dave_bass5

[quote name='JAUQO III-X' timestamp='1505746038' post='3373953'] The amp in the video is not Marcus signature amp. [/quote] It says 'Bass legend Marcus Miller show us his Sire basses playing the prototypes of his Markbass signature rig.' Is that not it in the video?

Its not negative, I was just pointing it out. You also seemed to be questioning the comments from others regarding BF cabs. As if only Alex can explain how they sound and how good they are. A big apology if I miss read that post, but that how it came across.

And of course those facts will be totally unbiased against other manufacturers 😉

I loved the BB2 when i first got it, it was once i started gigging it at venues i had played many time before that i felt it was lacking something for me. I know many people love it so I appreciate its a very personal thing, but i see a lot of BF owners, especial the smaller cabs, using more than one cab. Considering how the BF market the cabs, and if you believe it all, then i say definitely try one before you buy, and even better in a gig environment.

[quote name='CameronJ' timestamp='1505126070' post='3369584'] I've used a Voicelive Touch 2 for a number of years now and love it. I am a solo vocalist/beat boxer, very technically minded and have spent a good amount of time learning the ins and outs of the unit down to MIDI commands etc. You definitely need to have a somewhat technical mind to really get the most out of the higher end TC units. The more entry level pedals/units are MUCH simpler but you should definitely still devote some meaningful time getting to grips with everything they can (and can't) do. As said above re: the harmonies, DO NOT overdo it. I mean that in terms of how often you use them as well as the volume you have them set at. The louder you have the harmony volume set, the more apparent it will be that your singer is effectively being accompanied by a computer chip. Also, make sure your singer writes down the settings for each song and remembers to change said settings from one song to the next, lest the whole band face the embarrassment of wildly out of key harmonies. The bemused audience member will cast looks of blame at the guitarist, drummer and bassist assuming it's your fault. Because there will be plenty of people who aren't paying attention and just assume the BVs must be coming from you guys. To really avoid this, you should go for one of the mid-ranged units (e.g. Play Acoustic or Play Electric) as, mentioned in earlier posts, they can be set to listen to the instrument plugged in and follow in real time. This can give you more nuanced results as the harmonies are no longer locked to the vocals but to the surrounding instrumentation, which can often sound more musical and natural. Just make sure the guitarist who's "controlling" the unit plays reasonably cleanly and that the Root and Third of the chord are loud and clear as this is what the TC algorithm uses as primary reference for tracking. Above all, if you're going to go down this root, have patience with it but also have fun. If as you say your vocalist is "definitely not technically minded" then maybe steer clear though as whatever you buy may end up becoming the responsibility of another band member to set up and learn...which may breed resentment of it [/quote] Thanks for all that. It would definitely not be on all the time, and very well back in the mix. Ive been impressed with some of the demo videos for these things, but can already see how annoying it will sound if overused. I think kept low in the mix will add more presence to the vocals, hopefully without it sounding like Steven Hawkins is back stage with some vocal sheets :-). Once we all start signing it will be even more hidden. Oh, and i live with the singer so it will be me that has to sort it out. Still, one more thing to argue about wont make a big difference lol.

Thanks for all the replies and suggestions. Ill send her links of the different boxes. The TC one does look rather cool so ill try and push that. We wont be gigging for a while we should have plenty of time to figure it all out. I like the DOD one as you can have set lists programmed in, but i expect the others do that as well. I can see a few funny moments coming up though. The rest of us will do backing vocals at some point, its just proving difficult (at least for me) to play and sing new songs at the moment.

You set the key of the song in the pedal i believe. My singer is definitely not technically minded, and i am worried about this side of it. We will be using our own PA for gigs so we will have full control of it, but yes, this is a worry. It will be more for thinking the main vocals up, without just adding the usual reverb/delay, so i think it will be used quite a bit but turned down so its not too prominent.

My singer is thinking of getting one to help out with the vocal sound, as none of us in the band are very good at harmonies. We understand these are just fancy double tracking devices but feel it could help without overal vocal presence. Just wondering if anyone uses one live. Not looking at the sophisticated rack versions, just the pedals, and it wont have a guitar plugged in to it so i expect it will based on key only.

Had a Retro Two10 and felt it was too deep and lacking definition. Got a BB2 and found it was too deep and lacked the sort of mid range i wanted. Both sold and i moved on to a Vanderkley 1x15. Nice cabs, both very light and good looking (the BB2 especialy) but just not my cup of tea. Even though the website made it seem like the BB2 was the best choice for me, it turned out it wasnt, by a long shot. I’d happily use a BB2 again if i had to though, i do miss the size and weight, but I’m much more comfortable with what i have now.

When i got a Lakalnd JO neck to go on my Squier CVP i had the same issue. It did fit but I couldn’t get the actuino high enough to raise the strings off the fretboard. A Gotoh 201 bridge solved that instantly, and gave me a better string spacing as well.

Thanks guys. The lack of EQ has been on my mind, but with having Eq in my amp and BDDI i was hopin gnot to have to worry about yet a 3rd set of knobs (not talking about the band :-) Ive had the VMTD, and the VMTD 2 (not the Ultra as i had thought) but i just cant bring myself to buy another one, as they were never quite right. SO i want to get away from the VMT tone. I cant say ive been blown away with the demos of the big AO, although I haven’t with the B7K either, but its going to be the interaction with the BDDI that will be the real test.

