I first heard The Other Bones late last year. Their video had been posted in r/maine and I almost ignored it. I had seen the post earlier in the day, and for whatever reason had decided to move past it. By some kind of cosmic intervention, I had a change of heart, and chose to click the link to their debut video, Feels Like Home (directed by Jason M. Bosch).
I remember being shocked immediately at what was going on. There was a guitar loop that sounded something like the Tower Jam at IT, followed by a brilliant sounding looped drum beat, synth rhythm, and vocal track, in that order. One minute into the track, I was hooked. I knew that this band was going to be the most original thing out of Portland in the past 10 years, maybe ever.
Since then, I’ve been hovering around their website like Quimby hovers around my feet waiting for me to drop some food. Slowly but surely, 2 more songs came out. The River, and the Christmas song “What Are You Doing New Years Eve?” Both as equally impressive, yet these were just crumbs. I wanted a fucking sandwich, and finally it’s been delivered.
Hinges Comes out on May 8th
Hinges is a 5 track EP that comes out on Tuesday, May 8th. It starts aggressively with “Not This Way.” It is a stark contrast to the acoustic version that was released in late March. There are layers of tastefully blended electronics and even some vocodoer/autotuning. It is followed by the harmony rich “Say That To Me.” It’s peaks and valleys of varying intensity, with a sweet ass synth bass and some very tasteful less is more guitar work. It becomes clear very quickly that although The Other Bones are a relatively new band, they already know exactly what they want to sound like, and it sounds awesome. Hinges continues with the insanely catchy and memorable Feels Like Home, an building intensely pissed off little number called The Bad In Goodbye, and In/Out/Over, another harmony filled almost club-esque track. Maybe it’s not suited for a club, it’s not like I go to clubs. Just know that it’s good. It’s all good. Fuck, it’s all great really.
Eric, Andrew and Loretta have created music that is like no other trio I’ve ever heard. I have a hard time putting it into a category. It’s a blend of so many genres that I can’t describe it accurately. This is what I always envisioned the music of the future sounding like. This is by far the best EP that I’ve heard in 2012. Go get Hinges on May 8th. Grab your jetpacks and check them out at Slantie on Saturday May 5th. I have yet to see these guys live, but I’m sure it’s fantastic.
Geron Hoy really should be a household name by now, but the fact that it isn’t, may be the best thing he has going for him. You may have seen him over on reddit, where he has been sharing his music for free. I’ve been meaning to review this album for the past two months, but because I’m terrible at updating this site, I’m just getting to it now. Shame on me.
Trials, Troubles, and Tribulations
Lunatic is the latest effort from Geron Hoy. The story behind it is filled with frustration and struggle, and it almost never saw the light of day. In 2011, he had released the album Soldier, which was a mix of new material and songs he had recorded in Austin a few years back. Essentially a B-side album, it was still better than most of what came out last year. Geron then worked his ass off to record the album Lunatic. He spent weeks in the studio perfecting his songs, and once recording was complete, the album still needed to be mastered and pressed.
I knew Geron before it was cool.
When he should have been touring in support of Soldier, he was busy trying to get Lunatic released. Essentially, he was doing the work that a label would have normally taken care of, while still trying to make a living. Thankfully for us all, he didn’t throw in the towel. He pushed on, and made it happen. Music is what Geron is supposed to be doing. He knows it, and no way was anything going to stop him. As luck would have it Because Geron is so insanely talented, he won a song writing contest that year that awarded him a couple thousand CD pressings.
Lunatic is a fantastic album. Geron’s song writing ability is quite frankly, some of the best that I’ve ever heard. It comes from a very real, very chaotic place- Geron’s mind. This album is him, and that’s why it’s so damn good. It’s filled with confusion and self doubt, as well as the insanity and chaos of day to day life in NYC. From the foot stomping almost country-esque Mess in Here, to the ballad feel of Breakaway, to the beautifully written and performed Lunatic, there’s something special going on here. His songs are soft and tender when they need to be, but will knock your head off when needed.
Plymouth State College - 1999
Howard Stern Helps Geron Hoy
On Friday April, 27th, Geron was retweeted by Howard Stern, who has a rabid fanbase of over 1.1 million followers. Geron posted the tweet on reddit, and was soon the top post. Close to a million people saw the tweet. He was shared on facebook by David Copperfield (yes, really!), his website went down for a time, and he was the top selling artist on bandcamp. Over 50,000 people have listened to his music since yesterday, and if anyone deserves the attention, it’s Geron Hoy.
