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[quote name='silddx' post='773670' date='Mar 13 2010, 03:56 PM']Hello Mike, OK, I really like the drums, I REALLY like the autowah type bass groove at the beginning and the end, keys sound good too. I'm afraid the trad sound bass soloing in the middle doesn't do it for me. It sounds like it's right on the edge of your ability which makes it uncomfortable to listen to, if the track was slower it would allow you room for the expression which I think you were trying to get into it, but that's not the point of the tune. It's the drums and the autowah bass I like best, that seriously rocks and it's inspiring to listen to. Good stuff![/quote] Cool Nige - thanks for your thoughts - the funny thing is this track started as a Youtube video... see below - and yes I kind of agree with you about the solo - I'm least keen on that actually and may well replace it with a sax solo, I have a mate who's a top sax player - but people seem to like the vid but not the solo on the track - weird how listening and watching to same thing get different reactions... Thanks again for checking it out Mike

I just added a new version of this tune - with an intro!

[quote name='silddx' post='773599' date='Mar 13 2010, 01:48 PM']Thank you, Mike! It is a tad OOT, I had a MIJ Strat that was a lovely player but I couldn't get it to stay in tune properly. I've got an album's worth I did around the same time, and a few new ones, I'm thinking I might give myself a little project and re-recording and arranging them from scratch, just for fun! When I get the time. Really appreciate your comments. And Arsenic's. Cheers. BTW, I installed the latest QT and I still can't play your number. [/quote] Cool man - I'll PM you with a file of my thing Mike

Hey Nigel That was cool - I really enjoyed the overall vibe reminded me of some American singer/songwriter stuff I like - stuff like Jason Falkner/Jellyfish but a bit more melancholy - but that's a good thing. If I have one minor criticism is that the guitar sounds out of tune - I'm not that bothered by stuff like this but it just means some of the notes in the solo jarr a bit with the backing - the playing is all good, just a shame some of it (to my ears) sounds a bit out. I have to admit I someitmes forget to tune up before I record but I try and stay in the habit of checking the tuning now. I definitely dig the vibe though- very cool. Cheers Mike PS that's a bloody catchy tune as well!

[quote name='plumbob' post='773165' date='Mar 12 2010, 09:08 PM']I quite like those keys at the end. So could you explain in layman terms exactly what you have going on here ? Are the sounds from the Logic Pro vst instruments[/quote] Basically I used Logic to record this, using Superior Drummer (which is a seperate VST drum module that runs within Logic) the keyboard bits at the end were played on my Sei single cut which now has a MIDI pickup in it- so I can play all sorts of VSTs better than I can on an actual keyboard... thanks for checking this out. M

[quote name='Pete Academy' post='773137' date='Mar 12 2010, 08:28 PM']Just realised who you are, Mike. Hope you value my opinion.[/quote] Hey Pete no worries at all - and yes I do value your opinion a great deal - this track is a work in progress so I welcome any constructive criticism, so thanks for having a listen Cheers Mike

[quote name='silddx' post='773109' date='Mar 12 2010, 07:57 PM']The player doesn't seem to want to work for me. Any ideas mate?[/quote] Hey man - make sure you have Quicktime installed - sorry to use this site it's just an easy way to upload single files. Let me know what you reckon Mike

Hey Chaps Just wanted to get a few opinions on both the drums and MIDI bits on this track - I used Superior Drummer 2 and I think it sounds good - the MIDI stuff starts in the middle - it's the keyboard solo and then the melody bits at the end... let me know what you think! F Why I - MP3 [url="http://www.icompositions.com/music/song.php?sid=136122"]http://www.icompositions.com/music/song.php?sid=136122[/url] Thanks as ever Mike EDIT I just re-uploaded a new version of this tune

