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Music reviews, editorials, gear reviews for the guitarist/bass player, journal entries, advice, funny crazy stuff and more. Updated roughly 2-3 times a week.
Bazooka-Joe's Incoherent Ramblings

Wednesday, December 19, 2007

Pod X3 Live: Settings for Acoustics w/UST Pickups (live to a PA)

Setup
Before I started I made sure my onboard EQ for the Taylor guitar was flat and the EQ-ing on the channel was flat as well. I strung a very long quarter inch instrument cable from the stage to the the midpoint of the sanctuary (middle/center of a big room) to the Pod X3 Live unit where I was sitting. I then strung a very long XLR cable from the Pod X3 Live unit to the snake in the back of the room and listened to the FOH mains. I killed the monitors and I made sure I could not hear the acoustic properties of the guitar over the mains. I then had my buddy stand on stage and play different types of music, fingerstyle, arpeggios with a pick, light strumming, heavy strumming, palm mutes, etc while I tweaked settings on the Pod from where I sat. I set the Pod Master Volume to maximum and tweaked tone volumes as appropriate. "Live Out Level" was set to "Line" not AMP and "Ground Lift" was set to GND.

Preset:
And here's what I came up with. Hope this helps somebody else out there!

AMP: Line 6 Super Clean
CAB: 4x12 '01 Treadplate
MIC: '67 Condensor
ROOM: 30%

--Amp EQ--
BASS: 80%
MID: 31%
TREBLE: 60%
PRES: 9%
DRIVE: 16%
VOL: 100%

STOMP: n/a

MOD: Sine Chorus (off by default)
--Chorus Settings--
SPEED: 0.61Hz
TAP: Off
TEMPO: 150bpm
MIX: 41%
PRE Config

DELAY: Stereo Delay (off by default)
--Delay Settings--
TIME: 400ms
TAP: Off
TEMPO: 150bpm
MIX: 30%
L-FDBK: 38%
R-FDBK: 50%
OFFSET: 67%
POST Config

REVERB: Dark Hall (on by default)
--Reverb Settings--
PREDLY: 50%
DECAY: 50%
TONE: 50%
MIX: 29%

Noise Gate: Off/unconfigured

COMPRESSOR: on by default
--Compressor Settings--
THRESH: -9db
GAIN: 3db

EQ: on by default
--EQ Settings--
LO GN: Flat @ 260Hz
LM GN: -3.4db @ 310Hz
HM GN: +1.8db @ 1.8kHz
HI GN: -1.0db @ 2.90kHz


Regards!

:Bazooka-Joe

Bazooka-Joe made it so at 4:40 PM | 2 class clowns in the back of the class were bored from throwing pencils in the ceiling and paused long enough to comment on this post

Wednesday, September 27, 2006

Age Before Beauty

My workplace requires a minimum of four hours of “diversity training” annually. Four hours of employer-enforced homage paying to the liberal gods of whining, complaining, political correctness, anti-family propaganda, gay agendas, and brainwashing. If their goal was for me to wake up the next morning to nightmares of losing my job to a completely unqualified individual in the name of affirmative action then congratulations boss, you’ve officially scared me into submission. Anyway, without going too far down that path, my point is that some of this training is a little easier to stomach than others. The “Generations At Work” training, for example, that I took last year was full of sorts of stereotyping and broad statements but instead of being specific to gender, race, handicap, or sexual preference, it specifically targeted ages, agism, and the fact that my workplace is primarily composed of baby boomers and the new employees coming in are 30 years younger than them. The “teacher” (term used loosely) spent most of the time speaking directly to said boomers and trying to explain why Gen-Xers, and Gen-Nexters act, talk, socialize, and think the way they do.

