From Beatboxing to Beat Machines: My Unexpected Journey Into Music Production By Paul Perez I originally set out to record a simple comparison—looking at devices like the SP-404 MKII, the Koala Sampler app, and MPC units like the MPC One and MPC Live 3. But somewhere in the editing process, this article shifted into something more personal. It became less about the gear—and more about the journey. Because the truth is, I don’t really consider myself a music producer. But over time, I’ve found myself using the same tools that producers use, slowly building skills and curiosity through different phases of my life. Looking back, this didn’t just happen overnight. It’s been building for decades. Growing Up Around Music My introduction to music started early, through my older brother. He was a DJ when I was a kid, and music was always around—records spinning, parties happening, sounds constantly filling the space. I looked up to him and naturally wanted to follow in his footsteps. Thi...

L isten to the review here.   Jason and I are back on the podcast, this time diving into one of 2026’s first major blockbuster releases,  Project Hail Mary . After a brief delay due to me being under the weather, we caught the film during its opening weekend—just as it was already proving to be a massive success at the global box office. Despite missing the usual “pre-box office” timing for our review, the energy surrounding the film was impossible to ignore, with packed theaters and buzzing conversations that made it clear this sci-fi epic had struck a chord with audiences. YouTube Review At the heart of our discussion is what we both agree is the film’s biggest strength: the relationship between Ryan Gosling’s character and the alien known as “Rocky.” Their dynamic brings a surprising level of warmth and sincerity to a high-concept story about saving planets and navigating the unknown. I highlight how refreshing it is to see a sci-fi film where humans and aliens are on more ...

The video version of this article with my unfiltered thoughts.   By Paul Perez After visiting my brother and catching parts of the show at his place, I came home, made dinner, and watched the rest while I ate. Just because these games stood out to me at  The Game Awards 2025  doesn’t mean I’ll actually play them. For me to try a game, it usually needs great reviews, to be available on PlayStation Plus or Game Pass, or go on a steep sale on Steam . Still, some games stick with me because of their art, presentation, nostalgia, or just how original they are. Here are titles from The Game Awards 2025 that caught my eye.  Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis Nostalgia heavy This is a remake of the original  Tomb Raider , which came out almost 20 years ago, and it looks great. Crystal Dynamics, the team behind the recent trilogy, which started in 2013, is making it, and it feels like a brand-new game. What stood out to me is how  empty  it feels, with Lara Croft ...

  By Paul Perez Youtube version Here's how AI cuts my content-creation time in half.  By using AI, I can produce more blog content more efficiently. I’ll share how it helps me with writing, proofreading, and daily life.  The main way I use AI is for transcribing. For example, when Jason G and I record a movie review, I upload the audio to Rev.com and use their AI transcription service. It's cheaper than hiring a person to do it.  What would take me days to transcribe, paying $1-$10, is done in minutes. After recording initial audio of an idea or a podcast, this is the next step The transcription isn't perfect, but it gets about 80-90% of what we discussed. After that, I put the text into ChatGPT and asked it to turn it into a short blog post or a podcast episode description. Before I publish anything, I run it through Grammarly. Using its AI tools, I can significantly reduce my editing time by finding and correcting errors. Grammarly's proofreading and fact-checking ...

Movie Review:  Send Help  – Sam Raimi’s Darkly Funny Return to Low-Budget Horror (SPOILERS) As the first movie of 2026, Jason G and I had the chance to see Sam Raimi’s latest film,  Send Help , on a chilly January night at the Times Square AMC. Thanks to Jason snagging the tickets, we enjoyed the warmth of the cinema—and a thrilling, blood-soaked ride. Raimi, known for his over-the-top horror comedies, seems to have returned to basics with this film. Eschewing the high-budget spectacle of his recent Marvel outing ( Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness ), he crafted a smaller, tightly focused story that’s heavy on gore, humor, and classic Raimi-style awkwardness. The Story & Characters The movie centers on a small cast. Two in particular become stranded on an isolated island, where tensions rise, alliances shift, and survival instincts take over. Rachel McAdams delivers a delightfully quirky performance as a socially awkward, nerdy character who’s both sympathet...

By Paul Perez In late 2024 and early 2025, I spent three months at home due to a work injury. During this time, I bought an MPC One Plus, an Arturia Minilab 3 keyboard, and an RC-505 MK II Loopstation, among other equipment. Why did I choose music production? It’s a creative outlet I had experimented with before. At home with my hurt foot. December 2024. I was inspired by Marc Rebillet, a musician known for his improvisational performances, and I enjoyed watching his livestreams on YouTube. He performed in public on various streets in New York, and I found it very entertaining. I thought to myself, "That’s so cool! I can do that." While I’m not particularly interested in performing outdoors, I wanted to create music spontaneously. This motivated me to find equipment similar to what he uses in his videos. I’ve been practicing on and off since early this year, and this is the first video I’ve published where I’m putting some of that knowledge into practice. Here's my beatma...

  By Paul Perez The gaming world is buzzing again—this time with Valve’s newly announced Steam Machine, the next evolution in the Steam ecosystem. As someone who’s streamed on Twitch using the Steam Deck and enjoys portable gaming, this announcement hits a sweet spot for me.  It’s not just about new hardware; it’s about where gaming  is headed  next. A More Powerful Steam Future Valve’s latest Steam Machine promises a big leap forward—reportedly  six times  more advanced than the current Steam Deck. Being able to play games natively on the go and then return home, load up your cloud save and instantly enjoy better graphics and performance on your TV? That’s the future I’ve been waiting for. It's not to say you can't do this with your current gaming rig/PC, but I think the Steam Machine will be more affordable compared to it. I’m convinced that the Steam Deck 2 is somewhere on the horizon. How far? Who knows. Maybe months. Maybe years. But the Steam Machine ...