Karen Shadbolt " Better Day " Music Review

The first thing that strikes you about this Album is the cover art Karen is just a very photogenic lady this is a good thing LOL , The album contains ten tracks all written and composed and performed by Karen. This in itself is a rare thing these days to find a totally original album for there is usually at least 1 cover track in most Albums these days.

The Alum is released under the Rushing Winds Records label and the production of the album is impeccable it’s very evident that time was taken to ensure the best production on every track vocals and harmonies and instrumentation are faultless throughout. A real credit to the engineering of Gary Rushing.

The Album opens with “ Jesus The One And Only “ a nice mid to uptempo praise song that’s immediately lets you hear the quality & timbre of Karen’s voice. This leads into a slow acoustic feel with the second track “ I won’t Let Go” which is a soothing acoustic ballad that Karen sings effortlessly. Track 3 “ God Of Endless Grace “ Shows the soft rock side of Karen with good use of vocal harmonies and a good driving bass this one gets your feet tapping. “ Broken Bridges “ track 4 takes you back to a more mellow mood with a meaningful piano based ballad. My second favorite track on the album is “The Road Less Travelled “ track 5 A good song lyrically and has a light almost Celtic feel to it especially with the flute intro. Track 6 “ Rock Of Ages “ sees Karen rocking it up a little Good vocals here and nice use of the Hammond type organ really fills this track out. Now my personal pick for best track on the Album track 7 “ Keep On Living “ it catches you right from the start with an interesting guitar based intro Vocals are excellent throughout and keeps you interested without being too busy, the chorus chord progression wise reminds me of Eric Clapton’s “ Knocking On Heaven’s Door “ maybe that’s why I like this one so much I’m a big fan of Clapton LOL. Track 8 is “ Close To Me “ an intimate ballad that works well. Then comes track 9 “ Who You Are “ which to me is the most commercial track on the entire CD and if released as a single to radio in my opinion would do very well. The Final track number 10 is “ Good And Faithful One “again a good track both lyrically and musically and provides a fitting end to what really is a most engaging CD. This being my first encounter with Karen Shadbolt and her music would definitely lead me to wanting to hear more from her.

All in all this is a well produced and excellently performed CD that would easily grace the collections of most good discerning Christian music fans .

Karen Shadbolt's CD’s are available from her website at

http://www.karenshadbolt.com/

Triplestrand Productions Group

Minnesota USA

" Who's Bad Now " Michael O'Neill

Hey fans of independent artists, Dixie here with the latest cd review from my studios.
This week's cd for consideration comes from Michael O'Neill and his latest album titled "Who's Bad Now" Michael is no stranger to music, having developed a cult following in the US for his roots/rock offerings and hisnotoreity as being a 'bad boy'. Michael's songs have always been known for their down-to-earth story telling reminicient of Johnny Cash and Willie
Nelson, but story telling on MICHAEL'S terms--terms that lean more toward the outlaw country of Willie than the traditional flavorings of Johnny. The latest album is no exception. It's jam-packed with songs sure to fill venues where ever Michael goes. Michael doesn't completely forget his roots though,with songs like "Cowboy Ride" that are as traditional as they come. From country rock, to tex mex with a gorgeous ballad thrown in the mix, this cd covers a variety of moods and is sure to become one of your favorites.
So country lovers out there--check out Michael's site at www.michael-oneill.comIf you're new to Michael's music, you can check out his tour schedule for a venue near you to hear this fabulous artist, as well as buy his cds and read up about Michael. All in all, a topnotch release from a topshelf artist sure to be a hit on radio and in the stores.




Now in a continuation of my review of products handy for the do-it-yourself
independent artist, I'd like go into something that all independent artists need to break down and do eventually, and that's get a website for themselves.The internet can be an incredibly powerful tool for the independent artist,not only in starting to get themselves known through internet radio, but in drawing people to wherever they have their cd for sale. Ah yes, money is always a struggle for the up and coming artist--I'm sure more than a few ears perk when I say there's a way of making MONEY out of what you love to do.




