New Release Announcement: Discomix Danger EP on June 5th 2015

VARIOUS ARTISTS - DISCOMIX DANGER
DUBROOM NET LABEL RELEASE

CHECK BACK  JUNE 5TH FOR MORE

Three Weeks On The Edge Of Physical Life (Messian Dread Report February 19 2015)

THREE WEEKS ON THE EDGE OF PHYSICAL LIFE
MESSIAN DREAD REPORT FEBRUARY 19 2015

WWW, February 19 2015 - There I was, just a couple of days before what would be my first live performance in this year, just a couple of days after an initial positive outlook and update I wrote about this 2015. There I was, in an ambulance on my way to the hospital where I found out I would have to undergo a life-saving surgery in yet another hospital. After three weeks of absence, I returned home yesterday and wrote the following report. 

It's a lesson which I never seem to learn: writing updates, sharing plans, finding out that things went different. You could do a research project analyzing updates and factual progress on this website. No difference about that when it comes to this report. This time, though, it's truly serious. Yesterday I arrived back home in a taxi after a three week absence and with the prospect of five weeks of recovery and an even longer revalidation process. Yes, indeed: a medical situation. A serious medical situation which -without intervention- would have caused my physical death. The direct reason I'm still here is the fact Jah used some magnificent surgeon and staff, intensive care personnel and a whole lot more medical people to keep this body alive.

In short: I'm out of the hospital, my body is recovering from surgery and situation. I'm unable to do most things I'm used to do, stuff like lifting things and working hours and hours in a row. I've got some serious fractures and wounds that need healing before they will turn into scars during the next weeks and only after that initial recovery will I have to go through a rather intense revalidation process. Yes, it's rather serious even though I'm not in any direct life danger anymore and with some adjustments I can, to quote the surgeon under whose knife I was for many hours, "get old".

At this moment, I can spend some time writing and I'll have to take short walks, but not too much. I get physically tired quite easy, can't do simple things like lifting a thing and even sleeping at night isn't giving the comfort it should give. I'm taking paracetamol 4 times a day to keep the worst pains away which is working wonders. Fortunately I'm a reluctant medicine taker so my body does respond very well whenever I do take a painkiller or whatever.

Exactly a week ago my wife got a phone call from the surgeon, that everything went well and I would soon wake up in the Intensive Care unit in the hospital, surrounded by all kinds of tubes and drains. During the surgery several vital organs went off-line and a machine kept me alive. Quite serious, especially when you're -like me- not used to all these things first hand. I only had a few medical situations in my life and they were all in the previous century. A broken arm, stuff like that.

In the two weeks before I could undergo the surgery, I was in the local hospital where I got the best care I could possibly get. The first week was one full of uncertainty, full of friends and family visiting and encouraging me with moral and practical support. In the second, things worsened and the seriousness of my condition became painfully clear. I had to focus on keeping my body alive and only my wife and father could visit me. I had to reserve every milligram of my mental strength to maintain my own condition, something completely new to me. In the same time I had to accept that I was taken care of, for that very same reason. This was all to keep my body from passing away...

At February 11 I was driven to a larger hospital where I spent the night, woke up at 6 am the next day and went "under the knife" about 90 minutes later. Some 24+ hours further on I was taken from the Intensive Care unit and was driven back to my hometown by ambulance the next Monday, February 16. Jah had blessed me with a quicker-than-average recovery and so I was released yesterday, February 18.

All of this leaves me in this current situation. Truly a time wherein the words "He Maketh Me To Lay Down" translate directly to my current condition, especially where it relates to this work on the Dubroom and "Planet Reggae". I still have to give most of my strength and energy to recovering. I know what I have to do, I have a very strong support base and some of the best and finest medical people to assist me in this process. This is a process, a project in which my body has to get fit so that my soul and spirit can do the things I'm supposed to do.

I'm not afraid for physical death. I've seen death in the face before. In fact, I know for a fact that the only reason I am not with Him in Zion already is because He wants to use me in this physical realm. For what, I don't know. That's not my business. It is my business to keep this body alive in every way possible. This rest and blessing is my drive to stay alive, not the fear of death itself. I wish that very same rest and blessing to you too, whoever you are and in whatever situation you are. 

