dave_bass5

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1507649233' post='3386979'] I think blue has forgotten that playing an instrument is primarily a hobby in fact some genres have never looked to be profitable, no not jazz! I'm thinking of things like brass bands where the whole point was an evening out in the warm with friends rehearsing, if the gigs covered the cost of rehearsal space and a coach to get them to gigs that was a bonus. [/quote] True, also bands looking for a bass player might not actually have any gigs until they get one. Im putting a band together (from the ashes of my old band) and wouldn't dream of booking a gig until the band was gig ready. I can get them, so have told prospective members this, but until i have a full line up im not going to mess agents etc around. In fact i had a few guitarists call up just like Blue. asking how many gigs we have booked, how much they will walk away with etc etc, and this was all on the assumption that i would actually want them in the band without an audition. Jokers the lot of em (especially as the ad said new band and explained all the above.). IME sometimes those chasing the money will also be time wasters. it works both ways.

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1507595920' post='3386694'] I think some forget that [b]were all in it for fun[/b]. Some of us are in it for fun & money. If your not having fun it's time to move on. Blue [/quote] From your first post i get the feeling you have forgotten this as well. Not everyone wants to gig, not everyone wants to book gigs before they have a full band to play them. Whats the issue you have with this? Were they offering gigs that didnt exist? Did they string you along and tell you that they were going to be gigging. Im just trying to understand the mentality behind a thread like this. A band with no gigs looking for a bass player, cant be that much to talk about surely?

[quote name='mcnach' timestamp='1507411837' post='3385367'] The problem with that one, for me, is that the effect is a lot louder than the input signal. I like it, I owned THREE... but each time I let it go because of the volume issue. [/quote]. That’s another reason the Zooms work well, as you can balance the patch out to avoid the increase in level.

I thought you could capture the current settings using the Tone Print program. Maybe im wrong but im surei used this method to take one of the uneditable artist presets and edit it. Then again, to my ears most of the presets sound pretty similar to me, especially when playing with the band.

What about the Zoom 60B? It can be treated as a single pedal, as its smaller and lighter than the B3, and still has various flavours of filter. If nothing else these Zoom boxes can allow you to try out various types of filter until you find the right one.

Id also say Zoom B3n over the B3. I dont have my old B3 any more, i found it hard to use live, but the B3n is a different kettle of FX. Its aimed more for the live end rather than home/studio use IMO. For example the BDDI sim also has the same mid control of the latest real BDDI, but that control also has a foot switch so you can get two different tones out of the one Sim. Ive been finding that pretty cool and better than using the real thing (for me). Im pretty sure the old B3 didnt have this.

[quote name='Kiwi' timestamp='1507025033' post='3382751'] I've heard good things about the Spectracomp too BTW. But the tone print functionality will only last as long as TC keep the software compatible with your phone. I tend to worry about whether software based music solutions will still be supported in 10 years. [/quote] You can hook the pedal up to a computer and transfer/Edit, so no phone needed unless you want to 'beam' presets to it when away from the computer.

I’m not really in to tweaking too much, which is why i dont use my B3n live. I even find my Spectracomp distracting sometimes. I just want one dirty tone that works well after the BDDI, but as I’m not sure what that tone is the Aftershock seems to be the way to go. I only came across this today, funnily enough due to a thread on TB so yeah, I’m working my way through them. Cheers.

Cheers guys. Sound just what I thought it would be. For what’s its worth I don’t like my VMT much, but I use it to do some on/off dirt along with my always on BDDI. I was thinking of using the VTBass DI instead of the VMT, but at the moment it just sits at home doing nothing since i got the BDDI. I love the tone of the BDDI, but need to get dirtier every now and then (don’t tell the GF lol). I have a Zoom B3n and love the BDDI/B7K patch I have, but I don’t really want to use the B3n live. I cant justify a B7K while I still have the other pedals, but if I sold those two and just used something like the Aftershock I think that would work well. I’m not after a particular OD tone, I’m only doing general covers, but having something like the AS could be good as its not stuck with one type of tone, and pretty cheap. I had thought about other boxes, but this one seems to give me the option to try different things rather than buy something and then send it back if I don’t like it. I’m trying to keep things simple so this would be a stand alone soloution. In fact it sounds like it might replace my BDDI if it does what I think it will do.

