Tuesday, August 25, 2009 Gone This Week

Sorry for the late post. Our internet died over the weekend and we only just had it fixed last night. Bummer timing for computer problems, since I'll be gone for the rest of this week and was hoping to get ahead of the "catch up" that I'll have to do when I get back! (sigh.)

With no podcast this weekend, "In Search Of Truth" has also been delayed. And while I may still post something on Monday when I return, "In Search Of Truth" will not be on the blog until next Wednesday.

My wife and I are very much looking forward to this trip to Nashville. We hope to connect with some other independent artsy types at the JPF award show on Saturday, and can't wait to just take a break for a little bit. I'll be using the time to get caught up on some reading and video gaming, vegging out as much as possible before returning for the breakneck home stretch on "Pilgrim".

See you on the other side!

-Paeter Frandsen

Thursday, August 20, 2009 Two Scenes To Go!

Posting early because I'm taking the day off tomorrow.

Today I've finished (except for dropping in some music) scene 9 of "Pilgrim's Progress", leaving only two scenes left to mix! I plan to get a solid start on scene 10 next week before we take off to Nashville for the "Just Plain Folks" awards show next weekend.

Although the last two scenes of this project are pretty "effects intensive", I couldn't be much more pleased with my progress and look forward to making this project available in early October!

-Paeter Frandsen

Wednesday, August 19, 2009 Remote Controlling

My pace has been improving this week and I'm trying to build on my momentum by figuring out a way to control my audio mixing computer with my laptop. I spend a few days each week working downstairs on our laptop while I keep an eye on our son and my wife goes to work. For the most part, it doesn't effect my productivity much, since I can still mix during his naps. And aside from some feeding and brief play breaks now and then, my son isn't very demanding. But the one thing I can't do on my laptop is mix audio, since all my software and files are upstairs on my office computer.

So I'm getting some advice and looking into options that will allow me to control my upstairs computer from my laptop downstairs, so that on those rare occassion when I've caught up on every e-mail, blog post, message board and Bible study, I can get some mixing done, too!

I'm running XP home edition, so I'm told I don't have the built in capability already on my PC. But I've downloaded VNC and am hoping to figure it out soon (I'm not real tech savvy). If anyone else has a suggestion for a free solution, I'm all ears!

Friday, August 14, 2009 Staring At The Screen

So here I am staring at this screen trying to figure out what to tell you all about my progress this week. But all the big progress happened in the first half of the week and I told you about it on Wednesday! The rest has been various emails and things on my to do list and a little inching forward on the scene I'm mixing. So I really have nothing interesting to tell you today.

But rather than spend more time staring at the screen until I come up with something interesting to say, I thought I'd just confess that my brain is currently empty. At least then I can move forward and get some work done that I can hopefully update you on NEXT week!

Have a great weekend!

-Paeter Frandsen

Wednesday, August 12, 2009 Scene 8 of 11, and "Pilgrim" Bonus!

I FINALLY finished work on one of the most complicted scenes for "Pilgrim" yesterday and have begun work on scene 8. With only 11 scenes total, I can now see the end of this project in front of me like never before!

I also came up with an idea for bonus content on this project that I think listeners will dig. I've decided that each installment of "Pilgrim's Progress" will also come with an audiobook version of the original material from Bunyan's original classic work. So after listening to the "Spirit Blade Productions" version, you'll be able to listen to my reading of the original material and experience the story as Bunyan wrote it!

For those concerned about the effect this will have on release schedule, have no fear. The entire process should only add about two weeks to the production schedule. (And it will add about 40 minutes of content!)

At this point, I'm hoping for a release date somewhere in early October.

That's all for now!

-Paeter Frandsen

Friday, August 7, 2009 Can't Wait For Dialogue!

Although I normally do not enjoy the monotony of mixing "dialogue driven" scenes, I'm very much looking forward to one at this point. I've been sitting in water and mud with these characters for almost three weeks now, and to make that kind of environment come to life I have to spend a TON of time layering in what amounts to different kinds of splashes or sloshes.

And I thought mixing dialogue could be tedious.

The good news is, I think this will be a really cool scene when all is said and done, and it looks like I may be close to finishing it early next week, if not today! So I better get back to it!

-Paeter Frandsen

Friday, July 31, 2009 Music Makes The Scene

I usually leave music as one of the last elements I add to a scene, but this week I've been working on two action sequences in "Pilgrim's Progress" that run back to back in one scene and the music just HAS to run the show.

It's a little trickier to mix this way and takes a lot more time than it normally would, but the result is extremely dramatic and I can't wait for you all to hear it!

-Paeter Frandsen

Wednesday, July 29, 2009 Investing In People

My wife and I have been reading a book together and discussing it as we finish each chapter. We came across a chapter this week that cut to the core of who I am. The chapter was titled "Invest" and was all about the importance of investing time in relationships. This is something I really struggle with. I'm very goal oriented and can easily vanish into my cave for days on end without feeling any desire for human interaction. I enjoy being around other people and have even been known to be the "life of the party". Being extroverted is something I can definately do, but it's like a gas tank feeding an engine with zero fuel efficiency. When that tank is empty, I'm done and NEED to be alone so I can recharge.

