Watchbot (blue edition)

For the open-source freaks among us, you must know zoneminder and motion, both open-source packages, supporting a ton of cameras, ready to record and fill up your diskspace with cctv footage. For windows, there are solutions like ispy and some other gems. No doubt, there is good (motion detect) software available for the mac.

You’ll need a lot of diskspace and fitting cameras. Do mind, two usb cameras might already be using all of your cpu bandwidth when recording at 30fps; so most recordings are set to be 3-5fps in idle mode, 10fps in alert movement and 15-20fps in recording mode. 15 fps should normally do.

With (good) software, you also need good hardware. When using cheap budget cameras, the image quality isn’t often that great. It’s usable as entry cam; but for real cctv and security footage; you’ll need a cam which offers the needed bandwidth, export possibilities, fast and preferably which can Pan and Tilt.

A good camera, which can be accessed in a lot of ways, is the “Watchbot“, which is a camera for sale between 45€ and 160€. The best deals can be found on-line, through coupon deals. The best advice is to wait when such deal appears, to buy one or a few of these cameras.

It’s almost an exact clone with the Apexis APM-J802-WS and it’s board is also similar with the Foscam FI8918W. The watchbot has PTZ, night-vision, very quiet motors, available in several colors and shades, supports an external sensor and alarm and has wireless; but which does currently not support WPA/WPA2.

The Watchbot has a lot of  ways to access the images and move it with PT (Pan & Tilt). Here are a few tips to start with:

• ipcam CGI SDK v2.1 PDF
• These cams can be used to control a device, like a garage door
• To view a larger area, you can replace your camera lens
• OpenIPCam Foscam firmware info

Advanced Tools, for the (hardcore) hacker (might invalidate your warranty!)

• Foscam (clone) Utilities
• IPCam hacking information
• Beyonwiz BWFWTools
• When things go wrong, bring it back to life

Access your cam in various ways:

• [direct login] http://username:password@cam.ip/
• [script login] http://cam.ip/apicall?user=username&pwd=password

View your camera through various of protocols:

• [videostream] /videostream.cgi?resolution=X&rate=Y
• [ASF videostream] /videostream.asf?resolution=X&rate=Y
• [snapshot] /snapshot.cgi
• [VNC] http://user:pass@cam.ip:port/videostream.asf
• [PTZ] /decoder_control.cgi?command=PTZ

Use the PTZ (Pan, Tilt but no Zoom):

• [MOVE PER STEP] /decoder_control.cgi?command=X&onestep=1
  • X = 0: up, 2: down, 4: left, 6: right
• [MOVE] /decoder_control.cgi?command=X
  • To Start: X = 0: up, 2: down, 4: left, 6: right
  • To Stop: X = 1: up, 3: down, 5: left, 7: right
  • To Center: X = 25
• [PATROL] /decoder_control.cgi?command=Y
  • Vertical Patrol: Y = 26 : to start, 27 : to stop
  • Horizontal Patrol: Y = 28 : to start, 29: to stop
• [GET & SET Preset] /decoder_control.cgi?command=Z
  • To STORE: Z = 30: preset 0, 32: preset 1, 34: preset 2, 36: preset 3, 38: preset 4
  • To GET: Z = 31: preset 0, 33: preset 1, 35: preset 2, 37: preset 3, 39: preset 4
• [IO OUTPUT] /decoder_control.cgi?command=P
  • P = 94 to put IO output HIGH, 95 to put IO output LOW

For those not afraid of hacking, this camera is sure worth it’s value when you know where to look for where to buy and how to (ab)use.

To use this cam in iSpy, edit the XML and:

• for Operator Mode: Add the XML block with id=”X” and change the X to the next available ID
• for Read-Only PTZ: Add the XML block with id=”Y” and change the Y to the next available ID

<Camera Make="IPCam" Version="Watchbot" id="X">
 <CommandURL>/decoder_control.cgi</CommandURL>
 <Commands>
 <Center>command=25</Center>
 <Left>command=6</Left>
 <LeftUp>command=91</LeftUp>
 <Right>command=4</Right>
 <RightUp>command=90</RightUp>
 <Up>command=0</Up>
 <Down>command=2</Down>
 <LeftDown>command=93</LeftDown>
 <RightDown>command=92</RightDown>
 <Stop>command=1</Stop>
 <ZoomIn>
 </ZoomIn>
 <ZoomOut>
 </ZoomOut>
 <ExtendedCommands>
 <Command Name="Stop">command=1</Command>
 <Command Name="H Patrol">command=28</Command>
 <Command Name="V Patrol">command=26</Command>
 <Command Name="IO Output High">command=94</Command>
 <Command Name="IO Output Low">command=95</Command>
 <Command Name="Set Preset 0">command=30</Command>
 <Command Name="Go Preset 0">command=31</Command>
 <Command Name="Set Preset 1">command=32</Command>
 <Command Name="Go Preset 1">command=33</Command>
 <Command Name="Set Preset 2">command=34</Command>
 <Command Name="Go Preset 2">command=35</Command>
 <Command Name="Set Preset 3">command=36</Command>
 <Command Name="Go Preset 3">command=37</Command>
 <Command Name="Set Preset 4">command=38</Command>
 <Command Name="Go Preset 4">command=39</Command>
 <Command Name="Set Preset 16">command=62</Command>
 <Command Name="Go Preset 16">command=63</Command>
 </ExtendedCommands>
 </Commands>
 </Camera>

