lanark

Just a query - is there a knob missing? Or is that a switch?

[quote name='51m0n' post='1272708' date='Jun 17 2011, 01:30 PM']Given the OP's question I would imagine this is self funded, and therefore the budget isnt stratospheric[/quote] Absolutely right, sir. Budget at the moment is minimial. Obviously it would have been wisest to have started an acoustic folk duo. [quote name='PapillonIrl' post='1272979' date='Jun 17 2011, 05:22 PM']@ OP : Do you have a short list of facilities at this point ?[/quote] Not at all. Realistically, we're still many months away from doing any actual recording, but I figured that given the complexities of the band's configuration, I thought it was wise to have a really good idea of what would be needed, what would be expected, as early as possible: and this thread has given me an awful lot of food for though. Perhaps it would be easiest to organise a live gig recording and overdub any serious fluffs / audio issues. But then I imagine that would open a whole different can of worms.

What did you use to seal the wood in the end?

I only had one until I started gigging, and then I just got too worried that something was going to go wrong, so I got another one. Now, my CV Jazz is my main gigging and rehearsing bass and my Squier Affinity P stays out of the bag for home practice. At gigs, I take both (unless it's an outdoors free festival where Lenny Light Fingers might be hanging around) - never needed to use the backup, but it's there just in case. I've never really suffered from GAS for new instruments, although I'm irrationally hankering after an upright now, even though I haven't got the slightest idea of how to play it.

[quote name='PapillonIrl' post='1270757' date='Jun 15 2011, 10:21 PM']Can you list the line-up of the band, and how you normally play and rehearse ? All acoustic or some amplified instruments ? What are you willing to overdub, what must be played live to get the vibe right ? More than likely a click track is not appropriate, as stated above, but what if (assuming live tracking)there is an electric bass which everyone wants to hear while tracking, but there is to much bleed from the bass amp into the instrument/drum mics, and the bass player wants to be beside the drummer, who has a 6 piece kit ? All of a sudden you may need to track with headphones and isolate the amps in another room, which potentially means a studio with 10 headphone mixes and 32 channels of input. That should narrow down the selection somewhat.[/quote] When rehearsing the only amplified instruments are my bass, vocals and an electric piano, but obviously when playing live, everything - including percussion and horns - are mic'd up. Line up: Rhythm Section: Bass (most important, obviously) Timbales Congas Keys Miscellaneous percussion played by vocalist or timbale player (maracas, clave, cowbell, guiro eto) Horn Section: Trumpet Trombone Sax Flute Plus vocals (including backing provided by other instrumentalists) Here's a link to a You Tube clip of the band (it's a compilation of bits and pieces - but it gives an idea of the size of the band - although for this gig, we did have twice as many horns as normal - two trombones, two trumpets, two saxes and the flute - mostly deps too - no wonder we didn't make any money lol) [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YCabiW_xqEQ"]York Gig - snippets[/url] [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5m3_zU50SYA"]Bits and pieces from all sorts of gigs last year[/url]

[quote name='skankdelvar' post='1270249' date='Jun 15 2011, 03:38 PM']U2, Coldplay and Beyonce. Trading as Smug, Smarm & Plastic Ltd.[/quote] Nice one. I think I really WOULD rather see The Wombles.

I think that the general consensus if that Micheal Eavis and the OP are wrong in their disparagement of our furry friends. Here's wishing you all a Wombling Merry Christmas (slightly early)

All good advice - I'm learning a lot. Please keep it coming. Has anybody got any advice about the best places / personalities to investigate in the York / Leeds area?

[quote name='paul_5' post='1269432' date='Jun 14 2011, 11:28 PM']don't be seduced by flashing lights and the machine that goes 'ping', listen to some of their previous output, it should give you an idea of what you're getting into.[/quote] They might have a machine that goes "ping!"? Coooooooooooooool

Anyone used one of these, from Protection Racket? [url="http://www.djmmusic.com/itemdesc.asp?ic=GB7051"]Protection racket bass gig bag[/url] From what I can see they look pretty good value and I'll probably order one when I next get money from a gig.

As a follow on to my question about whether anyone had used York's Melrose Yard Studios, I realised that I have no clue as to what to look for when choosing a studio. My band are close to wanting to do more than just record rehearsals and pretty soon we'll be looking to go further, either recording high quality demos or maybe even putting together a CD we can sell at gigs / put up to Bandcamp for DL or something. However, I have no clue whatsoever about the whole process. As I don't want to be ripped off, taken for a fool or whatever, I was wondering if anyone could give me some general tips on what to look out for and what the process consists of - from arriving and setting up to getting that master back to do whatever with. For info, in case it has any bearing: we're a 9 (sometimes 10 - recently, for one gig, 13) piece salsa band, so loads of percussion and brass.

