Dad3353

... and Fairport Convention..?

Oh yes there would.

Here is my contribution to the May 2022 Basschat Composition Challenge, inspired by a picture chosen by the previous (joint...) winner: NickD. I started off with a blank sheet and doodled some chord sequences; this was the result. My apologies, any link to the picture is un- (or sub-...) concious and fortuit. I finally settled on M-Drummer (two tracks...), a couple of string tracks, a bass, guitar and sax from BIAB and that's about all. Some tinkering with levels, my standard Cockos compressions, all in Reaper. Thanks for listening, if you already have; if you're about to, enjoy.

To be held in Moscow, the capital. ...

Errol Gardner's 'Misty'. I've been at it for over forty years, now. One day, though; one day...

For what it's worth (that's to say : very little...), my 'Tip Of The Week' is simply 'Less Is More'. A convenient point of view for me, as it happens, as I have Official Cloth Ears (when I say 'cloth', think several layers of thick blanket under a duvet, not cheese-cloth...). I can't hear 1 db, and 'slight', to me, means 3db at least. I have tried 'tweaking' stuff, but for many years now have taken to using almost none of the bells and whistles which my PC has at its disposal. I use Reaper for DAW; the Cockos compressions supplied are always 'on', with a NY drum bus for any drums I'm using ('live', programmed or samples; whatever...) and a NY Glue on the Main (Output...) track. There may be occasions where Fx are used, as Fx, using my 'broad brush' technique, and I have on a few occasions resorted to mastering stuff such as Ozone presets or the like, but nothing I've ever found or used has made any of my sow's ears into silk purses. I listen, many times, during my composition phases, and judge, for better or worse, the results by this simple expedience. Of course, this can be realised by listening to my Challenge output, where the inate qualities of my music are marred by my inability to better the Production, which is why I garner so few votes, mostly. Those efforts that have won, on occasion, have, however, no better treatment than any other. My conclusion is, then : if it's to be voted on, the Production matters far, far less than the Composition itself (gauged against the Composition of the other entries...). As best as possible, then, but no need to overthink anything. Less is often More, and no-one will hear or notice that subtle 1db in the upper mids (least of all me...). Just my tuppence-worth.

...

No. (... and I did watch some of this 2022 stuff, and thought it to be 'rubbish'.. I could elaborate on that brief comment (Bananas, anyone..? Whatever...), but it's too painful to go over in any detail. Not to mention the kilo (mega..?) watts of lecky wasted on a fabulous display of 'lighting' overkill and ridiculous 'choreography'. Tawdry dross, I say...)

Once again, as if further proof were needed, we can see what completely different worlds we live in. During a pause in a programme I was watching, with Our Eldest, we 'zapped' onto this Eurovision thing. We didn't stay long; just enough to hear/watch a couple of acts, and got back to our evening viewing with some alactrity. Some people like that stuff..? Some even think it's 'good' (or more...)..? There's no accounting for tastes. It's a rum ol' world, right enough. The old Morecambe and Wise line came to mind... (The topic title is 'Eurovision 2022'; there is no stipulation that only 'positive' comments are allowed. Just sayin' ...)

Dream..? You lucky so'n'so...

Done, but atypical, I suspect. Good luck with your Project.

Seems to have worked, no..?

Nope (or at least, not that quickly...). Anyway, only two hours..? Hardly enough time for the opening number and half of 'Dark Star'. Thanks for the 'heads up', though. ...

I found that it was the first forty years that were the best, and even now, when the rare opportunities come up, I look forward to it, as long as I am able, and allowed, to coil up a lead or two to help out at the end. Fond memories of a totally empty dance hall, on the evening that the first discothèque opened a couple of miles away. The old lady with her broom chasing out the lads that had started fighting. The guitarist, Michel, taking over Gégé's bass to show him how to play 'Sir Duke', but using a banana, the 'discussion' with the BL as to how to play drums for Stones numbers, the 'British' way, the tour bus stuck in a snow drift, and that time all the tyres had been slashed. Clearing a wedding 'do' with a rendering of King Crimson and Saucerful Of Secrets, as a drum-keys duo (wildly applauded...). I had heard the expression 'Sex'n'drugs'n'Rock'n'Roll'. Rock, every time? Drugs..? Saw 'em about oft-times. But when does the 'sex' kick in..?

