Viewing posts with the tag Music

Keyboards in Worship: Virtual Instruments

July 18, 2010 | Church | Music | Worship | Worship Keys

Ok, here’s the deal.  Lugging around keyboards stinks.  It’s almost as bad as the drums.  Stands for everything, and good keyboards with good weighted keys are heavy.  Solution?

Virtual instruments.

Basically anything that can replicate a keyboarded instrument inside a computer.  Anything from modeling analogue synthesizers to samplers with sound from vintage organs and electric pianos and string instruments.  You get the idea.

For my setup, I love using Reason.  It’s basically the synth rack of your dreams in your computer.  Multiple MIDI controllers to play multiple synths, control different instruments by MIDI channel out, ReWire into your favorite DAW, and it’s all fairly straightforward to configure (Google always helps).

I’ve got a master Reason file that holds all of my basic setup.  I have 4 audio channels out (2 stereo pairs); one for mostly synth/pad/lead items, and one for loops/beats/FX items.  These usually are run through Live and into the house.  Most weeks, I use maybe a patch or two.  The most I’ve used in a set I believe was four, which includes a loop.

The synths are set up simply enough, with basic pads up top, a synth lead, and a rhythmic lead (or two).  These are the bread and butter for my controllers.  I usually sit on a nice airy pad with a filter mapped to the mod wheel.  I can go from being under the band to being on top depending on the song.  I’ve got a nice Moog-type square lead that I use a lot that was set up for We Unite by Elevation Worship.

For the loops, I have two ReDrums set up with patterns all ready to go, which are triggered by the number keys on the laptop keyboard.  I also have an FX spot that I usually don’t use, but if I need some atmospheric goodies it’s right there.

The only think lacking in my setup is a good vintage electric piano instrument.  Native Instruments look like they have some nice samplers for that, so that’s on my list.

Any thoughts on this?  What do you (or your church) use, if anything?

Keyboard in Worship: My Setup

June 25, 2010 | Church | Music | Worship | Worship Keys

I’ve been looking around the internet for good references and/or blogs on keyboards in a modern worship music setting.  I haven’t found much as of yet, so I wanted to share whatever knowledge I have on this blog.  This will be ongoing as I learn and experiment.  So I hope some of you find this helpful and interesting.

To start, I wanted to go over my current set-up at my church.

I have a Yamaha S90, a Korg CX-3, and an M-Audio Oxygen 61 for my boards.  I sometimes use a Yamaha S03 as a MIDI controller as well.  I’m running the MIDI controllers though Reason and Live on a MacBook Pro.  I usually have the S90 and the CX-3 on a two-tiered stand (S90 on bottom).  I’ll have the Oxygen on it’s own single stand near the computer, and the S03 is similar when I use it.

The S90 has a great piano sound and feel.  It’s hammer weighted, so it’s great for that piano feel.  I usually use it just for piano and a particular synth pad sound that sits well with a variety of songs.  I’ve also found some other cool synth/pad sounds I use occasionally.

The CX-3 is a great Hammond B3 emulator.  I’m sure it won’t pass as the real thing, as it seems nothing will, but it sounds great in the house and the manual drawbars are wonderful for changing the sound on the fly.  I only use one preset, really, even though I should use more.  But I just change drawbar settings and turn percussion on and off for most of my patches anyway.

The Oxygen I use for transport control of Live to fire clicks and the occasional loop.  All of the sounds are from a custom Reason rack that I have set up.  There are a few pads, a few leads, and some programmed beats for whatever the service might need.

The setup works well for me.  The only addition I might make would be for a Nord Electro in place of the CX-3, because I’d get a good B3 sound plus good electric pianos to boot.  I’m not a fan of the S90’s Rhodes or other piano sounds.  But I was also thinking of just getting a virtual instrument for those sounds too.

This is just an overview, and I’ll probably get into specifics as I go.  Please let me know if there is anything you’d like to hear about.  I’d love some conversation on this!

