Johnbee58

I got an email today from Focusrite telling me that they made a software driver update for my Scarlett 6i6 interface and encouraged me to download it and install it. I don't think I want to do that. Why? Because the interface is working fine and I don't want to take a chance at making trouble. I'm a firm believer in the old adage "If it ain't broke, don't fix it!" It's very kind of Focusrite to offer this to fix any bugs (and they say those are too numerous to list), but I'm not experiencing any difficulty and I'm afraid that I might if I do the update. What say you? Should I bite the bullet, hold my breath and do the update, or just let everything alone? Thanks for your feedback. 🙂John B

Grem. Thank you. The Fostex X15 had no internal mic. It was essentially a little battery operated job (picture in link below) I used a Peavey PVM 38, which is the equivalent of the Shure SM 58. I still have that mic today and still use it sometimes. It's a very reliable mic. My D18 probably sounds like a 12 string because I dubbed it twice. About 2 years later I "graduated" to a Fostex 160 multitracker. It was still 4 track cassette but ran at a higher speed (3.75 ips), had more onboard EQ options and you could plug in (via Aux Send) 1 effect. I bought an Alesis Microverb II for reverb. I also bought my first drum machine the following year, which was a Yamaha RX17. I still have both of those toys in my basement. 🙂JB https://reverb.com/item/26729604-fostex-x-15-recorder?gclid=CjwKCAjw-vjqBRA6EiwAe8TCk-cUg6siP1-SZceOPgGi2m1s4sqVpDkdhA_hXeQF2n97-B8uVdW_DBoCyMYQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds&merchant_id=109799015&pla=1&utm_campaign=672877369&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google

Reading Pennsylvania, USA (Taylor Swift territory) 🙂John B

Nice track. Very thoughtful lyrics and nice acoustic work. Throw a couple of fill variations into the drum track and you'd have it nailed. 😀John B

Very early (talking late 70s) I bounced between an open reel and a stereo cassette deck. After about 4 bounces it sounded real crappy, but at least I got the idea down. 😀JB

I had several of Will Ackermann's Windham Hill albums in the 80s and 90s. He made it look easy. I was considering pursuing this kind of music back then, but it never happened (long story). You did a fabulous job on this. I'd love to hear what you could do with "Remedios" and Processional". Bet you could do them equally as well. It's astonishing how much can be done with just acoustic guitar. 🙂John B EDIT-Did you ever hear of a guy named Michael Hedges? That guy (unfortunately passed on😞) was out of this world. He could do things on an acoustic that weren't heard of then.

Thought you might find this interesting. I found this on an old PC hard drive. Way back in 1987, this is how I wrote and recorded my music. Years before Cakewalk and digital and Toontrack, Waves, Native Instruments and plugins I had a Fostex X-15 4 track recorder. Some of you might have gone this route back in the day. The fidelity is terrible! Lofi to the highest degree. You would NEVER consider selling something made in this fashion (cassette based. Tape speed 1.75 ips). This was strictly demos only, but you could overdub and bounce tracks. Oh yes, another thing. I played guitar back then too. I still have my Martin D-18 acoustic hanging on the wall in my studio. I get it off the rack every now and then and play what I can off of it, but I was away from it for so long it has become impossible for me to do anything with it now. I was even into alternative tunings and fingerings back then. This song was an experiment in an alternative tuning. I had the tuning and fingerings for this song charted but lost them. I would love to know how I came up with this but it was 32 years ago and I can't remember. The other instrument you hear is a clarinet (dubbed twice for harmony). I played clarinet since my teens (and saxophone). I still have my Buffett Crampon, but my asthma doesn't allow me to play that much either these days. The song is called "Should've Known". I apologize for the lofi but you might like it anyway. https://www.soundclick.com/html5/v4/player.cfm?songID=13912567 🙂John B

Thanks Christian! I changed some of the links around since I posted the original back in June. That song can now be found here: https://johnbowen.bandcamp.com/track/quietly-she-sings 🙂JB

Thanks so much, Freddy and kakku for listening and commenting. 🙂JB

This is pretty cool, especially the vocals. But I'd turn the vocal track(s) up just a bit more in the mix. 🙂John B

Very enjoyable. I relly enjoy the melody. Sounds like your tempo varies a bit at places, but that's OK. I have to ask you what synth is your lead instrument? I've been looking for a sound like that for quite awhile. Is it a freebie in Cakewalk? 🙂

I've been using Jazz & Big Band ver 3 for horn sounds for years and it runs fine for me in Cakewalk. No problems at all. 🙂John B

Catchy tune. The beat grabs you from the git go. Love those background vocs. Great arrangement. Super cool lyrics. Love it. ❤️ 🙂John B

IMHO-the vox are anything but too loud. I think they could come up just a small bit. (BTW- If I may ask, where did you get the didgerdoo sample (or did you somehow come up with a real one)? I have one on Iris 2 but it sounds like pure crap compared to yours. 🙂John B

Yeah, Michael Franks! I'm nowhere near as good as him, but I appreciate the comparison, my friend. 😀JB

Sounds like there's a lot going on here. Interesting cacophony and it seems to go together. The only word that comes to mind is Zappaesque. 🙂John B.

Clever. Love the energy. 🙂John B

Many different sounds going on there. Like a potpourri. Love the old fashioned groove. Different for you, but you can do anything musically. I have no critiques. This is the kind of music I wish I could make more of. 🙂John B

You're starting to sound like daryl. 😁 Great tune. Clever lyrics and catchy music. 🙂John B

Very pretty and soothing, but stimulating at the same time. My new favorite of yours 🙂John B

Please try to forget that negative POS I put up a few weeks ago. I couldn't stand the old negative words anymore. Now it's a song I can be proud of. Hopefully you can listen to it now and enjoy it musically without the content getting in the way. Flame away. 🙂 https://johnbowen.bandcamp.com/track/understand ❤️John B

Interesting. Why do you buy them if you don't need them? Or are you referring to the freebies in FL? 🙂JB

I guess that's the best way to look at it. 🙂

Never mind.

OK Matt. Thanks so much. I'll have to look this over when I get time. I really don't think there's anybody here who really enjoys this program. I wish I would've checked this thread out before I laid down 10 USD on it, but it wasn't all for nothing. I DID get a free synth out of the deal (Iris 2), but I'm not a big synth man and I already have tons of analogue synths in Reaktor and and AAS. I thought this would be similar to Scaler (which I have and LOVE). Just glad I didn't pay the regular price for it. Just shows you have to watch what you buy. Best to try it first. 😀JB