Skol303

[quote name='bobbass4k' timestamp='1469524141' post='3098932'] Gah, I listened back to mine last night and I didn't realize that key change between the first and second parts was so painful, I don't know what I was thinking there, would fixing that be kosher, as it may require some minor compositional adjustments? ..and i I might also address the terrible lack of bagpipes while I'm at it. [/quote] Yeah go for it if you want to. I don't want us to get into the habit of meddling with our mixes once the voting has started as a matter of course... but if something is really bugging you then it's fine to fix it. I don't think it'll have any impact on the voting - not that it matters - so do whatever you need to sleep easy at night Apart from bagpipes. That sort of abuse just won't be tolerated.

Not that I want to deliberately elbow ahead of the 9-page discussion on "Let's define cover band" [i] ([/i][i]tip: it's a band that plays mostly or exclusively cover songs - there you go, job done [/i])[i].[/i] But... [size=7][/size] [b][size=7]BUMP![/size][/b]

[quote name='Mornats' timestamp='1469478639' post='3098708'] Ah sweet, I can actually overwrite the version that's on Soundcloud. I just wanted to make sure it was ok to do so after the deadline [/quote] Yep, perfectly fine! ...but if you sneak in some of those virtual bagpipes, you'll be barred. Just so we're clear

[quote name='Mornats' timestamp='1469465903' post='3098547']Sounds pretty spot-on to me when listening on my Tannoy E11s. The room sound is perfect in my opinion. I downloaded a trial of Sonarworks for my headphones and it sounded pretty good… I’m quite tempted by it to be honest.[/quote] Cheers Paul, that’s good to know. Yeah, I’m leaning towards Sonarworks. The room I work in is treated as far as possible (for a family space). The only way it could be improved is by installing an impractical amount of bass trapping or somehow magically making the room larger - a feat that would involve mastery of quantum physics. So I think Sonarworks could be a good way of getting the most of out what’s available to me. It does sound alarmingly ‘stark’ when I switch on the plugin - the flat response is going to take some getting used to, as I’m accustomed to hearing a lot more bass/warmth a touch less high end (both consequences of my room dimensions). I’ve also noticed that it does nothing to tame speaker boundary interference response (SBIR) and other reflection issues that I’ve noticed in my room. So it’s not a silver bullet, but I think it is an improvement. Hmmm. I have some time left on the demo to consider whether it’s worth the investment, so I have further testing to do! But so far I’m quite impressed with it. [quote name='Mornats' timestamp='1469474707' post='3098641'] I've fixed the mix, or at least made it better. Typical that I do this after the deadline bah! [/quote] I can update the link in the voting thread to your new mix if you like? Just post the link here. There is a slight risk that this will delete the poll and all of the votes so far - that does happen sometimes, but usually only when I mess with it using my mobile. I’ll take the blame if that happens, so just post the link if you want it updated

^ Good post by Lowdown above, cheers mate! I don't (yet) use [font="helvetica, arial, sans-serif"][color="#282828"]impulse responses for guitar and/or bass... but I am a big fan of convolution reverbs, which work on exactly the same principle. Makes a huge difference if you're wanting to simulate a more 'natural' environment, in my opinion.[/color][/font] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]My favourite 'verb of this type is [/font][/color][font="helvetica, arial, sans-serif"][color="#282828"]Softube's [url="http://www.softube.com/index.php?id=tsar1"]TSAR-1[/url]. It's quite expensive, but if you're patient you can pick it up [/color][/font]during Black Friday sales and other promotions for a more reasonable sum (I got lucky and grabbed it with a 75% discount one year). Worth every penny - it sounds superb. ...but that's slightly off topic! Very interested to hear the results of anyone meddling with [font="helvetica, arial, sans-serif"][color="#282828"]impulse responses. It's something I'm keen to mess around with myself.[/color][/font]

[quote name='MoonBassAlpha' timestamp='1469446629' post='3098301'] Re the digital correction plugin, I listened on phones last night, sounded good. On my tiny desktop speakers here at work - still sounds really good. They have hardly any low end, but everything is still there, inasmuch as it is on any recording through these. Might just be the great mixing though, not just the plugin [/quote] Thanks for the feedback, very kind! It could also be that I just got lucky... I normally mix using speakers and then test how the finished track sounds on earphones, earbuds, laptop, mobile phone, car, etc [i](if I have the time) - [/i]making further adjustments as necessary. I've always found this to be quite laborious... The plugin is meant to avoid such faffing around with different systems and help to ensure the mix is right from the get-go. For anyone interested it's called [url="http://sonarworks.com"]Sonarworks[/url]. Gets exceedingly good reviews everywhere I've looked and is highly recommended for small home studios (like all of us here!). It's not cheap - just over £200 for the measurement mic and software - so it's not something I'm going to delve into straight away. I've bought the trial kit which includes the mic for around £45. The mic can be used for general recording and room referencing purposes, so I'll be quite happy even if I decide not to go the whole hog.