The long and short of it is that Geron worked his ass off to make a damn near perfect album, and the world deserves to hear it. Go do yourself a favor and download Lunatic now.
When making videos for any purpose, sound is always one of the most important factors. Whether you’re making something for YouTube, or you’re working on a big budget production, sound quality will either make or break your presentation. Ask anyone who has been making videos and they will tell you that the ability to record high quality sound is just as important as the ability to capture the images you’re looking for.
Why use an External Mic with a DSLR?
Why is sound so important? Unless you’re telling a story with no dialogue or sound, voice and audio recording plays a large part in how you convey your message to the audience. Most viewers will not notice seamless sound recording and editing, but nearly all will cringe when levels are off and inconsistent. The last thing you want to do is distract your viewer with technical problems. Not only will they lose interest, but you will lose credibility as a filmmaker.
One company that makes a plethora of products that will help your cause is Rode. Rode has a large and diverse line of microphones, and makes some of the most diverse mics on the market today. For example, the Rode NT1-a is one of the finest choices for musicians doing home recording on a budget. At around $230 USD new, it’s great for vocals, acoustic guitar, and many more applications, without breaking the bank. Sure, you can spend more and get better quality, but many consider the NT1-A to be an ideal multi-purpose mic for budget minded musicians. I was hoping that the Videomic Pro would be similar in terms of quality and versatility. After a few weeks with it, here are my results.
Rode makes four microphones that come with camera mounts integrated into the design. It makes for easy attachment to most camcorders and DSLR cameras. This is extremely helpful if you’re shooting in a simple setup, don’t have a crew dedicated to sound, or just want the ability to point and shoot.
Videomic Pro Specs and Features
The Videomic Pro is a shotgun mic about 6 inches in length. As stated above, it attaches quickly and easily to most cameras, and has an integrated 3.5mm stereo plug that can go directly into your cameras mic input jack. A 9 volt battery powers the 1/2″ capsule and the same signal is sent to the left and right channels. There is a on/off switch that allows you to conserve battery life. It has a native 40Hz-20kHz response, however also offers a built in high-pass option which will cut off all frequencies below 80Hz. This is helpful if you are dealing with a lot of low end outside noise, like traffic. Another useful feature is the -10db pad, and +20db boost. The pad is useful if your audio source is incredibly loud, like a concert. The boost is designed for use with DSLR cameras, more on this below. It has a 3/8″ thread connected to the camera mount for the purpose of using the mic as a boom. It is held in place by elastic bands that keep it suspended, allowing roughly 1/4″ of space on all sides. It weighs 80 grams so it doesn’t really add that much weight to your rig. Full Videomic Pro specs.
How to use the Videomic Pro with a DSLR
My application for this mic is with a Canon T3i DSLR camera. The mic on this camera sounds terrible for nearly all applications, and most reviews will list the mic as the weakest feature. This is the case with nearly all DSLR cameras, not just this model. I have installed Magic Lantern, which offers audio input monitoring, a feature that is a must have if you are not using an external audio recorder. When in use, I have found the best results turning the input volume nearly all the way down (in the cameras menu settings) and then activating the mics +20db boost. By letting the mic do all the work and not having to rely on the cameras digital gain, you end up with a much better sound quality then if you were to turn the -10db pad on, and boost the cameras internal volume. What’s important to understand is that while this may work best for my needs (interviews and events), it may not be ideal for every purpose. It comes down to you liking the sound that is recorded, so you will want to mess around with it yourself.
The fact that it comes boom mount ready is really a great feature. All you need to use it as a boom, is a pole and a headphone extenuation cord. I’ve been using a 50 foot cord that I got on amazon for $5, and can not detect any loss in quality versus having it plugged directly in. The elastics are a little thin, but do a surprisingly good job at keeping the mic suspended above the mount.
Overall, I’m quite pleased with the quality and ease of use from the Videomic Pro. I would say that this is the perfect mic for entry level filmmakers who want to up their sound quality without breaking the bank or needing additional sound recording equipment.
