IceCreamMan

Thank you for replying. I am a huge Boss/Roland groupie, so I have no doubt about the WL20.

I am looking for something simpler and cheaper. I want less PSU's, plug-points and cables to think about.
I bought my first bug-style system for the price of two decent 6m guitar cables, four years ago. It was from a Chinese site, so I didn't have any high expectations and treated it as a novelty at first. Soon, I started using it problem-free at most of my gigs during that time (small to medium-sized venues/stages)

I was hoping that anyone here has had similar experiences with more accessible alternatives - now that I've dropped the transmitter one too many times.

Hi All. Im looking for recommendations on an affordable bug-style wireless system.

V8 Ja, no-one got time for that no more.

V8 it's good to play the electrics acoustically I reckon - focus more on what you are doing than how it sounds?

Indeed, there is also some of that going on, on my side. Yes, we get too caught up in sounding kwai instead of learning to play kwai.

V8 I struggle to find much positive to say.

Yes, there isn't much else positive to be said from load shedding. My post title was part tongue-in-cheek, part click-bait

I find that learning and practice-wise, I get more done as a result of load shedding. There isn't much else for me to do during that time, so I pick up an acoustic guitar and start working the basics. With less devices, gadgets and options at my disposal, I am forced into a more focused level of practice.

With a heightened awareness of resources that I'd otherwise take for granted (laptop battery life, light, etc) I also make more efficient use of what I do have at my disposal - which translates into a more effective use of my time.

How is load shedding affecting your practice / playing time?

NorioDS Thanks Norio!

Perhaps Admin can move the recording posts to a new thread - under a new name perhaps? I would like to expand on the topic, AND hear how other guys approach their process. There is so much to learn for all of us and there's no reason for two of us to pay for the same mistake / lesson learnt.

guidothepimmp I think we are over the original post. Feel free to chime in.

V8 That's probably where we differ a bit - I don't really have a style I default to - I'm as likely to play metal as blues as funk as electronica...where I think you tend to default a bit more to them tasty jazzy vibes?

I have some different stuff in the bag which I'm hoping to release. I've made a decision to not box myself, so I'm not ignoring the "non-jazzy" song ideas. There are some blues, rock and more commercial pop-ish, radio-friendly tunes in the medium-term pipeline.

But as far as my playing goes, yea I have a flavour.

V8 Is how I learn - wish I had more focus to sit and work through stuff, but I tend to bang my head till I have to RTFM (read the mucking fanual)

I turn to Youtube sooner lately. The time I'm prepared to spend figuring something out is becoming less and less... ?

V8 Staying on target with a initial idea in this approach, is super tricky (ok, darn-near impossible ?)

Yes, the many options at your disposal can detract from the original idea and progress on the project - and it takes discipline to stay the course once you start playing around with sounds, effects and other things. For this reason, I initially approach the DAW simply as a recording tool. I don't expect it to add any magic to my tracking / recording process. I record as clean and simple as possible - and then worry about tone, plugins, effects, etc in the editing phase (post-recording).

Having said that, playing around and experimenting is important too. That is how you get to explore your software and find out what it can offer.

Each tune is different, but the following is more or less the process for me.

Right now, there are at least 10 tunes in varied stages of completion that I'm working on. Some of them won't make it to publication and others are planned for release over the following six months. 95% of my tunes start out as chord progressions on an acoustic guitar with me humming the melody over it.

I then capture the chord progression and song structure on iReal Pro. This gives me a simple, limited but on-the-fly way to create a simple backing track that I can speed up, change the groove / style and even change the key. The song will usually remain in this format for up to a few months. Here is where I fine-tune the melody or lyrics, compare bpm's, perhaps mute the bass so I can write my own bass line, etc. All-in-all, in this stage I make the big-picture changes - with minimal technical effort.

By the time I open the DAW, I am already done composing. The chord progressions, the melody, lyrics, song structure or form, BPM, bass line - everything is already set.

I start my Garageband session by setting the BPM, and Key of the song. You want to get that right at the start.
Knowing my BPM and groove puts me in a position to pull up a preset drumming pattern. This does not have to be the perfect drums. I will have plenty of opportunity to improve on it later.

After this I lay down the chords using my 61-key midi controller or with my ipad using Logic Remote. I literally just lay down / sustain the chords. I'm not trying to comp or groove in any way. My piano skills are rather limited anyway.
[An awesome app that allows me, among other things to programme the chords on a strip and play it by simply pressing the aptly named strip. SO if chords are challenging or changing too fast, I use this.]

Next, I record the bass line using the Carbon 61 keyboard as well as the melody in a similar fashion. So now I have laid down all the essential tracks in midi [Bass, drums, chords/harmony, Melody] - which is essentially my click-track.

I do it all in midi first, because midi offers a lot more freedom to manipulate and edit your notes. Everything is cleaner. Another benefit is that I can print a score off the midi tracks. Now I am in a position to share the basic concept of the song accompanied by a score with collaborators or registration bodies, etc.

Now I'd start "tracking for real"....

@V8 how much did working in a DAW change the creative idea's you had?
The DAW does not really influence my ideas that much. I think it is because up till now my ideas are complete by the time I open a DAW session. Perhaps because I am largely still ignorant on all its capabilities. I keep it simple cos I have to.

modulator Yea, hold on to that Squier. One day, it may be worth something ?

Stoffeltoo

Well done brother. I found myself doing a slow clap while reading your post. Being prepared to bare your naked self is a requirement of being a "good guitarist" IMO - so now you know that you're doing at least one thing right ?

In response to your headline question: I think that the guitar has become an absolute essential element of my mental health strategy. It is both my escape and my reality check. And of course, I also chase those dreams and harbour some fantastical ambitions - but upon reflection, the journey has already paid off in a huge way. Reaching "the destination" will merely be a bonus.

RIP indeed Marie!

She was an yster! Back then iconic, unique woman pop stars were less common than today. Women stars of today are driving the narrative of independence, confidence, owning the space they occupy, etc. For women artists, there was no being vocal about the issues in the 90's. They were just too glad to make it in a male-dominated industry. She didn't have to either. She simply oozed the whole bad-ass "play by my own rules" vibe.

Thank you guys. I appreciate the comments!

V8 Thanks V8... Yes, it's an actual bassist, and No, it's not me. I'm not nearly that accomplished on the bass. I am lucky enough to work with an extremely experienced bass-player in the form of Normal Saul. He features on my next two releases as well. This guy is like a painter man. He just creates such lush lines all over the place - effortlessly.