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We all are at different locations along the same path, IMO. well said, Mac. I would add that "there is a time for every purpose under heaven", and everybody's times don't follow the same schedule. In my case, now is the time for considering what I want to do after retirement so I can buy the gear while I still have discretionary cash. Later, when I have more time than money, I will be able to throw huge blocks of time at multiple learning curves. Not that I don't spend time learning now, but at this point the ratio of time spent on the music is less than the time spent on researching, acquiring and learning to use the gear. But that'll change. After retirement I doubt I will rarely if ever buy gear, but the time spent practicing, booking and performing will increase dramatically. At least that's the plan. Life doesn't always go according to plan.
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Without turning this into a philosophical or Religious discussion I just do not believe that anyone can do anything if they put the time and effort.There are other factors involved.JMHO
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Without turning this into a philosophical or Religious discussion I just do not believe that anyone can do anything if they put the time and effort.There are other factors involved.JMHO Good point, like having talent and more often than not the people with the talent will make it. For the record I don't believe I have any great talent, just some creative thinking now and again. Though I find biab great software and I can make a passable recording with it, it is no substitution for good musicians. Its the question and answer concept I believe that is missing for example a vocalist may sing a line (the question) and it is answered by a lead guitar riff (answer) more often than not missing in software like biab, or else you work for hours trying to get something that fits the part reasonably well, but it sure drains your emotions doing so. I believe even in the rhytm sections this concept still applies. musiclover
Last edited by musiclover; 07/22/13 09:54 AM.
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To quote a line from an old Neil Young song: "Live music is better, ... bumper stickers should be issued". 
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Without turning this into a philosophical or Religious discussion I just do not believe that anyone can do anything if they put the time and effort.There are other factors involved.JMHO John, I generally agree. However, I also believe that many people don't give something a go out of fear (whether self-generated or due to their upbringing) - but I've tried plenty of things for which I simply don't seem to have an affinity. To make this both philosophical AND religious, one of the things that neither my wife nor I seemed to be cut out for was to be Sunday School teachers to a group of rambunctious 3rd grade boys! Simply. Not. Cut. Out. For. It.! We stuck to our commitment, but also said: "Hey we gave it a try when the need was there, but whoa, we weren't expecting this kind of stress!" Back on topic. When the technology isn't fun or is taking too much time - ditch the technology!
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To quote a line from an old Neil Young song: "Live music is better, ... bumper stickers should be issued". Bob I will answer this. GOOD live music is better....for the audience. Not necessarily for the players.I much prefer to now play alone then with other players. Why? Because it always turns to crap.In the 40 years I played in bands it has always eventually turned bad.My computer has NEVER given me a hard time or not showed up etc. AND as a listener I'd rather listen to a WELL done one man Band then a BAD 4 piece band.
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GOOD live music is better....for the audience.
Not necessarily for the players. Ever since I discovered BIAB years ago, I’ve encouraged other musicians to check it out and I’ll continue to do so. Even though I’ve programmed a ton of songs into BIAB, playing along with the PC doesn’t even begin to approximate playing with live musicians and the sound and feeling you get when the musicians actually “feed” off each others playing. I’ll gladly take a single mandolin player backing me up over a 5 piece all star computerized back up band. But that’s just one mans opinion.
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a couple of weeks I also realised that I spent more time fiddling with BIAB to get the f5 nuances "programmed" in to get the song perfect that actually playing ....
I actually got out of practise , especially my SAX ....
Make no mistake ... I love BIAB but at some stage I have to get on with playing and not just software-ing (if there is such a word)
I'm doing allright for Country Trash ....
I used to care, but things have changed (Bob Dylan)
BIAB 2026W + RB
M-Audio FastTrack C600, Rode NT2-A
Digitech VoiceLive 4
Epiphone Sheraton, Ibanez 12str, Washburn 6str, Cort 6Str Nylon
Yanagisawa Tenor Sax
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I get equal enjoyment from both sides of the coin. I love to play and I love the techie stuff however I learned a long time ago to not mix the two. I have my full PA set up in the living room and play at least a full 1 hour set each day. When playing I do not fiddle with the techie side of things.When I'm done playing I work on any tech issues I may have.At this point my system is so fine tuned I don't really have any issues.
I play strictly covers but don't obsess on having them sound JUST like the record. I have created my own unique band. I stay true to the melody, chord progression,and somewhat the arrangement.The production is mine.BIAB/RB have limitations. Learn to work with them.
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As you know, John, actually performing music is a far different thing than just talking about doing it (or talking about planning to do it). But this is the Net, where you can be whatever you say you are - songwriter, critic, performer, mastering engineer, etc. I plan on posing as a neurosurgeon next week myself. 
