Tagged “music”

  1. Breakfast in Coverville

    The Coverville episode Breakfast in Coverville is out! You can find my brilliant cover of Breakfast in America there as track number 4, plus lots of other covers by fans of the Coverville podcast. You can download the entire album as a zip file as well.

  2. Pants on the Ground
    • music

    Pants on the Ground by General Larry Platt is about to be a hit.

  3. Coverville - Violent Femmes album

    On to the next project: a cover album of Violent Femmes. My song: Promise. Just need to get started now...

  4. February Album Writing Month / RPM Challenge

    It's February, so I'm writing and recording an album for FAWM and the RPM Challenge. When I'm done, I'll have to post it to Bandcamp or some site like that. For this challenge, I'm using the same drum beat for each of the songs. So far, so good...none of the songs really sounds like the others.

  5. Arduino music

    Here is a nice code sample that I put together that plays music on the Arduino. Just hook up a speaker to pin 8, add a resistor if necessary, and it will play a few songs, one with multiple voices (polyphonic music).

    ` // Arduino Music Demo // James S. Ghofulpo // // Plays multi voice music. Documentation for writing your own music is below.

    #define TS ( 130 ) // Time for a 1/16th note, in ms #define STACATTO ( 80 ) // Time for a stacatto note, in ms #define OUTPUT_PIN ( 8 ) // Which pin on the Arduino are we modulating #define NUM_VOICES ( 2 ) // Number of voices supported #define MAX_CYCLES ( 10 ) // On and off cycles before switch

    // Data structure for each voice

    typedef struct { float f; // Frequency long t; // Time left to play this note long decay_time; // Time left to decay (turn off) note long on_pt; // On phase time long off_pt; // Off phase time int synchronizing; // Set to 1 if we are waiting to synchronize int current_voice; // which voice is being analyzed in the muisc const char * music; const char * start_of_music; const char * return_pos; } voice_info_t;

    // Function to play a song // // Tone Commands: // a-g - Select low octave note // A-G - Select high octave note // + - This note, up one octave // - - This note, down one octave // # - Sharp // & - Flat // t - Note is a triplet (1/3 of timing) // . - Note is dotted (timing * 1.5) // , - Note is stacatto // r - Rest // s, e, q, h, w - Timing (1/16, 1/8, 1/4, 1/2, 1) of note. Note plays when time is selected! // // Voice / flow commands: // // V - This is part of the next voice // >X - Call part X // [X yyyyy] - Define part x to be yyyyy // | - End of measure. Allows for synchronization, in case of misprogrammed music. // k - The previously mentioned note selects the key signature (i.e. fk selects F major).

    void play_song( const char * this_song ) { int inx = 0; int iny; int duration = 0; int note_offset = -1; voice_info_t info[NUM_VOICES]; // Each voices' info int triplet = 0; int key[12]; long shortest_time = 999999; int current_phase = 0; long current_time; int in_combo; long time_in_micros; float on_duty_cycle = 0.1; int duty_cycle_direction = 0; int current_voice = 0; int cycle_count = 0; int dotted = 0; int stacatto = 0; char search_target; int everybody_is_done = 0; int accidental = 0;

    for ( inx = 0; inx < NUM_VOICES; inx++ ) { info[inx].music = this_song; info[inx].start_of_music = this_song; info[inx].return_pos = this_song; info[inx].f = 0; info[inx].t = 0; info[inx].decay_time = 0; info[inx].on_pt = 0; // Frequency of this voice info[inx].off_pt = 0; info[inx].synchronizing = 0; info[inx].current_voice = 0; }

    // Initialize key to C major

    for ( inx = 0; inx < 12; inx++ ) { key[inx] = 0; }

    //Serial.println( "Starting loop" );

    while ( !everybody_is_done ) {
    int everybody_is_synchronizing = 1; everybody_is_done = 1; // Assume we are all done

    for ( inx = 0; inx < NUM_VOICES; inx++ ) { if ( *info[inx].music != 0 ) { everybody_is_done = 0;

    if ( !info[inx].synchronizing ) // Somebody is still running... { everybody_is_synchronizing = 0; break; } }
    }

    // If everybody is synchronizing, then we can continue.

