1,726 Reply by Doug_Smith

(25 replies, posted in Chordie's Chat Corner)

I'm with you there Cam!

  Don't know if you have been to the Hospital lately, but I have.... and cellphones don't work inside the structure.  They have jammers installed that prevent your phone to acquire a carrier signal.  Some things there don't like interference and that is what the facility has had to do to prevent someone raising hell with essential equipment.... like the one that might be keeping your heart beating!  My Son works for the school district and they are considering doing something similar in the middle and high schools to help students stay on task.  Eventually I could see industries either requiring you check your phones at the door (like handguns in a Saloon), or blocking them out electronically.  You can bet it costs millions annually in lost productivity!

  Too bad though... they do have their use and are an effective tool in business, and social situations. 

Take Care;
Doug

Go to forum: Chordie's Chat Corner

1,727 Reply by Doug_Smith

(25 replies, posted in Chordie's Chat Corner)

Greetings!

  This is an interesting topic, with lots of viewpoints.... mine is that texting is OK with reservations.  Around here we are not "technophobic" and everyone has more than one way to communicate.  But I worked with this young gentleman and noticed that he was spending a good part of his day typing with his thumbs.  I timed one conversation that went back and forth for over twenty minutes!  Good Lord thought I, if the conversation is that important, dial the person up and get it over with!

  There are times when text is preferable to a phone ringing.... in the courtroom, classroom, driving down the freeway at 85mph, theatres, hospital rooms, board meetings, or during job interviews.  I text when the information I wish to convey is not imperative... and call when it is.

  At any time however, it is up to the one being called to determine if it is appropriate to answer "at this moment in time".  That is why the darn things have an ignore button, and vibrate!  I'm sure that somewhere out there is a book on "Mobile Manners".  Not that I have read it, but it should be required reading.  We are pretty sure that those that need to improve such manners, are at least able to read from all the texting they've been doing. LOL

Be safe out there, don't cellphone and drive, don't drink and drive, and take time to notice the world around you.... it really is a pretty nice place, or haven't you noticed lately?

Peace Y'all;
Doug

Go to forum: Chordie's Chat Corner

1,728 Reply by Doug_Smith

(8 replies, posted in Guitars and accessories)

Howdy Guitarrock,

  There are lots of good brands out there, and I would say that Korg seems popular.  However something like the Sabine might be more versatile as it is easily calibrated for alternate tunings.  Not too many $$ as that goes here in the States, check out the specs at:
http://accessories.musiciansfriend.com/ … sku=211023

Good Hunting!
Take Care;
Doug

Go to forum: Guitars and accessories

1,729 Reply by Doug_Smith

(23 replies, posted in Acoustic)

Welcome to Chordie!

  Have a listen to Turquoise Galleon by Govi.... Nice piece of "classical" sounding acoustic music.  Just a real beast to try to find sheet music for.  Youtube for the recording.  Still trying to find music myself for him, and my ear is not that good to just "sound it out".

Enjoy;
Doug

Go to forum: Acoustic

1,730 Reply by Doug_Smith

(13 replies, posted in Recording)

It is nice to have agreement, but in retrospect I do also have to give credit where it is due.  Southpaw has some very good points in his posting.... and the room is a huge variable in any recording environment.

  I tend to overlook the value of the acoustic properties of the recording "booth" as most of my vocal work has been recorded in such an environment.  You know the isolated glass window, convoluted foam baffles glued to all the hard surfaces and such.  One thing is though, we all bring our own microphones.... because not everybody's voices sound great on every mic.  Some have filters tuned to dampen certain frequencies and some are more responsive in others.  But then again, that is not a singing job.  It is narration, and volume is not as important as clarity, diction, and expression.

  I do really like the water tank analogy!  Truth is truth!

Doug

Go to forum: Recording

1,731 Reply by Doug_Smith

(13 replies, posted in Recording)

Excellent question, and I'm sure there will be a lot of differing opinions on this subject.

But for me, and it is just an opinion, The PC and Software are important... but without a very good Input Device all is for naught.
By input I am referring to the quality of the microphone that HAS to capture accurately whatever sounds you are recording.  Scrimp on that one piece of equipment and the rest is redundant.  Granted a lot can be done by a good engineer in the way of manipulating the recording to wring the best out of it.... but if it isn't in the recording to start with, it can't be improved upon.

Take Care;
Doug

Go to forum: Recording

1,732 Reply by Doug_Smith

(13 replies, posted in Chordie's Chat Corner)

Howdy Micky,

  You know a little knowledge goes a long way in music.  I've been playing at this almost forty years, and still learning... and still wishing I had learned theory and the "proper" way first.  That said, it is never too late!  There are those to whom all this seems to come easily, but, I think it is the "understanding" of a few simple rules, and the "feeling" that you referred to that drives each of us to do what we can.

