mistrustmusic's posterous http://mistrustmusic.posterous.com Most recent posts at mistrustmusic's posterous posterous.com Fri, 01 Jul 2011 14:39:32 -0700 Changes http://mistrustmusic.posterous.com/changes http://mistrustmusic.posterous.com/changes After acumulating so many blogs on wordpress.com - for my music-making, for personal stuff, e-learning stuff, etc.,  I've decided to start posting anything non-"mistrust music" related on here. So, that means anything I want to talk about, things I come across and want to share, e-learning stuff, will appear on here. Henceforth this blog will be known as "What I have learned today". I'm not closing down my other blogs just yet. Just starting from now, all my "stuff" will go on here, except music-making "stuff". I'm just going to keep the mistrust music blog for things I'm doing with my remixes and other bits of what I'm upto music-wise. So, if you've come here looking for a "mistrust remix" or info about "Half Past One", hop on over to mistrustmusic.co.uk/blog If not, say hello! By the way, I'm on Twitter and Facebook

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Wed, 29 Jun 2011 19:26:02 -0700 3 Alternative Ways To Post To WordPress – BloggerDesign.com http://mistrustmusic.posterous.com/3-alternative-ways-to-post-to-wordpress-blogg http://mistrustmusic.posterous.com/3-alternative-ways-to-post-to-wordpress-blogg I've discovered "Press This".... 3 Alternative Ways To Post To WordPress Tweet Did you know that you can post to a WordPress blog in a number of different ways? Here are 3 alternatives to create content in WordPress other than logging into the blog admin using the built-in editor. Post via Email Built into WordPress is the ability for the software to check an email account and post each message it finds to a blog. This serves as a quick and easy way to send an email message and publish new content. To set this feature up, the fist thing you’ll need is a custom, secret, email account. Since WordPress posts everything that goes to this account, it can’t be one that serves more than one purpose, or that gets spam. Once you have that, go into WordPress and go to the Settings > Writing page. There you’ll be asked for your email server, email login, and password. via 3 Alternative Ways To Post To WordPress – BloggerDesign.com. You'll have to visit BloggerDesign.com to read the rest of this article!

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Fri, 27 Aug 2010 18:34:52 -0700 mistrust music has moved http://mistrustmusic.posterous.com/mistrust-music-has-moved http://mistrustmusic.posterous.com/mistrust-music-has-moved
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I've now moved my "mistrust music" blog to www.mistrustmusic.co.uk/blog so please go over there to read my blog posts. If you don't want to go there yet, why not read my previous posts on here first.... Go to the new mistrust music blog>>>>

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Tue, 08 Jun 2010 12:07:57 -0700 mistrust music http://mistrustmusic.posterous.com/mistrust-music http://mistrustmusic.posterous.com/mistrust-music In the last week  I’ve had my very first interview on the radio, and my kids made some “well done” messages for me….
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my kids did these pics for me when I was on the radio!

Those nice folk at Chorlton Arts Radio, part of the Chorlton Arts Festival in Manchester, UK, invited me onto one of their shows last Friday evening. My very first radio interview! I was quite relaxed about it all a few hours before I arrived at the studio, but then the nerves hit me! Needless to say, I was still nervous when I went on air! You can actually hear how nervous I sounded on this clip that Mrs B recorded. Should make a nice remix with all those ummms and errrs! read more

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Tue, 06 Apr 2010 19:25:34 -0700 Vote Now http://mistrustmusic.posterous.com/vote-now http://mistrustmusic.posterous.com/vote-now Labour? Conservative? LibDems? Nah!!! Vote Ultravox Vienna for Number 1 this week! The campaign to get Ultravox's Vienna to Number 1 in the UK singles chart enters its final week. The song spent 4 weeks at Number 2 in 1981, beaten only by John Lennon's Imagine and Joe Dolce's Shaddup yer face! So why not get more information here on the official Ultravox website, or go ahead and download the song from Amazon UK or Nokia Music (register as UK-based) If Rage Against the Machine can do it, so can Ultravox. Vote Ultravox in 2010.