Music Like Poetry

April 22, 2010 | Art | Music

I wish more music was like poetry.

I’ve been trying to expand my musical library recently.  One thing I’ve found is that the best music (for me anyway) is the music that feels like poetry.  Music that isn’t so cookie-cutter or systematic.  Music that is soulful, authentic, and emotional.  Music that forces me to think a bit about what I am hearing.

Call me a Romantic, but that is what moves me.

And isn’t that what we want music to be?  Something that moves us to another place, and hopefully moves us toward a better place.

That is the goal I strive for when I make music.

What do you want your music to be?

[ Image by MaltaGirl ]

Sometimes You Just Have to Do It

September 1, 2009 | Church | Life | Music | Worship

pathway

Sometimes the way forward is just that; forward.  Sometimes the next thing you need to do is the thing that you should have been doing all along.  Most times, we know where the next step is, we just don’t want to take it.  We feel like we can’t, or aren’t allowed, or shouldn’t.  We just need to start walking in that direction.

I play music.  It’s something I’ve loved since I was in grade school.  I’ve played in bands at church before, but recently I haven’t been playing.

Here’s the thing: I have been given a talent from God to play music.  It’s something that I am passionate about, and I love playing music.  But lately I haven’t been using my gifts.

Now, for a time, taking a break is fine.  But to not use the gifts God has given you is bad.  You lose something about yourself when you don’t use your gifts.

This past month, I started using my gifts again by getting involved in a new band at my church.  And it feels great!  I don’t know why I waited so long to get back into playing.

So here’s the point.  You all have talents and gifts from God that you can use.  Are you using them?  You can’t keep your gifts and talents to yourself and stay whole.  You have gifts and talents for a reason.

Move towards using them.  Move forward with your task.  Take the next step.

[ Image by carnavalet ]

Open or Closed, Part II: License and Free(dom)

July 10, 2009 | Art | Technology

sourcecode

I found another portion of the open or closed question.  What about open and closed software licenses?

Here’s a quick rundown of the license categories (check here for more details):

  1. GNU GPL type licenses.  Very open.
  2. Liberal Licenses (i.e. Creative Commons type, Mozilla Public License). Mostly open.
  3. Closed source (i.e. proprietary license).  Closed.

The more open your license, the more innovation you generally have.  WordPress is licensed as GPL.  Anyone can see and edit the WordPress code, and thus, a very diverse, dynamic, and versatile platform has emerged.

The problem with the GPL type licenses, that I see, is the return.  I can’t really reap the rewards for my work when anyone else can make a tweak and give it away.  Also, if you were to combine a GPL licensed work and any non-GPL work, according to the license you’d need to release the whole larger work as GPL.  Effectively, you’d have to release your closed source code to abide by the license.  It doesn’t sound very “free” to me.

The liberal licenses form the middle, allowing open source innovations but with the option to combine works or the option to redistribute with different licenses.  They tend to play nice with GPL (as in the work can be licensed under GPL without breaking the other license), and might allow greater return.

In recent times, closed source hasn’t had the best run.  Just take a look at the state of the music business to see what happens when you overuse the “closed” idea.  But yet, closed source still generates the revenue.

I’m not an expert with these licenses, nor am I a lawyer.  But this I do know: forcing people to use a particular license is not freedom.  That part of the GPL rubs me the wrong way.  I do understand the desire to not be ripped off, as in the case of a closed source project essentially stealing open source code.  That isn’t right either.

So, where do you stand?  I don’t know at the moment for myself.  As a content creator, I want return on my investment (or at least control of it).  As a content user, I want to be able to use and improve what is there.  Is there an answer?  Let me know what you think.

[ Image by acme ]

Catalysts: The Web is Changing the Music Business

May 19, 2009 | Music | Technology

Was on ChurchCrunch and I saw this post on the Catalyst Music Project.  I got all excited about it.