I've also learned to be pretty self-sufficient, which is great for the work I'm doing, but also bad for my long-term goals. Relationships are ultimately our source of fulfillment. To love others and to be loved. To support others and feel that support in return.

I can so easily fool myself into thinking that sending a superficial "hey how ya' doin" e-mail to someone is the same as really connecting with them. Real relational investment takes time and it slows down completion of some items on that "to do" list. But I'm aiming to remember that relationships are what life is really all about and have more value and purpose than all those "to dos".

-Paeter Frandsen

Friday, July 17, 2009 The Right Music

Well, I've dunked two guys into water this week and so far only one of them has made it out. Before I get the other one out of the swamp I need to find the right musical theme for his exit. Sound a little strange?

For the most part, I leave scoring until the end of my audio drama projects. One of the last steps before mastering a project. But in some cases, I can tell (or even decide) that music will be just as vital to storytelling as dialogue or sound effects. In fact sometimes, it's even more important.

The right musical theme can paint a picture of that royal throneroom better than any sound effects or descriptive dialogue. A deeply moving theme can capture the inner anguish of a character that no amount of voice acting can evoke.

I'm at one of those moments today. I need a theme that expresses emotional stress and danger without sounding like an "action scene". And I need it to culminate in a musical release that speaks of the rescue that my character will experience at the final moment.

I haven't found it yet, but there are several great resources for me to take advantage of. And since I haven't done any searches for new music resources in awhile, I think I may spend some time searching the web again today.

Have a great weekend!

-Paeter Frandsen 

Wednesday, July 15, 2009 Free Is Awesome!

I've gotta get two guys falling in the water and struggling to stay afloat. I've only got a couple water sound effects that I used in "Spirit Blade", and they were of water being dumped on the floor. I didn't feel like spending money if I could avoid it, but I needed high quality sound effects to fit my needs for this scene!

Good thing someone told me about the "Free Sound Project"!

It's a website where people can upload their original sound effects for anyone to use (commercially or otherwise) for free, provided they give credit to the creator of the effect. The effects found there are numerous and in various degrees of sound quality, but sorting through to find the good ones has already helped keep my costs down a bit, which ultimately gets the project out to you more quickly!

Can I get a "woohoo"?

-Paeter

Friday, July 10, 2009 Award Nomination and New "Dark Ritual" Commentary!

This week I released part 3 of the "Spirit Blade: Dark Ritual" Interactive Commentary and you guys had some great questions! Be sure to get the inside dirt about "Silence", the torture scenes, and AIA at:

http://www.spiritblade.net/site.cfm/sbp/media

This week I was also very honored to receive a "Just Plain Folks" Music Awards nomination for "Dark Ritual"! JPF is a music organization and annual host of the world's largest independent music awards, so this is a great honor and I'm thrilled to have this project counted among the work of so many great musicians and creators.

My wife and I hope to attend the award show in Nashville near the end of August and will be sure to keep you posted!

-Paeter Frandsen

Wednesday, July 1, 2009 Off To Vacation!

Boy, it is really hard for me to "vacate". Especially when my vision for the future keeps expanding and I have so many plates to spin. My deadlines are all self-imposed, but that doesn't make them any less motivating. I hate to run off for a long weekend when my target release date for "Pilgrim's Progress" (September 1st) looms in front of me.

I'm also working on the page of our main site that will host the audio projects produced by The Spirit Blade Underground Alliance! (spiritblade.net/allianceinfo) Not to mention the Spirit Blade enhanced audiobook I'm more than halfway through recording and the upcoming 100th episode of the Spirit Blade Underground Podcast that I'm making preparations for. (spiritblade.net/podcast)

This is almost the worst time to be taking a vacation, but also probably the best. I'm no good for anything if I burn out. And I certainly need my play time. That's where I get all my ideas!

All that to say that we'll be leaving Friday morning and returning sometime on Monday. There will be no posts here Friday or Monday and I'm also taking this week off from the podcast.

Have a great 4th of July weekend and I'll catcha later!

-Paeter Frandsen

Friday, June 26, 2009 Searching For A Song

I spent virtually my entire workday today ( I STILL haven't eaten lunch!) trying to find the right music for the scene I'm currently mixing. I've exhausted pretty much all of my options at this point and have come to the conclusion that it may not be scoring the scene needs, but something else. After all, if I can't nail down exactly what I want in terms of music, I may not know the scene and its purpose as well as I should at this point.

So for now I plan to move on to mixing the next scene and take another look at this one again toward the end of the project so that I can see it in a broader context.

Still, the day wasn't a waste. I've certainly become more familiar with the scoring options available to me!

