Hi, all. I appreciate you. I have been nursing a repetitive mouse injury, so I need to rest my shoulder by not using the mouse so much and also it doesn't feel great to type. I have a mix almost complete, and will finish it up and make the video as soon as I can. I'll check in again soon either way. Thank you all for being here! Peace.
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Tomorrow!
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A couple of weeks ago I announced a project where I would attempt to replicate the sound of an album that has been worn only by needle friction. No scratches or dust. Well, I was not yet able to get this certain furry, blunted sound that I remember. The distortion effects are not granular enough, even when layered. There is a sort of sameness to all types of digital distortion that I am always struggling against. In this case, in order not to keep y'all waiting any longer for another mix, and because I had already done all the editing of tracks, I converted the mix into "Music Pounding From the Next Room While an Air Conditioner Runs Nearby." Yes, the heat wave broke where I live, but it's still summer and a lot of people are trying to stay cool. The tracks are catchy and energetic; I think you'll like them. This new mix will finally be uploaded very soon!
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If you play a record enough times the sound quality will degrade no matter how delicately you treat it; cleaning the vinyl so that dust doesn't impact the needle; having special low-friction sleaves—and even the highest quality turntable with a stylus that applies the least amount of pressure needed to make good sound, and only using the highest quality needles that are replaced promptly while still sharp... the fact is that quality degrades slightly literally every time the needle passes over the record. As a result, regardless of any and all measures, it is possible to have a record with no audible scratches, but that has become distorted simply from being played to death. Nearly all of the degradation can be attributed to needle friction. I haven't heard a record like this in a long time, but I will try my best to replicate the experience from memory.
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Next up! Late Night Lofi Mix Vol. 6. I realized it has been 9 months since I last dropped a clean late night mix. I can probably get away with doing these a little more often! The samples are AI, but the tracks are not. Chops and edits create new melodies and transitions that did not exist in the original samples. This will likely upload tomorrow (Friday.)
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INTRODUCING: A new way to enjoy music from Vaporjazz Lounge and support my work!
~ Mixes will now be available for purchase on Bandcamp as full albums or individual tracks.
~ These can be downloaded to your device, streamed from the Bandcamp website, or from within the Bandcamp mobile app.
~ Select past mixes will be made available over time.
~ Be sure to also follow the Bandcamp profile so that you don't miss an upload!
vaporjazzlounge.bandcamp.com/music
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I'm still convinced there is no channel quite like this on the entirety of YouTube. I did it first, and 2 years later I am still the only one. I also think this is mostly because I'm nuts.
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POLL: I wish I could download individual tracks to my device!
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NEXT UP: FAN REQUEST! 1980's Highrise Construction Portable Radio Mix.
Check out this absolutely bonkers soundscape consisting of more than 20 individual sound effects samples and 18 music files. Unexpectedly to me, this is becoming one of the most nostalgic mixes yet.
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The truth is, I am an AI skeptic. However, AI is the only music I can use legally and ethically for this project. I would use music made by humans if I could. I started out using human-created music, and even though it was technically legal, I didn't feel like I was using their music in the spirit of what they intended when they made it freely available for creators. I did sort of butcher their work, after all, and I'm not just using it as background music.
As for YouTube Creator Music, and stock music sites like Artlist or Epidemic, even though they are paid services, what I do here is explicitly against the terms of service on two fronts. One, the music is not supposed to be the focus; it is only meant to be used as background music. Second, any alterations to the mix beyond editing for time are explicitly forbidden. Maybe I could get away with a little reverb, but changing the tempo and pitch, side-chained static, aggressive edits and EQ modification, and the other stuff I do; forget about it.
I struggled with all of the above for about the first 8 months, and I was slowly coming to accept that this channel would not be viable. Then I discovered AI. At the end of the day AI saved this channel, and continues to make it possible.
So I put a great deal of effort into compensating for the AI source, by editing out the awkward bits, repeating the catchy parts, and trying to mix it to sound as natural as possible. I grow quite fond of these tracks by the time I am done. I think the infectious quality of many of the melodies is undeniable, if you give them a chance. AI does not add any of the effects that make it sound like radio or whatever; that is all me. I just use it to generate "songs" that I can chop and stretch and screw and apply destructive effects to with a clear conscience and no copyright issues.
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Immersive pre-digital, extra-digital, and damaged media simulations.
All of the vaporwave on this channel is produced by the same person.
Vaporjazz Lounge transforms jazzy music and customized visuals to create uniquely nostalgic and immersive "expired" media simulations. Every mix is a fresh dedication to create singularly authentic and immersive emulations of different listening aesthetics, medium and environments. The list of media types is ever expanding, and suggestions or requests are encouraged.
"Mix" generally refers to the sound design rather than an assortment of tracks. Ex: "AM Radio Mix" means it's mixed to sound as though it's emanating from an AM radio.
Music and audio are my life's passion, but I love making the visuals, too!
Most mixes are best enjoyed with headphones. Speakers that deliver a balanced range of frequencies, i.e. lows, mids & highs, are recommended.