Thingermajjigs & Flibbergabbers

The iPad isn't just for web browsing and playing games.

Pair any iPad with the Alesis iO Dock can turn into a looper, a separate effects pad thingermajjig for your voice and/or for your guitar, a digital instrument you can use during live performances (Legit - you can even turn it into a turntable), a midi controller, and even as a portable studio! You just need to download the right apps. Trust me, Garageband isn't everything. 

OH! It has 48 volts of phantom power,  so it can definitely run your favorite microphones.

For more details on the Alesis iO Dock, click here for the product page.

The app you see down below is VoiceJam. It's an interesting looper. One cool feature it has is that you can interchange any two audio banks and fade out the tracks. I'm still studying this one. Hopefully Raleene will be patient and persistent enough to learn this in time for our next gig!

And now for the photo junkies...

 These two flibbergabbers belong to the iPad camera connection kit.

One has an SD card slot while the other has a USB slot. If you're more responsible than I am and you actually keep all the contents in the box your camera came in, you can connect your camera directly to your iPad with the USB cord thingaling.

 What it does is import/move your pictures to your ipad. It's pretty neat if you're into quick uploads and if you don't exactly want to or can't lug around your laptop while travelling. It's a cool and cheap alternative (Php 1,300 or roughly around $30 for both) to buying the new wifi cameras like the "smart cameras" that Samsung is selling. 

If you're like me and can't take good pictures no matter what smart or auto setting the camera is on, there's a plethora of photo editing applications you can choose from in the app store.

Speaking of apps and fully utilizing your Apple products, did you know that you can create, import, save, and edit word, excel, and powerpoint files on your device? Docs Unlimited is the shizz, yo. I had it on my phone first and it helped a lot with school.

Other music-y applications you might want to check out:

Figure

Soundprism

Voice Synth

Tabletop

MIDI Guitar

Ral's currently doing a project using the new iPad setup. Her first solo-ish recording! All that's left is a chunk of the vocal track and we'll be able to post it online. :)

My pen is mightier than your sword.

A couple weeks back, Ral and I both bought Adonit Jot Pro styluses. There are numerous drawing applications available, but we've taken a liking to Paper by FifyThree. Here are some things I drew on Ral's iPad:

   

JOT PRO + PAPER BY FIFTYTHREE

Ral during Bloggers' United 3

Aivan (Ral's boothmate) wanted me to draw him.

JOT PRO + SKETCHBOOK PRO

Sadly, Paper by FiftyThree doesn't have a mobile version

iPhones are hard to draw on ☹

JOT PRO + SKETCHBOOK EXPRESS

There's no desktop version of Paper by FiftyThree either. *cue single tear*

Surprisingly, the stylus works with the Macbook trackpad!

 

Obligatory derp drawing

Note to self: When you want to draw more characters like this, don't draw in class.

❖

Okay fine, I might end up investing in a proper tablet sometime in the future. The stylus' compatibility with the track pad is cool and all, but it does limit your movement which, consequently, will affect your productivity. But if you're the kind who draws for fun and is in no need of proper equipment, the stylus+trackpad/iPhone/iPad/iPod Touch combo is more than enough. :)

Everyone should start drawing or doodling. It soothes the soul. There's no wrong or right way to doodle. Just let the ink flow and your thoughts flow with it. If people can rant through speech and song, you can most definitely rant through colors and lines. Or you could throw paint at the wall or crush crayons onto a canvas. Whatever floats your boat. We all have our own unique ways of expression.

✌♡☞

Peace, love, and poke thy neighbor

"I'MMA PUNCH YOU SO HARD, THINGS POP OUTTA YOU"...

...is what I yell whenever I get a hold of unused cards, and it's all because of this baby right here

Thank you, Cine! :) Thanks for the photos, too. I'm glad you know I can't do photography. Mehehe.
You're the best [insert word to describe what you are to me] ever.

♥

SCREW RESOLUTIONS, I'M MAKING A WISH LIST

Since resolutions don't exactly give me the push I need to do better throughout the year, I thought that maybe it'd do me good to put my materialistic human nature to use.

Instead of creating a list of things I want to practice or achieve, I've made a list of things I want to be able to give myself at the end of the year. Said list is a cross between a wish list and a new year's resolution list. In working towards getting what I want when the year ends, I hope I establish new (hopefully) good habits and ethics.

To make things more interesting, I've included reasons as to why I want these goodies. I'm more than excited to let you guys in on how shallow my interests really are.

Let's get started!