Let me conclude this little report by saying that I do not have any plans other than to do what I can when I can. There is always a lot to do, but I haven't got any idea when I'll be working on what. After all, when my body isn't able to function there's very little I can do anyway...

One Love,
Messian Dread

2015 Has Arrived...

2015 HAS ARRIVED
MESSIAN DREAD UPDATE JANUARY 6 2015

WWW, January 2015 - After a turbulent year both personal and in the musical field, this brand new year 2015 started nice and quiet. A New Year's greeting and update from the Dubroom webmaster.

A year ago, I was and was not looking forward to the upcoming year. It was around this day, that we've entered into a legal procedure which we knew would take about a year before it's completion. A very necessary procedure that would provide us with a much more stable living situation. We knew we had to go all through that 2014 in order to reach 2015 wherein this stable situation would be a fact. And yes, it is a fact. Thanks to Jah.

For me, personally, this means that we here have reached a situation where I -and others- have been working to establish in a seven yearlong process. After seven years, I can finally testify that Jah is good and what He promises comes to pass. 

So yes, a happy new year every body!

I've been quite productive musically during that final year 2014, a thing which I hopefully will be continuating in the upcoming year. For sure is that I'm scheduled to play music January 31 during JAH SESSIONS in my local home town of Drachten in the Netherlands. Another thing in the planning is to purchase a reverb and delay for use in a new studio set up. 

Pretty soon I'll start up the diesel engines again and begin to release more music, mixes, reviews and tutorials.

For now, I'm enjoying the vibe in this first year of what could be called a newly found freedom, the freedom to live the life I love and love the life I live. 

Not alone, in case you wondered. 

One Love,
Messian Dread

Messian Dread - Dub Whyze (Dubroom Net Label Release)

MESSIAN DREAD - DUB WHYZE
DUBROOM NET LABEL RELEASE

WWW, November 2014 - The urban, futuristic atmosphere of this release is depicted in the art work that comes with it. Over ten minutes of deep Dub created from two brand new original Dubroom riddims: here is Dub Whyze!

In many ways, this release marks the beginning of yet another change in the Dubroom's studio. With the recent arrival of Propellerhead's Reason 8.0 music production software and the Dubroom's in-depth coverage of the Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) came changes for the way the music is actually produced. Those who follow the Dubroom recently will have noticed all this coverage as it was the sole focus of the Dubroom throughout the months October and November in this 2014. Several tracks have been created and put on You Tube as part of this coverage, but Dub Whyze is the first official release from the Dubroom's Net Label.

Both tracks have an effect on the vocals that is, to say the least, highly controversial. It works on the vocal and gives it a different melody. The effect is called "Auto Tune" and much is said about it. Some claim it can turn the worst voice into the best singer but that's not the way it's used in this release. As with everything in Dub, effects are there to be noticed and not to cover up anything. Love it or like it, but the effect does give a special vibe to the overall mix and in itself justifies the cover art.

No need for any further tech-know? Here's two tracks for your musical pleasure.

TRACK DESCRIPTIONS

Murderation YY

The tempo is slow, drum and bass lay down a heavy line: When You Hear This One It's Serious. From start to end, that is. In a cool and dreadly pace that should not be underestimated. Horns, guitars and other instruments drop in and out as they get totally transformed by the multitude of effects and detailed mixing work. A Dub with a deeper meaning for real. 

Urban Poison

The city without pity. For a dread it can be hard to dwell in it. Keeping your roots and culture where they should be is often made impossible by a multitude of rules, regulations and repression. That's what this track is all about. A steppers drum with a bassline that says a thing or two, instruments and echo's get splattered into a million pieces like breaking glass: another hard hitting Dub from the Dubroom studio and net label.

TRACKS

1. Messian Dread - Murderation YY (5:15) (320Kbps MP3)
2. Messian Dread - Urban Poison (5:14) (320Kbps MP3)

Please do not re-publish the actual music, because unlike Dubroom releases before 2014, this release is © Messian Dread/Dubroom. Available for free: 128 Kbps/320 Kbps MP3 Files, CD Quality Wave Audio.