Ive only just come across this and on first glance it seems a chreaper way of getting a Darkglass B7K type of tone. If it just did this then that’s cool but I can see it does so much more and looks really nice. It would be great to replace my DG VMT and VTBass DI with just this one box. What I want to know is can I assign any effect to each of the 3 switch positions a via the software, or have I got this completely wrong and its just for certain parameters? Pretty sure ill get one soon anyway,

[quote name='Count Bassy' timestamp='1506697436' post='3380520'] Hopefully I can say without upsetting the OP. "We all make mistakes, butI would expect any sensible person to update the band diary when the date is confirmed". [/quote] The rest of the band knew about this gig even though it wasnt on the calendar. The OP has also said the drummer is not very good at keeping tabs on things. I can see it was a genuine mistake on both parts, but the drummer decided to walk and i think that was the best result. Ive been in the OP's shoes where you try and keep it all going, only to have band members causing more issues for the gig booker, and if you are doing this as a side line then sometimes it just comes to a head and something needs doing about it.

[quote name='Count Bassy' timestamp='1506690038' post='3380454'] As with some others here I'm afraid my sympathies are with the drummer. If you're going to have a central band diary then that should be the master. If someone asked 6 months ago if I was OK for something, but nothing appeared in the band diary then I'd assume it wasn't on. [/quote] or you could ask if anything came of that date, as i didn't write anything down, because its not my job to, regarding an enquiry and i have something else come up if we arent doing it? I would expect any sensible person to at least pencil something in on a date that has been enquired about.

The problem with all these suggestions etc is that its still down to the individual to check and keep up with things. This is the main cause of mis communication IMO.

I tried to set up a Google calendar a few times, but one guy only used an old Nokia and had no computer so that didnt work. I would also get excuses that they couldn't log on etc. I found the best way was to text each one and [s]expect[/s] hope they would make a note of them. On the whole i felt they needed to take responsibility for themselves.

[quote name='fretmeister' timestamp='1506520671' post='3379310'] No one said he was an adult. They said he was a drummer. [/quote] i was going to say grown up drummer but again, ill end up getting corrected :-) [quote name='police squad' timestamp='1506521962' post='3379321'] it was not mentioned, it was confirmed. What part of ' hey guys, new gig, Railway Bell september 30th' is mentioning it. It was confirmed or I would have asked, 'are you all available etc etc [/quote] Yep, my point is if he recalled it being mentioned then he really should have followed it up, even though you did tell him it was confirmed. Ive been through exactly the same. i would be asked if we were free, text everyone to make sure we were, and then text everyone back if and when its confirmed. quite often i would get the idiots texting or calling me to see what happened about 'that inquiry', and i would have to remind them i confirmed it. It does get very, very frustrating and i used to feel i was the only one that was actually bothered about the gigs. Had a few blow outs with the band a few times but we got over it. I think your drummer leaving was the right thing, for your peace of mind if nothing else.

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1506440731' post='3378767'] Tbh I think I'm with the drummer, "you mentioned" the gig in April, nothing else since and it's not on the band's website. [/quote] Batting from the other side, i would question why the drummer never followed it up after it was first mentioned. We know know he is disorganised, but i also believe it was mentioned he is also an adult ;-)

To clarify my ‘mids’ comment. Yes’m the BB2 has them, but the low end over powered them too much. As for what you put in you get out, well the BB2 must be very special as ive not used any other cabs that needed so much low end attenuation. In fact at least 2 cheaper 410’s i used at our rehearsal studio produced louder, fuller, clearer and punchier tones that the BB2. Which surprised me considering what it’s says on the website.

