Digital Geist Online

Sample Pack #2

Digital Geist — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 19:03:11 +0000

Here it is folks! A whole new 535mb worth of loops from DG!

Make sure you read the info file included and thanks for downloading!

You like free things, right?

Digital Geist — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 16:52:38 +0000

Here it is! My first pack of samples in an offering of free stuff from Digital Geist! These are free for you to download and use as you wish. Make sure you read the readme file that’s included as well, and enjoy!

Info:
363mb
75 audio loops
140bpm
Root note of all loops is C

This will be available until March 1.

New Sample Set Coming

Digital Geist — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 04:26:40 +0000

I was setting up the new computer and using the APC40 last night messing around with some of the material I have that’s been archived in my massive “DG Audio” drive (2TB if you’re wondering). It occurred to me that I have a lot of odd snips lying around that I haven’t used yet that I’m not interested in threading into new songs, so why not let somebody – or everybody – else have them? A real pity is there’s a whole bank of loops that I made that don’t loop well so they won’t be included in anything and will probably be deleted. Other than that there’s lots of stuff to go through and upload; however I don’t mind giving them up for free.

If I have the time, I hope to put them up by Sunday. Chances are it’ll be done before then if I get bored though.

Extreme Makeover: Living Room Studio Edition

Digital Geist — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 00:14:19 +0000

One of the things that’s prompted this site makeover this month was the addition of a new iMac into our home. Now we’ve got the new workhorse computer and I’ve got it set up with the essentials: Ableton Live, Cubase, all my plugins, Photoshop….Starcraft II… That means that it’s time to change the way I work again, right?

Well, kinda yeah. I sold my Novation ZeRO SL mkII on eBay two weeks ago and used the cash to pick up an Akai APC40 – which is a lot a custom MIDI controller for Ableton Live. I’ve gotten exactly no work done with it so far, but it does look nice. The lights are very pretty. Aside from that and the new computer, over the last few months I’ve collected a few new things like bluetooth headphones, an iPad (ok so I got it for my wife but she lets me borrow it sometimes if I’m nice), an M-Audio Keystation 61 MIDI keyboard and I downgraded from the Virus TI Desktop to the TI Snow.

Add N to (X) “Plug Me In”

So I’m going to be trying a few new things – notably my Ableton Live workflow. I have controller apps now for my iPhone and iPad to go with the APC40; who knows maybe with some time I can integrate that into a live set. What’s more important is that I’m still in that creative state of mind lately and the new gadgets play on that quite a bit. So maybe we’ll see some more DG stuff coming.

Hello to the world

Digital Geist — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 06:23:31 +0000

It always amazes me when you consider how “small” the world is and yet how large at the same time. What I mean is that since the internet became popularized and I started using it regularly (about 1995? 1996 for sure) I’ve gained connections all over the world and they are instantaneous through email. I’ve also done a fair amount of travel by car, train, foot and airplane and I know how long it is to travel from where I live in NYC, USA to countries like Finland, Switzerland, Belgium, Poland, etc.

So for fun today I checked the most popular cities that have looked at my site recently and I was really surprised! I thought for sure Buffalo would be #1 followed by NYC – but look at the results and how varied and international they are!

Listing by most visits, top 10 cities

Yes, I did have to look up where Pelotas, Sutton, Milton and Svenborg were on the map.

Say hi from wherever you are! I’m saying hi back.

The Transition

Digital Geist — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 14:16:40 +0000

A new idea: All of my tracks will soon be online in 160kbps .MP3 format. Every single one I’ve made since I started making music in 1999. It’ll be a massive undertaking. You’ll be able to download them at that bitrate for free. Take ‘em, they’re yours. If you want the .WAV file in CD quality, it’ll cost you $1US and I’ll email it to you. Don’t worry, physical CDs will still be available at the SHOP page for those that love having limited-edition product!

I’m doing this because I create music faster than I can afford to release it. This gives me an opportunity to continue creating music while putting my budget to work getting things like shirts, stickers and other stuff made for the fans who don’t see the need for CDs anymore. Let’s face it, the name is DIGITAL Geist, not ANALOG Geist!

