Nail Care Secrets from a Classical Guitarist
As classical guitarists, nails are an essential part of our craft. The tone, texture, and volume of our music are deeply influenced by the condition of our nails, thus nail care is a widely discussed topic among guitarists. In the quest for healthier nails, many guitarists search for products and supplements to strengthen and maintain their nails, but I've found that the key to resilient nails lies in a balanced lifestyle, proper nutrition, and sufficient sleep.
Disclaimer: Although I share my experience and observations, I am not a doctor, and the information provided in this blog post is not medical advice. It is always wise to consult with a healthcare professional before making changes to your diet, sleep habits, or lifestyle.
The Berlin Nail Saga: An Anecdote
Nine years ago, my life took an exciting turn when I moved to Berlin. However, my nails began to weaken and tear during my first year here, thanks to my less-than-ideal diet. Alarmed, I sought the help of a dermatologist who, initially attributed my nail issues to age, suggesting that I accept my nails' inevitable decline.. I was only 30 at the time! After explaining my profession and my nails' critical role in my performance, she reluctantly handed me some brochures and a list of costly vitamin pills to buy. Diet, however, was never mentioned.
On my way home, I had an epiphany: my poor diet was sabotaging my nails, not my age. Nails were just the first casualty, and a transformation was crucial. Instead of pouring money into pricey pills, I embarked on a research journey and made sweeping changes to my diet and sleep schedule. A year later, my nails had made a remarkable comeback, and after years of continued dietary improvements, my nails and energy levels are now stronger than ever.
Nutrition Guidelines for Nail Health
Biotin-rich foods: Indulge in eggs, almonds, and sweet potatoes, which are rich in biotin—a B vitamin that promotes nail strength and growth.
Protein: Since nails are primarily composed of keratin, consuming lean meats, fish, and beans can help provide the necessary building blocks.
Omega-3 fatty acids: Fish, walnuts, and flaxseeds can help moisturize and strengthen nails, thanks to their omega-3 content.
Iron: To prevent brittle nails, incorporate iron-rich foods like spinach, lentils, and red meat into your diet.
Zinc: Whole grains, oysters, and legumes contain zinc, which supports nail growth and strength.
Vitamin C: Consuming vitamin C-rich foods, such as citrus fruits, strawberries, and bell peppers, can help promote collagen production, essential for nail health.
Incorporating Healthy Foods into Daily Nutrition
To harness the full potential of these essential nutrients, I try to incorporate them into my daily meals. I practice intermittent fasting, so I eat three meals within an 8-hour window. Here's an example of my typical day:
Breakfast: Quinoa seeds, flaxseed, raw cocoa in Greek yogurt, topped with various berries, nuts, and cinnamon, plus a piece of 95% dark chocolate with my coffee.
Lunch: Grilled salmon or meat with a side of colorful veggies, ensuring I get enough protein, iron, and omega-3 fatty acids to keep my nails strong and healthy.
Dinner: A delicious omelet with mixed greens, providing a blend of biotin, iron, and vitamins.
The Power of Sleep and Balanced Lifestyle
In addition to a balanced diet, getting enough sleep is crucial for overall well-being and nail health. I aim for about 8 hours of sleep per night, ensuring I go to bed and wake up at approximately the same time each day. This consistent sleep schedule supports my body's natural circadian rhythm, contributing to better overall health, including the strength and resilience of my nails.
Furthermore, leading a balanced lifestyle, where stress is managed, physical activity is regular, and mental well-being is nurtured, plays an integral role in maintaining not just nail health but overall body health. Of course, life happens, and unexpected events can throw our schedules off balance. As a musician and father of two kids, I embrace the challenges of spending long hours practicing, traveling for concerts, and juggling family responsibilities, which can sometimes make it difficult to adhere to a perfectly balanced routine. However, I always strive for a healthy lifestyle, acknowledging that it's an ongoing process and that every effort counts towards maintaining the well-being of my nails and overall health.
