso.pu-gh.com/ is similar to Pulptunes in that it streams over the internet but this one works with any music collection, not just iTunes. The setup is very simple and the interface is very easy to use. Also Mac and Windows supported.

RIPPED IS WILDLY CREATIVE

2010-01-21T17:05:00.000-08:00

You need wild ideas that are ready for air and that's what we do. Here's an example of a killer creative piece available on Ripped that keeps people tuned in more than that Nickelback song you're about to play.

ONLINE RADIO RECORDING

2010-01-20T12:05:00.000-08:00

Wouldn't it be great to have a TIVO for web radio to keep up on what's happening? Yes, it would and here's a look at some software that puts web radio at your mercy.

One slick piece of software is Radioshift, made by the folks at Rogue Amoeba.
http://www.rogueamoeba.com/radioshift/
It allows you to easily search through their very comprehensive radio guide (100,000+ listings) for the stations you want to record. You can then bookmark your favorites, and then via “subscribing” to a station you can schedule a recording. These recordings are done in the background without interrupting your own audio production work flow.

A key feature is that Radioshift supports recording multiple streams simultaneously. We have tested it extensively, recording several stations over several weeks, while recording various day parts. At the end of the month using our preferred audio editing app, we can then quickly scan through the recordings looking and listening, for the imaging vs the music vs commercial breaks.

Another feature highlight that we cannot forget to mention is that Radioshift can wake your computer from sleep or power it on when a recording is scheduled while you are away from your studio and everything is shut down. You can disable this feature if you want.

The latest update adds support for “thousands of new streams” as well as improved handling of stream errors. Go take a test drive with the demo, and we dare you to convince us that it isn’t worth the meager 32 bucks. Radioshift has us firmly hooked, but some of the following alternatives may suit your needs better.

Radio Gaga (MAC)
http://www.gagafactory.com/radiogaga/index.html

We liked the look and feel of Radio Gaga, but with only 10,000+ streams in their directory (radioshift has over 100,000), we had a heck of a time finding any of the radio stations that we wanted to record. Finding even major market stations was tough. Weird.

Snowtape (MAC)
http://www.snowtape.com/

Snowtape is a really great looking app, with some very cool features, especially for casual music listeners. Instant record button. Automatic split recordings at track boundaries (if the stream info is accurate). Auto removal of commercials. Integrated track editor.

Total Recorder (PC)
http://www.totalrecorder.com/productfr_trPRO.htm

The Pro Edition is the one to have if you want to record streams in the background, as well as do scheduled recordings. Very feature rich for the money.

TUNE UP

2010-01-15T12:35:00.000-08:00

Always trying to sound as good as you can? The place to start is to see if you are in tune. Western music has a tonal standard of Concert A, A440 Hz. If you do not know this you need to get on board quickly!!! So, if you play any of these popular instruments, and there are more, you need to be in tune with your buddy A440.

12 String
7 String
6 String
5 String
8 String Mandolin
Accordion
Acoustic Guitar
Autoharp
Brass
Calliope
Concertina
Bag Pipes
Banjo
Bells
Bouzouki
Dobro
Electric Violin
Hammered Dulcimer
Harp
Luke
Mallet Instruments
Piano/Keyboard
Organ
Sitar
Tympani
Ukulele
Woodwinds
Zither

There are many devices out on the market that can help you stay in tune. Tuneing Forks, Pitch Pipes, Electronic Tones, Pocket Tunes etc...... and if you or lucky enough to possess perfect pitch you can tune your self.

Let us turn you on to a company that has all the bases covered. The fine folks at Peterson have been in the tuning biz a long time and do it very well. For the DAW centric producer Peterson makes a couple products of interest. StroboSoft™ 2.0 VST/AU Software-Based Strobe Tuner. Strobosoft takes your tuning needs to the professional level, and we are all professionals right? And if you need to completely geek out, snag iStroboSoft™ Application for the iPhone™ and iPod touch®.

If you want the very best in tuning for your DAW and pro work flow look no further. This is the shizz!

