Pinball

Hi, I'm pretty new to recording and still leaning to use a mac and Garageband. I am having a blast but it strikes me that there must be quicker ways to get drum tracks in my songs. I started off by directly recording drum tracks from my looper. This was easy but is limiting what I can do so I recently got EZdrummer. I struggled for a while to get it to work with Garageband (mainly because I couldn't find it ). Now that I know where it is, I love the sounds and I can happily copy loops and insert them in Garageband. The problem is that the loops are short and my songs are long so I have to piece everything together and try and retain the beat at the same time. What I want to do is set EZdrummer playing and record for the length of the whole track real time in Garageband. That way I will have a basic drum track, or maybe 2 or 3 above one another that I can slice up and add to as I like. When I try this and play EZdrummer it doesn't record anything. All very annoying and time consuming! I'm hoping that someone here can give me some pointers. Total computer nerd here, (holds hands in the air!)

[quote name='TG Flatline' timestamp='1335365601' post='1629950'] but I hadn't yet unlearned that 15s are for bass and 10s are for mids and highs.... [/quote] Hmm I get that and was making the mistake that I would get a better sound by mixing them. I guess that to get the purest sound I would be better with two identical cabs. The trouble is that now I need to decide if I go for 10's, 12's or 15's and I haven't got a signiture sound yet.....Hmmm I'm confused again! Flyfishers option of 2x 210's is starting to sound appealing but I already have 1 Peavey 1x15 Peavy BW so getting another is the cheap option while I plan ahead.

Brilliant, the above posts cover what I need to know. Thanks for the guidance.

Cool thanks, I have an old mystery peavy 15" cab that came with the amp and seems fine but am looking to add some 4x10 or 12". I have read the helpful thread explaining ohms but find the information on the various cab stats confusing. I don't want to buy something and then prompty damage it.

I have an Mag 300 Evo 11 amp and the chance of some 2nd hand cabs but am confused over cabinet choice. Putting ohms asside because they seem fine (8 ohm). The output of the ashdown is 300watts but there are two jacks out. My guess is that this means it is 150w ber channel if both are used to a 200w or 250w cab would be fine. Am I right or heading for disaster? Advice would be much appreciated. Ed

I'm starting to love this thread and soundclooud. It is great to hear what others are doing. There is a lot of talent and originality on this group.

[quote name='musophilr' timestamp='1335110351' post='1625858'] I liked [b] [url="http://soundcloud.com/huwfoster/living-in-the-future-2011"]Living in the future (2011 remaster)[/url][/b] If you'd like some guitar (acoustic or electric) on it let me know [/quote] I like also emotional stuff!

[quote name='charic' timestamp='1334928889' post='1623621'] I've started to do a little project on the side, more atmospheric than my "normal" stuff. Where I'm primarily playing keyboard. What makes this particularly adventurous is that at the end of each day I work on a song it uploads to soundcloud almost automatically. So anyone watching will get to see the songs develop. Linky: [url="http://www.soundcloud.com/serenitydepths"]http://www.soundclou.../serenitydepths[/url] [/quote] Serene indeed. That's a great intro for something!

[quote name='musophilr' timestamp='1335109072' post='1625837'] [b]HeeHaw song [/b]Lovely african drums thing going on here. Did I hear some slap-wise bass in there? [b]Burning Ghosts (TD)[/b] Liked the guitar solo. You continue to come up with good grooves [/quote] Thanks, I'm pretty happy with the progression but have hit the wall again as I'm learning to use some new software/EZ drummer. Slap bass? I guess it is half way there as I play finger style but can pluck slap style, I cant get the thumb slapping at all.

[quote name='Mornats' timestamp='1334171445' post='1612081'] In that case, check out GrooveMonkee's Electronic midi drum pack: [url="http://www.groovemonkee.com/en/products?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=4&category_id=1"]http://www.groovemon...4&category_id=1[/url]. They all work in EZdrummer and other drum packages too. Do a bit of googling for a discount code too. The current one (from their April newsletter) is gm10 for 10% off. For my tracks I use either the standard pop/rock drum kit that comes with EZdrummer or the Classic kit (a ~£50 expansion or the Funkmasters expansion, again ~£50). EZdrummer sometimes comes in a bundle with one of the expansions for not much more than EZdrummer itself. DV247.com have a shop in Clifton too so you can pop in and chat to the guys in there and if they haven't got one in stock, they can order one in. [/quote] Sorted, new 2nd hand mac and EZDrummer +the elecronic pack. It took me 3 nights to manage to down load it and figure out how to start it but I'm there now. Now I need to use it!

