TimR

Can't watch the video at the moment but I've come across this in a lot of songs. Sometimes it's an E with a G# bass. That can be quite difficult to hear an lead to some "discussions"

Sounds like the booming was from the bass drum mic. For PA you should only be boosting around 120hz to emphasise the 'kick' of the drum. Don't try amplifying the bass sound of it, that'll cause all sorts of problems.

Alcohol seriously affects your high frequency hearing. Even one pint. I had big problems at one dinner and dance where the singer's mum got wasted during the meal and complained all night she couldn't hear her daughter singing. She got quite angry at one point. We used to have the same problem at gigs whenever the drummer got picked up in the van. He could never hear the vocals properly. When he drove to gigs everything was fine. Then we worked out what the problem was. Everyone else said it was fine.

Sounds like your bass drum mic might have been picking up loads of spill and chucking it all out the front in one huge mess. Surely you at least did a line check on all the mikes. Some rooms are just impossible.

Hi. We're a covers band based in Kingston playing Blondie, Foo Fighters (rest of list).... Rehearsing once a week and looking to do wedding/function/party gigs once a month on average. .

[quote name='ambient' timestamp='1457107437' post='2995456'] Well seeing how I personally have no idea at all, I'll bow to your superior knowledge. However I personally wouldn't want someone passing a high voltage through the sensitive circuitry of something like a modern class D amp. [/quote] They don't. There are 3 buttons on the machine. You only press the relevant ones.

Your house insurance should protect you from certain liabilities. Whether or not playing in a pub for £50 could be considered commercial is another matter.

[quote name='Huge Hands' timestamp='1457094680' post='2995276'] Interesting. I'm no expert as I did a PAT testing training course about 14 years ago and then never carried out a single test again - don't you have to use the correct gear that can print out a report, or can you do it manually like that and it still be official? As I said, I'm not trying to fight with you or anything, I'm genuinely interested. I thought (back when I did it all those years ago) the PAT machine was part of the thing to stop anyone and anybody doing it - and why they were so expensive (at the time). [/quote] AFAIK you can write it manually in a book. But you still need to do the resistance tests and get figures.

[quote name='gapiro' timestamp='1457093959' post='2995258'] I'm not really suprised, it is a bit vague at the moment! [/quote] The definitions are pretty solid, it's proving someone was/is competent before setting them to work that's the problem. Systems are more complicated and we're a lot hotter on safety than we used to be.

[quote name='sunburstjazz1967' timestamp='1457088072' post='2995125'] If he's testing class 1 equipment like our amps then how does he know the metal work on the amp is earthed to the earth on the plug top? Ok don't flash test the electronics but a continuity test between the earth pin on the socket on the amp and the exposed metal is a MUST! Any amp technicians here to substantiate my claim? [/quote] I'm not an amp tech but when we PAT test PCs we do.

[quote name='gapiro' timestamp='1457080720' post='2995038'] PAT testing has no legal requirement or a legal standard - it is a test of safety as deemed appropriate by the people using the equipment. To quote: [/size][/font][/color] [color=#111111][font=Arial, sans-serif][size=3] [/size][/font][/color][/color] [color=#101010]I have a degree in electronics, therefore I deem myself a competent person with knowledge to be able to check and test appliances, and therefore I can do my own PAT testing and produce my own certificates[/color] [font=HelveticaNeue, Helvetica-Neue,][color=#101010][size=3]Remember, it is like an MOT As well - all you are saying is that AT THE TIME OF THE TEST it was in a safe state - ie that if it subsequently fails the next day / week/month then it is not the responsibility of the PAT tester, and you can show that you took reasonable steps towards maintaining the safety of your equipment (by PAT testing it every year )[/size][/color][/font] [/quote] Yes competent and qualified mean different things within the electrical regulations. There are moves to remove 'competent' and require people to be qualified. Certainly there is a difficulty in proving competency without testing at which point you may as well qualify the person. I'd be wary of saying a degree in electrical engineering makes you competent. It certainly makes you qualified. There's a lot of basic electrical practical knowledge gained after you qualify. Personally I keep the two very separate.

[quote name='wateroftyne' timestamp='1457047043' post='2994921'] OK, I'll take the risk. I'd like to make an observation, though - IME the people who go on about the importance of PAT testing the most are the people who get paid to do the tests. [/quote] Yes. Those and the people who Investigate deaths of people who've been electrocuted or died in fires caused by faulty electrical equipment.

@DrTStingray. I remember being in one of the bass shops in London when a guy came in and asked for a specific model of Fender, year, colour etc. For a one off gig with a Shadows tribute act. All very odd. Especially when with the Pink Floyd example we're talking about it is one note played 4 times in the song.

