Studio Journal: September 2026

Updated September 27, 2026 5 min read

Greg Kocis

A running journal of what I’m working on, creating, experimenting with, and learning throughout September 2026.

In Progress

☐ Apple Loop organization
☐ Fourthwall research
☐ Vinyl, CD, and cassette on-demand research
☐ YouTube + physical music product integration
☐ Continue developing “This Life Is a Strange Thing”

Videos To Make

2 New UJAM Plugins (unreleased plug-ins to come)
UAD EMT 140 Classic Plate Reverberator
DNA Track Purifier

Completed:

DRUMFLX Get Industry Ready Drums for FREE
FireMaximizer
Video: Replacing Suno Drums with EZ Drummer in Logic Pro
Video for ToneShaper — Analog Obsession
YouTube Video & Blog Post For Nova

September 21, 2026

Songwriting

Spent about an hour, from approximately 10:30–11:30 AM, working on the lyrics for “This Life Is a Strange Thing.” I focused on the verses.

I originally started this song in 2020. I had the chorus and some ideas for the verses, but I never finished it. I think it could be a good candidate for an upcoming Song Stories episode and for the Songs by Greg YouTube channel.

The lyrics have made a lot of progress over the last few days, particularly the verses, and I’m pretty set on the chorus. At this point, I don’t feel like I need to force anything.

Sometimes when I’m working on lyrics, I need to let them marinate and come back to them the next day. It’s interesting how the words can make more sense—or sometimes less sense—when I look at them from a different frame of mind. Sometimes hearing the song being played also gives me new lyrical ideas that I don’t get when I’m just staring at the words on a computer screen.

I was really surprised by the Suno AI version of the song. It took the song in a much more theatrical direction than I expected. I’ll also work on a more rock-oriented version, but that’s where things stand today.

We’ll see what happens tomorrow, or over the coming weeks, as the lyrics continue to develop.

YouTube

Completed a new plugin video for ToneShaper — Analog Obsession
Also finished recording “Replacing Suno Drums with EZ Drummer in Logic Pro.” The video still needs final editing.
Received NFR versions of VocRide 2 by nClear to make a video.
Started FireMaximizer — Free for a Limited Time Video
Started DRUMFLX Get Industry Ready Drums for FREE Video

Projects & Ideas

I’m also working on several things related to the next stage of my music and content:

Organizing my Apple Loops to see which ones I might want to start selling again.
Looking into Fourthwall as a way to sell products through my YouTube channel.
Investigating print-on-demand options for vinyl, CDs, and cassettes.
Figuring out whether those physical music products can be sold through Fourthwall while being manufactured and fulfilled automatically.

Today’s Progress

Completed

✅ One hour of songwriting on “This Life Is a Strange Thing”
✅ Completed ToneShaper / Analog Obsession YouTube video
✅ Finish Recording “Replacing Suno Drums with EZ Drummer in Logic Pro.” The video still needs final editing.

Other

Clean My Mac 19.5 GB of junk cleaned

September 22, 2026

Songwriting

I spent about 20 minutes today touching up the lyrics for “This Life Is a Strange Thing.” I fixed up the verses, and at this point the song feels like it’s almost done. I’m going to let the lyrics sit for a day or two and come back to them with a fresh mind. I may make some changes, or I may redo parts of it simply to hear how they sound. Sometimes letting a song breathe for a little while is the best way to figure out whether the lyrics are really working.

I also spent about 40 minutes working on a newer song called “I Don’t Remember Being There, But I Guess I Was.” This one is much earlier in the process. I’ve got a lot of verses and a simple chorus, with the same melody used in both sections. In this case, I think that works for the song, so I’m not looking to change it just for the sake of adding another section.

I want to come back to this one with a fresh mind and possibly make a demo to see where it goes. It doesn’t necessarily need a bridge, and it doesn’t necessarily need to be longer. It might even work better if it’s shorter. Right now I’m still experimenting and trying to figure out what the song needs—and what it doesn’t need. For now, it’s just a new song I’m beginning to explore.

YouTube

Completed a new plugin video for DRUMFLX Get Industry Ready Drums for FREE Video
Video for Fixing SUNO Drums in Logic Pro – I Replaced the AI Drums With EZ Drummer

Blog Posts

Today’s Progress

Completed

✅ One hour of songwriting on “This Life Is a Strange Thing” & “I Don’t Remember Being There, But I Guess I Was”
✅ YouTube Video & Blog Post Drums in Logic Pro – I Replaced the AI Drums With EZ Drummer
✅ YouTube Video & Blog Post for DRUMFLX & SUNO
✅ Blog Post For ToneShaper — Analog Obsession
Videos To Make

2 New UJAM Plugins (unreleased plug-ins to come)
UAD EMT 140 Classic Plate Reverberator
VocRide 2 by nClear
Beatles Book (not a top priority)

Other

September 23, 2026

Songwriting

I spent about 45 minutes today working on “I Don’t Remember Being There, But I Guess I Was.” I cut the chorus in half and added a post-chorus to break up some of the monotony created by the verses and choruses having pretty much the same melody and cadence.

The song is still taking shape, but I think the new structure gives it a little more movement. I’ll let it sit for now and see where it goes the next time I come back to it.

Status: Revising Song Structure — Testing a Shorter Chorus and New Post-Chorus.

You Tube Videos

Lunacy Audio NOVA Plugin & Online Player

Blog Posts

Lunacy Audio NOVA: 5 Free Instruments to Try

Today’s Progress

Completed

√ YouTube Video & Blog Post For Nova
√ Lyric writing for “This Life Is a Strange Thing” & “I Don’t Remember Being There, But I Guess I Was”

September 24 – 27, 2026

Songwriting

YouTube

Blog Posts

Projects & Ideas

Today’s Progress

✅ Video & Blog Post For FireMaximizer Free
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