  Everybody does onething better than the rest musically within our individual skill sets.  We are here to learn how better to use the rest of those skills.

Hang in there, and Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
Take Care;
Doug

Go to forum: Chordie's Chat Corner

1,733 Reply by Doug_Smith

(8 replies, posted in Chordie's Chat Corner)

Hello Tine,

  It is a good thing that your child has an interest in music... learning the violin and more importantly developing the ear and knowledge of music at the young age will be a blessing later in life.  Having a selection of instruments to "experiment" with is also a fine thing, as the principals apply to all equally (sort of).

  When mine were growing up, all the "tools" were out and available.... and none of the three took particular interest until they were old enough to deal with the tedium of practice etc.  I could have pushed a bit I suppose, but they have their instruments and play to the levels that they wished to attain.  Life is good, but we don't jam.... because the "old man" can't seem to get around the "New Age-Christian-Death Metal-Techno-Punk-Rock" music genre.  LOL

Have fun you'll be fine.... Really!

Take Care;
Doug

Go to forum: Chordie's Chat Corner

1,734 Reply by Doug_Smith

(7 replies, posted in Chordie's Chat Corner)

Greetings All and a Happy Easter to Everyone!

  That said, it does seem that Chordie is an evolving forum.  Actually I see postings from brass blowers, drummers, and keyboard players in almost all of the forum's sub-catagories.  If I remember correctly the baby grand piano we moved all over Turkey when I was a kid had a bunch of strings on it's harp... 

  Chordie seems more and more about the music and less about what you use to make it.  To my thinking that is a good thing, and in keeping with the "open" feeling that is shared by a majority of the membership.  Kind of a community where the "only" requirement to participate is a love of music, and desire to share with like-minded people around the world.

  Around these parts, if you sweep the porch and put out the Welcome Mat, it's rude not to offer a cup of coffee to everyone who knocks....

Just my tuppence for what it's worth..

Take Care;
Doug

Go to forum: Chordie's Chat Corner

1,735 Reply by Doug_Smith

(1 replies, posted in Acoustic)

Thanks for the link Alanmac872.

  Having learned classical guitar first, albeit way too many years ago.... it is sometimes nice to get back to "your roots" now and then.
Happy you have found another avenue of exploration musically.  Everything "crosses over" you know and sometimes a classical run in the middle of a hard rock riff is surprisingly fitting!

Take Care;
Doug

Go to forum: Acoustic

1,736 Reply by Doug_Smith

(30 replies, posted in Recording)

Hi Quarters,

  You should be able to go direct to the sound card via either the mic in or line in plug. Usually the line in works best if you have an on-board preamp, but if the pickup is passive the mic will do nicely.  Just remember to select the input type in the Audacity toolbar on the drop-down menu, and adjust the input volume to reduce clipping.

  For vocals and acoustic only inputs I use my stage mics through a small tube preamp with an output limiter to prevent overdriving the sound card.

Have fun with it!
Doug

PS:  I see you have been around here awhile, nice to see you posting.... hope to hear more from you.  DS

Go to forum: Recording

1,737 Reply by Doug_Smith

(11 replies, posted in Chordie's Chat Corner)

Well here in the States the bow used in hunting is usually a compound with 120-150 pound draw weight. We fix sights to the bow and with practice and a measured range you can reach out there with some reasonable accuracy.  But like I said, we hate following blood trails, so the sport is in the stalking and getting as close as possible to a wary game for a sure and quick dispatch.

Crossbows are legal most places during rifle hunting season, and having shot one of those a time or two.... very impressive for "really old technology", I understand that the longbow was the only bow (other than the crossbow) that could pierce a Knight's breastplate.  Truely a giant leap forward in the history of warfare!

Nice to hear that the art is not being lost....

Take Care;
Doug

Go to forum: Chordie's Chat Corner

1,738 Reply by Doug_Smith

(1 replies, posted in Recording)

Hi again,

  Caught your other thread, first...

  Get your amp setup the way you want it first and start with the mic six feet or so away from the center of the amp.  Keep your mic input volume about where you would have it for vocals and play your guitar while monitoring the mic feed to your recorder (it's nice to have another body around to do this for you by the way).  Start moving the mic closer to the face of the amp until you just start to hear a low hum (indicating a trace of feedback) and back off a bit.  Do a test track to see if you are getting any distortion or clipping, and adjust the mic volume accordingly and/or the distance until you have a clean audio.  Make a note of your settings if you plan on doing a bunch of this from time to time it makes getting setup quicker.  Bear in mind that if you change locations (even in the same space) it will change the way the sound bounces off the walls and you will have to tweak everything again.

Have Fun!
Doug

Go to forum: Recording

1,739 Reply by Doug_Smith

(7 replies, posted in Recording)

Howdy danspr,

  Let's see if I have this right.... you plugged some auxiliary speakers into your recorder? and the output is inadequate?

