Bass Players: Direct Box vs. Microphone

Bass Players: Direct Box vs. Microphone

Music production is evolving at lightning speed, and, as a bassist, I ask myself all the time if technology is helping or compromising me as a musician. When I first started professionally in the mid 80’s, records, like Racer X’s Street Lethal, were still being released on vinyl. Shortly thereafter, CD's were the norm; then MP3's and now streaming. Music technology has changed just as much as music itself has and although I’ve kept some of my gear from the early days, I always try to stay informed on the latest technology to see how it can enhance my skills and sound as a musician.

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Throwback Thursday: Big Sir/Digital Gardens Bass Gear Breakdown Part 2

Throwback Thursday: Big Sir/Digital Gardens Bass Gear Breakdown Part 2

Having a website of your own has it's perks, being able to write about the pedals and effects I have used on any given record is one of them! Digital Gardens by Big Sir is essentially a harder rocking re-work of our album Before Gardens After Gardens. This record's distorted bass is the music's driving force and I want to share what I used to get the bass tones!

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Monday morning session with the B'z

Monday morning session with the B'z

Since 2001, I have been aware of the Japanese band the B'z. I auditioned for their live band for their 2001-2002 Japan/Asia tour, not knowing much about them except for the few songs I had to learn for the audition. My wife Anne, being Japanese and having worked in the Japanese music business, described to me that the B'z were the biggest rock band in Japan!

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Interview: Tim Lefebvre Going Track by Track on David Bowie's Blackstar

Interview: Tim Lefebvre Going Track by Track on David Bowie's Blackstar

In part two of the Pedals And Effects interview with Tim Lefebvre, Tim goes through the tracks on David Bowie's Blackstar record, telling us each bass line's origins, basses played, effects used and so much more.

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Interview: Tim Lefebvre on David Bowie's Black Star

Interview: Tim Lefebvre on David Bowie's Black Star

Pedals And Effects has had the great Tim Lefebvre on before, but I really wanted to bring Tim on again so we could discuss his participation on David Bowie's last studio album, Blackstar. Set to be one of the best records to come out in 2016, Tim was gracious enough to join us once again to shed light on the recording process and more!

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