By Ed Melendez

This is a debate as old as time. Ok, not as old as time, but certainly it’s a debate that’s has been going on since personal computers have been made available to humans.

Before we begin I will state for the record I have worked on machines that use Windows based operating systems, and Mac based operating systems. But this post will try and deal with users of computers who are shackled to their Windows based machines because they just don’t know any better. Or maybe they are simply afraid of changing from their discomfort zone.

Let us get the myths out of the way first. When ever I share that I use apple products (specifically computers) it is assumed that I’ve spent way too much for something I could have purchased for much less if I had settled for a Windows version. So are Mac computers over priced? Well first, Apple machines are manufactured using high-end parts, such as processors. They are built with cases that are made of aluminum. Mac computers often have thinner sizes and can boast of having a much longer battery life. The bottom line here is that if you tried to purchase a comparable Windows machine you would find the pricing might actually be much more.

How about the myth that you get tons software options with a Windows based machine. One thing to keep in mind with the above statement. Do you actually need tons of software to chose from or do you simply need the best software that just works? If you could get the job done with software that was simply and compatibility with your machine, wouldn’t that be the ideal. Your other option is to buy software put together by developers who are simply not concerned with what other software you already have on your machine. It doesn’t matter to these developers if their software could cause major issues with your machine.

So wouldn’t you prefer applications like the ones Apple offers that are developed under the same guidelines that makes their own OSX operating system nearly flawless. The developers who create Apple software are in complete alignment with those who develop Apple hardware. One look at Apple’s iLife Suite and iWorks and you’d have to concede that Apple has perfected the world of media and desktop publishing applications. Do you really need more?

Another myth is that Apple computers are simply for designers. The great thing about Apple computers is that they are friendly to all walks of life. Especially those who don’t like computers. Apple machines are intuitive and user friendly. Software is available for just about anything you can think of and new applications are being developed everyday. You will find that you and your Mac actually do think alike, and guess what? They were developed that way on purpose.

The big question that should be asked is: “What do you want to do with your computer?”
If you want to simply turn it on and let your creative juices flow or if you want to write or put together spreadsheets for your business presentation, you will want a computer that was developed with you the “end user” in mind. You don’t have to be a tech nerd to know how the machine works and you shouldn’t have too. You also shouldn’t be afraid to upgrade your computer either. Nothing worse than spending hard earned cash on your four different operating system options like that of Windows 7, which range from $149-$219 and find you now have compatibility issues that require you to either spend more money to fix or simply do with out the hardware that is causing the issue.

Apple has changed the terrain for computer users. With their new operating system, you can now get the latest Mac operating 10.7 Lion for $29.99. This not only helps you to update your system but it also saves you money, and saving money is just for designers.

It was Apple co-founder Steve Jobs who said about Mac computers: “It just works”. Truer words have never been spoken.

Your options today have never been clearer. You can remain shackled to the world of Windows machines that are filled with virus, crashes, expensive software updates, patches, and a company that is lightyears behind Apple and that there are no other options but the frustrating world you live in, or your can find a home with Apple. They have long been waiting to embrace you. Apple is an end user focused company that is at the forefront of innovation. As always the choice is yours. But remember, most people simply use their Widows machines. But all people love their Macs.

By Ed Melendez

I am often asked where I generate original ideas for songs from. Well the short answer is, mainly by sitting behind my piano and pounding away until something magical comes up. I know this might sounds a lot like trying to have a monkey sit behind a typewriter and hope it can eventually pound out, “To Be, Or Not To Be”, or some other great literary work. But the thought behind my method allows time, personal experiences, and skills to rise to the top of the creative process.

There are many different ways one can come up with ideas for new songs certainly, but what might be even more important to the songwriter is to not lose ideas you’ve come up with. There is nothing more frustrating than having what you think is a great song idea, then after walking away from it, you come back to find you’ve completely forgotten it. In this area, I suggest a very simple and useful solution. Record! Record! Record! That’s right. Record everything. Simple jams. Brainstorming sessions. These can bring out some incredible opportunities for being creative. So if you are feeling creative, before you pick up your guitar or sit behind a piano hit the record button. Then let your creative juices flow. Maybe you come up with something, maybe you don’t. But it is better to know you have a recording of it than not.

I once found myself in an argument with my band members about wanting to tape our rehearsals. Their argument was that there was nothing to record. It was just a rehearsal! There was no real reason to use up tape space for a rehearsal. My argument was, what if we missed something cool that we didn’t plan on during a rehearsal? I eventually won out. It was a good thing too. During one of those rehearsals we found ourselves jamming on a number of pretty cool songs ideas. We ended up completing three very cool songs from that one simple jam. I was able to go back a pull the ideas right from the recordings.

Another important thing I discovered in my experience putting together a new song is that one might have a kernel of an idea, and often as songwriters we begin crafting our songs based on that little kernel. But for me (almost without exception), I will always feel something is missing. At that point, I will usually have to go back to that original recording where the idea was created to find that one element that made me want to write the song in the first place. It is sometimes a simple element I forgot about. The beautiful part of having the birth of a song on tape is that you can always go back to it and compare it to what you are working on.

