I was playing around last night with iOS version of Garageband. I'm really impressed by the range of sounds provided and the power of the smart instruments. The multi-track is possibly the best one available on iOS platforms. If you guys haven't checked it out, it's definitely worth plopping down the next spare $5 you come across. In many respects I feel the iOS version of GB is far better than the Mac version.
The knock against it is Apple has virtually ignored bass players that would want to plug in and record a real bass through an amp sim. While the variety of options is no where near what Audiobus will provide, the app is a full-featured solution that has some of the best sounding instruments available and for many users, may be a better solution than Audiobus which can be very demanding on older iOS devices. The smart instruments alone are incredibly easy to use and very musical and don't get in the way of creativity.
I really wish there was a way to use JamUp with GB. I suppose the only thing we can do is provide Apple with some feedback and let them know that we want Audiobus support ( which I would never really expect Apple to support ) or at least a good quality bass amp built into Garageband.
Yes , the iOS version is better (the Mac version has more instruments though) and the funny thing is that when it comes to the guitar sound-tone , the iOS version is better i think
I'm sure its not a big deal for Apple to bring good sounds for bass
I use GB for the drums and then i master them in MTDAW , i get a way much better and tight sound.
I can't play at all yet. LOL, so I'm not worried about playing with people Eight away. I will keep that in mind down the road though. There are a few guys in town who have Wed night jam sessions, can't wait to be able to join in!
Read a bit on the ATH-50s vs the HiFi 780s and they appear pretty close. The JLab stuff looks really good for a more budget friendly price. I can always upgrade later if necessary. The Shures look good too, but there are a few different models. Too bad you can't test out headphones before purchasing.
Is there a difference between IEM and regular earbuds?
I can't play at all yet. LOL, so I'm not worried about playing with people Eight away. I will keep that in mind down the road though. There are a few guys in town who have Wed night jam sessions, can't wait to be able to join in!
Read a bit on the ATH-50s vs the HiFi 780s and they appear pretty close. The JLab stuff looks really good for a more budget friendly price. I can always upgrade later if necessary. The Shures look good too. Too bad you can't test out headphones before purchasing.
Is there a difference between IEM and regular earbuds?
The difference that I think of right away is most IEM are going to have good to excellent sound isolation ( you won't hear noises around you bleeding into the music ). Ear buds won't really have this property.
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CarvinLB70/SansAmp PBDDI/CarvinBX1200/ACME LowB4
Positive Grid JamUp XT w/bass expansion pack -> iPhone4 for quite rehearsal time. Random sound clips and musical excursions
Another cool app that I've had for a while and just kind of forgot about is InstantDrummer. I only have the free version, Tropical Sun, but they have maybe a dozen more you can download. Very cool and all the drums are real drums played but drummers. There are a number of loops that can be varied via sliders in the app.
I though a bunch you might be interested in looking the apps up. They have been around for a while so I think they have somewhat fallen off the radar unfortunately. Download the free version to see if they work for you. http://www.sonomawireworks.com/iphone/instantdrummer/
Another set of apps that have fallen off the radar but might prove useful are the Groovemaker line of apps from IK. They also let you build tracks from pre-made loops but these apps have multiple instruments and seem to be capable of producing more complicated patterns. There is a free one you can download to try it out. http://www.ikmultimedia.com/products/gmiphone/
What else are you guys using to help build tracks without the need to programs a drum machine or play out parts via software instrument or real instrument?
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CarvinLB70/SansAmp PBDDI/CarvinBX1200/ACME LowB4
Positive Grid JamUp XT w/bass expansion pack -> iPhone4 for quite rehearsal time. Random sound clips and musical excursions
Well, today's jam session was kinda balanced in its success.
The guitarist worked out. He and I really got on together very well musically, like we had been playing together for some time. It was kinda cool.
The singer/songwriter he brought with him, not so much. The guy had this quiet, reserved way about him that made him come off as a bit of a douche. He had some good tunes but his attitude sucked. Oh well, we had fun and I've probably found a musical partner to work with for now.
Jamup, on the other hand, performed FLAWLESSLY. I switched between presets to see what worked best with the acoustic guitars, the Redhead was best followed by the B15. They sat perfectly in the mix and had just the right tone. Total success, and it was cool when they asked me what I was doing with my phone!! I love talking about this stuff to people!!
My normal earbuds are Ultimate Ears Triplefi 10's, but for today it was floor wedges. Jamup was perfect. I couldn't have asked for a better tone overall. Thanks again, Calvin!!