 <Camera Make="IPCam" Version="Watchbot readonly" id="Y">
 <CommandURL>/decoder_control.cgi</CommandURL>
 <Commands>
 <Center>command=25</Center>
 <Left>command=6</Left>
 <LeftUp>command=91</LeftUp>
 <Right>command=4</Right>
 <RightUp>command=90</RightUp>
 <Up>command=0</Up>
 <Down>command=2</Down>
 <LeftDown>command=93</LeftDown>
 <RightDown>command=92</RightDown>
 <Stop>command=1</Stop>
 <ZoomIn>
 </ZoomIn>
 <ZoomOut>
 </ZoomOut>
 <ExtendedCommands>
 <Command Name="Stop">command=1</Command>
 <Command Name="H Patrol">command=28</Command>
 <Command Name="V Patrol">command=26</Command>
 <Command Name="Go Preset 0">command=31</Command>
 <Command Name="Go Preset 1">command=33</Command>
 <Command Name="Go Preset 2">command=35</Command>
 <Command Name="Go Preset 3">command=37</Command>
 <Command Name="Go Preset 4">command=39</Command>
 <Command Name="Set Preset 16">command=62</Command>
 <Command Name="Go Preset 16">command=63</Command>
 </ExtendedCommands>
 </Commands>
 </Camera>

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1. Tips and Tricks for Cheap Studio Solutions Tips & Tricks for cheap studio solutions; functionality & creativity does not have to...

Want a so-much-needed hard drive upgrade? BEST advice for 2012: DO IT NOW!

Want a so-much-needed hard drive upgrade? BEST advice, for the year 2012: DO IT NOW!

The recent flood in Asia, has halted the production line of hard disks, for many hard drive manufacturers. This, combined, with the dollar going up; disks will be getting more expensive and will most probably increase with an average of 50%; as long [product availability < demand] towards a distributor. Distributors make their profit by buying larger bulk, while selling smaller bulk with higher marges, towards the retail sector. When a order cannot succeed, because of a products inavailability; the distributor will charge higher margins; creating a (temporary) domino effect in cost, straight towards the end-user. The distributor can only sell cheap, when the import price is cheap; which depends on the amount of available quantities.

The price will only regulate, when [product's demand < product's availability]. Less quantities are charged with a higher profit margin, to keep the flow of import/export running.

• All hard drives, will increase in price on global level, by an average of about 50%; which can be seen in the table below.
• This margin, caused by understock/no availability Increases the total price for external, assembled systems and laptops. [1]

• According the media (tv), the increase in price will be only around 15-20%; which is to me, a very unrealistic guesstimate;
• Lower margins are only granted, by a distributor, when the stock and availability of a product is high; to be sold in larger quantities.
  

If you want to upgrade your raid station; PC; external hard drive or network drive; this is the best time for the best value. It won’t get cheaper, for a long period!
If you live in Belgium, you have to consider fast, how and where to get your purchase, because of the recent introduced “Auvibel” tax; which has more details here [2] and here [3].

Q: For how long will this period last?

This trend usally keeps on for a longer period; till losses are regained, backorders are complete, contracts maintained and the availability of stock is fixed. This is not the fist time, when computer components raised in price; mostly, this happens with the dollar. This has happened several times, in the past with memory, disk drives, cpu’s and hard disks. Even the biggest companies like Intel, IBM and Dell has to deal with the aftermath of these disasters, essentially getting a huge shortage, big lists of backorders, halting projects, ever-waiting customers, contract breaches and stock shortages.

As long, the dollar keeps rising and stocks are maintained thru backorders; this price won’t change. Distributors buy large quantities of disks at current dayprice. If these quantities are not sold; the stock will be sold, at minimally, the price which was paid for that particular batch of disks at that day; before cheaper batches will be bought, dropping the price eventually towards the end-user. This process can take a while; depending how long backorders take, and, how long these disk-manufacturers need, to get back in full production status. The shortage of disks for several manufacturers, automatically raises the price and the length of period needed, before neutralizing again to normal market standards; although; a shortage of rare-earth materials might fix this current price for an entire while longer!

Q: How much does this shortage, affect the price?

The differences is quite noticeable, especially when ordering multiple disks (for server, nas drives, raid stations, …).
Prices at several of my distributors, changed over a few months, but, are based on distributors prices, round up.

These calculations show that hard drives, will increase in price, with an average of 50%; end-user price.

Additional details with these calculations:

When comparing the change in price; most of the hard drives have raised, between 50% to 65%, calculated at distributor level. The older stock of retail stores is set between 26% to 42%. Red numbers indicate a less-realistic margin; mostly based on older stock.

• the period “before shortage” is a snapshot of (the past) september, 2011; with 21% tax;
• the period “after shortage” is a snapshot of (the present); january, 2012 ; with 21% tax;
• all prices are indications for end-users; calculated with a profit margin of 15%; which is a common margin for computer hardware in a store;

• [ok] = Enough stock available; the retail price is based on the usual profit margin, used in retail (end-user) stores.
• (ret) = the retail price, calculated with regular profit margins for products available in stock. This value is the most realistic.

