Bilbo

I think there is an argument that we don't know what makes people into great musicians. Nurture, yes. Nature, yes.Environment, yes. But what about opportunity? Wealth? Geography? Culture (most classical music students are from middle class backgrounds, the best tabla players tend to come from India etc)? Work ethic? In truth, its all of these and none of these at the same time. Its more likely to be the ways in which all of these factors interact. Someone with natural ability who is not encouraged may or may not sound better that someone who has little 'natural' ability but who has supportive people around them. Someone with no talent but a good work ethic may be better that someone with perfect pitch who is lazy. And so on....

[quote name='Rimskidog' timestamp='1322176559' post='1447720'] The FMR RNP is a stunning little pre and shouldnt break the bank. [/quote] Just googled it. £490. I've had cars that cost less than that!!

There is a hiss that is something to do with my PC - its only there when I launch Cubase! I assume its some earth loop or something but I can't seem to find it. It drives me nuts but I can't make it stop. Its like a high pitched whine that is just within the range of my hearing. I guess its a cheap gear thing.

Anyone know why Soundcloud doesn't work in AOL. I have to open Internet Explorer ina seperate window to listen (even to muy own stuff). Pain in arse!

Here is last nights effort. [url="http://soundcloud.com/robert-palmer-1/sample-recording"]http://soundcloud.com/robert-palmer-1/sample-recording[/url] My other option for preamping is a Behringer mixing desk. Probably even worse! I think its just a case of trial and error using the information already provided. The sound above is closer to what I want although a higher level would be nice.

I Think I'm Going Bald - Caress of Steel

I have to say that frustrations at the change in the site and the fact that all sorts of bells and whistles that I used to like had gone to be replaced by different bells and whistles I don't use (I have no iphone, for instance). I used to use the 'new posts' option a lot to keep on top of debates but the new version of that facility is not working on my work PC so I have to open more things to get to where I want to be. So am inclined to stick to Recording and Theory and Technique rather than taking the more general overview I used to take. I also don't like the 'look' of the site anymore. The banner graphic at the top where the basschat logo looks like an apology rather than a headline. Smaller avatars is another thing but,. worst of all, I find that locating the actual posts amongst all the other labels and links is harder for some reason. I find this with Facebook as well and hardly use that as a result. The fact that the quote/multiquote/edits buttone etc are a list not a line of buttons takes up too much space etc. And I also find that, on my netbook, which I use fir viewing at home, the site has too little information per page before I have to scroll (which is harder as the screen/scroll button is smaller). All in all, a less user freindly experience. I still get a lot out of being here but certainly find I am much less inclinded to roam around the site.

Spent some time on it last night, focussing on mic placement and using all sorts of stuff to act as quai-gobos. Still not 100% by any means (the 'gobos' are thick blackets over music stands and chairs and sh*t) but the results are already a lot better. I have a recorded sample I will put up later (can't do it in work) to show folk waht I mean. I'm not there yet but I can certainly see the direction of travel!

Here is one I did earlier, I added reverb for colour/warmth, as much by habit as anything, but it still sounds 'out there' and lacking in depth/immediacy. [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/158484-bilbo-tries-mr-pc-for-solo-double-bass"]http://basschat.co.u...olo-double-bass[/url]

It was MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE! And Carol Kaye.

Great stuff. Will try it all.

[quote name='paul_5' timestamp='1322048600' post='1445742'] Have you tried turning the DB through 90 degrees, slimming down the body, shortening the neck and fitting a pickup between the bridge and the neck joint? [/quote] Tried that. Sounded like a child's toy in comparison. Aborted the idea quite quickly.

Thanks, Ian. The offer is appreciated. I may come back to you on that, depending on what level of success I have. The only other mic I have is an SM58 and obviously the option of going direct in using the pick-up and Fishman but that latter seems a real shame in terms of missing the resonance of the beast. There is now a list of things to try so I will have a go at some of these and see what progress I can make. Can I stuff a gobo with a Yorkshire Terrier?