So you've made a cd, you're out there playing at venues (and hopefully
selling your merchandise at the gig) but what for those people that have heard you and WANT to buy your cd but haven't made it to a gig (or you don't tour near them. Take for example, country music is incredibly popular overseas, but it takes a bit to get to the point that you can actually load the band and GO there with a cargo load of cds and tshirts lol. Internet radio being what it is--worldwide--you can end up with listeners from all over trying to find a way to buy your cd, and what do they turn to first, the internet where they FOUND you. So your objective is to create a 'web presence' or in other words a place or several places you can be found on the internet.




There are tons of places that will sell your merchandise FOR you--
at a cut of the profits of course. So why not keep all the money yourself and sell your merchandise from a website of your own.

Now for the non-computer minded, this can be a pretty overwhelming task. You ask a fellow musician that you know has a website how to get started and they tell you to get a good host (what's that?) and find a reliable webdesigner.



After a few looks on the internet and the yellow pages, you find that this website proposition can not only be daunting, but EXPENSIVE (not a good thing for the typical "starving artist")




First off, for the novice, let's go into what each of the things your musician friend told you to get, a host and a webdesigner, actually IS.



The "Host" is a company that has computers on site that you can lease a "piece" of to hold all the information that will eventually become your website and it's connection to the internet. It's big business, both for the reliable and the not so reliable, so do your homework here and ask around because you can pay a large hosting fee (your lease) and end up with a host whose computers are down alot--and when THEY'RE down--so is your website. And when your website is down--those people that want to buy your cd basically can't open the door to the cd shop (not good of course). Hosting fees can vary, another good reason to do your homework.




The "Webdesigner" is a person that takes that piece of computer you leased from the host, and helps you turn it into the website of your dreams. You work with them to get everything up on the internet so that people can order your cd, learn more about you and your tour schedule so they can come to a venue to see you,even host clips of your music so they can get a taste of your music before they buy the cd (think here of the typical sample station in a grocery market that gives you a piece of the candy, then points you to where you can buy the whole bar lol). Reliable and talented webdesigners are just as important to find, so that you'll end up with a person that LISTENS to what you want your website to look like (we all like to decorate our homes to our own taste--the same is true of our 'web home'. Prices can vary from one web designer to another--the same as hosting fees. Make sure that the designer has a portfolio (links to other sites he/she has created) so you can take a look at their past work and see if it'd be something along the lines of what you'd want.Most webdesigners have their prices clearly posted on their own websites, but some have you call simply because different sites demand a different number of hours in work time to get ready, so they like to taylor their prices to what you want.



So now that we know what a host and webdesigner are--which ones to choose? I'm going to give a plug to the ones that I use--simply because I know they're reliable AND talented and you'll get what you need at a fraction of what others will charge you.



My choice for a host (based on having been on several hosts over the years)would be A Small Orange (strange name for a company I know lol). These guys do the best in both quality hosting and price. They have various size packages for hosting to fit your needs for low prices. Take the typical indie artist's website, your hosting with ASO (short for A Small Orange) would cost anywhere between $25-$60 per year. Not terribly expensive yet they have a good record for uptime (more time for your cds to sell) and quality support.They even have a forum on their site where other ASO users congregate to ask each other AND the staff questions about their specific needs. So check them out because coming in at $5 or less a month for your site is a good deal in the sea of hosting possibilities out there.



For web design, my choice would have to be the webdesigner that does all of my sites, Derek McCorkell Musicweb Designs. You can find Derek on the internet at Derek McCorkell Musicweb.
It can cost an artist a bundle if they run into the wrong groups. The typical music site can cost over $1000, and that doesn't count upkeep on it if you decide to change anything about the site (or even add some new songs to it).We're not talking anything like the flash sites that major artists have. (that would triple or more your cost). As an independent artist you just need a clean looking site that let's people know who you are, what you music sounds like, where you may be touring and how to buy your cd.



