Resignations

I filed my resignation from NUJP last week. It was obviously something my bosses were not expecting that afternoon. The usual questions when someone files for resignation start pouring in. “Why?”, “Aren't you happy with your job?” “What hinders you here?” “Do you have anything against us that's driving you to resign?” and so forth. I answered each of those questions truthfully, with some of them taking more time to answer as I had to make sure it was a really intellectual and honest answer.

“The truth is” I told them. “I'm changing careers.” Career change or advancement. It has been almost everyone's reason for resignation. I'm taking a career in Public Relations.

So what's wrong with my job? Answer: none. Why leave NUJP which gives me the opportunity to help defend the oppressed media practitioners? Why leave a job that involves how actions help save the lives and professions of media practitioners who send us the truth? Why leave a job that brought me closer to my dream of serving my nation directly through my profession? Simple: Because I just want to follow my dreams. Because I want to make more opportunities for others. Because I want to lead.

Earlier this afternoon, One of my bosses was still requesting for me to stay longer after I decided to extend my stay until the 23rd. “I'm sorry I could not. I also would like to take a vacation before I start my new career. That is something that I have not done ever since I left the academe. Allow me to savor the moments, allow me to enjoy the results of my sacrifices.” I said.

It's not about being selfish. Rather, I request for time to be able to think about what happened. Allow me to think of what I have done and what I can still do. Allow me to think of ways to make my new job a vehicle for social change; a medium for action to build better lives. Allow me to continue the battle I entered in NUJP in another environment.

So have I turned my back on the journalists killed in Ampatuan, Maguindanao? Have I turned my back on the countless of media practitioners harassed in the line of duty? Have I turned my back away from that desire for social change which started back when I volunteered for Aksyon Edukasyon? No. Rather, I have decided to take this advocacy to another field. In a field where I know I am needed more, in a career I know can utilize my desire for social change and slowly make the free world work properly. Allow me to change my battle ground for serving the people, my venue for serving society.

I realized there are decisions to make for growth. I realize I have to turn my back for a while for me to grow. The opportunity came to fulfill my dreams, I see it also as a chance to be that medium for change. I may turn around, but that does not mean I'm not looking back. Because I know in the future, I can still see myself going back to a similar field, whether it may be going up front with various victims of media suppression, rehabilitating public schools or even tutoring kids.

I'd like to thank everyone who helped me get into the career I'm leaving behind. It's because of you guys I took that opportunity, the challenge to fight for everyone's right to speak.

Going for a (Cake)walk

I was recently invited to the Product Demonstration/Clinic of Cakewalk Sonar 8.5 and Virtual Studios. These products go hand-in-hand with each other, utilizing USB and Midi technology. Mitsuyoshi Okazaki, Cakewalk's representative, gave an in-depth overview of their products capabilities. For those not aware, Roland and Cakewalk are connected, hence the "Cakewalk by Roland" tag on certain products.

SONAR 8.5

Above: Screenshots of Cakewalk Sonar 8.5

Sonar 8.5 was demonstrated first, showing its recording possibilities, from making demos to going full-blast on your next album. The demo of the built-in plug-ins has made it possible to cram your whole studio setup into a fraction of your bedroom space, with the use of virtual instruments like Session Drummer. Mind you, these virtual instruments do not sound as digital as it may seem. While I have heard of all these ideas of Midi and Virtual Instruments, I never thought it would sound that good. Quite handy if you really want to get a good feel for your demo recording or when you're a frustrated drummer who needs to have beats for the an upcoming recording.

Another feature that has been featured on other softwares is the V-Vocal plug-in. Yes it is for vocals and frustrated singers like me. It can correct the pitch of your recording and modify the time stretch without altering the the pitch and maintain the original vocal quality of the singer. And even if thoroughly modified, you wont sound robotic as how some artists use the pitch correction and try to pass it off as something that went through a talkbox or vocoder.

There's also another plug-in which makes mastering much easier. While it has been a long running debate on the mastering process of music is done, this little beast can tame that recording and decrease or increase the overall output gain or level. Of course, as a precaution, this would sound best when the recording is played through different kinds of speakers as to get its optimum levels correct.

Of course there are the Amp Simulators and various VST effects which have become a staple in almost every recording software available today in the market or Open Source site. While not all may beat them,

Sonar 8.5 is loaded with tons of features and plug-ins. In fact if I were to continue discussing every little bit of it, it would take me forever.

Cakewalk V-Studio 100 and 700

Top: Cakewalk V-Studio 700. Above:Cakewalk V-Studio 100

The Cakewalk V-Studio 100 and 700 are more than just USB Audio Interfaces; They can also act as a Midi controller, Mixer and even a Digital Recorder. The V-Studio 700 can control your parameters for effects and levels in Sonar with more accuracy. Aside from that, It also features a slot for your SD HD Card for you to record your tracks for storage in your computer later on. It also has multiple inputs (8 for the 100 and 20 for the 700 model) and outputs (6 for the 100 and 26 for the 700 model; 18 inputs and 24 outputs for simultaneous usage).

The difference between the 100 and 700 series is simple: the 100 series is a stripped down version of the 700. It has limitations. The latter's advantage is obviously more features. The 700 series has a joystick feature which allows you to control Sonar's sound when editing with a surround speaker set-up. You can simulate a surround sound effect easily with the joystick. It also comes with a throttle for video editing purposes, among other possible uses (Sonar has video editing capabilities but I have yet to try it).

Cakewalk UA-1G

While this was not featured their product demo, Yupangco raffled off one of these interfaces. For its size, im quite surprised that it has a guitar/microphone input aside from the usual rca inputs. Costs almost the same amount as Line 6's Toneport but can do more. Too bad it does not have phantom power. I'm thinking if I should get this over the Line 6 or the Behringer UCA, considering its costs.

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If there's any consolation from this demo, at least I went home with a Fender Shirt from Yupangco.