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hieronymous
Senior Member
Username: hieronymous

Post Number: 832
Registered: 1-2005
Posted on Tuesday, September 07, 2010 - 5:46 pm:   Edit Post

I recently went into the studio to do some recording with my friend who was visiting. Alembic gear was used, both in the studio and afterwards, so I thought I would post here.

sc in studio 1

In the picture is my '03 Custom Stanley Clarke Signature Standard 5-string (restrung EADGE and upgraded to Anniversary electronics), as well as my F-2B and SF-2. The SF-2 wasn't in the signal chain, though I did use it later in post-production.

I'll be posting soundclips and probably more pictures, so stay tuned!
tmoney61092
Senior Member
Username: tmoney61092

Post Number: 491
Registered: 9-2008
Posted on Tuesday, September 07, 2010 - 5:52 pm:   Edit Post

EADGE? never tried that before, how did that turn out?

~Taylor
hieronymous
Senior Member
Username: hieronymous

Post Number: 834
Registered: 1-2005
Posted on Tuesday, September 07, 2010 - 8:23 pm:   Edit Post

Oops! That should have been EADGC - should've taken the time to spell check!
tmoney61092
Senior Member
Username: tmoney61092

Post Number: 493
Registered: 9-2008
Posted on Tuesday, September 07, 2010 - 8:31 pm:   Edit Post

haha, i was like "really? gonna have to try that now." all is good though

~Taylor
hieronymous
Senior Member
Username: hieronymous

Post Number: 835
Registered: 1-2005
Posted on Wednesday, September 08, 2010 - 10:37 am:   Edit Post

OK, time for some soundclips.

This track was the second thing we recorded. The signal path is:

Stanley Clarke bass --> CAJ Tube Compressor --> Alembic F-2B --> Radial ProD2 DI box --> board

I was playing my Alembic, but didn't have the sound together by this point - I think I had the bridge pickup a little too high (I was recording in mono):

original bass track

Recently I finally figured out how to send signal out of the MBox (the ProTools interface I use to record) so that I can process signals with outboard gear after the fact. I use plug-ins sometimes, but I prefer the flexibility and fun of using my own (usually) analog stuff. So in this case I used the Alembic SF-2 Superfilter to shape and beef up the sound:

bass with SF-2

There's a noticeable difference through computer speakers but it will be much more impressive through headphones or good speakers.

Here they are with the drums:

original bass with band

SF-2 bass with band

I did something similar with my Rickenbacker, though in that case I wanted to bring out more mids and highs, which I will post later.
pauldo
Senior Member
Username: pauldo

Post Number: 496
Registered: 6-2006
Posted on Wednesday, September 08, 2010 - 4:35 pm:   Edit Post

Harry - thanks, I certainly appreciate that you often times post relevant and useful information (along with great riffs).

This is another fine example - - - - and another wake up call for my yearning for an SF-2.
hieronymous
Senior Member
Username: hieronymous

Post Number: 836
Registered: 1-2005
Posted on Wednesday, September 08, 2010 - 4:57 pm:   Edit Post

Thanks Paul! Yeah, the SF-2 is really quite amazing. You can have a track that sounds like it doesn't have enough treble, bass, whatever, but with the SF-2 you can often pull them out! I'll definitely put together the samples of my Rickenbacker at some point.

I should say something about the studio - it is Robot Envy in Berkeley, California. It's a small, independent studio, just perfect for what I wanted. Here's another shot:

sc in studio 2

You can see my Moog Taurus 3 bass pedals in this shot, though they don't appear in the track I posted.
gtrguy
Advanced Member
Username: gtrguy

Post Number: 304
Registered: 9-2004
Posted on Thursday, September 09, 2010 - 11:45 am:   Edit Post

I use an SF-2 with the F-1X as a direct box to record and it works great. You can always find a good sound if you have the time to tweak it a bit.

Dave
terryc
Senior Member
Username: terryc

Post Number: 1342
Registered: 11-2004
Posted on Thursday, September 09, 2010 - 3:05 pm:   Edit Post

I must have been a drummer in my past life because next to a great bass riff I just love the sound of a solid funky drum pattern.
Nice rhythmn..very funky..send more sound clips!!!!
pace
Senior Member
Username: pace

Post Number: 610
Registered: 4-2004
Posted on Thursday, September 09, 2010 - 6:16 pm:   Edit Post

How's the Taurus working for you Harry????
terryc
Senior Member
Username: terryc

Post Number: 1344
Registered: 11-2004
Posted on Friday, September 10, 2010 - 6:15 am:   Edit Post

Is it in 5/4..sounded very like the intro to 'Money'
hieronymous
Senior Member
Username: hieronymous

Post Number: 838
Registered: 1-2005
Posted on Sunday, September 12, 2010 - 4:40 pm:   Edit Post

Thanks guys. At first I didn't think that this track was going to really go anywhere. It was just kind of a funk jam we did to get warmed up. Here's the whole track, mistakes and all, nothing fixed:

first first robot envy

But putting it through the SF-2, it kind of came to life for me. I also overdubbed some Rhodes electric piano and did some more mastering EQ & reverb. Ah, now the track is beginning to take shape...

later first robot envy

As to the similarity to Pink Floyd's "Money," I never thought of that! Maybe because I'm basically playing pentatonic, plus playing with a pick...
alemberic
Member
Username: alemberic

Post Number: 100
Registered: 6-2006
Posted on Sunday, September 12, 2010 - 5:23 pm:   Edit Post

Hi Harry--
"Bump"...please check your gmail account when you get a moment. Thanks--

Eric
alemberic
Intermediate Member
Username: alemberic

Post Number: 101
Registered: 6-2006
Posted on Sunday, September 12, 2010 - 5:30 pm:   Edit Post

Sorry, guys, another bump--a shameless effort to make my 101st post. (I think this "promotes" me to another membership level?)

Thanks for your tolerance--

Eric

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