Re: Notation/Sequencing Software

[Mike Curtis <wd6ehr@xxxxxxxxxx>]

<Does anyone perform with sequencers/tapes?>

While I usually play everything except drums "live" when doing a single, I
use a sequencer for a couple of my more complicated tunes.  It's VASTLY
superior to tapes.  There are hardware sequencers that can be used with
sound modules, and these are the simplest way to go.  There are also
sequencer/sound module combinations that you might want to look into.  Boss
and Yamaha are a couple of manufacturers you might want to look into for low
end units.  In Electronic Musician (March 1995), there was a comparative
review of several of these units - Yamaha MU-5, Kawai GMega, Roland SC88,
and Korg AG10.  Some of these units are just a few hundred dollars.

I occasionally work with a vocalist/musician who uses both sequences and
prerecorded tapes, but he carries his own tape decks (yup - two of 'em!) in
a large and clumsy homemade rack, along with a 1000 watt amplifier and
mixing board.  He also plays guitar and keyboards, both of which are of
course tunable.  The tapes are relics of days gone by, and he sequences all
new songs.

Sequencers have the advantage of being tunable; or actually, the sound
module is - sequencers don't actually record "music", but rather record
keystrokes, velocity information, and other essentially "nonmusical"
information, which is converted to music by the sound module.  Thus
sequences can be recorded with piano sound and played back with organ, horn,
or even synthesized harmonica :-)

Another option is the "workstation", a keyboard/sequencer/sound module
combination.  But these aren't nearly as convenient (nor small) as
sequencer/sound module units.  However, if you take requests, you can
sequence a new tune on the spot :-)  Some of these sequencer/sound module
combo's can be programmed without a MIDI keyboard, if you're into masochism. 

If you record the original take on a ghetto blaster and use it to play back,
you should be reasonably safe pitch-wise.

If there are live musicians, simple chord charts written "straight through"
(with no d.s. al coda's, etc.) will probably be doable by even the worst
musicians.  Keep these to either 2 or (preferably) 4 bars per stave, and
plainly mark (with red marker) verse, chorus, and/or bridge beginnings.  And
keep the chords as simple as possible - majors, minors, sevenths, and
possibly diminished.  If you're SURE the musicians can follow, it's OK to
have more tensioned chords, but it could backfire on you!  If you guess
wrong, just tell them to fake it and lay out of the chords they're not sure
of - the bassplayer will cover it.  And BRING SEVERAL COPIES!  I usually
consider 3 copies a bare minimum.  It's guaranteed that someone will either
spill a drink or barf on one copy by the time you're ready.

And don't wait until it's your turn.  Check with the bandleader before they
start playing and hand him a copy.  Ask him if anyone else should have a
copy.  While he's looking it over, "hum" your way through it, so he gets an
idea what you're doing.


 -- mike