[ Catalyst Music Project | Aaron Keyes from Catalyst on Vimeo ].

So here’s the deal.  The music industry is changing.  No, it already has changed.  Not everyone knows it yet.

The Web is empowering the artists and the listeners.  People who would have never made it into the mainstream 20 years ago can make a living.  And people can find just that right band even if their taste is a little off the beaten path.

Pandora gave me a band I would have never found otherwise.  (It’s Tokyo Rose, if you’re wondering)  I bought a few songs from iTunes once I found them.  It was awesome!

We need to take heed, my friends!  The change is upon us!  Okay, all poetic verbage aside, there are awesome ideas just waiting to be used.

What will the future be?  How has the web changed music for you?

Turning the Internal Analyze Switch Off

May 4, 2009 | Art | Life | Music

music_piano_2

Ok.  You’re going about your usual day.  You see something related to your work, and all of a sudden, you’re analyzing the heck out of something and you jump into work mode.  Ahh!

This happens to me with music all of the time!  I’m listening to my iPod, just enjoying the tune, when I hear a certain chord progression and my music theory brain kicks in and I’m analyzing the song.  Which chords should come next, how could I change that and use it, what chord is that?  By the time I realize it, the song is over and I missed it!

I’ve had to learn how to turn my “Music Theory” switch on and off.  Otherwise my music experience is shot.

I had to almost practice this daily when I took music theory classes in college.  The switch had to be flipped every time I left the classroom.  But eventually, I was able to use the switch to my advantage.  Now I can listen to a song in a few different ways depending on what I want to do.  It broadens my listening experience.

I think this “switching” happens no matter what you are involved in.  Engineers start thinking about the structure of a building and miss the beauty.  Writers start thinking about what words fit better and miss the poetry.

So, what “switches” do you have to turn off to enjoy things?

[Image from Dusty Wagner]

Looking for Meaning in Music, Part II

April 6, 2009 | Art | Church | Music | Worship

In my previous post, I said that music is essentially a vehicle of meaning.  Music communicates emotions, but can only communicate so many before something else is added.

Adding Layers

Adding words to a song makes it more specific.  The sounds of music are like broad strokes on the canvas.  Lyrics are the details.  They bring the fuzziness of emotions into focus, or increase the effect.

When you add somber lyrics to a somber tune, it intensifies the effect.  When you add worshipful words to a glorious melody, it makes you want to worship.  You can also add irony and tension.  If you mix the two (happy tune, sad lyrics) you can add shades of meaning, ranging from comical to satire.

This is why music says it better.  If you say “I love you” to your spouse, that says a lot.  If you sing it to your spouse, that adds the extra emotions.  (Valentine’s Day hint…)

Creating a Response

We write music to convey something.  The human who creates the music shapes the meaning.  And this applies, I think, to individual performances as well.  One band can mean one thing with a song, but another band plays it and it conveys something else.

We also have our own response.  Art is about expressing Truth beautifully.  As such, the same music can have different meanings to different people.  Rock music is a good example.  To some people, it means to express freely.  To others, it is connected with rebellion.  Always remember the context!  And when you use context well, it empowers the song you write.

Remember, oh you writers of music, the power you wield.

Posted via web from On Life, Stories, and Music

The Place of Art in the Church Part II

April 1, 2009 | Art | Church | Music | Worship

The purpose of all art in the Church is to glorify God.

When the Church creates art, it is expressing what the soul wants to say to God.  It is our expression of what God has revealed to us to be Truth (as in absolute Truth).  This can be in a worship song of adoration, a novel based on a biblical story, or a painting of a sunset.

So how is it that we glorify God with our art?

From my standpoint, I see three big ways art from the Church glorifies God.

Building Up

When art builds up the community of God – His Church – then the art brings glory to God.  Some examples include worship music and books dealing with our relationship with God.  When a local church sings praises to God, the people get closer to God.  When we read a book that shows us how to pray, then we are encouraged and given knowledge.  These things build the community.  As the community is strengthened in God, He is given the honor for it.

