DaytonaRik

Very nice - you live once so enjoy it!  My kit level is also way beyond my ability but I have a lot of fun playing drums!

Is the drummer adverse to using an eKit?  They don't have to be cheap and plastic looking, and when linked with some of the drum plugins from Steven Slate and ToonTracks you'd be hard pushed to tell them apart from an acoustic kit in any mix.  Yes it's an investment but it then becomes better for rehearsals, home practice etc.  Just a thought?

My eKit for reference!

On 21/10/2024 at 12:13, DaytonaRik said:

Still in Tier 1 - but a new drum rack clamp has seen me bow out of the Tier 2 challenge!  Rats!  In my defence, it is to allow me to fit a laptop mount, which has been bought as an early Xmas gift, to the rack...I throw myself upon the mercy of the court!

Corrected!  The difference that punctuation can make, but I do agree that buying equipment for my current gear is a neat work around!

6 hours ago, OliverBlackman said:

Early Xmas present? We’re in October 😂 nice try!

I've only been bought the laptop arms - I already have a suitable length of rack tubing, lock rings etc...just needed the clamp...honest!

Still in Tier 1 - but a new drum rack clamp has seen me bow out of the Tier 2 challenge!  Rats!  In my defence, it is to allow me to fit a laptop mount which has been bought as an early Xmas gift to the rack...I throw myself upon the mercy of the court!

On 18/08/2024 at 17:01, tauzero said:

An electronic drum kit, bought several years ago so I could try and play drums a bit for recording purposes. It's packed up in a cupboard somewhere and Mrs Zero won't tell me where it is, and at the moment we don't have the room for me to put it up anyway.

I bought one of those for the same reasons - it turned into one of these and a whole new set of GAS problems!!!  Fortunately I know *exactly* where this is!

On 20/02/2024 at 12:22, dave_bass5 said:

...i need to play in Stereo...

This makes a huge difference.  When you listen to a mono IEM mix everything is overlayed and can get cluttered, making it quite difficult to hear different instruments.  By utilising a stereo IEM mix then you can pan each instrument within the stereo image relative to the on-stage position which makes for a much more accurate mix.  It really is as big a game changer as using IEMs themselves.

The down side is that you can quickly burn through AUX sends at an alarming rate and once you have 4-5 piece bands the 6 AUX sends offered by the likes of the XR18 etc  simply don't offer enough outputs.

On 08/02/2024 at 21:49, mcnach said:

 

Hi Greg!

 

You are right, it seems like the built-in router is not reliable and I've heard similar stories about some other mixers (not all!). However an external router doesn't cost much and it'll all be in a rack case.

 

That A&H mixer looks really cool! It's a bit more expensive but it has a touch screen already and it looks like it can record each channel in a separate track for processing later, directly on the mixer rather than having to plug in a laptop to it...

Hmmm... Something to think about, it definitely seems more user friendly. Thank you for the heads up, I would not have thought of this one if you hadn't mentioned it!

 

For not that much more you can get a Behringer X32 Rack which offers expansion up to 32 track inputs via the SD stage boxes, better routing/bussing options, optional plug and play i/o cards etc.

Late joiner - January has thrown a few IRL curve balls my way sadly but we endure.

Nothing bought in January and with the band folded, no gigs planned and everything I need for the home studio I can see that remaining true for the foreseeable future.

1. Why you don't have any gigs?

Weekend work commitments was the usual show stopper - trying to find dates on which everyone is available that tied in with gig availability.  Drummer worked alternate weekends, I was on call 1 weekend in 4 which made for narrow windows of opportunity.

2.Do you rely on an agent ?

No

3.Who finds coordinates and confirms gigs?

Usually myself or on occasion another band member booked the gigs

4.  Are you or any band members in this for the money?

Not at all - an escape from reality and a bit of fun

5.How much do you want to gig?

These days - not at all!  Running a band is like trying to herd cats...you should try it and see just how hard it is!  When you have to book the gigs, own/transport/run the PA/Lighting, play the gig then it really all gets too much!  I'm glad to be at home at the weekends for a while, or join a band where I turn up with a bass, amp and go home with something in my pocket and not be unloading the van at 2:00am!

The Thunderbird, the other Thunderbird, the Steinberg...!

Slate All Access Pass holders can now access all of the official SSL plugins as part of their subscription.

https://slatedigital.com/all-access-pass/#complete-access-pricing

On 12/05/2023 at 21:06, Muppet said:

Sennheiser EW IEM G4 here with UE6s in stereo and no backline. It’s pricey but great quality and I love it.

I've been using a DB Technologies IEM2000 for about 20 years (I actually have a pair of them!)...it could be time for me to upgrade!  I'm very happy with my 64 Audio A3 custom earpieces, just feel it's time to upgrade the wireless side of things and the EW300 G4 is well and truly on the shopping list.  I lost the backline last year with the addition of the Bass Dapper pedal, but I'd long been a fan of silent stages and DI'd heads with minimal backline.  Now if only I could get the guitarists to join the silent party!

8 hours ago, EBS_freak said:

Yes. I'm advocating the EW300 G2, EW300 G3 and EW300 G4... but not the EW300 G1.

Thanks - appreciate the advice, as always 👍😎

On 28/02/2023 at 14:14, EBS_freak said:

I know you don't want to hear it - but I don't tend to recommend much from the analogue world - Shure EW300 G2+ and Shure 900+ (or 300 with the pro pack) being my go to. 