(click on product names to go to their product pages)

iPhone 4S

Because I need me some Siri to organize my life~ and because I need to let go of my dying 3GS. A couple more years (or months...?) and it'll be obsolete. Other than the 4S being faster performance-wise, almost all the apps I need/want aren't compatible with my phone, and the camera on the 4S kicks major ass.

MacBook Pro

You can never go wrong with a Pro, bro. I've discussed this with dad, and I might be getting one as soon as I go back to school. I need a badass music-making machine that I can bring with me wherever I go. My desktop computer's pretty awesome, but I'm almost always out of the house. It'll be easier to work with other people if I can take my workstation with me.

LomoKino

Since my hands are too shaky to take still photographs, might as well give this 35mm movie camera a try.

Hello Kitty Sewing Machine

Because I.... just because. The Martha in me longs for it. And I'm tired of stitching things by hand.

Roland CS-10EM Binaural Microphone Earphones

If you're familiar with the concept of 3D sound/binaural recording, you'll understand why I want a pair of these. You can manipulate frequencies and replicate the whole 3D audio thing with programs, but nothing can compare to the real deal. And it's easier when you get to record the audio the way you want it. You fuss about technical stuff less.

Zoom H2n

What I lack in equipment, this mic makes up for in versatility. This thing is basically 4 microphones in one. It can run on batteries, has internal memory, is capable of editing audio (divide, normalize, and encode), supports SD cards, and can be used as a USB microphone. Check out this product page to read up on the other features and specs. This shit's legit. And since this can run another plug-in mic, pairing this up with the Roland Binaural Microphone Earphones will get you ace recordings. 3D audio recordings + portable audio interface that sports 4 kinds of microphones inside of it. Do the math.

Korg nanoSERIES2

I know you're gonna judge me for wanting these MIDI controllers, but I CAN'T HELP IT. Midi tracks are both overrated and underrated in a sense that people use them too much and, at the same time, people don't use them enough. Okay, I'm not making any sense. I guess musicians just need to find a balance if they ever consider using midi tracks. It's kinda like dancing the robot - don't overdo it or you'll look like an idiot/an ass/an idiot's ass. 

MicroKorg Synthesizer/Vocoder

I've always wanted to have one of these. I doubt I'll be using it for live performances any time soon, but it'd be nice to learn how to use one properly before actually bringing it out and showing it off during gigs. Plus, I think it's time I learn another instrument well enough to be able to compose on it.

❖

Here's to hoping I learn valuable lessons and not just focus on getting everything on the list!

Garageband + iPhone

Two months ago, I made a daring purchase (I say daring because, well, I never really buy shit online) in the app store and got myself the Garageband iPhone application.

Here's what I came up with on my first try:

  

Lonely bee, can you hear me calling? Waiting for your sting~

10 minutes to navigate around the app, familiarize myself with it, put together the instrument parts, and then write the lyrics. I know I could've made something longer, but I just wanted to try it out. Hopefully I'll get around to recording an entire song in the near future. Knowing how lazy I get when it comes to handling equipment, I'll probably be recording my next song with this baby. 

Basically, it's a really compact version of the desktop program. All in all, I'd say it's a pretty handy app to have when you're on the go and you have something you're itching to record and you don't give a damn about the sound quality (not implying that the quality is crap because it totally isn't).

If you're the type of person who enjoys making the most out of/abusing your iPhone, you might want to look into these products:

The Mikey 2.0

and...

The Amplitube iRig

The Mikey 2.0 is a stereo microphone that you can attach to your iPhone 3Gs/iPod Touch/iPod Classic (not compatible with other iPod models). The Amplitube iRig is an interface that allows you to connect your guitar directly to your phone. Pair the iRig with the built-in Garageband amps and pedals, and you've got yourself one heck of a machine in your hands. 

More about the Mikey 2.0 in the official product page -> clickityclack

And of course, the Amplitube iRig's got one, too -> clickitycloo

And just in case you're interested in reading the poorly-written write-up I did a while back on the Mikey, clickity your way over here -> clippityclap

Hit the jump for more info on the Garageband iPhone app!

As promised!

(Unedited) Pictures taken with the lego camera

It was nearing midnight on Christmas Eve and I was running around the streets of Hong Kong with that wonderful blinking blue wand.

Our 7-11 noche buena~

Shots... of Yakult.

I'm seriously hoping my sister doesn't see this. Hello Ral I love you please don't kill me omg

In an attempt to capture the clutter in my room

And my favorite picture of all time:

Taking pictures with a camera pieced together by mini blocks of fun really is something.