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Sun, 04 Apr 2010 09:42:51 -0700 Facebook | Let's get Vienna to number 1 on 11th APRIL! http://mistrustmusic.posterous.com/facebook-lets-get-vienna-to-number-1-on-11th http://mistrustmusic.posterous.com/facebook-lets-get-vienna-to-number-1-on-11th If Rage Against the Machine and Delirious can do it, so can Ultravox!! Facebook | Let's get Vienna to number 1 on 11th APRIL!. Join the Facebook campaign to get Vienna by Ultravox to Number 1 in the UK charts... If you're not a Facebook user, you can find out more about the campaign and where to download Vienna here on the Official Ultravox website... Just to remind you.... [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJeWySiuq1I]

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Fri, 26 Feb 2010 09:46:51 -0800 The new world of mistrust music http://mistrustmusic.posterous.com/the-new-world-of-mistrust-music http://mistrustmusic.posterous.com/the-new-world-of-mistrust-music Thanks for visiting "The world of mistrust (music)". I've moved! I'm now at http://www.mistrustmusic.co.uk/blog Please come on over and see my new website and my new blog. I'll still be posting stuff about Facebook, Soundcloud, and most of all, my music! I'll also be giving away some exclusive tracks to subscribers to my blog! What's up? You're now looking at the "sticky" page for my blog "The world of mistrust music". However, the time has come to finish posting on Wordpress.com and to begin to post on my new blog. Same me, same topics of discussion. So, if you're following me on a Feed reader, please add http://www.mistrustmusic.co.uk/blog/feed/ to your subscriptions so you can keep up with my ramblings! So, that's http://www.mistrustmusic.co.uk/blog See you there!

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Tue, 24 Nov 2009 22:02:34 -0800 schizoid blog http://mistrustmusic.posterous.com/schizoid-blog http://mistrustmusic.posterous.com/schizoid-blog Well, I'm at it again - can't decide which one of the many WP themes to use for this blog. Again. How many times do I keep changing? I just can decide. Same with my website. Can never decide about the look of it and what to include. Anyway, trying to get the blog to look like the website or the website to look like the blog? Mr Elgey once told me to pay for some hosting and use Wordpress for my site.  Maybe one day. Well, the website has now got a bit of a new look until I can decide what to include. So much for advising my stepson's dad about how to market his painting and decorating business using the internet! So, what else have I been upto recently? I'm trying to avoid all the usual Facebook toys and apps, but I've now got a "band" page, so hop on over and become a fan, and spread the word! I've also been working on another remix. This time it's for International Observer. It's due in soon, so I'm not going to tempt fate by saying what it's called. I'll announce it properly if Tom Bailey of International Observer and his label like and decide to release it. I find it quite amusing that a lot of the hits on my blog come from people searching about kids using Facebook and how to put soundcloud tracks on wordpress blogs.

 

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Tue, 29 Sep 2009 20:48:52 -0700 Up Peel Monument http://mistrustmusic.posterous.com/up-peel-monument http://mistrustmusic.posterous.com/up-peel-monument [caption id="attachment_302" align="alignleft" width="225" caption="View of Peel Monument"]
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[/caption] Hello, it's been a long time since I posted a new missive on this blog! All of you who subscribe via feed readers etc must be shocked to see me posting again. Well, what have I been doing over the last few months? It seems like not a lot! Actually, I've been trying to keep fairly fit and healthy, doing a lot of walking - mainly taking Paul up to Peel Monument (see the photo - it's near Ramsbottom, Greater Manchester). It's an old folly on top of a hill, 1100 feet above sea level, and a very steep climb. I've also been taking the dog for a walk, about 2.5 miles, three or four times a week in the evenings. It feels like I've lost some weight around my middle, so it's doing something! I've also been trying to get some new tunes written, but severely lacking some inspiration. I've got some ideas in my head, proper ideas, rather than just fiddling with loops from a cover disc. I've been using a vst host called Minihost, which loads a vst plugin and lets you use your computer keyboard to place the vst instrument. It's got a built in chord maker, arpeggiator, and sequencer, which is great for fiddling around with. My 5 y.o. also likes playing with it - saying he's playing Kraftwerk's Man Machine, and the Dr Who theme tune! Expect some new tunes soon...from him, not me! Only kidding.... The Rude Mechanicals remix I did for NZ band Pitch Black is still around on the web and on the band's remix CD, Rhythm, Sound and Movement. The remix is also going to be used to promote a big music and arts festival in New Zealand, called Splore. More news to follow soon. I'm also going to meet Paddy and Mike from Pitch Black at the end of October when they play their only UK gig in London. I'm also supposed to be getting the stems to remix a track by International Observer. Other stuff....been doing a lot of Moodle stuff at work - very busy these days. I've also made a website for Paul's dad and his painting and decorating business, D and S Decorators.  Oh, and I'm now on Facebook, and Twitter, so follow me on there if you're on there....