[quote name='RockfordStone' timestamp='1469436022' post='3098176'] i've finally got my studio rig up and running since the move, going to get my guitars etc from their current home and move them back to my house tonight, going to have a good crack at august to try and test my room out [/quote] Excellent! That’s good to hear Rob [b]PS: if anyone can be arsed…[/b] I’d be keen to hear any brief feedback on [url="https://soundcloud.com/skollob/machu-picchu-interlude"]my challenge track this month[/url] - specifically the mix itself. Why? Because it was produced using a Digital Correction Plugin: a piece of software that sits on the master bus and ‘magically’ EQs the signal to help compensate for irregularities in the acoustics of the room you’re mixing in (using a bunch of measurements taken with a microphone). The idea being that it helps mixes translate from one playback system to another. I have it on a trial period and am wondering whether it’s worth a future investment. So any feedback on the mix itself would be hugely appreciated! [i](NB: the mix was hastily produced... so if it does sound ok then that's a promising sign that the plugin is doing its job).[/i]

[color=#800000][b]VOTING HAS STARTED[/b][/color] [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/288906-july-composition-challenge-voting/"][b][size=6]Pokemon GO![/size][/b][/url] [i](Machu Pikachu)[/i] [i][/i] [quote name='MoonBassAlpha' timestamp='1469432493' post='3098123'] @Skol303 Like that - thought it was going to be the theme from Bergerac at the start. Really nice fretless tone there. [/quote] Cheers! I totally get the Bergerac reference.... not intentional, but now you mention it I can definitely hear it And welcome aboard! You are now in the legendary [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/228445-basschat-composition-challenge-the-archive/"]hall of fame[/url].

[b][color=#800000][size=5]Voting has now started on July’s Composition Challenge.[/size][/color][/b] [size=5]Here's the inspiration for this month's music, chosen by our reigning champion, [b]Mornats[/b]…[/size] [size=5]…and here are the compositions. Please vote for your top [u]THREE[/u] favourites:[/size] Leonard Smalls [url="http://soundcloud.com/dredd-and-the-badass-weed/weeds-investigate-the-duality-of-man"]‘Weeds Investigate: The Duality Of Man’[/url] christofloffer [url="http://soundcloud.com/christofloffer/bc-mist-and-mountains"]‘BC Mist And Mountains’[/url] Rikki1984 [url="http://soundcloud.com/rikki-boyes/mountains"]‘Mountains’[/url] Dad3353 [url="http://soundcloud.com/dad3353/worlds-apart"]‘Worlds Apart’[/url] fingers211 [url="http://soundcloud.com/nigel-jewell/a-sharp-musingmmm"]‘A sharp musing...mmm’[/url] MoonBassAlpha [url="http://www.dropbox.com/s/rzcsfr08asa5yp0/D.mp3?dl=0"]‘D’ [Dropbox link][/url] lurksalot [url="http://soundcloud.com/lurksalot/room-just-room"]‘room, just room’[/url] Mornats [url="http://soundcloud.com/mornats/urubamba"]‘Urubamba’[/url] Skol303 [url="http://soundcloud.com/skollob/machu-picchu-interlude"]‘Machu Picchu Interlude’[/url] bobbass4k [url="http://soundcloud.com/bobbass4k/of-azure-skies-and-hazy-eyes"]‘Of Azure Skies and Hazy Eyes’[/url] [size=5][b][color=#800000]Voting ends at midnight on Sunday July 31st [/color][/b][/size]

[quote name='Mornats' timestamp='1469382973' post='3097875']I didn't think I'd make it this month... but I managed to get this one down this afternoon[/quote] Ditto! In by the skin of my teeth this month. Managed to get something recorded late this afternoon/evening. It's a sort of 'lazy interlude', featuring yours truly on acoustic fretless. http://soundcloud.com/skollob/machu-picchu-interlude I'll post up the voting something tomorrow morning. Cheers all

[quote name='Mornats' timestamp='1468082578' post='3088522'] I'm just gonna leave this here. [url="http://epipes.co.uk/products.html"]http://epipes.co.uk/products.html[/url] [/quote] Gott im Himmel, [size=5]NOOOOOOOO! [/size][size=5][size=4]What have you done!?? [/size][/size]

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1468934456' post='3094438'] What about nudity, donkeys and hemp..? [/quote] All perfectly acceptable, bordering on mandatory

Ok guys. As decided by plebiscite… [size=5][i]thou shalt not use drum tracks of any kind![/i][/size] (Apart from simple click tracks and metronomes). Punishable by extreme botheration, etc.

