http://andrako.net/dstryr.cfm Fri, 09 Dec 2011 10:20:00 GMT http://bandzoogle.com http://andrako.net/dstryr.cfm?feature=2976221&postid=1600909 Just uploaded the instrumental version of MAYHEM MANTIS.  This is a track that has been around for awhile, but the lyrics finally came together recently.  I ended up dropping the BPM from the original version and..... BLAM... things fell in line instantly.  I took an unorthodox approach to writing this track.  I created a custom sample kit, then sequenced everything within an early version of REASON using only REDRUM.  Since early versions of REASON didn't have a method for recording wav files, I loaded up my custom kit across three REDRUM machines and sequenced programmed patterns, the result was, um, BIG BALLS (or some goofy description like that, ha) ... The individual tracks have been exported from REASON into ABLETON LIVE 5 ... where I'll cut vocals and mix.  I'll be using the same chain for recording vocals as I mentioned in an earler post.  At some point in these posts I'll list out all the gear used to achieve the BIG BALLS sound ;) .... The other intersting thing about this track is that there are no guitars, yet the track is still HEAVY AS HELL ... if you think you can track some guitars to make it heavier, hit me up and we'll see about adding them to the mix ... I'll also be looking for some backup vocals on this one, so check back when the w/vox version gets posted ... peace n grease -ANDRAKO
The individual tracks have been exported from REASON into ABLETON LIVE 5 ... where I'll cut vocals and mix.  I'll be using the same chain for recording vocals as I mentioned in an earler post.  At some point in these posts I'll list out all the gear used to achieve the BIG BALLS sound ;) ....

The other intersting thing about this track is that there are no guitars, yet the track is still HEAVY AS HELL ... if you think you can track some guitars to make it heavier, hit me up and we'll see about adding them to the mix ... I'll also be looking for some backup vocals on this one, so check back when the w/vox version gets posted ... peace n grease

-ANDRAKO
]]> Fri, 09 Dec 2011 10:20:00 GMT 0D77AF11BCD8DF2820F9F24A1D9FB2AE http://andrako.net/dstryr.cfm?feature=2976221&postid=1586223 Here are the instrumental versions of PLANET STRANGE and WARLORD, which are the lead off tracks for DSTRYR (click the links in the lyrics section to check out the tracks).  The sound is a return to style used on DFNDR, a sort of HARDCORE INDUSTRIAL sound, GABBER with SLAYER  style riffage if you will.  My guitar style is heavily influenced by the SOUTH OF HEAVEN and SEASONS IN THE ABYSS records.  Everytime I find myself drifting in riff world, this style brings me back home.  The guitars were recorded through a LINE 6 POD (kidney shaped box) into ABLETON 5.0 via an MBOX2, with a FOCUSTRITE PREAMP between the POD and THE MBOX 2.  I'm using the same configuration I mentioned in the SHOKWAV post for vocals.  The SYNTH BASS is a custom microKORG patch tracked live.  I prefer tracking live vs midi .. it sounds a bit looser than midi, but I feel like that is what helps shape the ANDRAKO sound.  The drum beats and noize samples are mostly customs I made in REASON, with some sample drum loops tossed in the mix.  ABLETON becomes another instrument when dealing not only with stock samples, but also custom samples.  I don't always stick with the BPM I begin the song in, so having the flexibility to change sounds on the fly is huge.  In the case of PLANET STRANGE, the drum beats were pushing 200 BPM, I was having a hard time finding space to fit other instruments in, so I dialed back the speed and things then seemed to fall in place. I'm currently writing and recording VOCALS for these tracks and will post up the VOX version when I wrap those up.  Peace n Grease. -ANDRAKO
The guitars were recorded through a LINE 6 POD (kidney shaped box) into ABLETON 5.0 via an MBOX2, with a FOCUSTRITE PREAMP between the POD and THE MBOX 2.  I'm using the same configuration I mentioned in the SHOKWAV post for vocals.  The SYNTH BASS is a custom microKORG patch tracked live.  I prefer tracking live vs midi .. it sounds a bit looser than midi, but I feel like that is what helps shape the ANDRAKO sound. 

The drum beats and noize samples are mostly customs I made in REASON, with some sample drum loops tossed in the mix.  ABLETON becomes another instrument when dealing not only with stock samples, but also custom samples.  I don't always stick with the BPM I begin the song in, so having the flexibility to change sounds on the fly is huge.  In the case of PLANET STRANGE, the drum beats were pushing 200 BPM, I was having a hard time finding space to fit other instruments in, so I dialed back the speed and things then seemed to fall in place.

I'm currently writing and recording VOCALS for these tracks and will post up the VOX version when I wrap those up.  Peace n Grease.

-ANDRAKO
]]> Tue, 06 Dec 2011 09:15:00 GMT 3BF8D226D4E3E477CF205DB46C52106E http://andrako.net/dstryr.cfm?feature=2976221&postid=1582320 SHOKWAV is a collaboration between myself and M1 of CRANIAL SMASH DEVICE.  This is the first rough draft of the track, so there is still a fair amount of work left on this one, but the concept feels pretty solid.  The idea started with me sending a bass line sketch to M1, who then came back with a wicked instrument track.  When M1 sends me a track, the hair on the back of my neck stands up and I'm immediately thrown into lyric vision mode ... this track was no different.  I'll let M1 comment on his gear of choice, for me, I pulled the mp3 version of this track into Ableton Live 5 and tracked about 6 vocal tracks against it, then chose the one with the best performance.  I'll rehearse with this version for a few days, then go back in for some cleaner takes.  I used a RODE NT1 through a FOCUSRITE preamp.  This was patched into Ableton with an MBOX PRO 2 ... nothing fancy, but it gets the job done.  Click the link in the lyrics section below to check out the draft.  For more on CRANIAL SMASH DEVICE and M1, check reverbnation.com/cranialsmashdevice ... the first ANDRAKO/CSD collaboration is available there as well ... peace n grease. - ANDRAKO
I'll let M1 comment on his gear of choice, for me, I pulled the mp3 version of this track into Ableton Live 5 and tracked about 6 vocal tracks against it, then chose the one with the best performance.  I'll rehearse with this version for a few days, then go back in for some cleaner takes.  I used a RODE NT1 through a FOCUSRITE preamp.  This was patched into Ableton with an MBOX PRO 2 ... nothing fancy, but it gets the job done.  Click the link in the lyrics section below to check out the draft. 

For more on CRANIAL SMASH DEVICE and M1, check reverbnation.com/cranialsmashdevice ... the first ANDRAKO/CSD collaboration is available there as well ... peace n grease.

- ANDRAKO
]]> Mon, 05 Dec 2011 11:00:00 GMT C5726973754C88B8BFE885079FB8887A http://andrako.net/dstryr.cfm?feature=2976221&postid=1582289 The latest IDEA FROM THE DEEP has arrived!  What you have before you is construction of the next ANDRAKO release DSTRYR.  I'll be posting everything from rough drafts through final mixes here, along with notes on everything from the writing process through the engineering process.  I'll also be taking collaboration submissions for music, art, and lyrics ... anything you can contribute just might appear on DSTRYR ... interaction is highly encouraged.  More details to follow... peace n grease. - ANDRAKO
- ANDRAKO


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