Busted

So it has finally happened, a Honda that I owned broke. I am on my fourth Honda, 3 of four that I have purchased I have obtained used. The mini-van which is the bus for our family (four kids for those who do not remember) had its transmission die. Apparently this was a known problem, so there was an extended warranty. Of course that ran out a month ago. Transmissions are expensive, very expensive.

So I called Honda Canada to see if anything can be done. I am still waiting to hear. Only a month out of a manufacturer known problem, a little grace for all of the loyalty would be nice.

Gear

I don't know if I have ever laid out the gear that is the base of my home studio. The guts of it is a MacBook Pro laptop fully tricked out running Logic Express from Apple. That in itself was a massive decision point for me. Should I get something like a desktop or the iMac which would have a little more storage at the expense of portability, knowing I would be doing a bunch of remote recording. Obviously I chose the ability to move around. Getting Logic Express was also a hard decision because I have had lots of exposure and some experience with ProTools. In the end, it came down to the fact Logic Express had many desireable add-ons for the pre-production process that I would have to buy to add on to ProTools.

I had wanted to buy a high end pre-amp, but this time around it was not to happen. I still may rent one for the finish vocals.

The interface I bought was an M-Audio Project Mix I/O. Eight channels, eight pre-amps which allowed me to record the drums well, my most challenging tracking for this project.



Lastly I bought a Rode NTK microphone. A very nice moderately priced mic strongest in acoustic recording (vocal, piano, acoustic guitar). There I was looking for an emphasis on vocals with the ability to record a grand and acoustic guitar.

Apple, of course, has just released a new version of of Logic called Logic Studio.



It seems like a great deal for the money. It includes the Pro version of logic plus a bunch of other powerful software. Of course there is also a break because I own Express. There is also a Express upgrade available, but the real deal seems to be in Studio. Bottom line is I have a CD to release. Perhaps I should reward myself after the release.

Back in the Studio

So I am online again as I previously mentioned and I finally got a significant editing session in this evening. This one track is giving me grief and will test my limited editing chops but I already see the time is worth it. As I listen to some of the rough mixes there are only a few touch ups throughout the other 11 songs that are needed. Unfortunately this one song is a complete re-working of the drums and I think I am just slow because this isn't my full-time job. I learned a couple of shortcuts on th mac tonight that made life so much easier. I got a lot done, so I hope to finish the drums on this song by the end of the week, leaving only those few edits on the rest left.

I have made contact with the bass player, so I will be lining up that tracking in the coming weeks, and then of course are the real piano, all of the final vocals and BGs, mix down, mastering and then production. On top of that is the design and artwork.

The hard part, as with anybody like me, is that you rarely get into a groove because it is all so piecemeal. Hopefully I can have a good run at it this fall. I love the stuff that is in this CD and I can't wait to get it done and release it. On the other hand, you want to do it right, so I am trying to make sure there that balance. That is, after all, why I set my own studio up, so I could get it done with flexibility, accessibility and control over all elements of the project. It is definitely fun to be making progress again.

Looking for a Church

Well we are back down in the old neighbourhood after all of the transition. As those who have read know, this year has been a wild one. Back in Dec of 2006 I started taking over as the interim Lead Pastor of my church to cover for the Senior Pastor. That led to 4 months of leadership and a tonne of transtition. Around that time we learned we were to have our fourth child, near the end of that time was the wild change in jobs which necessitated a change in geography and of course we no longer attended the church I worked at. So now we are in the new location, I am at the new job, the new baby is 3 weeks old and it is time to find a new church community to hang with.

I wish I could do justice to the complexity of this issue for me. I think of a book like Revolution by George Barna (his greater work here) and so many more. Having been in leadership in the church, I am sure some would say "and it is better now that you are out of it", and having filled so may of the public and private roles that encompass leading a church, well I have too many opinions.