Cool. I have to get together with a few guys and try Jamup in a live situation.
For what I did today, it was perfect. My PA isn't super huge, but it is awesome for acoustic music. And the Redhead's ultra clear midrange cut through so well, they couldn't help but ask what I was using.
Plus, not having an amp running and sounding so good was great, now I know I won't have to carry my amp to gigs!!
The difference that I think of right away is most IEM are going to have good to excellent sound isolation ( you won't hear noises around you bleeding into the music ). Ear buds won't really have this property.
I went through pretty much every consumer earbud there is, figuring that IEM's were probably just the same old same old, at a much higher price.
Then a friend took pity on me, and leant me some Shure SE425's. Don't kid yourself: 2 and 3 driver IEM's have a much less coloured sound, way more clarity, and pro features like detachable/replaceable cables, made from more durable wire.
For what I did today, it was perfect. My PA isn't super huge, but it is awesome for acoustic music. And the Redhead's ultra clear midrange cut through so well, they couldn't help but ask what I was using.
Plus, not having an amp running and sounding so good was great, now I know I won't have to carry my amp to gigs!!
Fantastic. I can't wait to try it myself in a band setting.
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Virtual Ampeg Portaflex Club #1010101-12
What else are you guys using to help build tracks without the need to programs a drum machine or play out parts via software instrument or real instrument?
I will be using EzDrummer, rendering to a wave file format. The sound quality seems very good with the MT DAW. Just hope my iPad 1 can keep up with the mix.
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Virtual Ampeg Portaflex Club #1010101-12
I went through pretty much every consumer earbud there is, figuring that IEM's were probably just the same old same old, at a much higher price.
Then a friend took pity on me, and leant me some Shure SE425's. Don't kid yourself: 2 and 3 driver IEM's have a much less coloured sound, way more clarity, and pro features like detachable/replaceable cables, made from more durable wire.
I'm not sure technically the difference between IEM and earbuds.
But most serious IEM have better fit and better isolation. In addition most IEM use balanced armatures which have some limitations regarding Hi Fidelity as the frequency response is "limited".
But using several drivers per IEM gives very clear/ less colored sound stage.
There is quite a big difference my SE425 and my SE215. The SE425 are have very nice clarity and quite flat frequency response. That is why the almost sound like the are lean on bass. Reminds me quite a bit my AKG K701 headphones. The SE215 (one driver9 have very nice tight bass and low mids but lack some treble and high mids compares to the SE425 (two drivers). The bass is more dominant on the SE215 which is not bad for somebody playing the bass.
In my opinion the SE215 are really a bargain. Amazing sound for under 100$ IEM. The fit is excellent and so goes the isolation.
I'm actually quite curious about the Etymotic as they suppose to give even better isolation then the Shure IEM!!
Check this out:
Regarding affordable headphones which are easily driven:
The AKG are quite expensive but kind of the benchmark for reference sound of closed back headphones.
I'm not sure technically the difference between IEM and earbuds.
But most serious IEM have better fit and better isolation. In addition most IEM use balanced armatures which have some limitations regarding Hi Fidelity as the frequency response is "limited".
But using several drivers per IEM gives very clear/ less colored sound stage.
There is quite a big difference my SE425 and my SE215. The SE425 are have very nice clarity and quite flat frequency response. That is why the almost sound like the are lean on bass. Reminds me quite a bit my AKG K701 headphones. The SE215 (one driver9 have very nice tight bass and low mids but lack some treble and high mids compares to the SE425 (two drivers). The bass is more dominant on the SE215 which is not bad for somebody playing the bass.
In my opinion the SE215 are really a bargain. Amazing sound for under 100$ IEM. The fit is excellent and so goes the isolation.
I'm actually quite curious about the Etymotic as they suppose to give even better isolation then the Shure IEM!!
Check this out:
Regarding affordable headphones which are easily driven:
The AKG are quite expensive but kind of the benchmark for reference sound of closed back headphones.
I'm using the shure 215s for my live monitoring they sound fantastic! since having these I have been able to give a better representation to the house and I don't push the bass to heavy to FOH because I hear the bass in my ears clearer and more defined.
Very tight bass. The 425s seem to be the top choice since they are more reference sound geared, but also really expensive (to me). The 215s have an up and down kind of wave going on (peaks on several frequencies)......it seems to be flat while listening.
What's up with the one huge spike on the 425s on around 9000hz? Seem like that would be noticeable.
Steve, do you have to dial back the treble a bit on that freq? Do you notice that spike?
