Skol303

I really need to get writing again for these challenges... it's been a while.

Doubtful it'll be this month, as my work life is still in overdrive. And heh, it's sunny out there!  But when things settle down it'll be good to get back in the saddle and splurge out something vaguely musical alongside you good folk.

In the meantime, this is what my thoughts would probably have turned to this month. So count yourselves lucky.

39 minutes ago, Al Krow said:

To be fair, he did manage to hook-up with one of the all time greatest bass players called "John".

Absolutely. Like I said, I can't fault Daltrey's achievements.

I just think he's a bit of a knobber 

I admittedly haven't read the interview, but it sounds like another ageing proponent of rock music doing the genre no favours at all.

Like some kind of ailing Egyptian king, wanting all of the riches to be buried along with him.

If rock music really did peak in the 1970s then it truly deserves to die off. But I doubt any young bands starting out in the genre would give a flying **** about Daltry's opinion on the matter. In spite of his achievements, I personally have always thought him to be a monumental...

41 minutes ago, BigRedX said:

Conversely our laptop is housed in a flight case with all the required peripherals - audio and MIDI interfaces, DI/Isolation boxes, PSUs, bolted/screwed/cable-tied/glued in place. All the flimsy computer cables are contained within the case and connections with the outside world are made with XLRs via a front mounted patch panel.

^ That sounds like a very sensible approach.

Good work Mornats!

June's composition challenge is now on...

June Composition Challenge is now underway!

Here’s the image for your inspiration, chosen by last month's winner, Mornats… 

Rules:

1. Don't use any content that you don't have the right to use.
2. Try not to be offensive.
3. Entries should be no more than five minutes long and written/produced during the month of the competition.

The deadline for entries is midnight on Saturday 23rd June.

1 hour ago, xgsjx said:

Many DJs & electronica musicians use a laptop these days. They rarely have any issues if using decent kit.  

Precisely.

When not posting gifs involving blow-up sheep, I'm very much an analogue, trusty TRS/XLR cable kinda guy... but the entire DJ / live electronic music scene is built on plugging laptops and various USB/FireWire/Ethernet devices into PA systems via audio interfaces and mixers. The signal chain involved in using a ROLI live is child’s play in comparison to some of the live set ups I’ve seen 

To quote Ferris Bueller: “Life moves pretty fast…”

1 hour ago, Skol303 said:

1 hour ago, Happy Jack said:

How do you use these things in a live-on-stage, band situation? 

On 18/05/2018 at 22:46, Bolo said:

This wins.

I'm not sure what, but it wins.

1 hour ago, xgsjx said:

Get Dettol wipes (the ones in the white packet) for wiping it down with.  You don't need to wipe it after every use.

So I visited my local Apple Store after work yesterday and now have a ROLI block on order from Gear4Music (where they're slightly cheaper).

Was totally sold in the first few minutes of playing with one. Slightly weird and a lot more squishy than I was expecting! Had a mess around using the Equator synth and wow... the things you can do with slides, vibrato, pull-offs etc is really quite amazing. Much more than I was expecting.

So it seems like a great fit for me. Something very compact and yet also chock full of functionality.

My only criticism would be the black keys. It's going to take me a little while to adjust to 'seeing' the notes - I'm not a natural keyboard player at all! Maybe I'll have to paint mine with Tippex

Anyone know if they're auctioning off the gear?

...too soon? Sorry  

3 hours ago, xgsjx said:

If you're ever up my way, you're welcome to pop in for a play about on it.

Thanks G! I'm not up in Scotland as often as I used to be... I'm more of a Europhile these days  - but that's a very nice offer.

My local Apple store in Manchester has some ROLI products in stock - not sure what the deal is between ROLI and Apple (?). So I'm going to pop in there and have a play.

Well for starters there are entire genres that have developed around synth bass… Drum’n’Bass, Dubstep, UK Bass, Miami Bass, Future Bass, Bassline and not forgetting the imaginatively named Bass Music. It’s a big part of the dance music scene for obvious reasons.

