Synthesizer Boot Camp

I just found a series of synthesizer tutorials on YouTube called "Synthesizer Boot Camp" by Simon Cann. Mr. Cann is the author of "How To Make A Noise" which I posted about earlier. Like his book, it's full of a lot of good information, though I've seen it done better and more clearly elsewhere.

Tutorial One: Modulation


Tutorial Two: Filters


Tutorial Three: Envelopes.


Presumably if more tutorials are released they can be found here: http://noisesculpture.com/bootcamp.html

Black Rock Lyrics

I've had a request for the lyrics to my song "Black Rock." Here they are:

Greg Whitehead - Black Rock by GWGumby

If you see me looking in the mirror on the other side,
Don't be afraid, I'm here to help you.
I've got a warning. Listen to me and I'll be your guide.
Black Rock, don't know where to find you.

(chorus)
If there's black in your white
If there's wrong in your right
How come you've always gotta take so long?
If there's day in your night
If there's peace in your fight...
Black Rock, don't know where to find you.

I can stop time, reverse it to the moment when you most regret.
So tell me when do you want to go?
It's never easy picking up the pieces with a broken net.
Black Rock, don't know where to find you.

(repeat chorus)

I'll be good please tell when it's over.
I'll be good please tell when it's over.
I'll be good please tell when it's over.
I've been good please now tell me that it's over.

Now it's all over, you're a hero, yes you saved the day.
Stand up, be proud now and take a bow.
My work here's finished, it's time to be on my way.
Black Rock, don't know where to find you.

(repeat chorus)

I'll be good please tell when it's over.
I'll be good please tell when it's over.
I'll be good please tell when it's over.
I've been good please now tell me that it's over.

Song: Marble Madness Medley

While I'm on a video making kick, I made this for my Marble Madness Medley which I shared early on in this post:


I'm also experimenting with a site called SoundCloud for hosting/streaming music. You should be able to both listen to and download the song through this widget.

GWGumby - Marble Madness Medley by GWGumby

Song: "Black Rock"

Here's my first fully original song that I put together with all my new equipment. The main synth sounds are almost all Korg R3. Some of the sounds are presets, most of the rest are either programmed from scratch or modified from the preset sounds. The drums come from the Roland JV-1080 as well as one or two minor synth sounds.

I've been playing around with the main theme for several months now, to the point that my 7 year old son has learned it and plays it regularly when he is on the keyboard. After coming up with the theme, I started to think of lyrics. Somehow after recently watching the terrible (and wonderful) movie "Troll 2" the idea of this poor dead ghost of a grandfather being forced to appear to his grandson to help him save his inept family from being eaten by goblins (not trolls despite the title) was on my mind and inspired the lyrics. They are only loosely based on the story, but since it was a source of inspiration, I included random images from the movie in the YouTube video. Feel free to ignore the video and just listen instead.

A link to the mp3 itself can be found here:

• Greg Whitehead - Black Rock.mp3
  

Finally, I have a lot of experience with writing music, and some of recording, but I have little-to-no experience mixing. So if anyone out there who sees this and has any comments to share in helping with getting a better final mix, I'd love to hear it.