That's always been my rule of thumb.Squids wrote: Normally if a pretty girl offers to move your Mellotron you might think you have a good chance.
Dan
Red Hot SampleTank Trons at the Grammys
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- KVRian
- 1302 posts since 9 Oct, 2003 from California
Dan
Those that can, do. Those that can't, argue about it on k-v-r
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- Tunesmith
- 2889 posts since 12 Mar, 2002 from Toronto
So what does it mean then if she offers to move your B-3 and your Leslie?dgkenney wrote:That's always been my rule of thumb.Squids wrote: Normally if a pretty girl offers to move your Mellotron you might think you have a good chance.
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- Mod-ulator
- 2895 posts since 31 Oct, 2000 from "Where I'm to, There I'll be"
Grab her B-4 someone else does 
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- Sonic Reality Head Chef
- Topic Starter
- 8566 posts since 11 Mar, 2002 from Florida
It means she's massive and has more muscles than you probably would like to see on a woman... she might also be able to kick your ass. So beware.Mr. Tunes wrote:So what does it mean then if she offers to move your B-3 and your Leslie?dgkenney wrote:That's always been my rule of thumb.Squids wrote: Normally if a pretty girl offers to move your Mellotron you might think you have a good chance.
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- Sonic Reality Head Chef
- Topic Starter
- 8566 posts since 11 Mar, 2002 from Florida
manytone wrote:Grab her B-4 someone else does
Well done m8-
- Sonic Reality Head Chef
- Topic Starter
- 8566 posts since 11 Mar, 2002 from Florida
Okay, today was just insane. Wow. You know, I was actually worried that when I started this thread with all these LA stories I thought "What if there isn't anything else on this trip that's interesting? Then what?" Well, today was one of the most surreal of them all!!!! You won't even believe it. I don't even believe it. I mean, not just because there were some amazing musicians and engineers I met today but also because of the bizarre unlikely circumstances... the odds are so staggeringly IMPOSSIBLE for this to happen especially all in one day. You ready? This Squids story kicks ASS! Haha. (I am also drunk on sake but I am almost positive it will stick kick ass when I read it sober).
Alright. Let's dial it back to last night first. I go to Allen Sides house for dinner way way up on Mullholland. His house is absolutely incredible. The kitchen was just the DREAM kitchen with the biggest island I have ever seen. Hibachi grill, industrial stove... a freakin' Iron Chef's haven (I cook so I love a good kitchen). The rest of the place was equally insane and let's just say there's even a raquet ball court (and he has a drum kit set up above it which he uses as an echo chamber... possibly one of the coolest things I've ever seen in someone's home). The house used to belong to Farrah Faucett for years. The 6 million dollar man lived there! Ch ch ch ch ch ch ch. Wild. Allen has worked on over 1,000 albums and his stories are endless. So it was a fun evening.
Then today. First I go over to Ocean Way to set up the new SR/Ocean Way Drums/Speaker System show room. Then I meet Alex Lifeson. I'm bold so I introduced myself and Alex was immediately raving about IK plug-ins. It's all because of IK's A&R rep Randy (I also said that because Randy might be reading this so hi Randy, you rock. The Chili Peps was all you too). Alex is a huge AmpliTube head and was really excited about the Stomp IO and the upcoming AmpliTube Jimi Hendrix Edition. There's more to the story but I can't tell the rest just yet. Nick D'Virgilio was there with me and he was beside himself. It was awesome.
But, that was just the first part of the day. Later on a guy walks in and I don't know who he is but in a studio like this you can bet it is some incredible musician and sure enough it was. He walks in and says hello. He was curious to know what was going on in the room and I introduce myself he says "I LOVE Sonic Reality! I use your refills for Reason!" and I say "Really? That's great. What's your name?" and as I said it I realized who it was. He says "I'm Vinnie Colauta". So I say, "So you like our stuff?" and he says something like "Your samples are the best and there's a little of everything. It makes Reason sound great!" (Something like that... I even asked if I could quote him. I think there were a few explatives in there though... musicians!). So, I showed him an advance peak at Ocean Way Drums with the V-Drum kit there which he played with one hand (sounded amazing) and he was blown away, gave a few tips from a drummer's perspective and that whole thing was surreal and fantastic. (Yes, of course I asked him and we'll just have to see... shhhh).