-Paeter Frandsen

Wednesday, June 24, 2009 My Favorite Leather Skirt

My wife has an old leather skirt that she nearly threw away about three years ago. I'm so glad I saved it from the "Goodwill" pile, as it has turned into one of her best investments into Spirit Blade Productions!

That leather skirt has been a trenchcoat, an element in a suit of chainmail and as of yesterday, part of a waterskin! I've stredtched it, whipped it and even worn it! (Though not in the way you might think.) 

Say what you will, but oh how I love my little black leather skirt! 

-Paeter Frandsen

Friday, June 19, 2009 Catching Up

After falling behind because of my "image hunt" last week, I think I'm finally catching up with mixing. I'm still looking for an image for the cover of "Pilgrim's Progress", but I've got a few options now.

As I finish up the week, I'm working on adding music to the 3rd scene. I couldn't find quite the right cue in my music library or in the stores I like to buy from, so I created some choral and orchestral elements using myself and my wife as vocalists to create a creepy, atonal choral effect, accompanied by some weird orchestral stuff from a sample pack I like. Then I added these elements to an existing track to build the tension to an "explosive" climax.

After this scene I've got a couple of dialogue-driven scenes, which will take less time and hopefully make me feel better about my progress.

That's all for now!

-Paeter Frandsen

Tuesday, June 16, 2009 Explosions Are Fun!

I spent 30-40 minutes creating an explosion today. I've got 20 or so in my library, but I like to try and create new sounds by layering exisiting sounds.

This particular explosion involves a combination of about 8 different explosions. The initial impact of 3 or 4, the after shock of another 2 and two more that I only use the "debris" sounds from. 

I couldn't quite find the sounds of brick and stone settling in any of the explosion files, so I used a combination of 8-10 individual "falling rocks" and some processed cauliflower being crunched up. Yeah, I know, it sounds weird to describe it, but it turned out really sweet! I can't wait for you all to hear it!

-Paeter 

Friday, June 12, 2009 Looking For An Image

After talking to my graphic designer this week I realized I need to bump up "cover design" on my list of priorities. Just when I was hoping to catch up on some mixing, too.

I'm looking for an image for "Pilgrim's Progress" that immediately conveys fantasy and a journey. You'd think a lone figure on a medieval/fantasy road would be a pretty basic type of image, right?

Well, based on my success so far, I may need to re-imagine my concept of the cover. If anyone has a thought, I'd love to hear your suggestions!

-Paeter

Friday, June 5, 2009 My Favorite Part Of The Process

I think I've discovered my favorite part of this process. I used to say that I like it all equally. Acting, composing, writing, mixing...

But as I've started the mixing process again, I think I can say that this is my favorite part. Or at least, it's the part that most often makes me lose track of time!

It starts with the monotony of laying down the dialogue, deciding which takes I want to use by listening to each one over and over and over...

But once the dialogue is in place and the pacing of the scene comes together, I get to add some ambience. Then an FX cue. Then another. Then some music. And over the course of a few hours I watch a scene transform and a world come to life! It's not just the mixing itself, it's the culmination of all the artistic work that has been done by myself and others as I aim for the destination!

As of today, I'm nearly finished with the first scene of "Pilgrim's Progress", I've designed a few key sound effects cues that will be used throughout the project, and I'm feeling right on schedule. Woohoo!

-Paeter Frandsen

Friday, May 29, 2009 "Pilgrim" Mixing Begins!

At long last, the first day of mixing has arrived! After recording my lines for the last two days, I'm ready to begin mixing on the first scene of "Pilgrim's Progress: Similitude Of A Dream"! The familiar process of sifting through takes and choosing the best ones has begun again and I couldn't be much happier to be at this stage of a project again.

To meet my goal of a September 1st release, I'll need to complete about 60 minutes of mixing and mastering over a period of three months, in addition to having a logo and some artwork put together for its presentation on the site. I still feel that this goal is very doable and I'll be sure to keep you posted!

As of this week, I am also about halfway finished recording the Spirit Blade Enhanced Audiobook, after which I will begin mixing it together. You can probably look forward to that project being available beginning early this fall. And as mentioned before, it will be free downloadable content.

That's it for now!

-Paeter Frandsen

Friday, May 22, 2009 Drowning In The Microphone

This morning I had a great time drowning an actor in my office. Krystofer James VanSlyke finished recording today as we covered my office in towels and protected the microphone with a bedsheet pulled taught between my hands and one foot.

Sound interesting? Wait until you SEE it. I've made a point of making video recordings of sessions with some of the actors on this project and will eventually edit together a video of higlights to put on www.spiritblade.net.

I've also made some great progress on remixing "All And Everything" this week. The song is getting a major makeover, though it retains the feel of the original. The last piece of the puzzle was a sweet electronic bass line I found on my keyboard for the second half of each verse.

I only have one actor left to come and record, though I will probably try to record all of my lines next week so that I can get started mixing a little early!

That's all for now!

-Paeter Frandsen