TorturedSaints

I use my pk5 to trigger samples and also play soft synths. In rehearsal it goes to a Roland Keyboard Amp. Live it goes straight into the PA via a line level DI box, and monitored through the vocal wedge monitors. There's a thread in Other Instruments (I think) that goes into much more detail. Edited to add thread: [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/222721-foot-keyboards-or-something/"]http://basschat.co.uk/topic/222721-foot-keyboards-or-something/[/url]

As zero9 says, best way to learn is to do it, like most things in life. Regarding room acoustics, there's a regular column in Sound on Sound (or has been in the recent past) called "Studio SOS" where home/community/musician studios get a sonic makeover. It doesn't appear to be rocket science unless you have a very strange room. There's also a small cheap book called "Home Studio Design" or similar (I can't lay my hands on it right now) that will give you some ideas. Because it's a Church/Youth project, I suspect that the SOS Studio Design/Acoustics forum would be helpful. I think the top tip I've gleaned from those sources is don't make it a square or cube room, and it will work out ok! If you're sourcing equipment for a youth project, you probably don't want to go for high end equipment, so I would suggest having a look at some of the Studiospares own brand equipment in the Studiospares.co.uk catalogue, cheap enough for supervisors not to be too obsessive over damage/loss, but which produce reasonable results by most accounts. Anyway, good luck with it all.

To put my remarks in context, I was considering doing a SAE Institute course. They have lots of glossy brochures, big consoles etc etc, but seem to churn out graduates for which there's not much market - I've seen these guys come and go at setting up local studios and then going bust before the next one comes along. I was looking at it in terms of doing a conversion of a barn as a dedicated studio/rehearsal facility and then becoming the in-house engineer. I quickly ran the figures on return on investment etc and decided to keep music a hobby. Bilbo's advice is good, although I wouldn't necessarily say that up-to-date equipment is really necessary, IMO a lot of it is about being able to listen to what you are recording/producing and knowing how to change that. With a Music degree, I would say that you are a fair way there on that.

I can't really help much with recommendations, apart from audio courses that have been offered by free online Coursera and FutureLearn MOOCs. However, the Sound on Sound forums are always good for (sometimes harsh, but fair) opinions. For example, this thread [url="http://www.soundonsound.com/forum/showflat.php?Cat=&Number=1111782&page=0&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=365&fpart=1#1111782"]http://www.soundonsound.com/forum/showflat.php?Cat=&Number=1111782&page=0&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=365&fpart=1#1111782[/url] encompasses a wide range of opinions about courses for someone to get about someone to get work in the industry. I think with some internet research (youtube), a subscription to a decent Magazine (SOS or Computer Music or similar), a couple of good text books, and with your Music degree background you would be well placed for your own stuff and Church youth project. IMO there is no substitute for doing. Hope this helps.

Feedback for my purchases here on BC.

I bought an ACG bass from Mike, very happy with the purchase, super fast despatch and very well packed. Thanks a lot.

I have a set like this. http://www.gumtree.com/p/other-percussion-drums/skytronic-drum-mics-7-piece-set/102831288 All quite usable apart from the kick drum mic doesn't really provide a great sound for me, perfectly usable as a midi replacement trigger though. I have replaced the kick mic with a Red5 RVD1 but have yet to try it out in anger. I have heard good reports of the Red5 drum mic set. Here's a sample of the results (not an isolated drum track sorry, away from recording computer.) https://www.dropbox.com/s/73aqc6pxjt403aj/StormTrappedNoVox.mp3?dl=0 using skytronic drum mic set and a cheap Large Diameter Condenser as a room mic, plus a bit of processing/eq/compression.

Try Box in Glasgow. Free, normally can fit you in no problem. Good for gig practice. Edited to say, sorry, didn't see you were wanting to be paid. They won't pay you at Box, but PA etc is provided. [b] [color=#9197A3][b][url="https://www.facebook.com/pages/glasgowmusiccouk/131203920284561?hc_location=timeline"]glasgowmusic.co.uk[/url][/b][/color][/b] [color=#9197A3][size=3][url="https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=738937306177883&id=131203920284561"]12 hours ago[/url][/size][/color] We are looking for bands and solo artists to play Box in November. November: 3rd - 2 bands 10th - 2 bands 17th - 1 solo artist 24th - 2 bands All shows are free entry and full Backline is provided. Please email - [email protected] if you are available! [indent=1] [url="https://www.facebook.com/#"]Ralph Wilson[/url] [color=#999999][url="https://www.facebook.com/#"]Like[/url][/color] [/indent]

Tonight! The bill has been changed, now featuring Revolving Doors, The Great Cull, Colin Crichton and DarkSky. Ralph