One performance that always sticks in my mind is LFO at the Sheffield Octagon sometime in early-mid ‘90s. When they played their titular track, ‘LFO’ (below), it caused some of the bottles behind the bar to shake loose and smash on the floor. All rather exciting at the time. And you don’t get that with a 4-string playing Sex On Fire

^ Thanks for the input guys! Your experiences seem to match the reviews I’ve been reading.

The Rise 49 would be ideal, but I literally don’t have space for a keyboard that size in my set up - not without installing a shelf at my mix/listening position, which would cause all kinds of comb filtering with the acoustics… have I mentioned that I’m an acoustics obsessive!? 

So yeah, I need something more compact, hence I’m considering the Block. I could probably fit two of those in my workspace, so I’d have scope to expand up to 48 keys with a footprint comparable to the Rise 25. Seems like the best option for my situation.

I think they have ROLI products to demo at my local Apple Store, so I’m going to head down there one lunchtime this week and have a play.

Seems like a truly innovative instrument anyway; and very exciting that the ‘traditional’ keyboard has been given this kind of makeover. Makes total sense when you think about it. I also found this product in the works from Keith McMillen - the K-Board Pro 4 - another MPE compliant keyboard, which looks very tasty but isn’t shipping until later this year.

Anyone here using a ROLI Seaboard product? For instance, the Block, Rise 25/49 or the Grand?

Info here for anyone unfamiliar with them. They're basically a 'new' type of MIDI controller instrument that allow MIDI Polyphonic Expression (MPE). Think of them as being a like the MIDI keyboard version of a fretless bass. Sort of.

If you have one, I'd be grateful to hear about your experiences with it. They get great reviews, but the honest critique of fellow Basschatters is always the best seal of approval

My current MIDI controller is playing up; hence I'm eyeing the ROLI range as a potential successor. They're quite expensive, but the compact ROLI Block is within budget. Looks very futuristic too... or a bit 'gimpy', depending on your perspective.

15 hours ago, Dad3353 said:

What..?  Bounder..!

All down to heat-induced delirium, honest!  

(it is crazily hot here at the moment...).

Latecomer just added: SH73

On 26/05/2018 at 09:03, SH73 said:

@Skol303

Can i still join the comp. Been working nights etc. had no time to upload.

 

I'll sort it now.

Two points to note:

1. I don't encourage late entries. I don't mind extending the deadline to the day the voting thread gets posted, but beyond that... well, that way lies madness. Specifically I don't want to get into a situation where folks keep sending in late entries because I've been lenient with someone else. So count this as an exception.
2. PMs always work best in situations like this as I get an instant notification by email. Especially on hot, sunny days when I've been sitting in the garden and not checking Basschat 

2 hours ago, lurksalot said:

Skolmeister , the poll time says it closes at 22:59  and I can't find the buttons to edit it buddy 

Ah nuts! Well spotted mate.

I got back from Belgium last night and for some reason my laptop still thought I was there this morning (hence the 1 hour time difference). Can laptops have hangovers!?

I’ll sort it next chance I get, no probs.

1 hour ago, EliasMooseblaster said:

We have imagined a future in which the shop owner decides to wind down his operation and has a closing-down sale...and as the last dog-eared vinyl LPs exchange hands for cash, the last dusty CDs bagged up for a journey to a new home, he turns off the lights and locks up the shop one last time. And in that moment, he will look over his should and see one lone album left unwanted on the shelves, and it will be that Glitter Band LP.

Haha, nice imagery 

10 minutes ago, martthebass said:

You could go off someone y'know

True fact: first record I ever bought was 'My Gang' by Gary Glitter... picked it up from a jumble sale as a kid. Probably still have it somewhere, although I imagine the resale value has dropped a bit.

One of my own, so y'all can also take the pish: 'Stir Up A Hurricane'

10 minutes ago, Graham said:

try my old band, as I think it could be ambiguous - Echovirus

A bit like Radiohead, Radiohead, Radiohead, Radiohead, Radiohead.... ?