StroboSoft VST/AU Features:

Basic Chromatic Tuning / Cents/Hertz/MIDI Note Number Output / Noise Filter / Selectable Sampling Rate Up To 96kHz / 12 Temperaments (Equal, 1/4 Comma Meantone, 1/6th Comma Meantone, Rameau, Zarlino, Just Major, Kellner, Kirnberger III, Pythagorean, Valloti, Werckmeister III, Young) / Manual Note Select / Capo and Drop Tune Settings / Target Tune Function / Global Cents Offset / Selectable Concert A Reference (340Hz - 540Hz) / Calibration Feature For External Reference / Support for Multi-Channel Input Devices / +24dB Input Boost / Illuminated Sharp and Flat Indicators / Compact Interface Mode

StroboSoft for iPod Features:

- Exclusive strobe display allows you to achieve an unmatched level of accuracy.
- Note/Octave window displays the correct note and octave for the note being tuned.
- Cents display allows you to see how far out of tune your note is in cent values.
- Glowing flat/sharp indicators assist when tuning a note very far from the target position and it is difficult to gauge which direction the strobe is moving.
- Noise filter: Use the noise filter when utilizing an external mic or clip-on tuning device to help reduce the effect of extraneous environmental noise during tuning.
- Input boost: The input boost will raise all input frequencies by +24dB.
- Calibration mode: iStroboSoft can be calibrated to an external source guaranteeing 1/10th cent accuracy.
- Drop/Capo mode: iStroboSoft will auto-transpose notes up or down to one full octave.
- Full screen mode permits the strobe display to be maximized on screen to allow better viewing from a distance.
- Adjustable Concert A: Change the Concert A reference of the tuner to accommodate tuning to a fixed instrument, such as a piano, or tune instruments that do not utilize the typical Western A440 reference.

PIMP YOUR MIC

2010-01-11T09:26:00.000-08:00

You can find some ok sounding mics for between two hundred and three hundred dollars. If you want those mics to sound like much more expensive models, pimp 'em out with a good preamp. A high quality pre can make your bargain mic shine, however, the good ones are not cheap. When $$ is a concern, it's hard to go all out on both mic and pre. To stretch your buck, save on the mic, spend on the pre.

The right pre will give your mic a presence you never thought possible. Some are designed with channel strip capability to give you some eq and/or compression which can give you a sound not possible with your plugs.

Take your time and learn about preamps before buying. Y0u don't have to buy an Avalon to get good sound but, you will need stay out of the bargain basement.

HE HEARD IT ON THE RADIO

2010-01-08T12:43:00.000-08:00

You've probably heard the rumors flying around about Jay Leno and the possible fates of his 10pm show. In a recent monologue, he mentioned that his first exposure to the news was on the radio. Jay was listening to a local LA radio station, as he normally does, and got his first whiff of NBCs plans for his future. It wasn't part of the joke, he really heard it on the radio. He reinforced that fact during an interview on a news station.

If celebrities are turning to radio and finding interesting info that affects their lives, it's fair to assume others are as well. Maybe Drudge had the story earlier but, that's not the point. The point is that radio is still an integral part of daily life for a variety of people, not just folks trapped in long, horrifying commutes. Radio works! Here's a link to a clip from Jay's monologue mentioned earlier. http://newsbusters.org/blogs/noel-sheppard/2010/01/08/jay-leno-nbc-stands-never-believe-your-contract

YOU DOWN WITH FTP?

2010-01-06T12:03:00.001-08:00

Chances are you’ve got some files to share from time to time. There are many different technologies out there that can accomplish the task of file sharing (some of which we’ve talked about here). But today we want to focus on the basics, File Transfer Protocol (FTP)

In short, FTP is a network tool that allows you to transfer, exchange, store and manipulate files via the internet. Many people/companies have file servers these days and they use those servers to store large amounts of files. Back in the day, in order to have access to these files, that company would have to burn the files onto a CD and FedEx it to you. With an FTP client, you can arrange to share these files with yourself or other people in your building almost as if they were on your own computer. It’s difficult to get your head around the technology at first but once you get into to it, you’ll be hooked. Here at the Bag, we use ftp daily and found these four apps to be the best for our purposes.