    if ( everybody_is_synchronizing ) { for ( inx = 0; inx < NUM_VOICES; inx++ ) { info[inx].synchronizing = 0; } }

    // Code to check for the next note/sets of notes

    for ( inx = 0; inx < NUM_VOICES; inx++ ) // Check all voices { while ( ( info[inx].t <= 0 ) // out of time, get next note && ( *info[inx].music != 0 ) // Still music left to play && ( !info[inx].synchronizing ) ) // And not waiting for everybody to be ready { // Serial.print( *info[inx].music );

    switch( *info[inx].music ) { case '[': // Skip section [ music ]
    while ( ( *info[inx].music != 0 ) && ( *info[inx].music != ']' ) ) { info[inx].music++; } break; case ']': info[inx].synchronizing = 1; // Wait for everybody to get done info[inx].music = info[inx].return_pos; info[inx].current_voice = 0; break; case 'V': // End of this part info[inx].current_voice++; break; // Do nothing: End marker case '>': // Call a subroutine info[inx].music++; // Get the marker search_target = *info[inx].music; info[inx].return_pos = info[inx].music; // The return position will be +1 info[inx].music = info[inx].start_of_music; // Rewind while ( ( *info[inx].music != '[' ) || ( *(info[inx].music+1) != search_target ) ) { info[inx].music++; } info[inx].music++; // Skip the bracket info[inx].music++; // Skip the marker
    info[inx].current_voice = 0; // Starting with voice 0
    info[inx].synchronizing = 1; // Wait for everybody to get done break; case '|': // Force synchronize between voices
    if ( info[inx].current_voice == inx ) { info[inx].synchronizing = 1; // Wait for everybody to get done } break; case 'c': note_offset = 15; break; case 'd': note_offset = 17; break; case 'e': if ( note_offset == -1 ) note_offset = 19; else duration = TS * 2; // Eighth break; case 'f': note_offset = 20; break; case 'g': note_offset = 22; break; case 'a': note_offset = 24; break; case 'b': note_offset = 26; break; case 'C': note_offset = 27; break; case 'D': note_offset = 29; break; case 'E': note_offset = 31; break; case 'F': note_offset = 32; break; case 'G': note_offset = 34; break;
    case 'A': note_offset = 36; break; case 'B': note_offset = 38; break;
    case '+': note_offset += 12; break; // Up an octave case '-': note_offset -= 12; break; // Down an octave case '#': accidental = 1; break; // Up a half step case '&': accidental = -1; break; // Down a half step case 's': duration = TS; break; // Sixteenth case 'q': duration = TS * 4; break; // Quarter case 'h': duration = TS * 8; break; // Half case 'w': duration = TS * 16; break; // Whole case 'r': note_offset = -2; break; // Rest, not really necessary, except for eighth notes case 't': triplet = 1; break; // Duration is a triplet case '.': dotted = 1; break; // Dotted value case ',': stacatto = 1; break; // Stacatto // default: break; // Unhandled command }

    if ( *info[inx].music == 'k' ) // Handle keys { int base = note_offset % 12;

    for ( iny = 0; iny < 12; iny++ ) { key[iny] = 0; }

    int num_sharps = 0; int num_flats = 0;

    switch ( base ) { case 0: key[3] = key[8] = key[10] = 1; break; // A case 1: key[2] = key[7] = -1; break; case 2: key[0] = key[3] = key[5] = key[8] = key[10] = 1; break; // B case 3: break; // C case 4: key[0] = key[2] = key[5] = key[7] = key[10] = -1; break; case 5: key[3] = key[8] = 1; break; // D case 6: key[0] = key[2] = key[7] = -1; break; case 7: key[3] = key[5] = key[8] = key[10] = 1; break; // E case 8: key[2] = -1; break; // F case 9: key[0] = key[2] = key[3] = key[5] = key[7] = key[10] = -1; break; case 10: key[8] = 1; break; // G case 11: key[0] = key[2] = key[5] = key[7] = -1; break;
    }

    note_offset = -1; }

    if ( duration != 0 ) // Note is complete { if ( triplet ) { duration /= 3; }

    if ( dotted ) { duration = ((float)duration * 1.5); }

    if ( info[inx].current_voice == inx ) // This note is for this voice {
    info[inx].t = millis() + duration; info[inx].decay_time = info[inx].t - ( stacatto ? duration - STACATTO : 0 ); int base = note_offset % 12;

