This is the Creative Mp3Blaster MIDI keyboard. It works only with the Creative Soundblaster cards. But it still is a very good buy considering the cost. The keyboard costed me Dhs.350/- in 2001. You can get a Creative Soundblaster card for Dhs.150/- or less. So for an investment of less than Dhs.500, you could be on your way to creating CD quality music on your existing PC! 

If you are into a lot of recording work from various devices, it is advisable to keep a collection of various types of leads and pins. You never know when you might need them. I got these from the local Meena Bazar at a very cheap price. I know, you dont use this for high quality work. I am still in the experimentative and learning stage, so I am keeping my costs low. Will post some of music work soon. 

The PC that I use to record and mix - AMD 500MHz, 256MB RAM, 20GB HDD, CD-RW. Cost me Dhs.2000 to assemble in early 2001. 

A close up picture of my Korean digital mixer. Just bought it in early 2003 to get used to one. Cost me Dhs.400/-. My Casio CTK-731 synth was bought in 2000 at a sale. Picked it up for Dhs.1,500/- 

The Audigy Platinum External Soundcard. Bought this in 2002 for Dhs.750/- (approx. US$225). It comes with a lot of useful ports. 

A more wider picture showing my PC. I have hooked the Casio CTK-731 keyboard to a mixer. The mixer connects to my Audigy Platinum External soundcard. The Creative MP3Blaster keyboard is connected to the MIDI port of my soundcard. soundcard. The tabla mic and a vocal mic are also connected to the mixer.  

A part of my experimentative budget home-studio. 

For the Independent Musician - From the BSharp Newsletter

I am a subscriber to the BSharp Yahoogroup:
http://www.yahoogroups.com/group/BSharpNews/

URL to the discussion list:
http://www.yahoogroups.com/group/BSharpRoundTable/

Got this in their newsletter today. Maybe it could be useful to some of us home-made musicians!


NEW 'NET RADIO SHOW MAKES MUSICIANS "THINK ABOUT IT!"

WASHINGTON, DC - - December 28, 2004 - - "Think About It!" is a new Washington, DC-based Internet radio talk show that will focus on helping independent musicians and recording artists dramatically improve their chances for exposure and success through exploring alternative unique business, marketing and promotion approaches.

The prerecorded program begins its official broadcast on Wednesday,
January 5, 2005, and will air weekly at 8:00 p.m. (EST), with a repeat broadcast of each week's program on the following Thursday at 12:00 Noon (EST).
Each show will also be archived for future listening by the public.

Co-hosted by URSCENE.com (http://www.urscene.com) president Dr. Lovell L. Elliott, whose alternate radio personality is widely known as "JayBee," and MuBiz.com (http://www.mubiz.com) president, Kenny Love, who is also a veteran record promoter and media publicist, the show will occasionally include special guests who will present first-hand accounts of their past and current methods, techniques and ideas that have brought and continue to bring them success within today's music industry.

"There are, possibly, a few isolated similar programs airing in some local areas, but we know of no such music business instructional programs being produced and aired that have such a wide scope and are capable of, literally, reaching musicians around the world on a regular basis," notes Love. "And, the Internet provides a wonderful opportunity for artists to have access to alternative information for success while taking complete advantage of the ndustry now affording them the easiest vehicle for success ever."

Artists, managers, booking agents, music attorneys, promoters, publicists and other industry personnel who wish to be considered for guest appearances on the program in order to contribute ideas and content, are encouraged to contact the show's producers at (240)353-6880 or (936)545-2092.

- # # # # # # # -
______________________________________________________

[About the Producers/Hosts]:


Dr. Lovell L. "JayBee" Elliott, President (http://www.URSCENE.com)

Dr. Lovell L. Elliott obtained his doctorate degree in Computer
Science and Technology. "JayBee," his radio personality and
identity, stems from a gentleman in his community who began
referring to him as "Jamaican Blood" after discovering Dr. Elliott
was from Jamaica. This eventually was shortened to "JB," of
which Dr. Elliott decided to spell out when he began his radio
career.

Several years ago, Dr. Elliott retired from his own computer
technology company in order to concentrate fulltime on his
radio venture.

He is president/CEO of URSCENE.com, a multi-facet
entertainment company. Select radio programming is now
broadcast 24 hours per day on the Sirius Satellite Radio
Network and from the URSCENE website, and is heard in
over 50 cities by approximately 790,000 listeners each week.

=====

Kenny Love, President (http://www.MuBiz.com)

Kenny Love attended college as a Music Education major.
Having, at one point during his career, been signed as an
artist to Disco queen Evelyn Champagne King's label
producer (Aubrey "Skip" Gravatt), he subsequently ventured
into forming his own record label through which he released
his debut recording over 15 years ago, which garnered
spotted national radio airplay and international press coverage.

Shortly afterward, Love became a record promoter and
media publicist for other independent artists, and has
worked with some impressive music clients through the
years who are connected with 'household' celebrity names.

Kenny is president/CEO of MuBiz.com, a radio promotion
and media publicity firm that also provides a number of
business and administrative services for musicians and
recording artists. His music career also includes past
positions as both a radio program producer and a radio
program host at several broadcast radio stations.

Welcome to Lokarhythms!

Lokarhythms is for the amateur musician who creates and records music at home.
I aim to post articles, links and resources for home-made musicians.