Dark Villager on Deluxe FM tonight, edited version.

Dark Villager on Deluxe FM tonight, edited version.

15 Years of Deluxe FM

Hosted by Matthias Volta on Ems Vechte Welle radio ( Germany)

This special anniversary show will be aired on 24th November

It will feature one of my tracks ( The last Dawn I think ) and also a musical anniversary greeting for the show written by myself.

The show is normally broadcast on regional FM and also streamed online but as a one off treat it will also be broadcast on the following frequencies / times:

You may be able to pick it up with good weather in the uk, particularly on the shortwave so dig out your old radio and give it a go!

UK times: (on 24th November)

14:00 - 15:00 MW 1.593 khz
15:00 - 16:00 KW 6.085 khz (49m)
14:00 - 17:00 KW 6.005 khz (49m)
17:00 - 18:00 KW 3.955 khz (75m)
17:03 - 20:00 FM 95.2 / 95.6 mhz / 99.3 mhz

If you can't pick it up, don't panic! It will be streamed online 17:03 - 20:00 at:
http://www.emsvechtewelle.de/

Enjoy the show!

-Ant / DV

A You Tube Tale

A You Tube Tale

Oh dear oh dear, what a musical mess I made
I totally stuck a spanner in the digital works
How to confuse 4 parties at the same time when nothing was wrong in the first place
(sounds just like something I'd do......,oh wait, I just did)

This may be of use to know for anyone who releases music through any form of digital media management / royalty collection agency:

(so that you don't make a mess of it like I just did!)

Today, I noticed on my 'folk/instrumental' you tube page :  
Ant Nottingham You Tube Page
that 'Hereward the wake' had been marked as a copyright infringement and own by someone else.

Obviously I was a bit annoyed at this as I wrote , played and filmed everything myself so I filed a dispute.

A bit later I logged into my pop / electronic you tube page :  
Dark Villager - You Tube Page
and to my horror noticed that over 20 of my original videos there were also under dispute of ownership / copyright. 

I was not pleased! I was livid! I was distraught ! ( ok exageration, I was mildly annoyed )

Apart from 'pride' and honesty of having made 100% of all the disputed videos myself, It also meant that any ( very little ) revenue generated from video plays (literally a few pence a month , but still it's mine! ) would not go to me but to you tube or to the claimant.

So I got to work filing 20 more claims to get ownership of my own work back!

I then wrote to the two companies that were making claim on them (cdbaby and rumblefish)  and asked them to give me my videos back!

With Cdbaby I could understand how there could be a link as I release through them, but rumblefish meant little to me so was confused by that one....

Basically I assumed someone had detected the track / video with the same name /title as ones owned by me and released through them but had not realised I was one and the same person as the one uploading on the YouTube channel ( or the computer system did not realise this)  , especially as I have 2 YouTube pages.

CDBaby wrote fairly swiftly back in their usual apologetic and humerous and helpful style.... and I went DOH!!!!!! PLONKER!!!! and bashed my head on the mouse several times. 

What had happened was this:

Basically, at some point, I had chosen to opt in (or not opt out of) having my youtube revenue (if any) collected through cdbaby, via rumblefish. They mark them as their ownership, and collect the revenue (if any) and pass it back to me. 

So I now have 20+ youtube videos marked for contesting ownership when there was nothing wrong! and of course youtube are impossible to contact and you can't withdraw a contension of rights claim!!

ak well, serves me right for not investigation further 1st and jumping to false conclusions.

I guess one of the following will happen:

a) nothing

b) youtube will follow up all my claims (unlikely) only to find out that there is nothing to contest and be very confused.

c) youtube will actually read my 'legal dept' email and cancel the claims (very unlikely!)

d) you tube will be annoyed at 20+ claims and close my account just for hasstling them and wasting their time (possible!)

e) you tube will give the rights back to me

f) you tube will write a nice reply and immediately sort it out (impossible)

g) rumblefish will get confused and send the police after me (joke, i hope)

h) I will get a massive surge in views as agents from 101 departments chase after the copyright thief

i) I get hit on the head by a piece of mouldy cheese

j) all my videos go viral and I get rich overnight and retire (yeah, sure space boy)

there, all sorted (maybe)

If you tube now confuse things further,  I'll post a continuation of the story here... hopefully it will all be fine!

Ant

continuation!...
a reply from You tube (in itself a miracle)
however they did not read my problem correctly and gave me how to proceed in solving a different problem to the one I asked about!
I guess that's nearest to situation b) !
I have replied and explained again....
tbc.....
 

Tragedy for the music world

Tragedy for the music world

Tragedy has struck the music world today. There has been dismay and utter disbelief at the headlines this morning.

