JapanAxe

All you need to do now is fit a set of alloys to your pedalboard and drive it around the town centre late at night.

Money: It's only right to be rewarded for the time, effort, and skill that goes into a live performance. I am fortunate that my day job gives me a comfortable living, so gig money funds my GAS. Even so I look for a reasonable fee - why encourage venues to devalue what we do? Rehearsing: I turn up at a rehearsal having spent time getting to know my parts, and I don't think it's unreasonable to expect others to do the same. My band had a 2-hour rehearsal on Tuesday, went through 6 new numbers, and discarded a 7th that didn't work. All 6 numbers are in our next set list. I love that kind of rehearsal. What I can't stand is going over and over the same old stuff, and hearing players make the same mistakes because they have never sat down at home and sorted out where they are going wrong.

I've now made a couple of other discoveries about Mac Audio MIDI Setup (AMS) that have made me re-think my requirements. (1) I was wrong about what AMS does - the 'preferences' you select for each connected device don't actually apply any filters, you just use them to describe the settings you've made on the devices themselves. You would need something like Clockworks to actually apply filters. (2) Although AMS is good for managing the MIDI data that is coming in and out of computer, it does not provide a way to route, say, the output of a controller to the input of a sound module. So even though both devices may have USB connections to the Mac, it does not let them talk to each other without setting up a THRU in your recording software. Problem! (3) Solution! A freeware Mac application called (strangely enough) 'MIDI Patchbay', available [url="http://notahat.com/midi_patchbay/"]here[/url]. I've tried it and it works. So I have just ordered a s/h Midisport 4x4 for £49 delivered. This should make things a lot tidier. I should say that, although I may talk a good game, and despite not being in any way technophobic, MIDI baffles the bejaysus out of me. I am really only sharing what I've found as I go along. Your comments may speed up the learning process for me and others. I do hope that this works out, but on past experience it could just as easily go completely t!ts up!

[quote name='pete.young' timestamp='1378540918' post='2201544'] Would it be possible to run one of these units off a powered USB hub, rather than using a computer? Just curious really. [/quote] Yes the blurb specifically says you can do this - in fact several! My current 1-in-1-out interface runs off a 7-way powered hub.

Always buy the same colour bass, and only take one out at once. The question will never arise. Should work with cars too, as long as they're roughly the same size/style.

Yeah but I don't want to be paying out that much for top-of-the-range that I don't really need! I've also just worked out that the M-Audio Midisport 4x4 will do the job if I'm using the Xboard via USB, and I can get one of those new for £80 delivered, obviously less used - though someone one eBay is trying to sell one for £149! If my offer on the Express 128 is accepted then great, I'll have spare inputs; otherwise I'll get a 4x4, so can't lose really. I never had a problem with my Midisport Uno so s4x4 should be fine.

Thanks for your comments - that must be well over 4p worth! I have been looking at the various models, and neither of those I'm considering work with Clockworks. However on a Mac you can use the MIDI setup to tell your other software what is connected to the MIDI ports on your interface, thus: You can also open up a preference box for each device and select which MIDI channels and what kind of timing information it will send/receive. Yes 4 in and 3 out should do it if I use the Xboard via USB (E-MU no longer support it but current drivers still work). If I am in my home studio then the computer is on, so that's not a problem. Anyway, just put in an offer on an Express 128 on eBay - fingers crossed!

Going back to the singer - if they stray from the beat, IGNORE THEM! Otherwise you'll be all over the place. They'll catch up in their own good time

[quote name='TRBboy' timestamp='1378415583' post='2200113'] Oh guys....... I've got GAS BIG TIME again! Trying to figure out what I can sell..... might advertise my black KT5 again.... Here's the plan: Cherry burst Basic 5 Maple neck with pain maple headstock Chrome hardware White pearl pickguard (and maybe a trans one too) A WHITE pickup! What do you reckon? [/quote] Nah! Rosewood fretboard.

[quote name='Si600' timestamp='1378411275' post='2200015'] I can't be the only one who finds it really difficult hearing or recognising the first beat of a bar, so any tips on how to find it? [/quote] Usually I don't find it a problem but some songs start in an odd place and mislead you as to where the 1 is. A perfect example is 'Sex On Fire'.

