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Rayn 
Handle: Rayn
Real Name: Joshua Joseph Szmajda
Lived in: USA
Ex.Handles: Darius
Was a member of: Outworlders (Outworld)

Modules: 12  online
Interview: Read!
Pictures: n/a

Interview


                           .                  
          `n.          .rP'
           `qb       ,dP'
            TLb.  ,dMP'          all rite, now you get the chance to read
             TML.dMMP            some facts about some of the major amiga
          ,nmm`XXMPX              musicians. read about their history in 
       ,#MP'~~XNXYNXTb.          the scene and their plans in future.yes, 
     ,d~'     dNNP `YNTb.       that's meant to be read while listening to  
    ,~       ,NN'     `YNb   their modules. read 'em over and over and over..
             dNP        `Yb.  
            ,NN'          `b.      · i  n  t  e  r  v  i  e  w  ·      ___________            
      ______dP                                _____________            \         /              
      \    ,N'\____   _____________.  _____   \            \_____.  ____\       /
       \___P___/  .\--\__    __/__ |--\____)---\        _____/__ |--\_   \    _/
        |     |   | \  |      | \__|   |  _     \      /    | \__|   |   /\   |
        |    _|   |    |     _l_       |  |      \    /    _l_       |     ___|
        l___/=l___|====l____/===\______|==l______|\  /l___/===\______l____/
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    Handle: Rayn

    Group: Outworld

    Date of birth: Feb 10, 1980


  • 1-How did your interest for computers start? Which year was that?

  • My dad bought a 286 with a bunch of money that they were saving for my college
    education when I was 6. I was naturally upset, as that was my money, so I
    figured I'd find out what all the fuss was about. I was hooked ;)


  • 2-What machines did you previously have? What did you do with them?

  • chronological order (more or less):
    286/15?
    486dx/33
    (first home-made system) Pentium 166
    AMD K6-II 400
    Athlon 600

    Currently Used:
    Pan: Athlon 1.2Ghz, 1Gb RAM, 40Gb HD, GeForce 3, SB Live Value
    Haven: Athlon 1Ghz, 1Gb RAM, 12Gb HD, TNT 1, SB Live Value
    Eris: Dell Inspiron 8000 Laptop (P4 1Ghz, 256Mb RAM, 20Gb HD, GeForce
    2 Go, Crappy Ass Random Sound Card)

    Haven is my linux server, Pan runs Windows 98, and Eris Dual-Boots linux and
    Windows Me (Need to put XP on there soon)

    I started Tracking on the 486 with protracker (used it like 3 times, hated
    every second ;), quickly found fast tracker 2 and loved it :)

    I actually got Windows 95 to run on that 486.. man that was painful ;)


  • 3-For what specific reason did you end up making music rather than gfx, coding?

  • Well, I do gfx, and some coding too, but Music is where I started and it's
    what I'm best at. (IMHO ;)... I've always been musically oriented, and in High
    School (that's grades 9 throuh 12) I was able to major in Music. I took alot
    of Music Theory courses, as well as performance on my main instruments (Alto
    Saxophone and Bassoon). That helped my compositional technique alot, and I
    acually wrote my first orchestral piece while I was there.

    Other than that, music has been very important to me in general throughout my
    life. I've learned to play many instruments (Piano, Guitar, Bass, Saxophone,
    Flute, Clarinet, Bassoon, Oboe, Violin, Viola, and a few more esoteric
    instruments) which I think helps me understand how things are supposed to
    sound and flow.

    I dabble in art and code, but I'm just not as good at them, so music is my
    main think I guess :).


  • 4-Which composing programs have you been using? Which one in particular?

  • I started off using protracker, but hated it after a day. I poked at Scream
    Tracker 3, but didn't really like its feel. Fast Tracker 2 had me hooked dead
    on though. I've used FT2 since about 94. I tried DigiTracker for a bit, and
    almost finished one co-op song with Decker (now D'Analog) in it. Lately I've
    been using Buzz, as I've found that it's a very powerful program which allows
    me to truly express myself the way I want to.


  • 5-With which module did you feel you had reached your goal?

  • hmm.. goal? not quite sure what you're looking for, but as far as favorite
    songs go, I really liked City Night Walk. It was my MC6 entry, and I'm sad
    that it didn't do better (ranked somewhere in the middle), but liked it alot.
    I've got this other one about half done, I think it's going to be really
    interesting though, maybe better than CNW.


  • 6-Is there a tune you would like not to remember? For what reason?

  • Heh, there's a whole bunch of 'em ;). For awhile I was releasing just about
    any tune I finished, and alot of them are pure crap ;).


  • 7-In your opinion, what's the value of a music in a demo, game?

  • Music sets the tone and pace of a demo or game. It really provides a setting
    in which everything takes place. I think music is a vital element of the
    overall impact a demo gives, and therefore should be considered just as vital
    (if not moreso). Many great demos would have been merely mediocre if not for
    their music.


  • 8-At present, are you still composing? For professional or leisure purposes?

  • I'm still tracking, for my own pleasure really. We're trying (vaguely) to get
    something ready for MS2002, who knows if we'll have something or not ;) I've
    got the music, just waiting on the code and stuff.

    I've got about 5 songs or so in progress right now, so I keep pretty busy ;)


  • 9-What do you think of today's pieces of music such as mpeg,wave,midi,etc...?

  • I think the scene is changing, and I like where it's going. People are
    embracing newer technologies and creating incredible works with them. As I
    said, I use Buzz, which is fairly new.


  • 10-Could you tell us some of your all times favourite tunes?

  • Hmm.. just about anything by Dizzy, most particularly 'Just for Blues'. Most
    things by Carlos, Falcon, Necros, Purple Motion, Groo, Radix, and Kb (can't
    forget Kb! ;). 'Carrotworld' by Zake is also excellent (not quite sure why..
    ;)

    I've been listening to Nectarine lately, so I've got a much larger list of
    favorites, but these are the biggest ones I guess :)


  • 11-Are you planning to make an audio cd with some of your music remastered?

  • Enh, probably not. I don't know that I have any 'classics', at least ones that
    people really enjoy. I dunno, if people are interested, I might be persuaded
    ;)


  • 12-What bands are you currently listenning to?

  • BT, Paul Oakenfold, Dance Hall Crashers, William Orbit, VNV Nation, Apoptygma
    Berzerk, Covenant, Smashing Pumpkins, Mint Royale, tons more! :)


  • 13-What does/did the amiga/c64 scene give you?

  • probably the idea of a tracker, and tracking as we know it ;) I never owned
    one personally, but I respect their contributions and envy those who did have
    the oppourtunity to grow up with them.


  • 14-Are you still active in the scene these days?

  • Very much so, I'm very involved with www.scenemusic.net (I ran a relay for
    some months), and I hope to be running a large scale international Music
    Contest soon (details coming soon!)


  • 15-Anyone to greet? Anything left to say? Feel free...

  • Greets to D'Analog, Skie, all of Outworld, the entire scenemusic staff, Every
    US Scener (woo we're still alive!! ;D), Kb, Phoenix, #trax, any everyone I
    missed (I'm forgetful! ;)


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    please note: this interview is ©opyrighted in 2002 by crown of cryptoburners
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