Much more to come soon!

Recent News

Digital Geist — Sat, 05 Mar 2011 16:07:40 +0000

It might seem like there’s not a whole lot of news to go around, what with recently releasing my new album The Apollo Program and whatnot. Thing is, there’s a lot of stuff going on behind the scenes that just isn’t ready to go yet. For instance the DJ project I’ve been working on with Patrick C of Front 242 since last year is finally coming together but the date isn’t confirmed yet (date, yes, is a singular word so if this thing comes together it’s been 7 months worth of work for one gig). Front’s also performing in Chicago at a Wax Trax benefit in April so of course these things take second stage to F242’s schedule.

In the meantime I’m awaiting news from a music technology program here in NYC to know if I’ve been accepted or not; that will be a real game changer if/when it happens as well. If you’re familiar with the bureaucracy surrounding college entries I’m sure you can understand my audible sigh – after submitting about 50 required documents including recommendations from my fellow musicians and recorded works I have to sit and wait about 2-3 months for any word back.

What have I been up to in the meantime? Well recently I’ve been expanding my music horizons. Friends that I play hockey with have been lending me their favorite CDs and I’ve been spending my time either listening to their selections for me or going through my personal music library and learning more about my favorite albums. I started with Brian Eno in early February and album-by-album read the Wikipedia entries while listening. I’m now listening to David Bowie in the same way and I’m up to the “Berlin Trilogy”…. fascinating stuff!

Remixing

Digital Geist — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 21:05:40 +0000

A few words about how I remix:
I remember reading an interview with Moby about 10 years ago (before the Play album) in a magazine and he answered a question about remixing. He said at the time (paraphrasing) that he usually liked to remix songs that he didn’t like so he could make them into something he did. To be perfectly honest I think that’s kind of a dick move; I mean he remixed David Bowie’s “Dead Man Walking” so that draws the implication he didn’t like the original…and if you’ve heard his mix of that track, good lord did he phone it in.

I always seem to find myself going the opposite way. I hear something within a track that absolutely grabs me and I try my best to highlight it in my own way. Unfortunately for the original artist because so many remixes get dissed I also try to make it as original as possible by dumping virtually anything else I don’t deem to be absolutely vital (ahem, like the vox on my remix of Unter Null’s “This is Your End”).

So that brings me to my entry in this blog today: About a month ago Gary Numan’s camp put up the track “Scanner” for a remix competition. I LOVE the song. There are, of course, parts that I can add my own flavor to but as a whole Mr. Numan is one of my all-time favorite artists and it’s really tough and audacious to think I could do a better job than he could – especially on his own song!

The deadline for the remix submissions is March 18. You can find all the rules for the competition here if you’re interested, and all the original parts here. I’ll be posting my finished remix as I complete it; win or lose.

Your chance to win a free copy of the album!

Digital Geist — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 13:14:40 +0000

Listen to my latest DJ mix experiment; click here.
Mixing everything in the same key to see what kind of limitations and challenges this produces. If you can name all the tracks I used (or come close at least), I’ll give you a signed copy of my latest album – Digital Geist “The Apollo Program”!

A fun mix made using tracks in the same key, I really wanted to make this for a little while. It highlights some of the tracks that have kept me interested in electronic music over the last 11 years and what continues to inspire me.

Where can I buy the New Album?

Digital Geist — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 15:00:40 +0000

Here’s an update folks! Digital Geist – “The Apollo Program” is currently available at these fine retailers (click to be taken directly to the site!):
Digital Geist . com – $10US + shipping (I make the most $ back on my investment this way)
iTunes – $9.99US (must have iTunes installed)
CD Baby – $9.99US (both physical and mp3 copies are available)
Digstation – $9.99US (digital copies, includes artwork)
Amazon.com – $8.99US (digital copies, not sure why it’s $1 cheaper)

More news is on the way soon!