My music buddies and I have always had a warning we lived be, be careful of focusing more on the technology and less on the music! I am afraid I have failed to heed my own warning and have slipped in to the dark side, spending more time on gear and gizmos then on playing and making music.

For the past months I have spent my limited precious time which I have allocated to music (due primarily to the day job) on fiddling with computers and buggy music software. It started when I began working on a cover of "I'm gonna live the life I sing about in my Song" < how ironic..>. First it was the drums, which not being a drummer have long been a curse to me. Then it was the bass. One drum machine VST after another after another, one more RT\RD to audition then another and another, why don't I just write out the midi? why don't I just play the part? - heck if these aren't just right the whole groove is wrong. The real answer is cause I can't! All this misdirection and trying to do it all has resulted in my knowledge of a lot of things and my mastery of none.

It may be too late for me, but I write this to warn you younger guys. Focus on the Music!! Learn your instrument!! And when you need to record and mix and master and arrange then folks who have spent their time mastering these elements will find you.

Do I sound frustrated? eek You Bet!