• [na] = shortage; with backorders. The import price is unknown, when not available thru the distributor. The import price depends on the daily price of the manufacturer.
• (est)  = an estimate price; the average, calculated over 10 different retail stores from Belgium. Some estimates will most likely double in margin, after new stock is ordered.

I choose a disk, with high reliability, offering the best data integrity; quality above cost which mostly means more warranty and less failures. My primary choice is WD, for over 15years. WD has the lowest failure/return rate, of all the brands i’ve used.

This steep increase in price, will affect end-user products, sold in shops through Belgium, to retain a minimal profit margin. External disks, but also PC’s, laptops and network drives will be affected by these margins. Many PC stores are currently selling assembled systems, with more expensive components, to disperse/mask the total cost of ownership; keeping the profit margins as high as possible.

When there is understock, the demand will be higher than the possible availability of stock [product demand > product availability]; increasing the margins towards a distributor which will increase the price towards the retail sector. Distributors only survive, by buying in very large quantities at very low profit margins between factory and distributor; so they can be sold towards the retail sector in smaller quantities with a higher margin.

The margin between distributor and retailer is very dependent on the availability of a product vs demand. A retailer might pull down it’s prices for a temporary moment, with less profit as result. When the availability gets higher than the demand [product availability > product demand]; the distributor gets the opportunity to buy in larger quantities, creating a window towards the retail sector, demanding much lower quantities. [4]

In short:

• demand > availability : product cannot be bought in large quantities by the distributor, resulting in a higher bulk price.
• availability > demand : product is available to be bought in large quantities by the distributor, resulting in a lower bulk price.

Q: Are there better alternatives for hard-drives, but Belgium?

Hard drives; unlike CD, DVD, Blueray and other (re)writable disks on the Belgian market; are available globally, with exactly the same quality and type of disk.

Some brands do sell refurbished, A-B-C products; although; this is impossible to prevent, by ordering outside Belgium..

To get quality, best choice will go to the “Enterprise” editions; offering longer warranty periods; better components and longer lifetime. Most of these drives got lower speeds to lower the heat dissapated from the disk; extending it’s life time considerably. For video-editing it’s adviced to have faster spinning drives (7,200/10,000RPM) because of the continues stream of large data. For audio, NAS, network drives, games, normal PC usage and some servers; a disk of 5,400 RPM is sufficient and mostly a better option with a longer lifetime.

There is however, one difference, with the products available outside Belgium; and that’s the price per terabyte; which will only increase every 1/2 to 2 years! [3 - link soon!]

Q: What about warranty terms and the differences in quality?

Western Digital & Seagate is changing the warranty period for their “Consumer” series from 3 years, back to 2 years. Only the “enterprise” models will be left with an extended warranty period. [4]

These companies claim it has nothing to do with the floods; although; the math is simple; when you know the price of a full production stop is enormous and an instant loss; till the production can start again. The scarcity of hard drives is not over, at the time of this article, many types are still unavailable for a longer period; because of backorders of hundreds of distributors, retailers and users; worldwide. This loss cannot be recovered because time cannot be turned back and production plants have to be in working order before supply can meet the demand. I do personally understand, these companies can’t supply more than they got in spare stock.

No production means no adding at this spare stock; warranty cannot be garanteed with the same quality; because not all products are available or in heavy understock. Consumer products will decrease in warranty length while professional/critical users can be garanteed a repair, for as long these products are available in their warranty/rma stock to switch. Often these stocks do contain refurbished disks; to keep the supply of products fresh when new and the after-sales of products refurbished, when under warranty. Refurbished disks are mostly disks with a replaced or fixed component; with the reliability of a retail hard-drive. I’ve had only one refurbished going dead; while I had more retail disks giving the pipe to Maarten…

Q: Are there any signs of details which might affect the working period and quality of a disk?

Based on more than 20 years of experiences with hardware, networks, storage and servers; clicks of death and fatal crashes; is to avoid ANY hard drive, which has been produced, between July and September.

I’ve had nothing but troubles with batches of any brand, year or size made in the holiday seasons. I’ve recently also got a confirmation from a distributor, which told me personally the reason of those bad batches in the holidays.

Q: How stable is the current hard-disk production at the source?

In july, 2011, Seagate has published their statements; but also a very interesting fact; where the material used in their hard-drives is getting more expensive, also, because the demand of Dysprosium (Dy) was higher than which could be supplied from China. A hard drive contains 2% of these magnetic earths and the margin has shifted by 20%. [6]

China’s exports are being restricted and we’ll very soon be looking upon a shortage of rare earths; probably this year and next. This means; the overall cost for production will be higher; margins will be smaller and disks will get more expensive. Seagate depends on their supplier, Molycorp to produce their hard-drives. [5] Dysprosium is used in two sub-assemblies, containing rare-earth permanent magnets (REPMs); which are deemed critical for the functioning of their harddrive. Without those materials, the spindle motor and voice-coil actuator cannot be build.

