"Louder Than Words" Remix Contest Goes Live Monday
It doesn't seem natural to be sitting here right now listening to Tim Hecker's "An Imaginary Country" and simultaneously drinking an energy drink. My body wants to sleep desperately and my brain is forcing me to drink this bitter sludge to stay awake. We humans are odd creatures....
Thanks for all your tweets/comments about "Ursa Minor" landing in the "Ninja Assassin" trailer. Maybe someday I'll even get to see it. If you guys find a YouTube link with Ursa Minor in it, post it!
I have collected 70 raw files for the launch of the "Louder Than Words" FiXT Remix contest. It's over 400 mb of audio, so clear your pipes and get ready to download. Contest will go live Monday at fixtremix.com with over $5000 in prizes lined up already. (Umm, can I enter my own contest please???)
I've been getting lots of Tweets asking about the availability of the raw files from previous contests. They are officially live. Just go to the "Contests" tab at fixtremix.com and click the contest you want. On that contests page you'll see a "Download Remix Assets" link.
I'm in my studio all day today editing guitars for "Eon." Maybe i should just take a nap - after all, denial is my best friend.
This is a quick little bounce of the beginning of an idea i had for my 1984 Remix of Louder Than Words. It's a loooooong way off, so listen with a grain of salt. The Louder Than Words Remix contest launches in 2 weeks - I'm reposting from my last Klog for those who haven't who aren't 'in the know': ------- The first remix contest for Wish Upon a Blackstar is prepping to launch. "Louder Than Words" raw remix files will go live at the new FiXTRemix.com site in just over 2 weeks - Mon, Sept 28th. As of right now I have 70 files ready to go, including over 20 elements that didn't even make the final mix. There's lots of stuff for you to take and break. There's already over $5000 in prizes lined up for this round and we're hoping for more than that before contest launch. I can't give specifics of sponsors yet - to be good Jedi's we must release these details at their proper time. (I'm not sure when that is exactly though, bc they didn't teach me that part in Jedi pre-school.)
If you haven't registered at the totally new and improved FiXT Remix site, go do it now! Create and customize your profile, whether you're a remixer, or just want to stay up on your favorite remixers, vote etc. ------
I have been in "Eon" guitar editing hell. This hasn't left me much time for updates or sleeping. I finally have some good updates for you. I'll just get into it, for time's sake.
The first remix contest for Wish Upon a Blackstar is prepping to launch. "Louder Than Words" raw remix files will go live at the new FiXTRemix.com site in just over 2 weeks - Mon, Sept 28th. As of right now I have 70 files ready to go, including over 20 elements that didn't even make the final mix. There's lots of stuff for you to take and break. There's already over $5000 in prizes lined up for this round and we're hoping for more than that before contest launch. I can't give specifics of sponsors yet - to be good Jedi's we must release these details at their proper time. (I'm not sure when that is exactly though, bc they didn't teach me that part in Jedi pre-school.)
If you haven't registered at the totally new and improved FiXT Remix site, go do it now! Create and customize your profile, whether you're a remixer, or just want to stay up on your favorite remixers, vote etc. We already have almost 130 remixers already registered. There are a lot of cool features being added weekly and this site will (finally) be something that I can be proud of. Makes much more sense (to me, and hopefully y0u) and I think this will allow us to do much more than ever before. (Like, multiple remix contests at the same time? What? A Blue Stahli remix contest coming up?!?! I didn't' just say that....)
I was thinking about possibly even posting a tiny section of my 1984 remix of "Louder Than Words" next week right here if anyone even wants to hear a snippet of it. It's totally in "Beta Cessions" mode, but it's not like I didn't just dump 30+ minutes of Beta Cessions demos into your laps for Chapter 01 anyway.
Time to go back to smashing my face into a brick wall (a.k.a. editing guitars for "Eon")
Bummer. As many of you already know, the http://fixtstore.com is giving us all a 403 error. After management got the right person on the phone, we discover that it's bc there is so much traffic hitting the store that the server thinks it's getting hacked and locks everyone out. I guess you can't get mad at the poor little server - it's just doing it's job.
I did JUST hear back on the status of the tracks. I am hoping to have them in my hands in an hour from now. Then I need to listen and sign off so management can encode these last tracks and MAKE IT LIVE. We could (and hopefully should) be only a few hours away.
Look on the bright side: by this time next week, you'll be bored of the tracks anyway and onto the new Green Day album instead. I promise, we'll let you know on many fronts the second Chapter 01 is ready to go.