Derek started his business keeping the needs of the independent artist in mind and keeping his costs low in response. Although Derek tends to be modest about his capabilities--he's designed some fabulous sites for me over the past 5 years (and my business is far more demanding than the typical artist site would be). You know that webhosting stuff we just went over--I've never needed to look for a host with Derek--because he's always up to date on the most affordable hosts out there--as well as the not so reliable ones. So you can either get your own host then have Derek work with you to design your site, or he can help you get set up with a host that he uses. So check his portfolio out--lots of cool designs to choose from and modify or just tell him what you'd like and he'll create if for you--I've found him really easy to work with and very in tune with a musician's needs because he's an artist HIMSELF, so who better to work with? Plus who can beat talent that works at 1/4 of the price (averaging $400 for a 5 page site) of his competitors?





Hope these reviews have been a handy bit of information for you artists out there. I'll be back next week with some more tidbits of advice, but 'til then--keep writing those HITS.

Roger Knott " Been Down That Road "

Hey fans of independent artists, Dixie here with the latest cd review from
my studios.




This week's cd for consideration comes from a UK artist by the name of Roger
Knott. His cd is entitled "Been Down That Road" and is jam-packed with songs
that can only come from his experience as a singer/songwriter. Having been
down that road myself, I could relate to the subject matters he covered in his
songs. Style-wise, Roger sways back and forth over the boarders of genres,
writing in anything from contemporary Country to songs squarely in the folk
realm. Add some Americana to that and you're ready to sit back and be
thoroughly entertained while listening to this cd in a mannner that never
repeats or gets stale. The cd was recorded at TJ tunes in Mount Juliet, TN
and in listening to one song--the quality of recording speaks for itself.




You can find Roger at several places on the internet such as myspace and his
label which is Legroom Records. But you can definitely find him at his own
website which is www.rogerknott.com. A great cd for those people with
eclectic tastes, "Been Down That Road" is sure to become one of the favorite
cds in any discerning musiclover's collection. So check him out today
because you're in for a real treat.





Now in a continuation of my review of products handy for the do-it-yourself
independent artist, I'd like review the Yamaha MG102c mixing board. Most
bands need a mixing board if they're going to be playing out to control how
they sound. Smaller venues have a tendency not to provide them (most times
you're lucky if they have a PA lol) Keeping the independent artist and
cost restrictions in mind, this mixing board comes in at a very affordable
price of $99 to $129. Don't let the price fool you though, because this mixing board has all the bells and whistles of larger boards at a fraction of the price.




Whether you’re only mixing one microphone with a stereo source for the web,
or multiple microphones and line sources for a live show, you want the
highest performance, flexibility, and reliability available. Yamaha’s
MG-series mixers cover a wide range of applications from solo home recording t
o complex live sound with no compromises in sonic quality, processing
versatility, or dependability. The new additions to the MG series feature
the same compact, lightweight design as the preceding models, and incorporate
the latest generation of specially-selected components for further refined
performance and audio precision. They also now feature Yamaha’s innovative
one-knob compressor for built-in dynamics control that further eliminates
the need for external equipment and potentially troublesome connections.
If you need a convenient analog mixer that can handle 10 input sources and
deliver pro-level sound, you’re looking in the right place.




This exceptionally simple system may be all you need for practice and basic
recording at home as well as small venues. An electric-acoustic guitar and
microphone are plugged directly into the channel inputs, while a CD player
is connected to the 2TR line inputs for convenient play-along practice. The
channel compressors and internal effects provide plenty of signal processing
capability. The REC OUT jacks could be connected to a recorder or computer
for basic recording functionality.A pair of headphones is used for monitoring.