Alright. So the day is already pretty amazing right? It gets better. At least in a "What are the chances?" kind of way. So, after all this I go to dinner with Steven Miller who is our other partner on the Ocean Way Drum project. We walk to this local sushi place (it seems to be all I eat out here) and sit down at the bar. At this point I thinking that if you want to shmooze in the entertainment industry you need to go to a sushi bar (even alone) and you will meet some cool people. Side note here is years ago I met Lawrence Fishburn (Morpheus) at Sushi On Sunset once and gave him advice on what to order!!!! This was before the Matrix though. After the Matrix he might have told me.
Okay, anyway, digressing here... we go to this sushi place and next to us is this guy from England who you can tell MUST be in the music industry but for an hour we didn't say anything. We just talked about the food. He let me try his grilled octopus (SQUIDSTTTHHHH!!!! Sorry, close enough) and anyway it turns out that it is Steve Lilywhite! (For those that know... engineer for countless bands like U2, Dave Matthews Band etc.). So Lilywhite Lilith let me have some of his octopus (there's something you don't hear everyday). So that was unlikely but what is even MORE unlikely is that Steven Miller is doing the NEW Dave Matthews Band album right now! So they are sitting next to each other talking about that! The two guys who have worked with the band by pure CHANCE sitting next to each other. Oh but it gets even more rare and unlikely than that!!!! Right next to Steve is another guy on his own at the sushi bar who works in the music industry as well. He was talking to Steve too and then introduced himself and as soon as he said his name was Gavin it CLICKED. It was Gavin Lursen who years ago was my freakin' ROOOMATE in Studio City!!!!!!! I haven't seen Gavin since about 1992. Since then he became a big success in mastering having won the very first Grammy that was ever given for mastering (on Oh Brother Where Art Thou?) and even another one after that (he worked with Doug Sax and Sheffield Labs and now has his own mastering house). So the four of us were just amazed at the whole thing and it was all over a serious quantity of cold sake. I even took a picture! So I will transfer it over from my camera now and post it just so you can see this. Pretty wild huh? You have to wonder sometimes how it is possible that this could happen like that. I feel really lucky and thankful. Plus the stories you hear (especially the ones that aren't for the public to know) are just priceless.
Well, that was today. Tomorrow who knows? I don't have any high expectations or anything. I'll have fun even without all that kind of craziness but wow that was awesome.
Alright. Let's dial it back to last night first. I go to Allen Sides house for dinner way way up on Mullholland. His house is absolutely incredible. The kitchen was just the DREAM kitchen with the biggest island I have ever seen. Hibachi grill, industrial stove... a freakin' Iron Chef's haven (I cook so I love a good kitchen). The rest of the place was equally insane and let's just say there's even a raquet ball court (and he has a drum kit set up above it which he uses as an echo chamber... possibly one of the coolest things I've ever seen in someone's home). The house used to belong to Farrah Faucett for years. The 6 million dollar man lived there! Ch ch ch ch ch ch ch. Wild. Allen has worked on over 1,000 albums and his stories are endless. So it was a fun evening.
Then today. First I go over to Ocean Way to set up the new SR/Ocean Way Drums/Speaker System show room. Then I meet Alex Lifeson. I'm bold so I introduced myself and Alex was immediately raving about IK plug-ins. It's all because of IK's A&R rep Randy (I also said that because Randy might be reading this so hi Randy, you rock. The Chili Peps was all you too). Alex is a huge AmpliTube head and was really excited about the Stomp IO and the upcoming AmpliTube Jimi Hendrix Edition. There's more to the story but I can't tell the rest just yet. Nick D'Virgilio was there with me and he was beside himself. It was awesome.
