xaqary's forum posts 444

Do you have any musical training? thatd help as well as what you'd like to play,

context needed...

It's never gonna die. I funny watching the different ways people try and bury. Same with 4 on the floor.

I've got that Epiphone Sheraton and it was super cheap-

The intonation, etc. was just shit but a solid set up got it in much better shape.

It's not a $99 guitar but it's not far off. Maybe $250-300? Can't remember but I know it was dead cheap.

Pickups are hardly nuanced but they've got it in the ballpark of what they're indending to do.

I'd love a 335 but I can't afford & this fills that spot until I can.

With just about all gear it's a weird dimishing returns thing as the price point rises.

The improvement from $100-$500 is huge comparatively, the improvement between $500 to say $1500 is great but less of a leap, then from there it's kinda single digit tone, etc. improvements % wise but HUGE price tag jumps at every step.

It's the whole "80%" or "90%" thing. Getting those last 10-20% are insanely expensive now.

It's like sound reinforcement. To get just 2db louder at a certain point requires double the amout of speakers. It all feels very non-linear in most of cases.

Yeah, I go Sweetwater when I can and it makes sense but VAK just carries more of what I'm looking for these days. The studio centric stuff.

I am kinda rounding the corner back to more instruments tho. That will have me shopping with Ebay, Reverb, etc.

Never tried Sam Ash.

I'm in a cash flow freeze currently anyway. The OP-1 was a bit beyond my budget & I'm feeling the pinch now.

but them Vox tho...

We'll see

Sweetwater. I gotta say they are persistant- in a good way tho.

I bought my 1st Apple with them when we switched from only tape to dual format so like 16+ years ago? Long damn time in any case.

I was a PC guy and back then it felt almost required to use Apple & not knowing a thing about it I had them build me out one & got Pro-Tools as well.

Next time I shopped with them was last year so like 15ish years apart.

My rep has called me every couple years ever since that 1st purchase. Not with some irratating pitch, just to see how my kit was working for me & a "if ya ever need anything"

Always the same guy.

I kinda wanted to reward that so when I was tooling up last year I called Brian, the same rep I've had for nearly 2 decades & got what I needed & he's yet to let me down on any issue I've had yet. Always gets back to me the sameday.

He's gonna be in Portland soon with his wife & we're going out to dinner...

Compared to my experiences with GC?

Sweetwater kills.

Vintage Audio King have been just as awesome but I've got less history with them.

I can't even count how many times I've pulled that one.

Unfortunately there's almost nothing really left there I want to "rent" what with their focus on cheap shoddy goods.

Lord I hope so. So far they just won't fucking die. Jim's right, I'm sure it's partnerships like the one w/ Fender are the only reason they're still around in this race to the bottom.

I'll continue to use Guitar Center for what it's good for:

Buying a channel strip or something, get some tracking in, and return it.

Ha! that photo with the stack of guitars is from the ROCKNROLL exhibit up in Seattle. They had a room set up with guitars, bases, drums, keys, etc. in little booths and you could record a track right there. It was awesome- kids were going nuts for it.

Seriously with that Line 6 shit. I put my deluxe up on craigslist years ago and thank god I changed my mind but I got a flood of emails from kids wanting to trade one or two of their entry-level Line 6's or similar for my Fender.

What in the actual fuck?

I don't really understand it...to the point of baffelment.

For example-

For whatever reason people who don't play an instrument are often more open & excited to hear how a song they love works, how it connects the dots between other music they like, etc. Seems backwards.

Just a few examples (irritating & played out as they are) but in my experience they continue to be interested beyond these super basic examples to more "difficult" concepts.

Pachabel's Rant that went viral on YouTube:

https://youtu.be/JdxkVQy7QLM

or Axis Of Awesome "4 Chord Song":

https://youtu.be/5pidokakU4I

both arguablly loved largely by a non-musician audience.

or:

When I'm tracking & someone hits a road block in the arragement/composition I will offer suggestions but sometimes conceal how I got there. I just can feel that some people will just tune out if I speak about it in music theory terms.

Why? I don't really know. Just seem unfortunate there is sometimes no interest in learning to solve those problems themselves.

There's no shortage of opinons but here's one guys take on it:

Why Do People Hate Music Therory?

https://youtu.be/5Fe352_WXWQ

That's how I got here origonally as well. Welcome-

I dunno...

Another canary in the coal mine?

http://www.retaildive.com/news/guitar-center-reportedly-looking-for-a-power-chord-on-debt/447030/

The guys got charisma. Love the new confrontational Bill we've gotten over the last few years too.

For me?

The only unforgivable sin is not being curious. I can forgive just about anything else.