Wikipedia defines Generation X as anyone born between 1969 and 1988. The class curriculum however defined Generation X as 1965 to 1980 and by its definition I was/am a member of Generation X, though I’m likely equally influenced by the pop culture and news-worthy happenings of GeneratioNext as well (1981-2000). Wikipedia I think really does a better breakdown of the generational ranges, as they display some significant overlap between them. Technically, according to Wiki, I’m part of the “MTV Generation,” a subset of generation X born between 1975 and 1985. I find that to be depressing and ultimately offensive, but whatever. Instead of Generation Next, Wiki uses the term Generation Y to describe those born between 1977 and 2003. So you see, technically, being born in 1979, I’m a member of all three (and yet, somehow, none of them). It’s like those tests you take that are so prominent on Myspace that tell you if you’re left-brained or right-brained, introverted or extroverted, more like Screech, Zach or Slater. The analytical side of my brain that likes the breakfast cereal aisle in the grocery store really loves that kind of stuff (but the kid in me craves the frosting).

So today’s blog is about age and pop culture. I satisfactorily and mathematically have proven to myself, this very day, that I am most decidedly, getting old. Even now as I write this, I am celebrating my last few precious hours as a 26 year old. It is my understanding, and my belief that the de facto standardized definition for the term “early twenties” is the age range betwixt 21 through 23. The age of 20 frankly doesn’t belong to “early twenties”, because if you’re 20 years old, you’re technically not “in your twenties”. You’re just 20. I think that’s fair, and most of you I’m sure you would agree. So if we look at “the twenties” as the ages of 21 to 29, it’s easy to compartmentalize them into subcategories. “Mid twenties” obviously picks up at 24 and ends at 26. Which means tomorrow I’m officially in my “late twenties”. At 26 I was closer to 30 than 20, and that came with its own mental baggage and emotional abuse. But now, being officially late twenties, well I might as well be 30. And while 30 in and of itself doesn’t feel old, it sure sounds old.

But it’s more than just a numbers game. It’s crossed over to the right side of my brain as well. My appreciation for art, which really begins and ends with music, has matured to the ranks of “fuddy-duddy” I think too. Or the darned kids these days with their baggyish pants and skating boards would have me believing as much (I squeal aloud as I reposition my teeth and feebly shake my cane in the air). As the archetypes of every generation long before have stated of their successors, I too call out in the name of all irritable, belligerent adults with eyes squinting and covering my ears in pale platitudes of antipathy and aversion; and with ancestry behind me backing my every syllable from which I once defended myself; I now stand and declare:

What is up with music these days?!?!?!
(and with that one single statement I drive the final nail in the proverbial coffin that is my epic quest from hip mid-twenties to prehistoric late-twenties)

Prepare yourself for an earful of opinionated goodness now. I think the main reason I have no desire to associate myself with the title “Generation X”, other than the fact that term is associated with latchkey kids glued to their video game consoles with no ambition or ability/desire to integrate with the ‘real world’…is their music. Let’s face it, 80’s music with a few pleasant pockets of exception, doesn’t withstand the test of time (pardon the cliché). Talking Heads, Flock of Seagulls, Depeche Mode, Toto, Quiet Riot, Bangles, The Knack, Def Leppard, Duran Duran, even Tears for Fears (RIP) simply don’t do anything for…well, for anybody really. Whether it’s “new wave” music, synthpop, 80’s techno, or butt rock it’s rarely ever addressed in conversation as anything but a comical reference to a pop culture time that had seen its hay day and nobody has any desire to see that return. The keytar never had a chance.

But the music of my youth, the music my generation listened to on the radio as teenagers from 1994 to 2000, at least to my mind, is different. While certainly out of style today, it doesn’t have that same embarrassing quality that the Breakfast Club music icons are packaged with. Weezer, Pearl Jam, Everclear, Bush, Radiohead, even the grunge scene is all still listenable music in my own humble opinion. Even baby boomers, a group which I am surrounded by presently, admits the music of the 90’s as a whole is much better than what came out in the 80’s.