The casing is made entirely of plastic, but it weighs far less than a metal counterpart, so it’s fantastic if you want something light on your rig. My only real issue comes in the fact that he 3.5mm connection is hardwired into the mic. The cord is reinforced, but if you are using it on a boom pole, be sure that there’s no way that it can be yanked on. The good news is that if something does happen to it, Rode has excellent customer service and offers a 10 year warranty on all their products.
The value here lies in the plug and play element, and of course ability for numerous applications, as is the standard with so many other Rode mics. With the features it has, it’s a great purchase for anyone looking for a fast and easy way to high quality sound. At $229, it’s well worth it.
Videomic Pro Examples
I did a couple of very brief experiments with the mic. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to show everything I want, but I will revisit this post once I am able to illustrate some more examples of just how versatile it is.
After a little soul searching, I decided that the best thing to do would be to make a Radio edit of the Gronk song. Now maybe Rob Gronkowski and the Patriots can tweet it and love it as much as I do.
For those of you who want to listen to the original Gronk Song, don’t worry, it’s not going anywhere.
So here is the second part of the Gronk trifecta I’m working on. The video will be coming along shortly. G1 by Erich Pobatschnig
This is the country version of what I managed to put together… For someone who doesn’t listen to or enjoy much modern country, I think I did okay. I can’t imagine everyone will like it, but hell, what would the fun in that be? Would it be as much fun as my friend’s Maine Wedding Photographers party? No. Wait, what was I saying? Oh right…
I was inspired after seeing him score two TD’s against the Bills in the last game of the season, and wrote/recorded/produced three separate songs. If you like it, let me know, if you don’t, well that’s okay too. If You’re Gronk, Yo soy fiesta!
So the past few weeks I’ve had a lot of time on my hands, and when that happens, I make music. I wasn’t sure what I was going to write about until I went to a Patriots game. After watching Rob Gronkowski score his 18th and 19th TD against the bills, I figured I would make him an ode. It ended up being a massive 4 part composition in 4 different styles. Seems to work as he is just that big of a force on the field.
I originally wanted to make a video for the whole thing, but I figured I could do it in parts, so I managed to make this over the weekend. Finished it just in time for the game. It’s not a very serious undertaking, but I had a blast making it. Not sure if he will ever see it, but Rob if you’re reading this, I hope you like it.
Some mics are built with one specific purpose in mind. Others are well rounded and can do more. The Rode NT3 is a mic that falls into this category. I needed something that was going to be versatile, durable, and accurate. I didn’t want to spend an insane amount of money wanted something that was going to be simple to use. Since I’ve been using the NT1-a for a while and absolutely love it, I figured I would give the Rode NT3 a try. Here’s my review:
Review of the Rode NT3
What’s in the Box: The mic, A padded zipper case, a sticker, a clip for your mic stand, a small foam windscreen, instruction booklet.
Physical Characteristics: It fells well built, much like the other Rode mics I’ve had a chance to use. The NT3 can be powered by a 9 volt battery or phantom power from your preamp. It is roughly 9 inches long and the bottom unscrews to access the battery compartment. The battery option is one that is great to have if you’re considering using this mic with a camera for video production. It’s durability and size make an excellent choice for a field mic. There is a power switch so you don’t have to remove the battery every time you use it.
Potential Applications: I use this mic mostly for acoustic guitar and hand percussion. It Represents the high end very well with a lot of presence in the sound, and the design allows for good room ambiance. It actually records room and outdoor conversation pretty good. I imagine that this would be a great field mic for low-budget video production.
Overall Thoughts: I think that this mic has multiple of uses in a home studio. It can be used to record any acoustic instruments, which is a plus, but it also sounds good when recording from slightly farther away. I like the way it sounds as a reinforcement mic. Take a listen to these two tracks.
The first one is the NT3 by itself, positioned roughly 10 inches from the 12th fret of the neck of the guitar. The second one is the NT3 blended with the an NT1-a located roughly 12 inches from the back of the body of the guitar. As you can hear, the two mics compliment each other pretty well. I would imagine that this would make a fairly decent overhead mic on a drum kit based on the response I was getting from it. Unfortunately I am not able to try that at this time, however other reviews of the NT3 have said that this is one of the things it does best.
I also used the Rode NT3 to record the electric guitar parts in this cover of Here Comes Your Man (Ham), as opposed to my usual SM57. Not bad.
The Pixies have never played in Maine, so when they announced that they were coming, I was excited. My friend Dave goes way back with Pixies guitarist Joey Santiago. I had seen the Pixies before, but this was my hometown show, and I had a feeling it was going to be special.
