BottomE

Currently downloading Cubase Elements. 2.3Gb and then the installer detected an update of 900Mb so getting twitchy - high expectations from this. Interested to see if i miss anything from the "full" Cubase

Thanks for all the ideas. Like a kid in a sweet shop with all the choice.

Fixed. Initial driver was for a later model of same device. Unfortunately the serial number has rubbed off the base of my unit so couldn't ID it properly. Just installed correct drivers and the little beast is on straight away :-)

Went to plug in my old trusty Focusrite Saffire 6 USB. Took a look on their website which says that it is supported with a convenient link to download the drivers. Duly downloaded and installed (as administrator just in case). Plugged in via USB and not working Looked on Device Manager, then manually pointed the "update driver" routine to the relevant folder but said no driver files found... I'd hate to have to part with this Focusrite Saffire 6 USB - its been a rock. Any ideas? Interweb shows lots of other peeps happily connecting immediately.

Great thread

Firstly, thanks for pointing out the article Mornats and hats off to Skol303 for a really excellent post. Tempted to look at Elements as its the safe option and i'll probably be able to access my old projects. That said, new laptop and fresh approach means its the ideal time to try something new....

Bit nervous about moving away from Cubase as have used it for years but its too expensive and i don't use most of the features...

Thank you. Gonna take a look at Reaper later. I don't mind paying if it looks like its something that has some mileage.

Hi folks Simple question though the answer may not be? Just got a nice new laptop running Windows 10 and i'd like to install a new compatible DAW. I've always used Cubase in the past and whilst comfortable with it there are loads of features i never use. Also i'd like to see if there is a free option? Main use of DAW is for practice so would like to be able to:[list] [*]Import audio tracks [*]Have midi features [*]Run VSTs [*]Soft Synths [*]Effects [/list] Here is an article listing the "best" free DAWs: [url="http://www.musictech.net/2015/10/the-5-best-freeware-daws/"]http://www.musictech...-freeware-daws/[/url] Recommendations welcome. Thank you

Get to know your EQ settings - they will really help when playing different rooms. Often the sound you hear (close to your cabs) is very different to the audience perspective. If possible get a long cable/wireless transmitter and walk into the space that will be used by the audience to gauge what it sounds like. Make sure you check your sound when the rest of the band are playing and not in isolation. This is important as many nuances in your tone get lost when added to drums/guitars/keys etc. My experience is that often the ideal sound from the audience perspective isn't always the most comfortable to play along with unless you have a bit of space on stage to position yourself where it feels more comfortable.

[quote name='cybertect' timestamp='1466663360' post='3077605'] If a crap band plays in a forest and there is no-one there to hear them, do they still sound like crap? Edit: No disrespect to the OP intended [/quote] Yep, they do

2 weddings and a nutcase. First wedding on Friday they'd asked us to play Eric Claptons "Wonderful Tonight". No worries - we always ask a happy couple what they would like for their first dance and most of the time we are able to learn it and play. When we were about to start however the bride waddles over and says - "I've changed my mind - can you do xxxx instead?" We say, "soz but we don't know that one - we could have learnt it if thats what you'd said you wanted" - she got really arsey! The whole gig was a bit of a mare - horrible. A few who were too drunk and edgy - there was some ill feeling between some parties at that wedding - couldn't wait to get out of it. We all felt quite deflated then we did another wedding last night where all were up for it and dancing from the off. Nice people, great venue, well looked after, sound was nice, food, drink. The guests were generally a happier bunch of folks than the miseroids that we'd tried to entertain on Friday. Faith restored.

The age difference between you and the others may be a factor. I'd not have taken the gig in the first place. "Promoter" and "open mic night" would have been enough information for me to stay well clear. Maybe your efforts are not valued by some as you are providing your services for free?

We start out with the intention of keeping them apart. Sometimes a tune will jog the audience into requesting another one by the same artist/band. Happy to play it if fits the situation.

+1 on Sweet Home Alabama - in truth we haven't played it for ages but it was requested for a wedding so we duly added it to the set. Amazes me that it keeps people on the dance floor. Its in our library of around 60 tunes that we can pull from but only brought out when absolutely necessary.

If you're in it for the social side of things stick with what you know. If, as you say its "hacking you off", you need to move on. Try and exit in a nice way (they may need a dep in future) and in the words of Adam and the Ants "do yourself a favour".

[quote name='skej21' timestamp='1465841442' post='3071497'] Cleared that right up! Thanks ;-) [/quote]

To make things worse, you can bet your insurance has a clause meaning they don't payout if the theft is from an unattended vehicle. I looked into it and its difficult to get cover.

[quote name='Dad3353' timestamp='1465736279' post='3070594'] If no-one tried out ridiculous stuff, they'd never be any progress..! That's how the very best get their 'tone' in the first instance..! All of your permutations above (and more...) are valid; the effect of each will be subtly different, and more suited to one person's taste or another. Plug 'em in, play around for a while, then decide. No, your questions are not unusual. You're entirely normal, but have confidence that there is no 'right' way for all. Only you can decide. [/quote] Thanks Dad. Off i go then.

[quote name='BassBus' timestamp='1465735386' post='3070584'] You said you want to experiment, then experiment. We can all give you our own ideas but they might not suit you. Move them around and see where you get the best tone for you. Try each of the pedals on its own as well. See how the tone compares to your clean tone. [/quote] Wasn't sure whether there was a "natural" way of linking these up. I remember an argument between two guitards about where something sat in the signal chain and as a noob to pedals didn't want to do something ridiculous...

Thanks. I'd like to experiment with them but the question is more about where should they go in the signal chain? For example should it go - Bass - PreAmp - Compressor - Input to Amp or Bass - Compressor - PreAmp - Input to Amp or Should i use the Compressor in the send and return ???

Not see it yet but good on ya WoT. Will try and get a look later.

Hello folks Few years ago i purchased an EBS compressor and Sadowsky outboard preamp which were then left in their boxes and never used. I bought them because at the time i had a bit of cash but never really experimented with them and kinda lost interest. Recently, at a gig another bass player saw the pedals and was surprised that i wasn't using them as he said both pedals were "top quality" and would give options to my sound. With this in mind - using a Markbass LMII where do you think these boxes should sit in the signal chain? Current bass of choice for gigs at the moment is a passive US Jazz bass. Advice welcome.

Good thing about expendable basses is you can leave them out of their cases at home. With dogs, kids and a busy house its useful to have basses that you don't mind being "bruised". I have a great little Yammy BB1100s that is always "out" and its great to just pick it up and play. Funny enough, the kids and even the dogs treat it with respect (so far)...

Tricky one. All those years in the biz and at the time being 60 + its surprising at how immature his rant appears to be given that he must have been used to the ups and downs of touring etc. 80s management style doesn't cut it when we listen to it now. He did have a name and reputation to protect going out as the Buddy Rich Big Band - hes the one that would get stick if it sounded bad so he would have a lot invested in the perfromance. That said, you reach a certain point in life where hopefully a bit of perspective would prevent one from such a tirade. Charm and persuasion are more useful motivators to most. Some people do need a kick in the pants though. In answer to the thread question - yes, i care but not enough to alienate my band-mates. I've learned to live with their foibles as i am sure they have learned to live with mine.