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Well hello there... sorry it's been a rather long time since I posted anything here - but I just wanted to share the results of some of my ongoing R&D into a workable FX rig using Ableton Live that enables me to play conventional bass, with its own effects chain, plus trigger synths via my i2M device - as well as trigger iZotope's Stutter Edit for more effects mashing. The i2M tracks really well - I've not tried the Roland midi pickup but my Sei bass does have a midi pickup installed in the bridge but sadly it doesn't track at all well - especially low down the neck - so I was pleased how the 'solo' half way through this video actually came out. As ever this is all a work in progress - my next thing is to get together with a drummer and really try this in a live setting - would love to use some of the synth sounds with my band too - let me know what you think! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ac2V9-XEoQ Thanks for watching Mike

Hello chaps - Lordy it's been a while since I even posted around these parts, life has been good and keeping me busy - I won't add my name to the list just yet as I don't know if I'm definitely free but least to say if I can make it I will - and may finally bring my laptop/virtual rig with me for a bit of fun - I'll keep y'all posted Cheers Mike

[quote name='Chris Sharman' timestamp='1403045253' post='2479305'] Dude! I LOVE this! As someone who has an abiding love of Ibiza chill-out music and is just coming to appreciate Jazz this is just up my street. I will definitely have to check you guys out live sometime (although your playing has just taken my Ego outside and given it a damn good kicking). [/quote] Thanks Chris - I really appreciate your comments - this is still in early stages and I'm trying to develop it more without it becoming cheesy dance music but with a bit more edge to it and some meatier bass and drums - but it's a lot of fun and the horn players are wicked and I think the live playing makes a massive difference to it not being just all loops etc. Anyway - thanks for checking it all out

[quote name='lowdown' timestamp='1402467522' post='2473718'] Hey Mike..... I keep forgetting about this sub forum and have only just noticed this thread. This looks like an interesting and fun project, and does sound good. Excellent soundscape ideas. [/quote] Thanks Garry - the cool thing with working in Ableton is the dividing line between studio and stage is very thin indeed - most of the music in this 'set' was created in rehearsal and I've subsequently built in it and added various things - it massively speeds up the decision making process. Mixing it all with live playing - none of it massively rehearsed bar the melodies and it's a very fluid and exciting way to work... need a couple more gigs now but it's coming together. Thanks for checking it out Mike

[quote name='jimbobothy' timestamp='1402328445' post='2472235'] I think it's all pretty cool and a different take with the electronic beats n all. I think the combo of them with the jazz improv give it a nice twist [/quote] Cheers fella - yeah having live improv / playing over the top of the backing definitely adds a new dimension to it - and with the trumpet/sax going into the mix and then using the delays and reverbs as part of the over all mix is so cool - hence the reason to create this kind of 'soundscape' + sound-system - it went down really well on the night so the audience completely got the idea and it translated well from rehearsal to live performance... more soon hopefully

[quote name='owen' timestamp='1402352831' post='2472655'] I'm digging it. I did something vaguely similar with a Vox/Piano/Bass trio with a friend messing with us via Ableton. It was great vibing off FX that I could not possibly manipulate in real time without a 3rd arm and responding to how he was messing with us. We need more of this stuff. [/quote] Thanks man - that's what I'm trying to do via the foot-controller (Softstep) and the Macbook keyboard - I think at some point I'd love to get someone to control the electronics via another Mac but it's a case of finding the right person - I'm totally up for it so if you know anyone or if anyone reading this would like to get involved then drop me a line Cheers M

IN the fine tradition of replying to my own threads I just wanted to share this last clip from this gig - hope to be doing more of this stuff in the near future - hope SOME of you enjoy it, if not - so be it... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dm5Dq3DCn2I Peace

I sense tumble weeds....

Hey Folks I just launched my new jazz-tronica spin off from my main latin-jazz-funk band J-Sonics - this one simply called J-Sonix - it was a great night as we were support amazing US pianist Marc Cary (who also does this kind of stuff) and it went down really well. The bass and brass are running through my laptop into Ableton Live with all the effects etc - I'm using a Softstep midi controller pedal to switch effects on and off as well as adding in reverb and delays on my bass as and when I want. I hope you enjoy it - I learned a lot from the experience and while I need to make a few tweaks to the sound and the set overall for a first outing with this thing I was very happy indeed. Cheers Mike [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6f2r2OaHAKQ[/media] [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eobo5FCC2zs[/media]

[quote name='funkypenguin' timestamp='1398130902' post='2430804'] That new preamp sounds awesome mike, lovely sweet mids and top end, great playing too!! I had a similar experience when i had the East circuit put in my warwick [/quote] Thanks Funky P - funnily enough I'm actually cutting the mids a little more now with such is the strength of this pre - but it's such a nice circuit it really sounds great especially as I'm now using it a lot straight into Ableton so not going into the amp... anyway here are a couple more recent videos - the bass is going direct into the PA so this is just the bass sound with no amp 'colouration': http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=40ReDsfUcfg http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E38Hb10A0Z0

