sammybee

I just took the plunge and invested in a more 'Modern' MPC, the MPC 'Live; gen 1.   Did quite a bit of research into the options before I pulled the trigger. Basically all modern MPC's( MPC one, LIve gen 1 and 2, MPC X)  are the same platform, the only difference is in the I/O - the core machine underneath runs the same software. 

Initial impressions. Very, very easy to get going with. I had a complete hook to a song going in about 10 mins (multitrack drums, bass and keys) just using some of the built in sounds. It is really intuitive software in a lovely hardware shell. Given the right samples, you could probably get away with this being your only piece of gear. Next I decided to see if I could easily record my bass into it (and drop the synth bassline I'd previously recorded)... plugged a stingray into input 1, and it was plenty hot enough to get a good clean signal.. took me about 5 mins to figure all this out, set the level and get my first take down.

I'm not going to sell off the rest of my synths/drum machines just yet - but for what these things go for used these days, it's a no-brainer for anyone producing electronic styles, or anything needing sequenced drums, synths and samples. It also has an internal battery (6hrs) so you can sling it in a bag, jam in the park or wherever the mood takes you.

Start really simply. Learn basic intervals. Use an app like Earpeggio. Dont worry about all the intervals - focus on root and iv first, then try and recognise the v .

That will take you a couple of weeks/month. Once you have that down, you can play 90% of all i,iv,v pop songs  with a basic root and fifth on Bass. Expand your knowledge of more intervals as the app guides you.

When ever you listen to music, just try and identify the intervals - after a few days thinking in terms of numbers it will become more natural... You dont need to try and play the bass at the same time - in fact trying to train your ears will probably be hindered if you're trying to play 

Dont try to think of Notes - c,d,e,f... think of the intervals. Once you have this down, when someone calls out a key - '..lets go for x in 'C'..' you can apply your interval knowledge, and the notes will flow naturally

+1 for the audient, works lovely with my Mac - for midi from my keyboard, I just use a cheap £10 usb converter from amazon

Nice playing! Although I think that the original (record) works a little better with the sparser bassline on this particular song.

39 minutes ago, Dad3353 said:

 

May I add the usual comment... Have you tried to play a right-handed bass at all..? Being left-handed does not automatically oblige one to use a 'lefty' instrument. Many Lefties get on perfectly well playing 'righty' instruments (guitar, bass, accordion, piano...). Half of our family are 'lefty' Our father was a 'hard' lefty...); I have a lefty brother that took to my righty guitars, and was much better than I was, much faster. It's not the case for everyone, I know, but if you're starting from zero, it's worth at least trying a righty bass first.
Just my tuppence-worth. 

This is really sensible advice, if you can use a righty - you'll have a lot more choice of both new and used instruments to pick (and at much keener prices)

There are loads and loads of them up and coming (some very good) on YouTube... I definitely don't think there is a shortage of female Bass Players in 2022

Loving the 'B' Side - shoulda made it the 'A' side

3 minutes ago, TeresaFR said:

I'm looking to connect my drum machine to my DAW via midi, the drum machine (Behringer RD-6 is midi compatible, but it turns out my audio interface (Komplete Audio 2) isn't. Do I have any other midi options barring getting my hands on an audio interface with in-built midi connectivity? Thanks.

I think the RD-6 has Midi over USB.. Just connect the RD-6 to your computer via usb and it should show up as a midi interface

I used Steinberg software (started with Pro 16 - through to whatever the current version of Cubase was at the time) and made the switch from Cubase / PC to Logic X / Mac about 10 years ago. I sold my copy of Cubase (it was legit) and PC, then bought a 2nd hand Mac Mini & Logic.

I wouldn't advocate chopping and changing every couple of months, but, as a one time switch it was pretty much painless. You can get overlays for Mac keyboards with all the Logic shortcuts which help. Logic is remarkable value for money -> I think I paid £169.00 at the time for the licence, and haven't paid a penny in upgrades since (Contrasting with Steinberg who thought it was acceptable to charge hundreds each year for the latest version).

If you're wedded to a PC, then check out Reaper (although when you compare apples with apples -> will work out a lot more expensive than Logic)

My current method is, get drums programmed on the MPC -> Logic

I'll then string together guitar part. Then I play it to my daughter, who will take the guitar part & replay it/rearrange it herself and make it sound 100x better -> Logic

I'll add bass next DI'd into Logic

Keys/samples & anything else gets added after the meat of the song.

Minimal processing/fx in Logic, I'll spend the time recording (and re-recording) to get it sounding as good as possible avoiding the need to 'fix it in the mix'

I like to keep it as simple as possible

On 24/05/2022 at 14:08, FDC484950 said:

I cannot see any reference to MOTU no longer supporting Macs - either Digital Performer or any of their audio interfaces. Is this support that was dropped and reinstated?

I didn't mean generally, I meant the specific interfaces I had, 2x 828mk2's and an 8Pre - support for these interfaces were finally dropped a couple of iterations of MacOS back. 

On 16/05/2022 at 09:44, BigRedX said:

 

That's a lot of money for a mono synth with only a single VCO and envelope generator and no programmable patch memories.

 

Back in the day when the Roland SH101 was new, there were three reasons why you bought one:

1. You wanted a decent 2 VCO, 2 EG synth but the SH101 was all you could afford.

2. You wanted a keytar and this (with the modulation grip) was all you could afford.

3. You wanted an arpeggiator and/or sequencer, and this was all you could afford.

 

No-one I knew back then bought one as a first choice. It was bought because it was about the cheapest new synth available.

