Modern day multitrack recorders

Multitrack recorders have come a long way but you already knew that if you have been recording music for many years now.

A tape machine used to cost around $3,500 in the '70s. Not only are recorders expensive, they were also bulky, not exactly portable. These days, multitrack recorders can be just the size of a paperback book which makes them lightweight and mobile and don't take up much space.

One such analog multitrack recorder is the TASCAM DP-006 which is less than $200 and has built-in microphones. Other multitrack recorders available in the market include Fostex, Zoom and Boss.

Expat in KL shares her story

I admit being a blogger in Kuala Lumpur, what I've written about the city leaves much to be desired. My bad, I shall try to do better. Nevertheless it is comforting to know that this little blog at least has a regular reader, a nice lady from Portugal.

Being an expatriate here since August and loving it so much in KL, Marta Velez emailed me as to whether she could guest-post and share her pleasant experiences as KL is surprising her so much. I couldn't pass up on this wonderful offer, could I? So, read on for Marta's insights on her stay in Kuala Lumpur which would give you an idea of what to expect if you're planning on visiting Kuala Lumpur.

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Marta (in red shorts) and friend in front of the Petronas Twin Towers

Hello! My name is Marta I am from Portugal (yes, Cristiano Ronaldo is the best one!!) and I have been living in Kuala Lumpur for three months now, planning to stay a couple of months more (or more, who knows?).

Why Malaysia? Honestly the right question is: Why Not Malaysia?! Kuala Lumpur would not be the obvious choice for a Portuguese girl looking for an adventure abroad. But obvious is boring right?!!

I came here by luck, as I found a really interesting working opportunity. I have to admit that before coming here my knowledge about Malaysia was pretty inexistent and Google was my best friend when it came to create some kind of expectations about what my life would be like here. The truth is that this country totally overcomes all my expectations and I totally fell in love with Malaysia and especially Kuala Lumpur.

First of all, being an Expat here is actually pretty easy. Local people are super available and open; they all speak English which is a huge advantage! Besides this there is a huge community of expats in KL which makes the adaptation process easier (you know that we are over 100 Portuguese people in KL? It is actually a really close community as we are all part of a Facebook group where we trade tips and make plans!!).

One of my main concerns was the weather. While I was picturing this almost unbearable hot and humid weather I had a pleasant surprise when I arrived here and you know what? It is not that bad. Actually it is perfect for me as I deal better with high temperatures than lower ones. One thing everyone can point out is that spending Christmas without snow and cold will be strange, sure, but I guess I’ll survive!

Nasi lemak

Talking about food (one of my favorite topics!!), I had super high expectations regarding the food… and I was not disappointed! I always loved Chinese and Indian food and in here, comparing to Europe, it taste waaay better! Naan bread? It is AMAZING! One of my other favorites is without a doubt Nasi Lemak, the local dish, especially when it comes wrapped in the banana leaf. To be honest at the beginning I was going to the same places all the time but once I got settled I started looking further. There are so many websites like VibeHero (among others others) or even Facebook groups to help you. I discovered and tried so many different types of food and restaurants so far and I am sure that KL has so much more to offer! Looking forward to keep discovering!

KL Tower

Last but not least: the lifestyle! I didn’t know what to expect concerning how people live their lives here. After overcoming less positive points like all the dirtiness, the constant energy really amazed me. With my Latin background I am used to see people in the streets, day and night, as Latin people are known to be extremely social. In that sense I totally identify with people around here! 24h/7 open restaurants and supermarkets help! (Nothing like having a naan after a night out). The night life is also pretty interesting close enough to what I have in Lisbon: nice bars to chilled nights and nice clubs to go a bit crazier (Don’t ask me why but I always seem to end up at Zouk!)! One of the other things that I simply love about Kuala Lumpur is that I am a few hours away from amazing islands, mesmerizing jungles or even other countries like Singapore or Thailand!

Concluding, Kuala Lumpur is my new addiction!

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Marta, thank you very much for this interesting article. Good to know that you are having a wonderful time here in Malaysia, particularly in Kuala Lumpur. Best wishes for continued happy times. We look forward to your next update.

If you are a visitor to Kuala Lumpur and would like to guest-post here to share your experiences, feel free to write me.


All images are courtesy of Marta Velez

Fasterners and Hardware and more..

One of the corners of a department store that I often gravitate to is the hardware section. Even though the supply there is nowhere near Reid Supply, you can still pick up some useful items like some S-hooks that I came away with the other day. Wish they have more size choices though. That's where shopping online has that advantage. There are more choices shopping online in terms of sizes and variety.

In case you may be wondering, Reid Supply serves manufacturers and businesses with easy sourcing of knobs, handles, hand wheels, clamps, tooling components, fasteners, hardware and much more.

How to Choose Diamond Jewelry Based on the Cs

Diamonds and women have some kind of a love affair. Every woman dreams of having at least one piece of diamond jewelry. If you are looking for any kind of diamond jewelry, a good guide is to start with the 4Cs when choosing your diamond. The 4 Cs are Carat, Color, Clarity, and Cut. Choosing the right diamond jewelry can be daunting to some but with an understanding of the 4 Cs, you can make an informed purchase.