[quote name='spacecowboy' post='764045' date='Mar 4 2010, 03:35 PM']A Mac Mini will not be powerful enough to use as a platform for recording music, Garageband especially the computer and memory usage by this program is substantial, the G5 Tower will be absolutely perfect for your needs, the iMac's are fine, but G5's were designed for Designers and Musicians and the processors will keep the machine alive and kicking when you need it most, I use a Mac Pro at work and if you had a spare £3000 i'd recommend my current work setup but as thats not the case i'm positive the G5 will do you proud, and you'll find the two hard drives a god send. At home for recording i use a Mac Book Pro and i use a Tascam US21L interface which is USB, zero latency only when using the Mac Book's Fast USB port *left hand side* if you plug it in the right hand side you experience a couple of milli second latency issues which will throw you off if you're monitoring through the software, but the Tascam has a direct input control so that does for Monitoring. VST's are widely available and very usuable most PC Cubase VST's will transfer across seamlessly as will your Cubase Projects, Logic is a fantastic audio recording and mastering solution though and should be looked in to, Apple also have their own VST style instrument plugins that they call AU's or Audio Units *just to be awkward* and these can be used in Garageband and Logic, I'm also very sure some clever coders have created a AU to VST and VST to AU software so they can be interchangable. Hope thats of some help, if you have any questions feel free to PM me.[/quote] +1 Great advice - one thing I'll add is that 2GB of RAM may soon cause you problems when running Logic with any kind of drum plugin or lots of AUs (VSTs) - but you can easily upgrade to 4GB on a basic Mac Book (or Mac Book Pro) by buying some extra RAM - it's cheaper to buy it for a desktop Mac but it's still affordable (£89) for a laptop - it'll be worth it and will help things run a lot smoother Install vid [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Zjzv-mJxFY"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Zjzv-mJxFY[/url] Link to the actual RAM [url="http://www.amazon.co.uk/MACBOOK-667MHZ-STICKS-MANUFACTURED-KINGSTON/dp/B001P3WSNI"]http://www.amazon.co.uk/MACBOOK-667MHZ-STI...N/dp/B001P3WSNI[/url] I started using Cubase on a PC and got really frustrated with it (this was some years ago and I'm sure it's improved since) so I switched to a Mac about 4 years ago and haven't looked back since - this is my current home set up: It works great! Cheers Mike

[quote name='Golchen' post='745562' date='Feb 15 2010, 09:31 AM'][b]Hey Urb/Mike[/b] - I totally love your video! The tone, the playing, the music, all hit the spot for me. Fabulous stuff! I'd like to aim for that kind of style myself, not that I'll ever reach that standard![/quote] Hey G Just saw this and wanted to say thanks - I just got my midi setup working on my 5 string Sei - so hopefully I'll get around to making a vid or two with that soon - glad you enjoyed the other ones too. Cheers Mike PS Jake man - great stuff - crazy depping gig though "Hi Jake, fancy playing some orchestral arrangements of Jacko stuff in a stadium?" I guess it's a no brainer really - nice work sir. M

Small bump - cheers Mike

Sei's rock... it's that simple Lovely couple of new Jazz's there - the buckeye one is pretty sick - perhaps a little extreme but a stunner all the same... I'm just getting into my midi-enabled Single Cut now - the bass itself just keeps feeling, sounding and playing better and better - if you do invest in a Sei they really do improve with age - and Martin's always there to give them a little TLC if anything needs looking at - after all the playing these babies get... they are hard to put down! M

[quote name='silddx' post='757027' date='Feb 25 2010, 01:16 PM']That book is really, really insightful and deeply thought provoking. It's naturally pretty cheesey in places, it's American. Do not underestimate the book if you haven't read it, just because it's Wooten. Everything in it applies to us all.[/quote] +1 A great read - yes it's cheesy too - but I also agree with the singing thing - it's a great way to stop thinking about the instrument amd more about the music. I've found another approach that can work well is really listening to how each note of a scale sounds over a chord - so for example 9ths are a particular fave of mine (EG playing a high D over a C major or minor chord) - they have a sort create a lovely unresolved sound without clashing - while a flattened 9th (a half step lower) is heading into diminished/altered territory - but that's just one note - try this with all the intervals of a scale or mode over the corresponding chord... loads of ideas can be derived from this. Also a fifth over one chord type will sound different over another chord type. What I like to do as well - and this getting a bit more advanced - is take a dominant chord like C7 (basically a major scale with a minor 7th) and then super-impose substitute scales like the half-diminished, diminished, melodic minor and whole tone scales over those kind of chords. Last thing you can try is learning some jazz standards - there are loads of simple ones like Footprints, All Blues, So What - these are all great vehicles for getting you improvising around simple chord progressions - over which you can try all the ideas i mentioned above. M

We still get off lightly compared to a violinist or double bassist who are looking at spending £20,000 + just to gte a half decent instrument - no matter I'm not sure about 5.5K for the GUS - or a Fodera for that matter - but F basses are similar in price and so are a few other European luthiers (Ritter and Jerzy Drozd) - so lots of other instruments that are in that price bracket....

