Nicko

I'm running Cubase 7 Elements on my PC in the spare bedroom (windows 8). Although I've had the software suite a long time I haven't used it that much over the years so, really I'm still a novice user. Mrs Nicko is using the bedroom as a home office so I'm only abe to work on anything in the evening/weekends. I've recently been doing a bit more and have splashed the cash on a Midi keyboard, This is coming with the free Ableton package. I have an old laptop (windows 7), that I don't really use because the keyboard is a bit dodgy (some of the keys aren't working consistently but I doubt this would impact my ability to use it for DAW use). I could load Ableton onto this but that would means having two different DAWs to get to grips, but it would be useful to be able to experiment with the keyboard, capture basic themes for songs etc even if I have to start again when going for a full recording in Cubase. So questions: Is Live Lite 10 as restricted as it looks or is it actually worth having? Is Ableton easier to learn than Cubase. Will using two different DAWs confuse the hell out of me? Could I export the midi files (minus the audio track) from Ableton to Cubase? Could I export sounds I generate in Ableton as samples and import into Cubase (ie if I come up with an interesting synth setting or drum sounds/loops etc that come with Ableton)? Should I just dump Cubase and go with both machines running Ableton, knowing that its more limited?

This is very true. I once had a mate who traded in his GSXR600 which was, well, a bit ugly and dull, but very quick when he rode it, for a Yam R1 which looked great but was too exciting and he rode it like he had stabilizers on it. My own ZX6 probably wouldn't have won any beauty contests but the sound of the induction noise when it was being ridden in anger was certainly exciting. On a track, obviously. Same for basses. I can use all of precision, whereas with those exotic active things most of the sounds are, for me, unusable.

Not sure whether the OP means they look boring or sound boring. For sure the aesthetics are not their strongest point but I don't buy instruments for the way they look. Hammers are boring, but if you want to nail something together they do the job.

I thought it was just 'cos Clayton wasn't very good, not because he'd absorbed Dee Dee's MO. The guitar looks like a piece of junk, I wouldn't want it on my wall. I am ambivalent on the Ramones - I'm maybe a bit too young but some of their stuff is OK and some is not worth listening to..

I was going to say I never got that excited by a bass, and realised that's not what this thread is about. I'll get my coat.

Technically I still own the first guitar I ever bought new from a shop in Denmark Street in around '83 - a Hohner Slab bodied telecaster shape with twin high output humbuckers.. Its on permanent loan to my nephew. I can't remember the model but it's everything I hate about 80s guitars. Pointy headstock, double locking trem, matt hardware, all black with bright red detailing in inappropriate places. I also have an old Avon Rose Morris SG Bass which I guess is late 70s. I'm not 100% sure how I acquired it - probably from my brother. Its not in working order and some of the electrics have been replaced. Strangely I've had this at least 30 years but didn't start playing bass until 2007. The oldest one I have at home and that I use is a Patrick Eggle NY stage from 1994 bought from Project Music on the Great West Road (A4) in Hounslow. I used it yesterday.

I'm guessing a wedding/function band?

The answer is "No but we can do Under the Bridge properly" oops, just realised it was All Saints

Yep, have never used a mac but assumed you would still have a program file folder of some kind.

I downloaded MT Power Kit yesterday. I'm using Cubase and Windows, but I assume the same rules apply 1. Make sure the DAW is not running 2. When you have the download ZIP copy the two files from the downloads folder o the VST instruments subfolder in the DAW programme folder. 3. Open the DAW. This should then search the VST subfolder for all available instruments. 4 (on Cubase) create an instrument track and select MT drums from the drop down.

Am I loud enough? Guess who. Will there be any space once the drummer has set up? Is there really only one power socket? Where's the singer? (normally during setting up, shortly before starting and after the mid set break) Is that a new song? (the wife, after hearing us play it at the last 5 gigs) ps I'd rather play Brightside or Sex on Fire than Are You Gonna Go My Way

Thanks Doug. As a newbie to ST drums the plan is to download this and see if I can get anything worth having before committing to purchasing somehing a bit more flexible. From yor rsponse it seems like is the perfect place to start.

Anyone use this? 'm considering it as its a free download (optional donation) with Cubase LE. Can it really be as good as it seems for nowt?

I can't help thinking that if you want something different from the normal HB you could do worse than installing a pair of vintage style HBs with coil taps. It should be easy enough to do with push/pull volume knobs. The Seymour Duncan site has a good range of pickups including sound samples to let you choose the one you like and a full set of wiring diagrams. Having said that it's quite a lot of money to throw at a guitar which won't be worth much when its finished, so make sure you actually like it before committing (personally I hate playing LPs - they're too heavy and the necks are too bulky).

I generally wash hands before playing, but rarely wipe the bass afterwards. I sweat a lot, but it doesn't seem to affect the strings much. If I look at the bass and see dust on it I might give it a quick wipe but otherwise I clean the bass when I change strings but a set will normally last me 12 - 18 months (rounds). I find maple more resistant to dirt build up than rosewood.

^this. As for playing, I once played a gig using only the index and middle fingers of my left hand after being knocked off my motorbike - I wasn't quite as crap as I thought I'd be and had to ice the hand between sets.

81 and 86 eluded me, but I've never been a fan of either. Looking forward to the 90s!

Atchtops are always more expensive and the Citation is the top of the line elite range, even more luxurious than the super 400. There also rarer than a blue steak. And it has a pickup.

My regular rehearsal room is open and taking bookings - I even got a call from them asking if we still intended to rehearse as per our booking for last Thursday. It baffles me how they can open, except that if you are a professional band, you could argue that rehearsal is work, and provided you enforce a 2m rule its OK. They have a limited number of rooms open.

I could argue that the P and Morgan are more desirable and hence command a premium, but anyone with a three wheeler looks a bit of a Richard.

Why are the equivalent J and P guitars from the big F the same price, when the J has an extra pickup?

Depends what you mean by independent. Both Andertons and GAK are, as far as I know independent and i've never had a problem with them shipping quickly.

I worked abroad for a time and used to come home regularly (8 weeks there, two here). On one trip home I bought a bass as I was playing in a band there with a borrowed bass. When I went back to work I declared an export on the bass and claimed the VAT back. I used to leave it there when I was on leave. For various reasons but mainly through my own choice, the work assignment finished about 8 months later which was earlier than I'd expected and I had to bring the bass back with me. I carried it through and no one asked any questions, - why would they? So I didn't bother declaring it. They didn't ask about my watch either which was bought in country - no duty payable and considerably cheaper than buying in the UK (IIRC the UK price was around £1700). I didn't consider it an import, it was simply a watch that I owned that I'd bought when living abroad. Had I wanted to make money I could have bought one every trip and left it here when I went back. I also used to bring back my complete tobacco allowance every trip, even though I couldn't have claimed it was for use in the 2 weeks I was here. It lasted years when I got back.

You may be right. I'm sure I saw this referenced somewhere on the HMRC site when I looked some time ago but I could equally be making it up.

^ this, choose an airline who's policy is that you can take the instrument as carry on. I've flown a couple of times with it as carry on, and a couple where it was checked and, although I don't normally suffer from anxiety, I was absolutely terrified before takeoff and when waiting at the baggage carousel to collect it.