The debate can be seen raging right now within the Christian community and certainly outside of it. I am blown away by the American news coverage on the issue of "true" Chrsitianity, and all the iterations people are seeing.

Some, it seems, will die for the institution of church, others, although claiming to be Christian seem to think it needs a complete overhaul, a rebirth, maybe even a near death experience. Both parties claim an undying love for the teachings of Jesus. and there is the rub. How does one measure one's adherence to the teachings of Jesus. By how loud one yells that they believe? Or, as Jesus himself said, wisdom will be proved right be her actions. (Matthew 11:18-19) Note the context there as well, very interesting.

Without playing all my cards (is that a respectable metaphor?) I think I am laying some sort of a framework to the difficulties. Relevancy without heresy, great teaching with outward focus. Community and family support, without a sub-culture that kills the ability to relate to everyone who doesn't go to church - the majority of everybody I know.

So the journey begins. More to come I suppose.

Too Late to be Up

But I could not help it!! Man am I blessed, four kids!! Four kids!! All beautiful because they take after my wife, and all such a blessing from God. So the next part of this will seem strange, but I had to stay up and work a little. On what you ask? College and wedding funds:)

Yes it was time to actually get the "studio" back online and listen and get back into the editing process for the new CD. Great to listen through the speakers again and start to dream about the finished product.

So many more things to do on all fronts, but it is all very good.

Taking Care of Business!

As life evolves so does this blog. Ultimately I have tried to use this blog for promoting and informing people about what I am doing musically. Thing is, I am not full-time in music, so often there are dry spells. How often do people really want to hear that I am still working on my second CD? (I am by the way)

For the last five years I was a Pastor and that definitely effected some of the content here, and now I am working for FTC Canada which works to save children from all kinds of wrong.

Alas, to try and keep my life a little separated I will reserve this blog for music and meanderings of the mind and point you to my FTC blog for things related to work. Fair warning, my FTC blog will be about giving opportunities for you, things or projects I am working on to try and push the cause of helping children forward. Please check in there from time to time if you would like to know what I am doing and might be able to give to help. There are some exciting ways to see your money radically effect one or more children's lives. Check out this week's post now!

If you are looking to get the same kind of thing that this blog has always had, it will still be that, have no fear.

A New Boy!

So my lovely wife produced another gorgeous child, this one a boy last Friday very early, and we are six. Wow. Four beautiful children. I tool a couple days off work to help with the adjustment, and as usual the fam is helping out a tonne with the transition as well. I suppose that is normal. It makes you feel very dependent in a god way. I love that we have such a strong deep and wide family, and I definitely believe that God has everything to do with it. God in the majority of your family, a lot of health. If He is not...well my observation is that it is often way tougher.

Speaking of family and friends, they are all probably hoping that I stop using this massive life change stuff as an excuse for fatigue etc.I mean come on, now we have moved, changed jobs and had the baby, get the CD done and get on with it!

Maybe, but I think I will milk it a couple months longer anyway:)

Peace.

Spontaneity

So driving back to the office in my car after two great meetings over coffee and lunch yesterday I get a call on the cell. "Cliff, do you remember me?" Of course I say, knowing what comes next. "I don't suppose you are free for a vocal BG session in the studio in 3 hours?"

Well of course I wasn't, I have a day job, but I was free for the second ask, an evening call which I did last night. An unexpected and nice creative break from everything I have going on right now. My wife, due NOW, was fully supportive, as long as they were prepared for the call to the hospital!! An exciting night of working fast....just in case, and because I like working fast in the studio.

It was also fun to see a couple of old friends and catch up a little.

The Coming Year?

Traditionally I would have cause to be thinking big thoughts as it pertains to life and direction etc. at the end of calendar year, like most. This past transitional phase, however, has led to the need to be in constant evaluation of what is going on. Work is fantastic, but the newness of it brings huge challenges as it is a new environment and requires tonnes of creative energy to get things up and running and moving forward.

