Ryan Axtell » Music

Clicks in Loops

admin — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 18:24:55 +0000

So I am in a predicament and need your input!

I am currently exporting some of my soft synth/ambient/rhythm tracks from the “This Valley” protools files so I can play them live. I normally use Ableton Live to trigger my loops/tracks live, but the lately I’ve been having trouble making my loops warp to Ableton’s built in click (which I hacked and replaced with a Boss DB-90 rimshot sample). Sometimes it works, but almost any song in 6/8 won’t properly warp.

To solve this, I decided to just dump out my tracks w/ the click embedded in the stereo audio from protools so I could just trigger them in ableton without actually warping…the problem is I don’t like the protools click sounds. This of course gives me a mono track/loop b/c the left side of my stereo channel is designated for click. Also, if I role this way, there is a good chance that each of my tracks may have slightly different click volumes based on individual session settings…and we don’t want to lose that click in the mix now do we!

I recently made a sample of the DB-90 rimshot with is my favorite (and some of the drummers I use) sample to play with. What is the easiest way to create a custom click track in Protools 8 using this sample? (I say pro tools b/c that is where all my data is). Import into a tick-based track and quantize to grid?

I admit I’m not the best Ableton warper but I know my way around pretty well…but I don’t have the patience to place warp markers on every beat in my tracks. Ideally I would import stereo loops/tracks into ableton, warp them to the built in click (per individual scenes) and role out!

Thoughts?

CD Release April 15th

admin — Sat, 03 Apr 2010 00:53:29 +0000

Join me at Cornerstone Church in Chandler, Az for the release of This Valley! Come hear the songs and the stories behind them, and be the first to pick up a copy! April 15th, 7-9pm, FREE! Everyone welcome! Make sure to check out special guest Raining and OK … They ROCK!

Church Campus
1595 S Alma School Rd
Chandler, AZ 85286

480.726.8000

New Life on April 15th!

admin — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 07:55:53 +0000

Save the date! April 15th will be the official release date of This Valley and the new website…which is much needed! I can’t wait to share these songs with you guys!

I will be holding a CD Release Show Thursday, April 15th, 7:30pm at Cornerstone Church in Chandler, Az…and you are all invited!

Album in the Works

admin — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 06:08:20 +0000

Well folks, I am currently in the process of recording/producing my first full length worship album. God has taught me a lot during our pregnancy and loss, and I have condensed most of my journey during those 6 months into 11 songs. The album, “This Valley” really addresses the fact that our faith cannot be contingent upon an outcome. God is with you in the fire, whether you live or die in the flames. We lost our baby and it broke our hearts, but in that brokeness I felt the presence of God like I never have before. The title songs revolves around the idea that God is with us in the fight, in the moments when we just can’t go on. Even in the moments when it feels like we are caught in a desert or the valley, God calls us to obey, surrender, repent, and worship. Its not easy and its not always happy, but its our calling.

All 11 songs started as lyrics from a prayer journal as I began to converse with God and struggle through the reality of losing our firstborn. As a worship leader, I had to examine myself and see if I truly believed everything I said and sang on stage. Half of the album is geared towards the corporate worship setting, and the other half reflects some honest and hard personal conversations I had with God. This is the first full collection of music I have worked on that started lyrically…This may happen once or twice but normally I have a catchy tune or riff to build upon. It has been a fun challenge to craft melodies and song structures around pre-existing meters.

God has revealed himself to me during a pivotal time in my life, and I don’t want it to stop with me, so I’m putting it out in song. I hope you guys will enjoy! I will have some snippets up soon, but right now, I have to get back to tracking electric guitar!

Free Download- Love Alive

admin — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 23:20:51 +0000

[audio:Love-Alive.mp3]
Love Alive Right click and select ‘save as’ to download.

“Love Alive” is a worship song I just finished in the last few weeks. It was a journey for me to write this song. In the midst of our pregnancy complications, I really felt God challenging me to look at the big picture and to soak in His grace, instead of just focusing on the day to day hardships. Through weeks of prayer I was reminded of the immensity of what Christ did for us and what that really meant to me. It affects absolutely everything I do. The more we let that amazing truth grow in our hearts, the more we have to share it…We just can’t contain something of such great porportions. I hope you enjoy this live version.

Additional Musicians:

Ashur Benjamin- Bass, Casey Block- Drums, Phil Tipping- Keys, Brett Reinhart- Guitar

Ear Training

admin — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 21:06:43 +0000

While all of us mortals work on relative pitch, here’s some training for you perfect pitchers out there!

Favorite Albums

admin — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 19:38:21 +0000

So, as many of you may or may not know…Steely Dan is my favorite band. Always has been. Always will. Why, you might ask? Well, for the following reasons:

-The dirtiest musicians ever.

- A unique fusion of Jazz, Rock, and Beatnik. (Hello, their name is from the Naked Lunch).

-Every session player worth mentioning has recorded with them.

- Donald Fagen plays a keytar…and always seems to have his Rhodes running through an MXR Phase 90.

-Michael McDonald sang BGV’s for a while (Check out Peg).

- Original Member Jeff Baxter went on to help start the Doobie Brothers (along with McDonald).

-A plethora of made up words and abstract lyrics.

I would have to say that in my opinion Steely Dan’s Aja album is my favorite album of all time. From the jivin’ bounce of “I Got the News” to the Purdie Shuffle in “Home at Last” there is something for everybody in this album. It has stood the test of time and will continue to do so. It even crosses genres ( Black Cow was sampled and used by Lord Tariq and Peter Gunz in Deja Vu). So, what I want to know is…what is your favorite album and why? Better yet, why is your choice better that mine? Use quantitative examples, limit 1200 words , due by Friday…