These rare-earth materials will rise in price, as soon there are shortages. With this current flood, we’re dropped into an economic climate, where companies need to do everything to get their production plant running again; because every minute of silence is a minute of heavy financial loss. I am afraid, the stability or price of the hard-drives will not drop for atleast a year or two; till these shortages have been dealt with; or no production will be possible. [7]

The price of computer hardware is a tight chain which starts at raw materials and ends at the end-user. The chain of computer hardware/margins starts at the factory delivering raw materials and ends at the user. There are atleast six chains, and each link requires a minimal profit. Sum all these margins together and you’ll end up at the final “marginized” end-user price.

When the first chain in production; would demand, for example a +5% margin because of naked shortages; disks would automatically raise in price by about 10%; because every next link, in this chain, has to pay the margins demanded, by the supplier in the previous link. The production plant can lower its margin, as soon, as supply is higher than demand. The manufacturer pays production costs; also with margins. When newer technologies, alternative materials or other rare-earth sites are discovered; the margin will be lowered again for this entire chain.

Supply and demand is the only reason why electronic products are cheaper than in the past; because the production of these devices has been automized, symplified and optimized towards mass production. Years ago, electronic devices were soldered by hand; which caused these products to be very expensive; because the profit margin was too low with this handwork. As long the extraction of raw materials, keeps running at a steady pace with a fixed profit margin and the production plants keep producing at maximal quantity; these products will be cheap. As soon as the chain of production fails or is broken; the chain of distribution will pay the final bill; ending with you, the end-user.

chain of production: raw materials > production plant > Manufacturer

chain of distribution: Manufacturer (export) > Distributor (import) > Retail > End User

Q: Where can I find more information about these topics?

• [1] Laptops en PC’s worden duurder (VTM Nieuws)
  [link] http://vtm.be/nieuws/binnenland/80402-laptops-worden-duurder
• [2] Protest! Auvibel taxes killing indie artists! (more links available on this page)
  [link] http://blog.gowildchild.com/2010/01/protest-auvibel-tax-2010/
• [3] How Belgium, murders own culture & the future legacy of pure Belgian Art! – article in construction!
  [link] Coming Soon!
• [4] WD & Seagate cuts hard drive warranty lengths (@Storage Review)
  [link] http://www.storagereview.com/western_digital_and_seagate_cut_hard_drive_warranty_lengths
• [5] Dysprosium oxide offer skyrockets in the west
  [link] http://www.asianmetal.com/news/viewNews.am?newsId=750861
• [6] Seagate, rare earths and the wrong end of the stick
  [link] http://www.techmetalsresearch.com/2011/07/seagate-rare-earths-and-the-wrong-end-of-the-stick/
• [7] Seagate blames a bubble in rare-earth prices for causing a margin squeeze.
  [link] http://seekingalpha.com/article/281103-seagate-blames-a-bubble-in-rare-earth-prices-for-causing-a-margin-squeeze

I hope, you had an interesting read about the internal kitchen of production towards distribution, and, understand the current raise in prices; since everyone gives and needs a part, because everyone has a bit of work to get the final product delivered to the end-user or customer. Profits are very shallow for distributors and will in turn get shallow for the retailer. The retailer doesn’t decide the “minimum” price of a product but the entire production & distribution chain does fix a minimum; where the retailer can add his margin; acceptable for his/her clients.

Don’t expect your disks to be a lot cheaper, in the shop around the corner, because, the initial problem lies (almost) at the source …

With the best wishes,

Freaking Wildchild.

No related posts.

I’m glad, I’ve made the step to stay with hardware;  the learning cycle, by experimenting with sounds and possibilities is endless…

[1] Hardware -vs- Software (emulation)

That aside, many software offer “emulations” of (older) studio hardware, while the actual process between components is missing in action and in no sense to be compared to “the real thing”. The emulation “sounds like it”, but its digital counterpart is in essense a lot different compared to the analog original; often expensive to buy because the components are custom-made, produced (by hand) to hear the difference.

What studio hardware can do, no software can do with exactly the same result; because digital mixing and mastering has a few hard-core limits which analog does not have; like for example peaking/clipping; a digital signal can never be above 0dBFS; while an analog signal will bleed out in its own body. Most of the devices in use are analog, but of them got digital connections, to keep quality loss at a minimal, while allowing digital content to conserve its original recording without quality loss.

[2] New, less common hardware with only limited PC support

Another problem with few hardware devices, is the lack of ongoing support to products which has been end-of-life for years.

When you plan to buy any device, old and new, always check the brands webpage for their support towards discontinued products or search Google for any known compatibility issues with their past products. Some equipment requires an older Windows 3.1, 95 or Apple computer to access. Newer products are often discontinued even before a new operating system is put available on the market; creating compatibility issues with (any) newer operating system.

Famous products got forums, information and software available, created by their users, to keep the experience alive.

[ 3] Old Hardware is worth golden!

Akai Samplers & Orange Table

Most of my hardware has been maintained by me. Older machines are mostly more reliable and longer usable, mainly because the components and production process of these workhorses, was meant to last for long.  Also; the components are easier to replace and soldered with *real* solder, instead of the current enforced junk giving connection issues at solder joints with our modern electronic equipment, mostly because the components get warm after extensive use. Present, all common electronic equipment is considered “throw-away”.

