Dad3353

[quote name='The Jaywalker' timestamp='1510220551' post='3404666'] Ah! So the jokers I described above, "playing with passion" etc are somehow creating art by murdering 2-bit pop tunes...whereas the music and performances of Mahler, Debussy, Stravinsky, Ellington, Gil Evans etc are merely an academic exercise.... Erm, no. [/quote] A good case in point. I've seen many a concert where the performance is flat, lifeless, whereas the same work, can be, and often is, brought to life by the magic of great conductors, soloists and players giving of their best. Even more flagrant in the world of classical music, I'd say, is the importance of offering more, much more than the execution of a written piece. The music is not in the dots; it's in the musicians, and never more so than in the performance of the likes of those cited.

[quote name='The Jaywalker' timestamp='1510219718' post='3404663']... Still, could have been worse...it could have been a really good band made up of guys 10 years older reading some charts.... [/quote] I think I detect just the slightest tint of sarcasm here. If one is really only interested in the auditive aspect of music, one would enjoy the passage of a series of CD's as entertainment (and I don't doubt that some do...). A 'rubbish' band is a rubbish band, whatever their stage presence, but, for my part, and having all the same some minimum standard, I prefer raw enthusiasm over sterility every time. I'm not considering visuals, either; purely the audio given off. I don't dance, and often watch a band, listening to their efforts. If they're simply 'going through the motions', at whatever technical level, I'm not moved. I've seen many a group with little to offer in the way of technical skills (heck, I've played in many, too,.!), but have always preferred those to clinicians, with the proviso that the audience are happy with them. To each his/her own, of course, and maybe it's just me, but engagement wins over mere prowess for me.

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1510187756' post='3404593'] Jealousy?... [/quote] Why so..? Whilst agreeing that those talent and skills are, indeed, of a high standard, that's not always what is wanted in an evening's entertainment. For a concert, maybe (and even then...), but for enjoying a wedding 'do', either on the dance floor or as a spectator, it's not systematically the 'note perfect' rendition that fits the bill, at least not for many; maybe even more so for the non-musicians having a great time. Jealous..? Of what..?

...but not hard enough.

[quote name='steantval' timestamp='1510075798' post='3403807'] Is your drum kit carried in pro flight cases, if so it would take well over 5 minutes just to take the full kit, stands and cymbals out of them before actually putting the kit together. [/quote] Yes, and no. I'll be generous and maybe give you the five minutes, but really, no more. My drums are well cosy in their 'pro' soft cases, opened with a simple zip, the cymbals are in their flight case which only requires unlatching, and my stands are pre-set, fully positioned and ready to go; they're never folded away (that [i]would [/i]take a day or so..!) . So five minutes, on my own, but I've other helping hands in the singster and our bass player, our youngest. The cases don't take up much space, either, as they're 'Russian dolled' as and when they're emptied. It's just a matter of being organised, and having willing partners in crime.

The OP is not starting from scratch; he is already using a ('rubbish'; his term...) system, so may well have much of the ancillary stuff such as cables, mics etc already (but some of that may need an upgrade, too, of course...).

Well, there's one that didn't fit, for starters. Fixed.

[quote name='skitzigol' timestamp='1510071547' post='3403751']...[font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]the magic of the consistent dum sound...[/font] [/quote] Now that's being a bit [i]too [/i]harsh..! Thanks for the background info. Very interesting, and all the more credit to you for getting such a clean result; I'm impressed. I'm also very impressed with the drums; I was sure they were human-played, and well played at that. That they turn out to be 'drums in a box' is, to me, an extra lump of kudos due. You obviously have benefited (benefat..? ) from your previous experience with analogue gear, and that will doubtless continue. I'd be wary of reacting too strongly on my sole comments; best to garner a few more pairs of ears, as tastes and fashions in music have very different appeal to different folks. We (Basschat in general, and the 'Recording' section in particular...) always welcome opportunities to hear new talent, especially when it's so finely expressed. Keep 'em coming, in your own time, and again, 'Well done'.