Carat is the standard and objective measurement of diamonds. If you are looking forward to saving on your purchase, you can avoid the magic sizes (e.g. 0.5, 0.75, or 1). For instance, instead of buying a .5 carat diamond, you can save more with a .48 stone. Diamond jewelry is appraised and the carat weight is usually an estimate based on the outside dimensions of the stone. Always keep in mind that diamonds with more weight will also cost more. Engagement rings are sold in .5 to 1 carat, and once again, don’t hit the full magic size to save on your purchase of any diamond jewelry.

Colour. In diamonds, it is hard to find perfectly colorless stones. This is because natural diamonds tend to have brown or yellow tints, but look more icy white. Diamond jewelry with noticeable color (light yellow) are rated ‘Z’ while the colorless ones have a ‘D’ to ‘F’ rating. Diamonds with G to J rating is near colorless, K to M has a faint yellow color, and the N to R rating comes with extremely light yellow color.

Clearness is synonymous with clarity. The natural stones have internal inclusions and external blemishes, as well as other imperfections. Clarity is the measurement of these impurities. It is rare to find flawless diamonds, and since imperfections can only be seen under magnification, the clarity rating will serve as the buyer’s basis. This is the general rule - the higher the number, the lesser is the value of the stone. F1 pertains to flawless diamonds, IF is for internally flawless stones, VVS1 and VVS2 have minute inclusions, while the VS1 and VS2 have minor inclusions. SI1 and SI2 have inclusions that are visible from under the stone, while diamonds with a rating of I1, I2, and I3 have visible and obvious inclusions.

Cut is one of the most important characteristics of the diamond. Cut makes diamond jewelry sparkle and this is what amazes people. The sharpness and cleanest cut is hard to achieve, and it can have a tremendous effect on light refraction and light performance of the diamond. Finely cut diamonds are fiery and clear.

Now that you know the different Cs, you can make the right choice. Picking diamond jewelry is a personal decision. It depends on the personal taste and financial capability of the buyer. Follow the recommendations above, and you can buy the best diamond in the market.

Wait, there is the fifth C which is the diamond certificate. It is sometimes called the grading report because this contains a complete evaluation of your diamond that has been performed by a qualified professional. Listed on the certificate is the recognizable, individual characteristics that each stone bears.

A new Blog platform to check out

Malaysia has been reported to have a high percentage of bloggers vis-a-vis it's population. We sure have much to talk about. LOL. Most of us are using a free platform such as Blogger or Wordpress, which are just as good as having your own domain. Methinks.

Here's yet another new blog platform to try out, imcreator.com. If you are not yet a blogger or is already one and are looking to set up a new blog, why not give this a try. I surely will check it out, when I get time.

Friday Frolics - What Do You Need Most?

I've been absent for a while, here and at yours, I apologise. Have been really busy lately, but, never too busy to give you that Friday dose of quiz fun. This week's personality quiz is interesting, even the questions will make you think a little, so, enjoy and find out What Do You Need Most and surprise yourself.

Happy Friday, everyone!

You Need Acceptance

You aren't truly happy in life unless you are able to accept yourself, flaws and all. You also need to be accepted by other people. You like feeling you belong and that you're not being judged. You are a welcoming and open minded person. It's not hard for you to accept others for who they are. You believe that everyone is happiest when we live without judgement or prejudice. And you're doing your part to make that happen.

What Do You Need Most?

Fun, Free Quizzes and 3 Stupid Ones

Last Week's Quiz: What Halloween Character Are You?

Kawai MP6 Professional Stage Piano

If you are looking for a keyboard that has the touch of an acoustic piano the
kawai piano may be what you are looking for.

People who already own a Kawai MP6 Professional Stage Piano are giving it rave reviews for it being easy to use and good value for money among other good points including:

- Great looks
- Realistic Action
- Realistic Sound
- Responsive / Good Action
- Tone Variety
- Touch Sensitive Keys


Features include:

Keyboard: 88 weighted keys with Ivory Touch key surfaces
Action: Responsive Hammer action with Let-off
Sound Source: Progressive Harmonic Imaging (PHI)
Zones: 4 x internal, 4 x external (MIDI)
No. of Sounds: 256
and more.

This Kawai piano is suitable to be used for accompaniment, chamber music, concerts, electronic music and for learning.  Great for gigs as it is not too heavy to lug around. 

Friday Frolics - What Halloween Character Are You?

Did you all have fun last night, being Halloween and all?  Here's a spillover Halloween quiz for you this week.  Now you'll get to find out what Halloween character are you.  Enjoy!

Me, quirky? Hmm..

Your turn..

You Are a Skeleton

You are totally goofy and entertaining. You are simply charming. You know how to have fun, and you're happy to be part of a group or crowd. You can be a bit dark in your thinking sometimes, though other people don't see it. You tend to develop strange obsessions and offbeat interests. You are delightfully quirky.

What Halloween Character Are You?

Friday Frolics: 100's of Fun, Free Quizzes and 3 Stupid Ones

Last Week's Quiz: What Personality Disorder Are You?