If you are interested in the creative art of music; you should check out a few (older) analog workhorses, before selecting its digital clone; machines like the Akai S3000XL (Sampler), Fostex D-160 (Multitrack recorder), Neve 33609 (Compressor), Roland A-880 (MIDI Patchbay), Alesis FD1 (Datadisk) and many more, are available on the second-hand market and often even cheaper than any product available on the market.

[4] Handy? Cheap!

When you are handy with electronics, or, know anyone able to fix electronic equipment; you can make the best deals. Like my Akai S3000XL, which had a broken backlight, power supply and IO card. The broken components were fixed, swapped and retrofitted towards a better energy compliant machine (with a brand new fitting supply) to be one of the better machines in the studio. Another cheap treasure, my Fostex D160 had a disfunctional controller when sold to me for 12000 Bef (300 Euro). It has been fixed entirely by buying another (second-hand) same model for 60 Euro, which had a broken case and no control panel. For the price of 360 Euro, I’ve got a professional studio 16 tracks multitrack recorder, for many years to serve with spare parts aside to fix this machine till eternity.

[5] Think Mobile

Patch-Cable protection box (v2 opened)

The last few years, I’ve combined all my equipment together, forming the solid base of the music studio and added newer hardware to the mix, to be production and mastering ready. Not a second of remorse collecting these miracles of the past; loved by some, undervalued for many and overvalued by their owners; but with good reason.

I’ve stored these gems inside flightcases, to be protected against the elements; but more; I’ve made the preparations in these cases by modulizing functions per flightcase; like

a flightcase for Effect Units, Mastering, Digitalizing and Recording. Every flightcase is equipped with a powerstrip and patch panel. Everything is prepared in modules for easy connectivity at a stage. This same convenience is needed inside the studio!

[6] Don’t be cheap with cables!

Self Made Patch-Cable Protection (v2 - in use)

Don’t make the same mistake like I did and buy your cables bulk-and-cheap; because in a small period, you’ll have to replace them all anyways, unless you like analog static in your recordings? Unless; you check and replace your cables regularly.

This doesn’t mean you got to sell an arm, a leg, a kidney or two, and, get your studio equipped with Monster cables. Just take a good look to the quality of the connectors, pull resistance and material of cable and plugs. Gold-plated has an advantage; it will not corrode as fast as a metallic one; insuring a clean connection at all times.

Not to be taken lightly; Have a spare of each cable in-use, when hell freezes over!

[7] Don’t go entirely digital, but prepare..

Today, everything is digital; but; it also has its perks and downsides. An analog signal has the possibility to blend in the mix without real quality loss; except sometimes distortion. A digital signal has no possibility to go beyond 0dBFS; which will convert the peak to a flat line at 0dBFS. It’s sure a good idea to prepare your studio with digital expansion; so files which were already digital can be used in pristine quality, without loosing quality by carrying the signal. We live in the digital revolution; but always remember; Analog is good!

Patch-Cable protection box (v1)

Not all digital products have the same quality and often convert Analog to Digital and vice-versa. The quality of digital components have a big influence towards the end-quality of your mix. Keep digital and analog available but separate. If your PC or Television set and your studio are connected; use an AD/DA converter with optical cable to prevent ground-loops causing hum and signal radiation.

[8] Be Creative! Cheap Studio Solutions

Some cheap materials, available in the supermarket, which can be useful in a studio:

• Ikea has a lot of materials, 19″ size (and usable in a studio) with a very professional appearance.
• There are various brands of plastic Flightcase Racks available; considerably cheaper but more fragile than wood with live usage!
• Use big egg-baskets or foam as bass-traps; Vinyl records can be a good bass-trap too.
• Always label your cables going from device to patchbay to prevent connection issues; use sturdy labels which cannot fall off.
• Supermarkets are your friend; get a few sturdy plastic cutting boards and use them as temporary underlay for items!
• Protect unconnected leads from touching other live connections, preventing equipment malfunctions; a piece of foam is a cheap solution.
• A few wooden plates can offer lots of space for your desktop devices.
• A few iron hooks against the wall (used to attach wooden boards) can be used to store your synths and keyboards; usable, clean and safe.
• Put a small paintbrush in your studio and clean your knobs and materials with it once a week.
• Rubber pads need maintenance; keep dirt away from them!
• Velcro can be your friend, usable as cheap, reusable (therefor environmentally friendly) to tie cables together and is available in rolls!
  

  Patch-Cable protection box (v1 - in use)

• Document important changes of your studio in a logbook; you’ll thank yourself later when you forgot to label your cables..

[9] Holidays, gatherings and sweepstakes..

Wait till the holidays arrive to get better discounts. When products are renewed; the older editions are often put available for a cheaper price before the new model is out. Patience is a virtue; check out for second-hand bargains, which will allow you to upgrade your studio with more power for less money; but think for future expansions.

[10] Protect your electronic materials!

I’ve had a lot of material going to lightning; literally. Induction, power brown-outs, spikes and direct lightning are the silent killer for your electronic materials. It’s strongly adviced to add a heavy-duty UPS system to protect against most of these attacks against your precious equipment. A small studio can be put on a 2000-2600VA system. A Line Interactive UPS is highly recommended, as extra protection against incoming anomalities.

