22 June 2008 - Looking For A Simple MIDI Sequencer |
I am looking for a simple MIDI sequencer, something that looks like "Band in a Box" (a product that I had a long time ago). Preferably a free one.
The idea is that I can select a rhythm pattern (say, rock, pop, jazz, or variations of them) and then I can enter chords by typing their name (say, "C" or "Dm" or "CM7" and so on). After that I can play the composition.
Actually, I need this for my guitar practice. I have melodies in my head that I need to practice. Or I have some ideas (melodies) that I want to try and make modifications of them. To do so I need a rhythm that I can play over and over again. (Or I can ask a friend to play the same chords over and over again. That's going to be boring.)
After that, I also need a program that can convert (render) the MIDI sequences to MP3.
Any suggestions? |
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21 June 2008 - Still Injured From a Futsal Game |
It has been two weeks (perhaps 3?) ... I am injured from a futsal game. My right ribs was hit hard by two players. I was the keeper and these two strikers ran at the ball. I grabbed the ball, but they couldn't stop. So they feet landed under my ribs. Since then I still have pain in my right body.
We are in a local league. Today there is a match. This is going to be our third match. We won one and lost one. The guys said that if I don't play, we lose. Today is going to be a tough one since our opponent is supposed to be the best.
Now, I am thinking of coming back to play. But I think I shouldn't force myself. What do you think? |
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15 June 2008 - Almost Giving Up |
To be frankly, I am almost giving up writing in this blog. Chandramoon is kind enough to pull me back. :D
At one time I had a hard time accessing this blog. I was frustrated and decided to write my stuff in Bahasa Indonesia (in one blog). That blog was soo popular that it reached 3000 visitors a day! It was considered one of the most popular personal blogs in Indonesia. Interesting.
The thing is ... I am busy again with my work. I am on the road most of the time. I can only access my blogs from my cellphone. Those blogs (and microblogs) that are available through my cellphone are the one getting my attention.
But I guess I should give efx2 another run. This was one of my home base anyway. So ... here I am. |
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28 January 2008 - Saturday's Gig |
Last Saturday, my band had a gig in a private (birthday) party. We played 5 songs. They're just cover songs. It was great!
During practise we sucked. That was because our bass player couldn't make it to the practise. So we had to do away with whatever we had. I was worried and skeptical. But it turned out great. Sound was great. We had full control of the sound. Our gig was 10 times better than the practice (or the gig in previous week). I am excited ...
That's the second gig this year. More to come.... I'd like to make 20 gigs (at least) this year. :D |
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22 January 2008 - The World Without Me |
What would happen if I cease to exist?
Would the world stop from spinning?
I am just a dust
... blown into a soundless corner
Is it time for me to go now? |
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20 January 2008 - Still standing |
I am still standing here
... while thousands have faded away
You cast your spell
... burning my desire to live
[picture taken somewhere in Indonesia. 19 January 2008. yesterday - budi rahardjo] |
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13 January 2008 - More music in 2008 |
One of my resolution this year is that I will do more music stuff. I am more serious into this.
Last week I bought pieces-by-pieces new gears for my guitar. This time I bought a "Vintage Tube Overdrive". Yeah! I love the sound. I wish I have a real tube amplifier, but this is good enough (for now?).
I hope it will improve my sound and music capabilities. Here's a picture of me practising my guitar skill. I think I was playing a song by a UK band called Jadis. Great band, by the way.
 |
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13 January 2008 - Ache ... |
Damn it. My body is aching. Well, it is actually my "fault". Yesterday I was so into futsal (indoor soccer), that I played for almost 2 hours non-stop. With an old body like mine ... I am aching all over my body. I played as a goal keeper. I had to jump and do all the tricks :)
Anyway, I am actually happy. I've been playing futsal for more than 1 year now. Every Saturday.
But the good thing is that I don't have a heartache. :) That would be more difficult to cure. Somebody said time will heal (your heartache wound). Is it true? |
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25 November 2007 - Watching old guys playing music |
I am watching Foreigner DVD right now. It's 25 years of music. They have good music, but their live show is kind of empty. I think it's the stage. It's so empty and simple. They should add more stuff. I don't know. One thing for sure, the old age shows up (bald, chubby, and such). Ha ha ha. What can you do? You cannot fight age.
Then it dawned on me that ... that's what I look like when I am playing on stage. I am old. Hah! |
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20 November 2007 - Guitar(ist)s |
Last Saturday I pulled a group of guitarists to perform on stage. They are basically my friends and family. :) We played 5 songs. At the end we took pictures. Here's one of them.
Nice picture, eh?
Next gig I want to add more guitars ... :D I enjoy playing live with a bunch of people. It's just so exciting. After that gig, I went to another one (in the evening). That one was also great. It was a regular band with 3 singers. It was hot too! I felt the stage lights shining on us. I was sweating like crazy. Not because I am nervious, but because we were having a good time. Good stuff! |
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18 November 2007 - in terms with self |
I have had a nice and beautiful Sunday, today. Previous days were so hecktic, that I only slept 3 or 4 hours a day. I enjoyed those high tempo days, though.
Today was a relaxing day for me. I planned to sleep the whole day, but didn't get a chance to do it. I did slept a few hours though, but that's not what I enjoyed. I had a chance to think about many things, but mostly about myself - about how lucky I am. The day was not so bad either. It was a sunny and beautiful day. I went out just to order lunch for me and my son. My wife went to visit our family in a different island. There's a wedding there. I have to stay home with my son.
