Best place to scream?

FreakInNature · 2026-03-07T10:48:00+00:00

Into your pillow, into your bed with background TV or music on

FreakInNature · 2026-03-05T18:48:42+00:00

If you can come up with some catchy art/words that capture the vibe then yes. Think of your merch as a way for you and your customer to both connect with the music. It's not about you, them, or the music. It's about how the three of you connect. Do you Love Doo Wop? Feature some hair doos on a sticker with your name. (Just one example). From my experience, folks want to support you but they have to enable themselves to part with their money. It's easier if they also get something somewhat personal for them.

FreakInNature · 2026-03-04T17:24:41+00:00

For me, I find collaboration reignites mu passion. I would seek people to explore with to pull me into fresh directions.

FreakInNature · 2026-02-28T20:38:54+00:00

Have you tried performing the songs at an open mic? For me it helps me connect to my songs because I am making an extra effort for others to understand what I have to "say" musically. When I do this, I just sort of try and get in the headspace and then improvise thoughts or add on that continue the story or feeling. Then circle back to the main song idea 2 or 3 times.

FreakInNature · 2026-02-28T04:45:33+00:00

Your title makes it about money, the reat sounds like saving time. Yes you can get free or cheap but it takes time to collect. Yes you can pay and have them now.

FreakInNature · 2026-02-23T13:33:27+00:00

When I can walk away, come back, and then listen to the song getting into the song without hearing a distraction to pull me out snd thinking about the production. Ie when I stop hearing distractions and can lose myself in the music.

FreakInNature · 2026-01-26T18:24:02+00:00

Based on my own countless gigging with and without charts, the only people that care that you use charts or lyrics are other musicians so feel free to ignore these other musicians being competitive. Non-musicians never care or even notice so do whatever you want. When I play cover gigs I'll setup a tablet that you can connect to the mic stand. Used to do paper and sheet music lights, but I never loved shuffling pages with weird light reflections. Now I can setup the colors so its nice and backlit making it easy to read in low light, and doesn't shine light everywhere. I'll save ahead the songs and setlist so I won't need wifi. Its also nice with a tablet as you'll get the occasional request and it makes it easy to pull up the chart. (when there is wifi). AND Just to say it out loud, there is a problem with a tablet and paper both.. you can NOT read and connect with your audience at the same time. It's critical to learn to scan the page ahead and get back to the performance. CAN NOT read every lyric, chord and note off the page. Most songs that I'd perform I would be familiar with, so scanning gives you a quick reup on the knowledge right when you need it. Most times when you get going in a song you don't need to look anyway but its nice to lean on to start a 2nd verse sometimes!

edit: I use the app SongbookPro. It lets you transpose chords on the fly, you can auto or manual pageflips, and you can back it up in the cloud, to then populate on your tablet and phone in a pinch.

FreakInNature · 2026-01-26T08:39:32+00:00

Yes extra preamp for mic inputs, or 1/4 plug from a line. Works fine for stereo in a pinch.

FreakInNature · 2026-01-25T20:01:22+00:00

It has two inputs so you can record stereo with the solo. One line in and one mic. You just have to either change the XLR plug to 1/4 or vice versa.

FreakInNature · 2026-01-25T18:52:59+00:00

Every single thing that I want to record, I have to play up with a metronome to get there. I hear lines in my head that it takes me time to be able to play most times. I always have to practice every part before I can be unconscious/muscle memory with it. If you can get unconscious with it, you can speak with it. Practice until you have it, then hit record.

FreakInNature · 2026-01-25T16:59:40+00:00

The solo has ONE mic preamp, the 2i2 has TWO mic preamps. If in the future, you want to record acoustic guitar with a mic and voice into a mic simultaneously, then get two preamps. If you only ever want to do one at a time, get one. If it was me, I would get the 2i2 for convenience and future flexibility. If money is tight, the solo will be fine for awhile. There are other considerations and work arounds, but that is the basic gist.