1. Cyberduck (Mac OS X) - http://cyberduck.ch/ - It’s free, open source and easy to use. Many of the Mac’s core system functions like Spolight, Bonjour and Growl are supported.
2. Transmit – (Mac OS X) - http://www.panic.com/transmit/ - Transmit costs 30 bucks but it’s way loaded with awesome features including server to server transfers and droplets for quick drag and drop functionality.
3. Filezilla – (All Platforms) - http://filezilla-project.org/ - Filezilla is great if you have Macs and PC’s in the building. They have a great support via extensive forums and they constantly update and improve the software. The best part is it’s free. If your just learning about FTP and want to get into the game, this is a great one to start with.
4. Smart FTP (Windows XP and up) - http://www.smartftp.com/ - Though not really for beginners this FTP software will do all the heavy lifting. With Smart FTP you can schedule downloads and perform a lot of automatic tasks. It’s good for managing web material and can also easily manage your stored files. When your ready for the big leagues, this is the client you wan to get. It’s free for 30 days then it’ll cost you 39 bucks

Give FTP a chance. It’s a huge time, money and resource saver. For more on FTP clients go to http://compnetworking.about.com/od/ftpfiletransfer/tp/aatp_winftpserv.htm. For more information on FTP technology and how it works check out Wikipedia’s entry on the subject. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ftp

TWEAKING THE ESS

2009-12-29T13:41:00.000-08:00

Sometimes when you brighten up a vocal or filter it you accentuate the hard consonants as well as the ess sound. In the case of the ess sometimes a de-esser doesn’t quite get it or it takes care of some and not others. That’s when you turn to the volume window. Once you identify the offending sounds and zoom in you might lose them at high magnification. The ess sound will look like a lot of tightly grouped jagged waveforms as in fig.1, whereas a hard consonant will be shorter and fewer jagged edges as in fig.2. You can always confirm by scrubbing over them.
You may have to be dramatic in the amount of level you remove. The accompanying examples have been dipped almost -10db which may seem like a lot , but in context they sound quite natural. As always use your ears to judge how much volume reduction you need. This technique can help your VO stand out in a sea of Sound Design and Music and reduce those annoying hard sounds that can rip your listeners ears off. Keep it smooth.

XMAS LIGHT HERO

2009-12-14T21:17:00.000-08:00

For some, chilly temps and holiday parties signal Christmas is coming. For others, it's a mondo, non-ecofriendly light display synced to rock music with a Guitar Hero theme. Watch the vid before Al Gore shuts it down.

Christmas Light Hero

DECADE IN REVIEW

2009-12-08T15:13:00.001-08:00

Obama girl. Did she truly leave her mark on the last decade or was she just another viral flash in the pan with less staying power than Chocolate Rain? We try to answer this question and more with our first ever decade-in-review production pieces. Look for them on all services December 18th.

These rewinds will jog memories and entertain your audience as we transition into a new year. Go home early and enjoy the holidays...we've done the heavy lifting on the decade-in-review.

HOLIDAY AUDIO BARGAINS

2009-12-02T17:41:00.000-08:00

As most audio geeks know, Santa is really good at dropping the ball when it comes to audio toys. You must take matters into your own hands as soon as possible and follow these links for special deals on audio goodies. Quickly now! Go stimulate the economy! We know you didn’t do enough on Cyber Monday.

AUDIOEASE
http://www.audioease.com/
If you are an existing owner of any Audioease products you should have an email offer with special upgrade pricing through December 31st.

DELL 1.5TB Backup Drive
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13845_3-10406724-58.html?part=rss&tag=feed&subj=TheCheapskate

DIGIDESIGN
Don’t forget about the STIMULUS PACKAGE from AVID.
http://www.rspe.com/Special-Deals/AVID-Stimulus-Package/Trade-up-to-Pro-Tools|HD.html

FLUX
http://www.soundonsound.com/news?NewsID=12311
http://www.fluxhome.com/

GUITAR CENTER
http://gc.guitarcenter.com/promo/cyber-monday-coupon/

IKMULTIMEDIA
http://www.ikmultimedia.com/Main.html?holidaydeals/index.php

McDSP
http://www.mcdsp.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=102&Itemid=100008

NATIVE INSTRUMENTS
http://www.native-instruments.com/#/en/?content=1036

OHMFORCE
Way back in October the crazy cats at Ohmforce made a significant reduction in their pricing. Check them out if you are looking for inspirational plugins that stray from the norm.
http://www.ohmforce.com/ViewCategory.do?category=Bundles