CLICK HERE TO BE DIRECTED TO THE DOWNLOAD PAGE

SOME SOURCES:

   

Reason 8.0 In Dub (3): Delayerings and Reverberations

REASON 8.0 IN DUB (3): DELAYERINGS AND REVERBERATIONS
STUDIO DUBROOM ON PROPELLERHEAD'S REASON

WWW, November 2014 - Reverb and delay: the two basic effects for a Dub mix. In this third chapter of REASON 8.0 IN DUB, both effects are subject to a deeper reviewing in word, sound and sight. Another original Reggae riddim was created, rendered to eight audio tracks and imported into a multi-track DUB set up in Reason. A report.

Before we'll take a look at some of the delay and reverb devices and -more important- see and hear them in action, a few words about creating a riddim in Reason. Reason 8.0's new browser is a tremendous help during this process. Where it's rather obvious how the quality of the work-flow had dramatically improved since Reason 3.0, this browser in itself contributes significantly to it. Picking sounds for your sampler or drum computer goes very quick, especially when you use the drag-and-drop possibilities.

Love it or hate it: the Neptune Voice Synthesizer does it's work quite well. Just load a few vocal samples and make sure they're fit in the rhythm.

After this, make a little midi harmony in the Neptune's sequencer channel (see picture right, click to enlarge), make sure the vocals feed the Neptune and you have your very own harmony vocals 21th century style.

Another thing worth mentioning here are the two amps created by Softube that ship with Reason 8.0.

When you want to use real guitar sounds next to the real bass guitar sounds, both the guitar amp and the bass amp do a wonderful job. The wah-wah guitar you'll hear in the mix has a significant better sound when run through the amp and so does the bass.

Creating a riddim is as easy as your inspiration will let you fill in the blank sequencer. It does take computer power, though. Even running the DAW in 64 bit modus with full 8 gigabytes available will not let you set up a complete Dub environment while using all the instruments. Rendering your riddim to audio tracks solves that problem and will bring you directly in the situation wherein Dub is actually made: after all, it's a remixing technique of multi-track recordings or "stems".

For this series, a special multi-track Dub environment was created in Reason. Unfortunately it's not possible to make the stems available for download because of license limitations, but when you take a look at the Dubroom's tutorial on making Dub with computers or at the graphic right (click to enlarge), you'll get the idea. This is the principal according to which the Dub environment is set up. 

Since Reason's console has eight auxiliary outputs, you'll have the possibility to connect six effects. Route the output of the effect devices to a channel input and you can layer effect over effects. This is exactly what's going to be done quite heavily in the Dub that was made for this report. 

Now, let's take a closer look at the effects themselves.

• Aux-Out 1: DDL-1 Delay -> PEQ-2 EQ
• Aux-Out 2: RV-7000 Ping-Pong Delay
• Aux-Out 3: THE ECHO with a Dubroom preset
• Aux-Out 4: RV-7000 Reverb and/or Synapse DR-1 Reverb
• Aux-Out 5: Echobode Rack Extension (random preset)
• Aux-Out 6: T2 Phaser (Dubroom preset)
• Aux-Out 7: Audiomatic (Psych preset)
• Aux-out 8: RV-7000 Reverse Reverb

In the Dub mix, you'll hear both reverb devices or just the DR-1. At the console, the two channels at the far right feed the devices. There is quite a difference to be heard when you hear both reverb devices, as both devices come back into the console in the same channel. To achieve this set up, use was made of the FREE Audio merger and splitter Rack Extensions by Blamsoft.

You'll hear a little bit from the Echobode Rack Extension. This is a frequency shifter and delay device that at this point is yet to be reviewed deeper. THE ECHO is taken to a deeper level as well. Of course, the manual delay (aux 1, more info here) and the RV-7000 with a Dubroom Ping Pong delay preset are featured.

The T2 Phaser (available for around 15 euro at the propshop) does some crucial things to the drums. A Dubroom preset is used for it. This is a heartically recommended Rack Extension. Just listen to what it does with the drums!

Nuff read. Look and listen:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ejPoce6sON8

The signals feeds like the Ping Pong delay, which at it's turn feeds THE ECHO. That's just one layering of effects used in this mix. There's a lot more going on, all possible because of the way everything is routed. Tweaking the EQ on the reverb channel is quite effective, but that was already made clear in the previous dub mixes.

It's not easy to create Dub effects in the lower frequencies (read: bass line), but both the DR-1 and the RV-7000 showed to be perfectly able to deal with the deeper realms. They sound nice together as well. 

