Literally making music with Music Thing and Gearslutz

by Tessa Smith

Music Thing is a great blog if you’re on the slightly nerdy side of music-making. It’s the type of thing my friends have probably been reading for ages, but for whatever reason I just discovered recently. Music Thing is the journalistic follow-up to sites like Make and BoingBoing Gadgets. If you’re a regular DIY enthusiast and you also play music, Music Thing is the best thing ever.

When you visit the site today, some of the recent posts include a piece on audio illusions, a call out for info on homemade instruments, a skeptical rundown of Behringer’s latest models, and a video of someone using the Wii remote as a loop station. As an example of the site’s excellent writing, the last post I mentioned is described with the following text:

Yes, yes, it’s a video featuring someone with a Wii Remote, a mac and a bunch of DIY software, just like all those other videos on YouTube. BUT, this one is actually quite good, and doesn’t feature any theremin impressions. There’s plenty more on Yann’s Blog, if you can put up with posts like: “I’m currently in Paris with my brother Cory doing original music and sound design for a play written and directed by our cousin Fabrice. It takes place on the grounds of a 13th century abbey…“

Also, as a bit of a joke for Risa and Elran (and other Linux users), check out the post, “Ask a Linux user to play some records and he’ll start coding a cross-fader” here (which, on a sidenote, judging by its title, assumes that Linux users are male).

A great article by Music Thing’s Tom Whitwell was published in The Word Magazine. “Why Records DO All Sound the Same” is a well-written piece on the history and current state of recording, mixing, and mastering. A must read for recording artists, especially those who cringe at the phrase “recording artist”.

Along the same lines, though slightly more use-specific and less an interesting tidbit collection are the forums on Gearslutz.com. These boards have lots of helpful stuff on every aspect of playing and recording. Get ready to get techy.