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I'm now in a position to get myself an audio interface, but with so many out there, which one should I go for? Ideally, I want to have at least 2 in (most are), have a good sound quality & also have midi jacks (so I can use my keyboard to play VSTis). My budget is @ £100 (preferably less, but can go a little above). I had been set on the Steinberg UR22 as it meets most of the criteria, but after further investigation, it appears that although it has a nice solid case, the sockets, knobs & buttons on the front are a bit on the flimsy side. There's the obvious choice of the Focusrite 2i4 as it, like the Steinberg, has all that I need & seems to be of a better build quality. But, this would most likely need to be a 2nd hand one as new is just outside my budget. I've also saw the Behringer UMC204, which is also similar to those above, but bearing the stamp of Berhinger, I'm not sure what the actual sound quality is going to be like compared to the other interfaces. Then I've found a new contender that ticks the above & also has an added feature - I can use it with my iPad. The Presonus iTwo, which I can get new for £106 (which is just in my budget. I don't need the DAW which comes with any of these (though I might see about putting any instruments into Logic). The Presonus does seem to sway me on features & build quality, but how good is the sound quality? There's also an outsider that it over budget & tempted to wait until next month for... The Zoom Tac-2. It doesn't have midi, but unlike the above interfaces, it uses thunderbolt instead of USB & it has come down massively in price. Question is... is it better sounding than the USB? Does thunderbolt make a difference when it comes to audio quality or are those Is & 0s getting there just the same? Help!

Did you hear about the 2 jihadi drummers? Boom Boom!

Before you do get an interface, check if it might be the effects that you are using or the sound quality setting in Reaper.

The idea of the subscription is good. I do it with Adobe for Photoshop, Lightroom & Illustrator, but it works out a much cheaper option with Adobe than it would be to buy those.

I looked into the Pro Tools subscription before getting Logic. One thing that sucks is it's $25 in th US, but it's not a straight convert that to Sterling, they skin you £19.99 (rip off Britain came back to mind when I found out). So you need to work out which is going to be the more viable... Paying £240 a year or buying it outright? I registered for PT Express (the free version) about 3 months ago & they sent me an email last month with a link. It made me happy to have chosen Logic. BTW, there's a bit of software you can download that will let you use the Apple AUs in PT (I didn't bother as PTE is lame).

[quote name='Jazzneck' timestamp='1443018214' post='2871498'] Yup, but the fact that I woke up this morning is the ultimate in good news as far as I'm concerned. [/quote] You make a very good point!

I'd play your 2 favourite songs that you know how to play comfortably that you think would suit female vocals. Maybe something a little different from what they usually play, but not too much different in style.

[quote name='Jazzneck' timestamp='1442993896' post='2871149'] 'Woke up this morning, ....' [/quote] Reverse psychology blues... Everything... Everything's gonna be alright this morning. Mannish Boy by Muddy Waters

I never listen to music except from when I'm laying in bed, or walking to/from work, driving the car or working on a song. I never just sit & actually listen to an album though. Need a decent hifi for that.

I've been playing music since I was a kid. Took up bass when I was 13 & played in quite a few bands. The last good band I was in was fun & had really good musicians. Unfortunately the singer took a stroke, the drummer moved abroad & I never see the other guys. That was a good few years back. I tried to get a band up here in Perth, but found it very hard to get any actual musicians. Plenty folk who play metal on a guitar or sing at the karaoke wanting to join, but none who actually know much about music, being in a band or able to play at a decent level. I stopped last year. I'd already quite trying to get a band that could gig a few months before I decided to give up being a bassist. I'm still a musician, but everything I do is at home & for the past few months, it's just been using computer instruments. Funnily enough, a chap at work has asked if I want to play bass in a band he is starting that is just for fun & probably not to gig. We're gonna give it a blast next week. I've no gear apart from my bass (sold the lot, most on here), but the rooms are plug n play.

I gave up because bass was taking up everything & was becoming an obsession. All I could focus on was what to do with bass & it was becoming too much of an idol. Something that tipped it as well was that I was getting frustrated at inadequate musicians. Trying to get a band that could play in time & not want to cover crap songs was hard work!

Sounds like it's probably not even Velcro, but a cheap imitation. Get yourself to the shops & buy some proper stuff for the job.

But do remember, watts translate to heat, not volume. SPL & decibels are the only things that most manufacturers will give info on that relates to actual volume. They're too obsessed with how many watts it "has". If you like the sound of the Fender, see if they do a 15" cab to go with it. More of the same.

That's what this place is for. You'll get lots of info, experience & opinions. It's a great place to be.

Take a Speakon or 1/4 Jack speaker lead from the speaker out on the combo & plug it into the cab. Simples. The combo is 8 ohm, as is the cab, making a load of 4 ohm.

Markbass gets my vote. But go & try some stuff out. Barefaced are worth looking into as well.

+1 Ir if it's just the size, get a 1x12 combo & a 1x12 extension cab for the bigger gigs.

So they got a left handed lookalike that could write songs & play bass most excellently too?

He wants you to play just one song... Looney Tunes, That's all folks.

[quote name='ras52' timestamp='1442417284' post='2866825'] I've got a copy of their first LP. It's in mint condition... [/quote] Now that's something to bleat about.

"Shades of Lamb" sounds like a good band name.

It's good, isn't it. Next you'll be double thumbing. Keeping your mind open to loads of genres of music will open you up to all sorts of things that you currently can't do so well on bass.

I use my iPad for composing. Tabletop is a great free app that you can add 3rd party instruments to (such as Akai MPC) & I actually paid £30 for Korg Gadget, which is a great fun app with some complex abilities (like automation of just about every parameter & you can export the stems to your desktop). GarageBand is a great app too.

[quote name='Conan' timestamp='1442327016' post='2866057'] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vt016gTNp_k [/quote] Don't polish the stage before the gig.

[quote name='MiltyG565' timestamp='1442327798' post='2866063'] Or anything by Lost Prophets... [/quote] Now then, now then!