11/8/2007 9:50:01 AM

Well, I've started! I recorded a guitar track (on melody) last night that will probably become a demo in the near future and show up on this site.

msimpson

12/20/2007 8:00:20 AM

I built the new PC and boy is it quiet! I used an Antec Sonata Designer case with a quiet, efficient power supply, a nice 120mm fan, and these nifty elastic hard drive suspension straps, and put a low-power (65W) AMD X2 5000 in it. The video card is a fanless nVidia 8600 GTS. With monitor, DVD drive, card reader, and all the other bells and whistles it still came out well under $1,000, and is fast enough to record with and to play games (Oblivion and Second Life being the only candidates at present).

The machine makes a barely audible low-frequency whirring noise, and I find I'm noticing a bunch of other noises in my office: the clock ticking on the wall, the hum from the fluorescent light bulb in my lamp, etc. When I record I take the battery out of the clock and swap the bulb for an incandescent one, which helps.

I've redone the guitar track and will post it here as soon as I get some other instruments added to it.

msimpson

9/30/2009 4:34:45 AM

The CD is done, and has been sent off for final mastering and replication. The title is 'Other Forms of Magic', and it consists of traditional and contemporary Irish (and Irish-style) instrumental dance music. I was joined by Davey Mathias on guitar, and Doug Murray on bouzouki. Check back here for more information in a month or so when the CD arrives!

msimpson