Skol303

[quote name='lurksalot' timestamp='1422657460' post='2675433'] ...but surely you having learnt what you have, gives you an insight to how you want the Terrortones to sound ? [/quote] That's the thing about mixing and production that a lot of musicians overlook [i][not BRX - I know he knows, y'know? ][/i]. "It's just techy stuff". No. It's a language that lets you speak fluently with sound engineers and producers. And those are the guys and girls who largely determine how your band will sound when playing live, or on an album. It's a very useful lingo to speak

[quote name='waynepunkdude' timestamp='1422655296' post='2675392'] Agreed, having it pinned in General discussion the same way the picture comp is in OT. [/quote] Good idea. I'm having that. We could use the pinned thread for any discussion about that particular month's challenge whilst the voting is on. It'd be prominent enough for everyone who's interested. And sufficiently 'contained' for everyone who's not. Win-win

[quote name='Coilte' timestamp='1422653983' post='2675364'] Being bombarded every month with big lettering reading...."Your Fellow Basschatters Need You"....is not my idea of "happy co-existing". [/quote] Then you must have an especially delicate sense of happiness But in all seriousness, I think the 'take home' message from some of you guys is that you'd like us to tone down the advertising of the monthly challenge. Other people seem to think we should step it up a gear. I'm of the opinion we should maybe make the monthly challenge more prominent - but cut down on the 'pestering'. A bigger, bolder advert maybe, rather than a barrage of little ones. Anyway. This is all useful stuff, so keep it coming please!

[quote name='RhysP' timestamp='1422651439' post='2675321'] ...it's a bass players forum, not a recording forum. Maybe I'm in the minority but I don't really have any interest in any of that stuff, certainly not to the point where I want to get involved in a competition. [/quote] That's a very good point Rhys and something I'm always mindful of. We know from a previous user survey that the majority of people here are middle-aged pub band players. And playing music doesn't, by default, make someone interested in making music. Or listening to it, either. Two quite different interests, but I believe they can happily co-exist

^ Super useful. Thanks

Interesting and useful comments. Keep 'em coming!

Some market research currently underway in General Discussion http://basschat.co.uk/topic/254614-poll/

[font=Helvetica][size=3] [size=4]As you may know, once a month myself and a few others sneak up like a bad smell and start spamming you all about voting in the Composition Challenge, hosted in the Recording forum.[/size][/size][/font] [font=Helvetica][size=3] [size=4]Some of you listen and vote; most of you don’t.[/size][/size][/font] [font=Helvetica][size=3] [size=4]We want to know why. And particularly, whether there’s anything we could be doing better to get you interested in the music-making side of the Basschat community.[/size][/size][/font] [font=Helvetica][size=3] [size=4]So here’s a quick poll to gauge everyone’s opinion. And for once, it doesn’t involve listening to stuff! [/size][/size][/font] [font=Helvetica][size=3] [size=5]Please be brutally honest and post any additional feedback below. All comments gratefully received.[/size][/size][/font] [font=Helvetica][size=3] [size=4]Cheers [/size] [/size][/font] [font=Helvetica][size=3] [/size][/font]

[color=#800000][b]FINAL FRIDAY BUMP[/b][/color] Voting closes tomorrow at midnight. Put down the knitting for 20 minutes and please go support your fellow Basschatter's musical endeavours! We'll love you for it Just check out this dude. He's got the knitting [i]and[/i] grooving down to a fine art... Go dude. Super smooth.

Useful thread on this topic right here: http://basschat.co.uk/topic/252114-got-money-whats-a-good-computer-interface-for-recording-bass/ I know some of us are a little squeamish of going down, but the Recording forum really is only a short scroll away down the page...

[size=4][quote name='Bottle' timestamp='1422474837' post='2673208'] Skols', great tunage, just a bit too sweary for me (I'm no shrinking violet, just a little too much for my delicate ears ). Awesome in the right context though[/quote] [quote name='lurksalot' timestamp='1422479877' post='2673320'] Cheers Paul , I still haven't chosen yet , but I particularly liked yours and old bens , yours has to be marked down because I cant play it to Lurksalittle [/quote][/size] [font=Helvetica]Sorry chaps Please don't tell my mum![/font] [font=Helvetica][size=3][size=4]I did try a ‘bleeped-out’ version of the lyrics and another one without the expletives, but it just didn't sound like the same song without all the swearing. Very shallow, I know.[/size][/size][/font] [font=Helvetica][size=3][size=4]I was actually sort of ‘inspired’ by a famous rant from the now deceased blogger Ashley Morris, who wrote a lot of stuff in reaction to the US Govt’s (mis)handling of the Hurricane Katrina disaster in New Orleans. I wasn't a follower of his blogs... but I do follow the Treme drama series on HBO (well worth a watch - superb music in it) in which one of the characters, played by John Goodman, is based on Morris.[/size][/size][/font] [font=Helvetica][size=4]I can’t write the title of his famous rant here as it’s exceptionally sweary - and ended up on T-shirts across the States - but I do think it's a great example of swearing being used in the right context.[/size][size=3] I[/size][size=4]f you’re interested you can read about it on his Wiki page:[/size][/font] [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashley_Morris_(blogger)"]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashley_Morris_(blogger)[/url] [font=Helvetica]​I won't link to the blog itself because the title will just hit you in the face, but you can find it quite easily.[/font]

Hi Rob, Don't know how I missed this thread! But... I've just had a quick listen on my lunch break at work and it sounds very nice indeed. As above ^ I especially like [i]'To Worlds Unknown' [/i]- that was the stand out track for me. Good production and very strong material throughout. You've done yourself proud!