Reaching Out

When art reaches people outside of the Church – as in leading people to Christ – then the art brings glory to God as well.  When the Church grows, the fame of God increases.  He receives the credit.  Examples here include movies or plays that intentionally reach out to people.  If someone goes to a church Christmas production and realize that a relationship with God is what they need, then God receives glory.

Personal Expression

Art leads the soul to some Truth, and there God is given glory too.  This category is quite broad, and it also gets into some gray areas.  What I mean here are the works of art that point to God.  Much of Christian music can fall into this category.  Hawk Nelson doesn’t make music that is designed for worship.  They play music from a biblical standpoint, pointing out spiritual truths, or looking at life through the lens of their faith.  Much of literature (novels, poetry, stories, etc.) could fall in here.  Thomas Kinkade paints a beautiful picture, but he doesn’t paint (I don’t think) to reach out.  He paints because that is how he expresses beauty.  And that beauty, in some way, reflects the beauty of God.  When we see that, we thank God for beauty, and that glorifies Him.

This is most certainly an incomplete list.  And many of the examples could fit into more than one category.  Think of the Psalms.  Most of them could fit into the first and third categories easily.

The point is this: each category has a place in the realm of art from the Church.  Just because your music isn’t sung on Sunday mornings doesn’t mean it isn’t Church music!  Isn’t it wonderful that we have so many ways to glorify God?

So go, create!

Read Part I

Posted via web from On Life, Stories, and Music

The Future of Music and the Flat Rate

March 22, 2009 | Music

This topic has been around for a while now.  We talked about this very problem in a music business class I took in college (only a few years ago, but for digital things, that’s a while).  Is the music “flat rate” the answer for the music industry?

I say no.

Here’s why.

The flat rate would be essentially a universal internet user tax that would pay for all downloaded music.  That’s how I understand it.  There’s probably a thousand different variations, but that’s the basis.

One big problem is the people who don’t get their music online.  They subsidize the rest.  Why should I pay for Jonny’s 183 GB worth of music?  I only have 500 MB!

Another problem I see is that the music industry is essentially capping itself.  If the tax is say $2 per internet user, that only pays for 2 songs per internet connection.  If the average user downloads (or just listens) to more than that per whatever time period we use, then the industry loses money.  As a business model, you want to be paid for what you do.  It’s bad if you’re not compensated as much as you should.  If I continued to do that in say, a bakery, then I would go under.

Now, subscription based services seem fine to me, but they’re especially useful for people who do buy/use a lot of music.  If you’re going to buy 12 issues per year of some magazine, why not buy a subscription for the year and save some money?  But for the person who only buys 1 or 2 copies over the year, the subscription isn’t worth it.  They’ll pay less because they skipped the subcription.

By collecting the music fee, you take away that option for higher usage, and essentially make everyone pay a subscription fee.  It’s like charging someone $20 to walk in a record store saying “Take what you want.”  If you heard that, you’d go a pick out 20 or 30 CDs.  At $15 per CD, the store just lost money!

And the silly thing is, the music industry has been giving away free songs for years.  It’s called radio.  In fact, they’ve paid people to play music on the radio!  Now you’re telling me that they can’t figure out a way to monetize digital music other than by universally charging internet users?

Personally, I think things like Spotify or Pandora or YouTube are on the right track.  Free music is the ultimate end of the digital revolution.  It’s too easy to copy songs digitally and give them away for anyone to truly stop it now.  YouTube is like radio MTV.  Pandora is internet radio.  Spotify is more like a new breed of music, combining social media aspects with radio.  The trick is finding ways to create value in free music.

I don’t have an easy answer.  But I do know that by giving enough away for free, you generate interest that will probably lead to sales.  Charging a flat rate seems to be reaching to far, and I think there has to be a better way.

Any thoughts?

Posted via web from On Life, Stories, and Music

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