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Sonart Recording Studio One of the best features at Sonart is the mixing capability. This is due to the fact that the mix isn’t being colored by a room with anomalies.

The cutting edge digital AND analog recording facility nestled at the base of Mount Tremper, NY; a few hours from Manhattan and minutes form the heart of Woodstock, NY Setting aside the great outboard gear and extensive plug-in selection, the mixing room itself is second to none. The Genelec monitors sound fantastic, representing all frequencies from 25 to 20k Hertz remarkably evenly, thanks to th

e properly tuned subwoofer with an almost undetectable crossover. The bass frequencies in the room are astoundingly well controlled, as the mix changes little from the “sweet spot” to the back or sides of the room. All of these features combine to give you a mixing space that is honest to your mix moves, requiring very little revisiting, as what you are hearing is actually what is happening. It gives clients a serious monetary advantage as well, as when they take the mixes to their cars, iPods, stereos, and televisions, it translates perfectly

Whether you're interested in performing live in the studio with a full ensemble, or building track by track tapestries of sound with over-dubbing, whether you prefer digital or analog decks, whether you want to run instruments direct to the board or capture the warm, rich natural ambiance of Sonart's various and acoustically flexible rooms Sonart is ready to work for you!

" Conglomeration " ...
15/06/2024

" Conglomeration "
A stand altered to hold my mallets. lol !
A large brass looking flower pot with an inverted serving tray with a cymbal.
A broken cymbal with rivets.
A bicycle wheel with baseball card and wire ties attached, a red ceiling fixture with rivets, a metal pot with rivets and a bicycle sprocket with a washer welded in the opening ( to be able to mount on a cymbal stand ) with rivets added.
A 20 " frame drum with added strings, bridge and tuning machines.
A hi hat stand with cymbal and cocoa nut shell, a 10" tam tam and a shakere.
More to come on Conglomeration with a short sound sample.

Sonart Recording Studio
03/06/2024

Sonart Recording Studio

Inside the Bellatope " Fine" " Clustering" Identifying groups of similar objects.Th...
03/06/2024

Inside the Bellatope " Fine"
" Clustering" Identifying groups of similar objects.
The first cluster is a grouping of cowbells, #2 is a grouping of Chinese cup gongs, 3rd is grouping of roto toms down to an old copper kettle drum, 4th is a small group of Indian bells, 5th is a grouping of Bicycle wheels and last is a grouping of drums. Clustering the instruments in groups helps with setting up the Bellatope as well as knowing where certain sounds are when improvising' After a while one can almost memorize the note or sound !
https://youtu.be/_PwYxepw40Q?si=hGUiGuBSrOuye_DL
This is an extended solo on the Bellatope using many of the concepts and instruments with no overdubbing.
Thanks everyone !!!

Inside the Bellatope Part Four " Points of attachment " I'...
29/05/2024

Inside the Bellatope Part Four
" Points of attachment "
I've mentioned briefly about the modular rack system I created for the bellatope. I bought 3/8" aluminum rods and clear pliable plastic tubing with an inner diameter large enough to slide over the aluminum rods. Because the rods were aluminum I was able to bend them to the positions I needed. Why the plastic tubing you ask? The bellatope is kinda like a Christmas tree where a great many of the instrument are hung or attached using hooks, much like Christmas bulbs. I used this method when, back in the day, I did live performing so I needed to assemble or dismantle the bellatope as quickly as possible. The tubing aided in keeping extraneous noise from happening as well. I remember, back in the day, recording the bellatpoe in a studio where the engineer actually told me how quiet the bellatpoe was considering all the stuff on it. The overall shape of the bellatope was derived with at least two concepts. #1 - ergonomics and #2- sound refraction and reflection. I envisioned the bellatope as a portable amphitheater where players and spectators could see and hear it from all angles.
Next up is Poly - tonal = timbres !
p.s. some of the hooks are made from bicycle spokes.

Inside the Bellatope Part Four " Points of attachment " I'...
29/05/2024

Inside the Bellatope Part Four
" Points of attachment "
I've mentioned briefly about the modular rack system I created for the bellatope. I bought 3/8" aluminum rods and clear pliable plastic tubing with an inner diameter large enough to slide over the aluminum rods. Because the rods were aluminum I was able to bend them to the positions I needed. Why the plastic tubing you ask? The bellatope is kinda like a Christmas tree where a great many of the instrument are hung or attached using hooks, much like Christmas bulbs. I used this method when, back in the day, I did live performing so I needed to assemble or dismantle the bellatope as quickly as possible. The tubing aided in keeping extraneous noise from happening as well. I remember, back in the day, recording the bellatpoe in a studio where the engineer actually told me how quiet the bellatpoe was considering all the stuff on it. The overall shape of the bellatope was derived with at least two concepts. #1 - ergonomics and #2- sound refraction and reflection. I envisioned the bellatope as a portable amphitheater where players and spectators could see and hear it from all angles.
Next up is Poly - tonal = timbres !

