Makeup and Vanity Set | Never Let Go

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Makeup and Vanity set, one of my favorite homemade electronic bands covered in NES-esque blips and VHS saturation, have a new EP out on Bandcamp. You need to get in on this if anything from the afore mentioned sentence piques your interest.

Makeup and Vanity Set | Never Let Go on Bandcamp

Current visual inspiration

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These are the visual images that are inspiring me thus far in the month of July. Thanks to Evernote’s note sharing you can see it as I update it. For July, I appear to be into bold color.

Currently inspired by…

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It’s been a somewhat active summer with bits of stuff going on here and there. I’ve had some time off, spent judicious amounts of it with my family, and have spent much less of it online. But I have come across a few assorted things that have inspired me, and possibly may inspire you.

A nice collaborative album of music created by the monome community (via Create Digital Music)
Yamaha finally releases the TNR-i (Tenori-on emulator) app.
G (and I, by association) have joined the Lego Master Builder Academy.
Using the power of Evernote’s Note Links you can now take a look at my inspiration notes as I update them. Here’s INSPIRATION NOTE #21.
In one weekend I saw both Cars 2 and Transformers 3. And the biggest shocker is this revelation from @mediamarty.
Wunderlist (To-do app with awesome iOS, Mac, Windows, and Android versions)
G and I found this in the attic. It still works.
Bagcheck. Neat little lists of stuff.

Musically, the things that are moving me right now;

Tzu Chi Ye’s brilliant painings

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I saw these paintings from Tzu Chi Ye on Public School and had to share. They’re mesmerizing and brilliant. First, they look incredibly photo-real and the color tone/grade is so warm.

Locating good music

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I occasionally get questions on how we pick music for the videos we produce. Here are a couple of quick tricks to make sure you have the right audio piece for the right project.

1) Listen to music all the time

If you always have music pouring in, you’re more likely to hear something that spikes your interest. I have a shuffle playlist or Pandora stream on just about constantly.

2) Create an “@potentials” or “@promos” playlist

I keep about 5-6 different playlists at all times just to hold music I’ve come across for a future purpose. Hear a moving instrumental? Put it in your “@promos” playlist and save it for that right moment 6 months down the road. Something driving and thumping, use the “@counters” playlist.

It’s better to tag it when you hear it rather than trying to remember it for later. I also utilize Evernote to compile lists of songs I hear at the gym, or tracks that come to me at various times.

3) Shazam at the store

Do you know who picks awesome music? Old Navy. And Express (don’t judge me, I was shopping with Meg). And most other retail stores at your mall. Take advantage of their good taste. If you have a smartphone there is a good chance you can install a music tagging and identifying app (Soundhound or Shazam). Use that to bookmark and identify a track you overheard. You’ll probably discover something new.

4) Pandora and Genius

This is one of our favorite tricks. Find a song that works (or even one you’ve used before) and plug it into Pandora.com for an endless supply of tracks that have a similar tone and feel.

5) Composers

Occasionally we work win a composer to create a custom score for a piece. Sure, this is the pricier option, but it’s not as expensive as we would have thought. Also look at utilizing your worship band and musicians to help create some tracks. This is especially helpful for making simpler, quieter instrumental pieces. Plus, it’s easier to get individual parts to the songs this way which give flexibility when you’re editing.

6) Recycle

It’s OK to reuse a track. If it worked 6 months to a year ago it’ll work again. And no one will likely notice. We don’t use this one often, but occasionally, especially for a promo that will run just once, it’s helpful.

So that’s it, just a few tips on how to locate good music. The moral of the story is to start now, before you’re creating the piece, and build a catalog.