Been a busy day of tweets - possibly more than I've ever done before and I had the chance to answer a bunch of your questions. ( I think ) So if you're not following me on Twitter, do it.
Chapter 01 Drops Tomorrow (The Good News & Bad News & Then More Good News)
The good news is Chapter 01 of Wish Upon a Blackstar will finally be available tomorrow, exclusively from http://fixtstore.com. I almost cried as I was being updated on how many pre-orders were pouring in since Friday (tears of joy :) not sadness :( You guys continue to rock the tiny little world I live (and cry) in.
The bad news is..... It can't go live at midnight tonight EST like the FiXT Store usually does things (but it will go live tomorrow as orginally promised.) This is NOT because I love any of you any less or a new mandate has been handed down from Obama or even global warming: It simply is the byproduct of a scheduling misfortune. Without getting into unnecessary details, I am expecting final mixes sometime tomorrow. Thank God in the Heavenlies that in this new digital age, I can approve mixes and pass them off to management to encode and make live in the store within an hour. Pretty sweet.
So, to make things clear: due to circumstances beyond our control, Chapter 01 will not be released until sometime later in the day tomorrow at the very second I get my paws on the mixes and approve them. Every single other thing is ready to go. 30+ minutes of Beta Cessions demo, 30+ minutes of Beta Cessions Commentaries, and a badass 25 page PDF with lyrics and credits and artwork by YOU. For those who ordered the deluxe edition, get your 56k modems ready: It's over 250 mbs of stuff you'll be downloading.
There's more good news too:
I've spent the last few days mixing a brand new Blue Stahli track "Throw Away" and I just now wrapped up mastering for it. so at MIDNIGHT TONIGHT, "Throw Away", 7 Beta Cessions demos, an expanded PDF booklet with cool descriptions of the demos from Bret himself and a badass little pdf book of "The more mundane adventures of Blue Stahli" by Collin Landis at Strangities.com will be live at http://fixtstore.com.
I think there is even more good news, but I can't think of what it is right now. Oh, I remember: I have leftover Peanut M&M's from the theater (Inglorious Basterds.) They melt in my mouth, not in my hands.
Wow, this almost feels like it's really happening. New Celldweller? Can it be possible? Looking that way... I finished recording my "Commentary" tracks yesterday, and the merch is starting to roll in so next Tuesday - Official release of Wish Upon a Blackstar (Chapter 01)
I'm justgoing to repost some of the FiXT newsletter that was just sent out with pricing, pics and info for not only Chapter 01. but a new Blue Stahli track as well ("Throw Away" - I love this song.) Check the full FiXT Newsletter to see other new stuff we've got coming in, like another FiXT Original shirt by Sam @ Dose Productions.
Chapter 01 Release & Pre-Order Details Klayton has announced that Chapter 01 of "Wish Upon a Blackstar" will have two different download options: Chapter 01 and Chapter 01 Deluxe Edition. The Deluxe Edition will include demo versions of both "Louder Than Words" and "So Long Sentiment" clocking in at over 30 minutes, plus a separate audio commentary by Klayton detailing the progression of the demos spoken over them as they play. The Deluxe Edition of Chapter 01 will have a total play-time of of nearly 90 minutes of audio.
Chapter 01 01 "Louder Than Words" (4:41) 02 "So Long Sentiment" (6:11) PDF Booklet (24 Pages: Concept Art, Lyrics, Credits & Inspired Art) Price: $1.98
Chapter 01 Deluxe Edition 01 "Louder Than Words" (4:41) 02 "So Long Sentiment" (6:11) 03 "Louder Than Words" (Custom Instrumental) 04 "So Long Sentiment" (Instrumental) 05 - 17 "Louder Than Words" (Beta Cessions Demos) 18 - 29 "So Long Sentiment" (Beta Cessions Demos) 30 "Louder Than Words" (Beta Cessions Audio Commentary) 31 "So Long Sentiment" (Beta Cessions Audio Commentary) PDF Booklet (24 Pages: Concept Art, Lyrics, Credits & Inspired Art) Over 90 minutes of Audio Price: $4.99
The MP3 downloads for Chapter 01 will be available on Tuesday, 8/25, exclusively from the FiXT Store, but you can Pre-Order your copy, plus several merch options, beginning this Friday, 8/21. Some physical merch items may take 3-4 weeks to ship.