Lasting Tones
The secret to strong, healthy nails doesn't lie in quick fixes or expensive supplements. It's about embracing a lifestyle that focuses on balanced nutrition, overall well-being, and sufficient sleep. In my experience, weak nails are often one of the first signs our bodies give when we're not providing them with enough nutrients and rest. By recognizing this early warning and taking action, we can ensure our nails remain strong and healthy, allowing us to continue producing beautiful tones. Keep in mind that it's always best to consult with a medical professional before making any major changes to your diet or lifestyle.
Bowers & Wilkins Px8 Review
The Quest for the Perfect Portable Headphones
For the longest time, I've been searching for a pair of decent portable headphones that could deliver realistic sound. I often found myself commuting with full-sized wired headphones, as the Bluetooth technology just wasn't mature enough to satisfy my audio desires. However, in recent years, several high-end Bluetooth headphones have emerged, catching my attention and offering a glimmer of hope.
Enter Bowers & Wilkins (B&W)
Bowers & Wilkins, a British company with a rich history dating back to 1966, has long been renowned for its high-quality audio equipment. With a dedication to innovation and a passion for creating the best possible listening experience, B&W has been a leader in the audio industry, catering to audiophiles and casual listeners alike. In fact, high-end B&W speakers can often be found in mastering studios for classical music, a testament to their exceptional sound reproduction capabilities.
A Chic and Elegant Choice
Bowers & Wilkins Px8: A Chic and Elegant Choice
About three months ago, I decided to take the plunge and invest in the B&W Px8 headphones, and I've had ample time to explore their features and performance. I opted for the Tan version, which boasts a sophisticated design with cast aluminium arms and fine Nappa leather trim. While the black version looks a bit more generic, the 007 and McLaren special editions are visually appealing but come with a heftier price tag.
The Px8 is designed with ultra-plush ear cups and a hot spot-free headband, making them incredibly comfortable for extended listening sessions. The headphones gently clamp from the sides instead of resting on the head, ensuring an ideal fit.
The included carrying case is stylish, and protective, and features thoughtful touches like a magnetic lid for the cable compartment, making it a great travel companion to the headphones.
A stylish protective case for the B&W Px8
A practical cable compartment
Technical Prowess
The Px8 headphones come with an array of technical features, such as hybrid noise cancellation, ambient pass-through, wear-detection sensor, and Bluetooth 5.2 with aptX™ Adaptive. They support multiple Bluetooth codecs, including aptX™ Adaptive, aptX™ HD, aptX™, AAC, and SBC, ensuring compatibility with a wide range of devices.
The Px8's Bluetooth connectivity is seamless, allowing me to waltz, tango, or just wander around my apartment without any interruptions or cut-offs. Plus, they can be connected to a MacBook via USB for an even richer audio experience.
The Px8's controls are responsive, intuitive, and thankfully, free from sluggish touch buttons. This means you can effortlessly adjust volume, pause, or skip tracks without missing a single tone.
Intuitive physical controls
Uninterrupted Classical Music Indulgence
With an impressive battery life of 25-30 hours, the Px8 headphones will keep you immersed in the intricate nuances of your favourite symphonies, concertos, or solo classical guitar performances for days on end. Plus, a quick 15-minute charge provides 7 hours of playback - perfect for when you're on the go.
Impressive Audio Performance with Minor Caveats
The angled Carbon Cone drivers deliver crystal-clear audio with minimal distortion (<0.1% THD at 1 kHz/10mW). While the out-of-the-box tuning is a bit bassy and warm for my taste, a quick adjustment using the companion app gets the sound just right. There is a very slight hint of compression, likely due to the codecs used, but it's not a deal-breaker, and the overall audio quality remains enjoyable and immersive.
Audiophile-level Classical Guitar Experience - Unshackled by Cables
As a classical guitarist, I treasure the authenticity of timbre, and the Px8 headphones rise to the occasion with their remarkable audio reproduction. The nuances of each note, the nails, the strings, the resonance of the wood, and the ambience of the room come together to create a captivating and immersive listening experience - it's like being transported to a private recital.
