Capturing Your Song Ideas Pt. 3 or Songwriting while traveling

In addition to the other suggestions that I mentioned about capturing your song ideas while you're out and about, I found another device that some producers and musicians use to get their ideas down while away from their stationary recording devices. Because I have not personally bought this particular product, I cannot tell you if this device is the best one to use or not. I'd suggest googling this product and reading reviews of it to see which one is best for you.



Meet the ultimate palmtop guitar companion and recording studio. Only slightly larger than an iPod, the tiny-yet-powerful Micro BR is a dream for musicians on the go. The Micro BR offers four simultaneous playback tracks (plus 32 V-Tracks), MP3 compatibility, onboard multi-effects, built-in rhythm patterns, a tuner, USB, an SD Card slot, and more. No guitar case or gig bag should be without one!

Features:
Ultra portable, only slightly larger than an iPod

4-track playback, 32 V-Tracks

Loads and plays MP3 files

Multi-effects onboard; dedicated guitar input

Time-Stretch and Center Cancel features (including MP3 files)

293 rhythm patterns

Built-in tuner and microphone

USB port for data transfer

SD Card slot for recording media, 128MB card included

BR in Your Pocket or Guitar Case
The Micro BR is so small you can put it in your pocket! It measures just 136.0 mm x 81.0 mm x 21.4 mm (5-3/8" x 3-3/16" x 7/8"). But even though it's tiny, the Micro BR packs an entire studio's worth of features into its tiny case. There are a dozen buttons on its front panel, nine knobs, and even a built-in microphone for quick capture.

4 Tracks & More
At its core, the Micro BR is a four-track studio with four simultaneous playback tracks and two simultaneous record / input tracks.However, there's more to this recorder than meets the eye. Each of the four main playback tracks also has eight companion V-Tracks (for a total of 32), so you can record take after take after take, then pick your best material for final mixdown.

Drum Machine & Effects Onboard
Given the Micro BR's small size and low price, you might be surprised to find the next two features onboard: (1) Almost 300 drum patterns are included. Use them for play-along inspiration or even as song foundations. The rhythms don't consume any of the four playback tracks -- they play back independently. (2) A quality multi-effects processor is onboard, including a time-stretch algorithm for changing the tempo of your audio tracks without changing pitch -- a great tool for both audio editing and phrase training. The Time Stretch feature can also be used with MP3 data; the Micro BR's Center Cancel feature can be applied to MP3 data as well.

MP3 Compatibility
The Micro BR is capable of loading and playing MP3 files. Load up your favorite guitar hero song via USB, slow down the tempo with no pitch change, and learn all of your favorite licks. You can even use the Micro BR as a standard MP3 player. All of your data is stored on convenient SD (Secure Digital) media found in common electronics shops. The included 128MB card, for example, can record approximately 65 minutes of audio when one mono track is selected.
Technical Info
Power Supply (Optional): PSA-120S

Creative Ideas for Songs - Part 6

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If none of my other suggestions on creative ideas for songs helped you, then perhaps you need more inspiration. While reading this book, The Songwriter's Idea Book, I came across some key points she says writers have used to generate new song ideas:


1. To activate your right brain: Become more physically active:

• a. just doodle on the piano/guitar/drum machine or any instrument
• b. doodle on a pad
• c. verbally brainstorm

2. To activate your left brain: Start from a part and work outwards:

• a. in other words, start from a song concept and play around with that concept
• b. start with a title and build the song from there
• c. go from the end of the story line to the beginning or vice versa
• d. choose a motif or chord progression and follow it
  

3. Brainstorm:

• a. once you get a title, brainstorm for more titles
• b. once you get a song concept, brainstorm for more
• c. just write down any words that come to you and put the pieces together later. In other words write first, edit later!

4. Let it marinate!

• a. Once you get an idea, a concept, title, etc., move around, think about it, scribble, or just meditate
• b. Letting it marinate will help you come up with different ways to approach the same subject, title, concept, or idea.
• c. Imagine the words you want to use.
• d. Feel the emotion you want the singer to feel.
• e. Sleep on the idea.

Great ideas!!!!!!! Man, how many songs can you come up with if you don't allow your creativity to stop when you get ONE concept! Try using some of these methods and let me know how it works for you.

Thedy B, Attorney/Songwriter

Hits A Million, LLC

hitsamillion.blogspot.com

Can't Erase - My Political Song

In my most recent post on creative song ideas, I attempted to inspire songwriters to dig deeper when writing their lyrics and to write about the things that are going on in society. I too wrote my version of a social/political song some time ago. The song is called Can't Erase. I want to do a video of Can't Erase and post it on YouTube. As soon as I get a better singer to sing it, I will. Prayerfully, a recording artist will choose the song, record it, and perform it. In the meantime, if you'd like to hear the song, go to my myspace page, www.myspace.com/hitsamillionllc

Thedy B

Creative Ideas for Songs- Part 5

While my blogs are usually dedicated to educating and helping other songwriters, I also from time to time post blogs that are meant to encourage songwriters. Well, I'd like to take today to inspire you as a songwriter to write songs with meaning. What made me think about this? I was listening to Marvin Gaye's Make Me Wanna Holler while shopping this weekend and thought where is that type music? Why isn't there more songs out now, especially in R & B, that are talking about the ills of society? Is Hip Hop music and pop music the only genres that dare to say what's going on in society? Why is there a lack of political R & B songs? Why aren't we as the music creators writing and singing about things that's going on in the world? There are only a handful of songs that come to mind that do so: John Mayer's Waiting on the World to Change is one example.

What was true back when Marvin Gaye sung Make Me Wanna Holler is still true today but soul singers don't seem to be singing about that. Instead it seems we'd rather sing songs like T Pain's I'm in love with a stripper, or Plies' Bust it Baby and other songs of such.

I'm all for balance because music is supposed to on some level entertain but dog, seems like we got our eyes wide shut and we see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil. Those singers that went before this generation saw the things going on in society and spoke out, sometimes at their own risk, but speak out they did. Look at the Dixie Chicks when they choose to sing about their political stance against the war: their music and their group was boycotted. Recently though, they won a Grammy.

So I want to encourage us a songwriters to dig deeper, write more meaningfully, and inspire a generation like the singers of old. And don't worry about who's going to buy the music, don't worry about if people don't "get" the music, or even hate what you are saying. Why? Because if your song is making a difference, a positive difference, it will later be recognized for just that!

Thedy B
Hits A Million, LLC
hitsamillion.blogspot.com