Your machines can be protected very easy against theft by using laptop-locks and/or reinforced cable-locks, with metal glue-plates and a few padlocks to bundle the cables together, to deter a thief from succeeding any attempt. A laptop lock with alarm can be a nice addition, to annoy your neighbours with 120dB of chirping …

Protect your wires from tripping or getting damage, use Velcro strips; available for a low cost per roll. Also available pre-cut; alas; more costly.

That’s all folks!

This article has been created, to share my experiences over the last few years to help (new) artists to be ready and prepared!

Peace! FWC

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Please, listen to the song(s) and throw your vote in the ring.

Maybe you’ll hear your next favorite track? .. Who knows?!..

I’ve not been creating that many remixes or covers; because I wanted to be original at first; although; I have found out remixing can be a great challenge of (re-)creating great existing works by pure brainpower, respect and of’course feeling with the original track. The experience was more educational and very fascinating; bringing up almost a dozen of new techniques to use with trip-hop, lounge or easy listening and deep sounds.

Restyled my Sunshine (Beati Mundo Corde Filtered Edition)

Return to Nature (IDM Edit – Victimae Paschali Laudes)

In return of your time, I’ll give you all background details creating these tracks!

You don’t have to like the song or genre, although it is recommended; and if you like the track(s); it sure will make me VERY happy to get a bit of recognition around my creativity with hard work, two premium keys and introducing new techniques and knowledge to create original breaks; and to hope to rock your boat, through a global culture without color or language to understand called music!

1. The experience.

These sounds were heaven on earth to work with. There was not a single time I was bored of hearing those chants .. over and over ..

I’ve used a few new techniques in both songs and have been using my breath quite creative as break. The breathing was an accident, when I heard myself breathing like freak through the microphone with volume fully open. Don’t look wrong at me but, I liked it; So I’ve been recording my breathing as crazy, created additional voice samples and selected the best sounds to be used in these new productions for this contest.

I am even thinking to ask these fine guys to collaborate later, without the stress of a deadline, competition and the possibility to work more together to intermix the old glory of these magnificent chants with modern styles and techniques. If you are reading this, NY Poly; I am sure up for such challenge and got experience to burn and replenish; that’s for sure!

2. Materials used.

The song is created entirely from scratch by the use of a Roland MV-8800, Electribe, MC808 and Sonic Cell as soundbanks. The samples were converted and imported directly in the MV-8800. The “Beati Mundo Corde” mix was a lot more challenging, because all IDM effects were created by hand on the MV-8800.

The samples were cut-up in little pieces and used as stems & stutters by using the Machine Gun Roll on this sequencer, which sounds (and is!) a lot more controlled, realistic, less technoish and more accessible towards Trip-Hop/Loungy productions.

The “Victimae Paschali Laudes” Track has a little piece where I have resampled the vocals through dblue Glitch for stutters and other IDM effects.

3. Samples and male breathing …

The voice samples and the breathing in the “Beati Mundo Corde” remix are entirely freshly created at night, on a Perception 200 microphone.

The lyrics or better say, the few lines are:

• Free your mind, your body and your soul
• See … The Sunshine!
• Open your heart!
• My male breathing without obligatory telephone call!

4. What about the song titles?

The titles were chosen by an earlier concept, which I’ve created a dozen of years ago called “White Sessions”. Let me elaborate.

I am convinced, every human has two or even more sides without earning the stamp “wacko” or “crazy”.

1. The “pure” side ; where all purity and innocence is saved as much as possible; The “Inner Chile”; which should not be corrupted and preserved as is!
2. The “dark” side ; where not everything is as pure and innocent anymore, which can be classified to the more darker side of the cupboard; do you know your dark side?
3. The “challenging” side ; where man gets attracted by the quality of its talent, which also has an “unknown” side; because you are never too old to learn new ways to skin a cat!

“White Sessions” is the pure side, containing pure sounds ; maybe even heavenly in some occasions. “Dark Sessions” are not that pure anymore; “Challenges” are a case apart and tend to vary according challenge…

• “Return to Nature” (Victimae Paschali Laudes) was created with nature in mind. Think light, free and fly on the music. The chants were very naturally to say the least. At the final part, the vocals were stacked upon each; using the chants as stems. This technique has also been used in a different way in the “”Orchestrated my Sunshine” edition.
• “Restyled my Sunshine” (Beati Mundo Corde Filtered Remix) is a rename with of “Orchestrated my Sunshine” (Beati Mundo Corde Sunny Remix) which is in essence the same mix, without the restyler used on three separate channels and .. The sun was my guide! These “Sunshine” tracks are created with the curtains fully open, with the sun taunting me with its warmth.

5. What about the filtered mix?

The last submitted track at Indaba was the “Filtered Mix“, because indaba conveniently crashed-and-burned in the last 10 minutes of hectic mouse-torture; so the “Filtered Mix” (which was originally created as bonus track, for IDM/Filter/Acidic Lovers) has become the main contest entry… Bummers!  The first edition of this song was called “Free Your Heartbeat (NY Poly Beati Mundo Corde Premier Edit) but the newer Sunshine editions were (my personal opinion) dozen times better in quality regarding production, design and techniques used.