[url="http://www.melroseyardstudios.co.uk/Recording.html"]Melrose Yard Studios[/url] I've never used a recording studio before, but we're getting close to wanting to do more than just record rehearsals. I was wondering if any Yorkies had tried these, or if anyone could recommend any alternative good value studios in the York / Leeds area.

My band (Mambo con Rumbo) will be playing at a free outdoor gig in Leeds on June 26th. not only the band but also salsa classes, samba and reggeaton dancers and spectacular Dragon Boat racing (although this IS Leeds, so don't expect it to match anything you've seen in the orient). More details of the Waterfront Festival here: [url="http://www.leedswaterfrontfestival.com/"]Leeds Waterfront Festival[/url] and more about the band, here: [url="http://www.mamboconrumbo.co.uk"]Mambo con Rumbo[/url]

Wow - it's up to £37, with 22 bids. Plus £20 delivery. People really want this thing.

Jeez - it's one act out of about 300. Loads of people will enjoy it, those who don't enjoy it can go to plenty of other places while they're playing their set. I thought that Eavis's comments showed him up to be a complete twat. What sort of promoter makes their guests feel THAT unwanted? As has been said above, I'd rather see the Wombles than well over half of the more normal, identikit acts that will no doubt be filling the bill.

Ahhh the perils of owning expensive instruments.

I've used the H1 on 192kbps and again no compression issues to worry about. If it was more important, I'd probably got for higher quality, but there's nothing bad enough in 192 to justify anything more for rehearsals. All in all, it's a great piece of kit. Tripod's very useful though, to stop you squeezing the plastic case accidentally.

I mean - decent recordings on a home pc could be done 7 or 8 years ago. What was top of the range then, could now fit in a £100 netbook, so how come you STILL need a top of the range (or at least completely dedicated) pc to make a decent home recording? Surely even the most basic laptop should now be able to do the job. What do people recommend as the most basic home recording setup to get a demo-ish job done?

The man who produced THAT Strangler's bass sound on their first three albums, plus early Buzzcocks, Don't You Want Me, Fade to Grey, 999 and loads of other stuff.

Okay, Woodster's given me hope that this might be simpler than I first feared. I've put the unit in the post to Tascam S&R in Watford. Special delivery so will be there by tomorrow lunchtime. Here's hoping that mine is as simple as his was.

I've got the classic vibe Jazz which comes with a tort scratchplate, but I was wondering what to have as a change. I'm still hankering after some black nylon Flatties and they'd look cool with either a white/black/white plate, or matt gold or maybe even that telecaster mint green. Anyone got any suggestions? What are your favourite colours to go with Olly white?

[quote name='Johnston' post='1258370' date='Jun 6 2011, 01:51 PM']Take it up with Ebay . Put in a claim . Edit I hope all comms have been through Ebay message centre?[/quote] [quote name='woodster' post='1258385' date='Jun 6 2011, 02:04 PM']I had exactly the same fault with mine and it went back to Tascam. I think they re-flashed the memory or something like that but they didn't charge me except for what it cost for me to post it to them. I dealt with a guy called Gary Maguire, if that helps...[/quote] Woodster - I've PM'd you about this, hope you can help, cos I'd rather avoid going down the Resolution Centre route if possible (being very non-confrontational by nature). Johnston - yup, all contact has been done through the ebay message centre. They say that I can claim that the Item wasn't as described, even though it worked for a day before breaking down. But the guy's been as helpful as I could possibly expect right the way through. Ho-hum.

Okay - the seller's refusing to take a return because it was working when it left him and worked to 24 hours with me. He says that he offers no guarantee. Any suggestion on my next move?

[quote name='Grand Wazoo' post='1258155' date='Jun 6 2011, 10:42 AM']Yes. Return it because you have the right to do so in case the item don't work. Good luck.[/quote] This is what I'm going to do. As it was working (briefly) when it arrived I assume that the seller wasn't aware this was about to croak, so I've offered to forego the delivery charge, so he's not out of pocket, but I've asked for a refund of what I paid for the item itself and will return it to him when he gives me his address. It's such a shame, because for the day or so that it was working I absolutely loved it.