Although I wouldn't rely on these headphones for mixing purposes (I have my trusted Focal Clear Pro MG and Beyerdynamic DT 880 headphones for that), the Px8 offers an impressive listening experience for classical guitar music, capturing the intricate details without becoming overly analytical or excessively enthusiastic. The most remarkable aspect?
Finally being able to indulge in such exquisite audio quality without the limitations of cables, providing an even more enjoyable and liberating listening experience. That being said, B&W's unique sound signature is truly a standout feature, and I can't help but wish they were still making wired headphones for professional use.
Ultra-plush ear cups and angled Carbon Cone drivers
A Quiet Place
The Px8's noise cancellation works like magic, effectively blocking out the world without compromising sound performance. The passive noise damping is quite decent for street noise, allowing you to still enjoy your music while maintaining some awareness of your surroundings. The active noise cancellation truly shines in environments like the U-Bahn, where background noise is easily dampened. The pass-through option is a nice bonus, although it could sound a bit more natural. I'm looking forward to testing these headphones on flights this summer, anticipating an even more serene and enjoyable in-flight experience.
B&W Px8 vs B&O H9 Gen 3 - A Clear Winner
Bowers 6 Wilkins Px8: A Symphony of Performance, Design, and Comfort
When comparing the B&W Px8 to the B&O H9 Gen 3, the Px8 emerges as the clear winner in terms of comfort, sound realism, and design. For those who have read my review on the H9 (click to read my review), you'll know that I appreciate the sound quality, but they can be quite painful to wear for extended periods. The Px8 not only outperforms the H9 in terms of comfort, allowing for long listening sessions without discomfort but also delivers a more realistic and refined sound experience.
A Playful Conclusion
After spending three enjoyable months with the B&W Px8 headphones, I can confidently say that their impressive technical features, long battery life, and effective noise cancellation make them a top pick for anyone seeking high-quality headphones.. Initially, I got them as a portable device to use outside of the house, but they've become my go-to headphones for casual listening at home when I'm not working on my music. While they do come with a relatively high price tag, if you can manage the expense, the Px8 headphones are a fantastic choice.
A Beginner's Guide to Home Recording for Classical Guitarists
Home recording technology has come a long way in recent years, and it's now easier than ever for classical guitarists to record high-quality audio from the comfort of their own home. If you are a classical guitarist looking to record your music at home, you may be wondering where to start. In this beginner's guide, I will go over the essential tools and techniques you'll need to get started with home recording for classical guitarists. From choosing the right microphone and recording software to setting up a recording space and editing and producing your tracks, I will cover everything you need to know.
Choosing the Right Equipment
The first step in setting up a home recording studio for classical guitar is choosing the right equipment. There are a few key pieces of equipment that every home recording studio should have:
Microphones: A good pair of microphones is essential for recording the classical guitar. There are many different types of microphones to choose from, each with unique characteristics. I often like to employ large diaphragm condensers for their low self-noise.
Read the buyer's guide on the Best Microphones for Classical Guitar.
Audio interface: An audio interface is a device that connects your microphones to your computer, allowing you to record audio digitally. Besides, an audio interface allows you to connect your headphones and studio monitors.
Read the buyer's guide on the Best Audio Interfaces for Classical Guitar.
Studio Monitors: Studio monitors are specialized speakers that are designed for use in recording studios. They differ from regular home speakers in that they have a relatively flat frequency response without boosting or attenuating any particular frequency. Studio Monitors are ideal for mixing and mastering music, as they allow you to hear the true sound of your recordings.
Read the buyer's guide on the Best Studio Monitors for Classical Guitar.
Headphones: Headphones are an important part of any home recording setup, as they allow you to hear all the nuances in your playing and recordings. I prefer open headphones for mixing, editing and music listening, while closed headphones are necessary if you want to do overdubs.