Yeah i read that as well. Well will see. Anyway, I’m tempted to give this new box a go. I really don’t like the dark tone the VMT has, and having tired the B3K sim in my Zoom B3n i dont like that as well. I do love the B7K sim but cant afford to buy one of those. I’d hope the new Ao will get close to the B7K as far as bite and brightness goes.

Yep, ive been caught out with this with my VTBass DI a few times.

[quote name='fretmeister' timestamp='1504537112' post='3365524'] I know. I suppose I was just hoping it would be at B3K levels. [/quote] Or less even. These things seem to be creeping up in price. I was surprised at how much the VMT now sells for.

I think it would have looked better on top of a washing machine :-) Looks cool either way. Congrats.

[quote name='fretmeister' timestamp='1504533305' post='3365486'] Not really - it does "different" to the B3K Ok it blends 2 types of drive but so does the Duality. [/quote] Different things cost different amounts of money. thats just logical. The B3K cost less than the VMT, which costs less than the Ao.

But doesn't it do more than the B3K? You wouldn't expect it to cost the same if it offers more IMO. Still, not cheap i agree.

Ive been agonising all weekend over getting a AO or sticking with my VMT. I decided to give the VMT another go (now with my BDDI v2). Ive never really gelled with the VMT on its own, but im hoping the BDDI will liven things up. I felt the AO was too big and i didnt need all those features.........now things might have changed again.

[quote name='dood' timestamp='1504520831' post='3365354'] p.s. I'll see if I can arrange a review in GI. [/quote] Please dont, you've cost me enough already :-)

Bass direct has them (or at least are advertising them) http://www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/Darkglass_Alpha_Omicron.html Very tempted to sell my VMT and VTBass DI now.

[quote name='PaulWarning' timestamp='1504198933' post='3363374'] I think anybody who walks into a audition with the line "Haven't had time to learn any of the songs you sent me, but it's ok I'm good at winging it" should be instantly shown the door, on the other hand any band that ask someone to learn an entire set for an audition is taking the piss [/quote] Well to be fair, my guy didnt say he would wing it. It just so happened his set list had a lot of songs we were also doing. They just werent the ones we had asked him to learn and it could have been a complete waste of our time. Jumping forward to this year we had (until a few days ago) a guitarist who gave us a long list of songs that he knew, but it turned out he didnt really know how to play them very well. Had all the talk, knew all the tech stuff about the keys etc, but when it came to playing the songs, it was depressing. Had a few rehearsals but even our drummer had to tell him what was needed for some of the most basic cover songs. Had a huge array of FX, all sounded tinny and lacking substance. Even said we couldn't do Stuck in the Middle because it has two guitar parts. Same with Great balls of fire. Couldn't do that as its piano heavy and he couldn't get the guitar to fit (and we dont have a keyboard player). There was always a reason why we couldn't get through any of the basic covers, and this form a guy who had been gigging covers for years. Really nice bloke but after all these years of making sure i turn up and i do the job i just dont have the patience to be in a band with people who spend MY time working out their parts at rehearsals because they haven't done their homework, Give me someone that can wing it every time over someone who talks the talk but ends up with excuses and no result. Sorry, rant over......

We (singer, bass and drums) were looking for a new guitarist last year (we had gigs booked). We had a reply from a guy who has enough experience and knows whats what. We send him a set list and he says give me a week and we can get together. the day comes and we meet up at our rehearsal studio. He walks in and sets up. Singer. "Did you go over our set, everything ok?" Him: "Sorry, i haven't had time to go over any of them, but i have my set list here, we can do those" Me: "Sorry, i havent had time to go over your list, lets do ours LOL". We look on his ipad and its pretty much songs we know so its all good, but i wonder why he didnt even know we were doing a lot of those. Him: Can i use that mic? (points to singers mic/stand)". What do you play (to singer)?" Singer: "im the singer" Him: "oh, i thought you needed a singer as well" We actual gigged with him for about 6 months, but we had to drop quite a few songs with guitar solos in them, as he was embarrassing. We did learn a few new songs so he could sing them, but his guitar style was just not up to scratch. dry distortion on everything, with a bit more distortion on the louder songs. I appreciate the story isnt as funny as some, but it was one of those 'WTF' moments that beggars belief. The guy he was replacing was good but travelled around the world for work so wasnt reliable, and started to question why were were playing hour and a half sets at social clubs, because thats too long to play without a break and we should insist on no more than 2 x45 mins. He didnt have a bloody clue about the social club gigging circuit.

Glad this came up about monitors, as i was looking at the Box monitors yesterday. We have an old 120Watt one that needs replacing and was going to go for something a bit more powerful. I came across a brand called Subzero on the Gear4music website. I assume this is their own brand, probably sold under different names by other chains (looks very much like a Behringer as well) Anyone have any thoughts? EDIT: This is the one i was looking at. 350watts for £149. Gotta be a bargain lol. Seriously though, im only comparing these to the 120watt Box monitors we have been using. They have been working fine but till recently, so i know this sort of power is fine. Would be nice to have a bit more clean power though. http://www.gear4music.com/PA-DJ-and-Lighting/SubZero-350w-12-Active-Floor-Monitor/1H8Q