SOUNDSONLINE
http://www.soundsonline.com/home.php

SUGAR-BYTES XMAS SPECIAL
http://www.sugar-bytes.de/index.php?lang=en

SWEETWATER
http://www.sweetwater.com/

UNIVERSAL AUDIO
http://www.gearwire.com/universalaudio-2009holidaysale.html

WAVES
http://waves.com/Content.aspx?id=351&HPMF

YEAR IN REVIEW IMAGING ON ALL BAG SERVICES

2009-12-02T09:33:00.000-08:00

Not long after the Christmas turkey is picked clean, we'll be thumping our noggins trying to figure out what happened to the blur that was 2009. Too much has happened and who can remember it all. That's why we crank out our always popular year-in-review production pieces. The first one posted today. It covers many of the celebs and important people who passed this year. Our YIR pieces are all wrapped up, complete with a bow and ready for air. We put 'em up early so you can start your 09 retrospective push whenever it feels right.

More YIR prod will be posting throughout this week so grab it and put in your pipeline for year end imaging. We took care of this part of your gig so you could chill a bit around the holidays. 'Tis the season.

FOLDER MADNESS

2009-12-01T11:12:00.000-08:00

Has your audio folder gotten unruly? Perhaps your OCD has just gone into over drive and you are compelled to organize the file mess residing in your folders. What to do! Organizing your files will take hours if not days. Well, let the Bag turn you onto a great utility app called..... The Big Mean Folder Machine. Get ready to rock your drives Ladies and Gents..... this puppy will will give a new meaning to "presto"! Just some of the things you can do with BMFM are:

Split Files into multiple folders
Merge files from different folders
Split files into multi-level folder hierarchies
Take files and split into batches
Create folders based on file name

We use it at the Bag to wrangle files into submission. Try it out and see if it works in your flow. This is a Mac only app, go ahead and make the switch.....you will thank us later.

Link:

http://www.publicspace.net/BigMeanFolderMachine/index.html

MUPPET BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY

2009-11-26T14:21:00.000-08:00

If you haven't seen this by now, do yourself a favor and czech it out. Good fun.

Muppet video link

DROP BOX

2009-11-24T10:12:00.000-08:00

The process of transferring files from one computer to another is as commonplace as an Obama appearance on primetime TV these days. Often, we use FTP clients to transfer files from computer to computer via remote servers. Sometimes we put files on a thumb drive, give it to a colleague who then sticks it in their machine (and then loses it - later claiming they never got a thumb drive from you). Heck, we even use good ole email from time to time to get our files from A to B. But as you may have already guessed, we found an easier way to do this…free!
The app is called DROPBOX https://www.getdropbox.com/. This handy little freebie let’s you share files right from a folder on your desktop or any other location of your choosing. All you do is download the app on the computers you wish to share files on, setup an account with a username and password and you’re good to go. There’s no learning curve here. DROPBOX folders behave just as any other folder would on your computer, Mac or PC with one exception. Putting a file in a DROPBOX folder automatically synchronizes with any other DROPBOX folder on other computers with DROPBOX installed. If you want to use your iPhone to access a folder you can do that too http://www.getdropbox.com/iphoneapp. And if you’re laptop doesn’t show up at the baggage claim carousel and you need to make use of those internet bars (who uses those anyway?) you can log into your account and access your files online using your username and password. The only drawback we found is that there is no recycle bin for the DROPBOX folder. Changes made to files in a DROPBOX folder are destructible, meaning – if you edit the doc, there is no going back. More importantly, once a file is deleted it’s DELETED so be careful!
According to CNET http://www.cnet.com/, the software is safe, secure and a great way to backup files and work on projects from multiple workstations. It’s still in beta testing but we found this to be no problemo. We use it here at the Bag and have not had any complaints yet. Give it a try!

Adding Some Realism to Your Productions

2009-11-19T09:25:00.000-08:00

Simply panning a characters voice in a promo is one way to create space, but using two microphones in a coincidental pair (also known as “XY”) and placing your characters in that space adds much more realism. The two microphones must be placed as closely together as possible by placing the capsule of one microphone on top of the other as in fig.1. To achieve a wider image position the mics as in fig.2. Ideally you would use a nice matched pair of mics with changeable mic patterns. Realistically if all you have is a couple of 58’s lying around, or two mismatched mics, don't sweat it, you’re not recording the London Symphony. Just try and match the levels between the two and it's all good. The better the levels are matched the more obvious the spatial differences will be. If you did have a pair of mics that you could change the pattern on a figure eight would give you the widest image and works well in a small room. Hyper cardioid is a tighter sound. If you are trying to achieve the sound of a large group and have only a few people you can make them sound like a larger group by doubling or tripling them and moving individuals around in the stereo field with each pass.