I have recently been re-vamping the MIDI elements of my home studio, and I am considering buying one of the above units. For some years all my MIDI routing has been done with a home-made box switching box, but there are so many important changes to be made between record and playback that I am thinking of getting a MIDI USB patchbay and storing all the different configurations in the MIDI Setup utility of my Mac. If your eyes have just glazed over, feel free to move on to a discussion of pick vs. fingers or lightweight vs. heavy cabs. However if you have experience in this area, please chip in your 2p worth. These are the bits that need to be joined up: Akai DPS16 (MIDI Clock source) Roland TD3 electronic drum kit (input and playback) Alesis SR18 drum machine (MIDI clock and notes in/out) Roland JV1010 sound module E-MU Xboard 49 controller keyboard Mac Mini running Sagantech Metro SE (MIDI recording/editing/playback only, no audio) Possibly destined to be the shortest thread of all time...

[quote name='molan' timestamp='1378253585' post='2197850'] Couple of gigs booked already but they've left enough time to make sure the two new boys (me and the drummer) are properly bedded in. Really looking forward to them! [/quote] Where are your gigs? I'm always up for checking out a band.

[quote name='geoffbyrne' timestamp='1378244240' post='2197739'] Mark Knopfler. That is all. G. [/quote] Strangely, since changing to a curved finger / floating thumb right-hand technique, I have found that it is only a short step to Knopfler's style - I just extend my right thumb towards the head of the instrument.

[quote name='Grangur' timestamp='1378242662' post='2197693'] I use a Zoom as well. Connecting with the pc using usb and recording using audacity. The only prob l have is I find I don't have any sound output when recording. So I'm playing acoustically. Does anyone know what I'm doing wrong? [/quote] Preferences > Audio I/O tab > check 'Software Playthrough - Play new track while recording it' There is also a 'Hardware Playthrough' option which I guess should work, but I've never tried it.

[quote name='Marvin' timestamp='1378221075' post='2197242'] An electronics engineer (an authorised service engineer for the likes of Yamaha and Ampeg) explained to me the difference between digital, solid state and valve...and it made complete sense why people say class D is good but just lacks something. Suffice to say I won't be buying one in a hurry. He also explained why they can be unreliable. [/quote] Can you explain that to us lot then!?

TC Classic and all cables in laptop bag over shoulder, bass in one hand, Compact or Midget in the other. Sadly a second trip is sometimes required to fetch the other cab, mic stand etc. Oh the hardship...

[quote name='Billy Apple' timestamp='1378056100' post='2195240'] Do they do them XXXXXXL? [/quote] To save on letters, that size has been re- designated FB.

Risky! Don't forget what happened to Alan Partridge when he went round to Dan's house...

i won't be anywhere near but have a good one!

I've got a free app called NoiseWatch on my Android phone - could be handy for convincing fellow band members to turn down. I use it to point out to certain colleagues how loudly they are arguing in the office!

[quote name='Freddy Le Cragg' timestamp='1377899212' post='2193520'] Hello all. I am Freddy, bass player/singist and word-wrangler from obscure Oxford band Dirty Sweet Lies. Currently playing a MIM Jazz into a totally unsuitable Carlsbro guitar head. Glad to make your aquaintance. [/quote] I've heard of Dirty Sweet Lies but I can't remember where! Then again I work in Oxford.

Did they mention the happy ending? It's part of the initiation...

Maybe they are awful! Although I use Doc's, the only other plugs I've tried for comparison are foam (unbearably dull, muffled sound) and those swimming plugs that look like 3 mushrooms (not great). I'll maybe try some of those the OP got and report back. BTW my drummer paid £100+ to have some made to measure, but they look just like Doc's.

That beats the old trick of pointing your TV remote through your neighbours' window!

+1 for ear plugs! My own band never gets so loud that I would need them, as I have a sensible and loud-phobic drummer, and I control the PA. I keep a pair of ear plugs in my gig case, and I have them to hand when depping or rehearsing with other bands. I have another pair that I can take to gigs that I'm attending. I suffer a bit of distortion in my right ear that I got from sitting in front of the PA at a gig many years ago, so often I just put the right plug in. I favor Doc's Pro Plugs btw. You need to find the right size, but once sorted they are comfortable to wear, you can still carry on a conversation, and they don't make you look like div (but I would still use them if they did).