Archive for January, 2010
Well, after several months of coding, editing, cursing, rejoicing and testing, the big day has finally arrived. I'm pleased to announce the official launch of my new website, thelooploft.com!
This blog has been (and will remain) my "virtual workshop", bringing readers along for the ride as I record and produce beats in my studio and share my thoughts and inspiration around the music. But this blog (built on wordpress) isn't an ideal distribution center for large digital files. It's b...
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Such a pun-laden headline could only mean one thing: Another funk loop. And rather than picking up the sticks and burying the VU meters into the red, I decided to to go the subtle route and use brushes to lay down the back beat.
[caption id="attachment_5263" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Jim Keltner - Master of brushes, forks and pens."][/caption]
Loop #119
I'll admit, I'm not breaking any new ground with today's groove. Drummers like Steve Jordan, Jim Keltner, and even the ...
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I know, I know. There's been a serious lack of loop postings recently. This isn't because I haven't been keeping busy in the studio. In fact, it's been quite the opposite. For the past month or so, I've been burning the midnight oil, cranking away at something so big, so revolutionary, that it needs its own URL. It's a project that's been a plan of mine for years and finally, technology has caught up to my vision, enabling me to pull it all off. More details to be released soon. Stay tune...
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Well, it looks like we have our first winner in the "Beat & Bratwurst Contest". This photo was submitted by Endai Hüdl, whom you might remember as the composer of the electro-dance-circus epic, “Ded Blokkz Mambo”. While the jury is still debating the authenticity of this image (those are some HUGE brats), I applaud the effort that went into its creation. That said, I'm happy to present Endai with three free months of member's only access here at ryangruss.com.
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You might remember Chaircrusher from the "name this odd meter" contest I had a while back. Well, he's taken some of his prize winnings (extremely valuable Gruss Loops) and incorporated them into the following track.
Some of the track details from Chaircrusher:
Juno60 -- chords (thru AudioDamage BigSeq)
JP6 -- bassline
Guitar
Goldbaby Kick
Hats from ???
Some of my own sampled percussion.
One of the free Gruss brush loops from last year.
As is my custom, I generally load your r...
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Today I bring you the latest track submitted from one of my readers. Recorded by Endai Hüdl in Berlin, Germany, the song is entitled "Ded Blokkz Mambo" and incorporates the Blakey-esque loop #79. Unfortunately, Endai didn't include much of a backstory to the track. He did, however, provide a brief description:
"Rabbit fur costume for the brain. helps me concentrate..."
After listening to the track, I couldn't have said it better myself.
Ded Blokkz Mambo by endai hüdl
...
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Watch out Hasselhoff, I'm about to steal your turf! I'm happy to announce that ryangruss.com is featured on the cover of the February issue of Beat magazine (not to be confused with TigerBeat). The magazine is now available on newstands in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. And what is so cool about this magazine? It contains a DVD with over 1 GB of drum loops recorded by yours truly! All royalty free. I recommend that you hop in your Volkswagen, drive to your nearest magazine vendor and pi...
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Here is some classic Jeff "Tain" Watts. Check out his highly melodic, ultra dynamic and amazingly powerful solo from a live performance with the Branford Marsalis quartet. I need to get on Ebay and track down one of those sweet Sabian Rocktagon crash cymbals....
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Have you used a ryangruss.com loop in one of your recordings? If so, I'd love to hear it and share it with everyone. Just click on the drop box widget below to upload your tracks (AIFF, WAVE, FLAC, OGG, MP3 or AAC formats) and I'll add it to the "User Examples" category of the blog.
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I know what you were thinking. "Ryan has been doing nothing the past two weeks but eating mashed potatoes, drinking his weight in Harpoon Winter Ale and taking extended naps. There's no way he'll have Volume VIII recorded, produced and edited by January 1st." Well, you were wrong. Yes, I have been overindulging a bit this holiday season, but I've also been busy in the studio, putting together my finest Loop Pack to date. Ladies and Gentlemen of the distinguished member's only section, I pre...
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