LICENSE KEEPER

2009-11-13T16:13:00.000-08:00

Have you ever lost a serial number to a plug-in or software? How about adding insult to injury when the developer tells you you have to buy a new serial number/license to replace your lost one. We've heard that before; "well sir, you DID lose your serial number". Rummaging through countless registration cards, manuals, sticky notes, and ancient emails trying to find software info is way painful. We dislike pain enough to search out a handy utility that keeps all purchase information in one convenient place.

LicenseKeeper from outer level software has been a true benefit in maintaining and organizing software license information. Manage serial numbers, license files, receipts, purchase history, and registration information in a searchable solution. You can import and export information, print detailed reports, scan emails for serial numbers, and purchase history.

The operation of LicenseKeeper is straight forward and intuitive. Put and end to the panic and headache (pictured right) when searching for that lost serial number.

http://outerlevel.com/licensekeeper

MUSICAL GIBLETS

2009-11-05T09:45:00.000-08:00

Who put Thanksgiving so close to Halloween? We’re still burping up the leftover Kit-Kat’s we had for breakfast. Pilgrims, sheesh, what WERE they thinking?

Doing some last minute Thanksgiving production?

Here’s our unique list of songs to help get your creative skull marbles rolling.
If anything, maybe the list will get you in the mood for gorging on turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, pumpkin pie…oh yeah…and giving thanks and stuff while dealing with dysfunctional family issues.

Adam Sandler - Thanksgiving Song
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-z27FKwupds

Dee Dee Sharp – Mashed Potato Time
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQBKpV9emKc

The Original Schnickelfritz Band (1942) - Turkey in the Straw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VsnZxfkkoKQ

Ol Turkey Buzzard (Yeah it’s about Vultures and Gold..we know…Turkey Buzzard sounds cool though)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aRA3SrkqDSE

Ol Turkey Buzzard (On Letterman, weird, funny, okay then.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBpzTcW5qIg&feature=related

Lemon Demon – Pumpkin Pie
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0VVKx8AcYHs

The Plastic Ono Band (John Lennon) – Cold Turkey
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ARDnJLkzq_M

Billy Talent did a version of Cold Turkey… we thank you Canada for BT.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfrsaI70X5Y

Bob Hope and Shirley Ross – Thanks for the Memory
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MwqB2vhrtLE

Bob Marley – Give Thanks and Praises
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=668613672836639134#

Bonnie Raitt – I Thank You
http://popup.lala.com/popup/360569449467837986

Johnny Cash – Thanks A Lot
http://popup.lala.com/popup/937030227622711074

Get your sentimental mojo on via Josh Groban.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2M0GQOgYGg

John Mellencamp – Thank You
http://popup.lala.com/popup/432908518535527148

Alanis Morrisette – Thank U
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1lmw3_alanis-morissette-thank-u_music

ABBA (from Mamma Mia soundtrack) - Thank You For the Music
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8e9VOG1yk8

Ray Davies – Thanksgiving Day
http://www.amazon.com/Thanksgiving-Day-Ray-Davies/dp/B000BTJCPY

Dido – Thank You
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1CjbcqhGyU

Sly and The Family Stone – Family Affair
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xyx71_sly-the-family-stone-family-affair_music

The Ramones – We’re a Happy Family
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YPxA7XIGHkQ&feature=related

Sister Sledge – We are Family
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wSDh94eQTAk

GAIN STRUCTURE

2009-11-02T12:01:00.000-08:00

Setting up a good gain structure is one of the most important aspects of insuring
a distortion free and open sounding production. If you overload at any gain point
(where you can increase or decrease volume such as a compressor or eq) you’ll carry that through the chain. An example of poor gain structure is when a mixers master volume is sitting near the bottom and all of the individual faders are crammed to the top. The master buss level may look normal, but there’s very little or no headroom as well as no clarity or dynamic range.
Keep your eyes on the master buss from the beginning and as you add new elements make adjustments. Your master fader should remain at zero. If your mix is beginning to look hot pull all individual faders down equally. (you could ensure this by grouping them momentarily, or if your DAW has a Trim plugin as Pro Tools does you could insert it before the limiter on the Master Buss and drop the level) Do not rely on the buss limiter to fix everything. In fact don’t engage the buss limiter at all until your mix is almost done. The harder you hit it the more limiting will kick in and diminish the dynamic range. Especially if you are using already produced and mastered music material in your promos. Usually these tracks have already been subjected to the “Loudness War” and adding more limiting to them will induce a “crunchy” sound. Better to adjust the individual elements so that your buss limiter is just tightening up the sound and preventing any overages as opposed to sucking all of the life and dynamic range out of your masterpiece. You could set up a separate buss that has all the elements that haven’t been squashed like your VO, drops & sound design and then feed that to the master buss or use light to moderate compression on each individual track then engage the buss limiter just as a trim.

