Dad3353

... He listened to plainsong But found it all wrong And so ended up preferring funk.

[quote name='grandad' timestamp='1455040785' post='2975339'] Thank you Dad3353, that is so useful, I am so pleased. [/quote] [sharedmedia=core:attachments:167485]

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1455098163' post='2975769'] I don't want to bash the bishop, but shades on a man of the cloth?? [/quote] ...or clothes on a shady man..? One black candlestick or two white faces..? Hmm...

[quote name='FuNkShUi' timestamp='1455091157' post='2975695']... I wonder if the general public who don't play music themselves would even notice? [/quote] When I was playing in variety orchestras, animating the local dance from 9 till 2, the numbers were usually grouped by type of dance, so we'd have, for example, 4 or 5 rock/twist songs, then some waltzes, followed by a couple of polkas, and a tango or two and a series of slows... Once the couples are up and waltzing, it wouldn't do to break those formations; give 'em a chance to enjoy whatever style they've chosen to dance to. Are these musicians..? No, not at all, but they have quite considerable experience in dancing and enjoying their evening. Similarly for repeated keys; they may not know [i]why [/i]it feels 'odd', but they certainly do notice such details, and varying tonalities does help with giving them a smooth ride. Not all audiences or styles of event have the same 'rules',or format, so it may be appropriate in other circumstances, though, and a 'lead-in' from one song to another is a great touch to add. Just sayin'.

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1455059327' post='2975627'] Pronounced '[color=#000000]/[/color][color=#000000]stuːp[/color][color=#000000]/[/color]'. [/quote] Indeed, thus rhyming with 'soup', 'troop' or 'Guadeloupe'. Thank you for that precision.

I think you'll maybe have some difficulty finding a bishop free at such short notice; even more so one with such a pronounced stoop. May I suggest the cunning ploy of using a full-sized cardboard photo of the Right Reverend, mounted on mattress springs so that it sways back and forth..? No-one will know; you'll probably forget his absence, too, and may even prefer the photo's playing..! Tough call, but that's just one of the drawbacks of gigging with clergy.

[quote name='Mornats' timestamp='1455054353' post='2975565']...would please me no end if they chose a cinematic picture for March's comp... [/quote] What..? A stop-motion dive of a scantily-clad girl into a picturesque lake is not cinematic enough..? What do you want, Star Wars Tee-fighters and lasers..? Lawrence of Arabia..? Roger Rabbit's Toonville..? Serves you right if next month's pic is of a solitary rose in a vase..!

[quote name='cheddatom' timestamp='1455049424' post='2975487']...as this set-up works so well! [/quote] ... and nobody in the audience is listening to the 'bass drum', either..!

[quote name='seashell' timestamp='1455046976' post='2975446'] Yeh but most of my friends are musicians or bloody actors and comedians. I'm supposed to go to all their lamentable performances, but do they come to mine? Not often (rolls eyes). [/quote] But [i]they're [/i]on [i]their [/i]stage when [i]you're [/i]on [i]your [/i]stage, aren't they..?

[quote name='cheddatom' timestamp='1455047065' post='2975448']... This is recorded with a go pro and the kick going through the small PA in my live room... [/quote] Yay..! Result..! Final 'tweak'..? Double-sided beater; just a twist to go from hard 'clack' to softer 'thud'. No, don't thank me; just a postal order will do. Good work, lad; well done.

[quote name='The Hat' timestamp='1455046123' post='2975425'] Are these effects boxes simple to use ? I look at some of em and I wouldn't have a clue what buttons to press [/quote] True, they can be daunting at first view but, as with many things in life, it's only the first forty years that are the worst, after which things generally tend to get (slightly...) better. It's not rocket surgery; do as we all do (or did...) press the buttons and listen to what happens. If it's good; keep it. If not, try another. Rinse and repeat. 'Seasy, really; even I can do it (sometimes...), and I'm a drummer..! Another vote for the Roland Bass Cube 30; in fact, all Roland amps are good, in my experience.

We've always done this, as have most of the previous formations in which I've played. Our present criteria are guided more, now, by my physical (lack of...) abilities, so as to give me much-needed respite from the more up-tempo numbers, but the 'flow' as you call it, is in my view, a very important factor in the success of any set. Always worth working on, but not to over-think, of course. If drop tunings are involved, grouping to keep tune up/down sessions to a minimum; otherwise try to keep the key changes flowing (don't follow a song in 'A' with another in 'A' etc...). I thought all bands did this.

