Don't You Think?
Mastering an art takes dedication. What kind of magic can help?
We’ve all experienced having a rush of excitement, then giving up. When you find this happening repeatedly, maybe you should try attacking the sport from a different angle! The world is filled with intermediates in a rut.
My title, “The Intermediate Guitar Rut,” is inspired by Lito Tejada-Flores, author of a book on snow skiing “Breakthrough on Skis,” Continue reading “The Intermediate Guitar Rut”
When Mackie came out with its “Big Knob” series of monitor controllers (designed as big volume knobs to save you from having to walk over to your powered speakers and turn them up and down), it was a brilliant invention; and first of its kind!
Not any more.
“Behringer,” a sister of the well-respected “Midas” gear and knob company, has obviously studied the Mackie Big Knob units very carefully, and their new offering, years after Mackie invented the thing, is basically an exact copy of the Mackie front panel layout Continue reading “The World’s Most Blatant Steal: Behringer (re)Introduces the Mackie Big Knob, and Puts it on Steroids!”
Re-posting one of my articles from Quora. The question: “Why don’t musicians use expensive studio microphones when playing live?”
Because a typical studio microphone would feed back.
Many studio mics have a pickup pattern that is very generous; a circular area around the microphone, as if viewed from above the mic, showing the primary area of pickup … almost like a radio station coverage area …
ALL stage microphones have a significantly different pattern. They’re designed NOT to pick up sound from behind Continue reading “Why Don’t Musicians Use Expensive Studio Microphones When Playing Live?”
Here we have a fine local group in Connecticut that goes by the name “Malaena.” It’s a six-piece act and you’ll see they have a team of strong vocalists, including a bass player who sounds just like Van Morrison!
This was a casual outing, where I tested a DJI OM-5 gimbal arm that holds an iPhone. As a result, I was shooting this video in 1080p with my iPhone 6, which is actually software upgraded to an iPhone 7.
But that didn’t help!
The video performance of the older iPhones is poor in comparison to the DJI Osmo camera, and the Osmo will go to 4k and do even better. The iPhone footage is grainy, with no color depth Continue reading “Tennessee Whiskey and Its Effect on the iPhone 6 Video Performance, Featuring Malaena and Duke Robillard!”
Something’s got to go in between your microphone and your PA system! Over years of working with doo dads and widgets, I can testify, there are many devices that belong nowhere in your setup. But if you find that thing that goes after the mic and before the speaker, it may turn out to be more important than either the mic or speaker! Continue reading “Gear Review: Boss VE-8 Acoustic Singer”
I’ve been selling online for over 20-years, ever since my friend, Dave, encouraged me to try eBay. It was sort of a new thing at the time. My previous experience had been disappointing, because the web interface wasn’t working well. But after I tried it again it was better. I could get a sale posting through.
In those twenty years, in retrospect, I’m feeling like I rode the best wave eBay Continue reading “The History (and Future) of Online Selling for the Small Guy on Amazon and eBay”
Some songs are made to last!
This one does not appear anywhere if you search for chords.
Let’s revive a good old tune!
I transcribed this myself from the music file, then this video’s audio Continue reading “Let It Last – Virtual Studio Version”
Time to take a mental health break!
Set List:
Higher Love – 0:02
Finesse – 3:46
Good As Hell – 7:28
I Want You Back – 10:13
Get Lucky – 12:37
Move Your Feet – 17:01
I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me) – 19:51
Juice – 24:28
Ain’t No Mountain High Enough – 28:13 Continue reading “Sugar Live at the Phoenix! 9-Song, 30-Minute Set, 2.22.2020, Pawcatuck, CT”
It is possible to successfully and reliably get an external microphone working with the Osmo Pocket gimbal camera. I’ll show you what it sounds like with a small external mic and a pro level Audio Technica. It’s a big difference Continue reading “The Truth About External Microphones With The DJI Osmo Pocket Gimbal Camera – How To – With Audio Samples”
Anybody want to go for a ride?
Got this new camera …
Counting the Padiddles!
Osmo Pocket Gimbal Camera Dash Cam, Westerly, RI
A short road trip to Walmart to pick up some Continue reading “Testing the DJI Osmo Pocket Gimbal Camera as a Dash Cam, Westerly, RI”
This is visionary! Best video I’ve ever seen!
They must have used an A/V recording crew, sent them around the world, and had it all planned out, with Ringo laying down the drum track, then strategically layering everyone, then cutting it up to make the video. Really amazing!
The modern version of “I’d Like To Teach The World To Sing!” Continue reading “The Weight | Featuring Robbie Robertson | Playing For Change | Song Around The World”
Written by Robert Hunter and Mickey Hart.
All instruments played by Mark Urso
This is a Reaper screenshot video, Continue reading “Fire On The Mountain”
This lesson is rich in detail, photos and diagrams, Continue reading “PA Systems for Small Groups, by Mark Urso, Chapter Three, The Audio Chain, Cables, Connectors, Components, Power”
The first in a series of guitar lesson videos.
Learn to play from the comfort of your home, by way of this half-hour lesson, geared toward intermediate guitar players, focused on the diatonic (whole notes) scale, styles, hammer-ons, trills, triplets, and playing in rhythm! Continue reading “Intermediate Guitar with Mark Urso – Lesson One, Scales, Styles and Rhythm”