Crooked Shack

Audiopad - This would be really cool to have.

I have wanted to set my pc up for recording for awhile now but like everyone else that wants to do it strictly as a hobby, I don’t want to spend a lot of money. I had looked into getting a pci sound card for around $100 or so, but the only one that I found was M Audios Audiophile 2496. It looked like it would be good for what I want to do, but it does not come with any software (not even a “lite” version). I called the good folks at zzounds and after talking to a couple of different people I was completely turned around about the PCI approach and was told that for what I want to do and with the machine I have, I should look into the Alesis MultiMix 8USB Mixer with USB Audio. I am not looking to set up a big studio I am just wanting a “sketchbook” if you will. And this thing has everything that I need plus it includes a copy of the Cubase LE software which should be all that I will ever need. I can’t justify the purchase just yet but I am putting it on my wishlist and maybe for Christmas Santa will think that I have been a good boy.

Apple and the major labels headed for a showdown over iTMS pricing - Engadget - www.engadget.com

Tuesday night I saw Iron &amp Wine at the Bluebird and it was somewhat depressing. Don’t get me wrong, I really enjoy the albums a lot and I was hoping that the show would be even better but… The Bluebird normally has great sound but the band is touring with their own soundguy and he left a little to be desired. I think he intentionally mixed them quiet, but it made it so difficult to hear the band over the din of the room noise and the fans (of the mechanical variety not the screaming ones) that is was really unenjoyable. What was most frustrating though were the people who did not stop talking throughout the entire show. I kept wondering if they paid the same $12 to get in as everyone else. I don’t go to a lot of shows and it sucks that when I do, I can only think about the fact that I don’t go to many shows because the suck factor usually outweighs the joy factor. Anyway before I get any more negative, I did enjoy the second band, “Band of Horses”, because they were more of a rock band and a bar is a good place to see them. I enjoyed what I could hear of Iron & Wine and I hope that the next time I see them it is in a club with seating or a theatre of some sort. Ideally I would like to see him around a campfire, but I will settle for the theatre.