Novations ReMOTE SL COMPACT

What a great Keyboard! From the day I ordered it online I was like a kid on chrismas. The ReMOTE SL is truly a revolutionary keyboard. From its flawless, intelligent control of all major sequencers and all automatable plug-ins to its 8 customizable trigger pads, this keyboard will not let you down. The seamless syncing to almost any midi enabled software makes the ReMOTE SL a force to be reconed with. Definetely a great buy for an aspiring producer and at an affordable price it won't break the bank. I highly recomend the ReMOTE to anyone looking for a keyboard that can accomplish any of their demands.

Features

• Automap- instantly contol sequencers and plug-ins. Automap takes the headache of assigning the midi parameters for the ReMOTE.
• 144 character lcd screen- takes the need to use the computer screen as much by displaying all pertanent data right on the keyboard
• Semi-weighted keys with aftertouch- Makes playing the keyboard as genuine as the real thing
• Speed dial and PAC-with a click the speed dial takes over whatever the mouse is focused on.
• Huge array of controls- set to the artists needs to make even the most complicated plug-in seam easy.
• Programmable drum pads- perfect for samples or sketching a beat, no need for a separate controller.

All Novation products can be found at www.novationmusic.com

GET A CONTRACT

NO MATTER WHAT any transaction of money that has to do with your career shoud have a signed agrrement to go alng with it. It could be as simple as writing a couple sentences on a piece f paper and having it signed by both parties (yourself and the person you are giving money to). A contract between the two of you will solidify any promises made to you and will garuntee you are not getting the "run around". I dont want to say trust noone ........but trust NOONE when it comes to giving them money for a service. Especially if you are not familiar with them or their work. Besides anyone who has the credentials will probably have this done anyway for legalreasons of their own. Money isn't the only thing you should worry about either your music in general should also have a contract involved when being handed around if you don't have the proper copyrights. Think about this if you had a song that was so good that they just HAD to sign you and you didnt have it copywrited, which would be easier, signing a new artist and paying them or using an artist that they already pay to put that song out.

How to sell beats

Tired of being so talented and making NO money for your work. Learn how to sell  beats in this amazing book that shows you the ins and outs of how to sell beats. You will be a marketing genius by the time you are done reading this and you will thank me later. You can find out more about making money from your beats at make money making beats.

making a song vs a "hot 16"

Though a lot may beg to differ there is a significant difference between a song and just a quick 16 bars to a beat. When writing a song it takes patience and brainstorming to make sure your concept is well interpreted and delivered. A song should have a message behind it and leave your audience with a piece of you as an artist. There is also a personal aspect to writing a song, it usually has a great deal of attachment to a significant part of your life.

Solicited and Unsolicited material

If you've ever called a record label directly you have heard the term "we don't accept unsolicited material". Some of you may be asking yourself, "What exactly does that mean?"

Solicited Material


Say you've been making music for quite some time now and you do a show at your local club. Little do you know, a famous record label rep. is in the audience and he is watching YOU. After an amazing set you get off stage towards the back of the club to enjoy yourself and your stopped and asked if you would send your CD to the record label he represents. That's solicited material, because the label asked for it. Another example would be if you had your manager or legal representation contact the label and if they are recognized as a valuable player in the "game" the label will ask for your material as well.

Unsolicited Material


I know you can use a little common sense to figure out that this is just the opposite of solicited material.
ie. Just sending your mixtape or demo to the record label without their consent in any way shape or form.

Note: Some record labels DO accept UNsolicited material, you just have to call and ask yourself, because they change frequently.

A list of industry contacts can be found here.

Counting your bars

Being a local producer I see alot of the problems novice rappers face. One of the major ones I have noticed is alot of the questions I hear are "did I write enought?" I often hear alot of what I like to call "run-on rap" those verses that never stop at a designated point in the beat but just keep going until there is no beat left. Though there are those select few that can naturally tell where to stop writing just by listening to the beat for when the rythm changes. Others have no clue.

What is a bar?

A bar is another term for a measure (or 4 counts). Every 4th count is a bar ie. 1231, 1232, 1233, 1234, etc.... Not the common misconception that it is every line that you write on your paper.

When writing your verse listen to the beat several times counting the bars to get a feel for the beat and how you are going to write to it to make it flow with the beat. Make sure at the end of your 16 (most common) or 8 bars that you END it and it sounds like the end of a verse, dont make the mistake of taking a way too long verse and just cutting it wherever the vers changes to the chourus. Not only will it not fit, your audience will be able to tell it was "forced" and doesn't have the natural feel of a song that is complete and not rushed.