urb

[quote name='bubinga5' timestamp='1326556299' post='1498808'] im just down the road and im SO going to be there.!!!!!!!!!.. thanks for letting us know Mike... Gafbass alert.... not sure if hes into Marcus Miller [/quote] Cool - I'm usually there so hope we can have a little BC hook up - CJF is normally worth checking out lots of quality stuff on M

I know he's not everyone's cup of Earl Grey - but this is a good chance to see MM outside London and in a good hall/venue - anyway just thought some of you would be interested in this: http://www.jazzwisemagazine.com/news-mainmenu-139/69-2012/12228-jazz-breaking-news-bill-frisell-marcus-miller-and-tim-garland-set-for-cheltenham-jazz-festival Cheers M

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGgSAuGmUMo[/media] 'Nuff said...

[quote name='Rumple' timestamp='1326209883' post='1493838'] Very good I'd go and see the band live. Out of interest is that you playing on Chilly Funk to? [/quote] Yes that's my latest little YT vid thing - glad you like the funk band stuff - it's a hell of a lot of fun to play and the songs featured here were from a particularly steaming gig...

[quote name='DannyBAL_CPD' timestamp='1326184860' post='1493326'] That's what I'm talking about Mike. When you guys playing again, and is there an Mp3, or CD to purchase? [/quote] Cool - glad you dug it - we just played a cracking gig in south London at the fantastic Hideaway club in Streatham last Friday, sorry I didn't mention it here - but we have nothing else booked for now but I'll let you know as and when we do - the band really are killing live - I plan on adding these tracks to Bandcamp very soon and I'll post a link here when I do - thanks for the positive feedback! Cheers Mike

[quote name='silddx' timestamp='1326147746' post='1493075'] The OP was critiquing the audience rather than VW. I have read his book the Music Lesson, and although I thought it was rather too fanciful in places, it is a great book by a master musician. I have great respect for him. But for someone who is such a wonderfully musical person to dilute this by providing the people in his audience who are only capable of appreciating craft, but not art, with a demonstration of athletics seems to me to be a little dishonourable and not serving music. It's like Arvo Part writing Gaga songs, nothing wrong with Gaga, but I think a musician needs to decide what is in the service of music, what is in service to the audience or potential audience, and what is in service to themselves, and strike some sort of symmetry that they can say is truly a reflection of themselves. Music from the heart as it were. [/quote] Totally - I think VW gets this kind of reaction because he brought so much technique to the bass - if this was played by a flamenco guitarist on an acoustic guitar would we be haivng this debate? I doubt it - I hear what you're saying NIge and agree with you but Vic has explored so much music as a writer, performer, and out and out player that I think as listeners we have to pick and choose. He's SO prolific that it'd be impossible to like everything he does - that goes back to taste - and there are plenty of things I don't really care for that he's done but when he hits the spot he does it oh so well. Anyway I'm not going to prattle on - I couldn't find the studio version of this tune - but this is one of my fave Wooten / Flecktones pieces - hope it opens some of your ears/eyes out there http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KrlpFA5BbuU

[quote name='icastle' timestamp='1326145973' post='1493034'] Nothing blinkered about my attitude - it just doesn't match the concensus. I watched some of the better quality vid and didn't like that either. In the spirit of pouring oil over troubled waters, it seems that there should probably be a proverb somewhere about the similarities between music and marmite. [/quote] Yeah it's called taste - and it can be a vast and varied thing - respecting the fact people other than yourself like/love other music is just a fact of life - I don't expect people to like my music but I know plenty of people do - and I take the fact others don't on the chin, that's life... I'm sure Mr Wooten won't be losing any sleep over the fact that loads of pople (say millions of people) LOVE what he does, and perhaps an even greater number couldn't give two hoots about it - that's life - and I know for another fact that he's more than comfortable with that. I'm sure you feel the same way about what you do and how people perceive you and your music right?

[quote name='Jean-Luc Pickguard' timestamp='1326118703' post='1492500'] He was actually providing background music for a monkey juggling on a unicycle. [/quote] Now that sounds good...

[quote name='Prime_BASS' timestamp='1326096785' post='1492078'] Itks not so much that he does the punching of his bass, its the people that like it. While I'm not classically trained and probably know nothing about composition, but those fast bits are totally cold, void of any feeling and happen randomly towards the end. Coupled with the punching, it jst makes me want top listen to JLS, or some equally processed tosh that the producor and marketer have decided everyone likes. I like to think I know my way around a bass but if I, or you, started smacking muted strings people would think its sh*t and that I'm crazy. However because this guy had 1 or 2 success and is supposedly talented he gets away with it. Then we get into the psychology of being in a crowd. [/quote] Get over it - you won't like every bit of music you hear - singling out Wooten to hate on because people like him is ridiculous - sorry but you've taken a bad quality piece of footage of a tune - that in its entirity is pretty stunning - and judged Wooten's 30 year career as being irrelevant - we've done this dabate about a million times over, Wooten has more music in his little finger than most of us put together here... go and listen to his ALBUMs and see him live - he brilliant and hardly ever slaps... yes it's part of what he does but the guy is one of the greats, end of.