[quote name='Horizontalste' timestamp='1422449625' post='2672773'] All great entries this month but one stood out way above the rest for me, Skols rage esque anger fuelled awesomeness. Good work all. [/quote] Cheers! I'm not usually so potty-mouthed... but get me started on politics and my swear box starts to runneth over I had the likes of RATM and Deftones in the back of my mind whilst producing it. Something 'heavy' and pounding on the ears.

[quote name='seashell' timestamp='1422448861' post='2672751']To any beginners out there I would say, go for it, bloody well grab it by the neck and go for it. [/quote] Love it! Couldn't agree more and congrats on your anniversary

[color=#800000][b]WEDNESDAY BUMP[/b][/color] Still gassing in Off Topic whilst working on your double crochet? Give it a rest and go listen to some new music. Go on... you might like it

[font=Helvetica][size=3] [size=4]Voted![/size][/size][/font] [font=Helvetica][size=3] [size=4]It was [i]sooo[/i] close this month for me between Lurksalot and Old_Ben… and my vote went to Old_Ben (sorry Lurks!). Both really strong compositions to my ear, which I felt captured the image nicely - or at least chimed with my interpretation of it most strongly.[/size][/size][/font] [font=Helvetica][size=3] [size=4]Old_Ben just pipped it because his track was a hair’s breadth closer to my personal taste; and I really liked the ‘rawness’ of it (I’m not referring to the production itself, which is great, but more the choice of sounds that I felt worked well). Lurks’ track was also very catchy, nicely played/produced and I really like the contribution of Lurksalittle and her mate on backing vocals. A close second.[/size][/size][/font] [font=Helvetica][size=3] [size=4]The rest were, as ever, a very diverse and healthy crop I’ve left various comments on SoundCloud as I’ve listened through each of them.[/size][/size][/font] [font=Helvetica][size=3] [size=4]Sterling work, comrades [/size][/size][/font]

[size=4]Mrs Skol is generally very accepting of my gear acquisition, which to be honest is nowhere near as acute as some of you guys who like to acquire the same stock levels as a modest-sized retailer.[/size] [size=4]Her only stipulations are that:[/size] [list] [*][size=4]She'll allowed to roll her eyes and sigh disdainfully[/size] [*]I'm not allowed to keep excitedly talking about whatever I've just bought/ordered [*]She can buy things for herself with impunity [/list] Works for us

When I get a spare minute... ...I plan to try drumming up some prizes for these monthly challenges and ideally, some sponsorship for the Rec forum in general. I think that would give it a much higher profile on Basschat and encourage more people to take interest. Need a few carrots to help lead those horses to water, etc, etc. [size=8]BUT![/size] [i]< that's a big but.[/i] People taking little interest in listening to other people's music is sadly quite typical of musicians' forums. At least those I've been involved in, which are this one and the Propellerhead software forum before it got closed down in January. Nothing to do with me, honest guv! It's their new policy. Shut down the knitting circle and concentrate on other things. And to some extent, that's what BC is. A talking shop for bass players, rather than necessarily a community of music-makers (very similar but actually quite different things, IMO). All of which is perfectly fine. But I wholeheartedly agree that there's more to be done in persuading people to contribute to the challenges and importantly, support them by voting. We'll keeping banging the drum, anyway! Especially Douglas.... it's in his genes to bang drums. As for me snaffling the cup... clearly, you all need to include more expletive lyrics in your songs. That much is ******* obvious, innit? But heh. The fat lady is a way off singing on this month yet and I fancy Old Ben for the win. He's currently in my shortlist of two and I'm damned if I can choose.

[font=Helvetica][size=3] [size=4]Thanks Doug! That’s a very kind and well written review. It's great that you take the time to write these; always appreciated.[/size][/size][/font] [font=Helvetica][size=3] [size=4][i]“Belligerent”[/i]… you know me too well [/size][/size][/font]

[color=#800000][b]MONDAY BUMP[/b][/color] C’mon people! What are we… a community of musicians or a knitting circle? [i]… don’t answer that[/i]

[quote name='Stephen Houghton' timestamp='1422230695' post='2670233'] Voted some really good entries, Skol got my vote as the song and mix was great as usual, but the lyrics were so good I couldn't not give him my vote [/quote] Thanks Steve! I think they're all very good this month. And [i]very[/i] diverse too... I currently have a shortlist, but need a few more listens to shorten it further

If the eagle-eyed among you are wondering why the scoreboard doesn't tally with the number of posts at the top of the page... it's because I previously made a hamfisted edit to the original post, which obliterated the poll, meaning I had to re-set it manually. Not the first time I've made this blunder. But hopefully the last! In the words of Han Solo: "Uh, everything's under control. Situation normal. We had a slight malfunction but, uh... everything's perfectly alright now. We're fine. We're all fine here now, thank you. How are you?"

[quote name='lurksalot' timestamp='1422183271' post='2669484'] Maybe , but where is the voting poll [/quote] Ah...err... technical hitch! [i](I'd managed to hide the poll when amending the deadline in the OP. Oops).[/i] Now fixed

[quote name='Bilbo' timestamp='1422173901' post='2669367'] 31st Jan is a Saturday, Paul. [/quote] Ah, so it is! Well spotted. You've passed the test, Agent Bilbo

[size=5]Aright Basschatters, listen up! You know the drill…[/size] [size=4]We’re kicking off the new year with 9 new tracks, all written and recorded by members of this community, inspired by the image below.[/size] [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/254191-january-composition-challenge-voting/"][b][size=5]GO LISTEN AND VOTE[/size][/b][/url] [size=4]Do it now [/size] [size=4]…and if your New Year’s resolution was to get off your butt and start making music - rather than blowing hot air out of said body part in Off Topic - then point your peepers at this ‘ere [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/248509-beginners-guide-to-home-recording/"]Beginner’s Guide to Home Recording[/url] and get stuck in yourself next month.[/size]