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The Official Fender Bassman Club #13 - The Praise and Worship Band Bassists Club # 1103 - Official Virtual Ampeg Portaflex Club #1010101-01
I usually go to different amps during the set to go with different songs. Yesterday I used the redhead the whole time. I love the redhead.
Since the upgrade the the shure se215 and jamup I have received several compliments from the other musicians about how good it the bass sounds. They have been saying things like, "hey, whatever you have done lately to you tone it is great the bass is so much more full and tight" and "I can hear you now before it was kinda muffled but now it's clear and low."
That feels nice and I'm no longer fighting with it to make it that way. I'm still tweaking of course to make it the best I can but its not a battle against the hiss (AT) anymore. It's just making tone changes.
Got a compliment yesterday from soundman too
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The Official Fender Bassman Club #13 - The Praise and Worship Band Bassists Club # 1103 - Official Virtual Ampeg Portaflex Club #1010101-01
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The Official Fender Bassman Club #13 - The Praise and Worship Band Bassists Club # 1103 - Official Virtual Ampeg Portaflex Club #1010101-01
I usually go to different amps during the set to go with different songs. Yesterday I used the redhead the whole time. I love the redhead.
Since the upgrade the the shure se215 and jamup I have received several compliments from the other musicians about how good it the bass sounds. They have been saying things like, "hey, whatever you have done lately to you tone it is great the bass is so much more full and tight" and "I can hear you now before it was kinda muffled but now it's clear and low."
That feels nice and I'm no longer fighting with it to make it that way. I'm still tweaking of course to make it the best I can but its not a battle against the hiss (AT) anymore. It's just making tone changes.
Got a compliment yesterday from soundman too
Excellent.
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Virtual Ampeg Portaflex Club #1010101-12
I use the same pair of SE425s for listening and live monitoring. There is no noticeable treble "spike" in my experience. There is no lack of bass in the mix--not even close. Better to use your ears first, then the data, IMHO. If SE215s really perform the way those data make them out to be I would be hesitant to use them for anything, but since they have a following I suspect that graph is an aberration. Who would want something that blasted the low end like that for live monitoring? You have to hear the other frequencies too.
I use the same pair of SE425s for listening and live monitoring. There is no noticeable treble "spike" in my experience. There is no lack of bass in the mix--not even close. Better to use your ears first, then the data, IMHO. If SE215s really perform the way those data make them out to be I would be hesitant to use them for anything, but since they have a following I suspect that graph is an aberration. Who would want something that blasted the low end like that for live monitoring? You have to hear the other frequencies too.
Yeah I was just wondering about the spike I'm sure they sound great.....
Definitely a huge difference in data and perception.
To me the data on the 215s just tell me they won't have to work as hard to produce louder bass which interprets into less distorted bass. But the rest of the response is about the same as the other in spl.....actually the 215s seem to be the most efficient... than the others on the graph.
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The Official Fender Bassman Club #13 - The Praise and Worship Band Bassists Club # 1103 - Official Virtual Ampeg Portaflex Club #1010101-01
I'm using the shure 215s for my live monitoring they sound fantastic!
...The 215s have an up and down kind of wave going on (peaks on several frequencies)......it seems to be flat while listening.
What's up with the one huge spike on the 425s on around 9000hz? Seem like that would be noticeable.
Steve, do you have to dial back the treble a bit on that freq? Do you notice that spike?
The 215's sound very nice, but if you hear them as flat, you listen very differently to me. The boost below 200Hz is huge (10dB equals 10x the power!!!), and it comes across to me as a muddy low end, killing the growl and detail from my basses.
As far as needing to dial back the treble with the SE425's, I find just the opposite. If you look closer at the plot for the 425's, there's a hole on either side of the "spike", and that narrow peak in the treble is only level with the bass and midrange, around 0dB.
The hole in the upper midrange just serves to smooth out any harshness that might be present in the actual mix. I would be more concerned about the way they roll off in the upper treble, except that in a live performance there's never anything useful up there.
I was not a fan of the older Shures (E2 through E5), as I found it hard to maintain a good seal, and they didn't sound good until I got up to the ridiculously overpriced E5's.
However, the new line is something else. I was saving for a much more expensive set of Westones when my buddy turned me on to the SE425's. Even after paying close to $300 with tax for the Shures, I was still hundreds of dollars ahead.
I have an expensive pair of Baer DT880 over-ear headphones, as well as a couple of pairs of AKG's, and they've been sitting on the shelf since I got the 425's.