Wish Upon A Blackstar Merchandise
Chapter 01 T-shirt
Soft, Fine Jersey 100% Cotton T-Shirt (4.3oz) by American Apparel. 2-Sided Full Color Print on an Ash Gray Shirt. $24.99 each
Chapter 01 Limited Edition Record Flat
250 Piece LImited Edition, Hand Numbered 12" x 12" Full Color Record Flat. The 1st in a series of 5 images from the 5 Chapters of the album that will make up a final composite image 60" wide. $14.99 each
Chapter 01 Sticker
Full Color 4"x4" Vinyl Sticker with art from Chapter 01 of Wish Upon A Blackstar. $1.99 each
Chapter 01 Dog Tag
2-Sided Metallic Black Dog Tag with Chain. $4.99 each
Merch Bundles | Buy More & Save
Bundle 1: Chapter 01 Deluxe Edition Limited Edition Record Flat/Poster Sticker Total Retail Value: $21.97 Combo Price: $16.97 (Save $5.00)
Add a Chapter 01 Dog Tag to any of the bundles for only $3.99 (Save $1.00 automatically at checkout).
"Louder Than Words" & "So Long Sentiment" Previews Klayton has posted previews from both songs in Chapter 01 of Wish Upon A Blackstar. Listen below:
"Louder Than Words"
"So Long Sentiment"
FiXT STORE | New Home Page Goes Live This Friday (8/21)
This Friday, the FiXT Store home page will be re-booted, featuring a revamped layout with a refined central navigation scheme. The new layout will allow you to browse many categories from the store home page and more clearly identify new & featured products.
Some of the highlighted categories you will be able to browse from the home page include: • Featured Releases • New Releases • What's Hot • Deals of the Week • Just Added • Exclusives • FiXT Remix • Merch • Digital Art
There will also be a Featured Tracks audio player at the top of the store homepage, allowing you to start previewing new/featured music as soon as the page loads.
Along with all the new features/site updates, we've got an extensive list of new products getting added to the store over the next week, including new T-shirts, Dog Tags, Shooter Glasses, Music Albums/EPs, Posters and more.
Be sure to check out the all new FiXT Store homepage this Friday!
Blue Stahli | Throw Away, Merch & "The Final Destination"
Bret (Blue Stahli) has just confirmed that a brand new track will be hitting the FiXT Store in the next week! The new track "Throw Away" will come in both standard and Deluxe Editions featuring bonus content and instrumentals in the latter. Bret is in the middle of final mix as you read this and he hopes to have the track available for next Tuesday (8/25). Check his blog at www.bluestahli.com for more details!
The first merch item for Blue Stahli is now available! Get a 2-sided Metallic-Black Dog Tag with the Blue Stahli logo and Blue Stahli logo-swirl. Available this Friday (8/21) at the FiXT Store for $4.99 each.
Blue Stahli's "ULTRAnumb" has been featured in a new TV Spot for the upcoming movie "The Final Destination." Watch the spot below:
Wish Upon a Blackstar-Chapter 01 Official Release Details
How's that for a title you never thought you would see? More like, how's that for a title I thought I'd never see? I'm here to tell you, it's true. Chapter 01 is done - mostly. I have a buttload (eww) of updates to drop on you (double-eww.) So grab a coffee, Pop Tart, Vaseline or all of the above and read on...
Let me get right to what 98% of you actually want to know: When is the release date? Today is Tuesday, August 4th and in exactly THREE WEEKS Chapter 01 drops like an old man's trousers at a colonoscopy. TUESDAY, AUGUST 25TH, Chapter 01 goes live.
Here are a lot more details about the release:
I recognize that it seems like things have been quiet on my end the last few weeks. The truth is I wanted to be able to actually focus on getting things done so i can really show them to you instead of just talk about how I was getting them done. Well, now they're mostly done. Both "Louder Than Words" and "So Long Sentiment" are completely mixed - final. I am currently wrapping up editing a custom instrumental version of "Louder Than Words" where I added a few sounds to make it cooler IMHO. I also ended up using different music for the verses in the custom instrumental as well. I had this heavily sidechained live bassline that was fighting with the vocal, so I scrapped it and created something else so the vocal could pop. I've always liked the gritty, nasty live bass and felt in an instrumental context it was cooler, so now you'll have it.
To answer a question many of you have been asking: "How long is Chapter 01?" The 2 songs collectively clock in at almost 11 minutes. Think about it this way - it's about the same length as 4 pop songs. Wow, lots of bang for your buck.
Next comes some stuff that I've been promised will be cool (cooler for you than me however.) I probably wouldn't have naturally done this, but the good people around me swear that there will be at least 3 or 4 people who will want extra stuff, i.e. - my demos. I collected over a dozen different demos of the songs in various stages during the writing process. I'm planning on editing sections from each for those peeps who want to hear where these songs came from to how they ultimately ended up.