[quote name='Bilbo' timestamp='1325770827' post='1487377'] Finally got to it, Mike. Love the concept.The Sei sounds cool. What effects are they (plug ins, I assume?). [/quote] Thanks Bilbo - I'm using this multi-effects plug in called 'Warmverb' by Tonetwo - it has a ton of spacey effects like Ping delay, reverb, chorus etc all of which can be varied and combined to your heart's content - I found this sound by tweaking the default sound and using it as a little virtual 'pre-amp' style EQ - in short it's a bit of a mash up of different things that combined with the gorgeous tone of the Sei makes for a pretty lovely vibey sound... Thanks for listening M

Soundblox Envelope Filter Pro....

I would say look after your sound via your bass and amp -if you have a decent amp you can take a DI from that so you can use it 'post EQ' so that any EQ adjustments you make on the amp affect what comes through the PA - but failing that you should try and get the best sound you can just from the bass - my basses sound great plugged directly into a PA or studio desk - so you need to get a good/great tone from the bass and your fingers first - a good amp can help too and is pretty much essential IMO to get a good sound on stage - this really helps you feel confident and in fact if you have a good sound, it can really make you play better too...or at least inspire you to play off your sound, maybe even play less because your sound is so good - less notes are needed... hope that makes sense

[quote name='Cyrene' timestamp='1325535688' post='1484175'] Hi all. Thanks for your responses as they are all really appreciated. I'm quite a reticent sort: I'm gonna work on being more forward in the band and have a tendency to take the 'top' of my tone in these situations. Perhaps it is a fear of getting in the way. [/quote] Just to clarify I think you don't need more top end in your tone - it's bringing out the mids that will help you project your sound more - I personally have the top end almost completely off but the mids really pushed high - that way my tone cuts through but isn't harsh, which is the last thing I want - seems like you have a decent bass, maybe spend some time working on your sound away from the band, listen to guys you like and find out what their set up is and try and emulate it. I also think that tone and groove are the two major things people notice with the bass - get those two sorted and the all the other things will follow... hope that helps and keep at it - all this stuff takes time - I should know, it's taken me years and years to get to the point where I feel confident about my sound etc. Cheers M

Hey dude - I like the sound of the band overall but even without a drummer you can groove and it's your job as the bass player to do that - I couldn't really hear your bass and while you looked like you knew where the notes are and know the song if I'm completely honest I couldn't really hear if you were playing or not. This is a lovely little trio and I think if you worked on your sound a bit - brought out the mids a touch more, plucked a tiny bit more percussively and sat and worked with the guitarist to really make all the chords/riffs etc rock solid you guys would sound even better. I felt you all looked a little uncertain and even, dare I say shy, I'm not the best onstage performer but I do enjoy playing with other people - so I'd also suggest you all try and build a little more confidence into what you are doing - the material is good - just need to bring a little more joy into the delivery. Hope all that's cool - please feel free to tell me to piss off - I hope you guys keep working on your stuff Cheers Mike

[quote name='Blademan_98' timestamp='1325510603' post='1483720'] Is that recorded with a fretless? Sounded really cool. Keep posting as they are an inspiration to us. [/quote] Thanks dude - the bass on this is my Sei 5 string single cut running through a few FX, has a great woody tone though that I guess gives it a bit of a fretless sound - got me going a bit here anyway! More stuff coming soon I hope Cheers M

Hey all I had a relatively sober NYE hence I got down to a little Ableton Live noodling - loving it sooooo much, getting a bit obsessed with it actually - anyway among the many bits and bobs I got up to I decided to record some solo ideas over this dark electro loop I made - hope you dig it. I'm working towards being able to use this live - it's such an amazing program. http://soundcloud.com/munkio/electro-meditations Happy New Year all of you folks who post in this forum - thanks for showing such creativity - that's what playing bass is all about! Cheers Mike

[quote name='Bilbo' timestamp='1323097631' post='1459208'] Don't jsut transcribe it. Play it. That will allow you to develop insight into the execution of these ideas as well as the theory behind them. [/quote] +1

[quote name='bartelby' timestamp='1325070922' post='1479495'] But the full Logic Pro is now available for less than that Logic Express, via the Mac App Store. [attachment=95892:Screen Shot 2011-12-28 at 11.14.45.png] [/quote] That's amazing - I say buy it now then! Love Logic 9 - really great DAW...

