Ambient/Post-Rock/Textural bass playing thread

[dukeorock]

OTOH, if you mastered the Octatrack before you sold it, feel free to make your setup as complicated as you want to start out.

Has anyone ever mastered the Octatrack? I love mine, but...

 

[JES]

Has anyone ever mastered the Octatrack? I love mine, but...

I doubt it.

 

[steubig]

Has anyone ever mastered the Octatrack? I love mine, but...

interesting. i feel like you’ve gotten a lot of great results.

and i don’t even know what “mastered” means. can you truly master anything?

 

[monsterthompson]

New Zoia “librarian” software. Not a way to build patches on your computer, just organize them.

 

[ugly_bassplayer]

interesting. i feel like you’ve gotten a lot of great results.

and i don’t even know what “mastered” means. can you truly master anything?

Re: mastering something.

IMO,IME the more you learn about anything, the more you realize how little you actually know.

 

[hieronymous]

Re: mastering something.

IMO,IME the more you learn about anything, the more you realize how little you actually know.

 

[ugly_bassplayer]

I'm stoked for the new bill and Ted.
Even if it sux I'll still laugh my @$$ off dude

 

[hieronymous]

I'm stoked for the new bill and Ted.
Even if it sux I'll still laugh my @$$ off dude

I already watched it! I enjoyed it - way better than Bogus Journey IMO (I didn't like that one, mainly just liked that Primus was in it (I think) and that King's X were on the soundtrack)

 

[cosmicevan]

New Zoia “librarian” software. Not a way to build patches on your computer, just organize them.

Some day...zoia will be mine

but today...this will keep me confused

 

[steubig]

@DanielW

i'm gonna add on to what everyone else has said.

you have so many options, it really comes down what you want to do and how you want to do it (and it will probably change one day).

if you already have a mixer, i'd think about having (though i guess this requires at least one more looper):

bass > effects > looper to mixer

voice > effects > looper to mixer

guitar > effects > looper to mixer

mixer > rc-50

unless you're playing guitar/bass simultaneously, you could just have them on the same line



is the rc-50 stereo? if it is you could also end up going panned with some line to give more breadth.

in terms of in-depth rc-50 information, i'd consider looking around facebook (or other. gearsluts maybe?) for an rc-50 users group.

there used to be a community/site called looper's delight that has now migrated to facebook. a lot of knowledgeable people on there.

 

[cosmicevan]

there used to be a community/site called looper's delight that has now migrated to facebook. a lot of knowledgeable people on there.

I have found that group to be primarily a sounding board for watch my performance. Not that there is anything wrong with that, but it was a lot more discussion back in the day when it was an email list. I've asked a few questions there about people's setups (as I'm trying some new things out with my own setup) and most people will just post about their own setup instead of offering advice, but I suppose it is worth a shot. There are a few performers who regularly post in that group that are really talented...I've sat and watched live looping shows for an hour.

 

[steubig]

I have found that group to be primarily a sounding board for watch my performance. Not that there is anything wrong with that, but it was a lot more discussion back in the day when it was an email list. I've asked a few questions there about people's setups (as I'm trying some new things out with my own setup) and most people will just post about their own setup instead of offering advice, but I suppose it is worth a shot. There are a few performers who regularly post in that group that are really talented...I've sat and watched live looping shows for an hour.

i don't spend much time there, but it might be worth a shot seeing how people are using the rc-50.

i learned a lot from the old site and met some cool people. some are still there.

still, just monitoring it might also spark some ideas.

 

[DanielW]

Welcome Daniel. Can I make a suggestion? I don’t know your level of comfort and practice with looping or the other pedals you mention, but maybe start smaller? The Boss is a great pedal and will get you a long way but you do have to learn it. That and the ditto copy get you two loopers, and then choose one or two other pedals inbetween or before one or the other. In the effects loop of my amp at the moment, I have a Blooper, a H9Max, and a Ditto X2, all up on a table (with a pedal on the floor to turn the Blooper record on). Just those 3 things can keep my attention for hours and allow for endless variation. If you are new to all this, keep it simple so you can focus on the tools you have, and then build up from there.

OTOH, if you mastered the Octatrack before you sold it, feel free to make your setup as complicated as you want to start out.

I have no problem learning how to work with the RC-50, but it's new to me right now, got it this afternoon. The H9 is in the FX loop of my guitar amp (yes, wrong forum maybe but right now I'm trying out the looper with my Strat, everything can be applied to my bass as well ) running Blackhole, and between the guitar and the looper is the Meris Enzo, which really is one of those pedals that does keep you occupied for hours. I'm making some pretty decent soundscapes already.

