Stan Stewart - @muz4now

Stan Stewart - @muz4now

### Please share! * Click to share on Mastodon (Opens in new window) Mastodon * Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn * Click to share on Threads (Opens in new window) Threads * Click to share on Bluesky (Opens in new window) Bluesky * Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email * More * * Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook * Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit * * Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr * Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest * * Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X * Things change. And — especially when you’re unsigned — clarity is a good thing. ## Unsigned Musician Over the years, many of the platforms that claim to be on the side of unsigned musicians have fallen away. This leaves people like me filling the void left by those failed services. But wait a minute: what’s this “unsigned” thing? Well, I used to prefer “independent musician“. However, there’s something misleading about that phrase. Being a musician not signed to a record label does not mean having to do-it-myself. I still reach out to friends, collaborators, and many more who make this a “do it together” approach. In other words, unsigned does not mean independent. Unsigned or independent musicians must choose avenues for marketing Click To Tweet ## Say “Bye-Bye” Some people reading this will remember how MySpace said that it was going to be the haven for indie musicians at one time. But we all know that this is a great example of a platform that failed to deliver. And eventually failed on every level. Similarly, other social networks have become more challenging for unsigned musicians and bands with little or no budget for paid advertising. These platforms lured us in with big promises, but nearly all of them fail to deliver for the unsigned musician. Other socials have simply become too much of a troll zone. The last thing a musician without a staff needs is one more thing to eat up time. We want to use our time for creating and recording. ## Whip This One recent platform failure is Song Whip. This web application was the easy way to make a page that included all streaming platforms for a particular release. Though many labels used this platform, I think it was especially popular with unsigned acts. As of July 22, 2024, Song Whip is no more. A few of the pages seem to be working, but new content can no longer be created. As far as I’ve been able to find, there was no explanation by the platform or journalists for the failure. Too many resources for unsigned artists disappear without explanation Click To Tweet ## Platforms Unsigned My old approach was to find a different service to take over for the failed one. When MySpace died, I switched to Twitter. When Twitter became a cesspool, I befriended folk on Mastodon and Bluesky. However, other sites like BandCamp and Song Whip are not strictly social. They are functional. In addition to several other functions, BandCamp allows for streaming plays embedded in almost any sort of website. In the case of Song Whip, it was a sharing tool that easily captured the various streaming radios when you input a song name. I tried a few other song sharing platforms. There are some that are quite helpful and others that required lots of technical setup. But too many of them add their own branding to the share. For example, Hyperfollow emblazons “DistroKid” over the album/single cover image. And who’s to say if some of these other platforms will survive any better than Song Whip? ## DIY So, in this case, I decided to literally do-it-myself. I’m adding my releases to individual pages that have a look somewhat similar to Song Whip, but over which I have more control. You may follow the growing number of albums, suites (EPs), and singles that I’ve built so far on a page here. I will be adding more there as time permits. As of today, I have over 112 releases and about 100 of those are available on dozens of streaming platforms. Thanks for reading and especially for listening! Follow Stan Stewart’s music at https://muz4now.com/ Click To Tweet ### Please share! * Click to share on Mastodon (Opens in new window) Mastodon * Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn * Click to share on Threads (Opens in new window) Threads * Click to share on Bluesky (Opens in new window) Bluesky * Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email * More * * Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook * Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit * * Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr * Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest * * Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X * ### Like this: Like Loading... ### _More for you_ * * * ### Discover more from Stan Stewart - @muz4now Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email. Type your email… Subscribe

### Please share! * Click to share on Mastodon (Opens in new window) Mastodon * Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn * Click to share on Threads (Opens in new window) Threads * Click to share on Bluesky (Opens in new window) Bluesky * Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email * More * * Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook * Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit * * Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr * Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest * * Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X * Inspiration makes me happy. And I don’t believe in limiting my inspirations. When I see a potential new one, I say, “Go for it!” ## Happy Collaborations Once again, I’m glad to say that there are a number of collaborations in my creative life. I’ve started playing out again, mostly because I started jamming with Rose Alaimo. I’m really psyched about performing with Rose. Not only is she a stellar singer-songwriter, but she’s an all-around genuine and generous human being. Collaborations, sounds, beauty — so many #inspirations Click To Tweet ## Marimba, Not Vibes Recently, Rose asked me about marimba sample libraries. I told her that I have a favorite. And just as quickly, I created the track featured in this post. Now, she did not choose the marimba instrument that I recommended. (After all, there are _so many_ to choose from!) However, she — quite unknowingly — became an inspiration for one of my “Healing Melodies” tracks. (Read on to find out which marimba I recommended.) ## A Happy Vibe Some people will say that because this song is in a minor key, it can’t be happy. But I beg to differ. I think the vibe in this track is incredibly hopeful and happy. Speaking of hopeful, I hope you enjoy it. And if you don’t, I’m still quite happy (oops) to chat with you about it. Some people say that a minor key makes a sad song – but it doesn’t have to be so! Click To Tweet ## May Rim Bah But back to that sample library. The marimba instrument that I mentioned is my favorite is Grand Marimba by SonicCouture. The samples, the layout, the features, and the sound of this instrument are spectacular in my humble opinion. I honestly cannot find anything to fault it on. To make things even better, I have appreciated many other instruments from SonicCouture over the years. So, I found it very easy to create a whole piece using only their sample libraries. These inspire me. And so that’s what I present you with. Check out the great instruments from @Soniccouture – #MusicianTips Click To Tweet The main image in this post is by klvngrdnr and was found here: https://pixabay.com/users/klvngrdnr-21857347/ (Healing Melodies album is out now. Listen by clicking on this paragraph.) ### Please share! * Click to share on Mastodon (Opens in new window) Mastodon * Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn * Click to share on Threads (Opens in new window) Threads * Click to share on Bluesky (Opens in new window) Bluesky * Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email * More * * Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook * Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit * * Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr * Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest * * Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X * ### Like this: Like Loading... ### _More for you_ * * * ### Discover more from Stan Stewart - @muz4now Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email. Type your email… Subscribe