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Fri, 27 Mar 2009 14:14:13 -0700 Deep Space Lament remix news http://mistrustmusic.posterous.com/deep-space-lament-remix-news http://mistrustmusic.posterous.com/deep-space-lament-remix-news As well as the Rude Mechanicals remix I did for NZ band Pitch Black, I did one just after Christmas for a friend's band from Sheffield (UK) called Animat. The remix is of a song of their's called "Deep Space Lament", from their latest album, "Earplay". I'm really proud of this remix - I only had a week to get it done in and somehow it all came together really quickly. It's one of those tracks that you think to yourself "how did I do that?" Hopefully Animat's fans and followers will like it, and the people at the Big Chill label like it too.  A preview of Deep Space Lament (mistrust remix)  is now up exclusively on my myspace music player, so please listen and see what you think (and add it to your profile!). It's going to be released on Big Chill Records on 11th May 2009  There are actually two other  remixes up on my myspace music player. There's Deep Space Lament, and the two versions of the remix I did of Rude Mechanicals. The original version of this track is on "Rhythm Sound and Movement", Pitch Black's new remix CD, which is out on download at the end of April 2009, and in the shops early May!!!! Looks out for the change in title from the recently available EP versi0n. The track on the remix CD is called the "ambiotik" remix. Deep Space Lament (mistrust remix) by Animat is out 11th May on all good download stores! Rude Mechanicals (mistrust/ambiotik remix) is out end of April/early May 2009. Get more music on my Music page..... 

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Wed, 11 Feb 2009 10:48:27 -0800 Twitter ye not! http://mistrustmusic.posterous.com/twitter-ye-not http://mistrustmusic.posterous.com/twitter-ye-not Looks like an overload at Twitter HQ! Far too many people using Twitter? Whatever it is, Twitter ain't working. If you go on Twitter.com there's a message saying: Something is technically wrong. Thanks for noticing—we're going to fix it up and have things back to normal soon. I hope it's back up soon. I've started to get into now and have quite a few followers, so come on Twitter folk, get a move on....

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Wed, 03 Sep 2008 10:51:08 -0700 Talacre Sands and other tales http://mistrustmusic.posterous.com/talacre-sands-and-other-tales http://mistrustmusic.posterous.com/talacre-sands-and-other-tales [caption id="attachment_133" align="alignleft" width="246" caption="Talacre Beach at Sunset by Tim Blackburn"]
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[/caption] Should have posted this a few weeks ago, but seem to have had very little time these days. Anyway, the "mistrust" clan went away on holiday (vacation) at the end of July for some much needed rest and recuperation. Nowhere really special - just a Haven Holidays caravan park near Prestatyn, in North Wales. The best thing about it was the scenery, including the wonderful Talacre Sands and rabbit warren. Very inspirational for some ideas for new tunes (yes, I DO actually make music!), very calming. The kids loved it apart from the first night when no-one could settle (well, Paul couldn't settle and disturbed the rest of us. We managed to get some great footage on video and some great still photos of the surrounding area. I'll put them up on Youtube and Flickr when I get time. I took one of those small handheld video cameras that uses a memory card - an Aiptek. I was a bit doubtful about what the quality would be like, but in the end I got some great results. Have a look at the header image of my blog site (the one you're on now!) to see what I mean. That was taken on the 3MP setting at sunset on Talacre Beach. I actually submitted the full size version of that photo to BBC North Wales' "Your Pictures" feature a few weeks ago, and it's been added to the "Sunrise/Sunset" section. You can see the picture in full-size on the BBC North Wales site here. In contrast, I nearly ended up in hospital at the end of the holiday.....but that's another story that will appear in a couple of days' time.....

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Thu, 14 Aug 2008 13:32:43 -0700 Stop: Windows misery strikes again http://mistrustmusic.posterous.com/stop-windows-misery-strikes-again http://mistrustmusic.posterous.com/stop-windows-misery-strikes-again [caption id="attachment_110" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Tree Swirl, by Paul Harrison, aged 15"]
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[/caption] Windows never ceases to amaze me. It's like the be-all and end-all to the world of computing. It's like gateway to a parallel universe, that will only let you in if you meet a million and one criteria, all encrypted in hexadecimal code. BSOD (Blue Screen of Death), followed by STOP: 0x0000007B. What's that supposed to mean, then? Run Chdsk /F or something - that'll get you a ticket to ride the rollercoaster again. I feel like the world's a blur when this happens...... As you've probably worked out by now, my laptop with all my Acid Pro files, VST plugins, and all my work projects, died on me. Or rather, Windows XP Pro died on me. It's a 2 year-old HP/Compaq NC6400, which has been running very slowly for about 5 or 6 weeks but has been more reliable than my old desktop. Should have backed everything up, but there's probably 20 gigs' worth of files on there, but you wonder about viruses and spyware being passed on. Took ages to load up last week, then on Friday evening: STOP: 0x0000007B. Couldn't run Chkdsk because I couldn't get into Windows, so that's not much use. So much for Windows. Lots of trawling on the internet later, a Linux Rescue disk came to my aid - System Rescue, with TestDisk on it. It told me that all the contents of the drive where safe, and not corrupted. Runs from RAM, not the HD. Thank heavens for that! How to get to them without a good knowledge of Linux. Ahaaa! Bypass Windows! Find a sneaky way past the guard dogs at the eternal gateway! Took the drive out of the laptop, plugged into a USB drive adapter connected to another PC, and hey presto! There were all my files, looking the same as ever and (hopefully) not corrupted. This little incident, along with many other run-ins I (and so many people I know) have had with Windows, makes me realise that I should either by a Mac and get some decent recording software, or install Linux on a laptop and make music the open-source way. Either way, I'm getting very tired of having to second-guess the system and waiting around for an error message to appear. I very nearly lost all of the Pitch Black remix stuff I've working on for months, just when I'm clear about finishing off. If you're a Mac or Linux user, please don't laugh at me. I've seen the light and I'll be converted soon.... Don't forget to bookmark this post, in case you ever get this problem!

