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Manuel Marino

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Manuel is a passionate, driven, and techsavvy AV technician, artist and music composer with over ten years of experience, specializing in the captivating world of music and entertainment. Manuel is an expert in creating soundtracks for short films, feature films and video games. How to Register and Order on My Film Music Orchestral Page

Manuel’s Blog is a personal digital space where I share my thoughts, projects, and passions. Here you’ll find articles about music, technology, arts, books, culture, and personal reflections.

The blog brings together my ideas and the contributions of friends and readers, offering a mix of inspiration, practical tips, and honest opinions.

Whether you are curious about creativity, looking for advice, or just want to explore different topics with me, you’ll always find something interesting to read.

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SADE at ACC – An Earth Shaking Performance

opposites attract
Photo by Esther17

Sade Adu, the lead singer of the band SADE, made a remarkable comeback to the stage after more than a decade off the radar. Her previous albums, “Diamond Life” (1984) and “Lovers Rock” (2000), have become timeless additions to the collections of soul and soft rock fans worldwide. Finally, last evening, her fans had the opportunity to see her live at the Toronto Air Canada Center.

I will never forget this show. It was absolutely mind-blowing!

John Legend and his band kicked off the evening with a set of touching and soulful rhythms, creating a perfect romantic atmosphere in anticipation of Sade’s performance. People were on their feet, dancing and singing, eagerly awaiting her arrival. With her great voice, terrific music, and beautiful stage decor in a 50s prom night style, everything was fantastic and provided a small energy boost. However, you could sense that the real treat was yet to come. During the intermission, the DJ played some tunes to set the mood, but everyone was at the edge of their seats, waiting in anticipation. And then, suddenly, the lights came on, and there she was – a goddess, a timeless beauty, looking even better than …

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“SADE at ACC – An Earth Shaking Performance”

Sunburst Guitar finish for the Beginner

My fresh bass: Michael Kelly Dragonfly
Photo by NathanaelB

Originally designed to replicate the vintage appearance seen on classic violins, the Sunburst finish is commonly found on both antique and contemporary guitars. It is a highly popular guitar finish, but is it too challenging for the average person?

Achieving a sunburst finish on your instrument is not impossible, as long as you follow a few simple techniques and take great care. It is advisable to practice some of the procedures first using a scrap piece of wood before attempting it on your guitar.

If this is a completely new guitar kit, you will need to assemble the guitar first. Keep in mind that you will be taking it apart to work on the finish, so ensure that you do not encounter any issues with the guitar that may jeopardize the finish that you have put a great deal of effort into.

Once you have assembled the electric guitar and checked for potential problems, you can begin prepping the wood. Sand it down until you have a smooth surface to work with. Then, remove any excess dust particles and clean the guitar thoroughly.

Next, apply a generous amount of wood grain filler. Make sure to apply it …

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“Sunburst Guitar finish for the Beginner”

Drum And Bass Elements And How Important They Are

New Bass
Photo by oblivion9999

Drum and Bass (DnB) is a genre of music that relies on specific elements to exist, incorporating them from various contemporary music genres . One crucial aspect that sets DnB apart is the profound impact it has on its listeners, as the deep sub-bass patterns resonate within their beings. The music’s extreme low-frequency range is what defines and characterizes Drum and Bass.

One of the key elements used in Drum and Bass is the bass timbre, which showcases remarkable diversity. Sub-genres like techstep extensively explore different bass lines. These synthetic basslines can originate from a variety of sources, including synthesizers, electric, acoustic, or double-bass instruments, as well as samples from publicly available loops. While modern recordings of actual instruments are rarely used, some DnB tracks incorporate newly recorded bass elements.

However, these elements are rarely used in their raw form. It is common practice for producers to apply a range of sound effects to the sampled Drum and Bass elements in their compositions. These effects can include chorus, dynamic compression, equalization, flanger, overdrive, and other genre-specific techniques like timestretched beats and “Reese Bass.” Reese Bass is created by synthesizing layers of ‘clashing’ sawtooth wave sounds, as pioneered by …

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“Drum And Bass Elements And How Important They Are”

Guitar Playing Is Not Complete Without Guitar Vibrato

View From the Bridge
Photo by Numinosity (by Gary J Wood)

Playing a guitar without vibrato is like eating Mexican food without salsa. Vibrato is an essential technique that shapes a guitarist’s tone and technique, and no skilled guitarist would overlook its importance. Each player’s vibrato can be unique, with variations in speed and width, and that’s what makes it fascinating to explore different vibrato techniques. It’s akin to choosing queso salsa over sour cream for your taco or burrito. But before you get too hungry, let’s delve deeper into the world of vibrato.

Vibrato is sometimes mistaken for tremolo, but it shouldn’t be confused with fluctuation in volume. Vibrato refers to the slight variation in tone produced by the vibration of the string. Beginners often employ the technique of using their third finger on the seventh fret of the third string, bending the note slightly up and down in rapid succession. This creates a “wobbly” effect around the root note being played. As you practice this technique, coordinate your hand, arm, and wrist movements, ensuring a smooth and consistent motion. Avoid simply wiggling your finger. In some cases, guitarists pull the string all the way down and release it back to its original …

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“Guitar Playing Is Not Complete Without Guitar Vibrato”

Study Music Playing With An Electronic Digital Piano

One of the most highly regarded musical skills is piano playing. The piano, a traditional musical instrument, is capable of producing the highest quality melodies. While the authentic piano remains one of the most expensive musical instruments, many music enthusiasts still aspire to become proficient pianists someday.

As technology advanced, music instruments also went digital, becoming more affordable compared to their acoustic counterparts. The introduction of digital pianos was quickly embraced by many and gained popularity in the market. The user-friendly nature of digital pianos earned them the reputation of being the “beginner’s piano.” For aspiring Mozarts, the digital piano provides an excellent platform to start their piano lessons and musical endeavors.

One of the renowned brands and models in the world of digital pianos is the CTK 2100. The CTK 2100 offers a wide range of high-quality tones, rhythms, and accompaniments that can be easily mixed and matched to achieve the perfect balance. It also features recording and playback functions, allowing you to store and review your musical compositions at any time. This is definitely a valuable feature that the CTK 2100 provides.

For more advanced piano setups, the CTK 2100 can be combined with other sound and audio …

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“Study Music Playing With An Electronic Digital Piano”