    // Sample code to add phasing effects to music /* if ( duty_cycle_direction == 0 ) { on_duty_cycle += 0.1;

    if ( on_duty_cycle > 0.8 ) { duty_cycle_direction = 1; } } else { on_duty_cycle -= 0.1;

    if ( on_duty_cycle < 0.2 ) { duty_cycle_direction = 0; } }
    */

    if ( note_offset >= 0 ) { info[inx].f = pow( 1.059460646483, note_offset + key[base] + accidental ) * 220.0; float pt = 1000000 / ( info[inx].f );

    // The on phase time can be set here to add 'phasing' type effects /* on_pt[inx] = (long)( pt * on_duty_cycle );
    if ( on_pt[inx] < 50 ) { on_pt[inx] = 50; }
    on_pt[inx] = (long)( pt * on_duty_cycle ); */ info[inx].on_pt = 50;
    info[inx].off_pt =(long)( pt - info[inx].on_pt ); } else // Rest { info[inx].f = 0; }
    } // Else, this note is not for us

    // Reset parser note_offset = -1; duration = 0; triplet = 0; dotted = 0; stacatto = 0; accidental = 0; }

    info[inx].music++; // Next character } } // Checked all voices

    // Play the note / set of tones, until end of somebody's note

    in_combo = 1;

    while ( in_combo ) {
    time_in_micros = micros();

    current_phase = !current_phase;

    if ( info[current_voice].f == 0 ) // Rest all voices { digitalWrite( OUTPUT_PIN, LOW ); } else {
    digitalWrite( OUTPUT_PIN, current_phase ? HIGH : LOW ); }

    if ( cycle_count++ > MAX_CYCLES ) // Check if we need to change voices { cycle_count = 0; current_time = millis(); int start_voice = current_voice;

    do { current_voice = ( current_voice + 1 ) % NUM_VOICES; } while ( ( info[current_voice].f == 0 ) && ( current_voice != start_voice ) );

    for ( inx = 0; inx < NUM_VOICES; inx++ ) { if ( current_time > info[inx].t ) // If this note has expired { info[inx].t = 0; // Request the next note info[inx].f = 0; // Turn off the note in_combo = 0; // Get next note
    } else if ( current_time > info[inx].decay_time ) // stop this note { info[inx].f = 0; } } }

    if ( current_phase ) { shortest_time = info[current_voice].on_pt; } else { shortest_time = info[current_voice].off_pt; }

    time_in_micros = micros() - time_in_micros;

    delayMicroseconds( shortest_time - time_in_micros ); // Sleep the time minus time to process this loop
    } } // While looping }

    // Here are some sample pieces of music. All songs, except for 'bourree', are single voice

    // Super Mario Bros. char super_mario_bros[] = "[A EsEsrsEsrsCsEsrsG,ererq]" // Intro "[B C,ersg,ers,e,ersa,eb,ea#sasrs gtqEtqGtqA,eFsGsrsE,eCsDsbsre]" // Main music "[C reGsF#sFsD#srsEsrsg#sasCsrsasCsDs]" // Falling theme "[D reGsF#sFsD#srsEsrsC+srsC+sC+srsre]" // Falling end 1 "[E reD#sreDsreCersrerq]" // Falling end 2 "[F CsCsrsCsrsCsDsrsEsCsrsasgsrsre CsCsrsCsrsCsDsEsrh CsCsrsCsrsCsDsrsEsCsrsasgsrsre EsEsrsEsrsCsEsrsGsrsrerq]" // Finish "[G g-tqctqetqCtqEtqGqEq g-#tqctqe&tqg#gCtqE&tqG#qE&q a-#tqdtqftqa#tqDtqFtqA#qA#tqA#tqA#tq C+qqh]" // Finale "[H EsCsrsg,ersg#,easFsrsFsasrsre btqAtqAtqAtqGtqFtqEsCsrsasgsrsre EsCsrsg,ersg#,easFsrsFsasrsre bsFsrsFsFtqEtqDtqC,ererq]" ">A >B >B >C >D >C >E >F" // Play the intro and the main tune " >B >B >C >D >C >E >F" // Play the main tune again ">H >H >G"; // Play the second theme, followed by the finale