[quote name='Andyjr1515' timestamp='1455045847' post='2975424']...it's starting to look like a dreadnought body... [/quote] Indeed it is..! Excellent topic, excellent write-up, excellent photos. Excellent all round, in fact. Thanks for sharing.

[quote name='xgsjx' timestamp='1455043342' post='2975380'] I got a little time with the vocoder & polished up the track a little bit... [/quote] Isn't that just the essence of this Challenge..? So much variation..! Not just chalk and cheese, but polenta, radishes, cucumber, whelks and fried chicken wings..! It's going to be a brave person to choose any one of these as 'Best Of Show', and there's certainly more to come still..! Bring 'em on, I say, but it's getting to the point where a Winner's Certificate should, in all justice, be issued to each and every entry, simply for the merit of having been created and presented..! Where will it end..? The mind boggles (well, my pea-sized one does, anyway..! ).

[quote name='Bastav' timestamp='1455042640' post='2975374'] Heres mine... [/quote] Lacks cowbell ... ... No, just joshing, really; nice, earthy interpretation. Cool.

[quote name='christofloffer' timestamp='1455036600' post='2975280'] ok i have changed mine a bit ... [/quote] ... and we go from 'Very good' to 'Much better'..! Definite improvements, in all quarters, for me. Good stuff. My thumb is up. (... but [i]do [/i]listen to your Mum in other subjects, such as washing behind your ears, or not watching the telly from too close up... )

[quote name='grandad' timestamp='1455013202' post='2974931']...what I need is a simple arrangement from which to pick out the groove.... [/quote] Are you aware of this site, where a large selection of jazz 'standards' are shown in their 'vanilla' form..? I find it very useful as a 'bare bones' starting point for many pieces... [url="http://www.ralphpatt.com/Song.html"]Ralph Patt's Jazz Web Page ...[/url] Hope this helps.

I thought it lacked that little '[i]je ne sais quoi[/i]'; now let me see... Quality..? Yes, that was it. And musicality. It lacked that, too. And interest. And good taste. And... ([i]wanders off, reeling out a long enumeration of elements likely to endear one to a performance[/i]...).

[quote name='lowdown' timestamp='1454955779' post='2974608'] That is very, very nice, Dad. A very enjoyable listening and a very mature composition. [/quote] [sharedmedia=core:attachments:167485]

[quote name='Mornats' timestamp='1454955052' post='2974592'] Quick question about Vocaloids. Do you need to buy the editor as well as the voice pack (Avianna for example)... [/quote] The editor is included with every voice pack, so no need to acquire separately.

[quote name='blablas' timestamp='1454952655' post='2974564'] Am I allowed to show more? [/quote] Of course, as long as you're not trying to sell it.

I'll be away later on this month with family affairs, so I'll put this up now, as it won't be getting any better ... [url="http://soundcloud.com/dad3353/scintillating-curved-air"]Scintillating Curved Air ...[/url] I should be back for the voting; we'll see. It's going to be another tough contest, isn't it ..?

I've had some modest success using Vocaloids for singing. Not, maybe, for all styles, but there are several of 'em suitable for English-language (most are Far Oriental in their diction...), and they're quite easy enough to use. Here's an example done a couple of months ago. Worth a try..? Far better than anything my own organ could have come up with, whatever the treatment, that's for sure..! [url="https://soundcloud.com/dad3353/calling-maria"]Calling Maria ...[/url]

[quote name='christofloffer' timestamp='1454873534' post='2973821'] indeed i did, thanks... [/quote] [sharedmedia=core:attachments:167485] I understand the 'play it right through' method, rather than dropping in and out, although there are ways to marry the two. I use Reaper, not Logic, but I expect there's a way of editing ('automating'...) the volume of a track..? It's quite possible to not 'cut', but rather reduce the volume, or bring it down to zero, then bring it back in later. One keeps the 'live take' feeling; there's no synchro problems, and it's easy enough to change one's mind or refine things; it's not destructive at all. In the same way, it's equally possible (and often done...), to play the part several times, and, using the same 'volume automation' technique, keep from each take the best parts. A 'top tip', in some instances, is to raise the volume of a particular track just a bit (+3db..?), and for a short time (less than 1 second..?) when one wished to draw attention to it. The beginning of a chorus, or the introduction of a new instrument; whatever... A tiny raising and lowering of the levels attracts the ear, focussing attention to it. Just sayin'...