Inside the Bellatope PART THREEBella - Italian for bell or pretty, Tope - Hindu for relics hung on a grove...
25/05/2024

Inside the Bellatope PART THREE
Bella - Italian for bell or pretty, Tope - Hindu for relics hung on a grove of trees -" Bellatope"
Back in the day I started using pant hangers with clips that held the pants. I simply removed the hook part and bent the rod to whatever shape I needed to hold a bell or chime. This served two purposes by not only holding the bells but acted as a connector to some of the other metal trees.
The next two photos are lamps attached to a long refrigerator grill which also was used as a ratchet sound when scraped with a scraper. Each lamp had a different colored bulb and were on a dimmer to create a nice ambiance. Oh ! I forgot to mention that they were bells also when struck with the proper mallet. It was a little tricky playing them trying not to break the bulb ! So far this has not happened.
The last photo is a cowbell attached to a hi hat pedal.
Back story; In the mid seventies, I think, I went on a musical learning spree. I studied orchestral percussion with Norman Grossman and Jazz studies with Jack DeJohnette, Bob Moses( Rak a lam ) and Barry Altschul. I only took one lesson with Barry which was mostly watching him play but I did notice this cowbell attached to his hi hat pedal. I was able to find a hi hat where I was able to attach my own cowbell. This. It gives a new meaning to the " heel, toe action " some of you may of heard of this expression. More inside the Bellatope to come!

Inside the Bellatope Part TwoThe first photo is a trio of bicycle wheels with different diameters. This...
16/05/2024

Inside the Bellatope Part Two
The first photo is a trio of bicycle wheels with different diameters. This idea is relatively old. Each wheel has a cone attached via the threaded hub rod. Much like a Bachet Brothers sound sculpture they are used to resonate the sound produced by the tuned spokes and the baseball card. In the second photo there is a close up of the baseball card attached to a plastic covered piece of tubing with a wood close pin. On the close pin is attached a wood dowel. The purpose of the dowel is to be able to move or adjust the close pin to move the baseball card toward and back from the spokes thus creating the ability to control the volume of the card hitting the spokes. There are at least two sounds being produced simultaneously, the sound of the clacking baseball card and the tuned note of the spoke. Why three bicycle wheels? when each wheel is spun quickly the overall sound of each wheel creates a note or pitch. Think of an overtone series where a note on a piano, for instance, creates an overtone series which, in actuality helps to create the timber of the instrument. For me each spoke on the bicycle wheel represents a note in an overtone series. So, theoretically, when spinning all three wheels at a high speed you would have three notes or a TRIAD, or chord. Visually it's fun to watch because it's like a circus act where a person is trying to spin several plates on rods trying to get them all spinning together, The other cool thing is that you can continue to play other objects on the Bellatope while the wheels are still spinning. Then you have a whole lotta s**t going on at once. lol !!! I might be giving my age with that one !!! lol
Stay tuned for more Bellatope episodes and the final sound recording.

Inside the " Bellatope " PART ONEThe focus in this series of photos is how I used the hi hat stand to hold several pe...
14/05/2024

Inside the " Bellatope " PART ONE
The focus in this series of photos is how I used the hi hat stand to hold several percussion instruments inside the Bellatope.
The second photo is of the whole rig with ( top down ) a cymbal tree, bell tree, two flexitones and a vibra slap. The third photo is a closer look at the bell tree with an aluminum cradle that not only holds the bell tree but the cymbal tree above it. The last photo is a close up of the two flexitones with the beaters removed and are connected to the high hat foot pedal via a couple of pulleys. This enables me to play both flexitones simultaneously or independently with a mallet of my choice. I can press the pedal down or up to control the flexitones sound. Lastly is the vibra slap that is connected to the hi hat shaft with a couple of hose clamps. I will be showing more inner works of the Bellatope with an audio sample or solo at the end.

Another type of drum by American Percussion that utilizes a foot bellows would be the " Tympans "This world percussion ...
22/04/2024

Another type of drum by American Percussion that utilizes a foot bellows would be the " Tympans "This world percussion instrument has two drums one is 14" in diameter and the other is 16" in diameter. They both have calfskin heads and each drum has a foot bellows that pumps air into it. This will give a glissando effect. The legs, with floor levelers, detach from the drums for easier portability. You can use the drums as frame drums as well by opening the sound portal in the bottom of the drum but make sure that it's fully closed when used as a tymp - pan. I can't explain how much fun these are to play !!!!!
All rights reserved !
www.americanpercussion.com

https://youtu.be/O1JXb098220?si=VhQYBsrMptBUK5M3

This is a percussion instrument that I invented several years ago. There's the three metal head drums with a bellows att...
21/04/2024

This is a percussion instrument that I invented several years ago. There's the three metal head drums with a bellows attached to each one. The foot bellows pumps air into each drum bending the pitch slightly. The special American Percussion felt mallets, with added faux lambs wool added on one side, is to vary the tone.
www.americanpercussion.com
all rights reserved.
https://youtu.be/CneGpVAXgpU?si=WIz-P1VnqOAFapLl