But, that was just the first part of the day. Later on a guy walks in and I don't know who he is but in a studio like this you can bet it is some incredible musician and sure enough it was. He walks in and says hello. He was curious to know what was going on in the room and I introduce myself he says "I LOVE Sonic Reality! I use your refills for Reason!" and I say "Really? That's great. What's your name?" and as I said it I realized who it was. He says "I'm Vinnie Colauta". So I say, "So you like our stuff?" and he says something like "Your samples are the best and there's a little of everything. It makes Reason sound great!" (Something like that... I even asked if I could quote him. I think there were a few explatives in there though... musicians!). So, I showed him an advance peak at Ocean Way Drums with the V-Drum kit there which he played with one hand (sounded amazing) and he was blown away, gave a few tips from a drummer's perspective and that whole thing was surreal and fantastic. (Yes, of course I asked him and we'll just have to see... shhhh).
Alright. So the day is already pretty amazing right? It gets better. At least in a "What are the chances?" kind of way. So, after all this I go to dinner with Steven Miller who is our other partner on the Ocean Way Drum project. We walk to this local sushi place (it seems to be all I eat out here) and sit down at the bar. At this point I thinking that if you want to shmooze in the entertainment industry you need to go to a sushi bar (even alone) and you will meet some cool people. Side note here is years ago I met Lawrence Fishburn (Morpheus) at Sushi On Sunset once and gave him advice on what to order!!!! This was before the Matrix though. After the Matrix he might have told me.
Okay, anyway, digressing here... we go to this sushi place and next to us is this guy from England who you can tell MUST be in the music industry but for an hour we didn't say anything. We just talked about the food. He let me try his grilled octopus (SQUIDSTTTHHHH!!!! Sorry, close enough) and anyway it turns out that it is Steve Lilywhite! (For those that know... engineer for countless bands like U2, Dave Matthews Band etc.). So Lilywhite Lilith let me have some of his octopus (there's something you don't hear everyday). So that was unlikely but what is even MORE unlikely is that Steven Miller is doing the NEW Dave Matthews Band album right now! So they are sitting next to each other talking about that! The two guys who have worked with the band by pure CHANCE sitting next to each other. Oh but it gets even more rare and unlikely than that!!!! Right next to Steve is another guy on his own at the sushi bar who works in the music industry as well. He was talking to Steve too and then introduced himself and as soon as he said his name was Gavin it CLICKED. It was Gavin Lursen who years ago was my freakin' ROOOMATE in Studio City!!!!!!! I haven't seen Gavin since about 1992. Since then he became a big success in mastering having won the very first Grammy that was ever given for mastering (on Oh Brother Where Art Thou?) and even another one after that (he worked with Doug Sax and Sheffield Labs and now has his own mastering house). So the four of us were just amazed at the whole thing and it was all over a serious quantity of cold sake. I even took a picture! So I will transfer it over from my camera now and post it just so you can see this. Pretty wild huh? You have to wonder sometimes how it is possible that this could happen like that. I feel really lucky and thankful. Plus the stories you hear (especially the ones that aren't for the public to know) are just priceless.
Well, that was today. Tomorrow who knows? I don't have any high expectations or anything. I'll have fun even without all that kind of craziness but wow that was awesome.
Last edited by Squids on Fri Feb 16, 2007 3:41 am, edited 1 time in total.
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- Sonic Reality Head Chef
- Topic Starter
- 8566 posts since 11 Mar, 2002 from Florida
These are my two partners on the Ocean Way Drums project. Allen Sides and Steven Miller. Allen also owns Ocean Way and told me the story of how it got the name. His original studio was on a street called Ocean Way in Santa Monica so the name stuck through the years.
Steven and I with Nick D'Virgilio behind the kit. He missed Vinnie!
Here's me with Vinnie Colauta. I forgot to take a picture with Alex but I will get another chance another time though. Both of these guys want to beta test our stuff. How incredible is that?
So, this is me with Gavin Lursen, Steve Lilywhite and Steven Miller. We were all tripping out at how it all unfolded and pretty much took over the bar in terms of excitement. There was this cute Japanese girl sitting next to me and I asked her to take our picture out of nowhere so that's why everyone is almost laughing. But they all wanted copies. The image really captured the movie. I am so glad.
Last edited by Squids on Tue Feb 06, 2007 5:10 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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- Sonic Reality Head Chef
- Topic Starter
- 8566 posts since 11 Mar, 2002 from Florida
Oh, okay I didn't know this was public. http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/art ... 1003523620
So, I got to meet Geddy Lee too and I saw Neil a few times. I talked to Geddy about Ampeg SVX and also Moog Taurus pedals. Nice guys.
