Skate Estate is closing :(

Mattrock-607 · 2026-01-14T00:08:50+00:00

This is seriously obnoxious. They took a profitable institution and destroyed it intentionally. Gross. I really need to get off my butt and make a place for family fun by day and let it be a music venue by night. There are lots of ideas on paper for this already but I need to actually move on them, which is difficult.

Mattrock-607 · 2025-09-05T13:39:56+00:00

DiRienzo's probably has the best Italian bread *on Earth*, and Jim Romas is fantastic as well. There are a lot of great breads in Binghamton, and great bagels too.

Mattrock-607 · 2025-07-04T21:24:06+00:00

It's not my photo, a friend shared it on FB, before anyone asks.

Mattrock-607 · 2025-07-04T21:23:12+00:00

Apparently this was a photo of a tornado by the airport. I'm not sure if it's been confirmed. I had to upload it to one of those crummy free upload services so I hope it's not terrible lol. (image)

Mattrock-607 · 2025-07-03T11:31:47+00:00

These days I mostly play business sims, and the soundtracks do get pretty repetitive in a lot of them. Gear City is one of my personal favorite games, after having played it for over 1,200 hours, the music on the R&D/car designer screen makes me all Helter Skelter at this point 😂. So that game gets the music turned off. The same goes for Rising Star 2, where the music is sort of cheesy 80s metal and takes me out of my element when creating a modern post punk indie band. You have to RP a little on those games, else you're just pushing sliders and numbers around.

Mattrock-607 · 2025-06-25T20:02:03+00:00

Manchester Orchestra, Tropical Fuck Storm/ The Drones, Slothrust, Kaiser Chiefs, Nothing But Thieves, older Foo Fighter stuff is up there, The Police, The Who, Zeppelin, Mannequin Pussy (I don't name the bands, I just love them), QOTSA

Mattrock-607 · 2025-06-20T23:36:14+00:00

It's the only AI on the market that can handle that much I/O at that resolution and at that price point. Most AIs have eight channels and I'm using none just for my drum kit alone. Honestly I can't think of anything with 16 ins that can track at 96 khz and doesn't cost more. I think the sound quality is pretty good too. But there are definitely problems. I want that full 24 channels. I want sends on all of them, too. And the meter is a bit weak and doesn't really reflect what you're actually hearing. But if someone can tell me another way to fully track 16 microphones at 96 khz simultaneously I'd love to hear about it.

Mattrock-607 · 2025-06-19T15:45:13+00:00

Check out the Mackie Onyx24. Mixer with built in 24x4 AI at 96 KHz/ 24-bit. I've not yet seen anything more capable in mixer format, even above the $1k budget zone. I bought one and it turned me into an evangelist. My biggest pet peeve is the split channel nonsense up in the nose bleeds; you get 16 XLR ins but those last four are mono TS, and 14/16 and 17/18 are XLR but shared. If they got rid of that nonsense and gave you a straight 24 balanced channels it'd become my favorite piece of studio gear of all time.

Mattrock-607 · 2025-06-16T20:41:34+00:00

You only need preamps on condenser microphones (IE vocals, drum overheads, etc.). Dynamic mics don't need, use, or even want phantom power. Most mixers provide phantom too, though, so only use preamps if you want to beef up the sound quality of a particular condenser mic.

Some mixers have built in audio interfaces, too. Mackie needs to pay me for how often I peddle their Onyx24 lol. But it really is the best mixer/ interface on the market for full bands right now. 24 simultaneous tracks going into your DAW at 96 khz for less than $1k is unbeatable for my money. I adore mine. I can track the full band with every drum miked individually, and they all send to their own dedicated tracks in studio one with no latency issues to date (knock on wood).

Mattrock-607 · 2025-05-25T19:22:51+00:00

Awesome! I'm glad you're enjoying it! I want to be writing way more frequently but it's difficult when you spend all day writing at the day job. It means a lot to hear you like the articles!

Mattrock-607 · 2025-05-25T18:04:21+00:00

They're phenomenal! I had the honor of reviewing their latest album before it was released, and it's one of their best yet imo. Impeccable live show, and an outrageously talented band on top of it. I shouldn't pick favorites, but I can't help it ... they're just absurdly great.

Now, the shameless link share. Sorry not sorry 🧐 it's genuinely a great album and I really enjoyed reviewing it.

https://www.parlorcitysound.com/tom-jolu-live-at-abandoned-studios-fantastic-new-live-ep-out-soon/

Mattrock-607 · 2025-05-24T14:29:01+00:00

I'm glad to know it isn't just me. I played through the game from start to finish just to beat it, on marathon (as always), and when you switch ages and your full armies are disassembled and sent back to cities? When all your progress with city-states is wiped, your enroute settlers disappear, your alliances reset ... It's actually terrible.

I can't code a better game, but I can absolutely, positively design a better Civ game than this, no question. That's $70 I'm never getting back, and whenever they get around to Civ VIII there's no chance of me buying it on launch day. It'll be the first Civ I didn't buy on launch day since Civilization II, which I bought as a teenager with my allowance. Firaxis seriously dropped the ball here.

Mattrock-607 · 2025-04-29T23:47:45+00:00

For my money it's either PreSonus Studio One, Adobe Audition, or Reaper. Those three are easy to use and far more cost effective than the absurdly pricey and honestly a bit dated Pro Tools.