I never do whale with fish puns.

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1510051844' post='3403480'] The biggest issue with the conventional kit is the lack of redundancy, a powered desk being the worst, dog and duck ten minutes away from a spare one might be ok, an hour each way from a decent paying wedding gig not so much. [/quote] Late '70s I was playing regular wedding gigs as a duo with an accordionist/keys buddy. My PA, a Hiwatt DR205 6-entry 200w head. Taking it out of the car at one restaurant venue, the chassis slid from its sleeve onto my knees, then to the ground. All four KT88 valves were shattered in the gutter. Gutted..? Yup; I'd forgotten to bolt the chassis back in place after having serviced it..! We did the evening using the key's Carlsboro amp as FOH (luckily a pretty small function room...). Back-up..? Spare..? Ha..! One never stops learning, and that was a lesson. Just sayin'.

Our Youngest plays bass in our band; it takes him about fourteen seconds to be ready, once the head is lifted onto the cab. He plugs in the bass and that's that..! From then on he'll be helping the singer and myself set up my kit; I say that five minutes is about right. The longest is the six cymbals, despite having the stands pre-set to their respective positions. I've looked at several 'quick-fit' solutions, but nothing, so far, has replaced the tried, tested, but slow method of wing nuts, felts and penny washers. So be it; it's not that bad. At least I'm sitting down for that part..! Total set-up for the whole band, from opening the van doors, would be around thirty to forty minutes, our PA and sound check included (no lights...).

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1509996063' post='3403145'] The good thing about digital desks and powered speakers is that there are still plenty of people happy to buy the old stuff off anyone thinking of getting some modern kit [/quote] Now there, I agree entirely. Bargains for everyone..!

Here we go; I offer you ... Mason And The Beasts ... In a somewhat 'soundscape' vein, I took inspiration, not only from the picture, but also from the old masters, notably one Sergei Prokofiev and his splendid 'Peter and the Wolf'. Far from having his talent, naturally, but I was attracted to the notion of according a theme to each of the protagonists. A much shorter piece, of course, which limits one's scope to some extent (maybe that's for the better; I'll let you judge that after having listened to the piece..!) Relatively sober in its construction (for a change..!); it makes use of only one 'synth' Vst instrument (Beatmaker Horror Box...), suitably (lightly...) treated, and a series of vocal samples as 'script' for our heroine, Mason Weaver. A stereo image to match the picture and that's it..! My usual gaggle of EQ, compression, delays and reverbs, all native Cockos, and a final patina applied with AAMS, 'Movie RMS' preset is the sum total of components used. Thanks for listening, if you already have; if you're about to, enjoy.

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1509980163' post='3402989'] That's not really a fair comparison is it? [/quote] Reading through the OP again, I'd say it fits quite well concerning usage and budget. Same band make-up, same venues, similar repertoire, looking for ease of use... Yup, I think it fits quite well...

I've just bought, almost new, an Alto 8-mic mixer amp, 500 + 500 Class D, for just under £120, delivered. It weighs just 8 kgs. For the size of venues we play, that's all I need (and all of us know how to work it, even the singster..!). None of us have these 'ipad' things, either. We just plug the box into the HK cabs, plug in five mics and we're off. Pubs, clubs, small outdoor gigs and garden parties... I'm fully aware of the splendid features of these new generation PA sets, but, for what we, and a lot of other amateur, 'week-end warrior' local bands do, they're fine, but overkill. Nice toys, but way off my budget, and not worth the difference as we don't use, nor want to use, their features. No 'individual monitoring' for us, no 31-band graphic, no need for tons of (or any...) fx. Old school..? You betcha. Does it work..? It does for us.

[quote name='TimR' timestamp='1509969720' post='3402900'] Well, anyone using electronics that's 30 years old and expecting it to be reliable has another thing coming. [/quote] Our Hiwatt has never failed, unlike our Hartke.