So, I got to meet Geddy Lee too and I saw Neil a few times. I talked to Geddy about Ampeg SVX and also Moog Taurus pedals. Nice guys.
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- KVRAF
- 4143 posts since 7 Sep, 2001 from Melbourne, Australia
Squids - I think you should get drunk on sake in LA more often. Really cool story.
You sound so excitable when you talk about it, but I bet you played it nice and cool in every situation.
Regards
Caleb
You sound so excitable when you talk about it, but I bet you played it nice and cool in every situation.
Regards
Caleb
Happiness is the hidden behind the obvious.
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- KVRian
- 620 posts since 27 Jul, 2001 from france
what are the RUSH guys doing in LA ?
PQ
free software at : http://pquenin.free.fr/pqnaudio
free music at : http://www.soundclick.com/thepqueninproject
free software at : http://pquenin.free.fr/pqnaudio
free music at : http://www.soundclick.com/thepqueninproject
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- Sonic Reality Head Chef
- Topic Starter
- 8566 posts since 11 Mar, 2002 from Florida
You know, normally I would be super secretive about it because it isn't my place to say. But, thanks to Google I checked to see if it was perhaps already announced and sure enough it was! So, to answer your question: Making a new RUSH album! I've heard some of it and it sounds fantastic. I can't talk about it because again it isn't my place and I've just made friends with their producer who I may work with on sampling so... I shall be vague and safe! I will say that I think Rush fans will particularly like this new album and the way Rich produced them I have a lot of respect for. In fact, I wish I could say what he did because it's super cool. It's their surprise though and according to the press it won't be long before it is out so I can tell you then and maybe I will interview him just to get the nitty gritty tech questions we REALLY want to know answered. I may do some interviewing on the side because there are things I always ask and I am sure others would like to know too. I may try to get a Squids section in one of the mags like Mike McKnight has (not so much "ask Squids" although I could about sampling I suppose but more of a dig into the behind the scenes gear talk with the talented engineer/producers and artists kind of thing... we'll see).pquenin wrote:what are the RUSH guys doing in LA ?
Anyway, I've never met the band before so it was nice to get that opportunity. Geddy is actually thinking about using Ampeg SVX as his main rig! He's using some other speaker simulation system in hardware and he's going to compare so I will let you know what happens there. I predict he'll love it. Honestly I haven't talked to a single pro musician that had Ampeg SVX and didn't love it. I think everyone should have that plug. Or let's put it this way. It doesn't matter what kind of music you do. Rock, Hip Hop, Heavy Metal, R&B, Electronic... DO YOU HAVE BASS IN YOUR MUSIC???? Great, get Ampeg SVX for your bass sounds. Why? So you have OPTIONS for processing it! There aren't many plug-ins specifically FOR Bass and Ampeg SVX not only has the amps but an amazing Opto-Compressor, effects and even just the tone of the cabinets can add some nice body to any bass sound from electric to synth. GET IT! (at www.esoundz.com ) There that was my commercial.
So today is a new day. I doubt I can top the last two days but that doesn't mean today won't be fun. I am seeing Brian Kehew and this amazing singer he works with named Eleni Mandell tonight. She's like a cross between Ella Fitzgerald, Suzanne Vega and Fiona Apple. Listen to her music: http://www.myspace.com/elenimandell Her album just came out. I can't wait to get it. I really like her voice. Jon Brion produced her first album and Brian Kehew produced a few as well. She's touring all over the world over the next two months so check that myspace page if she's going to be in your town if you like her music.
While I am out here I am working a little bit with Lili Haydn. She's played violin with Herbie Hancock, Sting, Page/Plant and George Clinton P-Funk. In fact, go listen to "Maggot Brain" if you want to hear a violin sound like David Gilmour/Jimi Hendrix on her myspace www.myspace.com/lilihaydn
I am the muso hook up!