All good advice above! Especially regarding subtractive EQ and use of compression. Another way to approach this is what's known as 're-amping' - recording your bass DI (direct into mixer) and then afterwards, sending the signal back out of the mixer, through your FX chain and amp, etc, and recording the processed signal on a separate mixer channel. Sounds a lot more complicated than it is in practice! Why would you do this? So that you can concentrate on just nailing the playing during the original take; and then afterwards focus on shaping the sound you want using your FX, amp and other outboard gear (ideally in the context of the overall mix). It's a technique very commonly used by professional bands - the Stones being one of the early pioneers. You'll need a re-amp box to do this, or you can sometimes get away with using a passive DI box 'in reverse'. Obviously, this isn't a trick for getting the sound you want - but it's a good way to avoid worrying about getting the tone [i]exactly[/i] right during the recording itself, and then focus on twiddling knobs afterwards. More info on Wikipedia for anyone interested: [url="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Re-amp"]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Re-amp[/url]

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1467986830' post='3087855'] What, straight into another one, just like that?? :blilnk: Question: When you say 'simple click tracks and metronomes', does this include actual drums and drumming, or what? [/quote] These rules tend to get made up as we go along! So I'll stick my neck out and say yeah, drum tracks are fine - providing they're kept simple. If it sounds like Ginger Baker, you're doing it wrong.

[url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/288032-basschat-noodle-bar-july/"][size=6][b]July's Noodle Bar now open[/b][/size][/url]

[color=#800000][size=5][b]Welcome to the Basschat Noodle Bar™! [/b][/size][/color] The rules are simple: [list=1] [*][b]Record yourself playing bass for up to 60 seconds.[/b] You can record whatever the heck you like: an original riff or lick; something from your band’s own repertoire; or a well-known piece you’re currently practicing. Doesn’t matter what. Just record something. [*][b]Make sure it’s bass only: no other instruments.[/b] FX and pedals are allowed, as are simple click tracks and metronomes - but no loopers, please. [*][b]Upload your recording[/b] to SoundCloud, YouTube or another music-sharing platform of your choice. Once you’re finished, post the link to your recording in this thread. Job done! [/list] Or in short: PRESS RECORD > PLAY BASS > PRESS STOP > DRINK TEA [color=#800000][size=5][b]The deadline for entries is midnight on Sunday 31st July.[/b][/size][/color]

Well done guys! Super noodles I'll kick-start this month's challenge in the Rec' forum right away... [quote name='CamdenRob' timestamp='1467954078' post='3087513']13 voters! Another month of unprecedented interest![/quote] I know. You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink.

[quote name='fingers211' timestamp='1467912480' post='3087291'] A technical term I've not come across..."dicking around with pan pipes" !!! [/quote] I could include a diagram of the process, but it would breach the forum's Terms & Conditions for decency

[quote name='Mornats' timestamp='1467477024' post='3084006'] I'd just hiked the Inca Trail in Peru and had arrived at Machu Picchu... [/quote] You are Michael Palin and I claim my £5 I'm tempted to go in a few different directions this month. Melodic "airy" electronica; stripped back acoustic ballad; classical ambience; or some dicking around with pan pipes. A combination of which would sound hideous, so I need to be selective. Hmmm.

I have a FireWire interface that I recently tested with a Thubderbolt to FireWire adaptor (just to check whether it's compatible) and it worked great - in that there was no noticeable difference whatsoever. Being a massive geek... I've been following the Thunderbolt debate elsewhere and the consensus seems to be that Thunderbolt is generally sh*t hot for audio work - and tends to be featuring on the higher end interfaces. Long-term use of Thunderbolt is uncertain. USB3 is the popular choice, but 'on paper' it's not as good and those in the know are suggesting that Thunderbolt has many years in it yet - and may even become more popular as more people start using super high definition monitors. Not sure that helps, but that's what I know!

[url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/287751-july-composition-challenge-get-writing/"][size=6][b]July's challenge is now on![/b][/size][/url] [quote name='the boy' timestamp='1467448324' post='3083708']Day off today. Hoping to get something done. If I don't see so photo by midday there will be bagpipes.[/quote] How [i]very[/i] dare you...

[b][color=#800000][size=5]July’s Composition Challenge is now underway![/size][/color][/b] [size=5]Here’s the image for your inspiration, chosen by last month's reigning champ, [b]Mornats[/b]… [/size] [size=5]Click on the 'Spoiler' button below to read the usual rules and caveats:[/size] [spoiler]By entering the competition you agree to the Basschat Terms and Conditions and Forum Guidelines, which are designed to help ensure the forum remains free of offensive and/or illegal behaviour and material. In a nutshell: [b]1) Please avoid any content that other forum users may find offensive[/b]. If your track contains explicit lyrics, for example, then please warn other forum users so they can choose for themselves whether to listen to it. [b]2) Please make sure you have permission to use any 3rd party sounds included in your track[/b] (ie. sounds that you have not recorded yourself, such as samples of other people's music). The owners of Basschat accept no responsibility for infringements of copyright or other forms of legal ownership, which are solely the responsibility of competition entrants. If we spot any breaches of copyright then your track will be removed from the competition. [b]3) Entries should be no more than five minutes long and written/produced during the month of the competition[/b], taking inspiration from the photo provided. No cheating![/spoiler] If you have any questions, just ask. [size=5][b][color=#800000]The deadline for entries is midnight on Sunday 24th July.[/color][/b][/size]

Nice work Mornats! And cheers to the rest of y'all for another good month I'll launch this month's challenge as soon as I receive the picture from the winner...

[b]Voting thread is up![/b] [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/287706-june-noodle-bar-voting/"][size=8][b]GO, GO, GO[/b][/size][/url]