.gif.9ad672bb8b84505709f76b39c8c256ec.gif)
-
Posts
1,000,933 -
Joined
-
Last visited
-
Days Won
3
Content Type
Profiles
Forums
Events
Shop
Articles
Posts posted by Dood
-
-
5 minutes ago, MacDaddy said:
Yes ramps!
I love how these encapsulate the pickups too, because, let's face it, black rectangles aren't that exciting! Let's put the engine under a tidy bonnet!
-
1
-
-
Like MacDaddy above, my basses have adjustable ramps that can be wound all the way down out the way if necessary. In fact, it was a design I put forward to Shuker along with the series 2 body shape that has been in production ever since. YAY!
-
4
-
-
This is an interesting discussion and, to muddy the waters further in regard to running plugins on hardware (or indeed running any firmware on dedicated hardware):
I had a long discussion with a brand a while ago about two pieces of hardware they were selling. Both devices appeared to have the same menus system and library of effects. The more expensive device could run three effects at once (a physically larger unit too) whilst the cheaper and much smaller device could run five. Did this make the cheaper device the better unit? Despite the architecture being similar, the "programs" running were less detailed and presented less load on the processor in the cheaper device, thus it was able to run more "effects" at once. To misquote Mr Malmsteen, sometimes "more is more" is, well.. not..
My take away..
Early hardware just didn't have processing power to do the work and the software algorithms (such as Neural learning) just didn't exist to the extent that it does today. This resulted in lower quality effects in comparison (but let's not forget this was cutting edge at the time!!)
The best hardware in the world doesn't guarantee a faithful reproduction of the analogue world, the software on board is as important, if not more so.
Trying to squeeze a big processor in to a little box is difficult and costly. I am sure there's an equivalent to Hoffman's Iron Law when it comes to DSP, "size", quality and cost! Eventide's H9000 springs to mind.
That said I am truly astonished at what is being created in open source world. "Steve Ack";s Neural Amp Modeller plug-in is absolutely incredible.. the developers around this desktop application aren't taking any payment for it and the Neural models people are creating are just superb.
-
4
-
1
-
-
On 01/11/2023 at 08:17, fretmeister said:
Youtube compressor vids are pretty much useless in my experience.
The YT algo does loads of compression anyway and the review NEVER sets it up for equal volume, so we have a natural tendency to think louder = better.
Comparing my 4k raw video and WAV audio with the YouTube version always makes me a bit sad. I get it and the reasons why it is this way, but having put so much effort in to the nuances of the sound and visuals, viewers aren't getting the full "effect" if you excuse the pun!
-
1
-
-
What a time to be broke. I was forced to sell my own AB1 some time ago and I have always vowed to be able to replace it.
-
1 minute ago, Dood said:
The Behringer PM1 is passive and thus it won't distort in the same way that the HPA, so, if you are still getting horrible distortion with the PM1, it's not the headphone amp at issue. So, it will either be the gain stage at the output you are connecting HPA to or the "IEM"s. Can you tell if it's source distortion or the earphone distorting? It's a very different sound.
Also, have you tried (naturally) a different set of earphones in the same fault finding scenarios? That would have been my next move.
-
The Behringer PM1 is passive and thus it won't distort in the same way that the HPA, so, if you are still getting horrible distortion with the PM1, it's not the headphone amp at issue. So, it will either be the gain stage at the output you are connecting HPA to or the "IEM"s. Can you tell if it's source distortion or the earphone distorting? It's a very different sound.
-
On 07/09/2023 at 17:19, Tripehound said:
Enjoyed the review - thanks. Was MIDI considered for this device do you know?
Not at the time, but the architecture I suspect is MIDI compliant even if it hasn't been implemented... yet. I am certain Super Pre has a lot of miles left on the clock knowing the DSP on board.
-
1
-
-
I know that my post recently has had a few people asking what they can do to help - and, I'm not very good at asking for help if I am honest! But there is something that I've been struggling to find time to do and wondered if I could ask for BassChatters help?
The list above is just a small selection of the hundreds of reviews and bass videos I have created over the years. My Bass Player and Bass Gear reviews are still live on the magazine websites but there rest are really just being left to die which is a shame as lots of people buying gear can make use of them.
Would someone like to take on the task of creating a BassChat review post of each of the items in the list above? (I've provided links but I don't have time to create the posts).