And while today’s music doesn’t have that same embarrassing quality that music from the 80’s has, it just doesn’t feel on the same level as the average album release in the late to mid 90’s either. Maybe it’s just me. Maybe I’m too old now and the music is no longer written for my generation, hence it doesn’t seem as appealing to me as the music that was written for my generation. It really comes down to marketing and the fact that it’s kids between the ages of 13 and 19 that are targeted by the record labels for the most part. I think it’s mostly that age group that defines the music scene any given year because they’re the targeted consumers. I’m not saying anything here that isn’t common knowledge and hasn’t already been stated ad nauseum by others in the blogosphere. But the average cost per byte for disk space these days has gone down so low that I don’t even mind reiterating it one more time for the world to read.

So there it is folks. There’s my plea for my generation and its music when compared to its predecessor and its successor. And justification to myself for why my iPod is half-filled with music that came out during the 6 years that I was the age of the targeted music consumer market.

Coincidentally I’ve heard the book “The Greatest Generation” by Tom Brokaw is a pretty good read about the generation that fought in WWII and experienced the great depression (my grandparents’ generation). I’m considering picking it up and reading, in spite of the fact it was written by Tom Brokaw. If anyone’s read it, I’d love a review on it. So I leave you with these final thoughts. Remember me, as I experience yet another birthday and leave the ranks of the mid-twenties. If you’re 15 and reading this…laugh now you poor wretch. Laugh while you still can. Laugh till it hurts and then realize that some day you’ll need a diaper change from laughing that hard. And yes, I’ll get there before you do but I’ll be done with it before you are too. And to my loyal readership, I’m signing off for the last time as a 26 year old. There’s a slice of sugar free chocolate cake and a scoop of low fat vanilla ice cream with my name on it.

Goosfraba.

:Bazooka-Joe

Bazooka-Joe made it so at 4:12 PM | 7 class clowns in the back of the class were bored from throwing pencils in the ceiling and paused long enough to comment on this post

Monday, August 07, 2006

Bazooka-Joe’s Contribution to the Comeback Cliche

Hello my loyal blog readership and welcome back to Bazooka-Joe’s Incoherent Ramblings. I’ve been on the blogging DL for some time now, busy with the usual distractions, commitments and video game addictions. If you don’t mind though, I’d like to forego the obligatory “my dog ate it” and get right to the meat of this ere blog. Bazooka-Joe is leaner, meaner, and more regular than ever before (Weight Watchers worked for me). 56 pounds people! That’s right, I’ve lost as much weight as an aquatic butterdeer I’m happy to enunciate. So in celebration of an overly predictable return from hiatus, and in honor of my usual list-based, too-lazy-to-type-paragraphs-for-an-entire-blog form…my first blog back from the depths is….

Top 10 Greatest Comebacks of All Time!

#10 – The McRib Sandwich
Hi everyone. My name is Bazooka-Joe, and I’m a McRib addict. I can’t talk too much about this one or for too long or I’ll go into remission in a blinding blaze of glory ruin my truck’s transmission getting to the nearest McDiabetes. Needless to say this is not on the approved short list of cabbage-family foods from WW, but if my memory serves me right, it’s pretty much the sole rationale a 26 year old would need for being 5’7” and 235 lbs. It’s made a few comebacks in the 90’s and my understanding is that its number was permanently retired, but not before one fleeting moment of stardom in the highly acclaimed McRib Farewell Tour.

#9 – The 1972 Steelers vs. the Raiders
I of course have never actually witnessed this amazing display of footballish heroics the likes of which the world has never seen since. But my understanding of the replays is that it goes something like this: Bradshaw to Francos for a 60 yard TD with 5 seconds on the clock. Often referred to as the “Immaculate Reception”.
(Honorable mention here goes to the 1974 Dolphins vs. Raiders: the Snake to Clarence Davis with 26 seconds left)

#8 – John Travolta’s Return to Film in “Pulp Fiction”
While just about the furthest thing from “family friendly” we can’t really deny that ol’ Johnny really outdid himself with his portrayal of Vincent Vega in the 1994 Quentin Tarantino film about the mob, boxing and bloodshed. Love it or hate it, it’s viewed by most of the public as a masterpiece and definitely put Travolta’s game back on the scene.