To conclude, a word about the Echobode. The first audible patch was taken and the thing tweaked just a little bit, without being hindered by any knowledge of the device itself. This in itself showed a potential that most certainly will be looked at more in-depth.

For now: 

One Love,
Messian Dread

LINKS
DUB MIX (MP3) - GUITAR AMP PATCH - BASS AMP PATCH - PHASER PATCH - GET T2 PHASER - GET T2 PHASER - GET SYNAPSE DR-1 - GET FREE MERGER - GET FREE SPLITTER - MORE DUBROOM REASON STUFF

 

Reason 8.0 In Dub (2): The Echo And Synapse Wetness

REASON 8.0 IN DUB (2): THE ECHO AND SYNAPSE WETNESS
STUDIO DUBROOM ON PROPELLERHEAD'S REASON

WWW, November 2014 - For this second part of REASON 8.0 IN DUB, Messian Dread created another original riddim and took a thirty-day trial of the Synapse DR-1 Reverb Rack Extension. He also tweaked THE ECHO in what became yet another fat Dub created only with Propellerhead's Reason 8.0. Another report from the studio.

Reason's RV-7000 Advanced Reverb does more than a decent job, especially when you consider it's the standard reverb in a 450 Euro DAW. It has been used by many producers whose choice was the RV-7000. Still, it turns out the blue device doesn't do everything and that's exactly where the DR-1 comes into focus. Taking a thirty-day trial for the 35 Euro Reverb device is free, and it turned out to be a very interesting choice.

Another thing that really needed a deeper review is THE ECHO, Propellerhead's very own "Advanced Delay". To see it live in action during a Dub mix is obviously the best way to discover some of it's features and that's exactly what can be done in this report.

Yet a third thing is the bass. As it turned out, feeding the AUDIOMATIC with the "Psyche" preset, which at it's turn feeds the DR-1 produced a wonderful effect on the bass. 

Before the Dub could be mixed, again from eight different audio tracks or stems, the riddim had to be made. Drums, percussion, bass, organ, piano, guitars, horns and vocals. Once again, the NEPTUNE Voice Synthesizer was applied to create some kind of effect on the vocals just because of the vibe it gives. For the vocals, just a few phrases were used. Once again, the bass amp was used for the bassline and two different guitar amps for the two different guitars. The horns went through DR Octorex's own filter before it was rendered to an audio track.

Here you are: enjoy another Dub of Infotainment:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=82jjIb8VdEc

When you would like to compare the DR-1 with the RV-7000, download the MP3 files. The two mixes are identical, the only difference is the reverb device.

One Love,
Messian Dread

DUB MIX (DR-1) - DUB MIX (RV-7000) - GET SYNAPSE DR-1 - MORE DUBROOM REASON STUFF

 

Reason 8.0 In Dub (1): Action Rack Extension

REASON 8.0 IN DUB (1): ACTION RACK EXTENSION
STUDIO DUBROOM ON PROPELLERHEAD'S REASON

WWW, November 2014 - After the very well received review of Reason 8.0 especially for the DUB Community, the Dubroom continues to explore and review Propellerhead's flagship. In "Action Rack Extension", Messian Dread mixes eight audio tracks into a heavy DUB using all six FX outputs on Reason's console. A report in sight and sound.

The best way to explore Reason, obviously, is to create riddims and make a Dubs from them. This is exactly what has been going on these last weeks over here in the Dubroom. At a later stage, more about creating riddims with Reason. For now, just the report that creating riddims is a true joy and Reason has a positive role in the inspiration.

Reason runs in 64bit on a machine with 8 Gigs of RAM and Intel processors of the newest kind. The software was loaded with drum computers, sound modules, loop players and of course the Neptune voice synthesizer. As soon as Reason hit the ceiling, the riddim was rendered to hard disk in the form of eight multi-tracks or stems. Unfortunately these multi-tracks cannot be shared as that would go beyond the Dubroom's license, but the result can be witnessed in the form of a You Tube video you can watch later on in this report. 

In fact, making a DUB from an audio multi-track is the authentic and original way of making DUB. This is how the music came into existence, as the Jamaican studio bands played one riddim after the other into the multi-track recorder and the DUB engineer turned everything into that music we all love to play so much. This is exactly how the DUB for this report was made.

Reason was set up with eight audio channels, one for sound FX, and six console input channels for all six auxiliary outputs. Yes, six different effect devices are used in this particular set up. Their output goes to console input channels. Over here, we don't deal with returns but you can read about these things elsewhere in the studio. 