“Here Comes Your Ham”
I had done a little catering work with Dave (who owns the Pig Kahuna, best pig roasting in the Northeast BTW), and he had mentioned that he made up a joke band, called the “Pig-sees” and had already re-named a bunch of songs- “Where is My Swine”, and my personal favorite, “Here Comes Your Ham.” I figured now was as good a time as any to see if I could pull it off. Fortunately, since I have a couple instruments at my disposal, I had a feeling I would. It was harder than I had originally thought, just because I’ve never set out to copy something exactly how it was done. Admittedly the effort was somewhat hasty, but Dave loved it.
The day of the show came around 10am I get an email asking if I want to have a lobster dinner with the band before the show. Yes. Yes, I would. Not everyone could make it, but Joey wasn’t going to miss out. He arrived around 5:30, bringing our total to 8. Soon, we were enjoying a few pre-lobster drinks. I talked some nerdy guitar stuff with Joey about his equipment, which was awesome. Then Dave mentioned that I was the one who recorded “Here Comes Your Ham.” Joey told me he heard it and liked it, to which I smiled like a buffoon. He said that I took some liberties with the guitar tracks, but overall he liked what I did. He then asked what I had used to record it on. I told him about my modest home recording set up, and mentioned that I probably would have put a little more effort into it if I knew he was going to hear it.
Then he asks “How long did it take you to record it?”
“Roughly three days, on and off.” I reply.
“Oh, we recorded Doolittle in two weeks. No, wait. On second thought make that 11 days.” He says with a big grin. With that the ice was broken, and the rest of the dinner was a smashing success. Dave had enough lobster and steak for everyone to fill up on. Soon enough it was time for the show, which was amazing. If you’ve never seen the Pixies live, you should do it. Enhance any of the photos to see a slideshow from the State Theater show.
Click to Enhance
Pizza, Magic, and The Pixies watch the Pixies
After the concert, we met up with Joey and David Lovering, the drummer for the band. They had heard about a Pixies tribute that was happening after the show, and wanted to crash it. I couldn’t wait for this, however we “needed” to refuel with some more beers and pizza. During dinner in a relatively empty Pat’s Pizza, David started doing some card tricks for us. He is skilled in the magical arts to say the least, however the hilarity and awesomeness of getting a free magic show from the drummer of one of the most talented and influential bands ever would not hit me till later in the evening.
After dinner, we headed to the bar where the tribute show was happening. It was very busy for a Tuesday night, and it was very interesting to watch half of the Pixies watch a tribute to themselves. It was hard to get a read on how they actually felt about it, but not hard to see how shocked/excited the members of the band were when they realized who had been in attendance. Joey and David chatted with the musicians from the tribute band for a while before we all left. We took some photos together, I got my copy of Doolittle signed, and we were out. As we drove home, I just kept thinking to myself how crazy the past 6 hours had been, and realized that the “Where is My Swine” cover had better be awesome.
Click to Enhance
Click to Enhance
Click to enhance
Click to Enhance
Click to Enhance
Click to Enhance
HUGE thanks to My friend Dave of the Pig Kahuna and of course Joey and David of the Pixies.
Custom songs can be a great way to celebrate any occasion! From birthdays to family reunions to roasts, music just makes everything better.
Viral marketing can be a great way to get your name out into the public eye.
Do you own a vacation home or rental property? A video is a great way to help fill up all your empty dates! Take a look at our property rental videos.
Let us make the hold music that will keep your clients calm and relaxed while waiting on the phone to speak with you.
Are you a business owner without a jingle? Let us make the song that's just what your company needs. Radio advertising with a business jingle from Old Port Jingles may be just what your next marketing campaign needs.
Excited to test out our new Rode VideoMic Pro this week/weekend. Hope it's as good as the reviews indicate! @rodemics
We're getting into the video production business! Loving our new @Canon_Camera and lenses. Solid.
When you are ready to take your business to the next level, a viral video production can be just what you need. Let Old Port Jingles produce the song that will spread on the internet like wildfire! Start your next viral marketing campagin today.
Have you ever wanted a special song for a birthday, retirement, or graduation? Now you can have a song for any occasion with Old Port Jingles. From serious to comedy to educational let us make your custom song just right for you!