It would be really great if my articles from Bass Plater Magazine:- https://www.guitarworld.com/author/dan-veall (sadly not many are listed here) could be shared over here on BassChat too? @ped, maybe this si something that can be automated? Seems a shame to see this thread die and the information be lost.
Thank you everyone x
-
1
-
-
4 hours ago, fretmeister said:
@Dood I watched your demo, and really enjoyed it.
How compressed did the compressor get? Do you remember what the fan noise was like?
ta
And thank you SO VERY MUCH for the kind words about my review videos. I work really hard on my own to create them and wish they'd have gotten a much larger audience than many have, because I see people asking about the gear I've reviewed and know nothing about the videos and detailed magazine write-ups! GAHHH!!!!
-
1
-
-
4 hours ago, fretmeister said:
@Dood I watched your demo, and really enjoyed it.
How compressed did the compressor get? Do you remember what the fan noise was like?
ta
It's a superb amplifier, really like it. The compressor I'd say is actually more like a studio use compressor (even though SO many brands call their onboard devices 'studio compressors', which I understand as they are talking about the quality of the design versus it's operation). So, what I mean is that it's good at taming dynamics in a subtle but effective way. It's not an aggressive sustainer on its own, if you're trying to get Billy Sheehan type effects from it. That said, piledrive it with a big fat bass distortion and you'd get that brick wall effect from it riding the amp gain high. I liked it to be almost invisible, just grabbing the peaks. IIRC it's a 4:1 comp, but I'd need to look at the manual to remind me.
As for the fan, well, it's the same with any "high powered" D Class amplifier in a small box. The heat has got to go somewhere and forced air cooling means that large heatsinks (and thus bigger boxes with more air space) can be done away with. The fan will kick in and you will hear it if you are in a silent room / studio control room. Some will find it annoying and get their knickers in a twist, others will appreciate that an amplifier designed for the stage in a little box is going to have a noisy fan. No one complains about the noise of an F1 car on the track, but you would if it was sat outside your house every day. blah blah...
I didn't;t find the fan noise to be massively intrusive in the review I don't recall. I actually have more issues with my iMac fan bleeding in to the very sensitive reference Lav mic I use.
-
1
-
-
On 03/07/2023 at 22:30, Kev said:
Haven't seen any sign of the Shuker up for sale so hopefully things aren't as bad as all that after all!
If you're active on socials, he has listed a few things that a little engagement with would be a big help!
There’s not been a great deal of activity on any of these links, so, fair enough, I guess there’s less interest than I’d hoped. Don’t worry, it’s all cool and just life. I’m not young/pretty/click bait enough I suppose. It’s likely I’ll let these links go (not that GI mag ever really pushed them anyway) along with my 7 string and a bunch of other stuff over the next few months. Sad to say, I’m just exhausted with everything. I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who has said such kind words.-
6
-
-
On 07/09/2023 at 21:50, jonno1981 said:
Neural (or someone else) to offer a capture type technology for instruments. I want my cheapo pub bass to sound like my fender! Or a Beatle bass, or something else.
Bit like a variax, but not crap!
Positive Grid's Bias FX has been offering Guitar Match for many years now, long before Neurals plugins were a thing, but, AFAICR you can only select their guitar options, but you do get the option of a Precision bass or a Dingwall Combustion.
-
2
-
-
I also use the Beyerdynamic DT770 Pro. I like the 80 ohm version as it's most suitable across my devices. They are great for ambient noise rejection, they are reasonably light weight and don't give me sweaty ears like some cans do when wearing for long hours tracking bass. Sure, if you're mixing in cans, or wanting audiophile, you might look at an open back, but these have been reliable for many years and still look like new. Sometimes I use my IEMs, I have the 62 Audio A8, eight drivers per ear, but they are mostly for on stage and the DT's are much closer to hand in my studio. That said, most of the time I have the luxury of being able to run through my studio monitors (like right now) and enjoy the rumbles they bring!
Actually, I wouldn't;t mind a decent pair of earphones for when I'm out walking, something light weight, sound great and will stay in my ears! Most, nay, pretty much all 'universal' and foam tip in-ear buds don't fit. Maybe I need a nice set of stylish over-ears!