But wait, it's not just for the artists out there--it's fabulously handy for
the typical podcaster. Get a good microphone, plug it into the mixing board
and the mixing board into the computer--and you're set to record your podcast
into your favorite computer recording software. No preamps required because
they're built IN. I've used it to record my syndicated program and got a
quality that matches your typical am/fm station output. So podcaster or artist,
the Yamaha MG102c will become an invaluable tool for a variety of situations.
Since some online stores will sell it for far more, check out my favorite online
store at u-ni-que-music.com for the best prices on the net for this handy
little mixer. Until next week, take care and keep writing those HITS!!

Hey fans of Independent Artists, Dixie here with the latest CD review from
my studios. This week we’re going to concentrate on an artist all the way
from Australia, Col Millington. The name of this release is " Somewhere
Between". The title track is a song that inspired Col to write the whole
album. The songs are original Country Christian and according to Col, the
entire album of 14 tracks seemed to flow from him easier than any other
songs he'd ever written. Having written in the Country Christian genre
myself, I can understand Col's feelings--the songs appear in your head as
thought they just are meant to be heard. And heard they have been, appearing
on radio stations around the world as well local television programs. After
listening to Col's album myself, I can certainly agree with his pastor that
he must have had divine inspiration.

Musically, the album runs more toward the traditional country flavor but the
words are fresh even though Col deals with subjects that have been covered
in songs before. in my opinion, the sign of a good songwriter is when they
take something that's been said before and say it in a WAY that's never
been done before. Col definitely fits the bill there, filling an entire
album with songs that are sure to fan the flames of faith in even the most
jaded Christian listener. To take a listen to Col, buy his cd or to contact
him, check him out at his internet home at http://www.colmillington.com

Col's on tour right now across Australia and New Zealand, so if any of my
readers happen to live in that area, check out a show near you, I guarantee
you'll be entertained, but more importantly, you'll be blessed.




Now in a continuation of my review of products handy for the do-it-yourself
independent artist, I'd like review the Boss BR-1200CD digital home studio.

As artists, we all know how expensive it can be going to a professional
studio to record your songs. Sure you can get the professional musicians
to do your backup (at an extra cost) and a professional engineer to mix and
master your songs (and I use the term "professional" loosely here, because
I've heard some songs from artists who had recorded at studios that made
me want to slap their engineer for leaving blips and hums in the master. So
even after paying the big bucks for a studio, you're never assured of your
songs coming out the way you want. You can complain about it of course, but
will it get you anywhere but shown the door? So the typical do-it-yourself
artist wants to save the money and the aggrivation by recording themselves
in a home-built studio. Most artists looking into this for the first time
can be rather overwhelmed at their lack of knowledge of the recording side




of things. The first question most of them ask other artists is "What kind
of equipment do I need?" Obviously a good microphone will be necessary, and
my recommendation as a good starter microphone for most beginners would be
the Samson CO1 condenser studio microphone.

Great for recording vocals, acoustic instruments and for use as overhead drum mics,
the new Samson C01 large diaphragm condenser microphone is accurate, detailed,
smooth with warm bass and extended top end. This sturdy microphone has a large
19mm diaphragm that produces a smooth flat frequency response. It features a
heavy gauge mesh grill screen, a gold plated XLR connecter and an LED indicating
48V phantom power. The unit includes a swivel stand mount and an optional
SP01 shock mount is available.
Features:

Cardioid Pickup Pattern
Large 19mm Diaphragm
Gold Plated XLR Connector
LED Indicates 48V Phantom Power
Smooth, Flat Frequency Response
Swivel Stand Mount
Optional SP01 Shock Mount

Now that you have your microphone, what do you record INTO.




That's where the
Boss BR-1200CD digital studio becomes an invaluable tool for the independent
artist.

From guitar pick to compact disc, the BR-1200CD can turn your ideas into
radio-quality songs with power and ease.

For those artists far enough along that they would understand these
specifications, I'll go over them because it's got a ton of them. For those
still lost in the "What do I get?" fog, I'll explain the down to earth terms
for you further in the blog, but let's give the geek information first LOL.