New track up, keep the advice coming as I'm getting to where I want to be. http://soundcloud.com/mole-music-1

lol there you go, Yep can do anytime. That's within walking distance but then again everywhere is in Nailsea "Its a small world but I wouldn't want to paint it"

Hi there from Nailsea. nice one. my bassplaying has not left the house yet

Hi M8. from Nailsea Nr bristol. Not too far away

Thanks for the tips

I'm planning to follow Mornats advice and try EZdrummer but first I need to get a newer mac. The operating system on my current one won't support the new version of Garage band so first newer mac and then EZ drummer. At the moment I load in drum tracks off my JM4 looper and mess around with them (see my Soundcloud link). The looper is my most used bit of kit. There are some awsome tracks on there but I want electronic/house beats and haven't got the time to make them.

Cool thanks, I'm recording solo directly into a mac so its not really an issue for me. I am using a Rolant Tric-capture USB as the interface. This suits me fine as I can plug my mic and jacks and its a nice simple to use pit of kit. I'm also finding that Garageband has everything I need at the moment. I already have several tunes on Soundcloud and my recording skills are improving.

I only got my first Bass, a Peavy Zephyr a few months ago and am already on my 3rd. Do I miss or regret selling? No because the basses I have now are better but I do remember it fondly. It did the job well for a budget bass guitar and was good enough for me to do some recording.

[quote name='oggiesnr' timestamp='1333740617' post='1606041'] A word of caution from the other side. If you are selling, and it is being collected, DO NOT accept Paypal, insist on cash. Reason is, they take your goods, then complain to Paypal that there is a problem (or even that they have not got them), Paypal stop the payment from your account and you are going to get your goods back how? Steve [/quote] Also Paypal/ebay charges are now more substantial than the were so need to be factored into your selling price. I always try gumtree/preloved first just in case there is someone around the corner that wants to buy your item.

[quote name='JayPH' timestamp='1333672175' post='1605247'] Cheers Pinball. I've had a couple of bad experiences on Ebay buying other things. I don't like buying expensive items on Ebay but this site just seems legit. Hope your Spector turns up as you expect. I do already have a decent usa jazz special but I'll have a bit of money coming my way and have decided to get some company for my J. I've gone from being certain that I wanted a Fender P-bass but now I'm wanting a Musicman Stingray and a Sandberg haha. I've decided to go to pmt in manchester and try each of them and then try summore in Dawsons so I know what I want. I like the security of buying new but it's like buying a new car. As soon as you leave the shop your bass has lost about 40% of its value. It's a great buzz though. I can see why people have lots of guitars now [/quote] The Spector turned up yestarday, condition is exactly as described. It is really well set up, with a maxed out EMG BTB 18v system so sounds great. It is something I was unlikely to find locally. The great thing about buying on line is the amazing choice. PMT in Bristol is great, the guys there are really helpful. I must admit I never bought a guitar from them despite lots of visits but have bought lots of other things.

Thanks M8, I'm enjoying myself and experimenting with styles and I'm still working on getting a broad spectrum of my stuff on line. I would re-record the first few if I had time but I have more to do. I'm starting work on something with no lead guitars and synthed voice but I may well get bored before O finish as I like the feel of holding real guitars. Re raucous vocals, Hmm I dunno about that as I never tried, other than on the track burning ghosts at your suggestion. I wasn't happy with the "screamer" version but the one up there is more aggressive and better than the original so thanks for that advice. To be honest I don't think I could be a screamer. It just wouldn't suit my voice. Maybe if I get an angry enough song that needs it ?? RE: Treble content, I think your right. It allows for more contrasts in the songs.

Fun thats the magic word! I'm sure that overuse of gadgets can be as distructive as creative but its all about having fun.