Mihow

The Freckles

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Mihow
in

Toby and I have decided to start playing music together. Toby Joe is on the prowl for a new resonator. He likes this one. He also likes sevearl found over at Liberty Guitars. And then he wants to learn how to play it properly. And by “properly”, I mean stuff like notes and chords and things that people use while writing music. Me? I’m gonna stick to what I know which is the acoustic. I know chords. Oh, and I named us The Freckles.

This is going to be a slow process. For starters, we need to buy some equipment and some books. What do people use to record with their computer? I have laid down recordings using a standard 4-track but haven’t ever used the computer. If anyone has any buying suggestions and/or words of discouragement and/or wisdom, we’re all eyes and ears. But if you dislike the name I chose, you can bite me.

Please note: We’re starting this project in order to keep away from the TV set a little more. It won’t interfere with the other project(s) we are working on. There is only so much TV someone should and can watch. I guess you might say we were in search of new evening hobbies.

Ideas? Suggestions?

Comments

25 responses to “The Freckles”

  1. greg Avatar
    greg

    wow, that’s awesome. i use ProTools software with a digidesin interface(that’s where the guitar cord/mic cords plug into. mine is old and uses a special card in the computer. these days, it’s all USB which is awesome and really opens the door to different types of interfaces. if i were you, i’d look at GarageBand for apple. i’ve never used it other than play in the Apple Store, but it’s appleasy as you’re fully aware. it’s quite a nice little program, worry about all the bells and whistles when you get a recording contract! have fun!!!!!!! i like the name!

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  2. mihow Avatar
    mihow

    I liked the name so much we went ahead and got the URL. How’s that for getting ahead of oneself? Move to New York, Greg. Join us.

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  3. tobyjoe Avatar
    tobyjoe

    Getting a name and URL is the first step.
    The second is teaching my ANYTHING at all about music. What are these ‘chords’ I keep hearing about, anyway? Pants or something?

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  4. greg Avatar
    greg

    everything i’ve ever learned about music i am constantly trying to forget.

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  5. mihow Avatar
    mihow

    Greg, sometimes you say the most profound things.

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  6. greg Avatar
    greg

    seems almost impossible doesn’t it.

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  7. mihow Avatar
    mihow

    No way, sir. In fact, we were just trying to tell someone exactly how funny and witty you are.

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  8. j o h n Avatar
    j o h n

    I think you guys should go old school – 4 track all the way. try and score an old one on ebay that’ll let you record 4 mics (with xlr inputs) and invest in some nice large condenser mics. set up one or two around the room & record it live. do it like they used to do it back in the 40’s & 50’s. it should ge you that intimate – will oldham feel. one other plus, is it’ll get you in quick in the whole recordind & writing aspect. & then once you start to get a knack for it, you can then elaborate and start tracking each instrument, over-dubs, the whole nine yards.

    if you need a drummer/percussionist, ring me up

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  9. mihow Avatar
    mihow

    Sir Kerned John, where are you located? Would you make a hike up to Brooklyn to join in the fun? heh
    I know old 4-tracks much better than computer stuff. So I wouldn’t be opposed to that. I wonder if my friend, Jimmy would sell me his since he’s moved onto Garage Band.
    That could be fun.

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  10. j o h n Avatar
    j o h n

    I’m in DC. But I’d be game for a hike up to Brooklyn for when the time is right. We could always just trade tapes in the mail too. Oooo, that gets me excited.
    Here’s a 4 track that would work pretty decently for the near future: http://cgi.ebay.com/Tascam-Portastudio-424-mkII-Analog-4-track_W0QQitemZ7362539926QQcategoryZ41480QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

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  11. greg Avatar
    greg

    i’d give you mine if it weren’t such a POS. i’ve used the one John is talking about and it’s pretty easy to use(better than mine). digital is soooooooo much easier IMHO. plug and play at it’s finest…..you don’t like it….push a button and it’s gone. nothing worse(for me) than having to scrole through tape upon tape when your creative juices are flowing hehehehe! anyhow, for a nice old-school sound, record in your bathroom with one mic in the toilet(drained preferably) one hanging from the the shower curtain rod and one down in the tub(optional one in the doorway. hit record and play away, it’ll give you a nice range or tone and some interesting reverb, “toiletreverb” i calls it!!! if you want the low FI sound, get an old record player and put the needle in the groove near the center….the mics will pick that up and it’ll add so nostalgic depth to your recording…. or it’ll just sound like you forgot to turn off the record.