[quote name='JAUQO III-X' timestamp='1505756358' post='3374090'] I'm sorry I should have been more specific. His sig amp is not ready for market just yet. [/quote] That will be why its referred to as a prototype then ;-)

[quote name='LZD56' timestamp='1505753906' post='3374046'] Is it a prototype? That definitely looks like a Marcus silhouette on the front of that amp. Apologies if I'm wrong to all I may have misled. [/quote] Its also got a large MM on it. Very confusing if this isnt the prototype.

[quote name='JAUQO III-X' timestamp='1505746038' post='3373953'] The amp in the video is not Marcus signature amp. [/quote] It says 'Bass legend Marcus Miller show us his Sire basses playing the prototypes of his Markbass signature rig.' Is that not it in the video?

Its not negative, I was just pointing it out. You also seemed to be questioning the comments from others regarding BF cabs. As if only Alex can explain how they sound and how good they are. A big apology if I miss read that post, but that how it came across.

And of course those facts will be totally unbiased against other manufacturers 😉

I loved the BB2 when i first got it, it was once i started gigging it at venues i had played many time before that i felt it was lacking something for me. I know many people love it so I appreciate its a very personal thing, but i see a lot of BF owners, especial the smaller cabs, using more than one cab. Considering how the BF market the cabs, and if you believe it all, then i say definitely try one before you buy, and even better in a gig environment.

[quote name='CameronJ' timestamp='1505126070' post='3369584'] I've used a Voicelive Touch 2 for a number of years now and love it. I am a solo vocalist/beat boxer, very technically minded and have spent a good amount of time learning the ins and outs of the unit down to MIDI commands etc. You definitely need to have a somewhat technical mind to really get the most out of the higher end TC units. The more entry level pedals/units are MUCH simpler but you should definitely still devote some meaningful time getting to grips with everything they can (and can't) do. As said above re: the harmonies, DO NOT overdo it. I mean that in terms of how often you use them as well as the volume you have them set at. The louder you have the harmony volume set, the more apparent it will be that your singer is effectively being accompanied by a computer chip. Also, make sure your singer writes down the settings for each song and remembers to change said settings from one song to the next, lest the whole band face the embarrassment of wildly out of key harmonies. The bemused audience member will cast looks of blame at the guitarist, drummer and bassist assuming it's your fault. Because there will be plenty of people who aren't paying attention and just assume the BVs must be coming from you guys. To really avoid this, you should go for one of the mid-ranged units (e.g. Play Acoustic or Play Electric) as, mentioned in earlier posts, they can be set to listen to the instrument plugged in and follow in real time. This can give you more nuanced results as the harmonies are no longer locked to the vocals but to the surrounding instrumentation, which can often sound more musical and natural. Just make sure the guitarist who's "controlling" the unit plays reasonably cleanly and that the Root and Third of the chord are loud and clear as this is what the TC algorithm uses as primary reference for tracking. Above all, if you're going to go down this root, have patience with it but also have fun. If as you say your vocalist is "definitely not technically minded" then maybe steer clear though as whatever you buy may end up becoming the responsibility of another band member to set up and learn...which may breed resentment of it [/quote] Thanks for all that. It would definitely not be on all the time, and very well back in the mix. Ive been impressed with some of the demo videos for these things, but can already see how annoying it will sound if overused. I think kept low in the mix will add more presence to the vocals, hopefully without it sounding like Steven Hawkins is back stage with some vocal sheets :-). Once we all start signing it will be even more hidden. Oh, and i live with the singer so it will be me that has to sort it out. Still, one more thing to argue about wont make a big difference lol.

Thanks for all the replies and suggestions. Ill send her links of the different boxes. The TC one does look rather cool so ill try and push that. We wont be gigging for a while we should have plenty of time to figure it all out. I like the DOD one as you can have set lists programmed in, but i expect the others do that as well. I can see a few funny moments coming up though. The rest of us will do backing vocals at some point, its just proving difficult (at least for me) to play and sing new songs at the moment.