Stan Stewart - @muz4now

Stan Stewart - @muz4now

Stan Stewart - @muz4now

If the mention of scales conjures frightening flashbacks of instrumental lessons undertaken in your youth, you won’t be alone. But, the importance of …

Image from pexels.com I have a real problem with the blank page. I would never make it as a writer. That empty expanse of void waiting for words… I feel that here but I’m not a writer so I just bla…

Created by Stan Stewart on @muz4now - Stan Stewart - the muse is present Folk songs are often social. Folk songs are often raw. In form and delivery, their point is to get across the story. Nothing else is more important. A Chance Meeting Social…

Some things matter. Some things matter more. Nothing Wrong With A Day Job I’ve gone through periods when my only income was from music. However, …

Stan Stewart - @muz4now

Integration will soon expand to YouTube’s homepage – and to YouTube Music later this year…

Buyer's Guides As soon as the letters ‘D’, ‘A’, and ‘W’ are placed together, you may feel the financial sweats coming on. Indeed, Digital Audio …

Stan Stewart - @muz4now

### Please share! * Click to share on Mastodon (Opens in new window) Mastodon * Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X * Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook * Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn * Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest * More * * Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email * Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window) Pocket * * Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr * Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit * * Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window) WhatsApp * When discussing the merit of a keyboard, one of the first questions is often “ _does it have weighted keys?”_ You may have heard this and wondered what exactly does _weighted keys_ mean. You might have heard this and wondered why you would want a weighted keyboard. Well, there are some very good reasons for having weighted, hammer-action keys. And there are also a few reasons not to have them. Do you need weighted keys when selecting a digital keyboard? Click To Tweet ## Where It Started One acoustic piano key typically has around a hundred moving parts, this is mind-blowing when you multiply that by eighty-eight. Without going into the full complexity of engineering we can give you an overview of how it works. In its simplest form, pressing a key will make a hammer strike a string or strings. The vibration of the strings is what creates the sound or note. The keys on a piano get progressively lighter from low notes to high notes. Low notes are created by larger/longer strings that require a larger hammer to generate the right sound. As the pitch gets higher, the strings get lighter/shorter and require smaller hammers. Each key is balanced on a pivot point. By pressing a key down, the pivot point naturally causes the back of the key to lift. When this happens, it activates the mechanism that makes the hammer strike, the velocity of the strike depends on how soft/hard you press on the key. The pivot point and lever style mechanism create a natural weight and resistance. Getting used to the weight and resistance is what makes it possible to control the velocity and articulation of each hammer strike. There are variations of this mechanism in different types of piano. Piano keys are wooden, commonly maple or spruce. This adds to the natural weight of the keys which are usually covered with a type of plastic. In older pianos, keys were often covered by ivory which would crack over time. ## Types of Weighted Keys ### Semi-Weighted Keys As the name suggests, they offer more weight and resistance than non-weighted keys. Semi-weighted keys are often a happy medium for musicians who don’t want to travel with a heavy keyboard. The keys have a spring action to create some resistance. While not providing the same tension as fully weighted keys, they will certainly give you a different feel when compared to non-weighted keys. ### Hammer Action Keys One of the things you might notice with hammer action keyboards is that they tend to be bigger/heavier than other keyboards. The reason for this is that they have a lever style mechanism to emulate the feel of an acoustic piano. Hammer action keys **provide much more resistance** and naturally encourage more expression/articulation from the player. ### Graded Keys This is an extension of hammer action keys, this time, individually weighted like an acoustic piano. Graded keys are usually a feature you’d find on more premium, high-end weighted keyboards or digital pianos. Because they replicate the weight of individual hammers, **graded keys are the closest you will get to a real piano feel**. What does it mean to have weighted keys on a keyboard? Click To Tweet ## Why Should You Want Weighted Keys? There are a lot of reasons for wanting weighted keys so let’s start at the beginning. If you are learning piano, then I’d urge you to learn on weighted keys if possible. Weighted keys will help you build the strength and stamina**** required in your fingers/wrists to play a real piano. The distance between the softest and heaviest velocity you