not sure how the dfx works, but the dd-3, you hafta continually hold down the pedal for it to hold the note, which is a drag!

also its very short. if it didnt pitch shift itd be useless.

the other day, I realized: everything isn't supposed to be anything.

it's as simple as that. do whatever you want when it comes to being creative, dare to be different.

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CIJ Mustang
->
Silverface Bassman
->
Traynor 2x10 cabinet
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matyus (mah-tuse)

Does anyone like to play with multi-amp setups and the spatial effects one may obtain with them? I've had hours of stoned fun plugging into two amps and sometimes the PA system and bouncing things back and forth....

Here's something else that's fun to try, and you can even set it up and leave it when you're busy around the house (studying, cleaning house, cooking, practicing another instrument, whatever):
1. Plug in your guitar and looper (or keyboard, if you have one, or BOTH)
2. Get some drones going. If you make the notes agree harmonically (like Root/3rd or another consonant interval) it'll be less distracting, more soothing.
3. Run the drones through some effects. Tremolo is great because you can periodically twist the knobs and change the speed and depth to avoid monotony.
4. Add some Christmas lights or strobes and you've got a stimulating kinetic environment! (Now just invite over some friends and you've got a semi-avant garde party or happening)

I've actually done this before...it wasn't long before they made me stop...

try it with a headrush is quadraphonic......It gets really really odd after about the 10th looped layer.

Granted, i can't do this in my apartment, and that makes me sad.

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No one has to be alright all of the time.

Sorry to butt in...

quick question:

do you guys here consider lanterna and tristeza to be part of the whole "ambient" sound?

i like both bands.

I love Lanterna, but only some of the stuff is ambient. Most of it has drums, bass, song structure etc, so it's not really ambient.

I haven't heard much Tristeza to really comment.

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"Question with boldness even the existence of a God; because, if there be one, he must more approve of the homage of reason, than that of blind-folded fear."
- Thomas Jefferson

i most definitely do not consider tristeza to be ambient. its more along the lines of mogwai/post rock, ect. very pretty though.

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my band: elika

am·bi·ent
adj.
Surrounding; encircling: ambient sound; ambient air.
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[Latin ambins, ambient- present participle of ambre, to surround : amb-, ambi-, around; see ambi- + re, to go; see ei- in Indo-European Roots.]


I do not think you need any "gear" to make ambient music. Just listen to Eric Chenaux's solo stuff, or derek bailey's acoustic stuff. Thoughs are just 2 examples. Ambience is everywhere. Sing to yourself in a nice bright room and you have ambience, create any softer sound with anything in a repeditive manner and you have ambience.

You guys should chec out silophone.net. There are some amazing things you can do with simple electro acoustics, like playing an acoustic instrument in a nice caverness room.

Being ambient is not having 4000ms of delay, nor is it having a huge pedalboard and 5 different types of reverb. Ambience is everywhere, it is the air your breath, the sound of the trees, your very existance is ambience in the long scale of things - you are just continueing the ambient cycle of creation -> sustain -> decay... If you want to make ambient music, pay more attention to the world around you and less about having a bad ass delay patch.

To make make good ambience you need to have a grasp on what makes sound work, what causes everything to do what it does. Cause and Reaction. Thats all it is. Do yourslef a favour; find youself an old church, sit down in the middel and play an acoustic instrument - listen to how the instrument reacts in the inviroment you are playing in, and let this simpliscity set you free. You will be amazed how you become connected with your instrument in ways you never found possable.

Now I am not saying "DON'T use effects", I am mearly stating that ambience in not effects. It can be, but it dosn't need to be...

I hope this was insightfull, and not preachy.

Cheers

Alex

ps. yes I know I have **** loads of effects, but I also know I have the ability to not need them.

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My Rig (soon to be updated)
My isolationist electro acoustic
My ambient dub

I am listning to:
This Heat - (their entire catalog)

Founding member of the Charly Bronsons

Unless you live in a apartment with 0 ambience beyond a really annoying slapback off the walls, then gear is needed as lyers of really dry sounds with no sustain hurt after a while.....

The world around me is wonderful, But most of us can't affrod to record within it.

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No one has to be alright all of the time.