Archive for October, 2011:
Volume in a mix
If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting! These posts will give you a better idea about what this site is about. Start here, then go here, and here, and then here.You might be astonished by how little volume changes have a big impact on a track and a mix. Sometimes the difference between a sound effect or a background sitting in a track or sticking out can...
Unlikely retreat
This past summer I ended up with jury duty. I didn’t serve on a trial, but I did have to report for several days. The only positive outcome of the experience was that it gave me time to think. Since prospective jurors can’t use electronics – no camera phones, no laptops, etc, I brought along a book and a spiral notebook that I bought at a back-to-school sale. (Can you tell me why...
Investing hypocrisy
I despise many companies because of what they make, sell and stand for. Generally, those that really get me angry are those that are part of the military industrial complex, those that exploit workers, those with questionable ethics, and others of their ilk. Unfortunately, I also invest in many of these same companies through my mutual funds in savings and retirement vehicles. Therefore, I’m...
Barefoot U
Here is a terrific TED talk on the “Barefoot Movement”. It specifically talks about Barefoot College which, according to their Website: “provides basic services and solutions to problems in rural communities, with the objective of making them self-sufficient and sustainable. These ‘Barefoot solutions’ can be broadly categorised into solar energy, water, education, health care,...
Control the uncontrollable
Let’s face it, there are some aspects to running a successful artistic career that you simply can’t control. Various issues seem to overwhelm and interfere with your progress. Rather than sit around and worry about these challenges, take a different tactic. Despite the seemingly uncontrollable nature of things, you can control one aspect: YOUR reaction. Instead of wallowing in self-pity...
Most (over)used sound effects
I caught a trailer for a new TV show and heard a familiar sound effect. It’s called Flash Rush and it’s from one of the fine SFX libraries at The Hollywood Edge. It’s actually one of over 100 free sounds they distributed as a promotion several years ago on a CD (remember those?). Most of the sounds they gave away were solid entries, but nothing fancy. That is except for the real standout: flash...
Robinson on education
Sir Ken Robinson teams up with the clever folks at RSA Animate to discuss Changing Education Paradigms. This has important insight into a subject we should all be concerned about. His take on the way we currently teach and how we should teach are worth studying. This excerpt (so cleverly done) is part of a longer speech that you can watch, too.




