Skol303

I really need to get writing again for these challenges... it's been a while. Doubtful it'll be this month, as my work life is still in overdrive. And heh, it's sunny out there! But when things settle down it'll be good to get back in the saddle and splurge out something vaguely musical alongside you good folk. In the meantime, this is what my thoughts would probably have turned to this month. So count yourselves lucky.

Absolutely. Like I said, I can't fault Daltrey's achievements. I just think he's a bit of a knobber

I admittedly haven't read the interview, but it sounds like another ageing proponent of rock music doing the genre no favours at all. Like some kind of ailing Egyptian king, wanting all of the riches to be buried along with him. If rock music really did peak in the 1970s then it truly deserves to die off. But I doubt any young bands starting out in the genre would give a flying **** about Daltry's opinion on the matter. In spite of his achievements, I personally have always thought him to be a monumental...

^ That sounds like a very sensible approach.

Good work Mornats! June's composition challenge is now on...

June Composition Challenge is now underway! Here’s the image for your inspiration, chosen by last month's winner, Mornats… Rules: Don't use any content that you don't have the right to use. Try not to be offensive. Entries should be no more than five minutes long and written/produced during the month of the competition. The deadline for entries is midnight on Saturday 23rd June.

Precisely. When not posting gifs involving blow-up sheep, I'm very much an analogue, trusty TRS/XLR cable kinda guy... but the entire DJ / live electronic music scene is built on plugging laptops and various USB/FireWire/Ethernet devices into PA systems via audio interfaces and mixers. The signal chain involved in using a ROLI live is child’s play in comparison to some of the live set ups I’ve seen To quote Ferris Bueller: “Life moves pretty fast…”

This wins. I'm not sure what, but it wins.

So I visited my local Apple Store after work yesterday and now have a ROLI block on order from Gear4Music (where they're slightly cheaper). Was totally sold in the first few minutes of playing with one. Slightly weird and a lot more squishy than I was expecting! Had a mess around using the Equator synth and wow... the things you can do with slides, vibrato, pull-offs etc is really quite amazing. Much more than I was expecting. So it seems like a great fit for me. Something very compact and yet also chock full of functionality. My only criticism would be the black keys. It's going to take me a little while to adjust to 'seeing' the notes - I'm not a natural keyboard player at all! Maybe I'll have to paint mine with Tippex

Anyone know if they're auctioning off the gear? ...too soon? Sorry

Thanks G! I'm not up in Scotland as often as I used to be... I'm more of a Europhile these days - but that's a very nice offer. My local Apple store in Manchester has some ROLI products in stock - not sure what the deal is between ROLI and Apple (?). So I'm going to pop in there and have a play.

Well for starters there are entire genres that have developed around synth bass… Drum’n’Bass, Dubstep, UK Bass, Miami Bass, Future Bass, Bassline and not forgetting the imaginatively named Bass Music. It’s a big part of the dance music scene for obvious reasons. One performance that always sticks in my mind is LFO at the Sheffield Octagon sometime in early-mid ‘90s. When they played their titular track, ‘LFO’ (below), it caused some of the bottles behind the bar to shake loose and smash on the floor. All rather exciting at the time. And you don’t get that with a 4-string playing Sex On Fire

^ Thanks for the input guys! Your experiences seem to match the reviews I’ve been reading. The Rise 49 would be ideal, but I literally don’t have space for a keyboard that size in my set up - not without installing a shelf at my mix/listening position, which would cause all kinds of comb filtering with the acoustics… have I mentioned that I’m an acoustics obsessive!? So yeah, I need something more compact, hence I’m considering the Block. I could probably fit two of those in my workspace, so I’d have scope to expand up to 48 keys with a footprint comparable to the Rise 25. Seems like the best option for my situation. I think they have ROLI products to demo at my local Apple Store, so I’m going to head down there one lunchtime this week and have a play. Seems like a truly innovative instrument anyway; and very exciting that the ‘traditional’ keyboard has been given this kind of makeover. Makes total sense when you think about it. I also found this product in the works from Keith McMillen - the K-Board Pro 4 - another MPE compliant keyboard, which looks very tasty but isn’t shipping until later this year.

Anyone here using a ROLI Seaboard product? For instance, the Block, Rise 25/49 or the Grand? Info here for anyone unfamiliar with them. They're basically a 'new' type of MIDI controller instrument that allow MIDI Polyphonic Expression (MPE). Think of them as being a like the MIDI keyboard version of a fretless bass. Sort of. If you have one, I'd be grateful to hear about your experiences with it. They get great reviews, but the honest critique of fellow Basschatters is always the best seal of approval My current MIDI controller is playing up; hence I'm eyeing the ROLI range as a potential successor. They're quite expensive, but the compact ROLI Block is within budget. Looks very futuristic too... or a bit 'gimpy', depending on your perspective.

All down to heat-induced delirium, honest! (it is crazily hot here at the moment...).

Latecomer just added: SH73

I'll sort it now. Two points to note: I don't encourage late entries. I don't mind extending the deadline to the day the voting thread gets posted, but beyond that... well, that way lies madness. Specifically I don't want to get into a situation where folks keep sending in late entries because I've been lenient with someone else. So count this as an exception. PMs always work best in situations like this as I get an instant notification by email. Especially on hot, sunny days when I've been sitting in the garden and not checking Basschat

Ah nuts! Well spotted mate. I got back from Belgium last night and for some reason my laptop still thought I was there this morning (hence the 1 hour time difference). Can laptops have hangovers!? I’ll sort it next chance I get, no probs.

Haha, nice imagery

True fact: first record I ever bought was 'My Gang' by Gary Glitter... picked it up from a jumble sale as a kid. Probably still have it somewhere, although I imagine the resale value has dropped a bit.

One of my own, so y'all can also take the pish: 'Stir Up A Hurricane'

A bit like Radiohead, Radiohead, Radiohead, Radiohead, Radiohead.... ?