Forum - Banjo Ben Clark

Bluegrass Backing Tracks

#16

No, the way you play it, the break Ben wrote goes along perfect with it. When I tried to record a rhythm track, the break sounded off on that F chord in the A part. I’m playing that F too quick.

I’ll try to record one right quick to show how I’ve been playing it. I start each one out with the ending so it’s easier to jump in on the lead.

This is how I have been playing it with youtube vids. The break does not go with this though, the F is not right.

soundcloud.com/crotchrocket-1-1/ … -boy-wrong

This is what I figured out to sound right with the break. I need to figure out a smoother way to play it though.

soundcloud.com/crotchrocket-1-1/ … -i-think-2

#17

I see what you are saying. An mp3 is worth 1000 words. I was humming along with it and I think the break works for both. It does seem more natural to me on the second one. I think that you could do it both ways within the same song just to throw the listener’s ear off a bit.
I bet you are loving that mic. It sounds great.

#18

Thanks for giving that a listen Mike.

Loving the new mic! I’m getting different sounds depending on how close I sit to it. If you guys hear anything I can improve on the sound, I’m all ears. Lots of settings I haven’t messed with.

#19

I think the second Red Haired Boy is right.

Seems like the AT2020 is becoming the mic of choice around here -first fiddlewood,then tnt, and now oldhat.

#20

Thanks for listening Larry. I can play the break to the second one, but I’m going to have to figure out a better way of strumming that, sounds a little cheesy to me. I know you can play that one Larry. I have heard you wear it out at about 240 bpm. I never could get that part with the bend right, but you nailed it!

Yeah, I am going to let Oldhat fiddle with the settings/placement on the AT2020 mic and then steal his ideas. :laughing: If he will let me in on his secrets. Or maybe when Fiddlewood gets back on the grid.

#21

TNT, if it means anything I an def not getting the sound out of the new mic as i expected. Seems way to “tiny” and “thin” on my 1st 3 strings but absolutely perfect on my last 3 strings (bass side of things).

I should have it figured out though. Other problem I have is that I do not have a mic stand for mine…do you have one? If so what did you get for a stand? Would prefer a stand as to move it around to different spots vs putting it on a table and moving in and out from it.

Oldhat

#22

I am recording into Audacity and not messing with any of the settings yet. Not sure if it helps with the sound any, but I am exporting my recordings to my computer in wav format. Not compressing them or anything and they sound the same as when I recorded them.

My mic came with the little desktop tripod stand. It was in a little black bag with a zipper. Sitting it on top of my desk on the stand is way too high to get close to with my guitar. I am putting my mic with the stand in the top drawer of my desk and closing the drawer on it. Seems to be about the perfect height and I can raise and lower my chair and move in and out from it.

Pic of the little stand. Can’t get close to it like that though.

My professional recording studio. :laughing:

#23

That’s pretty slick. Necessity is the mother of invention… or adaptation. Whatever you are doing, it sounds good.

#24

Cool.

Yes I have the little tri-pod stand but not a mic stand. I have a couple mic stands and I guess I am gonna have to use some duck tape to mount it with and then move it around.

I will be recording some again this eve to try and get the sound I want and experimenting some more.

#25

My high-tech set up involves a desktop mic stand and a stack of books.

[attachment=0]012.jpg[/attachment]
It would be easier with a boom, but I’ve managed to get by like this so far.

#26

I have built a stand to hold my tablet from an old music stand. As I’m out in the bush I’m used to having to jerryrig things. I don’t have it with me (I’m at the cave) so can’t photograph it but I’ve done a quick crappy sketch of something with the same principle that may help.
Of course it depends on how the collar round your mike is attached to the tripod. If it is bolted on you could remove it from the tripod, bolt it onto the top of a metal rod (tube might be easier as you could flatten the top to put a bolt through) that will fit into the top of the stand.
Otherwise make another collar out of a strip of metal and bolt that to the rod.

Whoops, I don’t know how to upload an image. Notice you are online Mike - waddyado?
Have it as a jpg on my desktop now.

#27

Just tried something out - uploaded it to my website. Let’s see if it worked …

#28

Woohoo, it worked! Well that’s one way at least! :smiley:

#29

Nice engineering ozzie. For “the hard bit” I would think the easiest thing would be a shock mount. I have seen them stocked at guitar center. They just kind of hug the mic and have a female threaded end for a mic stand. I’d go try one out to ensure it fits the mic in question.

#30

Looks like it comes with a threaded mic holder (albeit not real obvious). Found this on an amazon review via google (text pasted below):


“Why won’t my AT-2020 USB fit on my mic stand?”

I teach VO to professionals in Los Angeles (via vo2gogo.com), and highly recommend this mic for their home and travel use, and use it myself.

I got not one, but two emails and a frantic phone call in the last couple of days, all asking the same question. The most desperate of the calls came on Friday morning. Leticia was beside herself.

