Musicians check in here. If you play, tell us about it!
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Harmonizers and autotune are great when they are used as intended. IMO, the right way makes them undetectable from real humans singing harmony. When they sound mechanical and strange, you always know it's not a real human singing backup without enhancement. Too many pop songs use it as an effect, not to reproduce normal human harmony.
When I played in a top 40 group, we had 4 people who could sing lead and all 4 knew how to form a chord on their instrument or by using voice. I could say, "You sing the root and you take the 3rd and you sing the 5th. On the chorus, we'll add some 7th and they knew what I was talking about.
I love technology ... when it's used correctly (as Pipeous is doing). When you do a single act, the machine actually makes money for you and you don't have to worry if it's going to show up and perform.
When I played in a top 40 group, we had 4 people who could sing lead and all 4 knew how to form a chord on their instrument or by using voice. I could say, "You sing the root and you take the 3rd and you sing the 5th. On the chorus, we'll add some 7th and they knew what I was talking about.
I love technology ... when it's used correctly (as Pipeous is doing). When you do a single act, the machine actually makes money for you and you don't have to worry if it's going to show up and perform.
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I respectfully disagree with you, Dave. So many novel evolutions in sound & music came from the unintended use of technological developments and good ol' happy accidents. Music history is littered with them: From pushing tape onto the flanges for effect, reversing tape and tracking effects, overdriving analog circuitry, sampling loops into drum machine memory, scratching records, tapping notes directly onto fingerboards, toy laser guns held up next to pickups, creating convolutions from rhythmic sources... the list goes on and on.
I use harmonizers myself (on guitar). I could very well double/triple the part myself in the studio, but I LIKE the imperfect (or is it too perfect?), artifact-y sound of the harmonized voices. It adds a synth like quality to my tone. It's no different than an octaver, really. It's all about what vibe you want to get, not what's "right" or "wrong". The same reason guys still sample to 16-bit, or use Mellotrons in lieu of FAR more convincing multisample VSTi's.
One of my musical cohorts and myself came up with a mantra whenever we got a new piece of gear/software: "First, figure out how to use it... then, figure out how to use it wrong."
I respectfully disagree with you, Dave. So many novel evolutions in sound & music came from the unintended use of technological developments and good ol' happy accidents. Music history is littered with them: From pushing tape onto the flanges for effect, reversing tape and tracking effects, overdriving analog circuitry, sampling loops into drum machine memory, scratching records, tapping notes directly onto fingerboards, toy laser guns held up next to pickups, creating convolutions from rhythmic sources... the list goes on and on.
I use harmonizers myself (on guitar). I could very well double/triple the part myself in the studio, but I LIKE the imperfect (or is it too perfect?), artifact-y sound of the harmonized voices. It adds a synth like quality to my tone. It's no different than an octaver, really. It's all about what vibe you want to get, not what's "right" or "wrong". The same reason guys still sample to 16-bit, or use Mellotrons in lieu of FAR more convincing multisample VSTi's.
One of my musical cohorts and myself came up with a mantra whenever we got a new piece of gear/software: "First, figure out how to use it... then, figure out how to use it wrong."
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I respectfully disagree with you, Dave. So many novel evolutions in sound & music came from the unintended use of technological developments and good ol' happy accidents. Music history is littered with them: From pushing tape onto the flanges for effect, reversing tape and tracking effects, overdriving analog circuitry, sampling loops into drum machine memory, scratching records, tapping notes directly onto fingerboards, toy laser guns held up next to pickups, creating convolutions from rhythmic sources... the list goes on and on.
I use harmonizers myself (on guitar). I could very well double/triple the part myself in the studio, but I LIKE the imperfect (or is it too perfect?), artifact-y sound of the harmonized voices. It adds a synth like quality to my tone. It's no different than an octaver, really. It's all about what vibe you want to get, not what's "right" or "wrong". The same reason guys still sample to 16-bit, or use Mellotrons in lieu of FAR more convincing multisample VSTi's.