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  12. mihow Avatar
    mihow

    my God, do I love you people.

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  13. nico Avatar
    nico

    Georgie can help you with your recording needs.

    You can come visit and jam in Catpiss Studios. And then one day, The Freckles too might be the accompaniment to a low-budget gay soft porn film. One can only dream!

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  14. mihow Avatar
    mihow

    Holy crap. I never thought of that. The Freckles on Nether Regions.
    Yeah, we were thinking of George. Maybe we’ll drive to Philly (assuming you’re around) to find out what set up he has. HmmmmMmmmm.

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  15. nico Avatar
    nico

    Drive to Philly, yo!

    You kids can play your instruments in the basement and I’ll make snacks. It’ll be like the Partridge Family.

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  16. mihow Avatar
    mihow

    BTW Catpiss Studios is a great name.
    I need to buy a new acoustic, too. Any suggestions? Mine is old. She still works, but she’s old.

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  17. greg Avatar
    greg

    “new acoustic” is completely subjective to everybody. i’d say, just gussy her up with some nice new strings and polish her. old doesn’t mean bad and new doesn’t mean good either. i paid 650 for a washburn and it’s okay(acoustic/electric). i played a 3000.00 gibson that felt really bad compared to mine and i also played a D38 Martin (4500 beans) which is a dream to play. but i also played a friend’s noname guitar(maybe sears) and it was awesome. you really never know until you play it and i know it sounds crazy, but if i had the 4500, i would have walked out of the store with that martin. i actually dislike martins, but that one was perfect. but like i said before, i’d start with some new strings(maybe lighter gauge to help build up your fingers) : )

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  18. mihow Avatar
    mihow

    I have a red electric guitar I got at the county fair in North Carolina for 50 bucks when I was 13. I had to keep resoldering the wiring inside. Every 5 times I played it (through my Gorilla amp) I had to resolder the wiring. I could use that one. (Am I spelling solder right? It looks weird.)

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  19. greg Avatar
    greg

    you got it right

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  20. mihow Avatar
    mihow

    Now, you should try and talk Toby into using his 50 dollar resonator. :] Just kidding. I owe him a present. He purchased all our recent furniture.
    We need a mic for recording online or off, right? Any suggestions?

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  21. greg Avatar
    greg

    use you i-pod for now…….mics are expensive, especially the condenser mics. i use Shure mics and a couple or crappy 15 dollar ones, but it’s like night and day between cheapos and the better name-brands. once again, don’t get too invested until you’re ready for the rock-show! : )

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  22. tobyjoe Avatar
    tobyjoe

    I used to really want a National Resoelectric, and now I’m starting to want one again :)

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  23. Jonathan Avatar
    Jonathan

    tascams are fun – they’ll give you that old school lo-fi feel. to note though: every mountain goats cd up until all-hail-west-texas (2002?) was taped on the same cassette boombox.

    you guys have macs, so i’d say this: play around with garageband. if you run in a 1/4” mono guitar cable stepped down to a 1/8” mono plug from radio shack (or get both at mikeys for like $10 total), you can use all the virtual effects and stuff – without a preamp.

    if you really want to, i can teach you the 6 basic open indie rock chords. with them , you can pretty much play a version of every sebadoh / pavement / built to spill / guided by voices / etc song known to man – if you wanted to. something tells me that you dont. but the offer stands.

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  24. Silly Nessa Avatar
    Silly Nessa

    I know nothing, but I can’t wait to hear it!

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  25. annejelynn Avatar
    annejelynn

    i LOVE freckles

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