I planned to read books, watch DVDs, and many things, but ended up ... sleeping, reading books, watching tv, and thinking ... This is so nice. It's a picture perfect!
(My wife sent a text message; food is great there! And of course, I told her I don't believe it. Send me a picture! or better yet, bring some home. ha ha ha.) |
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10 November 2007 - ATTENTION: Trackbacks Need To Be Disabled. |
| Attention Blog User:
There has been a recent outbreak of spam that is sneaking past our spam filters and using the Post Trackback feature. This feature, if enabled on your posts, will allow spam to get in and post comments - those of which no one wants.
Since Keith is currently offline and not available, us Community Leaders have taken it upon us to find a temporary solution until Keith can do something.
Here's The Fix:
You need to go here: http://www.efx2blogs.com/manager/tra...ttings.php
and make sure "Trackback Default for New Entries" is set to 'Trackbacks Disabled' in the drop-down menu and also, "Autodetect Trackbacks?" is set to 'Autodetect Disabled' in the drop-down menu.
This will disable trackback on all new posts you make.
*** If you are apart of multiple blogs, you will need to select specific blog in which the problem is first in the blog control panel.... and then click that link for the settings to appear. ***
For previous posts that have been attacked you must Edit that post and just below the Post Edit Box you should see a link "Advanced Post Options" - click that and you should see an option for "Allow Trackbacks?" and make sure it is set to 'No.'
--------------------------------------------------------------
Thank you for your participation in this matter and helping us alleviate the problem.
- The Community Leaders (leaders.efx2blogs.com)
THIS POST CAN BE DELETED. |
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4 November 2007 - Writing sh!ts |
I feel like screaming. I want to write stuff that's on my mind, but most of it doesn't make sense. But, I don't want to intrude others.
Yeah, I should write it somewhere ... like in a piece of paper and burn it afterwards. Not in this blog or any kind of blog for that matter. But, I don't feel like doing it. I just want to type, type, and type. Grrr... Arrgggghhh. Whatever. I feel the release of energy (or anger? frustation?) if I type this on my computer.
At one time, I did exactly like what you suggested. I typed something in a file and let it sit for a while. Words - or some kind of words in some kind of language - kept flowing ... Files were deleted afterwards. I couldn't even read it. But, I felt fine afterwards.
Another method I used was blogwalking and trying to find somebody who was less fortunate than me. I felt better then. I know, I know, I know ... this is just not right. But I felt fine. Sometimes I even offered help (to that particular person). My theory is ... if I work on somebody else's problem, I'll forget abaout my problem. Or I will think that my problem is so small that I solve it right then without further thinking.
What do you do? |
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30 October 2007 - (not) performing |
Last week, our band was scheduled to perform at a blog party (more than 400 bloggers were there). Alas, our keyboard player had another party at his house and our guitarist hurt his middle finger. We could not play. Ouch ... :eek:
Tonite, I was supposed to play with my other band. Again, our bass player is sick and our guitar/keyboard (rhythm) player is wasted (no, not that kind of wasted ... he is just too tired of doing too many tasks). So, I am left with my drummer. Ha ha ha. I guess there's no gig tonite. Or, I could find a bass player in the audience and continue with the gig? Hmm... |
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6 October 2007 - Between Sleeping And Doing Some Work |
Last night I was doing some work (network programming, taking apart messaging application). It was so exciting that I forgot about the time. I looked at the clock, it was close to midnight. Hmmm... The thing is, I have to wake up at 3AM (this is the month of Ramadhan for Muslim, we are fasting during the day, and the latest I could eat is around 4 AM).
Now, should I continue working, which means I don't get to sleep, or go to bed now? I could get a good sleep in three hours. If I stop now, I could loose the momentum. Decision, decision.
I decided to hit the bed and continue working the next morning. Let's see how it goes. I wanted to be a "normal" person, which means get some sleep. :laugh:
So, now early morning ... and I am going to continue with what I did last night. I've got to get more results before meeting this afternoon. I hope I don't get too much distractions (like typing this blog entry). Ha! |
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3 October 2007 - Hacking Software Again |
It has been a while since I got my hands dirty with coding. Now, I've got an interesting project to run. I have delegated the task to my team, but they are not delivering the result quick enough. It's time to get my hands dirty again.
I installed Linux (Debian) on a notebook and start playing with it again, compiling this and that. Basically I have to capture some low-level packets and push them into a database for processing (query) later on. Things have not changed that much, but I have to relearn many things. Now, I am reading snort manual (again) and trying out some of the examples.
Tomorrow I have to bring this laptop on the road (and leavel my Mac behind). I hope we get results quickly. Our client has been asking for a demo. I think we can deliver it on time. I just have to make sure! |
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29 September 2007 - Up ... watching sunrise |
I've been up since 3AM. Then can't sleep after that, doing music search and stuff. So, I am not really waiting and watching sunrise. Although, it is beautiful out there. Ah, you've got to see it yourself.
It's 6:25 AM. Now. I have a meeting at 9AM and 11AM. Time to prepare for those meetings. I hope I am not sleepy during the meetings. I am leading the first meeting. So, I should be okay for that one, but I am not sure about the second one since I am only there listing to guests from abroad. (The discussion is about offshoring their work to us. This is important, actually.)
Wish me luck (and awake!). |
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28 September 2007 - Strange Sun |
"Go out. Look at the sun," a text message on my cellphone. I went out and look at the sun. Sure enough. There was a strange ring around the sun. I took pictures of it. Here it is.
I was told that this is a halo effect. Great isn't it? |
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