One of my musical cohorts and myself came up with a mantra whenever we got a new piece of gear/software: "First, figure out how to use it... then, figure out how to use it wrong."
Being an elder musician I do prefer natural harmonies created by live singers, but I agree that some interesting effects have been created by those who experimented with the hardware available. Some of the Beatles later works are good examples of experimentation. If Eddie Van Halen hadn't experimented with tapping, we have lost a valuable speed tool in guitar playing. I've always loved synthesizer parts.
There are vocalizer creations that I don't particularly enjoy, but I'm out of the age group who creates those, so my opinion wouldn't matter to the under 30 crowd anyway!
You have a valid point with creativity being important to the evolution of music.
I dig technology and have an open mind for handling the new stuff (I'm 2 years shy of 50 myself). For my creative outlet though... I'll stick with vacuum tubes and analog signal paths... or acoustics
That said, my all time favorite tune for the last few years is a Mike Sheridan remix (the spliced up vocal track is about the only part remaining from the original tune... everything else was composed on the computer)
That said, my all time favorite tune for the last few years is a Mike Sheridan remix (the spliced up vocal track is about the only part remaining from the original tune... everything else was composed on the computer)
I used the new harmonizer this weekend. The doubling fx for vocals on the new one is much better so I used that (I used to use the delay for this). I had 1 button on the foot pedal to turn harmony on and off and one button for a delay (like at the end of vocal lines for blue on black, comfortably numb etc). it worked well. I played 4 hrs of acoustic music solo. The original songs went over well. I did harmonica solos where the guitar parts are so in reality solo I am more "acoustic" than with a band hehe
That clip would make cool background music in a movie
Guys use flangers but did you know that flanging was a studio technique to sync up tapes? not all reel to reel recorders turn the same speed. so when multi tracks spread over 2 tape recorders, they would use their thumbs on the flange of the reel to slow it down to sync.. Cliff Claven moment
I added a set of power pins to my Taylor acoustic guitar. I am so impressed with those things. My guitar sounds even better now. I won't ever own an acoustic guitar without power pins from now on.
That clip would make cool background music in a movie
Guys use flangers but did you know that flanging was a studio technique to sync up tapes? not all reel to reel recorders turn the same speed. so when multi tracks spread over 2 tape recorders, they would use their thumbs on the flange of the reel to slow it down to sync.. Cliff Claven moment
I added a set of power pins to my Taylor acoustic guitar. I am so impressed with those things. My guitar sounds even better now. I won't ever own an acoustic guitar without power pins from now on.
The first reverb I ever had access to as a teenager was a mic that I would carry into the tile bathroom next to my bedroom. I'd put the mic in the bathtub, go back into my bedroom, and plug the mic into my guitar amp. When I'd play guitar i had instant reverb on my 60's model Harmony amp.
Later on, I bought a Kay reverb that was in a cabinet about 6" square and about the length of my amp width. I could sit it on top of the Harmony 12" speaker amp and it looked like a piggyback amp head.
The things that teenage starving musicians will do to create new effects. Once I started making money making music, my first real amp was a Vox Berkeley with 2x10's and a built in reverb. I went through the transition from there to a Vox Super Beatle, Fender Bandmaster, Gibson Magnum 800 (8x12"), Peavey Musician 4x12, and finally transitioned down to a Peavey Vypyr Tube 60 and a Roland Cube 60, both with 1x12 that will fill a room and play along with a full band on stage. I use an SM57 on a goose neck to mic those these days.
Technology has advanced over the years! These days, a small amp is fine as long as the PA will provide for instrument reinforcement through mics and direct inject.
Later on, I bought a Kay reverb that was in a cabinet about 6" square and about the length of my amp width. I could sit it on top of the Harmony 12" speaker amp and it looked like a piggyback amp head.
The things that teenage starving musicians will do to create new effects. Once I started making money making music, my first real amp was a Vox Berkeley with 2x10's and a built in reverb. I went through the transition from there to a Vox Super Beatle, Fender Bandmaster, Gibson Magnum 800 (8x12"), Peavey Musician 4x12, and finally transitioned down to a Peavey Vypyr Tube 60 and a Roland Cube 60, both with 1x12 that will fill a room and play along with a full band on stage. I use an SM57 on a goose neck to mic those these days.