Setting up a Recording Space
Once you have the necessary equipment, the next step is to set up a recording space that will allow you to produce high-quality audio. Here are a few things to consider:
Acoustics: The acoustics of your recording space will have an immense impact on the sound of your recordings. A room with decent acoustics will produce a balanced and natural sound, while a room with poor acoustics can produce a boomy sound and introduce flutter echo to your recordings. To improve the acoustics of your recording space, you can use acoustic treatment products such as acoustic panels, bass traps and diffusers to absorb or diffuse sound waves.
If you are on a tight budget, you can read my post on Three Ways to Improve your Recording Space Without Spending Any Money.
Organization: Keep your recording space organized and ready to use at any time. This means having all your equipment in position and easy reach, so you don't have to spend time searching for things when you want to record. Furthermore, a cluttered and disorganized space can be distracting and make it difficult to focus on your playing. By setting up your room in a functional and organized way, you'll be able to focus on your playing and create better recordings.
Lighting: Good lighting will set the mood and create a comfortable practising recording environment. Natural light is usually the best choice, but if you don't have access to natural light, you can use artificial lighting to create a similar effect.
Getting Started with Recording Software
Once you have your equipment and recording space set up, the next step is to choose recording software. There are many different options available, ranging from free software with basic features to professional-grade software with advanced capabilities. Some popular DAW (Digital Audio Workstations) for recording classical guitar include:
Audacity is a free, open-source recording software popular with many classical guitarists. It offers a range of basic recording and editing features and is easy to use especially for beginners.
Apple GarageBand is a digital audio workstation that comes pre-installed on many Apple computers. It offers a range of basic recording and editing features and is suitable for beginners.
Apple Logic Pro is a professional-grade recording software widely used by music producers. It offers a wide range of advanced features and includes the most complete library of virtual instruments and a comprehensive set of plugin effects of any DAW.
Steinberg Cubase is another professional-grade recording software and a great alternative to Logic Pro if you are a Windows user. Cubase Elements is powerful enough for most classical guitarist applications and is affordable for those just getting started on recording.
Recording Techniques
Once you have your equipment and software set up, you are out of excuses; it's time to start recording! Here are a few tips for achieving the best sound from your classical guitar recordings:
Experiment with microphone placement: The position of the microphones relative to the guitar will have a huge impact on the sound of your recordings.
For a detailed description of various microphone techniques, read my post on Stereo Microphone Techniques for the Classical Guitar.
Set up the gain on your audio interface: The gain control on your audio interface determines the level at which your guitar is recorded. Set the gain to a level that avoids clipping (distortion) or a weak signal. Set the peaks (loudest parts) to reach around at around -6dB, so that you'll have plenty of headroom.
Have the right mindset for recording: An often overlooked aspect of the recording is the mindset and mood you bring to the recording. Be relaxed and focused when recording, so that you can capture the best performance possible. Take breaks as needed to ensure that you are feeling fresh and energized.
For more suggestions, read my post on 5+1 Things You Should Do Before You Press the RECORD Button, from the perspective of a Classical Guitarist.
Editing and Producing Your Recordings
Once you've recorded your classical guitar tracks, the next step is to edit and produce your recordings to create a professional-sounding final result. Here are a few things to consider:
Be conservative with editing: Editing audio has become pretty simple, but too much editing makes your recordings end up sounding lifeless.
Use plugin effects wisely: While it's necessary to use EQ and Reverb plugins to fine-tune your recorded sound, create the right mood for your music, and enhance the sound of your tracks. Try not to overprocess the recording. Aim for a natural sound for your solo classical guitar music. For further information on plugins, read my post Three Most Essential Plugins for the Classical Guitar.
Set the levels correctly: Make sure that the volume of your music is loud enough but doesn't clip (distort) the outputs. Leaving about 1 dB of headroom is a good practice.
Exporting your music: When you're happy with your produced recordings, it's time to export them as a final audio file. Make sure to save your tracks in a high-quality format, such as WAV or AIFF, to preserve the sound quality of your recordings.
Conclusion
In conclusion, recording your music at home can be a rewarding and fulfilling experience, and it's easier than ever to get started with the right equipment and software. By following the tips and techniques outlined in this guide, you'll be well on your way to creating recordings you can be proud of.