#7 – Lee Iacocca
Many squawk about Iacoca receiving billions of Federal dollars to, basically start the US automobile manufacturing industry in the 70’s especially considering his stance on “the government should not be a sugar daddy for incompetent and lazy people who cannot support themselves”. A bit harsh perhaps, but I can’t help but smile to that viewpoint. What people often fail to realize though is that those funds were loaned to Chrysler and the thousands of production line workers were saved. Here’s a quote:
“Chrysler was on the ropes in those days thanks to competition from Ford, GM and especially imports. They were within days of padlocking the place and turning thousands of workers out on the street. Under Iacocca’s leadership, and with the help of those private sector loans, Chrysler made one of the greatest comebacks of all time.” They paid off their loans in full, interest and principle and before they were due.

#6 – The Eagles
If you haven’t heard of the Eagles then you’ve been living under the proverbial rock for literally half a century. What’s funny is, due to their “Hell Freezes Over” CD/DVD, I think they’re actually more famous now than they ever were in the 70’s. In 1993 the band reformed and started the notorious comeback. They’ve had some member problems and some legal problems since then, but their return on the scene was pretty remarkable.

#5 – Yo Mama so fat…
Perhaps the word “comeback” has no more clearly understood and accepted linguistic use in the universe of a 11 year old boy’s mind than the trash-talking “burn”, “putdown” or other synonyms referencing the playful taunt. This exchange proceeds on and on, back and forth, until one of the taunters has no “comeback”. One of the most common burns and comebacks is the “Yo mama so fat…” line of defense. Often accompanied by the popular “Yo mama so ugly” and “yo mama so stupid” comeback allusions. My understanding is that in Britain, they actually say “Your mum…”.

#4 – 80’s Fashion
That’s right, rumor has it that 80’s fashion, in only 20 years time, will be making a comeback no later than next fall (2007). I have to say I can hardly wait! Lopsided ponytails, ripped sweatshirts, aqua eye shadow, parachute pants…YES! Some trends never live long enough or notoriously enough to see the highly coveted come back of the discount thrift bargain bins. For everything else there’s MasterCard.

#3 – Boston’s comeback against the Yankees
I included this in spite of my unwavering loyalty to Joe Torre’s Yankees. Most because I simply couldn’t keep up with replying to all the hate mail my masses of loyal Boston readers would send me. Ortiz, “the curse” (yes I’m making pretend quotation marks with my fingers and saying it in a funny vocal overtone), bloody sock, blah, blah, etc, etc. So there. There’s the proof in this articulate pudding that I’m not biased. Whatever. On to number two.

#2 – Lance Armstrong
Really, I shouldn’t need to expand on this one. Diagnosed with cancer he never should have even lived long enough to compete in his first Tour de France, much less win as many as he has. Five is it now? You gotta love this guy. Beating the French, in France, that many times, single handedly. Lance in my opinion has crossed the echelons of the likes of Babe Ruth, Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods to become world-renowned for his sportsmanship and quality of performance in his sport, and his recognition has long surpassed just the fanatics of his sport. Here’s a quote from Lance’s cameo appearance in the movie “Dodgeball”: Quit? You know, once I was thinking of quitting when I was diagnosed with brain, lung and testicular cancer all at the same time. But with the love and support of my friends and family, I got back on the bike and won the Tour de France five times in a row. But I'm sure you have a good reason to quit.


#1 – The Scottish War of Independence
We’ve all seen the movie “Braveheart” so I don’t think I should even have to expand upon this one much. One of the greatest displays of conquering over adversity and injustice I think the world’s ever seen. The United State’s heritage is similar, though the oppression was far worse for the Scottish in the 13th century than it ever got for the colonies in the 18th century.

Bazooka-Joe made it so at 8:14 PM | 4 class clowns in the back of the class were bored from throwing pencils in the ceiling and paused long enough to comment on this post