Speaking of violin solos, one of my favorites is on a RUSH song called "Losing It" done by Ben Mink. You know, I think I probably mentioned this already. It's on SIGNALS. Squids repeats himself. Squids repeats himself (when he's under stress ) .Oh, I'd have to read back in this thread if I told one other thing that happened a few days ago. I was wandering around talking to salesmen at Guitar Center when I get a phone call from a number I didn't recognize. But, the voice I should have (Just wasn't expecting it). I said "Who is it?" asking him to repeat and he says "It's Jon. Jon Anderson" in a high voice. So, that was fun. I'm working with Jon on some music too... well this has been going on loosely for several years now which he reminded me and it was funny. There's always a lot going on. Hopefully some of it will really see the light of day. That would be exciting. Oddly enough a lot of that is up to me! I am devoting more time to making music which is something I've been working on. Please just buy more of our products so I can do that! Haha. Just kidding. (not really).
Last edited by Squids on Tue Feb 06, 2007 6:45 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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- KVRAF
- 4878 posts since 13 Jun, 2002 from Montreal
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- Sonic Reality Head Chef
- Topic Starter
- 8566 posts since 11 Mar, 2002 from Florida
I'm glad you guys love this stuff. Maybe some day I can have a Squids cam on my forehead with a virtual reality interactive thing and an ear piece and like newcasters you guys can say things to me in real time. You know, "Hey Squids, ask him what settings he likes to use on the...". Kind of like Rock Line only much weirder. Ha. It could also extend to the shmooze advice "Tell her that she moves something in you that you can't control". Actually if anyone can guess what line that movie is from you get mad props. I do a pretty good Bogey impression though. "Dames are simple. Never met one who couldn't understand a good slap in the mouth or a slug from a 45" Well it doesn't translate into type.Beardedone wrote:Damn Squids! What a time!
Keep on! Keep it on!
Cheers,
Gordon
Same movie though. Nice guy Bogart was huh? Haha.-
- Sonic Reality Head Chef
- Topic Starter
- 8566 posts since 11 Mar, 2002 from Florida
I never capped this story. The rest of the trip was fun. Not quite as eventful but that'd be hard to top. I saw Eleni Mandell's show and she's great. She's like a cross between Fiona Apple, Suzanne Vega, Edie Brickell and Nora Jones. I thought the sounds on her album where great and oddly enough it turned out to largely be the Squids Tron Collection! Her producer has it. Some of her previous albums were produced by Jon Brion and Brian Kehew. Anyway, her new album "Miracle of Five" is really good and I highly recommend it. Go get it! Seriously. http://www.elenimandell.com
Secondly, I saw Brian Kehew and again if I didn't mention it he has an amazing book and they just got a new stock in (they sold out and I've been waiting). So check it out: http://www.recordingthebeatles.com It's absolutely incredible.
I hung out at the bar next door and had a good time. I met a few people including a composer and his friend who was Tim Curry (Rocky Horror Picture Show) so we all had a drink together. Bizarre out of the blue thing. I went back to the sushi bar the next day and I met Carla Gugino who was on the show Karen Sisco and she's been in a bunch of things. I gave her and her boyfriend or husband (director dude) some Katsu-Ya sushi advice. I know the place very well. I posted a picture of Katsu the owner and I years ago when they first opened. It's on our myspace page along with a ton of other pics. I'll upload some more from the trip.
All in all it was fun, productive (did a lot of sampling as I tend to do when I am in LA) and there are some nice surprise products coming your way sooner than you might think!
Secondly, I saw Brian Kehew and again if I didn't mention it he has an amazing book and they just got a new stock in (they sold out and I've been waiting). So check it out: http://www.recordingthebeatles.com It's absolutely incredible.
I hung out at the bar next door and had a good time. I met a few people including a composer and his friend who was Tim Curry (Rocky Horror Picture Show) so we all had a drink together. Bizarre out of the blue thing. I went back to the sushi bar the next day and I met Carla Gugino who was on the show Karen Sisco and she's been in a bunch of things. I gave her and her boyfriend or husband (director dude) some Katsu-Ya sushi advice. I know the place very well. I posted a picture of Katsu the owner and I years ago when they first opened. It's on our myspace page along with a ton of other pics. I'll upload some more from the trip.
All in all it was fun, productive (did a lot of sampling as I tend to do when I am in LA) and there are some nice surprise products coming your way sooner than you might think!