An Aryeh Kunstler Cover (Daniel Goldstein)

Here's a cover of B'sheim Hashem, a track from Aryeh Kunstler's latest album.

Additional lyrics by Daniel Goldstein and G-d.

Follow Daniel on Facebook at Daniel Goldstein Music

A Jewish Star Entry

Remember this composition? Music by Hillel Kapnick

How To AutoTune in GarageBand

Everyone hates Autotune and everyone loves it. It makes you sound like a robot who can sing really well. Check out what I did with AutoTune...


People say it's cheap and enhances the voice so it should be banned. I say, do what you like, and here's how.

First of all. Get a Mac.

Secondly. Open GarageBand.

Create a new "Real Instrument" track.

Click on the track you recorded, and swing over to the right side of the screen where it says "Edit". Click on this tab.

Add the following effects:
Compressor - Vocal Compression Rap (setting)
Distortion - Bring the "Drive" setting to 4.5
Chorus - Bring the "intensity" to 2.0
Master Echo - 22%
Master Reverb - 38%

Swing over to the left side of the screen, double click on your recorded track which will open up a "track editor" panel below the recorded track.

Check off the Enhanced Tuning and crank it up to 100%

You know should have the same sound that I have in the track that I recorded above.

I want to hear your versions, so email me your auto-tuned songs at jmderech@gmail.com

Enjoy!

Two Chanukah Remixes from Acapella Groups

Here are two videos of secular music turned Jewish. One is The Maccabeats singing "Candlelight" which is a take off of "Dynamite". Two is Six 13 singing a compilation of songs for NCSY called "I Light It". Included in the medley is "Baby", "Heartless", "I Like it".

Note: The NCSY video does not only have men in it, if this offends you, don't watch it.

Guest Review Coming Soon

Soon, I will have a review of Miami's Soloist album "Hissorerus". The review will be done by a very special reviewer which will be revealed at the time of the review's release. :)

Duty or Intrusion?

I was at the local Judaica store the other day and as always, I headed to the music section of the store. I browsed all the new titles and all the old ones. Looked at sales. Played the "guess which covers were designed by Sruly Meyer" game (it's usually the good ones). And just zoned out in that section for a while. It was like, my section of the store. My sacred place.

Anyway, another customer was browsing at the albums with the store counterperson and was asking for a good album to buy, being that they are just starting to listen to Jewish music. I think the customer wanted a good "fast" album. The counterperson admitted that they didn't know which was the best per say, but they pointed them in the direction of two albums, which, if I were a newcomer to Jewish music, would turn me off. The customer then proceeded to buy the albums and walked off with some terrible music.

Here's the question. As a Jewish music reviewer and someone who has some taste when it comes to knowing what to buy and what to avoid, should I have interfered and suggested a different, better album? Think about it, if you have a question about taxes, you go to your accountant, so if you have a question about Jewish music, wouldn't you like to here advice from an avid Jewish music fan and writer?

So here's what I came up with. Let's do this gemara (talmud) style.

If I were to intrude on the conversation, yes, I would be saving that customer money and the frustration of a bad album. However, by telling them that one album is better than the other, and then they go and buy the "better" album, aren't I taking possible earnings away from the original album the customer picked up?

What do I do? I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Ever Wonder What A Kid Would Sound Like Singing That?

Have you ever wondered what a kid would sound like singing a Shwekey or Fried song? Well, thanks to Yerachmiel Begun, you no longer have to wonder. Begun has been working on this album for five years. I must say, the arrangements are fantastic and beyond my expectations.

Begun uses Miami soloists, Shaul Elson, Yair Kenig, Binyamin Ravina Abramowitz & David Herskovitz for these inspiring songs. I'm not sure about the soloists selections or about how many times each soloists sings, but I am sure that a lot of effort went into matching the voices with each particular song.

Miami Solo Album is a great addition to my musical connection and would be a great one to yours and your friends, so buy one for them! After all, Chanukah is coming up.