THE HORROR OF CREATIVITY

2009-10-28T10:30:00.000-07:00

Being creative often means going against the grain and taking a risk that what you're doing may not be popular or accepted. In a promo, that can blow up in your face but, with a Halloween costume, the only risk is possible public embarrassment.

The woman pictured right resisted the temptation to dress as Obama or Miley Cyrus and clearly went outside the box. We feel this works on many levels. Hazaaaaaah!

FLASH GRABBER

2009-10-26T09:35:00.000-07:00

The flickering behemoth in the living room is being replaced by much smaller flickering boxes that now command our obedience. More people each day prefer to get their vid fix online.
Sites like Youtube, Metacafe, Google Videos , AOL, and even TMZ are fast becoming a central source of entertainment and an integral part of our national psyche. As far as radio content is concerned, grabbing audio from these sites has become as important and topical (if not, more so) than TV and film. But getting the audio from the web has been a time consuming and resource hogging process until recently.
Typically, you'd have to tie up your daw interface to get the job done and you'd be doing it in real time. This really messes with your A.D.D. tendencies since you can't multi-task as much. No worries because now there's a more efficient and time saving way to grab the audio. As most of the video streaming online these days is flash based, there is no better way to go than a good flash video grabber. With a flash downloader grabber in your pocket, you can go to the site you want, start downloading the videos you need and continue working on other audio projects. Then, when all your video is downloaded, you can cull, collate and edit your audio efficiently and when time permits without the hassle of buffering and slow internet speeds. There's more great news. Most of the good apps are free!
As with most freeware, there is a lot to chose from. We’ve narrowed it down some of the better apps here.
For Windows –
• Orbits Getit - This downloader works great and integrates well with your browser (works on both Explorer and Firefox). You can right click the video and download that way or use the clickable “Get It” that pops up over the video you are watching and save the vid to a folder of your choice. This one can download in large batches, allowing you to jump from one vid to the next like a locust. Yes, it’s free.
• FlashCatch - A simple to use app, this one puts a drop down in your browser. When you go to a video, simply chose the vid from the drop down and the video starts to download. The only drawback is you have to have a separate player to play the vid. VLC , is a good muliti format player app for this and one that you should probably have anyway. Both FlashCatch and VLC are free aps.
• Flash Video Downloader Youtube - This is one has a nice interface and supports MOV, MP4 and AVI formats. The download process is fast and easyFlash Video Downloader YouTube offers a convenient and comfortable interface for downloading videos from the Internet. Despite its name, the program supports a number of formats, including MOV, MP4, and AVI. This app costs $4.95 after 15 days of trial
For Mac –
• Flash Video Downloader - This free Mac downloader is simple, super easy and allows for batch downloads. Simply copy and paste the url of the vids you want and the app does the rest. SWF, FLV Player and Quicktime are all capable of playing back the downloaded vid.

• YouTube Downloader http://download.cnet.com/Free-YouTube-Downloader/3000-2194_4-192611.html - It’s free, allows for multiple (batch) downloading and even let’s you extract the file names from the sites. Works with Mac and Windows

COMPRESSOR CHARACTER

2009-10-20T09:19:00.000-07:00

You hear the word character kicked around in compressor discussions but, what does it really mean? It probably varies from person to person. For this post, we'd like to zero in on one important aspect of character which is the eq slant that many compressors possess.

Most compressor choices you make are accompanied by a default eq choice of which you may not be aware. The info we're talking about is generally not found in gear and plug-in manuals. It's the stuff of pub chatter. While word of mouth is useful, you have to use your own ears before making final decisions. It's worth your time to take something you know well, like your own voice, and run it through various compressors, taking note of differences. Using a variety of program material is important too.

