First Post of Suitcase Studio Co-op Version 2.0!

I am working on a co-op that utlizes the suitcase studio to it's best potential.

I have now recorded two shows at the Sons of Erin in Westfield, MA. There is one more recording to do. Once they are finished, I will be making a playlist of songs that will be professionally mastered. The mastered CD will be sent to make 1000 copies with a 2 page booklet for info on the artists and the Sons of Erin. This CD will be sold as a fun raiser for the Sons. I am told I will be paid around $200 for my services.

I am coming into Boston this Friday (Feb 2) to record the sound for Sam Beebe and his band The Dead Dogs. I am going to be making sure the sound is absolutely pristine. Sam is in a video class of some sort, and he has borrowed a couple video camera's from the multimedia department. The sound I record will be used in his project movie of the show.

Practices for Sylvan Enigma start this week. Peter Dow has returned from his winter break. Once I feel comfortable with at least 6 songs with them, I will be looking for a place to do a show around here.

My dad and i ordered Finale 2007. This program will allow me to compose new music and notate it easily. I will be able to print out scores for other members of the band or musicians that will play a show or two with us in the future. I also got the 30 demo of Max/MSP. Now I can begin programming patches that I plan to use with the band in performance. Once the demo runs out, I will be purchasing the 9 month license. Once this expires, I will but the full version.

As an addendum to my co-op, I also got a substitute teaching position in southern vermont. I will be sitting in on a number of subjects, which will include Music and Theater classes. I'm signed up to do K-12, so it will be a very good all around experience.

I have spoken with Ken McCormic, who will be helping me improve the prototype with an internal power source. I will be going forward with that plan once I add the bottom compartment to the prototype which will allow everything to fit inside. I am looking into new ways to keep it level when it's inthe upright position. The back right corner droops. I'm going to try a few possible solutions. One is bungy chords that would be hooked to the stand in certain places to stabilize that part of it. The second is some sort of wire or chain that can be hooked up to the stand at varying lengths (depending on the height of the case). The third would be to attach a few notches or clamps that will be a place for the stand to anchor itself on the side that has no attachment to the case. These possibilites are in order of destructiveness to the case, least to most. I will do them in this order in the hopes to find the best solution with the least amount of damage.