Next to different RV7000's for delays and reverbs, The Echo was put in there as well as two Audiomatic devices. The Audiomatic is a Rack Extension, Propellerhead Reason's very own plug-in format. It ships for free with Reason 8.0, just like the excellent bass amp responsible for the warm and deep bass sound in this mix. 

Another Rack Extension used is the T2 Phaser (review). You can download and use the device in your Reason rack for free for 30 days or decide to buy it. It's only about 15 euros and worth much more than that. In fact, for DUB created only with Reason the T2 is obligatory.

Rack extensions work like any other device you can load in Reason's rack. Connect them, make a sequencer track and start recording your automation. 

The T2 and the Audiomatic Rack extensions turn out to integrate fully in a DUB environment. The Echo on top of that gives that extra touch but at this time, the device is not fully tested so there is much more potential than the stuff you can hear in the mix created for this report.

After an initial sound check on the correctly connected set up, finally the DUB could be mixed. An exciting moment. This would show how much is true concerning Propellerhead's claims about workflow in Reason 8.0. Will there be hick-up's when the loop points are changed? Will everything be in sync in the first place? How about latency when you use the on-board soundcards with an ASIO4ALL driver? 

Everything went extremely smooth. Six different effects that take up their processing power, not to speak about the console itself and the eight different audio tracks can all be handled in virtual real-time. There's no experienceable latency, as the Reason sequencer records and plays the mixing automation.

The Dub? Check it out:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BeP7oyIMImo

Both the Audiomatic and the T2 get their fair chance, especially in the second half of the mix when the two effects follow up on each other. The Audiomatic turns out to be crucial in deforming both the bass and the drums. Especially when combined with other effects (reverb), this little big thing can drive your mix to a next dimension. The T2 (reviewed here) is a very, very decent phaser that works excellently as well. 

The RV7000's and the manual delay do their thing. A ping-pong delay, a reverse reverb and a more or less standard hall effect for the RV7000 devices. The Echo is tweaked at a certain point showcasing some of it's potential, but there has to be some deeper exploring of the delay.

Even though not so much effort was put in the actual riddim, the result is a very reasonable Dub mix. Mixing the Dub is a true pleasure, and Reason's workflow plays a part in it, definitely. The technique behind the automation and everything is very high in quality and low in causing problems.

One Love,
Messian Dread

PATCHES (ZIP) - GET T2 PHASER - MORE DUBROOM REASON STUFF

 

The T2 Phaser Rack Extension (Studio Dubroom On Propellerhead's Reason)

THE T2 PHASER RACK EXTENSION
STUDIO DUBROOM ON PROPELLERHEAD'S REASON

WWW, November 2014 - The in-program phaser in Reason is not the DAW's strongest feature. This very fact has been picked up by "That Music Company": they developed a very fine phaser which can be yours for the price of about 15 euros. Presenting the T2 Phaser Rack Extension!

Rack Extensions. It's Propellerhead's name for the Reason internal plug-in format. You get a few when you purchase Reason, you can download one or two for free but the bulk can be discovered by visiting the "Prop Shop".

For a DUB engineer, browsing the Rack Extensions can be, well, time-consuming. After all, most are aimed at the production of EDM ("Electronic Dance Music") and will not really add much to the standard effects and instruments in Reason.

Not so with the T2 Phaser (see picture, click to enlarge). It's the second device created by the small Rack Extension developer "That Music Company", based in San Jose (California, USA) and it truly is an extension to your rack.

First thing that stands out is the price. For about 15 euros, the T2 is yours. That's fifteen euros to de facto replace Reason's standard phaser because as soon as you run the T2 in your set up you'll hear the power in the thing.

It basically has three main sections: Overdrive, Phaser and HPF (Hi-Pass Filter). Overdrive and HPF will add vibes to the main sound the Phaser section produces. You can set waveforms and on top of that, different steps. Pan effects belong to the possibilities too, you can even trigger the T2 by midi notes.

Got Reason? Get the T2. It's that simple. Just download the phaser, you will have thirty days to discover the fully functional device before you will undoubtedly decide to have it permanently in your effect collection.

WEBSITE - PROPSHOP - MORE DUBROOM REASON STUFF