Jamming With Yourself

[Veggie Dave]

Well, it seemed like a good idea at the time.

If you have two different instruments, then why not try and jam with yourself? It was, after all, time to see how well the alto did recording a proper song.

I probably shouldn't have decided to write something in multiple keys for its first proper outing, though, especially as I have naff all experience with them. I probably shouldn't have tried some other odd things, too, like using 6ths and 4ths in the chord progressions.

As for the alto, I really must get the springs sorted as the action is far too hard for certain notes - in particular G#, low C#, B# etc. And that weird left key table is really hard to get used to. I'm finding I really have to plan playing G# long before I go for it.

And there's a prize for working out what the title means.

Dropbox - flat 13.mp3

 

[kevgermany]

The moderators will take a very dim view of crude interpretations of the title.

 

[Veggie Dave]

I was going to admit to playing with myself, but thought that might be a little misleading...

 

[Jeanette]

Well, it seemed like a good idea at the time.

If you have two different instruments, then why not try and jam with yourself? It was, after all, time to see how well the alto did recording a proper song.

I probably shouldn't have decided to write something in multiple keys for its first proper outing, though, especially as I have naff all experience with them. I probably shouldn't have tried some other odd things, too, like using 6ths and 4ths in the chord progressions.

As for the alto, I really must get the springs sorted as the action is far too hard for certain notes - in particular G#, low C#, B# etc. And that weird left key table is really hard to get used to. I'm finding I really have to plan playing G# long before I go for it.

And there's a prize for working out what the title means.


View: https://soundcloud.com/veggie-dave/enfant-6-appartement-13

Interesting, there are some parts I really liked, I think this is one that I would have to listen to a few times to feel totally happy with


Jx

 

[Veggie Dave]

Interesting, there are some parts I really liked, I think this is one that I would have to listen to a few times to feel totally happy with

I think I may have over-stetched this time. Some of it really works, other bits ... well, not so much.

 

[saxyjt]

The least I can say is that you dive straight in without any preliminaries!

It may not be fully accomplished, but it is an interesting experiment. Perhaps the alto would deserve to be a touch louder compared with the tenor. Have you found a mouthpiece that suits you on the alto?

I am also tempted to try and record multiple horns, but first I need to master recording One! mixed with another track.

And there's a prize for working out what the title means.

Clueless! I'm asking Sherlock for assistance.

If allowed by the prize committee.

 

[Jeanette]

I think I may have over-stetched this time. Some of it really works, other bits ... well, not so much.

It's growing on me though

Jx

 

[Veggie Dave]

Perhaps the alto would deserve to be a touch louder compared with the tenor.

It depends what system you listen to it on as to which sax appears louder. I think I need to buy some proper studio monitor speakers.

I wonder if the other half will agree?

Have you found a mouthpiece that suits you on the alto?

Not yet, I'm still using the £17 (€20) Rico one I got from Amazon.

I am also tempted to try and record multiple horns, but first I need to master recording One! mixed with another track.

It's not too hard, honestly. Perhaps a Skype call would help.

 

[ac30kev]

Good effort Dave. I like it.
It reminds me of an early Gong/Here and Now album...
How did you do the backing? BIAB?

Multi-tracking is the direction I'm heading towards.
I have the equipment (a couple of Tascam DA-88's and a mixing desk) but, as yet, nowhere to use them.
My only issues would be drums and keyboards as I have everything else to hand, hence the question above.
(Oh, and also my lack of talent, but that's another story altogether.)
My dream is to eventually build a soundproofed 'shed' in our garden and lose myself in there for hours at a time.

 

[Jules]

It reminds me of an early Gong/Here and Now album...
.

Here & Now... wow that name takes me back....

 

[ac30kev]

Here & Now... wow that name takes me back....

My band had the pleasure of supporting them in the Tower Club in Oldham, back in 1983-ish (long gone now, sadly...). That night was our drummer's 21st birthday too and he was a big fan of theirs.

 

[Ivan]

And there's a prize for working out what the title means

I've stopped doing what it says in the title; in public at least

Since the court case...

 

[Jeanette]

I've stopped doing what it says in the title; in public at least

Since the court case...

I assume you were busking without a license!!

Jx

 

[Veggie Dave]

It reminds me of an early Gong/Here and Now album...

Is that the Great Ohm album?

How did you do the backing? BIAB?

Nope, it's all done in Reaper, which is free to try and has a very long trial period that technically doesn't run out.

Normally the only real instruments in the stuff I do is the bass and sax, but if I want an upright sound then even the bass isn't real, such as here. Getting a decent drum machine for free is hard (I never found a really good one) but you can get remarkably good free VST instruments for everything else.

You don't even need a keyboard to do it. You need a mic, preferably an interface to connect the mic to the PC/laptop, such as the Focusrite Scarlette (although you can just plug into the 'mic in' that most computers have), and an idea.

This is a screenshot from Reaper for this song. The drum machine was bought (EZDrummer), everything else is either a free VST or came free with something else.

You can see the Midi Editor is open for the right hand piano part. To create chords etc. you can use a proper midi keyboard or you can simply draw the chords into the editor using your mouse. You can even 'humanize' <sic> it, as was done here, to make it sound more authentic.

There are thousands of free VST effects out there, too. For example, I recently found, and now love, EpicVerb from Variety Of Sound - 100% free and superb.

 

[ac30kev]

Excellent Dave, thanks for the info.
I've tried Reaper and Reason and liked the drums sounds available on these but, I like playing with knobs and sliders - physical ones rather than mouse activated ones - and just can't commit to PC recording fully enough.
I tried the whole gamut of DAWS and A/D interfaces, but keep going back to my roots with good old analogue TASCAM's. Now, I'm even trying digital tape using DA-88's and it's fun, but not quite enough...
I even bought a BOSS BR80, which is a great bit of kit too. Small, portable and packed with guitar effects, also can be used as an interface for the PC.
I've experimented with several Roland VS-840/840EX's, which were also great.
Nothing, however, compares to a Tascam Portastudio one for honest recording fun, in my opinion.
Perhaps we should start a thread on recording techniques and how to create great drum sounds?
(When I say we, I actually mean more sort of you really, as my contribution would be relatively minuscule...)

 

[carburetor]

I thought that was pretty cool.