Packed with great COSM®effects and amp models derived from BOSS's GT-6/6B multi-effects processors,
plus a great-sounding bass and drum rhythm programmer for instant backing
tracks, the BR-1200CD is the friendliest and most comprehensive hard
disk recorder on the market.

Boss BR-1200CD Features:

Built-in CD-burner and mastering effects for CD-quality mixes

12 simultaneous playback tracks (192 V-Tracks) with individual Comp/EQ

2 individual XLR inputs with phantom power, digital output

GT inside! Famous BOSS GT Guitar and Bass effects engine built in for
unsurpassed signal processing

Vocal Toolbox provides pitch correction and harmony generator for true pro
vocal processing

COSM Mic and Amp models offer incredible hardware simulation
Backing band built in - programmable drum/bass pattern generator with 600 patterns
and EZ compose feature for super fast drum and bass pattern creation
Easy importing of stereo drum loops with Automatic Tempo Matching feature
Internal hard drive can store up to 120 hours of uncompressed music
USB port for data backup to computer, plus importing/exporting WAV files

Boss BR-1200CD Details:

Hassle-Free Recording & CD Burning

Fly from point A to B in record time, thanks to the BR-1200CD's
logical arrangement of buttons, knobs, and faders, and its inviting
icon-based user interface. Recording, mixing, and CD burning is simple.
To record, simply connect an instrument or microphone
(XLR inputs with phantom power are provided), and follow the logical flow
of controls on the left side of the panel. Use the fader pack in the middle to mix,
and press the "Audio CD Write/Play" button to jump to the CD Burning menu.

Multi-Effects & COSM® Models

From full dunk to subtle sweetening, the BR-1200CD is equipped with a powerful
multi-effects processor derived from the famous BOSS GT-6/GT-6B. A lineup of
COSM amp models are in the lineup, including the world standard Roland
JC-120 Jazz Chorus™, R-FIier Vintage, Metal Stack, BOSS Compact Pedal models
such as OD-1 and MT-2, and more. Also onboard - COSM® Mic Models,
which emulate expensive condenser mics. Correct pitch and add hamornies
with the Vocal Tool Box, and for the finishing touch, tap into the Mastering Tool Kit
to put a pro-quality polish on your track.




Backing Band Built In

Another distinguishing feature of the BR-1200CD is its world-class bass and
drum programmer, packed with instruments and patterns to suit a variety of styles.
Realistic acoustic drums and percussion are included, as well as many electronic sounds
to compose modern hybrid type of music. For bass, you can choose from a variety of bass sounds,
such as slapped basses, picked basses, and fretless basses. Jam along with the supplied
patterns or create your own from scratch. The EZ Compose feature makes ultra-realistic
custom programming a snap. There's also a selection of great loop phrases pre-installed
on the internal hard drive.

Computer Connection

The BR-1200CD has a USB port for simple, one-cable data exchange with your computer. You
can export audio tracks to your computer in WAV format, and safely save backups of your song data.
If you have WAV files you would like to use, you can import them to the BR-1200CD's
tracks via USB as well. The BR-1200CD is compatible to both PC and Mac, including Mac OS X.

Boss BR-1200CD Specifications:

Tracks Track: 12
V-Track: 192 (16 V-Tracks per each Track)

Up to 2 tracks can be recorded simultaneously, and up to 12 tracks can be
played back simultaneously.

Maximum Useful Capacity/Recording Time Internal Hard Disk: 40 G bytes
Recording Time; 120 hours (conversion in one track)

Signal Processing AD Conversion: 24 bit AF Method (Guitar/Bass),
24 bit delta-sigma Modulation (VOCAL, LINE, SIMUL)

DA Conversion: 24 bit delta-sigma Modulation

Internal Processing: 24 bit (digital mixer section)

Recording Data: 16 bit linear
Sample Rate 44.1 kHz

Frequency Response 20 Hz to 20 kHz (+1/-3 dB)

Total Distortion 0.05% or less(INPUT SENS: CENTER, 1 kHz at nominal output
level)