On the other hand - this looks like a seriously great deal: [url="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Pro-Tools-Essentials-Recording-Studio/dp/B002P3KINE/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1325067676&sr=8-2"]http://www.amazon.co...25067676&sr=8-2[/url] You can always upgrade the quality of the interface at a later date - this Pro-Tools essentials package looks fab - however if you're using a Macwith Garageband then you already have a good entry level DAW And just for balance - Pro Tools is fantastic for sure - but Logic is amazing for writing/arrnging stuff and is superb for MIDI - so you might want to invest in Logic Express: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Apple-MB788Z-A-Logic-Express/dp/B002IYO6N8/ref=sr_1_1?s=musical-instruments&ie=UTF8&qid=1325067884&sr=1-1 OK no more Mac plugging from me M

Hey - I switched to using a USB 2.0 from Firewire this year and I have to say I love it and the results are pristine - this is a very neat entry level soundcard from their new Scarlett series I have the 18i6 but this one has the exact same preamps and will do a fantastic job of recording your bass etc: http://www.amazon.co.uk/FOCUSRITE-SCARLETT-USB-AUDIO-INTERFACE/dp/B005OZE9SA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1325067485&sr=8-1 Highly recommended M

My amp-cab setup sits in the corner of my office and gets daily use - I would gladly have a small combo too but I already downsized to what I have now... it's there to be used and not for display - like others have said it's a tool to play music not to show off with - my family couldn't care less what my gear looks like

Love this band! So good - I mean not the sort of stuff I want to listen to all the time BUT part of me sees this as the next generation of PLAYERs coming through and saying 'Pop doesn't have to be dumbed down to be full off melody and hooks and be totally accessible..." I dig the attitude and the arrangements, bass solo's alright, but I love the interplay and the damn tightness of these guys... apparently lots of great new musicians coming up in Sweden now... I guess some of you will say Abba have a lot to answer for... personally this kind of thing gives me hope for the future with great playing, musicianship, enthusiasm and sheer enjoyment right smack bang in the middle of everything they do... IMO

My first gig was playing drums at a freind's birthday party in a terrible covers band - that kind of says it all really - it was pretty poor....

The very sadly missed Esbjorn Svensson Trio - the pianist died tragically in 2008 age 44 - anyway if you've never listened to them their album 'Seven Days Of Falling' is great - there's some great bowed distortion bass on the end of this tune: Great live version: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7KXq6RJ0PA I love the distorted solo on the original a bit more though - it comes in perfectly: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FNzf1CfIAC8 Love that band - so wish the man was still with us RIP dude.... their whole back catalogue is pretty stunning so check them out

UPDATE INFO: I've been meaning to post an extra tip in here for a while and now I'm only just getting round to it - so here you go. Apologies if you don't use iMovie - it's just what I use but I'm sure there are plenty of other straightforward video editing tools out there - anyway with regard to adding the sweet sounding audio track to your footage there a much easier way of doing it than I mention above. In short mix down your audio to your satisfaction then import the MP3 in iTunes (best to bounce it down as an MP3 as WAVs are great but Youtube will still compress the crap out of the audio/video anyway...). Then go into your project in iMovie go to the bottom right media panel - the one that shows all the themes, text and video effects - and click on the music tab - there you will see you entire iTunes library - search for your song name in the search box, once it comes up simply click and drag the MP3 over to the left hand screen where your video is sitting - the whole area where the audio will be added will glow green, then line up the audio track with the video so it sits beneath it. The trick here to syncing them properly is to be very precise with your audio and video editing - so if you have included a count in on your tune and you can still hear it on the footage from the audio picked up by the camera then you can use that to line up the two clicks so that they sound as 'one'. The other thing that's good in the latest version of iMovie is the 'Precision Editor' - if you hold your mouse over the start of your movie clip you'll see some small icons on the clip click on one of these and small menu will pop up saying 'Precision Editor' - click on that and a new close up view of the video will open up beneath your main editing space. In there you will see a bar that can be shifted forward or back on the footage to pin point the exact place you want the clip to start at - this is crucial to lining up your video clip with the audio. Once you've done this simply click the blue 'Done' button and the window will close and the main clip with now be edited - it's easy to go back in and tweak it forward or back a bit as sometimes the video will be a little ahead of the audio and so you'll need to trim a little more from the start to bring it back in line. I've found if I can get a really neat start on the audio and can hear enough sound on from the camera mic that I can usually nail the syncing a lot faster than I used to - it's all about planning ahead and making sure that you give yourself a couple of aural or visual cues so the whole sync-up thing is as pain free as possible. Hope that all makes sense and feel free to ask any questions.... Cheers Mike