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A huge thanks goes out to creator of this compilation Joseph Labrecque.  Thank you for making this compilation and thank you for letting The Compilers submit our song ‘Sleep Tick v2′.  Be sure to read Joseph’s comments about the compilation he so graciously put out for all to enjoy.

In case you missed the June RMAUG meeting, my band The Compilers played our first hybrid concert and presentation show. Who are The Compilers? As far as I know, we’re Denver CO’s only Tech Funk Fusion trio that use internet technology along with analog instruments. By day we’re internet programmers, and by night we’re rockers. Right now majority of our software revolves around the Flash Platform, so it was only natural that we play at RMAUG.

Below is a recap of our setlist, and notes about the technology we presented on. When you see mentions of a Flash movie, these are not run as standalone SWF files. They are actually played by our Flex based Compilers Live Player. This application runs on our guitarist Jun Heider’s laptop, and the entire app is controlled over MIDI, via a Behringer FCB1010 Foot Controller, MMJ, and MERAPI.

Intro Song

For the first song of our set we decided to use a funny and informative Flash movie to give the audience a hint at what they’re about to see. For the June RMAUG show, this movie was updated to include spoken thank you slides for the companies that make our technology, and special shout outs to all the people who help us put on a great show.

Watch Flash Intro Movie

I want an iPhone

Watch Flash iPhone Movie

Tweet Jam v2

James vs. Rick

The Flash Platform Rocks!

The Compilers Next Show

That’s the gist of how my current band formed. A handful of computer programmers who used to play in bands decided it was time to get back on the music horse. At first we had five or so people interested in jamming and seeing where things go. A few jams later and we were down to the power trio that is now known as The Compilers.

The name of the group didn’t come around until a month or so after we had been jamming as the April Fool’s.  All three of us are internet programmers who work with Adobe’s Flash platform, as well as contribute to our local Adobe community.  About the time we officially became a power trio we were kicking around the idea of becoming the house band for our local user group meetings ( RMAUG ).  In the process of laughing this one out, we were asked by RMAUG to play an upcoming Adobe technical event that was happening in two weeks.  That technical event was the “Next Generation Flex & Coldfusion Tour“.

At first we were hesitant booking a show when we didn’t have a real band, or enough material to play a show.  Long story short, we decided to play the show, decided to name the band The Compilers, and decided we should probably integrate some sort of tech into this show.  We didn’t set out wanting to mix technology with music, it just seemed appropriate for this first gig to do something technical.  That technical music nugget is now known as Tweet Jam, our smash hit that plays tweets from @thecompiler‘s Twitter timeline while the band plays underneath the robot voice.

That first show was fun, funny, and the beginning of an interesting musical project.  In the last six months we’ve played four shows, and we gave a presentation at the 360|MAX unconference at Adobe MAX 2009 in Los Angeles, CA.  This really isn’t a lot of gigs, but considering we started this band in June, it’s been quite a whirlwind of musical and technical action.  Jun has built at least three versions of the TweetJam application, as well as integrated his midi foot controller with TheCompilers Flex player.  I’ve gotten pretty comfortable playing iPhone, made a few Flash movies for our set, and started looking into sound generation with Sonoflash.  Scottie has been the mad scientist behind the green velvet curtain.  Drummer man, electric drummer man, sound man, idea man, recorder man, crazy Brazillian ghord instrument player.

It’s so great to be back in a band.  These last six months have been a blast, and it was all started from a few jokes.  Speaking of jokes, below you will find two flash movies that I built for our 360|MAX presentation, as well as our talk.  The concept of melding tech with music is new to us, so this talk was a bit off the cuff, but it was still a great time.

360|MAX assets

It’s a Laser! – My first experiment with the Sonoflash library.  Adjust your laser properties then click shoot.  Each slider has a keyboard listener.  Attack = A, Release = R, and Frequency = F.

Click to launch the laser maker

By Note – This sample is the beginning of layering sounds and controlling notes and octaves.  This one can play the major notes C, D, E, F, G, A, B using your keyboard and the play button.  The octave controller on the right is powered by mouseover, 1 is low and 9 is high.  The sounds also have keyboard listeners.  Laser = 1 and Ping = 2.  Note, the event listeners don’t kick in until after you’ve clicked a button, so it may be quirky at first.  I built this on the plane ride out to LA and couldn’t figure that one out.

