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Worship Bass Pedalboards

#1,562
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Current pedalboard setup: Pedaltrain Metro 20, ST-300 mini>Calt76 CB>Providence Anadime Bass Chorus>3Leaf Octabvre Mini>microThumpinator>Noble Tube Pre/DI>FOH
 
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#1,563
Does anyone have first hand experience with a Beat Buddy pedal in a live worship setting? Please give me your thoughts on sound quality, flexibility, general integration with a team.

I lead a younger, all-volunteer team in a small church doing an assortment of Jesus Culture, Aaron Shust, Elevation Worship, Chris Tomlin, and the like. We are a 5 piece (2 accoustic guitars, keys/pads, drums, and bass (me)) with 4 vocals. We found out a few weeks ago that our drummer is leaving to join the Navy at the end of the summer. Being a small church, there's not much talent to draw from. Historically the best prospects have come from youth group kids outgrowing the youth worship team, but currently there are no prospects there either. I'm at somewhat of a loss for what to do.
 
#1,564
Drums/drummers always seem to be the thing that throws a wrench in the works. Been that way for us for a long time. Our current drummer is great, but when summer hits, he's gone, as is a good portion of the rest of the team.
 
#1,565
I have done one entire worship set (6 songs) using the Beat Buddy as drums. It worked very well at the end of the day, although it took a lot of work during the week to pick the right BB songs to match what we were trying to do. I also practiced a lot that week to hit things at the right time (the Beat Buddy usually doesn't require that sort of attention but I picked a few songs where starts/stops were important). I was leading on guitar that week (I split my time between bass and guitar, and some guitar weeks I lead).

I think the sound is very good through a PA, it's just as good or better than the Clavinova drums that we use in the weeks where we don't have a drummer. (We have a good one, but his usual schedule is just every other week.)

I can answer more specific questions if you have them.
 
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#1,566
Adamixoye said:
I have done one entire worship set (6 songs) using the Beat Buddy as drums. It worked very well at the end of the day, although it took a lot of work during the week to pick the right BB songs to match what we were trying to do. I also practiced a lot that week to hit things at the right time (the Beat Buddy usually doesn't require that sort of attention but I picked a few songs where starts/stops were important). I was leading on guitar that week (I split my time between bass and guitar, and some guitar weeks I lead).

I think the sound is very good through a PA, it's just as good or better than the Clavinova drums that we use in the weeks where we don't have a drummer. (We have a good one, but his usual schedule is just every other week.)

I can answer more specific questions if you have them.
Click to expand...

Thanks!
I'm certainly not opposed to putting time in to learn how to use the thing, but once the initial learning curve is over how much time would be needed during the week with the Beatbuddy to a) prepare/practice a normal set list for a Sunday morning, b) setup new songs in the database.
 
#1,567
TMFoodBass said:
Thanks!
I'm certainly not opposed to putting time in to learn how to use the thing, but once the initial learning curve is over how much time would be needed during the week with the Beatbuddy to a) prepare/practice a normal set list for a Sunday morning, b) setup new songs in the database.
Click to expand...

It all depends on how exact you want/need to be with the drum loops you choose. There is an editor so that you can mix and match different parts---a chorus from this song, a verse from that song, a fill from over there. You can also do your own programming if you're so inclined. There is a simple editor in the BB software, and they also have packages like the "Elements" package that includes things like simple timekeeping hi-hat patterns, etc.

So I would say that once the learning curve is over, it's mostly about being able to search through the drum patterns and pick the ones that match your songs (mixing and matching as necessary). Over time you'll build up a database of songs, so that will make it easier. For me, when I was making a whole set from scratch, I put in at least a couple of hours during the week to get it to where I wanted to. And there are some limitations. You don't want songs with tempo or time signature changes, half measures, lots of starts and stops, etc.
 
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#1,569
TMFoodBass said:
Does anyone have first hand experience with a Beat Buddy pedal in a live worship setting? Please give me your thoughts on sound quality, flexibility, general integration with a team.

I lead a younger, all-volunteer team in a small church doing an assortment of Jesus Culture, Aaron Shust, Elevation Worship, Chris Tomlin, and the like. We are a 5 piece (2 accoustic guitars, keys/pads, drums, and bass (me)) with 4 vocals. We found out a few weeks ago that our drummer is leaving to join the Navy at the end of the summer. Being a small church, there's not much talent to draw from. Historically the best prospects have come from youth group kids outgrowing the youth worship team, but currently there are no prospects there either. I'm at somewhat of a loss for what to do.
Click to expand...
Start bringing up some youth kids to main service while your drummer is still around. He has the whole summer to train them up. Doesn't matter if they're still students!

We're a large church that loves having students lead with us. If they have the chops, let em rock!
 
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#1,570
So I'm ready thinking I'm going to split my signal and send an octave up to a guitar amp with chorus to try and fill out our sound a bit as we are down to the minimum of keyboard and sax, no guitars.

Split it before fir my rock bands to film in as rhythm for solos etcbut never done it clean.

We shall see how it goes!
 
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#1,575
LaklandLaksNADA said:
Start bringing up some youth kids to main service while your drummer is still around. He has the whole summer to train them up. Doesn't matter if they're still students!

We're a large church that loves having students lead with us. If they have the chops, let em rock!
Click to expand...
We don't have a youth service on sunday morning, so the youth are in service with us already. It's more that there are none of them showing interest in it.
 
#1,576
Adamixoye said:
It all depends on how exact you want/need to be with the drum loops you choose. There is an editor so that you can mix and match different parts---a chorus from this song, a verse from that song, a fill from over there. You can also do your own programming if you're so inclined. There is a simple editor in the BB software, and they also have packages like the "Elements" package that includes things like simple timekeeping hi-hat patterns, etc.

So I would say that once the learning curve is over, it's mostly about being able to search through the drum patterns and pick the ones that match your songs (mixing and matching as necessary). Over time you'll build up a database of songs, so that will make it easier. For me, when I was making a whole set from scratch, I put in at least a couple of hours during the week to get it to where I wanted to. And there are some limitations. You don't want songs with tempo or time signature changes, half measures, lots of starts and stops, etc.
Click to expand...
I appreciate the info. I'm thinking I might bring it up and see if the church is willing to purchase.
 

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