Some type of synthesizer?

[Gabriel51]

I need some help here, I'm returning from a long lay off and
I understand there are accompanying devices available, drums, keyboard? Would someone be kind enough to bring me up to date on items for the Bass player.
Thanks, Gabriel

[crow01]

im not sure i get the question.

do you want a midi controller? or a looper? or ???

[Gabriel51]

Originally Posted by crow01

im not sure i get the question.

do you want a midi controller? or a looper? or ???

Well If I knew what those were I could answer that, and this is/was the nature of my question.
It's in the title; synthesizer of some kind?

[tomvelsor]

you want a synthesizer? like what..

a keyboard? a pedal? a monophonic analog synth? some midi contraption?

[Gabriel51]

Originally Posted by tomvelsor

you want a synthesizer? like what..

a keyboard? a pedal? a monophonic analog synth? some midi contraption?

For example; my friend has a fender amp for his six string guitar. It has the ability to add drums, bass and various different beats so he can play along. Is there something
I can play through my amp or stereo to get this same type of feature?

[MatticusMania]

His amp can add drums and bass? Well geez, not much need for a band there now...

[MatticusMania]

You could try some sort of drum machine, or a Roland SPD-S and use it as a sampler, or get a sampler.

[tomvelsor]

so your looking for a drum machine..not a synthesizer.

i guess just google drum machine. good luck.

[bassteban]

There are drum machines that add a simple bassline generator(Zoom does one- can't recall the model#), but I don't know of anything that does the same except for adding guitar(assuming that's moreless what you want to do). You might try looking into looping devices; check youtube for demos of the Boss RC-20XL, the Digitech Jamman, etc. A looper, a bass, a drum machine & a few efx(or not)& a little imagination & you're off to the wankshed. Or solo bass superstardom.

[locolobo85]

It sounds like you're looking for something like the Boss Jamstation.

http://www.bosscorp.co.jp/products/en/JS-5/

[Gabriel51]

Originally Posted by locolobo85

It sounds like you're looking for something like the Boss Jamstation.

http://www.bosscorp.co.jp/products/en/JS-5/

That looks like what I need, I may also be able to get a software Synthesizer? I'm looking into that now

[SuperDuck]

Originally Posted by Gabriel51

That looks like what I need, I may also be able to get a software Synthesizer? I'm looking into that now

If you're looking for software, try Band In a Box.

http://www.pgmusic.com/

[mambo4]

+1 band in a box -or some other software. Especially if you have a laptop you can tote around with your rig.

while there are certainly a lot of stand alone boxes that can do accompaniment, for sheer editablility, control and flexibility you'll probably want software. The only drawback is that laptops can be a bit undependable -tho i gather from what I see onstage sometimes that recent ones have less issues.

On the other hand, if rock solid reliability for gigging is the goal, and you have the time to invest in learning an inconvenient hardware interface, than a dedicated drum machine or groove box would suit you fine.

For me, I have always ended up selling my beat boxes because I don't gig with them, and its a thousand times more convenient to edit stuff on a PC. I see this as the general trend as well: bands that use groove boxes live tend to switch to laptops running ableton live or some such as soon as the money is available.

off the top o my head:

Software:
Band in a box
Fruity loops

Groove boxes:
Boss Dr. Rhythm
Roland MC303/MC 505

Some have also mentioned sequencing backing tracks and burning them to CD , using the CD during a gig.

[Gabriel51]

Thanks;
I just want it for home, So software is the ticket + I have 5.1 sound on my quad core computer.

[BigBeatNut]

Originally Posted by SuperDuck

If you're looking for software, try Band In a Box.

http://www.pgmusic.com/

Is there an equivalent to Band-in-a-box for Mac ?

Already have Garageband, but that's not really the same thing, considering BIAB's ability to create grooves/acompaniments conforming to a genre.

[SuperDuck]

I'm not sure of an equivalent, but you're right - comparing it to Garage Band is apples and oranges. Both highly useful but hardly interchangeable.

[Calebmundy]

They make band-in-a-box for Mac, I am pretty sure. Garageband is definitely not the same kind of program.

[keyboardguy]

Originally Posted by Calebmundy

They make band-in-a-box for Mac, I am pretty sure. Garageband is definitely not the same kind of program.

Yep. Here:

http://www.pgmusic.com/band.htm


Mike

[BigBeatNut]

Originally Posted by keyboardguy

Yep. Here:
http://www.pgmusic.com/band.htm

Thanks. Don't know how I missed that.

[Gabriel51]

I got the Band-in-a-box, Now if I can figure out how to use it.
It is what I needed.
Thanks