General Music Chat

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Chippy,

Right now I have a really good working partner:

Roland Fantom G keyboard



It's been a godsend, and I mean that quite literally. My wife got it for me, literally a few months before my band fell apart, and it has allowed me to get my ideas down and record basically full mixes with some mastering tools on board as well.

Specs and promo videos HERE:
http://www.rolandus.com/products/productdetails.php?ProductId=918

The "G" has 128 midi tracks and 24 audio tracks to record with. Has a DAW like environment onboard for recording, where you can copy, move and delete tracks at will. Uses a USB mouse to make things even zippier. Has a GORGEOUS 8" color screen to see everything. And youu can plug guitars, bass, microphones etc... and record into the keyboard. It has mixers and very professional effects. It has a full featured sampler for recording audio or sampling anything. It has features I haven't even been able to tap into yet... like timestretch for making cool vocal or sample effects, and automation for mixdown, like you would have on a professional board. In fact, I really need to tutor myself on using the automation, which you can use to raise or lower volumes on specific places on each instrument as needed, or for panning and moving the pan right to left, etc...

I have not even BEGUN to get out of this beast what is possible, and already I get pretty professional results. Well worth demo quality. In fact, it sounds SO MUCH BETTER in the keyboard. In using audactiy or other free software, to translate into MP3's I'm losing ALOT of clarity from the WAV files produced. I need to invest in a plug-in for my Cakewalk or Cubase, both of which only let you use the MP3 converter a set number of times before they make you buy the plug-in.

It also has something called "Skipback Sampling" which automatically records everything you play ALL THE TIME when it is on, for a set number of seconds. I don't remember if 30 seconds is the max? But this is handy for some people, that are in a flow, and hit something good by accident, they can just play back the last 30 seconds so they don't lose whatever they had done.

Even after recording, songs can be sped up or slowed down, WITHOUT changing the pitch. Even the vocals!!!

So yes, I do everything myself, and so far, I do it all in one keyboard, from creation to vocals and harmonies to mix down and mastering.

It's been indispensable to me.

I was so hurt and upset at what my former band pulled on me, that I probably would have quit music altogether, had I not received this keyboard from my wife.

It's like God knew exactly what those f*ckers were going to pull.

And even though I am not playing live much right now, I am thoroughly enjoying, writing and recording the kind of music, that quite frankly, some of the musicians in my former band couldn't have played.

But this thing is my band right now, so I am working on developing a press kit and promo pack so I can start booking solo gigs.

Although...

I have had a band on here seek me out for keyboards and backing vocals:

http://www.17south.net

And another band even closer in distance that are just looking for more gigs, and they want to be my backing band if I book anything. To the extent of learning my originals and everything. So they will play their own gigs whenever they book themselves, but also be my backing band whenever needed.

I'm thinking about both offers.

Do you mean to tell me you recorded all your recent material on this one Roland Phantom G Keyboard? You did EVERYTHING yourself? If so this is AMAZING. What do you need a band for? You're a one man army Craig. Maybe you can get some endorsements from Roland or other brands (Fender? Gibson? Shure?) that you use in your recordings.

Bob,

Yep. I do everything in that one keyboard including vocals. And yes, I can record my stuff capably in there, and play what I record back if I want, and just mute any part I want and play that part live in a performance situation, but nothing replaces a band for live performances. Unless you are Neanderpaul of course!

And a Roland endorsement would be AWESOME!!!!

I may try for something, when I finish this Americana project, and get a press kit and promo pack to send them. Who knows, maybe I get lucky?

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Chippy,

It has a combination 1/4 inch and XLR input. So you can plug in anything that uses either of those cable types, which means mics, bass, guitars, etc...

It records vocals very cleanly and has high quality effects, for vocals and for instruments plugged in as well.

Alot of people who have this machine, use their favorite DAW on the computer anyway, because a full DAW program does more. But yes, I like the fact that I can do it all in the same box, all in the keyboard. I like that I can record full demos, and master them, anywhere I can plug the keyboard in. So I don't need to carry a bunch of stuff with me. I can just bring the keyboard and a microphone if I want, and record in a home, in a hotel room, on the road, where ever I happen to be.

It is the best snyth/keyboard I have ever owned. At it's pricepoint, for my money, nothing else is even close, taking all it's features and possibilities into account.

In fact, I am not even sure that I have surpassed 50% of what it can do yet! I'm still learning more about it every week.

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How long have you had this Craig?
Many thanks for sharing by the way.

Wow, I'm thinking 4 or 5 months? Less than 6 months I think. Time has a way of getting away from me.

And you are very welcome.

If it hasn't become clear yet... I like sharing information. Maybe a little too much. LOL

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Hey if you got to know me a little you would know I'm the same and I also talk my socks off

LOL,

Me too, that's why I wear mostly flip flops now.

I have to say, I was not a fan of Craig when he was with his old band. (Whatever happened to them?) but the new stuff, well, that is a different story. Good job, CM, keep it up, I might actually buy a copy.

Yeah, 'Train' is a good song.
The rhythm track told me it was performed on a keyboard, but it's a good song; nice choice of stuff in it.
Hope you find a dependable touring band.

Why thank you ACE. Doe that mean I have to play one of your shows in West Virginia, or you'll buy an album anyway?

Just kiddin' brother LOL


RhythmMan,

I haven't found anyone yet, who doesn't seem to like the song "Train" - From kids on up. The beat was a modern beat, but just had a drivin' groove to it. It makes you move, tap your feet, etc... But it is also CONSISTENT, and steady, and somehow reminded me of a train's steady beat as it goes over tracks. But when I started playing with music for it, it was so natural to go in a blues direction, especially since I was going to be writing about a Train. Somehow these elements complimented one another, and didn't detract from the other. It was an odd, but really good fit, cause it remains true to the heart of the blues, but with an updated beat, which especially seems to hook the kids, because of the underlying rhythm.

Yeah, I can say that I'm proud of that song.

Thanks for all the supportive comments about it!

Craig, I think some of the biggest rewards in writing music is when we take elements from different styles, and merge them together.
Then we'll get a song that "sounds a little like this, and a little like that . . ."
Almost (but not quite) a new style of music.
it's fun to put that stuff together . . .
And songs like that seem to grab a wider audience, too. That's icing on the cake . . .

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