I still have a huge box of  tapes that are filled with parts of choruses, verses and instrumental ideas. Some of those tapes even have labels on them. Most do not. But I know I can always pull one of those ideas out of that box when I need inspiration.

So don’t allow your ideas to be lost. I encourage you to carry a little pocket tape recorder with you. I’ve moved away from the old cassette tape recorders. These days, I now simply use my trusty little iPhone. It’s come in pretty handy. Your ideas are far too precious to lose. Take every step necessary to keep those ideas safe and from being forgotten or possibly lost.

By Ed Melendez

So you wanna be a singer? I myself am a songwriter at heart, but I found it quite difficult working with certain vocalist who were unable to express my songs the way I had written them. Unfortunately this is the case for many songwriters. It became clear that the only way I could get my songs sung how I wanted them to be, was to find a way to sing them myself.

I had taken to songwriting pretty easily and thought singing couldn’t be much harder, but it was. There is a lot required for using one’s voice. You have to know style, pitch, key, melody, inflection and breathing. So much to master.

I didn’t realize how difficult it could be until my first real opportunity presented itself.

I was 20 years old and in a band I had started. I enjoyed writing the music but when it came time to have someone sing my songs, I was having no luck. We had a concert scheduled and I opted to take on the task of singing the songs myself. This of course would be the first time I had ever attempted such a feet.

Unfortunately so many things went wrong  that were both in and out of my control. It was a live venue. The Monitoring system was apparently only for looks (little sarcasm). One of the biggest issues was that I had never actually learned to listen to myself sing live and outside before. Up to that point I had only worked on my vocals by singing in a perfectly structured environment. I was using the perfect EQ and the perfect mix in my expensive headphones. But singing outside is not like singing in a well calibrated studio.

I learned a number of important things from that one event. The first is to lean the importance of simply listening. In fact it is more important to listen first than anything else. Once you understand your environment you can get a better handle on exactly what you will need to do in order to be your best.

Secondly, do not rely on technology. I have a great respect for technology. I have all the latest and greatest gadgets. They are great to have until they work against you. You should be able to condition yourself to not require a monitor mix on stage, or at the very least be able to work with a poor monitoring system. It may sound harsh but if you show up to a gig and the monitor system is not working, you will not be the one left freaking out. You will be confident that you have already prepared for such a situation. If on the other hand you show up and there is a pro-monitoring system available, then all the better for you.

Know that singing isn’t simply about holding a microphone and knowing lyrics. It is more about being prepared for the worst and still allowing your abilities to out shine any technical glitches that may occur.

By Ed Melendez

Having been expose to music production incrementally over my career, I am a little less intimidated by technology than most. I am also a bit of a gadget geek. I’ve seem how these little things can make a songwriters job easier. This is why I believe technology can be the songwriter’s best friend if used properly. Need a band you can have on call 24/7 when you get that sudden burst of creativity? Nothing works better than a 4-track or a sequencer.

Now don’t get me wrong. Electronic substitutes can never replicate actual human interaction or playing off someone else’s ideas. But if your only other option is to wait until your next practice, there are plenty of alternative options as long as you are not afraid to experiment.

Unfortunately there are some run and hide from even the word “technology”. Perhaps it brings to mind images of “Sarah Connor’s Terminator” or Star Trek’s Borg. Where machines start out as our tools, then end up as our enemies out to destroy us.

But be of good cheer. Today’s technologies are our friend. At least for now. But pace yourself. Being on the cutting edge of technology of course can have it’s downsides too. I can still remember when MIDI was new. I walked into a Radio Shack in 1989 asking a sales guy for a MIDI cable. The guy looked at me like I just walked out of a time portal. He kept repeating it to me, MID-E? MID-I? Having no idea what the heck I was talking about. I had already spent a couple of years in college learning about sequencers and what MIDI was, how it worked, and more importantly, how I could take full advantage of it in my music. With the advancements of computers and audio interfaces, older technologies are becoming more obsolete, but the theory behind many of them still stand. For you younglings, MIDI stands for: Musical Instrument Digital Interface. See, you won’t even need to google it.

We are fortunate enough to live in a time where the advancements in technology truly allow songwriters to be extremely fluid in their creativity. It allows them to call the shots. The better the tools the easier and less cumbersome the creative process becomes. You can move back and forth between a particular technology without being shackled to its electronic anchors.

Don’t let technology bog you down. I use to have tons of stuff. At least a half dozens keyboards, multiple recording units like 8-tracks and 4-tracks, etc. My tools of choice today a much simpler. They include my Korg M3 73 key workstation, M-Audio Fast Track Ultra interface that I have plugged into my 24″ iMac using Garageband. I am already fortunate that I have the user friendly simplicity of my iMac computer (worth the investment), but the genius’s at Apple have gone even further in creating a phenomenal tool like Garageband. You can get it free with the purchased of any Mac computer (hint, hint). It comes  installed on the machine. Or your can buy it as a separate Suite for $49 from the Apple Store. It’s called iLife.

The bottom line here is, find a tool that works for you, don’t be afraid to step outside your comfort zone and experiment. Technology changes rather  quickly in these times and some keep getting better. MIDI is a great tool and it is still being utilized in new applications such as  garageband.

Don’t be afraid to use technology. It can be a very useful friend as long as you don’t let it intimidate you.