Hi all DarkSky is on the bill at Ivory Blacks in Glasgow on 21st of August from 7pm. We'll be playing our eclectic blend of alternative rock, and I'd love to see any fellow BC'ers. I don't know if I'll be taking my new Barefaced Super Twin cab yet (especially as it hasn't been delivered yet!) We are on with Insectways and 2 other bands TBC. Tickets are normally £6 but we have negotiated a great deal and you can have them at half price via our Facebook page [url="http://facebook.com/darkskyband"]http://www.facebook.com/darkskyband[/url] For more details see here [url="https://www.facebook.com/events/1449392555326944/1450103155255884/?notif_t=like"]https://www.facebook...4/?notif_t=like[/url] hope to see you there . . . Ralph DarkSky bass/midi pedals [url="http://www.facebook.com/darkskyband"]http://www.facebook.com/darkskyband[/url] [url="http://www.soundcloud.com/darkskyband"]http://www.soundcloud.com/darkskyband[/url] [url="http://www.nimbitmusic.com/darksky"]http://www.nimbitmusic.com/darksky[/url]

Don't feel any pressure, Roland It was the model suggested by Alex when I emailed him in some detail asking for advice on which cab to choose! In any case, I've got a month to try it, so no pressure at all. Thanks to you and Dave for your thoughts.

Thanks Roland. I've put a deposit down on one. cheers

Hi, just thinking of buying one - I haven't found much comment on this particular cab on here (probably because it's a new-ish cab). I'm looking to use my GK MB500 to drive it. Any opinions welcomed. cheers Ralph

just wanted to say that Toontrack and Time+Space were very good, cancelled my authorisation code and refunded me the money for the EZD2 upgrade that wouldn't run on my WinXP computer.

Hi BC'ers, DarkSky are playing a gig at Whistlebinkies, South Bridge, Edinburgh on 3rd June from about 10pm. As far as I know, it's free to get in, and we are playing a 40 minute set of originals. [url="http://www.facebook.com/events/1497236037159333/"]http://www.facebook....97236037159333/[/url] as always, would love to see any BC'ers - especially as it's our first foray towards the east of Scotlandt! cheers Ralph [url="http://www.facebook.com/darkskyband"]http://www.facebook.com/darkskyband[/url] [url="http://www.darkskyband.co.uk"]http://www.darkskyband.co.uk[/url] [url="http://soundcloud.com/darkskyband"]http://soundcloud.com/darkskyband[/url]

Slightly off topic, sorry. That's why I said it was a non-internet connected PC! I know MS have stopped support for XP. I have a nice little stable studio system which does what I want and I don't really want to make the investment in time and hardware to run a more bloated OS like Windows 7 (because Win7 won't run on the studio PC I have). I do use Win7 on internet connected PCs such as this one. This one takes over 2 minutes to boot by the time it's loaded dropbox, downloaded the weather station data, done all the MS and Apple internet handshaking, Antivirus etc etc, whereas my XP studio machine takes 30 seconds max to be looking at Reaper ready to record. Just my informed personal preference to use XP as a simple tool for recording. If it's not broke, don't fix it. cheers, R

Bah humbug! I should read the specifications first. I blithely assumed that EZDrummer2 would run on the same PC as EZDrummer1. It doesn't. The 32-bit installer tells me I require at least Windows 7 for EZDrummer2. I will have to wait to upgrade until I update my OS, with all that entails. Hope this doesn't catch anyone else out.

And another recording live at Audio Glasgow on 26 Apr 14. This one's called Phantom. [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cIAULPUbTE8"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cIAULPUbTE8[/url]

Latest live recording of DarkSky's song Duality (with lyrics so deep and meaningful that I've written an annotated guide to them covering some basic ideas about quantum physics ) If you want a copy, get in touch! Recorded 26 Apr 2014 at Audio Glasgow. [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5oOw-wTCU3w[/media] cheers Ralph [url="http://www.darkskyband.co.uk"]http://www.darkskyband.co.uk[/url] [url="http://www.facebook.com/darkskyband"]http://www.facebook.com/darkskyband[/url] [url="http://www.soundcloud.com/darkskyband"]http://www.soundcloud.com/darkskyband[/url] Edited because I'm a numpty and eventually found the instructions on how to post a youtube video.

Hi BC'ers, DarkSky are playing another gig at Box in Sauchiehall Street Glasgow on 19th May from about 8pm. Free to get in. Also on the bill is OneWayChemistry from Edinburgh. [url="http://www.reverbnation.com/show/13371706?utm_campaign=a_public_shows&utm_medium=facebook&utm_source=page_object_news_item"]http://www.reverbnat...bject_news_item[/url] as always, would love to see any BC'ers on a generally quiet Monday night slot! cheers Ralph [url="http://www.facebook.com/darkskyband"]http://www.facebook.com/darkskyband[/url] [url="http://www.darkskyband.co.uk"]http://www.darkskyband.co.uk[/url] [url="http://soundcloud.com/darkskyband"]http://soundcloud.com/darkskyband[/url]

Thanks for the review Mornats. I think I'll be upgrading shortly. I did try EZKeys but wasn't a fan of the interface which seems to be like the new EZDrummer 2 interface, but you seem to have done all the stuff I do with the original EZdrummer. Miro, I haven't tried all of the others, but EZDrummer is meant to be very . . .easy! I certainly have found it so. cheers Ralph

not required.

That's the one I bought at full price. It's worked well for me. A good buy.