Nominal Input Level (Variable) GUITAR/BASS jack: -20 dBu

MIC 1, 2 (TRS balanced/XLR) jacks: -40 dBu

LINE IN jacks: -10 dBu

Input Impedance GUITAR/BASS jack: 1 M ohms

MIC 1, 2 jacks: 12.5 k ohms (HOT-COLD)(TRS balanced/XLR), 6.5 k ohms
(HOT-GND, COLD-GND)

LINE IN jack: 22 k ohms

Nominal Output Level LINE OUT jacks: -10 dBu

Output Impedance LINE OUT jack: 2 k ohms

PHONES jack: 100 ohms

Recommended Load Impedance LINE OUT jack: 20 k ohms or greater

PHONES jack: 8 to 50 ohms

Residual Noise Level LINE OUT jack: -87 dBu or less

INPUT SELECT: GUITAR/BASS, input terminated with 1 k ohms,

INPUT SENS: CENTER, IHF-A, typ.)

Interface DIGITAL OUT: S/PDIF 16–24 bit (optical type)

USB connector (B type)

Display 64 x 40 mm (Backlit LCD)

Connectors MIDI IN connector

MIDI OUT connector

USB connector

DIGITAL OUT connector (optical type)

FOOT SW jack (1/4 inch phone type)

EXP PEDAL jack (Stereo 1/4 inch phone type)

LINE OUT jacks (RCA Phono type)

LINE IN jacks (RCA Phono type)

MIC 1, 2 jacks (TRS balanced & XLR)

PHONES jack (Stereo 1/4 inch phone type)

GUITAR/BASS jack (1/4 inch phone type)

Power Supply DC 12 V; Supply AC Adaptor (Roland PSB-7U)

Power Consumption 3.0 A

Accessories AC Adaptor: PSB-7U

DISCRETE DRUMS (CD-ROM)

Owner's Manual

Options Expression Pedal: EV-5 (Roland)

Foot Volume/Expression: FV-300L

Foot Switch: FS-5U

Pedal Switch: DP-2 (Roland)

Size and Weight ( excl. AC Adaptor )

Width 478 mm 18-7/8 inches


Depth 297 mm 11-3/4 inches

Height 95 mm 3-3/4 inches

Weight 4.1 kg 9 lbs. 1 oz.

0 dBu = 0.775 Vrms




Yike's that list of stuff looks scary!! This section is for the artist that's still
confused about where to plug the microphone in LOL. If you ignore the above
numbers and terms, what using the Boss BR1200-CD means is you have a studio
that has a smaller footprint than most computer printers on the market, yet
with all the power of most small studios that you can spend a bundle to record
your songs at. Plus it's portable, great for taking on the road to catch
those songs that hit you while your band is practicing while on tour. And the
thing I love most about it is how simple it is to USE and get a wonderful
sounding track out of. Reading the manual and spending a few minutes hands
on with this studio and you'll wonder why you ever spent the bucks to have
your songs recorded in a studio lol. Seriously though, for people that are
multi-instrumental and could lay all their own tracks, this could save a
huge amount of money over time. Coming in at less than $1000, the Boss can
pay for itself if you record just 3 or 4 songs on it instead of paying studio
fees for those same songs. After that, you're recording for free, can take
your time to redo those odds and ends that bug you about the first take, and
to mix and master the song to sound like you WANT it to--not the way some
engineer that you're paying way too much decides it should sound lol.




We have one here at our studios that gets used for a ton of different
functions, from recording those songs that come to you in a hotel room, to
quickly getting down the idea for a song before it escapes you, to full-
blown sessions that end up being mastered into songs that will (and have)
gotten airplay on the radio. So check the boss out at (you guessed it) my
favorite place for the best deals around on musical equipment (and check out
the microphone as well) at http://www.u-ni-que-music.com Get yourself set
up today and make the fabulous music you hear inside tomorrow!!