New off American Percussion's non assembly line is: Another 20" Slit Marimba Snare Drum.. Every time I make one for a ne...
13/04/2024

New off American Percussion's non assembly line is: Another 20" Slit Marimba Snare Drum.. Every time I make one for a new customer I find new playing techniques I'm playing with a four mallet technique using American Percussion's felt mallets. What makes this 20 marimba a little different is that I've combined several high notes with the lower notes. Please play through good speakers or head phones to hear some of those beautiful low notes.
www.americampercussion.com' All rights reserved

https://youtu.be/FKxkOX-p258?si=nzuuPl6oM5yGivi8

I've decided to attempt something I've wanted to do on the music platforms but have been unable to. So,I decided to do i...
11/04/2024

I've decided to attempt something I've wanted to do on the music platforms but have been unable to. So,I decided to do it on my facebook accounts. My new cd "Sonic Inventor" in it's entirety is on the link below. The music is free and comes with a video for each song and a short backstory about each song. I hope that you will enjoy it and let me know what you think about this concept !
https://youtu.be/QvH8bsPZH5Q?si=Iwsilf7sbIiQF8pk

"Sidestep" a unique blend of singers, song writers and musicians will be coming into Sonart Recording Studio to work on ...
05/04/2024

"Sidestep" a unique blend of singers, song writers and musicians will be coming into Sonart Recording Studio to work on their new album the first week in May. Stay tuned!
YEAH !!! YEAH !!! I'm working on it . To get it ready

Playing the Bellatope in a session @ Sonart Recording Studio overdubbing on the Mivas International String Quartet.
27/03/2024

Playing the Bellatope in a session @ Sonart Recording Studio overdubbing on the Mivas International String Quartet.

New !! off the American Percussion's non assembly line is a 20" x 6" deep multi annular rings Okoume Mahogany Slit Marim...
20/03/2024

New !! off the American Percussion's non assembly line is a 20" x 6" deep multi annular rings Okoume Mahogany Slit Marimba Snare Drum with turn k**b fan snare. Please use good head phones or good speakers as there are some beautiful low tones with this larger drum
https://youtu.be/drWHNjCjT-w?si=R3kaqjFb7bAP8GYi

"Sonic Inventor "by Ken Lovelett -- out now on T.A.o.S. Records. A world Fusion record drawing from rock, hip hop, jaz...
13/03/2024

"Sonic Inventor "by Ken Lovelett -- out now on T.A.o.S. Records. A world Fusion record drawing from rock, hip hop, jazz, folk , latin and spoken word with a slight twist . Message me if interested !

POCKET DRUM - The Pocket Drum is another unique hand drum from American Percussion instruments. The beveled drum is 13" ...
13/12/2023

POCKET DRUM - The Pocket Drum is another unique hand drum from American Percussion instruments. The beveled drum is 13" in diameter and has a Remo pre-tuned head on the front and calfskin head on the back. You will also find a semi- circular brace on the bottom of the drum which is there to help hold the drum on the thigh or knee . There are four plastic finger sticks and one felt mallet that comes with the drum. The idea is to hit either head from the inside of the drum while moving the drum in and away from your body to help mute or enhance the sound. Also, you can hit the inside of the shell as well as demonstrated in the video. There is a learning curve to playing the drum, but once you do, it can be a whole lot of fun. This drum can also be put in a conventional snare drum stand and played with other kinds of sticks and it's also a hand drum that can be put between the knees and played with the hand, Recorded @ sonart recording studio.com
https://youtu.be/33v_afEzOYk?si=qnnJ8nxlIJttah_CDRUM CIRCLE
GLOBE DRUM - This drum for its size ,18" diameter, has a very deep tone and has many different notes by hitting different parts of the drum head. Add the foot bellows and there is a lot of versatility in this drum. The overall height is 36" but can be adjusted lower. The drum also swivels to get a good playing angle. Lastly you can take it off the stand and play like a frame drum. Also, press on the bellows pedal slowly to get the maximum glissando. If you listen toward the end of the video you can hear a whistle sound. This is intentionally done by pressing the bellows pedal a lot harder.
https://youtu.be/2Q3IbCXUPvs?si=iJ0tGLUsJqsAuvik
MULTI CHAMBERED WOODBLOCK -

1,079 views Jun 19, 2021
This "Multi Chambered Woodblock" measures 41.5 l" L x 5.5" W x 3.75" D and stands 28.5" Tall. The top is a Cherry veneer with a solid Tiger wood trim that has a guiro etched the full length and can be played with a pair of felt mallets, a mallet flam and an over under mallet.
https://youtu.be/Ohsj1uwAoyo?si=z6loEcyRofQ4fjy5

27/11/2021

Mastered the live "Tree Yo" cd and hope to release it on T.A.o.S. Records soon !

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