Yeah seriously who like, what, one in a hundred theses is actually something that matters to anyone except the person who wrote it.

[quote=gaslight;18415958]Yeah seriously who like, what, one in a hundred theses is actually something that matters to anyone except the person who wrote it.[/quote]

I have never actually attempted to read any of my professors' theses, because they are all at a much higher level than I currently understand. I may give it a go, however, because I'm quite curious what some of these people have to say.

Supposedly, the key is to take a PDE problem, modify it slightly, and solve it. It's apparently the way 3/4 of the grad students get their MS or PHDs.

gonna be doing a lot more singing in my band soon. where do you start with that kind of shit?

Singing? Start by matching notes on your bass and holding them. Watch youtube videos for breathing techniques, and if you have the ability to record yourself, do it. You'll probably hate your voice, but it's the only way to get better.

Yeah I dunno. I've been singing backing for quite a while now, and I know proper breathing techniques. But hell, they don't get used live when you're throwing yourself around, struggling for breath with a dry mouth and a bass pressing down on your stomach. I don't really have a way to record either. Well, I do, but I'm not singing at full volume when there's people in the house. Or when there are people in next door - I live in a semi. I need to though, cuz it's gonna be important to understand my boundaries for writing/performing/recording anything if I want it to sound decent. I'm basically becoming a co-frontman, so it's all breaking new ground for me :/

Circle Takes The Square are pretty much amazing too, if I've never mentioned it :p

i usually practice singing in the park since i live with and above people too *shrug* not quite comfortable enough to belt with people home

[quote=fatbandit;18416715]Yeah I dunno. I've been singing backing for quite a while now, and I know proper breathing techniques. But hell, they don't get used live when you're throwing yourself around, struggling for breath with a dry mouth and a bass pressing down on your stomach. I don't really have a way to record either. Well, I do, but I'm not singing at full volume when there's people in the house. Or when there are people in next door - I live in a semi. I need to though, cuz it's gonna be important to understand my boundaries for writing/performing/recording anything if I want it to sound decent. I'm basically becoming a co-frontman, so it's all breaking new ground for me :/[/quote]

You get used to it, just listen for yourself in the monitors and ask the soundguys to make some adjustments to properly hear your vocals. You sound like absolute shit when you can't hear yourself. I'm completely ashamed of myself in a few recordings.

i listened to a song i recorded singing from 3 years ago and it actually upset me

I wear earplugs at all rehearsals and shows. Due to the occlusal effect, all I can hear when I'm singing is me, in my head. I'm used to it now. But it means monitors are kind of pointless haha. I think I'll be ashamed of myself in most recordings :p

If you want to practise singing a keyboard is the easiest way to do it because it has the widest pitch range and its intonation is guaranteed.

Practise matching notes, and singing scales.

Major: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 with piano a few times, then 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 without piano a few times, add the piano back in and see if you've deviated from the pitch.

OTher good exercises are like, anything you'd do practising scales on bass: 1 2 1 3 1 4 1 5 1 6 1 7 1 8 or 1 2 3 2 3 4 3 4 5 4 5 6 5 6 7 6 7 8 and whatnot.

Practise with solfege, you may as well.

When you first sit down on the next days, try singing your scale up from a starting note a few times and then bring in the piano accompaniment - you'll see how you're doing straight off the bat.

Also, try playing three or four note chords as blocks in one hand, and then listen for the first/third/fifth/seventh whatever and try to pick that note with your ears and voice. That's a tough one but a good one for ear training, I suppose that's getting a little off the path but what's good for singing is good for ear training and vice versa if you practise smart.

And as with any instrument, recording yourself is the best way to monitor your progress.

I absolutely hate singing for the record, I have to do it for a sight singing course :(.

Yeah, I practice scales all day at work, as geeky as that is haha. I find harmonies difficult to pick out unless they're really obvious though, and really hard to remember.

Hoping to do more screamed/shouted vocals though too, I'm feeling pretty up for that.

[quote=fatbandit;18416785]I wear earplugs at all rehearsals and shows. Due to the occlusal effect, all I can hear when I'm singing is me, in my head. I'm used to it now. But it means monitors are kind of pointless haha. I think I'll be ashamed of myself in most recordings :p[/quote]

IIRC, the notes you hear in your head are actually a bit sharper than what is projected into the mic. I could be totally mistaken. I tried the earplug thing once, but didnt like it because I couldn't monitor my own vocal levels in my head - I rely on the monitors to see how close I need to be to the mic.