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Mon, 14 Jul 2008 20:07:15 -0700 Audio Podcasting for the idle blogger http://mistrustmusic.posterous.com/audio-podcasting-for-the-idle-blogger http://mistrustmusic.posterous.com/audio-podcasting-for-the-idle-blogger Apart from actually reading out the various posts on here and recording what I'm saying, the only other way I can make an audio podcast of my blog ramblings is to use one of the many "audio feed" tools that are out on the web. There are quite a lot of these things suddenly appearing all over web, and if you're not familiar with them, they take the RSS feed from your blog and play it back using an articifial voice. I've used Talkr on my blog before and it had a nice synthetic feminine lilt to its voice. However, I can't seem to get on to their site anymore and fear that my audio feeds are no more.  So, what else can I use, seeing as though it's impossible to get any peace and quiet at home to record a podcast myself? Well, according to various blog posts, reviews, and promo sites there are several, so I thought I'd test what some of them sound like, and what other things they offer (eg the ability to add your audio blog to iTunes. Let's have a look at a few and compare what they sound like. First up.... odiogo Offers a whole "audio" and sharing page, including a link to subscribe in iTunes (which I've added to my "subscribe" links on here), plus a direct mp3 stream for each post. It also creates an M3u playlist. Here's an example or two - see what you think: A is for Amazon (on odiogo) Stream all articles Audiofeed This is the "free" version of Readspeaker, which seems to be making a big impression with allsorts of companies and organisations. It offers a HTML link to your own "audiofeed" page where there are a few sharing options, in addition to a player and direct to mp3 download for each 'cast. There's a really useful link to a mobile version of your page. More soon.... By the way, I'm trying out this new social networking toolbar called "GetSocial", to make it easier for people to bookmark these posts. So go on then, give me a whirl!!!

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Tue, 17 Jun 2008 11:30:11 -0700 A is for Amazon http://mistrustmusic.posterous.com/a-is-for-amazon http://mistrustmusic.posterous.com/a-is-for-amazon Not exactly music-related, but some news anyway. I've recently had an article published in a popular e-learning magazine in the USA. I wrote about how young kids are growing up learning the language of the World Wide Web and how we should encourage them to become proficient in using the internet at an early age. The article was reproduced from my own e-learning blog that someone from the magazine found a while ago, and asked if they could publish it. I'm quite chuffed, as you can imagine, and it just adds to the the list of other articles/letters I've had published in the last year or two (eg in Future Music magazine). You can read the whole thing (and the rest of the magazine) online in a virtual magazine reader here at E-Learning Magazine's website (go to page 50 of the NextBook edition.) or see it in its original form on my e-learning blog. Also.... I'm seriously considering moving all my other blogs into one place (here!) as it's easier for me to keep tabs on what I'm writing and who's reading them.