Hahaha, that's where I always crack! Any audio principal.

I tried to explain comb filtering & resonant peaks to my doctor yesterday so she knew how my ears were working.

I tried explaining the Hass effect to the client I've been worling with on Tuesday & I dunno why but I always expect them to have some sort of

"Wow, no way! That's what that sound is/what's happening?!"

Ya know, like in that Bill Nye "what a cool world we live in!" kinda way.

Noooope, usually it get's a "Huh." reaction & I realize I should reign it in.

and guessing who's into what?! It's like musical Astrology only it actually does tell you something about a person. Couldn't turn it off if I wanted to.

That Disrupters show just looks like a fun watch...

Seriously. That's why I flat out need chatter Jim & I do- here or email, etc.

You just don't find many people who just love every bit from the music, to the math, to the theory, to the studio. Rarely am I not thinking of music in one form or another. Lots of friends can only listen so long or follow to a point where I'm just above their heads.

It's only shear force of will I don't change every conversation I have into something related to music.

I still have no problem focusing on the process even if I don't like the material.

For those reasons I feel the exact same way. I'm happiest while I'm working it's genuinely kind of a bummer when something is finished. I was notorious for being the guy in the band that wanted to scrap material quickly. In some cases after just a few shows. Didn't work, but I kept trying.

Jim, what's this HBO show? I'm about to breakdown & get HBO GO again...

Fuckin' a me too! I should add that I recorded just an unbelievable amount of horrible, horrible bands. That's where I got some of my best experience in tho.

Fer real.

I'm always happy to help whenever I have time. However, if that time is spent critiquing things that you did in an hour or two then it's wasted.

I spent 6 hours composing, arranging, doing sound design, & recording a song yesterday. 1 song...& both my client & I are professionals. No day jobs (tho that can change anytime, lets be real)

That kinda thoughtful attention is what's required sometimes- definitely required for anyone new to all of this

One thing and one thing only will improve your music and your ability to record it. Repetition. Practice.

When I first started out recording I worked for free (that's a complicated topic, it's important to get experience but not lower the perceived value. Something that's to common in the arts)

I worked day and night for years. So glad I did.

-Less time online shopping for your next by – that's just fetishizing gear and a total waste of time if you don't have the scratch (or will) to move on it anyway. Less time on here typing about music & not playing it.

-Practice songwriting, learn the theory behind the songs you like, & record yourself & anyone else any chance you get. The hard scrabble will always win.

Fer real. Time is limited. Come with something you've put in the work on before posting. It's only fair to those who your asking advice from.

OK, real talk… A bit too hung over to catch up on the whole thread but I didn't read the last two entries.

Along with seconding everything Jim mentioned and forgive me if this has already been covered but-

For all the talk about different DAW's and plug-ins one of the most powerful tools comes with even the cheapest systems. EQ. If I hear too much or not enough of anything I think EQ before I think about adjusting the levels. Like learning how to low cut would have made things much better on that track.

Mic placement & solid EQ work will get you a loooong way. It's not given enough pride of position in my opinion. It's glitz over grit out there. Particulary in the plugin word. It ain't magic, it's practice not a "wizard one knob" plugin or DAW feature.

That's a simplistic explanation but that might be for the best right now so as not to clutter your head.

That said give equal or more (like 10 times more) attention to learning to perform well- be it theory, guitar practice, singing, etc. Not a damn thing I could do for ya even with all my lil' gadgets if you hired me out except to make the lacking musicianship more apparent.

Welcome-

Bring on the weird.

Still alive and kickin' & things are goin' great when I get time to work on my own music. Work, dentist, life stuffs, etc. conspire against getting in a good long session tho. Nothing new there.

What is new is I'm leaving my wife to marry my true love-

and before you say it- I know. We just met...but the chemistry is undeniable. I've found the one for me. OP-1 I promise to love & honor you for the rest of my days. May we never be apart.

Any word on that Notification bug? I have yet to be able to check my notifications on any browser while on the site(mac user). Sad cuz the only updates I get are on pro boards (via email) but I'd really like to see what the non "pro" boards I follow are doing. I'm arguably more interested in them than I am any pro board. Equipboard would be sure to get a ton more traffic from me if that worked for me.

Missed that you're using it in 2.1 but I stick with my recommendation anyway.

If you are completely without any other option then yes, use them it's better than nothing.

However, check your recordings in several other stereos – your car, headphones, etc. and listen for what works and what doesn't.

The monitors I currently use honestly kind of suck but, I know where they suck and have learned how to make them perform. You can (should) learn to do the same

I have never heard them but I would feel very safe saying no, these are not good speakers to use for monitoring. I would guess they might be the worst option actually.