OK then (lyrics, maybe, but no need of a 'singer'..!). How about 'Take Five'..? Or any of the jazz standards..? Instrumental versions of the Beatles catalogue..? Beethoven's 5th..? The list could be long...

Telstar..? Apaché..? Tubular Bells..? Careful With That Axe, Eugene..? Dark End Of The Street..? The list could be long...

Lead_free needs a higher temperature to flow, and flux certainly helps keep the parts to be soldered clean whilst it's going on. Electronic-grade flux, not the highly-corrosive plumbing flux, of course. 60/40 is much easier to use, though, especially when beginning with this black art.

They're your ears, and you won't get another set. Do whatever you can to keep 'em in good nick for as long as possible, I'd say. Having control of the overall volume is a good start; having mixing possibility is even better. If you're free of tinnitus for the moment, that's the time to take your hearing under your own control if you can. Just my tuppence-worth.

Any sound quality available after re-wiring will be there for years/decades to come. The present bird's nest can fail at any time, with the chances stacked against it failing when it doesn't matter much. Whilst the bass is open, and it's all there in front of you, it's the ideal time to do a Good Job, once, then close up the bass and play with confidence. That, in my opinion, is well worth it, even if, for the short time the current stuff works, they sound the same. There are basically two main systems for de-soldering, and neither are expensive; if one is to do any more work of the sort, both are a very reasonable investment. A solder sucker costs little (type 'solder sucker' into Amazon; there are whole kits for about a tenner or so...). De-soldering braid is very handy; I would use both, depending on the job in hand. Flux is a different matter. Good electronic-use solder is flux-cored, so the flux is applied at the same time as the soldering, so additional flux is rarely needed. It may be useful when soldering big (a relative term...) metal surfaces, such as pots, but, in general, cleanliness of the surface and a suitably-powerful iron are what's needed. Plumbers use flux to keep the soldered area clean when using a blow-torch, but it's not essential for the type of soldering we do on amps and instruments. I use it when soldering piano-wire undercarriages for my model RC 'planes, but never for electronics. For basic soldering, a small (a relative term...) 30w iron does a Good Job, but a more powerful iron has more uses (soldering on pots, for instance...). I've used Weller irons for decades; a Weller 100w iron will see you out, and do all you're likely to want. An important point, whatever the iron, is to have a damp sponge close by, to wipe the tip frequently, removing excess solder and residues. Having a clean tip, at the right temperature, using the tip to heat the wire, then applying the solder, which should just flow, is the key. I would go out on a limb, despite my interest in ecology matters, and recommend the use of 60/40 solder, and not the 'lead-free' stuff (which works, but requires some experience to use, and is not suitable for amateur use, in my view...). There, I hope that's enough. Come back with more questions if doubts subsist.

For my money, I'd recommend removing everything, cleaning up the component tags, and re-wiring from scratch with decent wire/cable. There's not much to be saved, there. If necessary, draw a circuit diagram of how it should be wired up before removing it all. That exposed 'shielding' is doing nothing worthwhile in that state, and reliability would be greatly enhanced by entire replacement. Once cleaned up and correctly soldered, it will all work as it should, for many years/decades to come. Just my tuppence-worth.

Popcorn's not all it's cracked up to be.

I've been 'learning' 'Misty' for over forty years, now, so thirty months seems credible..!

Make sure that you have adequate back-ups of anything precious (ie: that which cannot be bought, such as photos, personal documents, password lists etc...) before doing stuff of the sort. (Come to think of it, make sure that you have adequate back-ups, full stop. ... )