Naigewron

New build. Moved from a pure HX Stomp setup to an HX Effects and an Atomic Ampli-Firebox. The Ampli-Firebox is an amp modeler and IR loader for guitar and bass, and will serve as my DI output from the board (either with or without amp modeling). The AFB is in one of the FX loops of the HX Effects, and the splitter (bottom left) splits the signal right before the AFB and runs one output straight to a separate output on the board, while the other goes through the AFB and back into the HX Effects. It basically functions like a "Through" output for the AFB (which doesn't have one). This means I have one pedalboard output without any amp modeling (for running to a real amp), and one with full modeling and cab simulation (for running direct at home or at a gig). It's a pretty flexible setup. I might replace the AFB with a more bass-oriented preamp at some point, but since I also play guitar it's nice to have an all-in-one solution right there on the board.

Nah, the cheat line is clearly drawn at 13 or more strings.

I'm by no means an expert, and I'm still finding my sound in my current band. We're a four-piece, but the singer doesn't play an instrument, so the question still applies. I tend to go for adding some drive, play a lot of octaves and letting my notes ring out more when the guitar player moves up the neck or plays some sort of lead line. We're not a riff-based outfit, so the guitar player and I basically never play unison lines. This frees me up to create parts that sound good when played under guitar chords, but that can also be "expanded" when he goes for his lead lines to fill the space he leaves behind. In extreme cases, I'll go for the full three-string power chord (root-fifth-octave), but that's only if we want a section to be crushing, and only for slow songs.

That's exactly why, yes

HX Stomp has been my only pedal for the past year (well, the Stomp and a few utility pedals to control it). It's a great platform, and it's really flexible. I'm moving on to an HX Effects as of this week, because my primary need these days is something to go in front of my amp, and I want more footswitches and easier programmability, but I have nothing bad to say about the HX Stomp. The main downside is its lack of switches, which is why I've had to expand it as much as I have, but if you can live with that and create cleverly designed presets and snapshots, you're golden. Here's my pedalboard as it stands today, and is getting ripped apart and rebuilt with an HX Effects within a few days. I'll happily claim that you can't beat this amount of flexibility in such a compact setup.

Yes, as long as you get active ones. Passive monitors need an external amplifier between the interface and monitor.

Being Norwegian, all I can say is "Welcome to our world". I'm generally opposed to Norway joining the EU, but I have to admit that gear shopping would be a lot cheaper if we joined 😄

That's exactly it. I can play sitting down just fine, but it's not as comfortable for my right arm and shoulder. I definitely wouldn't want to have the bass in the same position when playing standing up. I definitely prefer standing up if I'm going to be playing for a little while, especially if I'm rehearsing songs for my band. I was more comfortable sitting down before. However, I've changed my technique to floating thumb, which means that my right arm needs to be in a completely different position. I can't just rest my wrist on top of my bass anymore. Anchoring my thumb on my pickup worked fine for 4-string basses, but as I moved on to 5-strings that was no longer an option. Overall I play a lot better and more comfortably now (and my right thumb no longer hurts after long sessions), but it has definitely affected my seated playing comfort. Maybe I'll gradually find a new position that works better.

I never understood this logic... Why is the seated position automatically the best? I prefer playing standing up so that I can stretch out my right arm a little.

'bout here

Picked up this beauty yesterday, and now I'm wondering why I've ever played any other brands. Wow.

Rhythm section porn My Ibanez SR375EF-BBT and Ashdown Klystron stack.

I'm not first and foremost a drummer anymore, but my primary instrument was drums from about 1988 until pretty recently. I've only made the transition to bass over the last 3-4 years, and I now consider myself primarily a bass player. I don't even own a drum kit anymore. I recorded all the drum parts for our latest album (which was recorded two years ago and came out last week), and I suspect that this may have been my final proper appearance behind a drum kit for the foreseeable future. We've now found a permanent drummer who's about ten times better than I ever was, so it all worked out 😄 I made the transition for two reasons: 1: Having a family and living far away from our rehearsal spaces made it impossible for me to play drums except at rehearsals. Even electronic drums make a lot of noise, and we don't have anywhere in the house where I could set that up and not disturb everyone. With a bass and a little home studio setup I can jam quietly whenever I want. 2: I found out that bass is awesome. Coming from both a guitar and drums background, I feel I have the best of both worlds. I know how a fretboard works, and I know how to play rhythm and groove. I'm loving it.

50% off all Neural DSP plugins (except SLO) for the next couple of days. I'll be picking up Archetype Nolly. Simple and very versatile guitar plugin. https://www.neuraldsp.com

...and throw yet another Valhalla SuperMassive FX track in my project. I'm screwing around with a sort of ambient, drone-y project. I'm not quite sure what direction to take it yet, but I'm really liking this combination of piano with huge reverb pads, electronic drums and a heavily distorted bass track. This is very much a not a final mix (or arrangement, probably), but I welcome any and all feedback. I've played in rock bands (drums, bass and guitar) for 25 years, but I've never been a "composer" of any kind, or even really written songs before.

It's worth keeping an eye on this page, where they maintain a list of all their products that cost under €100. So when something goes on sale or the price lowers, it will turn up here. A lot of their libraries are €29, which iis amazing value. https://www.spitfireaudio.com/under-100/

The LABS collection really is the gift that keeps on giving. Most other VST makers will create a little taster to get you hooked on the "real" product, but Spitfire just keeps adding really interesting and varied stuff to the LABS library. Massive props!

That is a breathtakingly accurate reproduction of a recorder. Getting this right now!

Line6 has 30 percent off on their site for the rest of March. Use code LUCKY30 at checkout. I can definitely recommend Helix Native for anyone who does any recording. Great plugin!

I use Cubase Elements and it covers all my needs ...except one: I can't export multitracks to my bandmates when we record demos. So if I want to export multitracks, I have to mute all tracks except one, export that, then mute all tracks except the next one, then export that, etc. We're doing more preproduction at home these days, so this is really becoming a hassle. I might upgrade just to get this sorted. Other than that, I'm happy with it. I don't do any mixing, and all my recordings are either preproduction demos, or just screwing around for my own amusement, so I don't need a lot of features.

It's a Klystron 500, wide version. Basically a Made In England version of what would later become the ABM 500 Evo III

Finally got the new rig set up in our rehearsal studio. Hopefully I'll get to put it up on a stage very soon

1: I'm in Norway, so we've always been outside the EU tax laws I got it from https://www.musik-produktiv.com/ 2: Yeah, the SR3XX series are amazing value instruments 3: Agreed. Even the GIO axes are fully giggable in their stock form.

Agreed! This model was discontinued a couple of years ago (I guess budget 5-string fretless basses are too much of a niche), but I found a store in Germany that had a few in stock still. It's in the lower end of the price range, but Ibanez is really just incapable of making instruments that feel bad to play.