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Thu, 10 Apr 2008 19:32:56 -0700 Presonus Firestudio - shall I get one? http://mistrustmusic.posterous.com/presonus-firestudio-shall-i-get-one http://mistrustmusic.posterous.com/presonus-firestudio-shall-i-get-one I've been using Acid Pro, samples, plugins, etc for ages but I'm now seriously thinking of going "hardware" (much more fun!). Thought about getting a basic mixer but I need more flexible routing and control (MIDI/Audio), and someone recommended the Presonus Firestudio. It looks like it's the sort of thing I need, so maybe someone who's reading this has used one? I think it's around £500 and seems to be worth it - it includes loads of plugins and comes with Cubase 4 LE, Reason Adapted, and loads of other stuff. I've already got a computer so it might be the complete package - it got a great review in MTM too! There's an offer on at the moment where you get a rebate on the MSR remote control for the Firestudio.... Anyone else used one of these? If you have or can offer some advice, please let me know....It's a big outlay so I want to get it right!
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Thu, 17 Jan 2008 23:14:02 -0800 I'm in Music Tech Magazine http://mistrustmusic.posterous.com/im-in-music-tech-magazine http://mistrustmusic.posterous.com/im-in-music-tech-magazine Just to let you know I'm finally in Music Tech Magazine for winning the Motif XS6 synthesizer! The article is in February's edition - but in case you don't want to buy it, the editor sent me a copy of the page, and I've attached it here as pdf (the whole page) and a jpeg (click to see the whole pic).
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Other news... the manager of a band from New Zealand called "Pitch Black" has said I can have a go at doing a remix of a track from their new CD, "Rude Mechanicals". If it's good enough, it'll appear on the band's remix CD and as a download on music sites like iTunes and Beatport. More on that soon when I decide which track I want to have a go at.... Non-music stuff: we took Paul to see a residential school in Shrewsbury today. Absolutely amazing place. Part of a 16th century hall and estate. Class sizes are usually 2 students and one teacher - it's for kids with autism. He sounds relatively keen on it, but we'll have a job on convincing the education authority to pay for him. It's around £30,000 per year! Page from MTM magazine reproduced by kind permission of Music Tech Magazine/Anthem Publishing/Yamaha UK (c)

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Mon, 01 Oct 2007 13:42:02 -0700 Now form a band http://mistrustmusic.posterous.com/now-form-a-band http://mistrustmusic.posterous.com/now-form-a-band Just came across an interesting site which gives a really good breakdown on the things you need to do these days to get your music "out there". It's been set up by Last FM, the music networking site, who are calling the site "Now form a band", and has a manifesto of "The Campaign for Better Music". Aren't we all looking for better music? Well, hopefully this will explain.... The Campaign for Better Music is here to say: it doesn’t have to be like the old days. We’re going to show you how to produce, promote and distribute your music, without spending a load of money, and without lots of other people getting involved. Have look for more information over at Now form a Band.... 

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Wed, 26 Sep 2007 14:54:04 -0700 Winner of Star Letter, Music Tech Magazine October 2007 http://mistrustmusic.posterous.com/winner-of-star-letter-music-tech-magazine-oct http://mistrustmusic.posterous.com/winner-of-star-letter-music-tech-magazine-oct I've tried to write about music-related things recently (when I've actually had time to get on the computer!), as that's what my main interest is. I struggle as a bedroom (or rather, lounge - as in where the tv, sofa, children, wife, etc. live) musician, hoping that my tunes will make it onto some tv or movie blockbuster, so I can invest in some better recording equipment. That may not happen for a while or a long time, so the only way I can seriously get some decent gear is to either steal it (no way), borrow it (who from?), or win it. Which brings me nicely onto the fact that I wrote a blog post a few weeks ago on the new Music Tech Magazine Ning community, saying what a great place the site is. Then a few days ago, I got an email from the site admin people, saying they'd used my blog post in the latest edition of the magazine and I'd won the prize for "Star Letter." Talk about chuffed. My ramblings published in a major music tech magazine, and winner of Letter of the Month. The prize? A "Rode" studio microphone, complete with all the trimmings. Not bad, eh. If you're into music production, music technology, or anything like that, get yourself over to Music Tech Ning and join in....

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Tue, 18 Sep 2007 09:00:55 -0700 More satisfaction recording with hardware? http://mistrustmusic.posterous.com/more-satisfaction-recording-with-hardware http://mistrustmusic.posterous.com/more-satisfaction-recording-with-hardware Is there more satisfaction and enjoyment to be had from recording with hardware and outboard equipment, rather than the latest plugins and softsynths? Are professional musicians and engineers drifting away from all things soft and going back in time? I've noticed that a lot of magazine tutorials, youtube videos, and general features on recording (bands, engineers etc) lean more towards recording with hardware rather than soft synths, outboard effects rather than plugins. The people in question spend ages patching things together and twiddling knobs to get the required sound. I've read many times in various music/music tech mags and forums that you can't write a tune on a computer. I've always this was rubbish, especially as there are so many great compositional tools out there. I'm beginning to think it's true because there's just so much that gets in the way when you're on a computer - which softsynth to use, record midi or audio, the list goes on....I'm sure I had more fun and was more creative when I had my Jen SX1000, cheap drum machine, and recorded everything on to tape. BSOD anyone?

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