My Tunes | MidiMike

Archive for the ‘My Tunes’ Category

If When

Posted: October 16, 2020 in My Tunes
Tags: #Instrumental, #michaelskennedy, #Midi, #midicontroller, #midimike, #midimike.com, #original songs, #studioengineer, #StudioOne5

I have been working on a new musical piece I call “If When”.

This is a jazzy feeling groove. I am using loops for the drum tracks that I have mashed and cut and edited to give the odd shuffle feel. I use a MIDI controller to trigger tom fills and cymbal crashes to fill out the persussion tracks. Then I add a piano chord progression that plays with the timing of the verses. The piano and bass guitar come from a plug-in in my recording software.

I wrote some lyrics earlier that might fit this so it will eventually have vocals and usually a different name once the lyrics are assigned. I might also add a ‘solo’ instrument like a muted trumpet or other soft horn sound if the next song doesn’t start bubbling up right away. Please enjoy a short groove from my studio.

Forward

Posted: September 4, 2020 in Midi Series, My Tunes
Tags: #DAW, #Instrumental, #keyboard, #michaelskennedy, #midimike, #mixingboard, #original songs, #Presonus, #recordingstudio, #Sphere, #StudioOne5

I have been working with a new suite of audio recording and mixing software for the last two weeks called Presonus. I am using their Studio One 5 bundle. I am starting to get the feel of how it works. A bit of a learning curve and unlearning curve from other programs, but very flexible interface and great sounding plug ins.

Here is my first tune noodling around with the functions and features. A simple groove I call ‘Forward’.

Forward by MSK

The great thing is the new software automatically imported all the instruments, effects and and plug ins I already had. These are all ‘virtual’ instruments from the sound and effect plug ins. I use a MIDI keyboard controller for most of the input for instruments.

I hope you enjoy this one for a few minutes in your busy days.

Music for “Let You Go”

Posted: July 20, 2020 in music technology, My Tunes, Poetry, technology
Tags: #boss, #Martinguitars, #Midi, #midimike, #midimike.com, #music, #original songs, #poetrytolyrics, #recording, #recordingstudio, #singer, #singer song-writer, #songwriting, #Yamaha

I posted a poem earlier called “Let You Go” https://midimike.com/2020/07/07/let-you-go/ that I really liked. While I was working on writing the music for these lyrics I got side-tracked. I had recorded a few MIDI drum parts and had a guitar theme I liked playing on my Martin Acoustic/Electric guitar chained together trying to get a feel for the song.

A good friend called me out of the blue and asked if I wanted to have his old MIDI studio gear. No instruments or toys will be orphaned if I can help it so I drove over that day. We chatted for a while and I left with a van full of what most people would call ‘ancient’ gear. This is the stuff hits were made with. Everything you heard growing up using electronic drums or synths used these gems.

I got home and hooked up a few pieces like a kid not knowing which present he wants to open first. DAYS LATER I opened up my recording project again and played with a vocal effect toy I had not gotten to yet. Not wanting to stop an idea I was working on I started recording in another section of the session. As you will hear, I decided not to sing the chorus parts. Instead I used some of the lyrics to do a chant-style intro and outro.

After juggling the original music around I started to work on a melody for the lyrics. I used some of the chant themes so the melody took shape pretty quickly. Not wanting to overdo the vocal effect, I just used reverb on my voice. Then I added some MIDI bass guitar sounds and put the pieces together.

Next, I added a little MIDI piano in the chorus sections and sprinkled through the end of the song. Then I made some stupid editing error and trashed all of the drum tracks!!! Redo the drum tracks and a few days later I have a rough mix for you.

As some of you will know, a rough mix is probably the last one I do! LOL.

Here is “Let You Go” as it stands today. I hope you enjoy this one.

“Let You Go” by MSK

“Be Your Man”

Posted: July 18, 2020 in My Tunes, Poetry
Tags: #love, #lovewins, #lyrics, #michaelskennedy, #midimike, #personal, #perspective, #poem, #poet, #poetry, #positive, #relationships

Some will listen to you
But you will never talk.
They’d rather play games
In circles made of chalk.

If they thought about it twice
It would have been clear right then.
But faced with the same choices
They’ll make the same decision again.

It wasn’t difficult
I didn’t need a guide
I only had to ask
To know who you were inside.

And that’s when I stood up and laughed,
“I completely understand”.
She said “I don’t want to be your woman,
But I’d love to Be Your Man”.

Nobody thinks life is simple
But it would be nice to get a break.
Give everyone a fair chance
And learn from your mistakes.

It doesn’t take a genius
To know when you are in love.
For me it was your gentle touch
And everything you‘re made of.

And that’s when I stood up and laughed,
“I completely understand”.
When she said “I don’t want to be your woman,
But I’d love to Be Your Man”.

Music for “The Next Step”

Posted: July 13, 2020 in My Tunes, Poetry
Tags: #bandLab, #DAW, #drums, #guitar, #Ibanez, #michaelskennedy, #Midi, #mididrums, #midimike.com, #original songs, #poetry, #singer song-writer, #sonar, #song, #songwriter, #vocalist, #voice

Earlier I posted a poem (although poems and lyrics are often interchangeable with me) called “The Next Step”: https://midimike.com/2020/06/22/the-next-step/

This shuffle will take a while to get used to. Really, there is no groove here. No comedic relief either, but I do like the strangeness of it. How about that for an intro?!!

The recording was simple and there is a lot of open space in this one that makes most listeners a little uncomfortable. I played my Ibanez 6 string electric guitar and used effects from my PC after the recording to get the delay and chorus effects. I created the MIDI drums to match the odd beat in the guitar strums. After laying down a simple bass guitar track using computer plug-ins and the song is almost done.