    // char air[] = "ek eegefebegefses febegeCqbqa#e bi"; // Key of E

    // Bourree by G.F. Handel, adapted from 'Music' by Software Technology Corp. char bourree[] = "[A" "gk Dq | D,qb,qCebea,eg,e | EqGhFeEe | DqC,e,beaebec,ea,e |" // M 1-4 " bqghaq | beC#ed,eb,eC#eDeE,eC#,e | DeEeF,eD,eE,eFeG,eE,e |" // M 5-7 " FeGeA+ereC#e | D.h" // M 8-9 "V bq | a,qg,qfeb-q | gqEqDqgere | fqrqgqfq |" // M1-4 " gqdhfq | gqaqgqeq | aqaqaqC#q | dhaqeq | f.h]" // m5-9 "[B" "gk A+q | AqFqGeFeEeDe | GqBhEq | D#qEqFqGeAe |" // M17-20 " GqEhDq | DqCebeCqCq | CqbeaebqDq | EeFeGeEeFeGeA+eFe |" // M21-24 " GeAeBeGeAeBeC+eAe | BqAeGeFeGeAeFe | GeAeBeAqCq | bqaegefegeaege |" // M25-28 " geaebegeaebeceae | beCeDqbqaege | g.h" // M29-31 "V Fq | FqDqDererq | dqb-ecedqeq | fqgqEqDq |" // M17-20 " bqEhDq | eqeheq | dqdhgq | ghah |" // M21-24 " DhDh | DqCebeaqDq | DqDqDqCq | dqrqrh |" // M25-28 " derereredererq | dererqdqcq | b-.h]" // M29-31 ">A >A >B >B"; // Play the two parts

    char deck_the_halls[] = "[A g.qfeeqdq cqdqeqcq] " // Deck the halls with boughs of holly "[B deeefedee.qde cqb-qch] " // Fa la la la la la la la la "[C aeaeaeaeg.q fe eqdqch ]" // Last fa la la la ">A >B >A >B " "d.qeefqdq e.qfegqdq eefegqaebeCq bqaqgh " ">A >C";

    char nyan_cat[] = "bk " // Key of B "[A D+sE+sF+eB+eD+sE+sF+sB+sC++sD++sC++sA+sB+e |" " F+ed+se+sF+eB+eC++sA+sB+sC++sE++sD++sE++sC++s]" // Intro music "[B FeGeDsDsrsbsD&sCsbsrsbeCe | D&eD&sCsbsCsDsFsGsdsfscsdsbscsbs " // Main theme " DeFeGsDsFsCsDsbsD&sDsD&sCsbscs | D&ebsCsDsFsCsDsCsbsCebece ]" "[C befsgsbefsgsbsCsDsbsesDsEsFs | bebefsgsbsfsEsDsCsbsfsdsesfs |" // Chorus " befsgsbefsgsbsbsCsDsbsfsgsfs ]" "[D bebsasbsfsgsbsEsDsEsFsbeae ]" // Chorus end 1 "[E bebsasbsfsgsbsEsDsEsFsbeCe ]" // Chorus end 2 "[F bebsasbsfsgsbsEsDsEsFsbe ]" // Chorus end 2, without last note ">A >B >B >C >D >C >E " " >B >B >C >D >C >F";

    //char chord0[] = "cw"; //char chord1[] = "rwCwCwCwCwCwCw V cwdwewfwgwAwBwCwDwEwFwGw";
    //char chord[] = "CwCwCw V gwgwgw V cedeeefegeAeBeCeDeEeFeGe"; char silence[] = "rwrwrw";

    void setup() { pinMode( OUTPUT_PIN, OUTPUT ); //Serial.begin( 115200 );

    play_song( super_mario_bros ); play_song( silence );

    play_song( nyan_cat ); play_song( silence );

    play_song( deck_the_halls ); play_song( silence );

    play_song( bourree ); play_song( silence ); }

    void loop() { // no need to repeat the melody. } `

  6. Analog synth heaven

    Here's a cool video showcasing Vince Clarke's (Erasure, Depeche Mode, Yaz) "cabin" in the woods filled with tons of synth goodness.

