ENVELOPE FILTER

Dec 1, 2008 12:00 PM

THE NEED FOR GREED

I have a couple of problems with most of the music download sites out there. The first one is the low-quality MP3s that they sell. These are lower than CD quality, sounding noticeably worse. I want at a nice AIFF or WAV 16-bit file that is equal or better than CD quality. Yeah, it takes up more space, but people should have the choice. Sound quality is supposed to get better with time, not worse.

The other problem I have is the price that some sites charge. Songs shouldn't be more than .99 cents right now. Some places are charging $2.49 or more for an MP3 track — that's insane considering there is not the same material cost of making and shipping physical CDs. I don't believe in illegal downloading of music, and I think people who do this are stealing and they suck, but I also think that some of the pay download sites are being greedy. Hopefully they will all read this and make some changes for the better.
By the way, Remix kicks ass!
J.R.
Buffalo, N.Y.

REMIX: THE DRUG OF CHOICE

I accidentally found a Remix magazine with Outkast on the cover (August 2003) in a bookstore years ago, and have been addicted to you ever since. I wait for the mailman to drop it off, then I isolate myself in the bathroom and I turn to the Editor's Note, where I find Editor Kylee Swenson intertwining the topics of the month. I then turn back a few pages to the Table of Contents to seek out, in my opinion, the most addicting drug known to man — the Tech Sector! The features, columns, etc. are cool sections to smoke on, but the Tech Sector is the speedball of the magazine! Although I'm not a drug user, I can relate. As an “ol' skoo” DJ and promoter, I have been trying to get to one of the Remix Hotels to reunite and hem up some of my old connections and possibly get some new ones. But Mr. Eisengrein, Mr. Hanson and Mr. Fulero, being the “persuasive pimps” that they are, convince me feverishly that I need this controller or this compressor or this interface instead of a plane ticket to the Remix event. I have also been trying to save enough money to get a powered subwoofer, but every month I'm introduced to one more piece! Don't get me wrong, I love those guys. Although I don't have any more room in my garage, or on my credit cards for that matter, I do have enough products to be a DJ, a VJ, an engineer or a product critic. Heck, I can have my own Remix Hotel!
Mark Moore
Tucson, Ariz.

WE AIN'T JUST A MAG ANYMORE…

I'm a high school music teacher at Hopkins High School in Minnetonka, Minn. We have installed a 30-station Mac lab, and I'm currently teaching a course using Apple GarageBand 08. Last week I used Remix video clips you had online from the Remix Hotels.

The videos were great and my students loved them — great insight into what the pros are doing. I hope you keep putting things like that out there.

Don't forget about us little folk — you can be a great resource and inspiration to the kids here.
M.C.
Minnetonka, Minn.

Thanks for the kind words, M.C. Stay tuned to Remixmag.com for even more videos like the ones you saw from Remix Hotel. We're goin' off the hook with video content online in '09. (How's that for a rhyme?) — The Editors

LETTER OF THE MONTH

NIGHT TIME IS THE RIGHT TIME

No matter how many times I roll over and fluff the pillow, I can't get the 808 kick out of my head. The synth bass kicks in, and my eyes open. Staring at the ceiling in the dark, I begin to formulate invisible patterns on the drywall. By the time my computer boots up, the rhythm section is in full swing. I try to remember the nonsensical words and phrases that were running through my head for the five minutes that I teetered on the edge of sleep. Pick up the guitar…muscle memory hasn't kicked in yet. When your brain is running on low-power mode, the walls of logic and reason are broken down, leading to new and interesting sounds and ideas. Fingers lead the strings, and ears play judge. Two hours later I'm back in bed, sleeping like a baby. The next day when I get back from work, I sit down at the desk, turn on the stereo monitors, and let the sound wash over me. It feels like someone else wrote it, but at the same time it feels like home. Is this true inspiration? Log on to Last.fm, hit upload. Only time will tell.
Josh Todd
Westminster, Colo.

Hey Josh — We totally understand where you're coming from. Sometimes we can't get to sleep because we're thinking about what artists to feature in the magazine for the following month. And then, thanks to your letter, we start thinking about that crazy-weird video for the song “Only Time Will Tell” by the group Asia. (Remember that? With the gymnast doing flips off the stacks of TVs? Yeah…what was that about?) After that, we finally drift off to sleep with visions of leg warmers and “Relax” T-shirts in our heads. — The Editors

For sending in this month's winning letter, Josh Todd wins the Hercules DJ Console Rmx digital dual mixing deck (MSRP: $349). If you send in the most inspired/love-filled/hate-filled/hilarious/insane correspondence next month, you'll win the Samson StudioDock (MSRP: $249). All you have to do is send a letter to remixeditorial@remixmag.com. Please include your full mailing address. And for more chances to win prizes, visit http://remixmag.com/contest for the latest contests.

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