 The music world is in total shock after discovering today that the kind is dead. Yes, Elvis has been found dead. I know it’s hard to believe;  a man at the peak of his career and physical fitness. His healthy diet and strict fitness regime kept him is perfect shape as he danced like wind over a desert across the stage.  The cause of death is as of yet unknown but police have released a statement saying there was a suspicious sausage protruding from his left ear.

What is even more unbelievable is that on this terrible day, his son was also found dead. Michael Jackson, the son of Elvis was found in his kitchen later this afternoon. It is believed that upon hearing the news of his father’s death, he shed a large tear and his face exploded.

The latest news is that this has now become a triple tragedy of terrible termoil. We have just heard that Elvis’s illegitimate love child, Jimmi Hendrix upon hearing the terrible news, just had a fit of rage on stage, spun his guitar around his head with such force that it chopped it off. Police are still searching for his head. It was last seen being carried away in the direction of the buffet.

James Cameron, British loser and leader called President Obama, leader of the world a few minutes ago. Cameron reportedly said ‘ Yo Obama my man, we finally dumped those spawn of Satan, we can now focus on taking over the galaxy whilst destroying humanity with no interruption’. Obama apparently replied, ‘not yet my arrogant idiot friend, that is just the tip of the iceberg, we still have Elton, Cliff and Paul to kill off…. Bwahahahahaha’. 

He is currently not available to make comment as he is still chuckling evil laughter around the pentagon, where he has almost completed his green laser xray death ray as started by Reagan and his wife, Maggie Thatcher in the 80’s.

Late news just in; Roy Orbison has just formed a gangster rap group. With his blood in the hood – Bob Dylan.  They are planning on fighting the oppression with depression.  16 people have already jumped out of their windows and they haven’t even made a track yet.  Madonna reacted to this by saying ‘ I think I’ll take ALL my clothes of in the next video, Granny power to the max’.  Nearby press blew chunks and several bits of Madonna melted.

Kraftwerk have boarded Thunderbird 2 and are on their way to the  batcave to prevent any further substandard films being made that  attempt to mash up marvel and dc comic heroes. They are armed with phasers made from tin foil and knitting needles. In a statement made to CNN they explained their plan saying ‘ist nacht van death bosh audi vw zat ist de master plan bmw clop sis ist nein van Beethoven!’ No one in Germany was able to translate.

This is looking to be a great electronic music label

Keep your eyes on them

Their site is due to go live very soon

 European Electronic Record Label

Public Different is an independent label that strives to bring you the highest quality tracks.

Our ethics is to run an honest and transparent label that puts artists first.

Media inquiries: press@publicdifferent.com
We listen: demo@publicdifferent.com
For all general inquires, including booking, endorsements and collaborations: info@publicdifferent.com

Public Different: Facebook


Official site


You tube page


Teaser Video (You tube)

Duran Duran Olympics 2012

Controversial decision!

Duran Duran chosen as the band to headline and ‘open’ the 2012 Olympic games in London

Representing the England team and the opening concert co-indices with the opening of the games – Hyde park to mark the opening

 “Duran Duran are to head the line-up of a major Olympic Games opening concert - but their inclusion has prompted bemusement from some music fans.”

Novelist and broadcaster Tony Parsons wrote: "Duran Duran to headline Olympic gig. Who is running the 1500 metres - Sebastian Coe and Steve Ovett?"

One (fan) wrote: "Duran Duran to headline Olympics gig? Which Olympics - 1982?" Another said: "Duran Duran to headline the Olympic gig and a manager whose last title was in 1988 gets the England job. What next? Leg warmers & Rubik’s cubes?"

above quotes taken from msn. link HERE

Calvin Harris will be replacing Duran Duran’s appearence at the uk V music festival

Some Twitter / Msn comments:

Who says the Olympics is solely for the young? You'll find the reason Duran Duran have been chosen is because they span all ages. 

I was at Manchester Arena last December on their UK leg of the recent tour and the audience age was a mixture of young and old. They are a band that everyone can listen to and sing along to, I couldn't even tell you a One Direction song let alone sing one!

Instead of all this petty minded poll nonsense, why doesn't the British press and media get behind the band or just put up and shut up.

So my opinion?

Go for it Duran Duran!

Their fan base is massive; they represent both the current and the older generations. Their music never dates. They are English

The bands chosen to represent Scotland, Irelend and Wales are pretty good choices too. Not recently formed teeny bop bands. If we use One Direction as some people seem to suggest we should have done (msn you nutters) that would mean Ireland should have JEDWARD!!!

