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The
Cleavers and Computer Technology
by Dick
Eastman -
Alright!
Records, Posted
October 2004
Back to The
Academy
The Cleavers' debut CD,
Television Mind, not only depends on
great original music written and performed by the band (even if I do say so
myself!) but also computer technology that allowed our band to record and
promote this CD with less cost and total control. This melding of science and art has created new opportunities
for the independent artist. The
Cleavers have been able to master the various tasks needed to record,
manufacture and promote this CD by taking advantage of these computer
technologies:
1. Multiple Home Recording
Studios - With home
studios equipped with sophisticated yet relatively affordable recording
equipment, The Cleavers achieved the same professional results that in the past
could only be achieved by paying thousands of dollars to outside studios. The
band spent hundreds (maybe thousands) of hours recording Television
Mind and simply could not have afforded the costs at a professional
studio. Also, several of the
band members have home studios that are equipped with the same Yamaha AW4416
recording board (www.aw4416.com) so we didn't need to
be in the same location to record. Dave Leeds, the bass player, recorded some
of his bass parts in his home studio in Hoffman Estates, Illinois. The majority
of the CD was recorded at my home studio in Antioch, Illinois and the drummer,
Ron Kaplan, recorded his drums 1,000 miles away at his home in Dallas, Texas.
Very often during mixes, we'd send an mp3 file down to Dallas for Ron's review.
Thanks to DSL (another important ingredient in this project), it was all done in
a matter of minutes. Also, due to a breakthrough in electronic drum technology,
Ron achieved the sound of "live" drums with his electronic Roland V-drums (www.rolandus.com).
2. CD Design and Manufacturing - The
unique photographic artwork on the cover and inside the booklet of the CD was
discovered on a royalty-free website, www.picturequest.com. Working with a
local graphic designer, Barbara Harper of Wilmette, Illinois, we were able to
create cover, booklet and CD design over the internet, sending files and e-mails
back and forth, until the artwork was just right. Then all the information was
downloaded onto a disc and sent to the manufacturer, Oasis in Virginia (www.oasiscd.com).
3. Websites - Paula Eastman (hardly a technological wiz
by her own account) created a website for the record company to promote the
project, www.allrightrecords.com, using Site Builder at www.interland.com. Now people around
the world can visit the websites to learn about the project, sample the music,
download a song, and hopefully buy a CD.
4. Worldwide Web
Infrastructure - A
whole infrastructure has been developed to sell and promote independent releases
like Television Mind. The Internet, DSL and mp3 technology offer The
Cleavers the ability to reach out and tell others about the project. The band
has sold CDs of Television Mind to
people throughout the United States and in England, Australia, Japan and even
Iceland!
A. Internet Sales - In addition to selling the CD through
their website, www.allrightrecords.com using Paypal,
the band also offers Television Mind through www.cdbaby.com, the leading internet
seller of independent music. CDbaby will soon be making digital downloads of the
songs available on iTunes.
B. Internet Radio - Hundreds of Internet radio sites are
playing independent music. One of the songs from Television Mind, "Jungle of Love", is in
rotation on www.aiiradio.net, an internet radio
station based in Essex, England, and has climbed their charts to #2 during the
week of July 5,
2004.
C. Internet Communities - There are communities of people who are
listening to and discussing all different types of music on the Internet. Ron
Kaplan used his contacts from the Yahoo message board regarding the Yamaha
AW4416 to help the band master the recording process. An informative site about
promoting and selling on the Internet is www.musicbizacademy.com. Also,
Television Mind has been accepted for inclusion on these pop music
websites: www.webcds.com, www.koolkatmusik.com, and www.notlamerecords.com.
Our
project, Television Mind, probably could not have been
accomplished five years ago. Now the timing is just right for the independent
artist to be able to record and promote music that fulfills
----
Dick Eastman, along with his duties as a member of The Cleavers, has
become a producer/engineer/record company president/booking agent/publicist in
order to record and promote Television Mind, The Cleavers' debut CD.
Check out www.allrightrecords.com for more
information about this project.
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