String files are huge...

Spending a decent part of this Saturday afternoon downloading wave files from the Glasgow string sessions.  It's a complex part of the project... properly recording an orchestra requires a variety of mic setups in different locations, and each of the location files are roughly 80MB in size.  Multiplying 10 files per song by 11 songs, well - the total amount to download is roughly 9 gigs.  And the internet connection seems a bit on the slow side today.

Got my first piece of swag in the mail from printful a few days ago; a camouflage hat with the band name and album title stitched in gold lettering.  Have to say, it looks pretty good - will be looking forward to offering these merchandise items on the website.  An email confirms two other items (a coffee mug and gym bag) have also just been delivered; looking forward to retrieving those when I get around to checking my mail later today...     

Blogger export...

Spent most of today back on bandzoogle figuring out the intricacies of setting up pages, graphics, etc.  One of the challenges was in trying to get the site to import my entire 30-post collection from blogger.com.  It stopped at the most recent 25; there was no indication of a setting on either site restricting the number of imported posts, and a help message to bandzoogle was met with the online equivalent of shrugged shoulders.  

An effective workaround was exporting all posts to a secondary blog, eliminating all but the five oldest posts on that secondary blog, and then importing the remaining content of that secondary blog (the five oldest posts) into bandzoogle.  I'm hoping bandzoogle automatically picks up this next entry as well.

One great feature of bandzoogle is functionality for selling merchandise - including an arrangement with an on-demand fulfillment center that appears to allow for realtime printing and shipping of orders on an individual basis - so that there is no inventory requirement.  I'm now stuck in the resulting nightmare of trying to determine how to calculate and satisfy any sales tax collection and reporting obligations; I'm hoping an email to my accountant will result in a favorable response in the morning...  

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A Little Bit at a Time...

The process of gearing up for an album release - when you're doing everything yourself - can be pretty overwhelming the first time around.  Trying to get a little something done every day will be beneficial for my psyche.

Matt had Davey come into the studio today to record some background vocals for Snapshots, Requiem and All of Our Lives - but as I really didn't want to have to make the trek up to Los Angeles, I joined the session remotely via zoom - and it worked out very well.  That will be a tremendous option going forward, particularly with gas prices being what they are these days.   

I sent Dave at CLG a note about a week ago asking if he'd still be interested in having his company distribute the album, as he first mentioned that about a year ago.  He hasn't yet responded, which isn't a big deal - people get busy.  However, I am a little reticent to have a smaller company handle all aspects of distribution, when there are behemoths in place (CDBaby) that have been successfully performing that function for decades.  Considering how much I have invested in this project, my gut tells me that I should be going with the big boys.  Having said that, Dave has been great during the entire cover art illustration process - so I'd like to at least give him the opportunity to make a case for his company, if he does in fact still want to work with me on the distribution side.

Along those same lines, I sent emails a short while ago to both Discmasters and Discmakers regarding developing finished product from the artwork provided by CLG.  We'll see what proposals they come back with.

I also sent a note to the copyright office asking for clarification as to the best way to register the album, considering that while I own everything, I have separate dba identifiers for the compositions (Long Island Express Music) and masters (26th Street Records).  The website states they respond to inquiries within 10 business days.  Government efficiency at its finest...

Back From the UK...

Returned a little over two weeks ago from Scotland, where I travelled to witness the live recording of the string parts for the album.  I didn't really need to be there, as the sessions were run incredibly well by both Kobus (the orchestra's director) and Steve (the string arranger).  Everyone involved in the project was top-flight... the 21-piece section itself was comprised of members of both the Scotland national symphony and BBC orchestras. 

They recorded the string parts (and these were very complex arrangements) for all 11 songs in a total of 11 hours, over the course of two days.  That was a remarkable accomplishment - and it sounded incredibly good live.  I'm looking forward to receiving the comped and mixed tracks, so that I can forward to Matt for his incorporation in the main mixes... 

Productive weekend...

Had a very positive night at the poker table, notwithstanding the fact that I was dealt pocket kings three times in the first hour of play - and lost two of those hands.  Gotta love variance... particularly when it eventually swings back in your favor.

Recorded a few additional backing vocal/vocoder tracks for Other Places and Million Years.  In particular, I think the last part of the bridge on Million Years would be perfect for a female backing vocalist, primarily because of the song's lyric at that point.

Also revised the theramin keyboard part on Grey Wolf so that it trails off at the end, along the lines of the effect at the close of ELO's "Wishing" from the Discovery album.  That song and album triggers a nice childhood memory of mine, as it was the album I was listening to - as an early teenager - on the way to a brief winter family vacation somewhere that I can no longer specifically recall.  But I remember the place had a small indoor ice rink in the recreation center, and I played a bit of one on one hockey with another kid who was vacationing there.  And while that was fun, it was meeting his sister that proved to be a sweet/innocent adolescent experience I've never forgotten... 

A lost season...

Islanders have just gone down 6-2 to the Bruins in this weekend matinee.  They may have been playing better of late, but the season's disappointing result is more than just a function of the slow start attributed to the extended road trip and Covid issues.  They have to do something to shore up the bottom third of their D.  Chara and Greene had great careers, but it's time for both of them to hang up the skates...  

I tried to hire someone to build the website, but the potential provider proved to be non-responsive.  I suppose that shouldn't surprise me; unreliability is becoming a standard societal trait.  In any event, I've built the template myself, and I like how it looks.  When I have the content to incorporate, it will represent the project well.

Going to hit the gym, put some additional backing vocals on Other Places... and then get some poker in at the local cardroom.

Regular Updates...

 I feel like it would be a nice touch to monitor progress as we work towards completion and release of this first album.  For posterity?  Who knows... I imagine I'll just eventually appreciate the nostalgia of it all.  So in that regard...

• Confirmed for Steve that we'll likely go with the relatively expensive (but most-proficient) Clockwork orchestra in Glasgow.  Waiting on confirmation of a couple of caveats that I'm hoping will be nothing more than a formality.
  
  
• Asked Dave at CLG for particulars regarding obtaining the design files for the II logo and band cover art; also discussed eventual development of the CD booklet and labels.
  
  
• Received feedback from Kerry at Frontman regarding which songs would be most beneficial for video production; awaiting similar type of feedback from Donna at 351 Studio.  Will likely look to utilize the services of both, based on which tracks each finds to be the most favorable.
  
  
• Sent a request over to a fiver provider (hey, that's catchy) for development of a website on bandzoogle, with branding based on the logo (and perhaps cover art, which I love).  Awaiting feedback.

Found a website that focuses on training game-theory-optimal poker play, which is incredibly complex, but very useful.  Will be spending time studying those materials in the hope of eventually adding poker as another component of generating advantage-play income on a more regular basis.