The new house has been a great experience. With the help of family and friends (unbelievable amount of help) the whole house has pretty much been painted, including a kitchen reno (cheap version of re-painting it etc.) and newly finished wood floors. It is an old house (39 years) so character comes with a price.

A fourth child is imminent and brings with it the accompanying anticipation and stress of making room in the heart and the head for another beautiful child.

And lastly is the CD. Kind of been on hold this past month or three. Late August should bring a re-launch of effort and represent the last leg or two of production. It is amazing how far the project has come and yet how much there is to do. This is going to be a serious accomplishment when it gets done.

Child Hunger

Jesus said "You will always have the poor among you." (John 12:8) Deuteronomy 15:7-8 says "If there is a poor man among your brothers in any of the towns of the land that the LORD your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward your poor brother. Rather be openhanded and freely lend him whatever he needs."

I think maybe there maybe hope for those of us trying to do good in the world. You see, sometimes it is overwhelming when you think of trying to change the world for good. Certainly you can't end child hunger or poverty. Sometimes Christians cite Jesus' words as proof we will never win the war. Maybe that is just too pessimistic. True, we may always have the poor amongst us, but there is a long way from poor to starvation and poverty. If we embraced the Deuteronomy passage, maybe, just maybe we could end poverty and child hunger.

We have a ways to go, but if Coke can have a vision to have every person in the world drink a Coke, certainly we can have a vision to end hunger...for good.

Articles of interest:

Herald Tribune

Reuters

The Louisiana Weekly

The Toronto Star

Re-Invention

Invention of something new, notwithstanding Solomon's perspective on such matters, is extraordinary. Some of the TV shows that deal with inventors on the Golf Channel and on network television show how difficult it is to come up with something new.

I had lunch with a creative friend the other day and he touched on that. He, unlike me, has been highly successful at inventing and re-inventing himself many times.

I will say, however, that I think I am finally doing one or the other on this new CD project, even as it pertains to my musicianship. One friend that heard a rough mix said she thought I had finally captured "my" sound. I think so too.

Anyway I wil keep working towards the release, looking forward to it.

How to save the world

Ok, so this blog will not actually outline how to save the world. In a sense it is a day in the life blog. Many of my readers know my new day job is develop relationships and resources that will help feed children in Canada and around the world. It ends up being much more than that. You can't feed sick children very well, and so if their life can be saved you give them medicine and then the food sticks as it were. Sometimes you help get them clean and healthy and keep them healthy, but the bottom line is to help them reach a baseline existence that is so far below our expectations it still seems like desperate poverty to us.

The story is simple, and the actions aren't clever. They are simple. But we live in a complex developed society with market leaders in raising money - and of course we still have massive world child hunger. Sadly we still have incredible Canadian child hunger. I just want to buy them food, hook them up with a loving church community and say, ok now, get better. But it isn't that simple is it. The great divide between church, state and the poor is massive. Yes we have Salvation Army and bright spots of hope through other successful churches in some communities. But the church is shrinking, its influence is shrinking, and the need is getting bigger.

So what is the innovation. In a world with staggering technology, the ability to communicate clearly and quickly (this blog is at least quick), how is it that we cannot actually as a Christ following people transform communties with lavished love. How can the x thousand of Christians from all denominations etc. not join to love every poor person into health, every orphan into family, every terminally ill person to their maker. I am cursed? with the utopian thought that we can and should. Moreover we must.

We have leaders studying to be better leaders and not learning that humility is what they lack most of all. I still marvel that the findings of Jim Collins the secular leadership guru were that great leaders possessed two qualities: humilty, and an unquenchable thirst to see the vision accomplished.

God help me find a way to do much, much more.

So it has hit

A new template on the blog and a whole new website. Check out, and preferably buy!, my songs from the latest CD on iTunes and songs from The Apartment Sessions on cTunes.

The latest CD is Noticing the Sky, so not brand new for those who have been following for a while. Still a new CD in the works, always updates as they happen.