You'd be much better off with headphones.

That is not because affordable monitors aren't out there the issue is the 5.1 and the way home theater systems are designed to work. Very exaggerated bass, etc.

I'm gonna get a pair of these for outside (long story) for example:

Mackie CR Series CR3 - 3" Creative Reference Multimedia Monitors (Pair) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00KVEIY4E/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_CMOxzb7V26HJ5

They won't be very good, but don't get the job done for my limited purposes & are only $99 bucks a pair. So that's one option. The other option is just a decent pair of home stereo speakers would be a better way to go. Pair as in only two speakers.

For more input on what kind of monitors to get I would recommend you read the article on this site. I believe it's called "Top Five Monitors".

There are several articles on Equipboard covering this and all sorts of other topics that offer very affordable solutions. If you've got no cash, I'd say repurpose some home stereo speakers if you have them or maybe hit a Goodwill if you don't.

I'll never understand that. I compare it like this for those who scoff at the merits of understanding theory, arrangement, et cetera:

"If I lived in France, I'd like to be able to speak French, so since I really do live in music I wanna know the language of music"

I don't wanna be the musical equivilent of only knowing how to order a beer and ask where the bathroom is. Boring.

Okay, so this took 2 second to find. I just googled the terms "Pop Song Music Theory Breakdown Video." It's that easy. Add your favorite song with some or all of those search terms you'll likely find what your after.

I've never heard the song discussed in the video so this isn't a nod to any particular song, just a nod to how fun it is understanding what the hell is going on in all the songs you love and using them in your own work.

Disclaimer: I only skimmed as I just don't have time at the moment but it looks fairly solid & similar to a lot of YouTube song breakdowns. If it sucks (let me know Jim) I'll find a better one when I've got more time later today. That and maybe if time allows Jim or I could breakdown the mechanics of your "song de jour" sometime

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OwgLAZ3AtaI

At this rate I'll have skin cancer before the rains come.

Just saw the OP-1 delivery date got updated to today!

gonna make it much harder to get any work done this afternoon...

I wanted to shed the studio tan & I've been on an all hardware thing so this worked out nicely. The 4th of July bought me a bit of time on my mixing workload...I might be milking it a bit now tho. back to work tomorrow...

I had to google Blue Light Disco tho...is that really a thing?

I'm ditching the formal studio for the new "Sunshine Studio" ver. 2 until fall whenever possible.

http://images.equipboard.com/uploads/gear_photo/image/4897/xl_IMG_1880.JPG

I get it. Now quit it. Learning what makes you like what you like is gonna involve learning those chords & their relationships. Once you get a taste for it you won't ever wanna stop. Swear.

Kick ass- happy to see you moved on something. Now we just gotta slap the emojis outta yer system.

https://youtu.be/z0KKHel88Vo

I really gotta clean up my cables... That looks heavenly.

God I wish I had the luxury of not having to think about shit like this...

I've resisted until recently when I was checking the data on how people are "consuming" music & these lil' turd boxes are getting more & more penitration.

I really doubt my mixes will change much at all- it's just become clear if I'm charging for my services it'd be unprofessional to not at least check how things sound on these lil' turds...ugh.

Okay, so i dunno if you guys had the same result but outside of that one I linked in the 1st post I didn't see much else out there that looked legit...and even that one doesn't sound super legit...

Good news tho-

I was at a show last night and I ran into my computer tech- he built my calender/promo/press for booking shows/tours/studio stuff but he can write just about any code you can think of. Anyway-

I talked to him about building something like what we've been talkin' about & he's into it. He's got a full plate at the moment but it's on the calender so to speak.

So I'm collecting my wish lists for this idea to present to him when we get to it & if you guys have any thoughts- wish lists or concerns I should present him with drop them here.

We might just be able to will this into reality yet...

I like it.

Funny, I always use a sandwich metaphor when I'm producing, engieneering/light producing, or songwriting to explain filling the frequencies & giving everything it's own pocket.

I like the Lego one too I might just borrow that. Bottom lego block is black. I color code my tracks like you might stack Legos from dark to light, etc. been doing that for years. Bass synth is black, bass guitar parts are always brown, etc.

hahaha, nah man- It's just I only have like 3 jazz jokes & even less chances to use 'em!

I'm goshin' buddy.

http://www.jazzguitar.be/blog/the-lick/

No quoting the lick?

woah...Kyja brought this article last night in a backyard drinkin' fest/lil' jam with some friends. Dunno why but I couched my thoughts in a metaphorical conversation I might & have had with you...I was close...but well...that was a good read.