In which I take a photo every day that I'm 50, and post it here on this blog, with a bit of related blurb.
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| this came in a box |
My quest to corner the world's cardboard supplies via a cunning strategy of buying everything on the internet continues unabated today.
Here for your delectation and delight is my latest new toy...no, scratch that - at this point I'm going to claim that this is not a toy, it's a real musical instrument...it's a Cajon, to be precise.
The Cajon is an ingenious device. I will try to explain how it works, although it's complicated, so please bear with me - I'll try not to use too much technical jargon, ok?
Ok, in order to play the Cajon, you have to carefully adhere to the following two stage process...(note that bypassing either stage will lead to the process failing in its entirety):
Step 1 - get a box.
Step 2 - hit the box.
Did you follow that? I know, it's confusing, let me tell you another way...oh no, there isn't another way - just get a box, and hit it.
I looked up the word cajon, as I was concerned with its similarity to the word cojones...
Turns out cajon means box...should've probably guessed that!
Anyway, the Cajon can provide rhythmic accompaniment to any musical endeavour, used tastefully...a common approach is to simulate a drum kit, with a kick drum sound, a snare sound, and a high slap or crack for embellishment.
Here's a brief sample from my first attempts to do something musical with it this evening, to give you an idea...
(Note that if you listen to it on a smartphone or iPad type device, it will sound tinny and rubbish, and you probably won't be able to discern the different sounds clearly...that's my excuse anyway!)
Did you spot Jazz voting with his feet?
Hmph...after he woke me up a couple of times in the night too! Lil' bugger...
I plan to use this with my looper to provide rhythmic, drum kit style backing to live loops, in my studio as a percussion instrument on other recordings, and as a mainstay of the cooperative musical evenings I'm still planning on arranging(!)
Also, I shall play it just for fun, because, you know...it's fun!
B-)
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| no man band |
Well, it seems I have to put Roob out of his misery, and reveal what was in the box...
Apparently waiting a little while for some trivial detail of someone else's life was too much for him, and he had to vent his frustrations in the comments of yesterdays post...I bet he'll be disappointed when he eventually finds out.
It reminds me of Se7en...(yes I know, that 7 really doesn't work, does it? Except you know what I'm talking about, don't you, so maybe it does!).
"What's in the box?"
"Don't look in the box..."
"WHAT'S IN THE BOX?!"
"DON'T LOOK IN THE BOX!!!!"
Fortunately, it's nothing so horrific...although perhaps it's not that interesting either. I think I've built it up too much, over-hyped it, and now the weight of expectation bears heavy on me...
I might have to just leave it another day...that'd be ok, would it Roob? ;-)
Oh, ok well I'll tell you then...it's one of the bits of kit in the photo...
Happy now?!
Oh, you want more detail? Ok, it's a Loop Station...a loop machine, if you like...but I suppose you're still none the wiser...it's the left most one of the two big flat things on the floor, the one with a glowing red 3...now you see why I was surprised at the size of the box it came in!
What it does, simply, is enable you to record sounds or musical phrases from a variety of sources, and loop them...you can layer sounds on top of one another, and bring sounds in and out of the mix...and you can create huge pieces of music with just a guitar and voice (or either one on its own), or you can add any sounds you like...
You can use it offline to create full music productions for recording or practice, or if you're confident enough, you can use the Loop Station as a performance tool (known as Live Looping).
In the photo, I have my guitar plugged into an effects pedal, then into the Loop Station. I also have a microphone plugged into a vocal processor, and then into the Loop Station.
But rather than embarrass you all (and myself) by giving you one of my early forays into the world of looping, let's go straight to the professionals...here's a great demo from a guy called Rico Loop (seriously?!) working for the manufacturer at a music show...stick with it for a minute or two to see how versatile the thing can be...
I have to say a couple of things at this point - It's nowhere near as easy as this dude makes it look...and the dancing thing isn't compulsory...phew!
You can look forward to further ramblings (and perhaps some video or music) from Looperland, once I've found my way around...
It's a big place, and they speak a funny language!
In other news, Anna is off cavorting with the local wildlife (I hope that's not a euphemism!), so far including manatee, bald eagle and alligator...
And right about now, Anna should be swimming with Dolphins in the Keys...I can't wait to hear all about that!
B-)