[quote name='Bilbo' timestamp='1396033779' post='2409337'] Like Jeff Berlin, all that technique but not much emotional content. There is a cd with Willis and Allan Holdsworth playing standards that says it all. It just doesn't work. He is a monster player, though. [/quote] I beg to differ Bilbo - I guess we could argue all day about 'emotional content' in any player's playing - I personally love the way Willis uses long sustained notes in a highly expressive way, agreed the Holdsworth CD is a case in (your) point but I think that's partly due to the 1980s production values and the fact it was all recorded seperately - not live in a single room - seeing him with Tribal Tech last July was truly one of the best jazz-fusion gigs I've ever seen. Anyway his latest trio album is bloody brilliant - and there are some beautiful ballad bits on this as well as some incredible interaction with his trio - not sure how emotional you need this stuff to be to enjoy it but I love it: http://abstractlogix.bandcamp.com/album/retro Cheers Mike

Hey dude - it's a pretty straightforward Glockenklang 3-band EQ - nothing fancy but it has some sweet mid sounds - better than my Demeter - I had a Schack in my old Thumb bass - great circuit but very 'hot' but that might have just been how the Thumb responded to it - it did get the bst sounds out of that bass though - worth trying I guess if yo can find one M

Great that you're checking out Tackhead - love that stuff - Doug is great live - his use of pedals really gives his sound some real 'meat'! Making it musical is the goal - and giving it some wellie too! Have fun

I've been thinking about switching the preamp in my main Sei single cut for a few years now and I finally got around to it - fitted by Martin at the Gallery this is the bass now with a 3-band Glock installed - this is the raw sound of the bass with no FX etc - and it's really got me excited - just wanted to share some sounds with it on this very first vid with the new pre installed. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C50rb8RHGNw And while I'm here this is another little vid from the shed - this is a tune I'm going to work up with my band - so apologies for the slightly compromised stance in my tiny office... better version coming soon http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSJvswzCIoc Cheers Mike

Hey - yes - I saw Doug do a clinic years ago and he explained it pretty clearly. Basically it sounds more complicated than it is because he does it so fast - but the technique is he plays an upward pluck with the side of this thumb - try literally pulling the string away from the bass with the side of your thumb that's nearest the bass. Then he follows this with a downward tap onto the same string - essentially this is the same as if you were slapping the string with your thumb, except it's obviously with your finger. He mutes everything with his left hand so if you flatten your fretting hand against the strings then practice pulling up with your thumb and then hitting down with your finger then you can just try getting quarter, eighth and 16th notes going - he does some fast triplets too - starting with the finger, then thumb and then finger - then a final upward pluck with your thumb. He also 'slaps' the strings with his finger - the advantage of this is he can slap several strings at once which is great for chords - you can slap a lower string then follow it with a slap on two upper strings - so bar a G minor chord and try hitting the low notes followed by the octave and minor third above - obviously try this in a rhythimc way to create a groove etc. I hope that outlines things - sorry this video has some sale-pitch type stuff at the start but he actually does quite a lot of this stuff in there: http://www.youtu.be/aKcBs5WEAqI

Great price for a very cool bass - congrats man

Just in case you need reminding how good this band are live: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fuhHU_BZXSk Truly phenomenal group to catch live and direct - I'll be at Cheltenham and hopefully one of the Scala shows in London

Thanks Paul - there IS distortion on my bass on some bits - i.e. an effect - so that's intentional but the bass does peak a couple of times - something I could have remedied in the mix - never mind I'm glad you like it over all - and yes I've got some other loops that we laid down live which can be re-appropriated soon!

Hey Peeps I know I've not been around these parts much but life has been very busy lately and I've been actually working on my playing and some new music (with Skol) as well as this new little jazz electronica project - it took me a while to get my Softstep pedal working but I'm basically using that to switch between effects in Ableton on my bass - I've pretty much given up the idea of playing live Soft synths via my i2M audio-to-midi converter but it may happen - and I'm just using a Launchpad Mini to launch clips and record live loops etc - anyway this is just one of about 6 tunes Andy played through - much of it written on the fly but all running through Live 9 - which we recorded through as well - the quality is surprisingly good and the best bit is you can bounce down 24 Bit WAVs of the jam as individual stems and then take them into Logic or whatever and mix them in there... so cool. Anyway this was the only thing we filmed but it came out OK - it's a bit long but that's kind of the vib - just go with it man... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5eSLMLFRXZw Let me know what you think Mike

Very well played Bill and yes JJ is so good - amazing tone, great taste and lovely musical chops - bastard! Only kidding he's massively underrated - probably becuase he doesn't do 'stunt' bass playing - but he really has got it all as a player. Nice one Bit cheesy this but hey it's a great bass solo - 2mins or so in: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LIqY9Ivntfo

OK cool - well I'm going - I'll be hanging and playing a bit on the Anaconda basses stand - come and say hello http://www.anacondabasses.co.uk/ Cheers M

Hey Bill - I think you're right that Had probably worked a few things out for this solo - it's so easy to punch in on a recording and add various bits in the studio - although I suspect he will have played a lot of it 'off the cuff' but as Bilbo says top players all have vast reserves of ideas and someone like Hadrien has shedded solos like crazy for 10-15 years - he had all the Jaco stuff down by the time he was 16 so let's give the guy some credit for his improv abilities - they are pretty sick!

Just a small addition to this topic - I've just seen this article regarding just how little artists see from the squillions of views they get on Youtube and or from Google allegedly serving up thousands of illegal download websites http://thetrichordist.com/2014/01/16/while-artists-are-bitching-about-spotify-royalties-google-youtube-and-grooveshark-are-in-the-getaway-car/ So actually having some legal way of getting paid for your WORK being used to appear on the radio/TV/film etc etc seems like a drop in the ocean when there are so many very easy ways to access pretty much any music out there for FREE. Just me thoughts on the subject obviously