can create with weighted keys will make you notice subtle differences much more. This will force you to think about your touch and articulation more, making you a more expressive player. Some would argue that because non-weighted keys are usually touch-responsive you can achieve the same overall sound. _In theory_ , this may be true, the keyboard will digitally create a sound that exactly matches the pressure applied to the key strike. _In reality_ , this isn’t true at all. With no weight or resistance, you cannot accurately perform the desired velocity and articulation. If you can’t physically feel that range, you can’t develop your sense of touch. This is why I urge people to learn on weighted keys when possible. In my opinion, weighted keys get even more important as you become a better player. What makes a great pianist isn’t just technique, it’s creativity, personality, and taste. With that being said, the better your technique gets the more you can express the other aspects in your playing. As you continue to develop your touch you become more able to utilize the most subtle articulations. When you start to do this, people start to hear you, and not just the piano. Without weighted keys, I don’t think you can express every aspect of your playing to the same extent. The other thing to consider is that **playing on an organ-action keyboard can make it very difficult to transition to weighted keys** or an acoustic piano. Of course, the same can be said in reverse but I think it’s far easier to make the adjustment from weighted to non-weighted. ## When You Don’t Want Weighted Keys? Despite everything I’ve just said there are times when I’d recommend not having weighted keys. What it really comes down to in the end is **what you want out of your keyboard**. Instruments like a Hammond organ or a Moog Voyager have organ-action keys, with good reason. As you can imagine, the reason is the style in which they are played. When playing an organ sound you often want to employ that choppy, fast note-repeat style. To play like this you want the key action to be as light and fast as possible. Same can be said when playing fast, repeated notes on a synth. Obviously, for this kind of use, weighted keys don’t serve the purpose. If you gig a lot and the piano isn’t the main focus, maybe you don’t need the entire range of expression. In which case, save some heavy lifting and take a lighter keyboard. This is what I meant earlier by semi-weighted being a happy medium. This post was authored by Austin Consordini. ### Please share! * Click to share on Mastodon (Opens in new window) Mastodon * Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X * Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook * Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn * Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest * More * * Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email * Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window) Pocket * * Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr * Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit * * Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window) WhatsApp * ### Like this: Like Loading... ### _More for you_ * * * ### Discover more from Stan Stewart - @muz4now Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email. Type your email… Subscribe

The MOTU 16A (2025) has been revamped with a range of improvements and modern connectivity standards for studio and live applications.For years, MOTU …

**BOSS** has introduced the **PX-1 Plugout FX** , a new effects pedal that lets you select from up to 16 effects. The BOSS PX-1 Plugout FX features multiple effects, based on classic BOSS pedals, stereo input and output, MIDI control and more. **Features:** * Multiple BOSS compact pedal effects in a single pedal. * Instantly reconfigure the pedal to use one effect from an onboard library of up to 16 types * Comes with 16 effects: OD-1, SP-1, PH-1, SG-1, CS-1, TW-1, SD-1, DS-1, CE-2, BF-2, PN-2, OC-2, PS-2, VB-2, DD-2, and DF-2 * Additional effects available over time with Model Pass purchases in the BOSS Effect Loader app * Stereo input and output * Support for external control with footswitches or an expression pedal * Tap tempo support and TRS MIDI input for MIDI clock sync * Bluetooth and USB-C connectivity for loading effect models and more * Runs on included AC adaptor or USB bus power * BOSS five-year warranty **Pricing and Availability:** The **BOSS PX-1 Plugout FX** is available now for $249.99 USD.

@muz4now

Stan Stewart - @muz4now

Who doesn’t love a Pultec EQ? However, not everyone has the budget for that particular hardware classic. If you’re light on cash after Christmas, …

Created by Stan Stewart on @muz4now - Stan Stewart - the muse is present Inspiration makes me happy. And I don’t believe in limiting my inspirations. When I see a potential new one, I say, “Go for it!” Happy Collaborations Once again, I’m glad to say…

Songwhip services will cease from July 22, 2024

Created by Stan Stewart on @muz4now - Stan Stewart - the muse is present Maybe you already knew this: I’m experimenting. And with lots of different things. Let me tell you what I mean. Knew What? You already knew about the sustain pedal. I even gave you…