-
Sorry for the delay folks, but here it is, my full and detailed review of the Bergantino Super Pre! No Shred, No BS, Just Bass ❤️
https://www.bassgearmag.com/bassic-review-bergantino-audio-systems-super-pre/
-
7
-
-
On 16/08/2023 at 13:40, Danny P said:
Did a degree in music, then played on cruise ships for a few years, then came back and have been doing the function thing for about ten years now.
The problem with functions is that they're 95% weddings and people don't get married in the winter. I used to just save up during the summer to basically stash some nuts for the winter, but I got tired of struggling for those four months or so, so I started doing Deliveroo on the side, which I'm positively bored of and don't wanna do this year.
How are you full-timers getting through the winter? I need ideas. I'd happily teach but demand for bass lessons seems so low that I've never figured how to get students.
What's your go-to? Teaching? Ships? Hotel gigs? Overseas residencies? Weekday hotel dinner jazz? Trade crypto? Happy-ending massages? Retrain in IT?
There are no wrong answers. Hit me...
Everything you can get your hands on, because every day with a bass in hand is a good day
I teach, I do session work, I write for magazines, I shoot video reviews for magazines, compose, teach recording and mixing, do instrument set ups, shoot promo for brands all from my home video/music studio, do dep gigs, play in a busy function band (no quiet periods over the winter breaks by being selective over gigs) and am planning on doing voice over work when I find time to do that too. In the past I have been a course leader and workshop lead working on music based projects. I've worked with SEND and complex needs students 1-2-1 and in very large groups. I've also delivered music based projects in residential homes too (not that fluffy nonsense dress up as 'music therapy' where someone hoots some tunes at bored individuals why they try to watch countdown, I might add!!) I created and ran a local Rock School for many years out of my local high school, we always had a waiting list.
Funnily, it's not that I am short of work, rather that I am short of hours as I am a single Dad of two as well.-
4
-
-
Just now, ossyrocks said:
@Dood I've never been good at cryptic clues! Nice amp though.
You can see that the power switch has been replaced, the standby is original as is the indicator. The power socket has also been replaced with an IEC too. I think the back panel is original, but the front fascia isn't.
-
-
Here's mine!
It's said to be a 69-ish and, a very interesting model as far as I have been told yet sadly I can not prove its provenance. I can tell you that it sounds absolutely lush and I adore the thing. When I inherited it, I sent it off to a valve amp expert. It had to have its capacitors replaced and a few bits and bobs checked over. I always intended that it should get to be used rather than be a museum piece, as it has been so difficult to prove the afore mentioned provenance.
Sadly, Marshall haven't been able to help, but, before sending off to Marshall some years ago by a previous owner, this amplifier looked very different. I haven't seen any pictures to prove it, but, Marshall apparently removed all the custom work on it and returned it to how it looks today. It is believed that this amplifier was made, probably as a backup/test model for a certain well known Marshall user for the Isle Of White Festival. You can see close up that the original custom badge holes still exist, the whole fascia was replaced too from what I have been told by the previous owner.
Who knows.. but, it sounds superb, especially with my boat anchor P bass!
-
2
-
-
If the ABM500 is anything to go buy, the fact that the noise went away when the master volume was pulled down, but not when the output mute switch was pressed is interesting. Looking at the schematic for the ABM500, if the MK500 is similar, the first thing I'd look at is all of the push on cable connectors about the circuit board. pull them all off and reseat them.
I've only had a very quick look now as I am teaching shortly, but there's definitely one or two possibilities if it is the amplifier itself.
-
9 minutes ago, Merton said:
Ooooh, me!!!
Well, since it's you.... The Commando preamplifier section is essentially a FET version of the V-Type valve preamplifier. The schematics (obviously taking in to consideration the differences between valve and transistor needs) are remarkably similar! For recording or feeding in to another amplifier, you've a v-type on the cheap, kinda!
-
5
-
-
Who wants to hear an interesting fact that will have the eBay watch lists going crazy?
-
@maidens97 re: A clip from last nights show in cleethorpes with a function band I work with, had a wander into the crowd with the wireless!I tested it earlier on in soundcheck and the range is more than you’d ever need!
Bass sounds great, aside from the GLDX+, what's your signal path? I take it your DI'd?
-
With or without RAMP ?
in General Discussion
Posted
Although you can rest your thumb on them, that's not really what ramps are for, otherwise bassists would just use a thumb rest, which looks prettier than some ramps I've seen stuck on instruments.