The Next Step by MSK

“Let You Go”

Posted: July 7, 2020 in My Tunes, Poetry
Tags: #lostlove, #love, #michaelskennedy, #midimike, #personal, #poem, #poet, #poetry, #relationships, #singer song-writer, #songwriter, MIDI Mike, poem, poetry

This is another one of my poems I pulled out of the archives recently. Written back on April 2nd, 1984 (what a good year!) and it has a few lines I like.

I want you to stay
For the moments that last forever
Like seasons that always change.

Not to change you
But to watch you grow.
Not to hold you
Or to let you go.

It’s too late to cry
Much too long since you went away
Sometimes you just can’t look back.

Don’t need to know why
Something beautiful goes the wrong way
But you can never go back

Not to change you
But to watch you grow.
Not to hold you
Or to let you go.

I want you to stay
For the moments that last forever
Like seasons that always change.

“None of the Above”

Posted: July 3, 2020 in My Tunes, Poetry
Tags: #love, #michaelskennedy, #midimike, #poem, #poet, #poetry, #relationships, #songwriter, #writing #poem, poem, poet

I found this poem in my archives that I wrote on June 26th, 2016 and I would like to share it with you.

I have a pretty long list
Of all the things I love
I can do any of them with you
Or, if you prefer, none of the above.

Family, friends, writing music, singing songs
Winter walks, coming home, sky full of stars.
Solving problems, helping strangers, reading a book
Practicing yoga, sometimes riding my bike too long.

Learning something new, teaching what I’ve learned
Laughing at jokes, sharing good food, colorful sunsets
Writing on my blog, sharing a story, liking a post
Being silly, going for a swim, getting praise that I earned.

With you I can do anything
And add it to the list of things I love
With you I can do anything
Or, if you prefer, none of the above.

Cuddle and watch a movie, listening to you breathe at night
Playing games no matter who wins, a weekend unplugged
Hearing from co-workers, dancing like a fool, laying in the snow
There are so many other things I’ve added to my list tonight.

With you I can do anything
And add it to the list of things I love
With you I can do anything
Or, if you prefer, none of the above.

“What Is It?”

Posted: June 30, 2020 in My Tunes, Poetry
Tags: #life, #love, #midimike, #original songs, #poem, #poet, #poetry, #relationships, #songwriter, #thrillaminute

I’m with you sometimes when you stay up late at night
Watching a show or reading a book and you start to cry.
I try not to interfere, so rarely ask if you’re alright
It ruins the tears if you have to stop and tell me why.

Your eyes just light up as you get the widest grin
Whenever animals or an old couple stop to chat.
You never judged an animal by the color of their skin
And I’ve never had the chance to thank you for that.

What Is It that makes you smile?
What does it take to make you cry?
How do you keep focused on those in need?
Whatever it is it becomes obvious
Because I love what I see.

Sitting on a hillside as the sunset puts on a show
Looking forward to early morn’ to see the blooms.
There are many things about you I still don’t know.
Grab it before it becomes lost in ashes and fumes.

You look at things in ways I will never understand
No interest in paybacks or evening the score.
Never guaranteed things would go just like we planned.
Saying life is a thrill a minute so keep looking for more.

No interest in paybacks or evening the score.
Saying life is a thrill a minute so keep looking for more.

What Is It that makes you smile?
What does it take to make you cry?
How do you keep focused on those in need?
Whatever it is it becomes obvious
Because I love what I see.

“It Belongs”

Posted: June 26, 2020 in My Tunes, Poetry
Tags: #lyrics, #michaelskennedy, #midimike, #midimike.com, #poem, #poetry, #song, #songwriter

Sometimes it just fits
Sometimes it belongs.
Too often we use words
That should have been songs.

Careless promises
Meant to be no harm.
Dissolve into emptiness
And quickly lose their charm.

With a little praying
You can make it work.
But without forcing
She makes you feel like a jerk.

Sometimes it just fits
Sometimes it belongs.
Too often we use words
That should have been songs.

Sometimes we just fit
Sometimes we belong.
Too often we can’t find words
But always remember the song.

Comfort in your glance
Healing of your touch.
Our mutual reliance
We don’t talk about much.

Sometimes it just fits
Sometimes it belongs.
Too often we can’t find words
But always remember the song.

“The Next Step”

Posted: June 22, 2020 in My Tunes, Poetry
Tags: #lyrics, #michaelskennedy, #midimike, #midimike.com, #poem, #poet, #poetry

The Next Step is yours, my friend
But I’d think about each and every one.
You never cared what bridges you burned
By the grin on your face you were just having fun.

The Next Step is yours, young man
But all you can think of is where you should run.
Acting like some man of war
Only to find out you need a bigger gun.

The Next Step is yours, for now
Though your choices are worse than none.
You kept crying ‘how did I get here’
And failed to notice when the journey had begun

The Next Steps are yours, again
In the race you invented you have nowhere to run.
You stop and turn around half way through
Cursing the world because you have never won.

The Next Steps are yours, don’t look back
Don’t worry, a few more steps and you’re almost done.
The Next Steps are yours, always were
Can’t wait to see how the stories are spun.

MidiMike

Available on iTunes and CD Baby

Social Media

Deep Inside

Archive for the ‘My Tunes’ Category

If When

Forward

Music for “Let You Go”

“Be Your Man”

Music for “The Next Step”

“Let You Go”

“None of the Above”

“What Is It?”

“It Belongs”

“The Next Step”

Archives

Available on iTunes and CD Baby

Social Media

Deep Inside

Archive for the ‘My Tunes’ Category

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