Yes, I could think of plenty of other bands that could have been chosen instead but can’t think of any band that stands out as any more obvious or relevant than Duran Duran. 

Some of the other suggestions people have made are equally if not more obscure. You can’t base a choice on your own likes and dislikes. The choice was made as a representative of a country, not a Genre or individuals opinion. They are still a massive touring band and are still producing great albums which still sell in the top end of the charts. 

Saying they have only had 2 top 10 hits in the last 20 years doesn’t mean anything. The music singles chart died out years ago.. hmm let me see… YES about 20 years ago, what a surprise!!!! No one cares about singles charts anymore, it’s about videos, live performances, tours, merchandise and albums. All of which the Duran’s are still doing at the highest level. 

They get my vote.

I Can’t wait to see this concert, along with some other great bands, as well as the opening of the games itself.

Hopefully England will stand proud and not fall flat on its face tit’s up like an inflatable banana with a leak

One final comment – please let’s hope no one does anything stupid and responds physically to the Argentinian athletes because of their governments’ insanely stupid Olympic Games promotional TV advert. It is what they are hoping we will do as it will give them a reason to retaliate, if anyone so much as sneezes on an Argie they will jump on it. 

The video can be viewed on you tube HERE

Be nice to them, get them drunk and leave them choke on their own vomit. Job done.

101 Things I hate!

101 things that annoy the dark villager

No.1

 

Corny headlines involving music

‘So and so HITS THE RIGHT NOTE’

AGAIN

And AGAIN

And AGAIN

In every newspaper

In every magazine

In the Cambs times, in the Peterborough Telegraph

In the Whittlesey magazine

In the church times newsletter

In the school bulletin

Every time there is anything or anyone doing anything good involving music it 100% starts ‘so and so HITS THE RIGHT NOTE’

ARRRRRRGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!

It’s corny, please stop!!!!

It’s not clever and it’s not funny

It’s a phrase based on a very weak musical analogy that should be used rarely and in its right place in situations NOT directly musical i.e. like a simile like: it’s greener than grass sort of thing

You don’t say it’s greener than grass ABOUT GRASS!!!!!!!

PLEASE PLEASE STOP DOING IT!!!!!

On a lighter note: Joke of the day:

What do a Vacuum vleaner and an electric guitar have in common?

Both suck when you plug them in :-)

'The Voice' and some Holes

Been a while (again) since I’ve updated my blog here so here goes…

Nothing much to report so I’ll just go with general randomness, usually works for me!

First up I guess I should mention the return of Britain’s got Talent alongside the new competition of ‘The Voice’. This was hyped as a rivalry for quite some time then they programmed them to air on the same night in direct competition. The media hyped it all up as ‘who gets the most views tonight will reign supreme forever’ sort of thing. As it turns out, they were hardly even on at the same time (the end of the voice crossed over a bit into BGT ) So we just watched BGT on Iplayer later that night. Big deal. ! I would imagine that most people that were interested would have done the same or at least watched most of both! Then each side claimed they had the highest viewing figures than the other side and that the other side had got it wrong etc. blah blah! 

Which show is best? Which is right? Well I enjoy both for different reasons and they are not the same type of show. If it was X-Factor vs The Voice then it would have been a more similar contest but BGT is a ‘fun’ show and showcases all kinds of talents, not just singing. 

As for the voice, yes I liked it, the hosts were great and the swivelling red chairs are a nice new touch.  However, It was said to be ‘all about the voice’ and not about who the people are or what they look like and get rid of the sob stories.. so WHY did they start the show off by giving you mini documentaries about the acts and their sob stories?!??????!!!! I almost gave up at the start. Thank god it got better and showed less of that as it went on.

Then I watched BGT and I have to say one or 2 of the singers on BGT gave me the ‘wow that was good’ feeling that none of them did on The Voice. They all seemed a bit contrived and boring on the voice, very good indeed but not with that 'extra something'  (they are all pre-selected and mostly already semi successful / trained singers) Maybe that’s why. Or maybe it was just me. 

Since my last blog post I’ve written a few new tracks and uploaded a few new videos.  (http://www.darkvillager.com )  - ‘The Wall’ ‘The constant of time’ ‘trucking’ ‘a moment of silence’ and a few other silly bits and pieces. (http://www.youtube.com/darkvillager)

I’ve been busy working for the last few weeks so not done too much musically for a while. I’ve also started training for my HGV driving license (yeah bit of a change I know!)

I’ve updated a few of my web ‘presences’ and have a few ideas musically in the pipeline.

I need to get cracking on with some new tunes over the next week for a ‘secret’ music project too.