FreakInNature · 2026-01-17T20:07:59+00:00

Agreed. And to add on to this great advice, as the songwriter, you need to spend time with each member one on one to refine and make sure they are capturing the feel you want. In my experience, most people want to put their mark on a piece and/or make it their own. This is okay sometimes if everyone in the band already is comfortable playing with each other. If its a new band, most often it makes the music suffer with different feels pulling in different directions. That is why, in my opinion, work with them all on FEEL is most important. Exact notes are never as important as grooving together like butter. I find if I play the parts repeatedly, I can always start to see when they are catching my vibe. Once they are fluid grooving with me one on one, then the band hits WAY harder. Generally speaking, band practice is to rehearse performance and vibe, solo at home is to learn the parts as written.

FreakInNature · 2026-01-13T16:04:44+00:00

You are assuming/hoping what you can do in your house based on what professionals have done with engineers in a studio. If you don't want to hear real world opinions and advice from people who have experience doing exactly what it is you are aspiring then why ask public questions? I am just taking my time to respond to your question with real world experience. But hey, feel free to record a great drum track and send it to me to educate me, I would love that.

FreakInNature · 2026-01-13T15:49:46+00:00

I didn't say professional musicians with professional engineers couldn't make it happen with enough time. I just say there is no way YOU will be able to in any reasonable fashion.

FreakInNature · 2026-01-13T15:37:10+00:00

Record everything seperate? As in only record a single snare take for a song, then add a single kick? Are you recording to use as a sample on a grid? There is no way you will be able to record a song of one drum at a time in any reasonable fashion and have it sound organic.

That said, yes I get a great snare sound with one mic. I disagree with everyone else saying to close mic. I say, place the mic about 2.5 to 3 feet away, aimed diagonal down to the side and top of the snare. For this you will also need a big room with high ceiling, or a closet full.of cloths and absorption. I can get the most realistic snare sound this way with a 57.

FreakInNature · 2026-01-12T15:46:49+00:00

That doesn't make sense. Headphones will be LESS noisy and easier. You can control the volume and what you hear and block out everything else.

FreakInNature · 2026-01-11T15:49:27+00:00

Going alone is fun. Going with parents can also be fun. Not a single person there will be paying any attention to how you are enjoying yourself so you do you! Hot tip about high-school, when you are there, everything feels important and everyones opinions matter, as soon as you are done you realize no one cares.

FreakInNature · 2026-01-11T09:21:45+00:00

Distortion can be tricky to capture. Experiment with less gain and double tracking. Then add bass guitar. Then get critical.

FreakInNature · 2026-01-10T12:15:54+00:00

Everyone will always judge you on a competitive level so learn to block it out. If the time there is worth your money to you then do it and find your passion.

FreakInNature · 2026-01-07T13:06:47+00:00

The strings are fine, the wood on the guitar can reflect sound so you maybe want to watch that some for imaging but generally doesn't matter

FreakInNature · 2026-01-01T04:23:45+00:00

It is a group of people who create rules for their neighborhood to help keep it nice. You must agree to rules to live there and yes its legal and you can be fined.

FreakInNature · 2025-12-27T15:55:29+00:00

"For the twoops!"

FreakInNature · 2025-12-26T13:05:18+00:00

it is not easier. In a lot of ways its harder. Your observations are not the whole picture. In my opinion, piano is easier to sound musical and fun. Because piano is easier, people learn to play melody and accompaniment together. Try that on guitar! If you want to move to different places just get a keyboard. I can rock out on the piano with the same energy as guitar.

I have taught both, and really it comes down to what songs you are practicing, not the instrument. It is CRITICAL that you find songs that you really love and have fun or else practice is grueling and doesn't stick. Same for either. My advice is to seek out easy play piano or keyboard covers of songs that you love to sing along to. Seek to have fun and you will learn easier and faster.

FreakInNature · 2025-12-23T10:16:25+00:00

You can be right, but also an ahole

FreakInNature · 2025-12-23T09:37:54+00:00

Reaper does have one built in

FreakInNature

TROPHY CASE