  7. Rock for Wishes 2 - New Pic

    201001140404_rfw.jpg

  8. Rock for Wishes 2

    Rock for Wishes 2 featuring:

    • Paraquat

    • Blue Hawg

    • Eric Brewer and Friends

    will be held on January 29, 2010 at Sherlock's in Erie, PA. All proceeds benefit the Erie Make-a-Wish foundation.

    200912240039_robots.jpg

  9. Spinal Tap cover album Unhenged released

    200912060036_unhenged.jpg

    The tribute to Spinal Tap, Unhenged, has been released, with my semi-awesome cover of Heavy Duty! From the Coverville website:

    IN HONOR OF THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE RELEASE OF "THIS IS SPINAL TAP",

    COVERVILLE MEDIA ANNOUNCES THE RELEASE OF THE FIRST EVER DOWNLOADABLE SPINAL TAP ALBUM!

    On March 2, 1984, Rob Reiner, Christopher Guest, Michael McKean and Christopher Guest released what would become one of the most popular mockumentaries of all time, "This Is Spinal Tap", starring a believable – albeit fictional – heavy metal band. But what makes a band real vs. fictional? The (core) members of Spinal Tap, David St. Hubbins, Nigel Tufnel and Derek Smalls, played all their own instruments, wrote their own songs, released two albums, and even toured.

    But they never had a tribute album. Until now.

    The long-running podcast and radio show, Coverville, spent the past 8 months assembling independent artists to complete a 13-track tribute album for the band, with artists like indie favorites Paul & Storm, Arrica Rose, John Dissed, Chance, Zapruder Point and Dogs Of Winter. The album features covers of well-known heavy metal parody Spinal Tap tracks, like "Big Bottom" and "(Listen To The) Flower People", with some tracks performed in a straight-ahead rock style, and others performed with their own tongue-in-cheek humor.

    The album can be downloaded for free at:

    The full tracklist and lineup for the album is:

    • Hell Hole - Schnauzer Radio Orchestra

    • Tonight I'm Gonna Rock You Tonight - Le Butterface

    • Heavy Duty - James Ghofulpo

    • Rock and Roll Creation - Dogs of Winter

    • Cups And Cakes - Zapruder Point

    • Big Bottom - Paul and Storm

    • Sex Farm - Bongo Orkest

    • Us, Stonehenge, and Them - Chance

    • Gimme Some Money - Brian Grosz

    • (Listen to The) Flower People - Arrica Rose

    • Bitch School - Chris Cohoon

    • Break Like The Wind - Dave Verdick

    • Christmas With The Devil - John Dissed

    Previous Coverville Media projects include a tribute to Supertamp's "Breakfast in America", and another for the band Squeeze, which founding Squeeze member Chris Difford used as pre-show music on his tours last summer. The Coverville podcast and radio show recently celebrated its 5th anniversary and 600th episode, and can be found at .

  10. JDRF Walk for Diabetes Part II

    The JDRF walk for diabetes went quite good -- Team William raised $270. I played guitar with a bunch of guys from GE in a band called "Third Rail". Here's a pretty cool picture from the stage.

    200510010000_jdrfwalk.jpg

  11. Comfort music for autumn
    • music

    In the autumn months, I find myself listening more and more to Whole Wheat Radio and folk/acoustic music. Does anybody else out there notice that their music tastes change with the seasons?

  12. Tinted Windows
    • music

    Check out Tinted Windows, a supergroup featuring Taylor Hanson (lead vocals), James Iha (guitar), Adam Schlesinger (bass), and Bun E. Carlos (drums). Sounds like Fountains of Wayne crossed with Cheap Trick (not surprising at all).

    Messing With My Head

    Tinted Windows "Kind of a Girl"

  13. Coverville - Spinal Tap

    Finished a very rough first draft of "Heavy Duty" for the Coverville Spinal Tap Project. Needs more vocal tweaking and some equalization, but the basis is there.

