Second Life is not a game (though you can play all kinds of games within Second Life). Residents specifically refer to themselves as a community and that seems to me to be the most accurate description. It’s like living in a small town where you tend to keep bumping into people you know. If you’re looking for poets, you’ll find them. If you’re looking for scientists, you’ll find them. If you’re looking for imaginative architects and builders, you’ll find them. If you’re looking for prostitutes, you’ll find them.
Soundcloud is the audio equivalent to YouTube. Never mind the music media or TV programmes. Soundcloud is where contemporary musicians reveal just what they’re working on at the moment, shaping the music the rest of the world will be hearing soon. This is where Morgue and I host our “poetical and musical musings”. Anything with commercial merit or potential is on Bandcamp.
Brendan at Bandcamp The least I can do is offer you the opportunity to purchase my creative output. However, what remains crucial is that you can listen to it for free – as often as you wish.
Born to Produce I use Cubase for recording and editing music. For several years I was aware that I used a small proportion of Cubase’s potential, but their user manual isn’t exactly bedtime reading and the YouTubes I encountered on the subject weren’t particularly helpful. Then I stumbled across Born to Produce who offer music recording training which includes a large section aimed specifically at Cubase users. Their “Ultimate Beginners” package provided around twenty videos, each of ten to fifteen minute duration, together with a selection of samples and raw vocal and guitar recordings which I was invited to assemble into a broadcast quality song under their step-by-step guidance. I thoroughly enjoyed the process and emerged at the other end feeling like a half-way decent Cubase user.