 

I had one back in the early 80s. It was fine for the less important synth sounds (like background sequencer parts, sound effects and percussion) but not for any of our bass or lead sounds without external help. These days there are far better sounding synths with programmable patch memories for that kind of money.

 

Well the used synth market would have a more positive view of the SH101 Even tatty examples are approaching £1000. Even the Behringher MS101 which retailed for about £240 new, changing hands used for around the £350-400 mark.

Score one at a decent price, you'll learn something about synthesis (the OP i mean), and if it's not for you... punt it on for a profit... 

Behringer MS-101 - (a very accurate/good) copy of a Roland SH101. Front panel controls for everything and less than £375. 

20 hours ago, Alfie said:

 

How has the RD-9 been now you have had time to play?

Well it's sitting in the cupboard (still).... I had a short play with it a few weeks ago, but it didn't inspire me as much as I thought it would. Sure it does the TR-909 thing to a tee, and is great coupled with a 303 & 101 clone for some acid jamming or similar - which is cool, but I haven't been motivated to make that kind of stuff recently. 

Drum machine wise, atm, my Akai S900 driven by an MPC 2000xl is doing it for me. I love the simplistic nature of the S900, the 12bit crunch - it's a very musical piece of gear. 

I had MOTU interface(s) for over 10 years, very solid, great bits of kit. Unfortunately they were no longer supported on MacOS so I had to change. I was going to buy one of these M4 interfaces as a replacement, but plumped for the Audient as it has ADAT in (giving me an additional 8 channels of inputs). If you don't have the need for the ADAT I'd say go for it. Support from MOTU is top notch if you ever run into difficulties.

My daughter (12 yo) started playing bass (semi-seriously) about 2-3 years ago. At 9 years old, I bought her a decent short scale bass, which she never touched, much preferring a full size bass. Over the past few years she has played a Squier PJ (music teachers), Sire V5, Stingray, and... she often picks up my US RI 75 Jazz which is hefty to say the least. I'm not sure how tall your daughter is now, but if you buy a smaller bass - they shoot up quickly and she may out grow whatever you buy today in 6 months.

On 09/01/2022 at 07:56, wintoid said:

Just wondered if people had some recommendations of other artists/albums/tracks I should check out given how much I've enjoyed the ones I listed.  I'm probably less interested in rock or jazz at the moment.  Trying to get funky and in the groove.

 

Look for anything by Leon Sylvers III (producer and bassist on Solar records - thats Shalamar's label, along with the Whispers, Midnight Star and a whole bunch of 80's boogie)

Esther Williams - I'll Be Your Pleasure (Larry Levan Mix)

Anything by the fantastic (RIP) Mark Adams of the band Slave

A couple of 'easier' but fun and funky songs I love to play and improvise over... 'Shes A Real Mama Jama' - Carl Carlton (synth bass but sounds good played on electric) and 'Before I Let Go' - Maze feat Frankie Beverley..

If you like those, I can recommend loads more - have fun!!

2 minutes ago, Doctor J said:

Andy is right, it's a BC Rich Eagle, but you're hearing his Stingray. I recall an interview with Marcus Miller where Bernard told him he used the BC Rich basses for performances like this because they looked cool but he thought they sounded terrible.

The sound is somewhat distinctive (unmistakably Stingray). Interesting that he thought the BC Rich looked cooler

58 minutes ago, SteveXFR said:

Well that's unusual for Internet opinions. Everyone is saying the same and no one has been called a commie or nazi.

It seems like I have to get out and try one. Does anyone know of a shop in the Bristol area that's likely to stock them?

Love my EBMM Stingray 4H... There's a PMT in Bristol... if you speak to them very nicely and sound serious about buying one, they'll probably get one or two from another branch if they don't have any in stock (they've done this for me in Northampton)

I'm not sure any of them are playing, none of the instruments look like they're plugged in... more like miming!

Behringer RD-9 arrived yesterday evening after a very long delay shipping. Have resisted the urge to unwrap & plug in so far!

On 13/12/2021 at 10:56, owen said:

It might be tempting to use one of those doobries which enables you to run multiple monitors. I am running one with an M1 MBP. When it works it is great. It does not work all the time and I have to unplug and plug stuff multiple times. So that is a non starter.

This is the only drawback to the M1 laptops, the 'official' support of only one external monitor. Like you say, 2 monitors is a hack that doesn't work consistently if at all. 

if it's a cheap harp, the cost is going to outweigh the benefit... if it's an expensive harp - are you sure you would trust ANY courier to deliver it safely? sounds like heartbreak waiting to happen

Hope you don't mind me commenting. I think it sounded great overall. I recon subscribing to any of those courses isn't going to teach you anything you probably don't know (or teach you very little).

One thing that did jump out at me (the snare level / sound mentioned above also), was that the drums and synths felt very tightly quantised (like you had quantise turned to 1/16 for everything) . I think the song would be lot better if it was just a touch looser and the the keys/drums would feel just that bit more human. But overall it's a solid effort & I'd love to hear more. Really enjoyed your bass part too!

4 hours ago, WinterMute said:

Have a look at the Audient iD4 as well, built like a tank, good preamps, same kind of price range.

 

https://audient.com/products/audio-interfaces/id4/overview/

+1 for the Audient, take a look at the iD14 too if you think you might need more (8) inputs in the future.