This Filtered Mix was created entirely by hand on a Restyler from Sherman Labs and cannot be done the same way twice; because this box of tricks has no MIDI or any automation; only buttons and lots of christmas lights!

6. Please, vote! Thanks!

To win this contest ; there can be only one. So; please spare a minute and vote (via indaba!) one or both tracks into the world; I’d already thank you for over a dozen times; could even kiss you on the forehead! Thanks!

The two submissions (click to open new window/tab):

1. Restyled my Sunshine (Beati Mundo Corde Filtered Edition)
2. Return to Nature (IDM Edit – Victimae Paschali Laudes)

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Apps Using @ Flick'r

Today, I’ve received a lot of photos in my Flickr photostream of people, bodies and objects, which I have absolutely nothing to do about.

I’ve already changed my password, disconnected any application access and yet, still, I am receiving extra photos from an unknown source directly into my Flickr account. I have tried to dial Yahoo three times at their expensive US number +1 866 5627219, with as only result a few disconnects because of high volume.

How to stop this madness? I seriously wouldn’t know.

Sharing & Extensions @ Flick'r

Not only this is a disaster in security; it’s also a disaster in PR at my side; some of these photos appear to be promoting drugs ; this on my public artist account.

So, Yahoo, If you read this, what are you going to do about this madness before it really demolishes my reputation entirely by stray content; not only to complain about the copyright infringement by posting other photos, than my own, on my profile!

The flickr-upside-down image was created as satire, since my flickr-world has been literally turned upside-down!

I am astonished & deeply concerned how this will end.

update 24/11/2011 : I have been asked by Yahoo, to explain the situation again ; I’ve not replied anymore, am going to delete those photos; they had enough time to do their forensics to my opinion.

No related posts.

Download at Freesound.org: 160k mp3 | 320k mp3 | Soundcloud.com: 128k mp3

Samples used in this track: 104712 | 104753 | 104758 | 104865 | 107738 | 21409 | 32731 | 34301 | 50493 | 60753 | 72257 | 73758 | 86329 | 86386 | 86390 | 86445 | 86448 | 86461 | 94628 | 84639 @ freesound.org

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SuBBaSS Terrorist

I’m a subbass terrorist!

“Terrorism is such a hype, it should be for sure exploited in musical art form!”

Point your ears, test your speakers; for those craving on sub-bass; there’s an exploding release lurking at ya!

Technelectroclash-and-deep electronic sounds coming to terrorize your senses below 50hz!

“You don’t need bombs to get booms!”

SuBBaSS Terrorist logo

warning: do not overdose with this sub-bass medicine by listening it too much. You should listen to this album, preferably as loud as possible in a residential area.

This production took over 3 years of deep creativity to be finished.

Techno, electro, clash, deep and trance will are the ingredients of this piece of art ready to thrill your ears and mind to the fifth dimension at the right.

This all created & mastered in the studio of Freaking Wildchild!

RELEASE DATE : Quarter 2 / 2011
(preview version)

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SuBBaSS Terrorist

Mastering is preparing a track or album for the general population. Not only cleaning up the track but also preparing it, to be as transparant and juicy as possible on the most soundsystems available on this planet. A mixdown might sound great in studio settings, but the final master still has the final prerogative to make a track to be a winner.

Since the loudness war is going on, a lot of cd’s have been mixed at maximum volume, but often without any room for dynamics to let the track breathe a little. I wanted to preserve as much as possible while not loosing my playing position in the loudness war where louder gets more appreciated. Loudness without loosing quality is the major important key here.

Since a SuB-BaSS Terrorist is happening mostly in sub-bass (around 50hz), I had to keep in mind this track should not loose any of its potential which it has been created for. The theme was to support low undertones, which you would not only hear, but also feel!

• All mixdowns of the album have been created at -6db, to leave enough overhead towards final tweaking, to prevent any distortion.
• The low-shelf lies on 30Hz and basses are final cut at 25Hz, where it’s mostly rumble and generally annoying wobble.
• The high-shelf lies mostly around 5-10kHz, some tracks have artificial glitches on the background which needed to be preserved.
• Anything higher is not going to brighten it up that much.
• the multi-band compressor was set up around low: 50hz, mid: 140-400Hz and high around: 2.5kHz depending the track.
• The ratio has to be set quite high depending which Bass-Roll used; mostly around 1:8 to 1:16 to preserve details and prevent over-sterility.
• The limiter has been set at -2db, in order to support any format – CD and MP3.

This has been perhaps one of the best challenges to date for me and required me to get up-to-date again with the art of mastering, to work with sub-basses while preservating the best of the tracks towards systems, often not supporting (any) sub-bass because it requires a sub-woofer to play -45hz tones.

This album can be best enjoyed at high volume, but is already prepped up to be sounding great on an i-pod as well!

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Poppers in the airco!

Sitting in a local bar in Tahiti,
All warm, cozy, hot and steamy ..
Just ordered a Pina Colada at the bar,
At the nearest relaxing spot in the evening star…

There he was, a beautiful boy on the beach,
Anywhere but here and out of reach …
But I just ordered my drink at the cute girl of the bar,
Leaving now would probably leave a war!

Next, sitting comfortable in the lounge,
Cute girl and boy next to me on the comfy couch,
Got that chilled, fresh Pina Colada in my hands,
They look both at me, without knowing their plans!

