Hola! Como Estas?

[Merlot]

Never really got around to introducing myself. I just jumped right in this forum.

I am married with 2 American Bulldogs as kids. I make all kinds of music from acid jazz, chill, house, trance, breaks. I am a guitar player by trade, but am trying to pick up the keys too. I program my own sounds on soft synths right now, the virus TI will be my only peice of hardware. I owned a Virus A back in the day, and held onto it for a couple of years before selling it. Anyways, I will see all of you around

Here is a pic of my 2 kids!!!

[AlexHall74]

Nice to meet you Bro!

Your dogs are beautiful.

I am a gittarist by teaching too and trying to pick up keys myself.
My Virus KC is my only hardware synth; I have toyed with many soft synths too...

I bought a lot of hardware last year and the books to go with it.
Getting the hang of production, learning more and more about the Virus, enjoying the hell out of every minute of it!

This weekend I am routing my 6 string and my bass through the KC and going nuts.

31 yrs. old, Married to a beautiful woman, two beautiful daughters, one Shepherd/Retriever Dog, 3 Cats, 11 African Cichlids, 1 Hamster, Mortgage, 2 Car Payments, Bills Bills Bills....

Ahhhh but life is good!

Cheers!

-AlexHall74

P.S. So where did your love of David Hasselhoff begin?

[Merlot]

Alex,
Where are you at in florida? I grew up in Clearwater, listening to the old skool funky breaks.

As far as hardware goes, I have owned at one time or another, an MPC2000xl, Korg Prophecy, Access Virus A, Yamaha RM1X, and the first 2 versions of the ekorg electromachines.

I sold it all to go all software, until they announced the TI. I figured I could consider it software since it was integrated!

And the rest was history, i have been trying to "produce" on and off since about '00. Just now starting to take the keys seriiously though. I am just know starting to understand that there is alot more to it than meets the eye.

[AlexHall74]

Since 1998 I have lived in Tallahassee.

I lived in Orlando from 94-97 and loved the old skool FL breaks too.

We went to see DJ Andy Hughes and Kimball Collins whenever they were around. So many good DJs spun there in those years. I became an electronica junkie at that point!

I was a military kid and moved around alot so when I gre up I had to choose where home was going to be. I came to Orlando to finish college, ended up going to raves, clubs, and house parties for 2.5 years instead, then moved to D.C. and got my shit together as a software analyst, and then came down here to Tallahassee to REALLY finish college (which I have!) and now to raise a family.

Tallahasse is a great place to have small kids. It is not the beautiful beachy part of Florida like Clearwater but the Emerald Coast is close enough to us for when we need it. I went to Anna Marie Island (by Bradenton) last year and was blown away. That's a really nice beach...

Merlot wrote:
I sold it all to go all software, until they announced the TI. I figured I could consider it software since it was integrated!

Your rationalization ("justification" is such a negative word) of a TI purchase is exquisite.

Merlot wrote:
As far as hardware goes, I have owned at one time or another, an MPC2000xl, Korg Prophecy, Access Virus A, Yamaha RM1X, and the first 2 versions of the ekorg electromachines.

What do you think of the current Electribes?

I have toyed with the idea of getting one (EMX-1 or ESX-1) or maybe a DS Evolver.

I still have a nice Ibanez RG550, Line 6 FlexTone II, Ibanez SR-300 Bass, and Crate BT50 bass amp (that Iplay my Virus through mostly!) as well as some mics, rack effects, etc.

I am trying to blend the chromatic sounds of the guitar and bass with the synth atmospheres, pads, leads, fills, and of course drums. There is no way I am buying a drum set!

I hope to be making some coll and unique trance and breaks by the middle to end of this year.

Are you in Washington D.C. or Washington State? I lived in D.C. for 7 years, my parents are still in Reston.

[Merlot]

Live in WA state. Funny how small a world it is. i went to Florida State for about 2 years before dropping out b/c I had no money. I then joined the Air Force as an air traffic controller and was in Texas for four years and nonw here for two. I have about two years left then I am out. Luckily I got my act together and am back in school now trying to finish up here.

I used to make frequent trips across state to go to firestone. In Tampa, we had masquerades and Marz at club 1509. Fun times I tell ya.

I enjoyed the ER-1. Never got anything nice out of the ES-1 though. The ER-1 is a nice little rhythmn box. But it is nothing that software cant emulate or do better.

My production has kind of been void the past couple of weeks. Between school and work, I have little time. I am sure the inspiration will kick back in once I get the TI home.
I am looking forward to hearing some of the stuff you are getting together.

[AlexHall74]

Marz rocked! The laser light show right?
Marz was at Barbarella in Orlando.
How many nights did I spend in Firestone?
The Edge was cool too until it turned into a country bar. (YEECH!)
The there was Club 802 (I think it was 802) in Port Orange that was HUGE.

Wash State is beautiful. I went to Seattle/Vancouver/Olympic Peninsula 3 years ago. It was a great trip.

Merlot wrote:
I enjoyed the ER-1. Never got anything nice out of the ES-1 though. The ER-1 is a nice little rhythmn box. But it is nothing that software cant emulate or do better.

That's good to know. I won't focus on them anymore as I currently have a lot of SW drum capability.

Merlot wrote:
Luckily I got my act together and am back in school now trying to finish up here.

How much have you got left? When I transferred to FSU I lost so many credit hours. I had to re-take some classes, take pre-requisites to get into the college of business, then tkae 60 hours of their bullshit! It's a miracle I finished but I am really glad I did.

Merlot wrote:
My production has kind of been void the past couple of weeks. Between school and work, I have little time. I am sure the inspiration will kick back in once I get the TI home.

I know what you mean here! Once you have kids you have less time! But I find the time. I either get up at 5:00 AM and jam/record stuff for an hour or 2 before work or stay up late once the kids are in bed and my wife is crashed. We have a 6 week old so her and Mommy still sleep alot.

Merlot wrote:
I am looking forward to hearing some of the stuff you are getting together.

Likewise! Thanks for the input.

[Merlot]

Originally Posted by AlexHall74

Marz rocked! The laser light show right?

Yup, that is the one.

Originally Posted by AlexHall74

How much have you got left?

About a year and a half for a degree in criminal justice. I am having a somewhat struglgle though as far as finishing. i dont really want to do anything with it. I would like to be a studio engineer/producer. So i am debating whether or not just to go balls to the wall for that and leaving everything up to the man upstairs.
Who knows? Only time will tell!

[AlexHall74]

Merlot wrote:
About a year and a half for a degree in criminal justice. I am having a somewhat struglgle though as far as finishing. i dont really want to do anything with it. I would like to be a studio engineer/producer. So i am debating whether or not just to go balls to the wall for that and leaving everything up to the man upstairs.
Who knows? Only time will tell!

A year and a half isn't bad, especially if you will finish by the time you get out of the USAF.

I know how you feel about not wanting to do anything with your degree as I can't stand IT anymore and am trying to figure out a way to start a fitness consulting business as working out is my second passion in life after my wife. Any 4 year degree won't hurt you in the future. You can even use it as a base to get a Masters in whatever later if you wanted...

I have to stay with a job that is stable and predictable with two kids though so I'm just staying put for now until she gets back into the workforce and the big man upstairs tells me what to do.

Take it easy Bro!

[Merlot]

I guess my thinking behind the whole not finishing school is I can get an Air Traffic Controlling job when I get out and make good money to support my family and my music habit. I dont mind the job either. I dont know. thanks for the advice.

Take care

[3o3]

Those dogs sure are really cute Merlot.