Onstage mix and levels are never the same as front of house mix ever so I'm not too bothered about that. But if things are coming out at the wrong pitch, then that's pretty bad. I don't really have a way round that, seeing as I don't want to not use my plugs :p

[quote=fatbandit;18417567]Onstage mix and levels are never the same as front of house mix ever so I'm not too bothered about that. But if things are coming out at the wrong pitch, then that's pretty bad. I don't really have a way round that, seeing as I don't want to not use my plugs :p[/quote]

I meant more along the lines of staying at a consistent volume than really worrying about how well my levels translated. When rocking out with an instrument, it takes some getting used to judging distances from the mic.

It's like watching bands where the singer goes to sing loudly and pulls the mic way too far away so that you can't hear anything. Don't do that.

Haha, I tend to sing with my eyes closed. It's a really bad habit because sometimes I open them and realise I'm not even in front of the microphone anymore :(

So I recorded four 'songs' as a joke today - they are absolutely terrible and they're hilarious. they're all one-takes.

One is just massive fuck-me-sideways guitar shred pile of shit that makes no sense - I literally just ran my hands everywhere as fast as I could and drenched everything in delay and flanger. Major laughs ensued when I hit the wah and distortion as well. After all that noise I did the same on my bass. after considering calling the thing [I]Dragonforce Audition [/I]I decided [I]Magnum Opus[/I] was a better title.

The second 'song' featured guitar, bass, drums and vocals - all total improv, all playing different things and all played as badly as possible. The best, the best the best. I called it [I]I love what you've done with the place[/I].

the third and fourth were both 'played' on a piece of shit classical acoustic and they also feature 'singing'. At one point in one I broke into opera as well. called one... I actually forget what one is called, that's how good it is. And the other one is called [I]Sweet Prophet Isaiah[/I].

so my question is - how do I convince someone to press thousands of copies of this for free and then send it everywhere as a demo under the name [I]Lord of the Strings - Instant Classic Hits[/I]?

[quote=FlamingCouch;18418498]So I recorded four 'songs' as a joke today - they are absolutely terrible and they're hilarious. they're all one-takes.

One is just massive fuck-me-sideways guitar shred pile of shit that makes no sense - I literally just ran my hands everywhere as fast as I could and drenched everything in delay and flanger. Major laughs ensued when I hit the wah and distortion as well. After all that noise I did the same on my bass. after considering calling the thing [I]Dragonforce Audition [/I]I decided [I]Magnum Opus[/I] was a better title.

The second 'song' featured guitar, bass, drums and vocals - all total improv, all playing different things and all played as badly as possible. The best, the best the best. I called it [I]I love what you've done with the place[/I].

the third and fourth were both 'played' on a piece of shit classical acoustic and they also feature 'singing'. At one point in one I broke into opera as well. called one... I actually forget what one is called, that's how good it is. And the other one is called [I]Sweet Prophet Isaiah[/I].

so my question is - how do I convince someone to press thousands of copies of this for free and then send it everywhere as a demo under the name [I]Lord of the Strings - Instant Classic Hits[/I]?[/quote]

You pay to have it pressed and then pay an avante garde promoter to mail it out. You also pay for postage.

no No no, Joe. you missed the part where I said "free".

This is the worst shit I could ever make, ever. Although I do genuinely like one guitar part of I love what you've done with the place. I actually came to town so I can play this to one of my best friends and make him hate me.

I was basically expecting some silly responses about tricking some millionaire or something. I don't know, I'm retarded.

[quote=FlamingCouch;18418509]no No no, Joe. you missed the part where I said "free".

This is the worst shit I could ever make, ever. Although I do genuinely like one guitar part of I love what you've done with the place. I actually came to town so I can play this to one of my best friends and make him hate me.

I was basically expecting some silly responses about tricking some millionaire or something. I don't know, [u][b]I'm retarded[/b][/u].[/quote]

Yes, quite.

But you could always just claim it's an avante garde side project from some member of an already established band.

"This band was formed in late 2010 by the lead singer of Five Finger Death Punch when he realized that people liked him better when he wasn't singing, so he hopped on the bass. These demo recordings are a must-have for any true 5FDP fan."

I just ordered one of these:
[url]http://www.generalguitargadgets.com/component/virtuemart/?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage-ask.tpl&product_id=24&category_id=7[/url]

Because I really want a grindy tone similar to:
[url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRXDoQiirPI[/url]

[QUOTE=FunkMetalBass;18418527]Yes, quite.[/QUOTE]

:)

re: the 5FDP thing (what the hell kind of band name is that anyway), I was thinking of doing that, but I can't be bothered to actually pay monies for this.

might just burn a bunch of CDs and wrap them in newspaper then send them to radio stations with CAUTION: BOMB INSIDE written on them in red permanent marker or something.

hey I start a night job tomorrow, I need to have one last burst of silly.

