Robert G. // Blog

This is kind of an addendum to my "Time" post, but anyone got suggestions on ways to improve syncing? Are there timing problems among different formats? For example, if I'm using a multitracker and mixing WAVs and MP3s, is it more likely to have timing issues?

Ok. So I did complain about sessions not moving fast. Maybe I spoke too soon! At this moment, I'm involved in twelve sessions. That's a lot of work! So if things go a little slow, that's ok, because I have a lot of basslines to record, parts to remix, and ideas to bat around. And, there's a lot of good musicians here. It's impressive. I'm particularly impressed with Yahn W.'s guitar-slingin' ability. Check out his session "Two Clubs." That's pretty smooth. Thanks, Yahn, for letting me lay a bassline down for you!

Well, I have a few minutes of time to spare while I wait for my floors to dry (I just mopped 'em). And now that I think about it, "time" is the topic I'd like to address. Time in Indaba is a very different phenomenon than in real life (so to speak). For instance, since all of these virtual studios are online, anyone at anytime, anywhere in the world can add a track. So the traditional system of a session involving people meeting at a studio at a specific time is being challenged. Timing is also an issue. Since we're dealing with with a network of computers, processing speed - the time in which it takes to handle digital, musical tasks - varies quite a bit. And I think this is manifesting itself in tracks that aren't quite in sync. If someone sets their multitracker to 80bpm, and someone else downloads the track to her computer and sets her metronome to 80bpm, it often doesn't quite sync up. Different programs and processors interpret time in different ways. Any thoughts on how to deal with this? Finally, since I've joined Indaba, I've noticed that my free time has dried up! I spend so many hours on this site, downloading tunes, working on basslines, that I find I have less time for my studies! Oh well. My hope is that I get enough practice in on my bass that my own timing gets better!

Well, I'm new to Indaba. And I have to say, I'm addicted. I haven't played my bass this much in probably a year. I'm really enjoying trolling through the public sessions and testing my bass skills against some cool-ass music. My only question is: why do sessions seem to go so slow? It seems like things should be going a bit faster with tracks and ideas bouncing around. I've recorded several basslines and haven't heard "Hey, that fits perfectly" or "hey, buy a metronome" or even a "Get outta here you newbie!" yet. There's a lot of silence on this site. Well, maybe that's just newbie blues. I don't have a lot of contacts yet, and I don't know how this whole Indaba thang works. But, like everything else in my life (like being married, raising a puppy, or writing a dissertation), I'll probably bumble along through Indaba well enough. If you took the time to read this, and you need a bass player - make me a contact! Peace!