General Music Chat

Since you have that try it and see how it does, you may do a song or two then go back and listen then change your levels to make it work out. This can be funny cause in a rehearsal space where you are used to certain volume levels you may have to cut something, like bass guitar a lot more than you would just playing.

Ive been thinking of getting soemthing like the Zoom just to have around for acoustic, my daughter playing guitar or just general song ideas.

Have a Rocking Weekend!

Yep, that was more or less the plan. Do a take, listen to it, adjust levels, repeat.

The Zoom is nice JW. Easy to use; has a lot of nice features. I used it for the acoustic piece on my profile. I plugged it into my laptop via USB and Audacity picks it up as an external microphone. So I did one take to record the rhythm guitar, and then played that back with record on and did the second take to get the melodies over the top.

I take the Zoom to every practice and listen to the result on the way home. It's great for analysis; I can hear every mistake. I miss a lot of my own mistakes playing live like that; sometimes I'm more focused on what someone else is doing, or whatever. This gives me a chance to go back and listen to what I was doing and figure out where I need additional practice.

For acoustic stuff, I think it sounds fine.

And check your mix in the board with some headphones first. Get by with as little volume on your amps as you can without losing the sound you are used to. Maybe have your singer wear the headphones as his monitor instead of having the PA amplified. All this will make a cleaner recording. Some people have even used those heavy duty moving blankets and draped them over the drums from the toms down to keep some of the amp sound out of the drum mix. You never did tell me what model mixer you have.

I've been fighting the balance the live band into the Zoom thing for a while now.
Last nights recording was probably the best weve gotten so far, as far as balance is concerned but we played like crap. Although I think the crossover filtered Floyd out of the mix.
Try again next week.

Give them a DVD rockin the walls down. That will make them believers real fast.

Ahhh... therein lies the RUB. A question as old as time itself.
You could become a mind-reader. That is probably the best advice.
But mind-reading is not possible, is it?

Talent vs. management. King Kong vs. Godzilla.
No.
BAMBI vs. Godzilla

I am not at all comfortable with booking myself. I take rejection or indifference to me as a musician personally. I pout. I become depressed. I go "back to the drawing board".

I wouldn't ask them if didn't expect them to say YES.
I am, after all, the best there is.
This means they are either stupid, evil, or nuts. Probably all three.
so...
They are like a chique. They are like women, with you being the prototypical man. They doubt your motives, and they are right to do so. You just want to get into their PANTS, don't you? DON'T YOU ???

aaaaaaaaa but I digress, for their love is not a true love. Plus, I'll end up cheating on them (or they on ME) anyhow. The bar owner, I mean...

Point #1. You want to manipulate the situation because they don't understand you. You just want them to love you like you love your fans.
Answer #1. They know that.

Point #2. The hard part is coming up with something.
Answer #2. They are asking for "something". An audio CD. I have considered giving Godzilla (the bar owner or manager) a blank CD. Their request makes about as much sense as saying "you must bring us a shrubbery" to me. I offer Godzilla a live audition, either in their venue or at my current rehearsal place AT their convenience AT my expense blah blah yadda yadda... No answer. Godzilla is busy destroying a building full of screaming people and can't hear me...

I could go on and on. I always want to go on and on. Until I get my point across.

But I live in a pointless world. I am a musician. Most of the working bands around South Central Idaho include a used car salesman, good old boy, marketing executive-type, or some other Godzillian adherent.

Worse yet, you are in Idaho. So am I. I KNOW a little on that subject.

Get an agent and pay them an equal cut to book you. Then double it.
I know. It sounds just crazy, doesn't it? There are such creatures out there, I've heard. I used to work for one who lived in SALMON, of all things, and I never met him. We played in bizarre places such as Miles City, Montana. This is a long way from Twin Falls, Idaho but it was for a whole week.

I am extremely on the talent side of things as a musician. This makes me a 'prima donna'.
I am also a people-pleaser. This makes me a good entertainer.
I am very intelligent. This means I try to figure Godzilla out. ha ha
I am a true believer that music can save the world. This means I should have someone else book me, period. I am BAMBI.

get it?

LOL

Me thinks you may also be nuts !


Funny post man.

A lot of truth in there as well.

Colors-

Put into perspective, you may want to consider an amateur studio, or at least a less expensive one. Even the best room recordings are going to be distorted and poorly mixed without basic or moderate recording gear. We did 3 "demos" in the studio, spent a total of 3 sessions of about 5 hours each. two sessions for laying tracks and the 3rd for mixing and mastering.

At about $30 / hour, split 4-ways, we really only ended up spending about $35 per night each.

If you consider that 3 gigs you could land from those demos could easily amount to more money per night than that, it's a simple investment choice.

The guys in my band are also in a covers band that cut 4 demos for the very reason of booking better gigs. It's a worthy cause that can pay for itself in a matter of a couple of weeks.

Just some food for thought.