“I just don’t get this - I got the desktop mic stand you said I should get, which is great, and I got the AT2020-USB, which is great, but I can’t figure out how to attach it to the mic stand. The hole is too small for them to fit together! I’ve tried everything - I’ve even disassembled it and put it back together to see if there’s a part missing.”

She started to sob, and said under her breath, “I’m embarrassed to tell you what I resorted to - duct tape. And it looks completely stupid! What am I doing wrong?”

I told her that everything was going to be OK, and that it was a simple, but not-so-obvious solution.

It’s all about adapters and not-so-obvious instructions.

Let’s look at what comes in the AT-2020 USB box: the mic itself, an instruction booklet, the warranty registration, and the carrying pouch, which has three more things packed inside: the USB cable, the tiny, almost useless three-legged mic “stand”, and the bracket that connects the mic to the almost useless three-legged mic “stand”.

And, let’s also take a look at the tips of both the almost useless three-legged mic “stand”, and the one I recommend you purchase to go with your mic (the On Stage DS7200B Adjustable Desk Microphone Stand, Black). Let’s call that the “good” stand.

You’ll notice that the threaded top of the two stands are different sizes. The smaller one, on the almost useless three-legged mic “stand”, fits the bracket perfectly.

But if you use it, there’s a good chance your mic will fall over. Seriously, it’s an awful choice.

But that bracket will also fit the “good” stand with its larger diameter. It just takes a nickel. Or, if you can spare the change, a quarter.

Look carefully at the bracket, where the hole is that fits the almost useless three-legged mic “stand”, and you’ll notice something interesting about the metal threads - there are two notches cut into the surface of the colored metal core.

And if you take your nickel, or quarter, and insert it into those two notches, and twist to the left (with all your strength - AudioTechnica really seats this item in there tight), you’ll be able to unscrew what is actually an inner threaded adapter right out of the bracket, leaving behind a larger, threaded hole that will fit the “good” stand just right.

I so wish AudioTechnica made this more obvious in their instructions.

So, you can now put away the duct tape. And the almost useless three-legged mic “stand.” And the now-removed threaded adapter.

(I usually tell clients to pitch into the trash the almost useless three-legged mic “stand”, but it makes a great storage option for the now-removed threaded adapter.)

When I shared this little Secret of VO with Leticia, and the other 200 or 300 people who’ve contacted me about this, an audible sigh of relief was heard.

I love that.

And I hope this helps.

#31

Nice bit of detective work, Mike. It seemed odd that the microphone wouldn’t fit a basic mic stand, but they sure don’t make the solution obvious, do they?

#32

Oh, I had big plans to record a bunch of backing tracks. Turns out it is harder than it looks. I seem to be able to play along to stuff but just laying down an even track to play lead over is tough for me.

I did one for Black Mtn Rag, one time through. Ben probably already has a better one than this. Oh well, here it is. Sure hope I’m in tune on these. I should probably check that. :slight_smile:

soundcloud.com/crotchrocket-1-1/ … king-track

Testin’ her out.

[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJsDFJ79-xQ[/video]

#33

I dig it. Nice playing to boot. I need to learn that Doc Watson version. I spend a bunch of time when I am recording as well. It’s hard not to get picky when you can analyze exactly what it is you played. I think it is tough to get a smooth, even track but the good news is it gets easier with repetition. Either that or I don’t care as much over time :laughing: For an initial track I usually have a metronome going in headsets, but I (as well as some others I have played with) have trouble playing well with headsets. For me, it’s like I have to really try to stay with the thing… if it’s just running outside of headsets, I can play with it without effort. I don’t like in-ear stage monitors for the same reason. Unfortunately, I can’t do that outside of headsets without it getting recorded with the track as well. It does seem to help to try get the metronome at the right level and get the right mix of what is being recorded in the headsets. As far as a “right” level, I can’t tell you what it is… I just tweak it a bit when I am fighting it. Thanks for posting it!

#34

I will give that a shot playing with the metronome going into a headset. I know playing along with something (anything) distracts me enough to where I’m not as nervous trying to record. One of my main problems is I don’t hear the melody in my head while I’m playing rhythm. I have to think about how long each measure is and I get really mechanical playing. I seem do do a little better on a singing song or something I have played a bunch where I have something to go by in my head instead of counting how many times I play a C chord before I go to G.

#35

Sounds good, Shawn. I love how controlled your left hand looks. Wish I had fingers as long as yours.

— Begin quote from ____

I don’t hear the melody in my head while I’m playing rhythm. I have to think about how long each measure is and I get really mechanical playing.

— End quote

Here’s how I deal with the problem of recording a solo rhythm track.

My recording software indicates the measures on a time line when I choose a tempo, and it also lets me add flags at each measure. When I set up a recording project, I count out the measures and flag each chord change with the appropriate chord. That way when I start recording, I can concentrate on keeping good time with the metronome in my headphones while watching the chord change flags scroll across the screen as I play. Otherwise, I get halfway through a song, forget where I am, and have to start over.