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Topic: PLAYERS or Electronics? |
S.M. Johnson
From:
Oregon, USA
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Posted 10 Jun 2011 9:39 am |
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I've watched David Hartley and countless others as they sit comfortably and play effortlessly with their preferred tracks but I've got a question:
Piece for piece, I'd like to see HOW they hook up "everything", from the AC chord in the wall, to their Mixer board, to their computer or whatever. A few friends I know that do this, always seem to have too many cords or wires and always too far away from the key element they need to work with.
Any chance of this happening or has it already happened elsewhere on the Forum? |
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Bob Hoffnar
From:
Austin, Tx
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Posted 10 Jun 2011 10:19 am
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Comment deleted. Sorry to all concerned. I woke up on the wrong side of the bed today.
_________________
Bob
Last edited by Bob Hoffnar on 10 Jun 2011 1:58 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Bo Borland
From:
South Jersey -
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Posted 10 Jun 2011 10:45 am
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| Do you think that David plays well because of his gear and electronics? |
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Ray Minich
From:
Bradford, Pa. Frozen Tundra
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Posted 10 Jun 2011 10:55 am
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If it ain't in the fingers, it ain't there, no matter what artificial augmentation means may be in use...
_________________
Lawyers are done: Emmons SD-10, 3 Dekleys including a D10, NV400, and lots of effects units to cover my clams... |
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Todd Brown
From:
W. Columbia , South Carolina
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Posted 10 Jun 2011 11:41 am
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Maybe I'm reading it wrong, but I didn't take the O.P. 's question as vailed sarcasm. Seems like he wants to know how best to wire everything up.
I would ask him to elaborate on his last statement "Always too far away from the key element they need to work with"
Bob Hoffnar, I am a little offended by your gratuitious swipe at fellow forum member and steel legend Ray Montee! Have you ever seen his stuff on YouTube? Do you know who he is?
I've met you before , seen you with Wayne Hancock, For someone who claims to play non pedal steel , I would think you would have some sort of admiration or maybe a little respect for the man. |
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richard burton
From:
Britain
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Posted 10 Jun 2011 12:53 pm
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My setup is quite simple:
Pedal steel to volume pedal to graphic equalizer to computer |
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chas smith R.I.P.
From:
Encino, CA, USA
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Posted 10 Jun 2011 5:31 pm
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The thing about the gear and the electronics is, you have to play them all like an instrument, so it's not just about playing your guitar, you have to take into consideration what is happening to the "sound" after it leaves your guitar and what are the electronics doing to it.
This is from the last session at my studio and the electronics were pretty minimal. Slight overdrive in the amp and some delay on the sound and one of the bass tracks had tremolo, into ProTools.
This one was nuts. My studio, 2 albums ago, and at one point I was sitting in there thinking, this is nuts, I better take a picture. I was using MIDI to trigger my sampler so that after I played a guitar note, the sample would ramp in and each note would evolve into something else, all of which went to the delay lines.
Back 15 years ago, this was my setup for playing on film scores and this was taken at the Village. The Sho-Bud would be sent though a cascade of three Eventide H-3000s, a PCM 70 and a M-5000. I could make a very "full" sound.
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Dave Grafe
From:
Hudson River Valley NY
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Posted 10 Jun 2011 5:32 pm
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I have known capable sound engineers who were so busy fiddling with their special toys that the basics of the mix were long forgotten. They may have dialed up a killer kick drum, all gated and compressed with extra EQ, but in the process they neglected to get the vocals on top of the band so that the words of the song could be heard.
There are plenty of valid reasons to use all manner of gear, mostly having to do with the needs of a particular song, but the vital basics - tone, intonation, dexterity and musicality - have nothing at all to do with extra toys and never will.
Setting up to record yourself can be intricate but does not have to be a complicated affair, and definitely should not interfere with your ability to relax and JUST PLAY IT. Primarily one needs a source for the non-PSG instument sounds, a method for adding the PSG and a way to mix, store and ultimately share the aggregate final product. This can be a million-dollar studio, but great results can gbe achieved with BIAB and a computer with a basic sound card. After all, it's what you do with the gear and not the gear itself that makes or breaks a recording. Start with what you can manage and add a piece or two when you recognize a specific need and can fit managing more knobs and wires into your mental bandwidth.
Don't get me wrong, I'm a recovering gearaholic myself, I've got all manner of great studio processing here, from White EQ's to Eventide Harmonizers to Lexicon Reverbs to dbx and UREI dynamics processors, and Tube Pre's ad nauseum. I've tried every amp, several POD models, a bunch of fancy pre's, and worked my way through mondo processing, but the best sound I EVER get always requires nothing but Picks > Guitar > VP > Combo Amp with a good Spring Reverb, augmented by a decent tuning aid beforehand. Any problems I have getting that much gear to sound good are definitely not gonna be fixed by adding more... |
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S.M. Johnson
From:
Oregon, USA
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Posted 11 Jun 2011 9:41 am THANKS for the kind responses.......
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A special thanks to Richard, Charles and Dave..
I do appreciate the time given and also, to the great photo's of your set-up.
Todd Browns' kind words and for having read my post for what it was, simply a quest for info' is definitely appreciated. THANKS for your thoughtfulness and for sticking up for one of our fellow Forumites. Not a lot of that going on here anymore. |
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Tony Prior
From:
Charlotte NC
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Posted 12 Jun 2011 2:09 am
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My rig is now less cluttered than it was even 6 months ago. I don't mic the Steel or the guitars, everything is direct now..
way less wires and clutter...
Steel or Guitars > small compressor > Art Tube Preamp > Pro-Tools.....
When recording the Acoustics I use the on board Fishman systems to the compressor...
The compressor is nothing more than a low cost unit with 16 presets of which I use either the soft or hard settings, the ART is a low cost tube preamp but these two together in line, are probably the most important part of my setup...other than playing of course.
the ONLY exception is the Dobro, I do mic that with a small condenser.
It takes a while to get the setup to a point of comfort and I doubt that any one persons "way" is the cats meow for another player...
The trick is to be a player first and an engineer 2nd because if you are an engineer first your playing will suffer. Find a simple path to recording and stick with it, then get back to playing...
I made the rack unit for the electronics ( to the left) and I also made the small shelf where the keyboard is..you have to have a place to put stuff while working...also made the shelf units behind the monitor which holds near fields, books etc , it was custom made to fit the monitor. This has really allowed for a much cleaner work area...you really have to custom design what works for you so that the wires are not an issue...because they can be in a hurry !
t
_________________
Emmons L-II , Fender Telecasters, B-Benders , Eastman Mandolin ,
Pro Tools 12 on WIN 7 !
jobless- but not homeless- now retired 9 years
CURRENT MUSIC TRACKS AT > https://tprior2241.wixsite.com/website |
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Barry Blackwood
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Posted 12 Jun 2011 6:16 am
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| Quote: |
There are plenty of valid reasons to use all manner of gear, mostly having to do with the needs of a particular song, but the vital basics - tone, intonation, dexterity and musicality - have nothing at all to do with extra toys and never will.
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Well said, Dave G.  |
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