MR 8 Metronome

[wilko]

The music I play is usually acoustic based with bass, electric guitar backing with a singer & some harmonies on occasion. As the Mr8 only has 2 inputs (and I like to record in stereo) the recording is always overdubbed and the tracks bounced around like rubber balls.

Timing used to be a problem so I used a drum machine to lay a beat down - then follow that with the guitar and then lose the drum beat but as you can imagine this is not efficient. So with the aid of a beer, I tackled the manual again as I recalled there was a metronome function. I played around with it for a while and got the hang of it and realised how useful it was.

Now the Mr8 has its faults but it is bloody useful for writing songs with. Last practice we managed to record 2 cover songs, complete with bass, backing guitar and vocals in just under an hour. Great fun and it is red no less !

Wilko
Freezing in New Zealand!

[junplugged]

well, if you had fun, then I want to hear the recording. Those are usually the best ones.

We have the mp3 thread, pop it up sometime, good luck.

[wilko]

Thank you - I will do that as soon as I have worked out how to convert the wav files to mp3 - I am sure I have downloaded a converter and I shall check this out tonight.

[cellardweller]

Originally Posted by wilko

Timing used to be a problem so I used a drum machine to lay a beat down - then follow that with the guitar and then lose the drum beat but as you can imagine this is not efficient. So with the aid of a beer, I tackled the manual again as I recalled there was a metronome function. I played around with it for a while and got the hang of it and realised how useful it was.

Wilko
Freezing in New Zealand!

This is one of the features I've never used before, but am also looking into. Unfortunately, I could not find my manual, and both of my computers at home are acting up, so I didn't get far into it. Is it pretty easy to use?


Freezing in New Zealand? You don't know how good you have it! It's going to be up to 93 here today, with 75% relative humitdity = misery!!! I'd trade you in a heartbeat!

[wilko]

Yep it is easy to use once you have had a bit of practice. From memory (I am at work now!) go into Menu/Song/ and then go down to Tempo Map and press enter. You can change the beat of the metronome during the songs (and using the rhythm map you can change the time too but I haven't done that). Doing this alone won't start the metronome. You then have to go to the menu/system and scroll down and you'll find "click track" (or something) press enter and turn it on.

There is one disadvanatage in that this setting is either on or off and is not associated with any song so you have to reset it for every song - but I haven't found this too much hassle.

It is cold here in New Zealand! We are not used to it once it dips below 6 degrees C (well here in Upper North Island anyway - down South it is blizzards as usual)! I came here from England for the weather but we've even had a frost this year! Give me the sunshine anytime! Anyway I am off to an open mike night at a local pub with my band mate to check out if we want to do it next week.

Wilko
Cold but still loving New Zealand

[junplugged]

that was one feature I wished had an on/off button. I was turning it on and off a lot before I started miding out to a drum machine.

[cellardweller]

Originally Posted by junplugged

I was turning it on and off a lot before I started miding out to a drum machine.

Hey Jun, how and what did you use the midi for? Is it possible to sync up a pre-recorded drum machine drum track, with a drum machine "bass" track?

I had just enough time to pipe the bass prog through my sans GT2 last night, and it was quite an improvement... finally some flexibility with my POS drum machine! Now if I can just get it to sync up, so I can run the drums through it too! I don't even own a midi cable yet...!

[carelessorc]

I think midi sync is the way to go. Basically you can use the MIDI out to sync a drum machine. You can use pattern mode, where one pattern just repeats. I use this as a metronome (but it's better than a simple click, cos it's got a groove).
Or you can use song mode, where you can programme fills etc (depending on the drum machine). You would of course need a little external mixer so you could listen to the drums and the MR8 output at the same time.

Orc

[wilko]

Originally Posted by junplugged

well, if you had fun, then I want to hear the recording. Those are usually the best ones.

We have the mp3 thread, pop it up sometime, good luck.

I put this link up with the lyrics on the Song writing bbs but not one comment. Here is a site with 2 of our songs on it. Be grateful for any sort of feed back

http://www.bugeikan.com/nick/

Thanks!