[quote=FlamingCouch;18418532]:)

re: the 5FDP thing (what the hell kind of band name is that anyway), I was thinking of doing that, but I can't be bothered to actually pay monies for this.

might just burn a bunch of CDs and wrap them in newspaper then send them to radio stations with CAUTION: BOMB INSIDE written on them in red permanent marker or something.

hey I start a night job tomorrow, I need to have one last burst of silly.[/quote]

Have you heard 5FDP? They're fucking terrible. I feel like that's what they do to my balls every time they play on the radio.

And I might refrain from writing "bomb" specifically. Not sure what Canada's like, but the radio stations here would certainly take legal action and consider it a bomb threat.

What job do you start tomorrow?

I don't listen to the radio, apart from CBC radio. Actual music radio here is the shits. So I've definitely never heard those guys.

and yeah, that's the whole point of doing the bomb inside thing. as a horrible joke. I did that once in school actually and the principal was just coming out of the office... he told me "it's a good thing I know you, Matt, because you'd be in a lot of trouble if it wasn't you."

so always keep your eye out for the weird but easygoing dude, he probably has a bomb in his backpack.

I'm just starting at a gas station - it's nothing special, just extra coins to get the whole out of debt plan moving along. My regular day job has stalled out on overtime and I told the boss I needed to get a night job because I just can't keep afloat. I actually replaced a battery in my truck with stock from the shop here and still haven't been able to pay it back, because I can never get ahead after paying the bills. So needless to say he understands.

Nonetheless, a job is a job I suppose.

coffee shop girl has a boyfriend. need plan to eliminate him.

Lead a trail of chocolate eggs that leads right off a cliff. Quite simple.

[quote=fatbandit;18419343]coffee shop girl has a boyfriend. need plan to eliminate him.[/quote]

Clearly he's with her for the coffee discounts. If she is fired for "accidentally" putting decaf into all of the regular brews, your problems will be solved.

After our show last night we got approached by someone claiming to be a scout. True or not, I don't know. He didn't have any way of proving it was true, and he was very drunk. If it turns into anything, that's pretty cool, if not, I will be entirely unsurprised.

lol

I made a modification to my pedalboard, and now I can attach a mic stand as well. This will make life so much easier for setup at gigs.

Also, I really want one of these:
[url]http://www.tc-helicon.com/products/voicetone-d1/[/url]

and secretly, one of these:
[url]http://www.tc-helicon.com/products/voicetone-c1/[/url]

voice correction pedal - i like your style.

[quote=fatbandit;18423505]voice correction pedal - i like your style.[/quote]

Less for the pitch correction, and more for the auto-tune like effect. Despite it's overuse in most pop, I feel like running it with some delay and phaser/chorus would have some really cool sounds.

Autotune is fucking awesome when it's being used as an effect and not to cover up an inability to sing.

Kanye West - Runaway [url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6CJQ_hnm24[/url]

Bon Iver - Woods [url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZYVJlhnqxQ[/url]

[quote=BenJammin;18424981]Autotune is fucking awesome when it's being used as an effect and not to cover up an inability to sing.

Kanye West - Runaway [url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6CJQ_hnm24[/url]

Bon Iver - Woods [url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZYVJlhnqxQ[/url][/quote]

I've never been a big Kanye fan, but his new album is pretty damn amazing.

That Bon Iver song was awesome. Pure.Fucking.Awesomeness.

We played the biggest show we've played yet last night. It was pretty awesome. I don't know exact numbers, but it must've been about 150 people. Perhaps we'll put some video up soon.

Only 150? Step it up.

Biggest crowd I've ever played for was somewhere near 1000.

It was also in my high school jazz band, so I don't know if that counts.

[QUOTE=FunkMetalBass;18425544]Only 150? Step it up.

Biggest crowd I've ever played for was somewhere near 1000.

It was also in my high school jazz band, so I don't know if that counts.[/QUOTE]

Kind of, but not really. As far as performing, sure, it counts. But it was a school function, so it's not like you actually brought out 1000 people to a show.

Our shows keep getting bigger, we're getting reviewed online, we're being played on podcasts and local radio station... things are just getting better and better for us.

just ordered a pair of yamaha HS50s, and currently building two bass traps and two mid range panels. bout to get on some next level shit pretty soon.

[img]http://i.imgur.com/vLShP.jpg[/img]

Holy shit. Awesome.

If that's true... I love my country.

[quote=FunkMetalBass;18425951][IMG]http://i.imgur.com/vLShP.jpg[/IMG]

Holy shit. Awesome.[/quote]
I got that at work like two months ago, pure fucking genius. That guy deserves it out pure balltastic-ness. He has some serious gonads.


Ben: I love that song on For Emma, Forever ago, I think it's Re: Stacks or Blinded sided where there's no tune until the end where he layers a million different vocal lines then tunes like one line to do the Cher effect. Pure beauty.


Danny: I will pay you to make me two decent bass traps and ship them to me. And also, are those the NS10 remakes or the really small book shelf ones?