Next I need to do an edit of "Louder Than Words" so I can post a preview for you to hear. Wait, huh? I'm jumping ahead of myself. I meant, NEXT I need to send the songs off to mastering to make them sound a little more bad-asser.
I also tweeted last week that I had signed off on the final artwork for Chapter 01. What I haven't told you is that during the last few weeks we've been working on designing potential shirt, sticker, poster & other cool goodies to try to have ready for the release of Chapter 01. So, just letting you know it's in the works, but no definite details to leak yet.
Speaking of artwork, as I mentioned numerous times I will be doing an expanded PDF for this release that will include some pretty badass images that YOU have created. In fact, the deadline for submissions was August 1st, but now that I know that we have a few more weeks to go, I'll say that if you missed the deadline or now feel inspired, I'll take submissions for art until August 21st. Read all the details HERE. There are at least 15 pieces picked out already that I'll be including in the expanded PDF, so get on it or get on someone you know who wants to be involved.
Ok, only a few more things, but saving the best for last. Here is the breakdown:
Celldweller - Wish Upon a Blackstar (Chapter 01 of 05) Available Tuesday, August 25th exclusively @ http://fixtstore.com
Standard Edition: Louder Than Words So Long Sentiment PDF Booklet (w lyrics, art and user submitted art) Deluxe Edition: Louder Than Words + Custom Instrumental So Long Sentiment + Instrumental PDF Booklet (w lyrics, art and user submitted art) Louder Than Words Bonus Demo Files (Beta Cession Demos) So Long Sentiment (Beta Cession Demos)
There will be other packages and options bundled with shirts, stickers, posters etc announced when Chapter 01 is live.
AND FINALLY... You've made it pretty clear to me that you want to see the album cover. You've also made it pretty clear to me that you want to HEAR "Louder Than Words" so I'm thinking "Why not do both?" Next Monday, August 10th I will post the full Chapter 01 Album cover and a preview of "Louder Than Words" right here at Celldweller.Com, k? K.
I've typed too much. I've probably missed some things, but I'll be updating during the week. Might even drop some vid to you of more Louder Than Words mixidown madness during the week.
Louder Than Words: 30,636 Fades (but a bitch ain't one)
I was planning to start mixing "Louder Than Words" TODAY, but due to scheduling conflicts I will be starting TOMORROW. The goal is to have this song final mixed by Saturday. (Any Saturday still left in 2009, to be more specific.) The Pro Tools session is taking almost 7 minutes to open, which is absolutely preposterous. I did some digging and noticed that I may have broken my own record: 30,636 Fade files for just one little song. Geez Louise (I've wanted to use that phrase for the longest time and this felt like the perfect time to drop it.) Today I'll be consolidating all the crossfaded audio files into nice, clean single regions and all 30,000+ fade files will go bye bye. Thank God.
This song has a completely new intro and now, a completely new ending. It breathes a little bit of fresh air into the track for me. Maybe I'll be able to listen to it for a few weeks more before I never want to hear it again? We'll see.
Still working out details of a possible live video stream from the studio. I'll let you know when I know. Get on your knees and say your prayers that by the end of this week, Chapter 1 of Wish Upon a Blackstar will finally be DONE. [Klayton]
So FAIL on the TwitVid video I uploaded yesterday. It appears that some of you can't see the video, so straight to 4377 with TwitVid!
I shot a new vid just now and I'm throwing it up (ewww) on YouTube so it's a bit more universal. For those who wanted to know how it is that it takes me so long to make a track, here's a tiny demonstration....
Got an app today that allows me to shot vid and upload directly to TwitVid. Decided to test it with a clip of "Louder Than Words." If you want my TwitVid posts more immediately, follow me on Twitter.
I promised you some footage from the studio. This is the best I could do for now (I'm a little short on camera operators and video editors...) Hit me on Twitter. (And yes, I did go see Terminator Salvation last night. I'm a total geek.)
Big up to Terry Lesperance for letting me borrow a much better kit than the ones I own.
I'm about to play these particular drums for "Louder Than Words." Kinda can't wait til they're done so we'll all be one step closer to hearing Chapter 1 in it's entirety. Any day now, any day...
It doesn't seem natural to be sitting here right now listening to Tim Hecker's "An Imaginary Country" and simultaneously drinking an energy drink. My body wants to sleep desperately and my brain is forcing me to drink this bitter sludge to stay awake. We humans are odd creatures....
