LETTER OF THE MONTH

May 1, 2008 12:00 PM

YOU WANT SOME OF THIS?

We all have our favorite sections of Remix, but one of mine is the Letters section and reading what your editors feel is the “most inspired correspondence” and checking out the carefully chosen gift you bestow, knowing who your readers are.

A majority of readers discuss the struggles they endure both artistically and financially, attempting to succeed in a business most sane individuals would think twice about entering. Those who write to you must be thrilled to receive what are typically valuable additions to any musician's studio, especially those who literally survive gig to gig.

What surprises me is that the April Letter of the Month winner was given a Delphi SKYFi3 satellite radio. This is certainly a generous gift, but is it really the most useful to a Remix reader? Can a musician really directly benefit from such a device? If it had live recording capabilities, maybe, but you are also burdening the recipient with a monthly subscription fee.

Please don't forget who your readership is and that the gear you gift is the gear that may just get them to their next level of success.

Thank you for allowing this rant!
Marc Mann
San Diego, Calif.

Hey Mark — What's that, you don't like last month's prize? Oh yeah? Well, you've just been served by the Remix staff because you won this month's Letter of the Month! Ha! Stick THAT in your pipe and smoke it! And then pass it to us…so we can throw it out, of course. Don't do drugs! — The Editors

WHERE'S THE D 'N' B?

I love reading Remix every month because I find it very informative. I was drawn to it because I like how you guys focus on contemporary urban music styles: hip-hop, electronica/dance, etc. But I wish you guys 'n' gals would do an article on an electronic style of music that often gets overlooked, especially here in the U.S.: drum 'n' bass. Drum 'n' bass is actually everywhere, too! One can find d 'n' b-influenced music in movies, video games and of course, the dancefloor! C'mon! Drum 'n' bass is for the U.S., too! Plus, the U.S. is home to one of the best d 'n' b DJs: Dieselboy!
Juliana Minn
Honolulu, HI

THAT WAS GREAT, BUT…

First, I would like to thank you for your well-written review of Kontakt 3 (February 2008). I found that the review that you presented there was lucid, fun to read and informative. I am considering purchasing this product, especially because I read your glowing remarks about it.

I would like to offer just a couple of minor suggestions. One, the word “smoothes” is probably not a real word. Two, I was unable to find any mention of the system upon which he was running Kontakt 3. If he stated it somewhere, and if I missed it, then I apologize.
Sammy James
Boston, Mass.

Hey Sammy — We apologize for the oversight in not including author Jason Blum's technical setup for his Kontakt 3 testing. Jason tells us that his system is a Pentium D (dual core) 2.8 GHz processor with 2 GB RAM and the Vista Ultimate operating system. Now, on to the “smoothes” issue: According to our drinking buddies — um, we mean dear friends — at Merriam-Webster's Online Dictionary, “smoothes” is indeed an alternate spelling of “smooths.”

DEAR DJ ABBY

This is something that I have told many a DJ, especially those who have asked me for advice on how to become a better DJ: “DJs who play for themselves are hobbyists, those who play for their audience are professionals. You choose which one you want to be, and if you have talent, this thing of ours makes sense.”
Aaron “DJ” Couch
Bethesda, Md.

BACK IN MY DAY…

I just read Kylee's Editor's Note called “Time Travel” from the February 2008 issue of Remix. I feel exactly as you do, wondering “What happened to great music?”

I'm originally from the Bay Area — born in Oakland, Calif., and I grew up there and in San Francisco. Currently I live in southeastern Indiana, in the greater Cincinnati area. Over the years, I have run into many great musicians here who write and perform their original material. But I'm puzzled as to why so much great music just gets recorded and unheard.

By the way, I always look forward to your Editor's Note; it's a great read!
Rod Riseden
Lawrenceburg, Ind.

WE'RE HAPPY TO HELP!

I was inclined to write you because I am a subscriber and fan of Remix magazine, as well as Electronic Musician, and have been for years. As a student of Berklee College of Music in my last semester, the information you guys have provided has proven time and time again to be valuable beyond belief in association with many of the classes I have taken.
Nick Ditri
Via e-mail

GIMME SOME KAOSS

I happened upon your magazine while looking for a replacement for Scratch magazine, which may no longer be in print. I have read the February and March issues of Remix and discovered that your magazine is geared more toward the DJ/musician/engineer, as well as the producer. That being said, I am considering purchasing the new Korg Kaossilator dynamic phrase synthesizer. I plan on using it to accompany a poem I have written. Are there any plans to review it in your magazine? I would like your input before I make the purchase.
Seneferu Khepera (aka Gerry Cousins)
Redford, Mich.

Hey Gerry — Ask, and you shall receive: Our funky-fresh technical editor, Markkus “Fingas” Rovito, wrote a review on this very product in the April issue of Remix — p. 80 to be exact. Check-checkity check it out! — The Editors

For sending in this month's winning letter, Marc Mann wins his own Stanton T.90 USB turntable (MSRP: $399). If you send in the most inspired correspondence next month — or simply the letter we like best — you'll win the Cerwin Vega CVA-118 active subwoofer (MSRP: $1,320). All you have to do is send a letter to remixeditorial@remixmag.com. Please include your full mailing address.

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