Kenn Crawford, songwriter

28/09/2025

The updated rack. Not a lot of outboard gear yet but the top section is setup as a music stand of sorts so there will always be a place for recording notes, lyrics, etc.
A standard notepad covers the switches up top but I have to deliberately push hard enough to change the switches.

The unbranded unit sitting on top of the ART DPSii tube preamp and Roland sound module is a cheap unit I picked up from Temu of all places because I wanted something to use with my acoustic guitar/mic amplifier.
The reverb on the amp is not particularly great and you can only control how much... I figured this unit I'll be able to at least find something useful for practicing.

When I looked at the owner's manual I discovered the unit is actually an Alesis Midiverb 4 from the 90s.

They removed the branding on the unit but kept the name in the manual that they copied verbatim.

So either the warehouse had leftover stock when Alesis discontinued them or they just kept producing them anyway without branding them.

I'm not sure (I'd have to take it apart and see the chips to know for sure) but it's not that important... even a knockoff will sound better than the "take it or leave it" reverb on the amp :)

22/09/2025

Studio update that freed the drums and saved them from being sold on Facebook Marketplace :)

As before it's a complete mess in here as I move things around finding a spot for everything where it's usable at a moments notice without having to move other stuff just to get to it.

The monitors are now aimed at the bookcases instead of the wall with sound absorption, but all the mics, books, gear etc on the shelves will help break up the sound waves and cut back on reflections.
The speakers are also about 2 feet from the wall behind them. I do have heavy, blackout curtains if needed to help reduce reflections etc if needed.

Like everything else, I'll cross that bridge when I get to it.
The next step is wiring everything up again but I blew my knee out again last night and can barely walk, so progress has been temporarily stalled, but I'm content with this layout.

Everything I need is within reach regardless if the desk is lowered for sitting or raised when I'm standing.
I'll just have to be careful and watch where I'm turning when I have a guitar strapped to me, but the rolling rack will be pushed towards the closet and out of the way when I'm tracking guitars (which is why I bought a rack on wheels) which gives me more room when recording guitar.

More updates to follow.

20/09/2025

Edit: I had to rearrange it again. Now I'll be able use the drums. Yay.
*******
My man cave....
It's a cluttered mess right now with cables and whatnot everywhere but I was finally able to start putting my little home studio back together again. Yay!

I started with the guitars so it at least looks like I accomplished something before my back gave out on me.
Tomorrow's job is hooking up the computer and outboard gear.

It looks like a tight fit for the drums which means if they're blocked in by the time I bring in the mic stands, my other amps etc etc, I'll probably have to sell the v-drums... but I'll cross that bridge when I get to it.

09/09/2025

Brand new song in the works....

On my birthday (Aug 29th) I was messaging my daughter and mentioned I was working on a new song that dealt with addiction. She wanted to see the lyrics and even made a few suggestions, such as being more inclusive so as not to narrow the listener base.
One line I had was about a son wjo can't get off his knees. Women can't relate to the song quite as much when they're reminded that the addiction doesn't include them. Which obviously isn't true — addiction doesn't care who you are, it's happy to destroy your life too. 😐

Knowing I wasn't happy with a few things in the song (aka stuck) she came over and I spent my 59th birthday writing a song with my daughter, which made it one of the best birthdays I've had in a long, long time. 😊

Oh, the song we co-wrote is called "Crawling Home to Mama" and it's much stronger now thanks to her help. 😁

More updates to follow.

23/08/2025

Some of my studio gear is sitting in the kitchen and the hallway as I rearrange my studio to make room for this large outboard rack unit, the double keyboard stand, and the guitar stand with a shelf that I got for my effect pedals (my old back and legs can't reach the floor to adjust pedals anymore. :( lol)

Once upon a time I had enough external effects and processors to fill that rack, bit it's a little empty now because I'm down to a tube preamp, a MIDI sound module, an old EQ, and a few power conditioners.

Time to start saving for some more outboard gear like reverb, delays, and a patch bay.

As much as I enjoy working in the box with a computer, sometimes I want that classic analog sound from back in the day.

15/08/2025

Spent most of this week writing lyrics to an emotionally raw story that paints a vivid picture of a life unraveling from addiction.

I can't remember the last time I worked this hard on lyrics, it's usually the melody that takes the most time. Thankfully I already have a solid idea for the melody, I just need to sit down with my guitar or piano to work out the chords that best serve the song.

After that it's onto recording a rough demo so I can just listen and take notes for changes and improvements.

More updates to follow.

26/07/2025

Someone in a recording group explained that they're moving into a shared place and that meant he can't use his speakers, so he asked for recommendations for a decent set of headphones for home studio use (mixing etc)

He got a lot of good recommendations. And of course there's always that one person who helps explain why so many people these days turn to ChatGPT instead of asking real people. 🙄

Q: what are good headphones?
A: get a job in a studio.

Yup, very helpful.

15/07/2025

Apparently WeTransfer got so much backlash from the new terms of service that they already updated them. BBC did an article on them (I'm in Canada so I can't post news links) and the company that bought WeTransfer has a reputation for buying struggling services then laying off a bunch of people and the service goes downhill.
Not sure what the new ToS are but taking your content (your songs) and using it to make money without paying you shows they don't have ethics. Just one more company tryng to screw musicians and other creatives out of money. That's the world we live in today. :(

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24/02/2025

Studio is still in pieces so to speak.
I switched to Mac and after a little of "fiddlin' & f " as my dad would say, it just wasn't working out.
I thought assigning midi and audio would be easier since they have a dedicated tool for that, but I still can't get an external midi sound module to be recognized, and adding a digital mixer with a USB connection proved to be equally as frustrating.

The iMac wasn't powerful enough to run my Waves plugins (works great for Logic) and the Macbook Pro did run it but 2 USB ports just isn't enough. Even with powered USB hubs things just weren't working properly in Studio One.

Considering my studio was laid out to take advantage of the iMac, I have to strip things down a bit and make changes to hook up my PC tower and extra wide monitor.

As a tool for writing and other activities I have nothing but good things to say about the Macbook Pro, but I don't want to be constantly plugging and unplugging stuff just to take the Macbook with me to write.

So back to my Windows i7 desktop for audio and I'll use the Macbook Pro for writing. Once I get my studio rearranged and set up of course. Fun times.

In other news, the writing I am talking about is two fold... I want to get back into writing stories and screenplays, and I want to start writing a book or two on home recording.

31/10/2024

Seen this cool guitar strap for sale with a premium floral pattern but I'm not exactly sure what type of flower that is... Any suggestions?

01/10/2024

Fret wrap that's adjustable to "make it fit the PIANO body." I never knew a piano had frets 🤔

A different pic says the fret wrap can "cleanly handle the sound WITHOUT freeing up the hands." 😳
That's rather counterproductive if you have to use one of your hands to hold it in place.
Maybe it depends on what piano body you're wrapping it around? 🙄

30/09/2024

I just learned that Kris Kristofferson has passed away. :( He was one of my favorite songwriters.
Time to fire up my favorite Kristofferson song, "Here Comes That Rainbow Again."

Well, not the same as my video with the scenes from the movie... but there's no use of a worldwide-blocked video. Hope, FOX won't be pi**ed off by stills fro...