[quote name='Rimskidog' timestamp='1321994641' post='1445350'] Room is likely a big factor here. If you work on the basis a 100hz wave is 18 feet tall you quickly get to understand why. gobos will help make the sound more present but there are other things you can also think of: Is the Nt1a the only mic you have available? What preamp are you using? Cheaper ones such as the old platinum series from focusrite were notoriously bad for making things sound thin and distant. Also think about compression. The right compressor will bring the instrument 'forward'. Also, are you listening to the recording in the context of the mix or solo'd? If the latter, try it in the context of the mix. You might be surprised. [/quote] Spot on. Focusrite Platinum. I have other options I can use as a pre amp so will try that. There is a lot of stuff here that is useful and has given me a lot to think about and try. Thanks guys.

[quote name='lobematt' timestamp='1321978374' post='1445064'] Cheers. While I'm here... what's the Harmonic minor then?? [/quote] Natural minor with a minor sixth and natural seventh instead of a flattened seventh.

Try looking at the modes of the melodic minor scale and the associated chords. It's chock full of juicy stuff.

No, its the major scale with a flat third. Compared to the Dorian, it has a naturla seventh not a flattended one.

[quote name='51m0n' timestamp='1321976315' post='1445032'] Where abouts is the mic in relation to the db? [/quote] I have tried all sorts of angles and distances, high up, low down. Best is in close near the bridge but it still doesn't sound 'there'. I am thinking I will try to kill the room noise first. See whether that takes me forward. I suspect its a question of addressing a few things rather than just one.

Good point. I will check re: mic direction (I am not infalliable) but I think the mic is the right way around (it has a little spot thing on the right side).

[quote name='bassman7755' timestamp='1321971876' post='1444943'] I like stuff where the bass playing is showcased such as stu hamms solo albums but I find stanley clark style widdley lead on bass a complete turn off. [/quote] That's the difference between the rights and wrongs of the concept vs the rights and wrongs of the execution. In my experience, the bass lacks the subtle expressiveness of most traditional lead instruments and, whilst there are exceptional players out there doing incredible things as the featured voice in an ensemble, these are often novelty acts that offer little outside of the bass community. I personally believe that a lot of music is made or broken by a great arrangement and the choice of the lead voice is central to that. I woudl rarely caat a bass as the lead voice as it generally lacks finesse and colour.

Its an attic room (sloping ceiling) about 12 x 10. Full of book shelves, guitars and gear. Rugs on laminate flooring. My thoughts are maybe I have the wrong type of mic (large diaphragm cardioid condenser microphone) but, of course, the room itself may be a major contributing factor. Doh! I may try some blankets on walls. A reflection filter is an idea but not really affordable. I could try micing and using the pick-up/Fishman Pro simultaneously and mix the two?

Looks adequate, Jake. ANd affordable (makes a change for anything relating to double bass )

I have a number of solo double bass recordings that I love and they all sound different and great but, when I try to record my own double bass, its lacks the presence of the 'professional' recordings. I use a Rode NT 1-A into Cubase and it always sounds like I am playing in a massive room and the bass is 10 feet from the mic, even if the mic is actually only inches away from the bass. Obviously, my cheap bass isn't going to sound like Charlie Haden's Jean Auray bass but it is not the sound of the bass I am concerned about, it is the ability to record the instrument as it sounds in the room you are playing it in rather than like you are recording it at a gig on a mobile phoe Anyone got any credible ideas? I looked elsewhere on here but couldn't find anything.

Which IEM solutions are you using, guys? NOt ever looked into this kind of thing as I never needed it with the Wal.

Since starting gigging in earnest, I have noticed that I sometimes experience difficulty in hearing the detail of the notes I am playing over the surrounding sound. I get a sound when setting up and we start playing and I struggle to hear whether my intonation is 100%. People who are listening say it is fine but, on my rehearsal recordings, I can hear the intonation wavering at tiems. I find that the lower frequences of the bigger instrument make clarity a problem. I just wondered what other people's solutions are. Here is a rehearsal demo recording as an example.... It sounds flat because I can't hear it properly whilst I am playing. But, if I eq it so I can hear the note, it sounds brittle and lacking in warmth. [url="http://soundcloud.com/robert-palmer-1/01-el-gaucho"]http://soundcloud.com/robert-palmer-1/01-el-gaucho[/url] I would value others thoughts