 

Is that the Sennheiser EW300 G2?  Potentially in the market for a new IEM system and the Sennheiser has been on my radar for a little while.

A few - all guitars!

1) 1974 Gibson SG Special that had been modded with a middle p/u

2) Gibson Firebird, late 90's, with banjo pegs

3) Gibson Les Paul premium plus in wine red, late 90's - played like a dream

4) Ibanez RG440 Roadster, Floyd Rose trem, push/push coil tap on the bridge p/u

On 14/04/2023 at 20:43, Philly said:

I’m wondering how many of us bass lot manage to do backing vocals in bands. I play in a covers band and need to start doing some, but have had several attempts and usually ended in failure. 
 

Does anyone have any techniques to make this easier? 

I've been a lead vocalist/bass player in a few bands, as well a guitarist/lead vocalist in others and sing backing vocals as a bass player in my current band...there's no magic trick sadly, it's just a case of keeping at it.

The only advice I can really give is that you have to know both the bass lines and vocal lines inside out in terms of timing, notes/lyrics etc - the moment you have top stop and think about anything - be that lyrics or bass line - then the other will inevitably suffer!

15 hours ago, SH73 said:

 

It would have been quicker for him to adjust the tilter himself - what a tool!

42 minutes ago, Al Krow said:

 

In terms of your entirely valid question of "why most small bands don't have one of these or a similar from another manufacturer in their setup" - I think some bands prefer to have the immediacy of onboard controls and faders, rather than being obliged to use a separate tablet or phone, either from an accuracy of adjustment perspective (sliders on a tablet or phone won't generally have the precision of a manual slider) or from a performance delay perspective i.e. needing to fire up a tablet or unlock a phone mid-set, which can't so easily be done anyway whilst holding a microphone in one hand etc. 

I'd argue the opposite - previously a desk would have been shoe horned in somewhere on the side of a stage or perched on an amp somewhere, where now my iPad is on my mic-stand right in front of me with the DCA pane running - one mute button for each DCA group and a single fader for all instruments in that DCA group - kit, backline, vocals, monitors, FX and Aux's (iPod, ambient mic's etc)  I can usually manage to make small adjustments on the fly.

Also the ability to save your gig and recall it next time you're at the venue does away with a lot of the sound checking - bring instrument levels back up to the same gain levels as the last time you played that venue (and stop the guitarists fiddling with the volume/fgain once you're done!) and you're 90% of the way there  - monitor, IEM and FOH EQ's and levels, FX levels, channel volumes and EQs,  - all saved.

Maybe as I've worked in IT all my life (now coming up to working in that industry for 37 years) technology doesn't hold any fears - mixing is mixing is mixing...it's just that now it's done on my tablet (or control surface if preferred) rather than on a desk...which wouldn't have been in right in front of me anyway!

I moved to a Bass Dapper pedal - I already run IEMs and saw this as a logical progression.  I still have the ABM500 head plus a 1x15 and 2x10 cabs, but they don't get used much, if at all really

20 hours ago, JPJ said:

I’m a huge Behringer X-Air fan, having used the XR18 for about five years...

 

 

 

 

The entire Behringer X-Air / Xnn stuff is exceptional value for money and offers so much in terms of functionality in a very small footprint or rack mount option for the X32 Rack.

I saw this video on YouTube that shows just what you get out of the X18 - the X32 Rack is just even more of the same.

I really can't see why most small bands don't have one of these or a similar from another manufacturer in their setup 

Van broke down night before!  AA fixed the issue so got the gear and myself to North East Lincs (g/f lives close to the venue) only for the van to die just as we set off for the venue the next afternoon!

Luckily we had lots of time in hand so 2 x return trips in the g/f's car!  Managed to get everything except the PA subs to the venue for a private birthday party with plenty of time to setup and sound-check before the guests arrived.

Show itself was great to a room of approx. 200 hundred rock music loving bikers, but due to the late finish we had to leave half of the gear at the clubhouse of the local patch club - top guys who were very accommodating and had attended the party as guests - and return to collect it the next day

Overall - 4 return trips totalling 240 miles and 4.5 hours but worth it!

Van goes into the garage in Jan for a replacement fuel filter and one-way valves in the fuel lines to prevent further fuel vapour lock issues.

I just added up the cost to replace the PA that gets carried around in the van - think I'll have to adjust my insurance policy!!!!!

On 17/11/2022 at 14:56, Chienmortbb said:

 Just had a look at those 64 Audio IEMS, they are a bit on the heavy side, and I am not talking weight.

Mine are definitely at the lower end of their price range - A3s - but they’re worth every penny…the custom fitting makes a huge difference

19 hours ago, BigRedX said:

 

Surely that only works if you stand in the same spot facing in the same direction for the whole gig. The moment you turn around to face the drummer all your sound sources will be back to front. 

 

I would have though stereo was more useful for separating out similar sounding instruments.

It's just a consistent sound source, you get used to where everything is 'in your ears' not in your vision.  Guitar #1  is always to my left, guitar #2 to the right regardless of where I am on stage or which way I'm facing.  It definitely helps when listening for cues, which vocal I'm listening to for harmonies etc.  With 3 part vocal harmonies and 2 guitar channels all competing in a mono space it can get confusing.

The 64 Audio custom fit IEMs do a really good job of attenuating most of the on-stage sound and once the feed is in place then it's all IEM mix