Then, suddenly, everyone was getting naked,
Including the the boy, the girls, the boys, I must not be awaken!
This brought me a bit out of line,
And I haven’t been on the wine!

There I am, lying all sweaty on my bed,
The buzz is feeling all tingly in my head,
Can’t remember anything how I got here in the first place,
All alone, no naked cute boys and girls, That’s not ace!

I landed back in real harsh reality,
Suddenly, I left that buzz of pure fantasy,
Until I came to the realization,
Who the freak put those poppers in the ventilation?!

Lyrics by Freaking Wildchild ©2010

This song is currently under production; it might be neat to have a vocalist talking in this text with some aroused feeling.

Anyone talking English up for the job?

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Common Rights

The growing digital market has been glowing with possibilities for any artistic talent to create works, show and distribute them towards the world, for fairly cheap prive and in the most alternative forms imaginable. There are even alternative licenses on the market, like the known Creative Commons platform, which allows more around copying and distribution of protected works. This doesn’t need the artist to join artists-right organizations, while claiming all rights away with a signature and being limited with the promotion and distribution and more of her/his own works.

Technology has strived forward with micro-components, where the known walkman has become nothing larger than the size of a cigarette lighter. It is because of this digital age around micro-technology, that the passion to create music has never become so easy and cheap, through digital recording methods. Although, a work in production will take a lot of space, LOTS of space; mostly even more than 20x of a finished piece; because of all separate tracks (multitracks), samples, formats and extras involved with the production of such.

Still, it is not to be ignored that in the 20th century, works are being copied illegally; even on larger scale. That’s why there has been the start-up of Auvibel; the organization collecting taxes on all writable media like CD’s, DVD’s, K7, minidisk etc. This tax has to be paid by every end-user in Belgium, even when the media has been used only to store own works on. The collection of this money goes to rights-organizations. This is very bad to digest by many Belgian artists, because they are not getting any money of this entire operation, unless we sign away our rights to such rights-organizations like Sabam.

It doesn’t stay with this, Auvibel will start at 1 february 2010, to collect a tax on all disk drives, memory cards, usb-sticks, mp3/mp4 players and set-top boxes.

So, we, producers of the new digital world have to pay more taxes on media which we are using exclusive to store and manipulate our own works; while this tax benefits only a small amount of artists, the members of a “rights organization”. Also very important, newer devices like sequencers, samplers, sound modules use memory cards, disk drives and usb-sticks massaly by the dozens, which all will be taxed soon?

Why, does the indie artist have to pay for the lost income and compensate for the other artists, while we can’t even have the same arrangement and only have to caugh up money? We don’t even get a chance for adoption for other license terms with these rights-interest organizations and we are already getting taxed for more giving away money to these organizations not wanting to support us without draconian signout deals.

There are a lot of Belgian artists not wanting to connect to a rights-organization like Sabam, for variour reasons:

• They won’t get a choice what can be done with their own works regarding distribution and conditions;
• Different new distribution methods are being taxated with the old stamp;
• Sabam artists cannot create free music without being collected (CC, freeware);
• You can’t burn your works on CD to promote yourself without paying their own tax;
• Because of the agressive tactics this organization has (party’s, cafe’s and CC usage);
• Works under your own name are automatically property of Sabam; even if the artist does not want this

In the US there is a system where “Creative Commons” licenses work together with “Copyright Control”.

This is already adopted by very known artists like Radiohead and NiN and is in discussion with our neighbour countries , the Netherlands and France; so why can our own Belgian artist can’t be him/herself, without being mentally forced with their own works? This shouldn’t be a trap but a challenge for our Belgian talents.

Maybe, it’s urgent to change things from the past towards the future, because the current business model of a license on cd, is not anymore the only product available on the market. They changed the business-model slightly in the US, because the cat is already out of the bag since the digital age has allowed quick production and reproduction. Artists can choose their own license and distribution model, where they are quicker motivated to connect to a rights-organization defending their believes without shooting themselves in both feet.

European stores are very afraid to sell/export their storage-media products to Belgium, because of the strict regulation of import by Auvibel. This has changed our market to only a few familiar brands to be available in the Belgian stores, making it impossible to get better and designed cd’s and dvd’s without being outside the country. The market is very closed with this, where Belgium looses a lot of income with the use of new technologies which our neighbour countries already have for some time on their markets.

By charging this tax, you will punish the common artist of the future and you won’t leave a positive image, that our new, innovative digital world and it’s social happening gets embraced and supported, which the Belgian culture and market will only helps to get bigger. Our neighbour countries already have given a nice signal towards their artistic talent and I hope little Belgium will do the same towards the entire creative happening of audio and video.

As end, here a few links:

• Homerecording.be: open letter of artists protecting themself against the Auvibel tax
• French deal highlights open licensing and collecting societies in Europe
• Improbable Match, CC And Collecting Societies In Europe
• CC-NL/Buma pilot for flexible rights management
• Muziekindustrie, wake up for alternative licensing!
• Sabam, really for the common? (open letter in progress)
• Facebook group: against the Auvibel Taks

I am convinced that my letter will give you some insight towards a revision of your decision, hereby I sign,

yours sincerely,

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