stefkeB

I've started thinking lately to get up to grips with performing alone with more than simply a guitar. I have most of the hardware and software I need (I think), but to link it all together takes some planning.

One of the tricky things is the lack of hands you have when playing guitar. And the fact that even though you have two feet, you need at least one to stand up. So only a foot controller seems reasonable.

But I have too many buttons to push:

2:48 minutes (3.85 MB)

This is a recording of Silver Droplets to reflect how the song was when played live, as discussed here. Although the sound is different. This is a Marshall amp emulation from the POD X3 Live recorded in Ableton Live. The actual performance was my real Marshall and the Digitech Jamman Looper pedal (which can not do direct sound-on-sound after the first recording starts looping).

But this version reflects the mood and feel of the way it was performed.

Last weekend, I played in the Sint-Joriskerk in Antwerpen, during the wedding-celebration of my wife's brother.

The first song was a new composition, titled "Silver Droplets". While practising, the couple was pleased with a fragment I was playing, dubbing it "bubbles". While "Soap Bubble" came to mind, this title was highly unfit to start a lasting marriage. So I proposed the droplets. Here you can listen to the re-recording.

Last weekend, I borrowed a Digitech Jamman from a friend to use during the upcoming wedding celebration. Take a peek at http://www.digitech.com/products/Pedals/JamMan.php. It seems easier then to carry a laptop with Ableton Live and my keyboard on USB and the foot pedal mapped to the looper-plugin button.

Another note, I upgraded my laptop to Snow Leopard and the Line6 drivers and the Soundflowerbed extensions give problems. That's for updating too soon... Well, my iMac will stay a little longer on Leopard in that case, till I know the drivers work fine.

Yesterday, I played some pieces for my brother-in-law, who is getting married this month. He asked me to play some interludes on his wedding.

Falling begins quite soft, but after the bridge it is again quite heavy. Live recording at the Muziekkot in Herne at 25/7/2006.

A video-recording of the first Transport Aerian gig at the Muziekkot in Herne (on 25/7/2009). Oh my... The sound is good (make sure to watch the HQ version), but I hear all my stupid mistakes...

8:56 minutes (8.18 MB)

A recording during an improvisation, together with Jan. I was recording my new Marshall for the first time and it took a while to get the best connection. I think I found a better connection afterwards: the amp has an emulated Cabinet (4x12") output, which I can connect using an XLR cable and a plug to a Jack-connection into my audio interface.

The lyrics were already written and during a break at noon I recorded them. I used my Sure SM58 (for which I have reasonable hints that it's a fake).

After about 15 (maybe 20?) years, I finally bought a new guitar amplifier. I was looking at a Fender Hot Rod Reverb and a Marshall JVM 215C. Both are combo amplifiers (amplifier and cabinet combined) but have a different goal:

Apart from software, there is a wealth of possibilities for guitar sounds. From real amplifiers and stomp boxes till software plugins and combined software/hardware products.

Right now, I'm borrowing a Korg ToneWorks AX3000G from my brother, which is mostly a hardware guitar effects and amplifiers simulator. One machine with a nice range of sounds. Maybe I don't need to buy two or more amplifiers and effects at all.