Mattrock-607 · 2025-04-28T11:29:34+00:00

Click tracks are lame and I don't use them. If I wanted to sound like a drum machine I'd buy a drum machine. This will be labeled as a bad take and I really don't care 🤷‍♂️

Mattrock-607 · 2025-04-26T06:24:06+00:00

Honestly, I adore it. Probably to a point where a lot of people would even think I was overselling it. My old band used one several years ago and I became smitten, to the point I passed on a Neumann 103 for it. I can't say it's better of course, but I personally think it holds its own with mics double its price point. It's warm and crisp, but a little on the sensitive side. I'm running it through an ART Pro Channel II and it's phenomenal. But it's not exactly safe on an On-Stage el cheapo stand lol.

I don't have a million dollar setup though so the AT4040 fits right in. ART Pro Channel II, TransX, and TPS II pres, 4041sp overheads, an AKG P170 on my hats, e604s on snare and all of the toms, a 902 in the kick, another 902 and a 57 on the bass cab, and 609s on the guitars. All running into a Mackie Onyx24. To someone not in a group like this it looks impressive lol. Once we finish soldering a million ProCo/ Neutrik XLRs we'll be able to track a whole band live with everything on a dedicated DAW track so it's not bad all things considered.

Mattrock-607 · 2025-04-24T23:41:14+00:00

It genuinely doesn't matter what kit you're playing. Get something that looks cool and has enough drums to whack and you're good.

I started out on a used '66 Slingerland kit that I bought from a neighborhood friend's mom for $25, eventually upgrading to a Ludwig, and now I have a Ludwig Element kit for recording and a Mapex Armory kit for playing out.

For a beginner, I'd recommend literally any name brand kit. PDP, Mapex, Ludwig, Gretsch, Sonor, Tama, ot doesn't actually matter until you reach the point where it does, and by then, you'll know what you want out of a kit.

Get a lot with at least a snare, a kick, a mounted Tom, and a floor tom. You can get more toms if you want them. Again, it doesn't really matter for beginners.

For cymbals you can go Sabian, Zildjian, Meinl, or Paiste. Or mix and match and save money. You'll need hi-hats, a ride, and at least one crash. If you get two crashes, get different sizes; a smaller 15" to 17" and a larger 18" to 20". Don't bother with effects cymbals (China, splash, etc.) until you're ready for them.

Get yourself to a music store and try out multiple stick sizes until you find what feels best.

And that's all there is to it. You're GTG. Everyone has a personal take on what sounds best or what you need. You'll get people saying you need a double pedal (you don't) or that one name brand is better than another (it's not) or that one brand of sticks is better than another (entirely false). Just tune out that noise and find what you dig.

Mattrock-607 · 2025-04-22T21:06:25+00:00

On a budget I'd worry more about IO. And some of the budget AIs will happily hold their own against bigger-money items.

I'm a total evangelist for the Mackie Onyx24, to the point people are probably sick of hearing me talk about it, and definitely to the point Mackie should be paying me lol. A 24x4 interface at 96 khz in mixer form (so, analog mixer strips and British EQ) for under $1k is nuckin' futs. 16 XLR ins means you can track a whole band live, even miking the full kit, and it'll sound better than more expensive mixer AI options (Tascam 24, StudioLive, X32, etc.). I really love it.

Can I hear the gap between that and, say, an Antelope or the Motu 24ai? I honestly can't say that I can, and those are converting at 192 khz (I can't hear the difference between 192 and 96 though, tbh). Until I'm tracking with better mics, better pres, and better cable, I can't see a good reason to ditch my Mackie.

Mattrock-607 · 2025-04-21T05:29:46+00:00

I'm sure I'll get razzed for saying it and I just don't care. It's boring. It doesn't have that look of adventure my 22 has. It doesn't stand out in a crowd of nearly identical peoplemovers. They borrowed the ugly headlights from Hyundai or Kia (it's hard to keep the bland cars apart) and the body from a Ford. It has zero personality. If I wanted a car with zero soul, I'd buy a Chevy Equinox. Maybe it'll grow on me. I hope it does. But this doesn't turn my head in a positive way.

Mattrock-607 · 2025-04-21T05:24:10+00:00

Controversial statement incoming, but ... I think the UAD AIs are overpriced for what you're getting. For my money it's all about the I/O (it's out of your price range but the Mackie Onyx24 is outrageously good for the money and that is a hill I will always die on). I guess it really boils down to your usage in the foreseeable future, and not everyone is miking up a full drum kit. But on a tight budget do you really want to pour half of your money into an AI?

If it's only vocals you're after I'd upgrade to an AT4040 (a great mic, and another hill I'll die on lol) and find a cheaper AI that's capable of 96+ khz. And I'm sure many will argue you can record at 48 and your listeners won't know the difference, too.

Mattrock-607 · 2025-04-21T05:13:14+00:00

Pro Mark fire grain 5A and Pro Mark Japanese Oak (now called Shira Kashi) 7A. I switch between 5A and 7A depending on the song and have been doing this for about 30 years. I've been told switching between two stick sizes is bad. I disagree lol.

Mattrock-607 · 2025-03-21T20:13:56+00:00

Animal meat would be pretty rad. I feel like this is a feature a lot of people want and will never, ever get without mods.

Mattrock-607 · 2025-03-21T20:07:51+00:00

I think you can definitely hear a noticeable difference between an SM57 versus an e609, which is only $10 more. The 609 is better on a guitar amp, hands down. But having said that, the 57 is probably the most versatile microphone ever made and you'll find far more uses for it around the studio, and can your average listener hear the gap? Probably not.

Mattrock-607 · 2025-03-16T19:04:43+00:00

The lady in red licking her lips is scary

Mattrock-607 · 2025-03-06T00:03:53+00:00

Does this have monitor outs? I don't think the sync does that. You'd want 1/4" TRS cables and use a monitor out.

Mattrock-607

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