And yes, the Octatrack as a looper is kind of tricky, and needs some very specific programming of a Behringer FCB1010 foot controller to work smoothly if you're playing a string instrument at the same time (it's all in the Octa manual). I used it for a live set back in 2019, combining several tracks of looped bass with prerecorded sounds – drones and voices – on the rest of the tracks.

 

[DanielW]

Ok, issue #1:
Input levels:

- Does the RC-50 have individual gains or volume levels for every input?

Yes it does.

 

[ugly_bassplayer]

Yes it does.

Ok. Step 2.

What are the exact signal chains for each input?

Example :

Bass---effect A-----effect B-----Rc50 input 1
Guitar etc....
Mic.....

You have 3 ins( from what I understand)

How do you plan to launch everything ???
Pick up bass, loop....hop over to guitar loop......Hop over to mic beatbox??

Or are 3 people going to be on each "loop".

Disclaimer, I have zero knowledge in regards to using the rc50.
Just answering your basic question of what can be patched together.
Remember the check out the effect loop you talked about, some of them only work at line level not instrument. Thus creating an impedance mismatch. (Unless all your pedals can work at line and instrument level....high Z and low Z impedance. )

@steubig gave you excellent resources in regards to using the looper. Check em out.

 

[DanielW]

Ok. Step 2.

What are the exact signal chains for each input?



You have 3 ins( from what I understand)

How do you plan to launch everything ???
Pick up bass, loop....hop over to guitar loop......Hop over to mic beatbox??

Or are 3 people going to be on each "loop".

Something like this:

Bass –> Microbass II with Retracer in its FX loop –> one input

Guitar –> Wha –> Enzo –> H9 –> other input

Mic: Shaker, maracas, other percussive instrument through a delay I don't have yet.

Me on all three, each in turn.

 

[ugly_bassplayer]

Something like this:

Bass –> Microbass II with Retracer in its FX loop –> one input

Guitar –> Wha –> Enzo –> H9 –> other input

Mic: Shaker, maracas, other percussive instrument through a delay I don't have yet.

Me on all three, each in turn.

Only issue I can see for now is:

Check if the delay pedal will accept mic level impedance.
How are you going to plug the mic into the pedal?
Xlr to 1/4 adapter ???
How will you turn off the mic once the loop is made si any sounds don't bleed into the mix??

I have no clue what the retracer is but check if the fx loop is line or instrument level....high or low Z impedance.

Guitar signal chain seems ok to me.
Check to hear if this signal path is noisy when the guitar volume is off.

I'm also assuming you can set individual gain levels for the L-R inputs of the rc50.
If so....you can set levels for all three signal chains in order to have an appropriate blend and balance to build up loops.

If any of the 3 signal paths are noisy they will bleed in the mix. Consider a kill switch at the end of each (just before the rc50) if the issue occurs.

 

[Bob_Ross]

if you already have a mixer, i'd think about ...[snip]...

oh, man, if he already has a mixer and a looper (or several) I'd think about having all his instruments running straight into the mixer's input channels, then having the mixer's Aux Send(s) feeding the input to the looper(s) ...and then bringing the looper output(s) back into the mixer via more regular input channel. That way any source can go to any looper -- individually or in combinations -- and any looper can go into any other looper. Or into itself.

 

[ugly_bassplayer]

oh, man, if he already has a mixer and a looper (or several) I'd think about having all his instruments running straight into the mixer's input channels, then having the mixer's Aux Send(s) feeding the input to the looper(s) ...and then bringing the looper output(s) back into the mixer via more regular input channel. That way any source can go to any looper -- individually or in combinations -- and any looper can go into any other looper. Or into itself.

Indeed, it would greatly simplify the patch of the looper set up and add multiple output choices. Not to mention easily adjusting the mix.

But this rises the issue ,does the L-R ins on the RC50 accept line level impedance frm the mixer ??

My 2 cents.

I’m sooooo not plugging any looper today.

 

[Spectrum]

Some day...zoia will be mine

but today...this will keep me confused
View attachment 3996470

I have one of those, mine has the alternate super pink paint job.

I find I get the most out of it when using an expression pedal. It's not quite as versatile as I expected it to be, but then again I didn't have any experience with granular stuff so what do I know?

I used it on this track, starting around 1:34.