I’ve also been chucking lots of broken bricks down a big wet hole (don’t ask)

Till next time

-DV

'What you hear' recording in Windows 7 with X-Fi cards and some Pants

'What do you hear' ?

Nothing!

If anyone else is having trouble getting the 'stereo mix' or 'what you hear' to work in Windows 7, Here's the basic solution, plus an extra problem I faced and one way to get around it.

I've read a lot of blogs / forums /tech help that give the basic solution, but few seem to realise that as well as windows 7 disabling the function, so have creative on a few of their cards.

I got a new custom built pc last week. Its Windows7 on 64bit. It has built in realtek HD audio (like many pc's) . However, I wanted  better than this, as I produce music and (foolishly without enough research) decided on a soundblaster XFI extreame audio. (previous soundblasters have been ok for me and reasonably priced - so assumed this was ok)

General Tip 1: If you want to  record 'what you hear' ; Don't get this card. It doesn't do it.
(read info at end of this blog about creative cards that do and don't)

(I't s technically not a bad basic card, good features, good quality, expandable to up to 8 outputs)

Just to clarify - 'what you hear' or 'stereo mix' is a function that lets you record into another program (like audacity ) whatever you are hearing from any other internal source on your computer, e.g. record audio playing live on the internet or copy a song / cd in real time. Most people who use this feature, probably do it to rip songs and audio they like from websites (which is probably why it's been disabled). But some people (like me of course) use it to record samples and audio clips from other sources (the robot voice to text in my songs for example) totally legally and for a creative reason. Hence, I am annoyed my X-Fi card does not suport this.

Life Tip: Don't assume anything! 

To further clarify : This is nothing to do with normal use of the card, playing sounds, playing cd's, playing videos, playing sound on internet, using music software, reaper, reason, fruityloops, cubase, ableton, recording with line in or mic, none of those, they all work fine - It is ONLY concern for those who need the 'what you hear' / 'stereo mix' function - whereby you can record in real time what the card is already playing in a different program)

OK, basic solution and the windows 7 issue:

This is pretty easy, by default, windows 7 does not show the 'what you hear / stereo mix' option in its audio panel. all you have to do is right click, tick 'show disabled' and there you go. If you have a generic card or a good card or a realtek one it should be as easy as that. In audacity (or whatever recorder you use) just select input as 'what you hear' / 'stereo mix' and done.

However, I dont want to use the built in chip for music production!!!! I bought an X-FI extreame as its technically better than a built in Realtek Chip. Particularly for audio production and midi recording. (less delay, better asio response, higher settings and better options etc)

Short answer is IT WON'T

Yes I've even tried virtualaudiocable - a bit like soundflower on the mac - it does not work with the X-FI. (and it's not free) , yes I've tried changing the drivers and using old ones and 3rd party ones - no good. And no you can't play the sounds on the creative and record on the realtek internally. So there!

The smellypantsrubbish solutions are

a) to just use the onboard realtek and pretend I never got the soundblaster.

General Tip 2: The realtech is not bad actually. Stick with onboard sound unless you find you need a card! - If I had not got the X-Fi as well, then the front case sockets would be connected to the Realtek and I would have enough Ins and Outs to do what I require. It even decides the type of input you connected so Mic/Line is not an issue, it changes the type when you insert. Though I don't know how well it would cope with a DAW like reaper (see previous blogs) running 30 dxi synths and 20 audio tracks with effects with no latency...

b) To use the creative until I need to record 'what you hear' then swap leads at the back of the pc to the realtek, and change all the audio settings (Doesn't work unless you do - not practical or acceptable)

c) To buy a new sound card along with a monster sized audio interface, throw the creative on ebay and say poo poo poo and say lots of little &*^"£"&^% shapes. 
(which is what I'd do If I had any money left - especially the bit about little squiggle shapes)

or do this:

card sockets - X-fi and Realtek

 

 

Only card normally being used is the creative.
My live music and vocals go through my physical mixer into the creative line in/digital
The speakers are in speaker / line out of creative (*see below on how to get headphones on this)
The headphone socket acts as line out to return to the Realtek line in - thereby acting as 'what you hear'


(You can't use the creative speaker / line out at rear to connect to the realtek input, It doesnt work)


Hurrah! sorted! Party time!

So I can use the Creative card for everything else. I don't need to change any PC audio settings ever.
When I want to record 'what you hear' I do it by choosing 'line in - realtek'  in audacity / whatever recorder you use and that is it.

Warning!! - The input is based on the pc's 'speaker out' level so turn your physical speakers down first!
It works fine and quality is pretty impossible to tell from the original -  I can't) just be careful of the input / output / speaker levels!.