All I can add to the profundity and accuracy of what has already been stated here is that I have tp physically practice playing - to retain muscle memory etc and basic technique - but like as has been said already it's the esoteric side of music that needs to be explored to really grasp (or have any hope of grasping) the real depths of the possibilities that are almost too many and too vast to comprehend.... but I still need to practice plucking the damn notes.... M

Two just off the top of my head: 'I Feel For You' - Chaka Khan (I know it was written by Prince) and 'Slave To The Rhythm' by Grace Jones - and while I'm at it - 'Pull Up To The Bumper' by Mz Jones as well M

I'd really like to see this happen, if there's anything I can do to help please let me know, I'd like it if someone could suggest and or find a venue - about time we got a London one sorted, I might be able to pursuade the chaps from the Gallery to get involved... M

[quote name='bubinga5' post='742753' date='Feb 12 2010, 02:41 AM']ill add this guy... [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynGoVm-gY90&feature=PlayList&p=5481032BFD85BFEC&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=33"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynGoVm-gY90...PL&index=33[/url][/quote] Now that is killing stuff - and I'm not dissing the dude in the OP as he is a very good player - but here's AJ really laying it down with a seriously sick trio - Michelle Camilo and Horacio Hernandez - and it's not the Calle 45 clip - this is live and it's smoking:

[quote name='waynepunkdude' post='742883' date='Feb 12 2010, 10:38 AM']Generic bass w***ery video 627. "this man has the groove" "this man is sh*t" "yeah it's good but what's the point" Toodles[/quote] +1 He's good but there are loads of great basists around now that ALL have great chops and can groove - he sounds like another one of [i]them[/i] Check out Anthony Jackson - he's pretty good too M

Nice one Adam - a promising start - the two big plus points being that the bass has recorded really well and your playing sounds great - and despite your limited DAW's processing power you've got a pretty good result. I found when I was just using Garage Band I worked a lot quicker than in Logic, so less options can actually being a blessing when trying to get your ideas down - so don't look at what you 'can't' do but what you can... keep em coming - you'll learn more and more stuff with each tune you record yourself - it just takes time and perseverance. Cheers Mike

Here's one I made earlier - the lines on the neck of my bass aren't really that visible - and I only occasionally look at them - it's more about listening to the music you are playing (guitar/piano chords) and hearing whether you are in tune or not - simple as - though I don't always achive that either!!!

[quote name='Doddy' post='742247' date='Feb 11 2010, 04:27 PM']I've got to agree with Bilbo on the playing in the dark thing-it's rubbish. Why would you choose to limit one of your senses? Like I've said before,if you want to avoid looking at the 'board (on either fretted or fretless) put a chart in front of you and read it. It's much more beneficial to your playing. Familiarity of the 'board will come naturally with practise. I play a lined fretless and have noticed that by playing right on the line you will be out of tune. In the lower positions you should be slightly in front of the line,while high up the neck you should be slightly behind.[/quote] +1 I play a lined fretless and while I have tried unlined necks I prefer being able to adjust my intonation visually rather than always hitting and hoping - and if it's good enough for Gary Willis it's good enough for me: I agree with Bilbo as well - just practice it like a normal bass - and play along with a backing chord or notes - a sustained chord on a keyboard is good - and if you can match the tonality exactly then you're basically playing in tune. The biggest compliment I ever received for my fretless playing was from soneone in the jazz combo I was playing with saying "i didn't realise your bass was fretless" as I was actually playing in tune... but it's been a long time since I gigged it now! M

[quote name='MrT-Bass' post='741441' date='Feb 10 2010, 08:49 PM']Ok Mike...Heres a little taster I just knocked together. It's a sloppy in places and the melody is a little derivative but I hope you like the sound anyway. It's a garageband classic The drums are a sample, the 'bass line' is palm muted and the melody line is just finger style. [attachment=42343:Groove_in_D.mp3] Enjoy. T[/quote] Great stuff - kind of reminds me of several different bass tones - overall very nice and very rounded - good for pretty much anything! Thanks for that Mike

Lovely bass there man - any chance of some sound/video clips? Love to know how it sounds Cheers Mike

Hey Pete - hang in there man - I feel for you, and you've been very patient - the pain will be over soon! I'm sure it'll be worth the wait - but this has dragged on - not long now dude... Cheers Mike