As usual, there are no absolutes. Not every comp delivers magic and with some, the effect is subtle. Of course, there are also occaisons where you don't want extra color and some products do well with that. In the hardware world, the LA 3A from Universal Audio is known for it's transparency so, for level control without much added character, that may be a good choice. Many people say similar things about the Waves Renaissance compressor plug.

Getting back to those with some extra voodoo. You won't hear people say that a particular comp adds a specific amount of eq at a certain frequency. It's a feel. It's more likely you'll hear someone say that a certain unit adds something nice on the top end or is smoother on midrange freqs. Some producers reserve certain comps for specific applications because of their character. This one is for drums, this one is great on vocals etc.

So, choose wisely when building your stable of compressors. Unless you're loaded with cash and drunk on absinthe.

THE PROOF IS IN THE PROMO

2009-10-13T17:15:00.000-07:00

Brown Bag makes imaging sound great. Although we've been doing it for
years, we're never above earning our reputation. With that in mind we make the following offer. If you're eligible to use Brown Bag and have a trial membership to any service,
we'll produce a sample radio promo with your voice over. Let us show you how great your station can sound with Brown Bag Imaging.

EVIL INSPIRATION

2009-10-08T15:35:00.000-07:00

It’s that spooky time of year, and you need some popular music for Halloween production. We thought about making our own list of Halloween favorites for you, then realized that we are either:

1) Not good at making lists
2) Afraid of making scary lists
3) Not fond of other lists and end up cherry picking from them anyway.
4) Lazy
5) Aware that we are actually quite good at making lists. Please note above items.

Anyway, back to the point. Instead of giving you our own personal Halloween music preferences, maybe we can save you from some search engine typing cramps. Check out the quick links below, and maybe it will speed along your production with some song inspiration. If this just ends up distracting you from your current imaging deadline, you only have yourself to blame. I’m mean, what are you doing here reading our blog anyway? Get back to work. Oh, wait…was I just talking to myself there. I think I was. I better get back to work. Thank you, me.

TOP HALLOWEEN SONG LINKS:

http://www.ez-tracks.com/top-40-Halloween-songs.html

http://www.popculturemadness.com/Music/Halloween-Music.html

http://scrapbooksalive.com/top-100-halloween-song-suggestions/

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/406101/ten_best_halloween_party_songs_from.html?cat=7

http://www.aolradioblog.com/2009/09/16/10-best-halloween-songs/

http://thetikioasis.com/2007/10/09/20-best-halloween-songs/

http://top40.about.com/od/top10lists/tp/halloweensongs.htm

http://classicrock.about.com/od/recommendationsandreviews/tp/somewhat_scary.htm

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/390636/top_10_creepy_pop_and_rock_songs_for.html?cat=33

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/424094/the_best_halloween_rock_music_pop_songs.html?cat=33

http://blogcritics.org/music/article/ten-halloween-songs-that-arent-as/

http://hardrockhideout.com/2007/10/29/top-ten-metal-songs-for-halloween/

http://rayvanhornjr.blogspot.com/2007/10/halloween-hoardesfest-ten-metal-songs.html

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2213089/top_10_halloween_songs_metal_and_industrial.html?cat=33

WATERWORLD

2009-10-01T16:11:00.000-07:00

That coffe colored liquid crawling through the hallway is water from a busted sprinkler main. Since it almost never rains in southern California, we don't often think about flooding as a hazard. Only one of our studios had some minor water damage so, we're calling ourselves lucky.

Is your studio ready for an unexpected flood? Is all your gear up off the floor? What about power strips? Mounting power strips on your work desk is a great idea to keep 'em high and dry.

GOSSIP SITES

2009-09-28T17:16:00.000-07:00

There are plenty of choices out there when it comes to gossip sites. Sites like Eonline, Perez Hilton and TMZ all have great late breaking content as well as archived material. But if you’re looking for content that's a little less mainstream yet relevant, try these sites.

OMG - offers extensive gossip content and features a dedicated video section along with photos, written news and a blog. The video section highlights some of the most recent celeb stories including current and past American Idol contestants and the like. They have a great keyword map on the right that allows you to quickly click on videos OMG considers to be “Hot Topic”.