Tip 3: I have a little extension gadget that is really useful. worth getting one... the speaker output goes to this box and from there you can select headphones or speakers and they both then connect from the box, saving a socket, making the headphones nearer to you and allowing switch beteween phones and speakers (audio interface / speaker amp / other gadgets will do the same)

Tech Geek point 1:
Someone is probably going to say 'you can't run onboard and a physical card together!, the drivers will complain and argue! ' Well I was always told that too. But maybe it's windows 7 , I don't know, but it works absolutely fine.
(Yes I did try running both onboad and Creative on their own having disabled the other one to see if it made any difference, no it doesn't)

Tech Geek pont 2:
On one post someone said 'sod this MS sh*t, I'm off to get a mac'. Good luck m8. They can't do it at all either! you need Soundflower, and I'm not sure if that works on the latest versions. I like macs, I have a macbook, I use macs at work. I use mac and PC, they are good for different things. But Macs cannot inherently do 'what you hear' either.

Recording tip 1: always use ASIO drivers where possible in music software - they have practically zero latency as they avoid much of the 'talk' between pc / card and back again and get straight to the point of the job. W7 doesn't have them - you can get them here: ASIO4ALL


Anyone get the feeling DRM politics have gone mad????

If I don't post again, my soundcard melted into the CPU, exploded and burned down the house.

OR!!!

You can spend 3 hours writing some long winded pointless plop like this, then slap yourself on the head and realise I've messed up and missed something totally obvious!!! ARGHHHHH! What a Plonker!

So the reason the realtek won't record to itself (or via output from creative) is because of its 'autodetect' of sockets i.e if the speaker is not plugged in, you can't select the speaker output option and therefore it won't record 'stereo mix'.

So all you need is to plug a lead into the speaker hole (ok so then you cant hear it)
(tries again...)

So all you need is to plug a second set of headphones into the realtek and hey presto la voila !

(or even a second set of speakers - or the same speakers if you can connect it, but phones are fine for me as i don't need it often)

Now all you do to get 'what you hear / stereo mix' is change the pc settings when needed to output as realtek speaker and record as realtek 'stereo mix'
then switch back to creative when finished

Done. No flaffing about, no silly wires, no crazy speaker volume scaring you, nothing! easy!

So now I need a final sketch!

 

and finally!.....

 (Plonkerrrrrrr!!!)

till next time!...

ant

pps I just got a reply from creative telling me that X-Fi cards DO support ' what you hear' .

The link of creative cards that support it and the drivers required is here:

http://support.creative.com/kb/ShowArticle.aspx?sid=87127

Unfortunately, as i already worked out, mine is one of the only three that do not! wonderful!

also, the newest versions of some soundblaster cards and drivers do not have the option:

here is the driver fix / info:

http://support.creative.com/kb/ShowArticle.aspx?sid=1774

Wiki - sopa / pipa blackout - what it means for music artists

Heres how I feel about the wiki / google etc blackout in response to the tight proposed new legislation's by pipa / sopa to enforce tough restrictions on major sights on what they can and cannot share and what public can and cannot view / post.


In theory, at a basic level I agree with pipa/sopa -
. Of course you should not be able to upload or download material / software / video / music etc that other people should be being paid for. 


however, it does not work like that and I totally support the wiki reaction to it.


If 'big brother' thinks that by making the laws tougher it will solve the problem and make information sharing of commercial work a thing of the past , they are on cloud fairy dream land.


You tube actually identifies and PAYS the original artist for any copyrighted work via adverts - i.e. major artists get revenue from people uploading their work!


What happens if you toughen up the laws and play big brother? people find even slipperier ways to get around it... guess who it hurts the most? us, the minor struggling people who get their work stolen and shared for free and get NOT A PENNY from it..


I found yesterday at least TEN sites offering ALL THREE of my current albums for NOTHING as full album downloads.... several hundred free, full album downloads on each site. I could have made several thousand pounds if I had been paid for each of those as I should have been. I work damn hard to make music and sell a few dozen hard copies and a couple of hundred mp'3s as official downloads for each album, ten sites giving them away by the HUNDREDS? All money lost for me.  But you think this new legislation will help artists like me? no way.


And While people are stealing my work.. is that not encouraging me to to do the same back to them? 


I.E. in principle, yes please stop illegal activity, but what they are suggesting will make it WORSE for most people. It will push the activity away from the major sites like you tube / google  and underground to smaller sites that are impossible to track , or get any revenue at all out of. 


totally farce and ridiculous.
-dv

fruity loops 9

I am not even going to review it
all i can say is
wow! mad!
starship enterprise here we come
You will feel like Kirk
mad program!
done :-)

dv mash up on Twitpic

dv mash up on Twitpic