[quote name='tauzero' timestamp='1456942468' post='2993873'] But surely this must be the definitive live version: ... [/quote] Superb. Only problem now is I'm going to have to learn how to use a pick.

In the UK the money is in band 3 and band 4 will be full of dreamers who either get out and play or who implode on the Tuesday before their first gig.

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1456937658' post='2993798'] Whether we like country or not band number 2 is the only real established band with gigs and the eopportunity to make some money. Blue [/quote] Not in this country it wouldn't. You might get a few barn dances but over here we have Celidh bands with callers.

Thought there would be a simpler way.

[quote name='ambient' timestamp='1456842035' post='2992791'] I use a Mac. Thanks for the suggestion though. I've got until mid April, but want to start on it, just for my peace of mind. [/quote] The fonts are held in the Font Book. Otherwise open your word processor and look through the installed fonts. You should be able to just type the symbols into the word processor and cut and paste.

[quote name='ambient' timestamp='1456840600' post='2992755'] Thanks for all your suggestions, I'll check them out. I've got Sibelius, and use it for regular stuff, but it's not really designed for the more avant garde stuff like I'm asked to do for this assignment. [/quote] Assuming you're using PC. Have a look at your Character map. It should have all your fonts in it. You can just cut and paste from that into your drawing package.

Just use photoshop/gimp etc. There are plenty of Notation fonts around to download. I'm sure an early version of Sibelius installed one on my machine. http://www.fontspace.com/category/notation .

[quote name='ras52' timestamp='1456828307' post='2992545'] Ah, don't assume that the artist knows how it's supposed to go Seriously - the recorded performance may have been improvised, yet gone on to be definitive in the eyes (and ears) of the audience, so that's 'how it goes'. [/quote] I'm now worried that I will now have to buy a 5-string before I'm allowed to play the live version of Comfortably Numb to an audience.

[quote name='bassman7755' timestamp='1456823791' post='2992486'] There are plenty well known songs that would sound completely lame if you just "follow the chords", to pick some random ones out of the air - Tears of a Clown, Run to You, Rio, and the cant-be-arsed-to-learn-it-properly brigades eternal favourite for butchery All Right Now, and then you can throw in for bonus points pretty much every song by Level 42, Rush, the jam and various other bands with notable highly stylistic players, and oh yeah Comfortably Numb (apparently) ... [/quote] That's not exactly the 'vast majority' is it? The skill comes in knowing when it can and when it shouldn't be changed. Arguing that a serie of notes in one run is wrong, one that in all probability the original artist didn't even think about when they played it, is a complete waste of everyone's time. .

[quote name='Lord Sausage' timestamp='1456782190' post='2992307'] Personally, I don't think that it is interesting enough musically for it to make a difference! [/quote] I suspect you're right. And Pink Floyd probably only keep it in for the fans as a classic song. I only picked up on it because we're going to play it and I wanted to get some ideas for beginning and ending it.

[quote name='Woodinblack' timestamp='1456778055' post='2992244'] We have to adjust quite a lot, because there are only 3 of us, so if the group had more to start with then it tends to feel a bit empty, so we fill it up a bit more (where that is needed). If I am doing a cover, I learn exactly how the thing goes, then we go and practice it, and we move it around a bit until it becomes our interpretation of it. If we can do anything with it, it stays, if not it goes. Some of the songs are close to the original, some are quite a way away. If anyone wants exact, there is a generally a juke box in the corner. [/quote] Whereas, we'll go away with 4 songs. Spend an hour getting the bare bones down. Return and busk through them a few times each and get a feel whether it will work or not. Go away and learn the solos and any significantly important parts. There is more than one way to skin a cat. We all have busy lives and aren't really interested learning tunes note for note that we may never play. I've done that too many times in other bands. Communication and experience are the key. .

[quote name='Lord Sausage' timestamp='1456782426' post='2992312'] I still want to know the answer to this! [/quote] With a basic bass line, the bass steers the whole song. It has a profound effect on the sound of the chords. You can change the inversion depending on your note choice. You can change the mood by playing an ascending line to make it uplifting or a descending line to make it more sad. We play harmony as well as bass. By legato, I'm thinking probably more single long notes that ring under a whole melody line. Maybe legato is the wrong word. In the Pink Floyd example I posted, Guy doesn't stick to that bottom B, occasionally he'll play the top B. I think it makes a big difference. I have nothing against 5-string basses. In the verse it sounds spot on and had Waters had a 5-string no doubt he would have played low B. It's only an example. I'm not hung up on it. Just don't think it fits that well.