  If that is the case I would guess that the speakers you connected are from a home stereo unit, and likely are 16 Ohm, depending on what kind of cassette you have, they might be looking for something in the 4-8 Ohm class.  Too high a resistance in the speakers and you won't get hardly any output even at full volume.... not enough power to drive the coils and all that.  Now if you were to take that same little recorder (or CD walkman for that matter) and connect it  to the aux input on your home stereo from the speaker out plug.... Problem solved, as your home stereo amp has ample power to drive it's own speakers.  You just have to watch for excessive volume output from the cassette overdriving the aux input on the stereo.

I may be on the wrong track here, but more info in your question would get a better answer.

Take Care;
Doug

Go to forum: Recording

1,740 Reply by Doug_Smith

(11 replies, posted in Chordie's Chat Corner)

120 Meters is a Loooonnnngg way for an arrow..... at least in this patch of woods!  Used to hunt regularly in me younger days and thought 60 to 80 was a long shot with a bow.  But then in the forests you cannot see game at much farther than that, and 150 yard rifle shot through brush can be questionable.  Rough country tracking can be so much like WORK!

Fine Bowmanship nonetheless!  And tell me what kind of "scope" mount do you use on a long bow?

Take Care;
Doug

Go to forum: Chordie's Chat Corner

1,741 Reply by Doug_Smith

(10 replies, posted in Guitars and accessories)

Greetings and Welcome to Chordie!

  There are a bunch of options available depending on budget and if you want to have on board electronics (preamp) or something passive.  My fellow guitarist Jeff has a Taylor that we took down and had a piezoelectric put in and it works oustandingly but is passive.  It consisted of three transducers that superglue inside under the bridge in between each pair of strings and are connected to a strap-pin/plug assembly which replaces the existing strap-pin after the hole is bored to the proper diameter.  Don't recall the brand name but cost something like $65.00 installed and restrung.  I called the store that installed Jeff's pickup and came up with additional information:  http://www.kksound.com/purewestern.html

Just knew the darn things were built over on the Coast near Coos Bay!  But the price has doubled! 

I'd be visiting your local guitar shop and see what options are available.

Take Care;
Doug

Go to forum: Guitars and accessories

1,742 Reply by Doug_Smith

(3 replies, posted in Guitars and accessories)

Greetings Khazm,

  I'm going to assume that we are looking at a Kustom mod# 112 50Watt Defender amp here... so here goes my thoughts.  This amp uses two EL34 power tubes (or you can replace them with 6L6 tubes and change the bias switch position accordingly, but you would have to invest in a pair of them at around $35.00 each.... but I'm thinking that you lost one of the preamp tubes which should be 12AX7 type.  There are three of them in your amp, the one up next to the first EL34 is the phase inverter, and it should be fine.  The two at the bottom are preamps #s 1 & 2.  First I would try swapping those two preamp tubes and see if there is a change in the output, this might temporarily "cure " the problem, but I believe that only one half of the tube in preamp #2 position is used and if it is weak you might see some increase in the output.  You might take them both out and run down to your local tube amp repair joint and have them tested (you used to be able to test tubes at Radio Shack until they quit using them in TV sets), and replace the defective one.  Power tubes don't typically fail in a half way manner, and when they do the fuse most times will go with it.  But it sounds like you lost one of the preamps and the 12AX7s are my suspect.

  Part two I think is making a choice of what to put back in there....  Personally I tend to be fond of the Russian made tubes as they are good quality and durable.  We here in the west kind of got out of the tube business when transistors became vogue-ish and the Soviets still use tubes in the flight computers on the MIG29!  They know their tubes!  So having gathered the wrath of the "buy American" crowd, I would look for Sovtek or Svetlana replacements.  You might find GE or Sylvania tubes also and they are good, but tend to not be as forgiving to surges as the foreign counterparts.

Proceed with care as some things in there "bite".

Take Care;
Doug

Go to forum: Guitars and accessories

1,743 Reply by Doug_Smith

(6 replies, posted in Recording)

Hey StrandSongs and welcome aboard!

  Do take a look at the Audacity and Reaper programs if you get a chance.  Both will support multiple track recording and do a nice job of mixing with a huge selection of effects to choose from.  I think most of us do track on track recording, laying down each track as an individual.  ie: Bass line, percussion, guitar 1, guitar 2, keyboards, vocal lead 1, backup vocals, etc.  You can then edit each individual track and "tweak" it to your liking while monitoring the full mix until you get the sound you are reaching for, then do the final master mix as stereo, adjust your pan and export the final as an MP3 to file, burn, or whatever.  Audacity will handle something like 74 tracks, although your PC tends to bog a bit if you are short of RAM.  Eight tracks seems to be optimal at least for me, but your mileage may vary.

