Beedster

Although to provide some context, the above is pretty normal behaviours for many lead guitarists

Exactly my thinking mate, thanks 👍

And wow, they have got back to me already, awesome 👍

I've message these guys via Gearslutz/Gearspace http://xaudia.com/contact/ Other suggestions welcome

The bear appears rather disinterested given the situation?

Unusually for a bass solo that brought a smile to my face (was s/he schooled in Greek balalaika/bluegrass mandolin), just a pure comedy solo and completely not right for the track. Brilliant

Just checking my mics and I've found that pair of Samson VR-88s no longer sound matched. I've never really used them as a pair so it's possible that they were never well matched, and in fact they both sound rather nice, but side by side they have a slightly different output and, to my ear, a slightly different response. I was wondering if there's anyone in the UK I could send them to to get them checked and if necessary repaired?

No, my bad, I didn't realise it was the Townsend you'd used, re-reading your first post again it's clear that it was as you also mentioned the UAD platform. Good to hear you found it a decent setup, thanks. Totally agree, I'm used to using a SM7B on my voice and a PR40 on my double bass and there is something very comforting about knowing that you can reliably achieve the same decent quality recording every time. But I'm recording a lot of other people's voices now also, and it's because I really don't know what I need in terms of the vocal mic cupboard that a modelling system appeals. To me, £1K is a lot of money to spend on a mic, but I guess that if it's as good as people say, I'm spending £1K on several mics, that it can be configured as a stereo mic only adds to the value from my POV.

For me it's really about the voice and playing with mic models both during and following tracking. I've done a lot of reading around the tech, it's just not something I can try before I buy really, not like walking into Denmark St with your credit card and a whole list of basses to play! I think I'm going for it on the basis that should I find in a few months it was a waste of time I'll at least be able to recoup most of the spend going on current used prices, and in doing so I'll be seeing as mostly as a short/mid-term learning tool as opposed to a long-term investment in a quality mic, although of course I may find the latter emerges. Having said that, a big part of the sell for me is that everyone seems to think the mic is a very high quality unit in it's own right

Another aspect of the Townsend I like is the ability to switch mic models/response post-tracking, which is to my mind a great way to really get a feel for the mic models in question?

Thanks. My interest is I guess based on very little experience of some of the better mics out there, at least in my own recordings (I use SM7Bs on voice, PR-40 on bass, and a couple of Samson VR-88 ribbons here and there (I've also got the obligatory collection of Shure 57s/58s). I was looking at this as a way of answering the question of whether things would be any better with better mics, especially given that most of the reviews of the Townsend/UAD are very complimentary by comparison with some of the other mic modelling tech out there at present (and I already have the appropriate UAD hardware and access to the software so it seems even more the obvious choice). Frustratingly when they sell 2nd hand they seem to go for about £50 less than retail, so that's probably not an option at present Would be great to hear from someone who's used one?

For example this https://townsendlabs.com/products/sphere-l22/ Interested in people's thoughts/experience?

Guy in the crowd shouted 'bass solo' a couple of years back and the singer appeared to think it was a good idea. I didn't BTW Auditioned on DB at a studio in London for a singer/songwriter and her producer a few years back. We're doing this lovely mellow song that required little more than some root notes and the occasional foray towards the rosiny end and the guy suddenly shouts "BASS SOLO". Thinking on my feet I didn't play anything different to the previous verse and chorus but I lent forward, dug in and gave it a facial expression and posture suggestive of intense and deep musicianship. They seemed quite impressed 😉

Welcome, I don't think I've ever played a bad Yamaha instrument, Sax, electric bass, electric upright bass (when's the SLB-300 gonna be in stock.....), acoustic guitar. Hope they're as good to work for as they are at making instruments 👍

Just talking in another thread about bass solos in otherwise conventional songs. I don't think I've ever heard one I liked but would love to hear some really bad ones 😀

Yep, just because you can do something doesn't mean you need to or should do that thing, bass or drum solos spring to mind 😀

In fact you can have it if you need one, I listed it for sale here before realising that I could double my live inputs, but I now have an 8-channel UAD which is more than enough for me 👍

Judging by callouses on my fingers I never use mine when playing bass 👍