Pop Eater is similar to OMG in that they specialize in all the latest gossip from the biggest stars of today (people like Katy Perry, the cast of Twilight, Brad Pitt etc.). Popeater has an easy and visually comfortable site that mixes news stories, pictures and videos.

Star Pulse takes things a step further and breaks down their video category into music, television and movie sub-sections. Each sub-section contains a boatload of vids, all with deep and thorough coverage of their title subject. The music category for example will cover big stories and events like the latest Michael Jackson developments as well as small stories like Girls In Bikinis and the Human Synthesizer (what?). Anyway, it’s worth a visit if you want a big choice of quick and easy gossip news with videos.

The Smoking Gun does not offer any recent gossip news but if you’re looking for something with a vintage flair to spice up your imaging then this is the place to be. They feature archive footage from some of the biggest celebs and stories of the old days. The video section will show things that back in the day may have been scandalous, controversial, compelling or at least interesting. The audio has a that great old sound and the site is easy to navigate, making your audio foraging experience very easy.

VIRAL CANADIANS

2009-09-27T22:47:00.000-07:00

This video is awesome. It was shot in one take by students at the University of Quebec at Montreal. We're linking to it because it makes you wanna pull an all-nighter and do something hugely creative.

viral canadian vid

UNREADABLE DEATH METAL BAND LOGOS

2009-09-23T17:13:00.000-07:00

We humbly admit we didn't get any of these. Perhaps your ability to decipher the unreadable is better than ours. Czech it out.

METALSUCKS

MIC/PREAMP QUICK TIP

2009-09-21T14:43:00.000-07:00

This doesn't get talked about much but, the input impedance of your preamp should be 10 times the output impedance of your mic. So, a mic with an output impedance of 50 ohms would go well with an input impedance of 500. A good match usually means the best performance but, of course, your mileage may vary.

Higher end preamps often include switchable input impedance to the get the best out of a variety of mics.

ZIP A MONTH

2009-09-16T15:29:00.000-07:00

We're streamlining our website. You'll no longer see the archive/update category. We're replacing it with custom tools that let you grab any month's worth of audio from any publishing year. A video is worth a thousand words so, check out this tutorial. For the large version, in glorious HD go to youtube.

TAPESTOP EFFECT

2009-09-14T12:24:00.000-07:00

Have you ever tried to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich without peanut butter? We haven’t done any extensive studies, but we suspect it can’t be done.

Similarly, we believe it might be nearly impossible to create radio imaging that does not use the infamous sound of the “tape stop effect”. Slowing audio down to a complete stop, or it’s opposite, speeding up to normal from a complete stop.

Rather than spending huge amounts of time having to transfer audio to an old analog deck to create this effect, there are many audio plug-in options out there, some are expensive, and some are cheap. Thus we present our list for the “economical challenged” producer.

PRO TOOLS:

Vari-Fi, one of the plug-ins included in the free Di-Fi bundle that is included with Digidesign’s Pro Tools software. It is very basic, fast and sounds great.
http://www.digidesign.com/index.cfm?navid=115&itemid=1009

WINDOWS:

PITCH BENDER, the super handy plug-in that comes with Adobe Audition, let’s you draw custom pitch curves on a time graph. This is should be standard in every DAW on every platform.

TAPESTOP, is a free and very simple, VST only effect that is recommended on many online forums.
http://www.kvraudio.com/get/826.html

GLITCH, on the other hand is a crazy sounding plug-in, with tape stopping as only one of it’s many audio mangling options.
http://illformed.org/plugins/glitch/

MAC:
TURNTABLIST, is one of several cool plugin’s from the minds over at Smartelectronix . You have to load samples into the Turntablist plugin and trigger the sounds from a keyboard or other midi controller, so it can be a bit clunky to learn at first. The results after learning this plugin can be very inspiring when you combine live playback at various pitches while spinning knobs on the interface.
http://destroyfx.smartelectronix.com/audiounits.html

EFFECTRIX, is not a free AU plugin, but since GLITCH is VST only on PC we have to mention this option. Tapestop is not it’s best feature though. Stuttering and mangling audio quickly is really what it does best.
http://www.sugar-bytes.de/content/products/Effectrix/index.php

SPEED FADES, is a new tool that is built into the FLEX TIME features in LOGIC 9. Suffice to say, a couple of Logic geeks we know are excited.
http://www.apple.com/logicstudio/whats-new/#flex-time