Take Care;
Doug

Go to forum: Recording

1,744 Reply by Doug_Smith

(5 replies, posted in Chordie's Chat Corner)

Good Morning!

  Nine Servers and 3278 Workstations....  Including home PCs.....

  Pleased to report all quiet in the West!

Hope all is well with you;
Doug

Go to forum: Chordie's Chat Corner

1,745 Reply by Doug_Smith

(3 replies, posted in Chordie's Chat Corner)

Thanks for the link Southpaw,

  Funny yes.... but too much truth there for some folks.  There is a line in the sand and it really does not matter what it is, a stick of gum, a copy of your buddy's CD, the Rolex you "found" on the wrist of that fella in the alley who "gave" it to you at knifepoint....


Not trying to start a debate, just something to think about.

Take Care;
Doug

Go to forum: Chordie's Chat Corner

1,746 Reply by Doug_Smith

(10 replies, posted in Song requests)

Howdy Micky,

  Is it that the chords you have are in the wrong key? or are you having problems with the time signature getting your chord changes to fit with the tempo of the lyric as sung?

  A little more info about what you are trying to do will help us try to help you.

RSVP via e-mail if you want to write out what you have,  and I'll have a go... despite the fact I do not believe I have heard the tune.

Take Care;
Doug

Go to forum: Song requests

1,747 Reply by Doug_Smith

(2 replies, posted in Recording)

Hi,

  Just for clarification, are you inquiring about threads that are active in Chordie Forums? or forums on other websites that are actively discussing recording software and related subjects.  There have been several threads here in the recording forum about home recording and especially PC supported recording, some are active, but most are dormant.  Usually if someone has a question it is posted here and someone like yourself will chime in with whatever knowledge they may possess.  You may find that for the most part we tend to lean towards the "lean and mean" software (ie: free or low cost) so that more folks would be inclined to try home production of their music.  As Russell would say "this is more of a beer and wine joint".

  We do have members that have greater experience in these areas, and after a time you will get to know some of them quite well.  We are all learning together, and having a blast doing so.  If you are seeking a particular review on an application that you have heard about, or piece of equipment, put out the word here and the "research department" will try to locate the information you seek and point you to it.

Take Care;
Doug

Go to forum: Recording

1,748 Reply by Doug_Smith

(33 replies, posted in Chordie's Chat Corner)

Well God made Oregon for growing things...  we have about 3/4 of an acre of tillable pasturage which in the past has produced enough variety to not only feed two families but most of the wildlife hereabouts.  This year with the economy as it is, the old adage "waste not want not" will likely come forcefully into play.  The wildlife that fattens on my gardening efforts might well find itself in the food chain. LOL

It is still early for plowing as it has been wet and still freezing most nights.  The fruit trees are starting to bloom, which will hamper the yield again this season as the pollenators (bees) are not out in force.  Our little orchard has several varieties of apple, pear, cherry, and plums, some hazelnuts, a walnut, and more weeds than I can kill in a weekend.  Trimmed up the rose garden last weekend and some things are looking fine.... but a lot of effort yet to be made before the barbeque season starts.  It's been too rainy to mow effectively, so if it doesn't dry out a bit soon I will enlist the neighbors sheep to trim the overgrowth a little.... two weeks of suffocks and romneys saves several gallons of motor fuel!

Remember the Victory Gardens!?!

Take Care All;
Doug

Go to forum: Chordie's Chat Corner

1,749 Reply by Doug_Smith

(5 replies, posted in Acoustic)

Wow, what kind of good friend?

  Opposite sex should'a married friend... darn it's been a long time friend... haven't been pheasant hunting since you shot me in the butt friend...

  Hannah has a good suggestion, so without more background we're shooting in the dark!

Take Care;
Doug

Go to forum: Acoustic

1,750 Reply by Doug_Smith

(3 replies, posted in Electric)

Hi Doc,  haven't posted in your direction in awhile but you do come up with good ones....


  You know the first "Les Paul" was built out of a 2"X4" piece of framing timber, with some pickups and a fretboard.... through the magic of electronics an awful lot of cool sound are made.  But I tend to lean towards the acoustic, viewing the electronics as tools to enhance what is already there....

  There are hill people in Cambodia (or whatever it is called this week) that can make beautiful music with two strings and a piece of bamboo lashed to a dried Ox bladder, that beats the pants off anything I can hope to attain with six strings and a custom carved slab of bubinga.  So yeah, in some cases it does come down to the amps and effects.

  For my money, skill and practice wins over everything!

  Choose your guitar by it's sound, unplugged and plugged in... if it sings to your heart, and feels right in your hands, take it home and enjoy a long life together.

Take Care;
Doug

Go to forum: Electric