[Bill Mecca]

This is an area to discuss the intricacies of being a solo performer, to discuss specific needs for this type of performing: equipment, setup, traveling, promotion, production and use of backing tracks.

It can cover use of other instruments a solo act might double on: EWI, guitar, keyboards, harp, percussion, vocals.

How to configure amps and PAs for this situation also has different considerations from those of a band. Likewise for mics, mixers, monitors, and speakers.

Another area of discussion would be the use of production, procuring, and playback of backing tracks, and the hardware and software used to play them back: laptop, smartphone, audio editor and so forth.

Yes a lot of this is discussed in other areas, but solo performers have to scale everything down, so now it is all in one place.

Enjoy!

 

[Smokey613]

Thanks Bill!!

 

[SAXISMYAXE]

 

[BrianMitchellBrody]

Excellent Mods! This is really sweet.

BB

 

[Smokey613]

My current setup:

QSC K10 with stand
e822S mic with stand
iPhone 3g (free gift from friend to use like an iPod)
IBM Thinkpad as iPhone backup.

 

[Pete Thomas]

I don't do any solo performing at the moment (I used to many years ago) butam currently doing some playing with a DJ, which almost feels like solo because it's kind of playing to backing tracks.

Except the DJ is not playing records or CDs but doing live sequencing with Ableton.

The point I'm getting to is I want to start using delay pedals and stuff, which is an area of solo performing I find fascinating. I don't mean a pedal just to add some echo, but a pedal that samples a bar and loops it it so you then play over the top (in my case way over the top).


Anyone doing this? I saw a Polish solo bass guitarist once using this kind of thjing, it was almost awesome.

 

[Bill Mecca]

Pete,

I remember seeing videos on Youtube of a guy over there doing just that, he would loop beats (he did with his mouth) and then add loop after loop of sax until he got it where he wanted and then would solo over it... gave me a headache just thinking about what it took for him to figure it out..lol I'll see if I bookmarked it. Also saw him with a rapper/beatboxer doing the same thing.

 

[BrianMitchellBrody]

I don't do any solo performing at the moment (I used to many years ago) butam currently doing some playing with a DJ, which almost feels like solo because it's kind of playing to backing tracks.

Except the DJ is not playing records or CDs but doing live sequencing with Ableton.

The point I'm getting to is I want to start using delay pedals and stuff, which is an area of solo performing I find fascinating. I don't mean a pedal just to add some echo, but a pedal that samples a bar and loops it it so you then play over the top (in my case way over the top).

Anyone doing this? I saw a Polish solo bass guitarist once using this kind of thjing, it was almost awesome.

I have been using a Vocal Processor, Boss Loop Station and Drum Sequencer for live performances for about a year and half after seeing Bob Reynolds video on you tube playing at Club 55 in NYC.

These are not my usual solo gigs which I will discuss at a different time but a set-up that I use when I play on-the-fly experimental improvisational music at clubs. Think Skerik Skerik, Ornette Coleman and John Zorn style.

B

 

[Bill Mecca]

Mr. Woodnote

 

[BrianMitchellBrody]

Mr. Woodnote

I was just about to say the description sounded like Woodnote. Very creative and really fun to watch!

 

[BrianMitchellBrody]

Mr. Woodnote

This video always reminds me of the 80/90's band, THE FIXX.

BB

 

[Bill Mecca]

I started a thread just about that.... with a couple others, one in which he is alone and you can watch the footwork.

 

[BrianMitchellBrody]

I started a thread just about that.... with a couple others, one in which he is alone and you can watch the footwork.

I too have these bookmarked in my you tube folder. I am constantly inspired by them. I mean why should guitar players get to have all the fun with efx? Check out Skerik Skerik too.

BB

 

[Bill Mecca]

I've seen bits and pieces of Skerik over the years, what I heard I respected but didn't really like. Seemed like there was never a pure or near pure sax tone in the mix, all effects and that, well bores me. I, We, work hard to get a tone we like, and to cover it all up with efx? seems a waste. Mr. Woodnote appears to use the efx and loops to create a backing track that he then plays over, sometimes with some effects, but not as much as on the underlying tracks... then again I could be completely wrong about Skerik... heck I've been wrong a lot in my life, and will be again. (though I have been right at times too..lol)

 

[SAXISMYAXE]

Those Dub FX and Mr. Woodnote collaborations are great. Check out all the other Youtube vids of them singularly and together. Good stuff.

Cheers for sharing.

 

[widetrack]

Bill:

This is going to be a really useful forum! Thanks for setting it up.

About the loop pedal Pete mentioned, When I started thinking about putting together a solo schtick, one of the first things I spent money on was a Boss RC-50. It's basically three loop pedals in one box and can be configured is several different ways.

One of the prime inspirations for doing this was this youtube:

This is a deep unit, and I did a bunch of stuff with it. But Unfortunately, the unit has so much potential, it was taking up all my attention, and since there was so incredibly much to do to get up to speed, I had to put the looper on the back burner. It still sits next to my EWI stand, and I will get to it soon.

But loopers, I think, are an important part of my solo intentions. They're one way to overcome the annoying limitation a horn player faces: you can't either play more than one note at a time or sing while playing a sax.

They're pricey, but if you can find one, I heartily recommend it.

So following a suggestion from Notes Norton, I started putting together my own backing tracks. He's right in that you get to know the song real well, and can say that you're still playing all the notes on a gig, even if some of them are recorded. My problem is that I can't find a way to build the tracks anywhere near as fast as Bob does. I'm still trying to do one in less than three full days.

 

[davidanthony411]

thankx for this thread. I am wanting to craft a solo show playing tenor sax/flute and need pro backing track...where can I find them?

 

[Tiberius]

Mr. Woodnote

I saw the sax player busking in Bath playing with a couple of rappers. Amazing stuff. I bought a couple of CD's which unfortunately just don't convey the fun and energy of the liver performance (do they ever?). This is amazing, both the singing and the 2 sax solo's...although it would be better without the effects at the end of the 2nd solo which make him sound like the chipmonks

To think this is all done live is awsome. I think he's a fine sax player anyway, but with the other things he adds into the show it just raises the whole game.

See his face on the high altissimo notes? I know it's black and white, but I'm sure I can see him go purple there.

 

[Wayne D]

Been performing for 10 years with bands, using their sound equipment. Want to start doing small solo gigs with my own equipment. Not looking to do large venues and not looking to put $400-500 into sound equipment. Any suggestions for something to handle one mike input, a couple of speakers for around $200? I can use laptop or iPod for track input.

 

[GHawk]

Maybe a used keyboard or guitar amp. Two speakers that sound just acceptable for under a couple hundred probably isn't realistic....maybe a boom box?