Technology has advanced over the years! These days, a small amp is fine as long as the PA will provide for instrument reinforcement through mics and direct inject.
We've got 3 vapers in the band. We're based in Evansville, IN.
Bombshell - The Rock Show!
www.BombshellRox.com
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Bombshell - The Rock Show!
www.BombshellRox.com
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Funny, my first real amp (after the sears special) was a fender twin reverb, then a Traynor monoblock for bass. That amp was the reason I decided to go small. the cabinet had built in wheels and 2 handles to cart it around. getting that thing on stage was a chore.
Now I have a 75 watt fender bass amp, a 100 watt fender mustang 3 modelling amp and a yorkville 100 watt keyboard amp. the yorkville gets the most use. it has 3 channels, one being xlr and the reverb can be turned off 2 channels. I just use a zoom guitar pedal with it. but for the solo stuff I have just been using the battery powered traynor pa. 50 watts is more than enough. I still have to play with built in guitar fx on the harmonizer. it has chorus and variations, reverb, compression, delay.
Now I have a 75 watt fender bass amp, a 100 watt fender mustang 3 modelling amp and a yorkville 100 watt keyboard amp. the yorkville gets the most use. it has 3 channels, one being xlr and the reverb can be turned off 2 channels. I just use a zoom guitar pedal with it. but for the solo stuff I have just been using the battery powered traynor pa. 50 watts is more than enough. I still have to play with built in guitar fx on the harmonizer. it has chorus and variations, reverb, compression, delay.
Now I've gone and done it... I just spent an hour on the craigslist Musician section and replied to 3 ads
Started playing bass at age 11. Two years later switched to guitar and have been playing guitar the past 20 years. Was in one garage band with a cousin that played guitar and another cousin that played drums. Only performed in front of friends that would come over and drink beer and listen to use play some metal. Really got into acoustic guitar 15 years ago. Played a lot of blues slide type stuff. That mississippi delta type blues. Started playing drums 10 years ago which I do the majority of the time now and last year started playing a native american flute which I really enjoy.
Been a while...How's everyone doing?
I had to move back in with the folks for a little bit..so I haven't played music in forever, but I'm setting up my gear tonight. I'm having withdrawals, but mostly from my drums..which I can't play here. I love all my instruments, but something about drum sets, they just let you get out that frustration, and it requires a bit more thinking, instead of feeling...been on idle far too long.
I haven't gotten any upgrades to my studio, other than it being in storage..lol, but I'm finally getting back into using computers, so I can start phasing out using a jamman loop pedal for my beats and bass lines for songs.
I hate that I had to move out of the house I was in... other than the 15foot ceilings, it had the perfect jam room, and I didn't have a neighbor beside me anymore. It was just too expensive to keep going on like that.
I'm debating getting a room mate, who is an amazing drummer, but has a tendency to not understand the value of keeping things simple while playing. Wife and I are trying to really determine if it's a good idea or not...because a room mate is the only way we can get into a house immediately..instead of being in apartment limbo for however long the lease requires.
Anyways, just wanted to let everyone know I'm not dead or lost in the wilderness.
One.
I had to move back in with the folks for a little bit..so I haven't played music in forever, but I'm setting up my gear tonight. I'm having withdrawals, but mostly from my drums..which I can't play here. I love all my instruments, but something about drum sets, they just let you get out that frustration, and it requires a bit more thinking, instead of feeling...been on idle far too long.
I haven't gotten any upgrades to my studio, other than it being in storage..lol, but I'm finally getting back into using computers, so I can start phasing out using a jamman loop pedal for my beats and bass lines for songs.
I hate that I had to move out of the house I was in... other than the 15foot ceilings, it had the perfect jam room, and I didn't have a neighbor beside me anymore. It was just too expensive to keep going on like that.
