I Downloaded This Amazing Free Plug-in, And You Won't Believe What Happens Next...

I’m experimenting with clickbait-style post titles. Other audio blogs appear to be testing the waters with this information abortion, so I figure “hey, why not join the crowd?” How am I doing?

Anyhow, this is just a general info-dump of goings-on in my little corner of the world.

1. Unless you live under a rock, you know about the Eventide freebie, UltraChannel. I actually wouldn’t normally bring it up here at all, as even though the Eventide guys are BFFs of ours and make stupifyingly good plug-ins (and even better hardware), their plugs are iLok only. However, as a result of a UI contract I’m currently doing, I had to install and tame an iLok. (And, god forbid, PT11.) Since I have one now, I was all “fuck it” and furthermore “whatevs.” And got myself an UltraChannel. (And all the other Eventide native plugs while I was at it.) I’ll say this much: UltraChannel is almost worth sucking it up for iLok. A fantastic, creative channel plug that is light on the CPU, yet extremely capable. If you have an iLok, or are thinking about buying one of those little buttplugs, here’s where you get the Ultrachannel; use coupon code 0F736710. It’ll be like $249 or something in a month or two, so if you’re gonna do it, do it now.

2. Just in case you think I might have changed my mind or am in any way endorsing it, fuck PACE and fuck iLok.

3. I’m pleased to report that my schedule, which was a bit hairy there for a while, is returning, slowly and surely, to its normal lazy, meandering ways, which means I’ll be able to finish off the Audio Damage DRM Removal Event, and also bring the next Audio Damage plug-in to the finish line while Adam flails about in his Code Hole whipping Sequencer 1 in to shape. It was a little ridiculous there for a while, but I’ve cleared a majority of the nonsense now, and am back to being my usual self.

4. And finally, a question: what constitutes an “album” these days? Throughout my (first) career, I was all 10 SONGS OR BUST but the idea of a complete record seems to be slipping through the cracks in favor of a burst mode kind of release system. I tried this out a couple years ago, by pooping out 4 of what our oldsters call “EPs” in a row, and it was somehow… uh… unsatisfying? Even without physical media, there’s just something about a cohesive chunk of music that is more visceral, at least to the maker. So my general takeaway: it is far easier to come up with 5 cohesive songs than 10, and the consumer seems to be indifferent. My forthcoming release that I’m just finishing up now is 10 tracks, but I’m left with the lingering impression that I should strip it to a pair of 5-track releases. Thoughts?