  14. Blue Hawg at the Docksider!

    Blue Hawg at The Docksider Tavern on State Street of Erie. Opening for Eric Brewer & Friends. 9:30pm, Friday May 29. Come rock out with us!

    hawg-docksider.jpg

  15. Breakfast in Coverville posted

    Finally - Breakfast in Coverville, including my cover of "Breakfast in America" by Supertramp, is available. Download the episode Breakfast in Coverville from the Coverville podcast here.

  16. They're so incredible from Revenge of the Nerds

    Video of "They're So Incredible" by Revenge, from the Revenge of the Nerds soundtrack. Very 80s.

  17. Garnier commercial music

    The Transplants - Diamonds and Guns. What an awesome piano riff.

  18. Breakfast in America cover

    breakfast_in_america.jpg

    I finally finished my cover of Supertramp's Breakfast in America. It came out pretty good, though I need to figure out how to do sound level maximization better. Look for it (hopefully) on an upcoming episode of Coverville!

  19. Bellydance

    On Saturday, my wife Gith performed with her bellydance troupe. They're planning on performing again in March.

  20. Rock for Wishes

    rock4wishes.jpg

    Here's the latest lineup for Rock for Wishes 2009!

    • Blue Hawg

    • The Dregs

    • Paraquat

    Prepare to rock!

  21. The Dregs

    The Dregs 1 The Dregs 2 The Dregs 3

    My friend Dave's band The Dregs will be playing January 2nd at the Last Shot. Check them out!

  22. Installing a custom USB controller for Frets on Fire on Ubuntu

    fretsonfire.jpg

    Last year, I made a custom USB controller out of a piece of wood and a broken joystick for Frets on Fire, a Guitar Hero type game for Windows and Linux. Since I moved to Ubuntu Linux, I wanted to get the controller working again. Here's what I did:

    • 'sudo apt-get install joystick' to install the joystick software

    • 'sudo apt-get install joy2key' to install the conversion software

    • 'sudo ln -s /dev/input/js0 /dev/js0' to create a soft link to the device driver. I think this may be skipped (see last step).

    • Created a '.joy2keyrc' file (see below)

    • 'joy2key -dev /dev/js0 -config fretsonfire'. I think maybe '-dev /dev/input/js0' works as well, but it hasn't been consistent for me. Oftentimes, I have to press control-C to exit out of this program when it says 'select a window'...however, it still seems to work fine.

    The contents of .joy2keyrc are:

    START fretsonfire -thresh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 -X -buttons q w e r t

    I then ran Frets on Fire, and configured the 'key' settings for the appropriate frets.

    I'm not sure if the instructions above are really perfect, but they worked enough so I could rock a bit!

    Update: I've been having problems getting /dev/input/js0 to show up, even if I plug in and unplug the guitar (joystick). It seems if I go up and search for new hardware, none is found. However, this seems to sometimes trigger the driver (or whatever) to be loaded. Maybe there's a better way.

  23. Paraquat and Blue Hawg to play Sherlock's in Erie

    My bands Paraquat and Blue Hawg will be playing at Sherlock's, January 23, 2009.

    Here's a video from last year's performance.

  24. Paraquat rocks next week!

    My band Paraquat, an instrumental hard rock band from Erie PA, will be playing at Sherlock's on Friday, April 4, 2008 at 10pm. Also playing are Red Dahlia from Athens Ohio, and The Douglass Brothers (final concert), from Pittsburgh PA. The cover is $4.

  25. Paraquat to play live!

    Finally, my band Paraquat will be playing out live with the Douglass Brothers, April 4th at Sherlocks! Now to just remember all the details and the nuances of all the songs...

    More details (if there are any) to come!

  26. 2007 JDRF Walk to Cure Diabetes

    The 2007 JDRF Walk to Cure Diabetes is tomorrow - September 23rd, 2007 - at Rainbow Gardens (Waldameer Park) in Erie PA. Send the media!

    I'll be performing with Third Rail.

  27. Walk to Cure Diabetes - Erie PA

    I've posted this before, but this is a brand new blog, so I'm posting it again.

    JDRF Walk to Cure Diabetes - Erie PA

    The 2007 JDRF Walk to Cure Diabetes will be held September 23rd at Rainbow Gardens. There will be registration at 8:00 and a start at 9:30. The rocking GE band Third Rail will be performing again.

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