I'm debating getting a room mate, who is an amazing drummer, but has a tendency to not understand the value of keeping things simple while playing. Wife and I are trying to really determine if it's a good idea or not...because a room mate is the only way we can get into a house immediately..instead of being in apartment limbo for however long the lease requires.
Anyways, just wanted to let everyone know I'm not dead or lost in the wilderness.
One.
I moved back to my old place this weekend. So nice to have the man cave back. I got the studio all setup. I added a couple M Audio AV42 powered monitors. They have serious sound for such little boxes and they have inputs front and back. For rehearsing I just plug out of the headphone out of the harmonizer into the front input.
I wrote a banjo part for one of the most recent songs. In the band Jimmy does a driven guitar part but for the cd I am going to do more folk instrumentation. When I play it live solo, I am doing harmonica for the guitar part (trying to add more harmonica all the time, it makes songs longer so I have to remember less lyrics)
Taking the ukulele to work tonight. I was trying to play some last weekend at the gig and I realized I hadn't played the ukulele in a long time and some songs really felt foreign
I really need to update my avatar as my mandolin is blond now
I decided on preset up, preset down, harmony, delay, hit/talk and one button looper for my pedal assignment. I don't change the instrument fx while playing anyway. The hit button allows for adding an extra fx to the voice... the patches I use are with a voice 1 octave above mine, a 3rd below, a 3rd above, a 3rd and 5th above, a 3rd above and below and one patch called Barry White (for doing bass lines like the end of Black Water by the Doobie Bros or doing a bass line in the looper; Don't worry, be happy)
I wrote a banjo part for one of the most recent songs. In the band Jimmy does a driven guitar part but for the cd I am going to do more folk instrumentation. When I play it live solo, I am doing harmonica for the guitar part (trying to add more harmonica all the time, it makes songs longer so I have to remember less lyrics)
Taking the ukulele to work tonight. I was trying to play some last weekend at the gig and I realized I hadn't played the ukulele in a long time and some songs really felt foreign
I really need to update my avatar as my mandolin is blond now
I decided on preset up, preset down, harmony, delay, hit/talk and one button looper for my pedal assignment. I don't change the instrument fx while playing anyway. The hit button allows for adding an extra fx to the voice... the patches I use are with a voice 1 octave above mine, a 3rd below, a 3rd above, a 3rd and 5th above, a 3rd above and below and one patch called Barry White (for doing bass lines like the end of Black Water by the Doobie Bros or doing a bass line in the looper; Don't worry, be happy)
That thing should do some nice stereo phase/flange kinda stuff too. Not that I would know anything about that...
Nice Recording Rig!
Dude, YOU ROCK!
Go git 'em Pip!
WooHoo!!!
Ian Anderson once at the Pacific Coliseum here did a concert and just had a battery powered pignose amp on a barstool. My oldest brother sang a lot of Jethro Tull in his bands and I was introduced as a wee lad. I was learning parts of songs on my recorder (remember those things in school?)
I have been quite fortunate this season. I have gotten booked into all the highest paying markets. So much so that I have had to tell my regular gig I only want one show a month from them. I also want to get recording done
here's another original I recently wrote...
I have been quite fortunate this season. I have gotten booked into all the highest paying markets. So much so that I have had to tell my regular gig I only want one show a month from them. I also want to get recording done
here's another original I recently wrote...
Into my first cup of coffee, then headed out to praise band rehearsal at 7:45am. I never thought I'd get up this early for church, but I'm into year 10 of playing on a stage Sunday mornings! It's different, but it keeps my chops sharp.
The good part is that I'm done by 10 and the day is still fresh.
The good part is that I'm done by 10 and the day is still fresh.
I played a new market yesterday. They blocked off a city block. Best money I have made to date. It was sure cold though. And I have managed to kill another eliminator (power supply for the harmonizer). Canadian Tire sells crap batteries. It died after 3 hrs so I went straight to PA. I tested it last night and it wouldn't run my laptop for an hour. Not sure this one is still under warranty though (last one was). I might just take it apart today and jimmy rig a bigger aftermarket battery in there. I don't use it to jump cars so removing that stuff should make room...
so that is today's project. rip apart the power supply.