Click to launch this madness

360|MAX presentation : “Geek Rock with the Flash Platform”

411 on The Compilers

Facebook : http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Compilers/110943240897

MySpace : http://www.myspace.com/compilers

Twitter : http://twitter.com/thecompilers

Download audio file (MF-MyLesPaul.mp3)

When the bass arrived, I was pleasantly surprised to find the new HC8 bass case.  When I placed my order, I decided to get the ABS Hardshell Bass Case since I had the vintage tweed last time.  The ABS is the fatter rocker case.  This HC8N case is hot.  Tight and slim just like the tweed case which I had with my previous bass.  Thank you for sending me the hot case Carvin

Here are the specs of my new funk machine :

• 5 string Carvin Icon ( IC5WP  – Walnut with Piezo pickups )
• FW4 – Bookmatched Figured Claro Walnut Top
• NWAL – Walnut Neck & Body
• CS – Satin Matte Finish
• 5WM – Walnut Neck w/ 2 Maple Stripes
• 5W – Asymetrical Wide 5 String Neck
• CSN – Clear Satin Finish Back Of Neck
• BMF – Birdseye Maple Fingerboard
• ABD – Abalone Dot Inlays
• STF – Stainless Med-Jumbo Frets
• R14 – 14in Fretboard Radius (Standard)
• SP2 – 2 Soapbar Pickups
• BC – Black Hardware
• WL – White Logo
• SL – Dunlop Straplocks
• HC8N Tolex Bass Case

Build card

Finger crossed that Carvin will make this date.

Crude mockups of Carvin #3

Found almost my exact bass over at www.musik-schmidt.de

This is a pretty crude photoshop job, but you get the picture.  The major difference in the actual bass is that I’m getting the satin matte finish instead of the clear finish.  My last Carvin has the clear finish, which looks freaking amazing, but I really didn’t like gigging with this finish.  I sweat like a fat kid, and the back of the neck would get all gunked up and slow if I was gigging a lot.  I’m hoping the satin matte finish is as smooth and fast as I’m hoping it will be.

Carvin #2 LB75A Anniversary Edition ( 1996 )

LB75A Anniversary Edition bass

This was my first really nice bass, and I used the crap out of it.  Not only was it a step up in quality, but it was the first bass that had a real case as well.  That tweed case is pretty sweet, but I opted for the rocker black case this time.  Besides the beauty of this bass, the most notable features for me was the active electronics, and the Dunlop Strap locks.  If you haven’t had Dunlop Straplocks on your guitar yet, go freaking get them.  I played this bass in a handful of bands, most notably my first SKA band as a bassist in NC.  The only beefs I had with this bass was the clear finish, and the bridge.  Other than that, it ruled.  Here are a few more shots of this bass before I sold it in 2008.

Carvin #1 LB70 ( circa 1991 )

This was the Carvin that started it all for me.  A fretless w/inlays LB70 4 string bass.  I really don’t know what I was thinking getting a fretless while playing in a punk rock band.  This bass was really awesome despite the muddy fretless sounds I was kicking.  This was the first neck through body bass I played more than at a music shop.  Once you got neck through body it’s over, you have to stick with that.  The other thing that ruled about this bass was the Sperzel locking tuners.  I don’t know why Carvin doesn’t include these on their basses anymore, but I loved these.  I’d tune up the bass, then lock each string on the backside of the headstock.  Brilliant.  The last thing I loved about this bass was the signage I made for it out of a TacoBell vinyl sticker : “MACKIN”.  I need to find a better shot of this bass to really show of the genius of my handywork.

While we’re in the “Season of Auto Tune”, here is a collection of auto tune influenced videos that I just love to watch and watch over again.  If I missed any classic Auto-Tune action, please send me a link and update the collection.

Blake needs to talk to Jack about the homepage…

Auto Tuning from Casey Donahue on Vimeo.

Auto-Tune the News #2: pirates. drugs. gay marriage.

“Rap Chop Remix” ( Slap Chop — you’re going to love, my nuts )

*watch for breakdancing

“Where’d that sample come from?”

I got into James Brown, and other related funk and soul jazz artists because of rap and hip-hop.  I’m fuzzy on the origins of the game, but I wouldn’t be suprised if James Brown was the first.  I remember James finding a JB tape on the side of the road.  It was so beat up, but still played like a champ. I played the funk out of that tape.

I also remember finding James Brown’s Funky People Pt.2 at Media Play in the cheap cassette tape rack. It was $2.00 so I figured it’d be a safe bet.  That tape was probably my all time favorite finds in the cheap racks.  You will find a handful of samples on this one as well. Most notably the ‘it takes two’ quote from this song.

Here’s the MP3 for your collection, ‘the funky drummer‘ is a must listen.