A New Website..link to iTunes, eMusic

I have been trying to figure out how to update the website and gain more functionality and not lose any. Part of the complication has been my switch to a mac computer and the fact that I am not a power user of programs like Dreamweaver. Did I say power? I meant I a dummer than a sack of hammers. Anyway, I have been searching the web for a Frontpage equivalent for mac (current site is a mix of FrontPage and iWeb), kind of ugly and awkward. But finally I found one and I am getting really close to a re-launch. More on that later.

For those that skip by my website right to here I now have a link to the right go to my site AND....I also have a link right to iTunes and eMusic if you want to buy a couple of songs!!

More to come...

Old Friends, New job, and Starbucks

Had a great lunch the other day meeting up with a good friend from yester-year. It is amazing to see how journeys evolve and people change, and stay the same. It wasn't so long ago I had lunch with another old friend who was able to relate to my new job and give some great advice on the transition. FaceBook, now there's a old friend connection hub too. It has been great connecting with so many.

So it has been about 6 weeks at the new job and things have been advancing in many ways ahead of schedule. I am responsible to create many things here which is both exciting and tiring as you have the creative juices flowing everyday. I ave never been in the charity "business" so there is also all the learning and terminology changes that are fun to navigate and learn. It is great connecting with a whole new set of people though, both new co-workers and partners in the work.

There's a new, big, Starbucks going in near the office here! I am very excited. Great place for meetings and thinking sessions I can already see it. I should not be so excited, but I am. Triple shot latte please! Coffee has been key in keeping the energy up through the 3plus hour drive everyday and in the office. Got my grinder and Starbuck's beans bien sur.

At Some Point

At some point the questions get answered
Maybe at a crossroads, or just the side of the path

At some point the way becomes clearer
Often through revelation, rather than inspiration

It leaves humility intact
It brings reality in focus
It causes hope to build, and love to renew

At some point, the road becomes longer

Not from transformation, but darkness dispelled

CD Progress

Well this week needs to be a return to the process. Last week was a week in Florida with the family and this week should be a rough mix of all the songs with the live drums. Next phase is final vocals start and getting bass done. That may happen simultaneously. Let you know how it goes.

An Overwhelming Reality

Blogging is by its very nature a risky adventure, in that, it is very difficult not to be self-absorbed in both your posting and desires.

I blog in main to stay somewhat connected to those who might be interested in my musical pursuits. As much as it feels like I am doing a lot right now I know that by a professional musicians standards I am standing still. Nevertheless I fight on.

I also jabber about how hard life is, blah, blah. How I have left one job, on to another another, - yawn - blah, blah etc.

The new job. Helping hungry, sick kids around the world. God help me:
a) make a difference
b) thank you every minute for my healthy children
c) have the energy to do all of things I should be doing, not just what tickles my fancy

A mild self reprimand of sorts. Lots to do, some of it really counts. Better more that counts than less.

Last Week of Work

Hard to believe that after 5 years I will be moving on to another day job in less than a week. As seems to be the case almost every time I do this it involves a move (selling the house) a baby - Stef is pregnant, of course the new job and then some spice like a big commute until we move, a CD project on the go - and maybe even some consulting work thrown in for good measure.

Obviously I am very excited on all fronts and am relishing the challenge of it all. I am also trying to take some time and actually mark the transition. I have basically spent 33% of my working life at this job, the number will go down, but right now - that is a significant chunk of investment. I have learned tonnes, done much, had life altering experiences, met great people, seen some of them move on with job change and life change and now I am one the ones moving on.

Interesting though. We have made some connections as a family that I think will be life long. It will be very interesting to see things progress.

Major Milestone

Finished the drum bed tracks for the CD today, HUGE. So much more to go, but finishing that at the quality we are at feels amazing. Getting closer!!

Lots of mixing and editing to do, but a major milestone.