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As you know, John, actually performing music is a far different thing than just talking about doing it (or talking about planning to do it). But this is the Net, where you can be whatever you say you are - songwriter, critic, performer, mastering engineer, etc. I plan on posing as a neurosurgeon next week myself. I'll give you the benefit of the doubt here so I'll ask, as mayne others have. Do you have trouble communicating properly or are you just an arrogant SOB?
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As you know, John, actually performing music is a far different thing than just talking about doing it (or talking about planning to do it). But this is the Net, where you can be whatever you say you are - songwriter, critic, performer, mastering engineer, etc. I plan on posing as a neurosurgeon next week myself. I'll give you the benefit of the doubt here so I'll ask, as mayne others have. Do you have trouble communicating properly or are you just an arrogant SOB? Does this mean I'm off your Christmas card list?
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As you know, John, actually performing music is a far different thing than just talking about doing it (or talking about planning to do it). But this is the Net, where you can be whatever you say you are - songwriter, critic, performer, mastering engineer, etc. I plan on posing as a neurosurgeon next week myself. I'll give you the benefit of the doubt here so I'll ask, as mayne others have. Do you have trouble communicating properly or are you just an arrogant SOB? Does this mean I'm off your Christmas card list? Just trying to figure out what you were saying is all. 
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Actually, I was trying to pay you a compliment, as one of the few people here who actually gig. Guess it got misinterpreted.
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Actually, I was trying to pay you a compliment, as one of the few people here who actually gig. Guess it got misinterpreted. It did. Thank you for the compliment. Understanding of well intentioned sarcasm has always sort of gone over my head.
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Actually, I was trying to pay you a compliment, as one of the few people here who actually gig. Guess it got misinterpreted. It did. Thank you for the compliment. Understanding of well intentioned sarcasm has always sort of gone over my head. That's OK, John. It is good to know that I am held in such high regard around here. Regards, Bob “Arrogant SOB”
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The creative part of me is trying to figure out what exactly what a SOB is. Only think I can come up with is Slimey old bulldog.  musiclover
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Actually, I was trying to pay you a compliment, as one of the few people here who actually gig. Guess it got misinterpreted. It did. Thank you for the compliment. Understanding of well intentioned sarcasm has always sort of gone over my head. That's OK, John. It is good to know that I am held in such high regard around here. Regards, Bob “Arrogant SOB” Bob, I'd say you ARE held in high regard around here... its just the age-old problem that its so easy to misinterpret the written word. Without the benefit of a wink, a twinkle of the eye or any of the other tips that would easily let the other person in on the joke in a face-to-face conversation, its just too easy to see multiple interpretations and speculate about which one might have been intended. Sarcasm and tongue-in-cheek humor are probably the most likely to make people presume ill intent because they are often used when there *IS* ill intent. (but not always) You are a very witty guy and you indulge in word-play regularly. Some people see sentences with multiple meanings as covert attacks. If there's a way to guarantee that you won't be misunderstood, I haven't discovered it. All we can do is communicate in good faith and let the chips fall where they may.
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Actually, John misunderstood my post. I, however, did not misinterpret this comment:
“....I'll ask, as mayne (many) others have....”
“....are you just an arrogant SOB?”
Seems pretty clear to me man. Such an epithet denotes regard? Curious.
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Actually, John misunderstood my post. I, however, did not misinterpret this comment:
“....I'll ask, as mayne (many) others have....”
“....are you just an arrogant SOB?”
Seems pretty clear to me man. Such an epithet denotes regard? Curious. I see that as more the natural result of misinterpretation than it is a declaration of contempt. I think its fair to say that most people answer "in kind"... if they think they are being challenged, they are inclined to reply with a challenge. I think its significant that John did NOT say "you ARE an arrogant SOB"... he phrased it in a conditional way that clearly implied that if you meant what he THOUGHT you meant, that only an arrogant SOB would say such a thing... but he left it open in question form so you had a chance to clarify (which you did) Once it was obvious that there was miscommunication at work, he thanked you for your TRUE intent. IMO, that's communication at its best... people qualifying statements and adjusting their responses as the meaning becomes clear. I also think that in an environment like this, the best indicator of a person's intent is the sum of their communication. You and John have both shown yourselves to be friendly and helpful guys over and over again. That should count for something when trying to decide what a person means. But even then, we all have bad days. Even saints can get snippy when too many things are going wrong at the same time. So, its not a bad idea to qualify questionable comments just to make sure the occasional comment wasn't intended in the worst of several possible ways. You and John are both good guys and valued contributors to the forum. You are both well liked and appreciated for what you each bring to the equation. Little miscommunications happen. It would be unnecessary and a shame to read anything else into it.
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