Any Musicians Here?

Thanks Quady, some good stuff there.

Ah yeah, I forgot about Reaper - that's a great one too. There's loads really - you'll need to google a bit and check reviews for cost vs functionality etc.

Hardware synths - there's not that much to faff with really - everything is done on the synth itself, and then it's just a TS lead out to an interface which interacts with your DAW.

However, if you start using multiple hardware synths together, give us a shout, as you'll need to sync the clocks between them all to get them all in perfect time. Relatively easy theory, just need to know depending on the synth model.

Interesting videos - you sound better than I thought you would and it was interesting seeing the various characters that make up the soap opera of your love life

For the audio interface, if I want to connect a guitar, piano and synth do I need more than a 2in, 2 out - it seems obvious that it would be, but having never seen one...

Also, another silly question - could I attach a korg ms20 mini to my guitar practice amp (I know bass's aren't recommended for instance) as an alternative when not wanting to have the whole setup in action? I've never used a synth before.

ooooh, that looks fancy and I am starting to see that my initial idea of a small box on my desk was very naïve.

Anyone built an amp before? Just ordered a kit for my Christmas boredom project, looking forward to fucking about with high voltage valves

Hoping to get a real gritty tone for when I slowly pick out 3 Blind Mice

Cheers! Yes there is a bit of shit isn't there! None of it is really rocket science though. 3 of us have synths but I only use mine in intros and the odd bit here and there. The main bulk of craziness is probably the guitarist's kit - he's got ableton running on the laptop, and he has synth patches on top of some of his guitar sounds, so it takes a bit of kit to do that.

You just get used to new kit arriving really!

Yes, we've got another gig booked for end of February in a pub in Glossop. After that, we'd like to maybe do a few more local ones and then see if we can get a place in Manchester. Be a laugh if anything else

Wasn't all easy! Took over 3 hours to set it up! We got lucky with the mix though. The soundcheck was OK, but when it started filling up, it was great as the people helped absorb the noise.

Cheers, that's a nice compliment.

Have to say though, the main reason is that all 4 of us know exactly what sound we want and it just makes making new stuff so much fucking easier!

They’re good amps, not game changing but fine for general mucking about. I’d recommend the fender headphone amp thing for practice before anything else, decent sounds and flexible for under a ton.

I got a bit drunk and spent 500 quid on pedals this Christmas

I'm going to add to this - if it's for home practice I do recommend the Waza Airs highly. They have a flexibility and a convenience factor that the 'just plug headphones in your amp' crowd don't get.

Mine live in a case and I can just grab that for whatever room I'm in, no leads, no power supplies, just the phones and the dongle. You can program patches with your phone but I generally just have a couple set up that are used like presets. You can also crucially stream music, backing tracks, YouTube tutorials and the like and mix to taste.

I previously used a Fender Mustang GT40 which will have similar modelling to the Fender headphone thing mentioned above. Mustang stuff is OK, Waza is the Cadillac of that realm but is reflected in the price several times over so budget is a factor. I don't think the Fender one will allow you to stream which takes points away as a practice tool, but is *significantly* cheaper.

If you’ve already got good headphones the fender makes more sense imo, unless wireless is really important to you.

In terms of bedroom/practice amps I’ve been happy with my Yamaha thr30, sounds good and doesn’t look “like an amp” which makes it a touch more wife friendly

Been resisting the temptation to buy a viola for the last few months.

It’s going to happen, isn’t it?

The excuse will be to help with the stepdaughter’s cello practice.

The Fender Mustang Micro headphone amp does allow you to stream to it fwiw. I'm sure the Waza Air are amazing, but the Fender one does 95% of the same thing for 1/4 the price.

Horses for courses really and it is based mainly on what you are willing to spend. I wouldn't say that Mustang modelling approaches that percentage of comparable quality and I have owned a current gen Mustang. I do think that the Boss modelling is comparatively more inspiring. You're also getting the headphones whereas as I understand the Fender is just a dongle. Those headphones are very good, comparable sound quality and better build quality than my hi-fi phones.

I will however say that the Wazas are realistically overpriced, I've definitely had my money's worth though. I reckon they're worth about £250 objectively, they're around £320 now, I paid the original asking price on release which was a fair bit higher than that, and I did think twice.

In any case, the Katana II will be a good choice of amp.

Anyway, to try and reverse the impression of me being a cork sniffer, have put my Xmas cash towards a bass and it's a Squier, CV 70s Jazz. Just because I need one for recording. Hoping it's decent. I had the 60s one and flipped it, the fret board wood was a bit of a letdown on that. Gone for the safe option of maple this time.