I was setup beside music box. They give music lessons. The wife was running the booth and she told her husband about my cool toy that does harmony but it was dead before he came over to check it out. Buddy of mine came over to tell me I needed to turn up the volume... no dude, you keep the volume lower. That way people have to come closer to listen. They are more inclined to toss some change in the guitar case if they are close.
so that is today's project. rip apart the power supply.
I was setup beside music box. They give music lessons. The wife was running the booth and she told her husband about my cool toy that does harmony but it was dead before he came over to check it out. Buddy of mine came over to tell me I needed to turn up the volume... no dude, you keep the volume lower. That way people have to come closer to listen. They are more inclined to toss some change in the guitar case if they are close.
Finally, I got to play a little tonight...only fiddled around with part of one song, I believe one of the last things I created.
It was such a good feeling. After not playing for so long, I've been looking back and thinking that I didn't have any good material...or material suitable to play shows with, but after jammy-jamming for about 10 minutes, all that pessimistic bs I had floating in my head just dissolved into positive reinforcement.
Funny how critical artists can be of themselves, or others, when we're not even listening/viewing at the time the negative criticism is boiling over.
Still haven't been able to get my drum set moved to me to set up here, but I'm thinking we'll be out of here really soon. We found an apartment/town house complex that said flat out I could play loud music from 900-2200..year lease, but half of what I'd pay for a house around here, so I can save some money(update some of my equipment needs..lol).
It was such a good feeling. After not playing for so long, I've been looking back and thinking that I didn't have any good material...or material suitable to play shows with, but after jammy-jamming for about 10 minutes, all that pessimistic bs I had floating in my head just dissolved into positive reinforcement.
Funny how critical artists can be of themselves, or others, when we're not even listening/viewing at the time the negative criticism is boiling over.
Still haven't been able to get my drum set moved to me to set up here, but I'm thinking we'll be out of here really soon. We found an apartment/town house complex that said flat out I could play loud music from 900-2200..year lease, but half of what I'd pay for a house around here, so I can save some money(update some of my equipment needs..lol).
Finally back online. I formatted my laptop. Hated windows 10. suspectK. 11 hrs a day is plenth long enough to play. Get set up
So I bought a solar panel. It has a plug in the middle of the 8ft wire so you can use different connections; direct wired, cigarette lighter plug and jumper cables. I tried on the eliminator supply in cig lighter but the one cel is so dead it can't keep up. It does work good on my motorcycle which is stored (and I had to replace the battery last year)...
so I ordered a couple 6800mah lipo batteries off ebay. From China so expected delivery is as late as end of March... so I found a UPS battery supplier in Canada. Got a deal on a 28amp gel cel that will fit.
So I have been more problem solving than playing at home. Though I bring an instrument to work every night. Tonight it is acoustic guitar. I wrote one more octave mandolin song for the cd. 3 mando, 3 om and 4 guitar tracks will be on this one, maybe 3 guitar... length dependant. I have almost cleared enough debt off the credit card to have them printed at cd baby
So I bought a solar panel. It has a plug in the middle of the 8ft wire so you can use different connections; direct wired, cigarette lighter plug and jumper cables. I tried on the eliminator supply in cig lighter but the one cel is so dead it can't keep up. It does work good on my motorcycle which is stored (and I had to replace the battery last year)...
so I ordered a couple 6800mah lipo batteries off ebay. From China so expected delivery is as late as end of March... so I found a UPS battery supplier in Canada. Got a deal on a 28amp gel cel that will fit.
So I have been more problem solving than playing at home. Though I bring an instrument to work every night. Tonight it is acoustic guitar. I wrote one more octave mandolin song for the cd. 3 mando, 3 om and 4 guitar tracks will be on this one, maybe 3 guitar... length dependant. I have almost cleared enough debt off the credit card to have them printed at cd baby
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