The Doom Room: ILF Edition

[AngryGoldfish]

The biggest problem I have with most guitar stomp box compressors is that they don't have all the controls that "normal" compressors have and a lot of the times the controls are labeled wrong. On most guitar compressors the threshold is usually internally set and only sometimes has a trim pot. This kinda bothers me as it means I can't really set when the compressor will start to act. So I can't regulate whether it will just control my loud peaks or more of my signal.

The Empress and new Earthquaker Devices compressors have an extended list of controls that correspond with professional studio compressors.

besides like full on cranked fuzz
i think the philosophers tone an od
is about as heavy and nasty as you can get
and still be able to use the whole fretboard
however you want to
im not sure if the pt is a true comp
but if your not sure you want a comp anyway
i dont use it on its own though
im sure it can be i just dont
and if your into all out noise
itll help you when your in ALL ON mode
its one of the first pedals i got
and ive never even thought about gettin rid of it
i can go on and on

The Philosophers Tone is still considered a compressor, but most people use it to add sustain rather than even out discrepancies and attack.

I like the look of that yellow one. It kinda looks like a burns guitar. I have also been thinking of building an engineer's thumb compressor. I found a layout of it on a layout blog I check in with and I think Nick mentioned it some pages back. I also have the pcbs for a Urei 1176 rack compressor that I will get around to building eventually.

I liked the yellow one as well. I've liked them on Facebook. They seem cool. Retro is definitely returning.

new pedal(s) day.


the 2 ditto loopers will likely replace the dl4 completely and free up HUGE pedal board real estate. (Like TJ though, I am also WAY out of power supply connections. Totally next on my need to buy list.

Congrats, man. I'm still in love with my Ditto. I use it every day. I probably use looping too much now.

so one of my cabs shit the bed. a run of the mill marshall with celestion 75's. two speakers are just completely silent. weird, cause i would have at least expected some farty blown speaker noise or something. but i went down to the practice space yesterday and checked them and wired them and rewired them in a few different ways. totally dead. now i've got to find a new cab before we play a few shows and then go on tour starting in ten days. i wanted to replace this cab anyway, but i hate having to do it under pressure and when money's already tight from getting my tools stolen. i found a guy who recones and rebuilds speakers who will sell me four vintage 30's for $250. i think he'll take my old speakers in trade even and sell them to me for around 150. seems like my best bet right now. but i found this really intriguing vht cab for $400. everything i'm reading about the speakers seems awesome, and i love my other vht cab that i put v30's in. $400 seems good for that cab. just got to figure out if i am going to have to do what's cheap or do what seems more appealing. ideally i'd buy the v30's and the vht cab and load the marshall with v30's and sell it for $4-500. but i'm not sure i can afford that up front.

Tough choice, man. I know personally I'd pick up that VHT cab as soon as possible, fix up the Marshall when I could and sell it on in the future, but that's only what I'd do. I don't know your finances so I can only take guesses.

I can't really get into them beyond Altar, which was surprisingly varied and mellow (initial impressons, haven't listened in a while)... I dig the idea behind the band, but if you've got a six pack and a loud rig you can DIY that shit.

I haven't listened to anything beyond Altar either on an actual album...just live in the room, no matter what material they are playing the experience alone is worth it...especially if Attila is on vocals.

But I do agree...anyone with a lick of creativity, 3 Sunn fullstacks, and AT LEAST 2 boomerang loopers would be able to pull it off.

Speaking of Sunn...anyone hear of a little FX builder called Sunmachine? I contacted him a bit ago to get one of these Colossus Fuzzes built to emulate that Model T gain channel in certain instances...and lo and behold, he was in the process of building one for O'Malley himself! Pretty damn rad unit...but at $350 it's gonna be awhile...

I've been a fan of Sunmachine devices for a few years now. I never did order the Model T clone I wanted him to build. That one he's building there looks sick, but you're right, $350 is heavy.

[MSUsousaphone]

Hot Damn, that thing looks cool.

I mean. I guess if you look at it as 3 pedals in 1 it's not that bad.

[Ancient Astronaught]

I can't really get into them beyond Altar, which was surprisingly varied and mellow (initial impressons, haven't listened in a while)... I dig the idea behind the band, but if you've got a six pack and a loud rig you can DIY that shit.

Yeah if I've got an 1/8th and my full rig I can easily pull off some Sunn O))) style drone with ease, can't deny its fairly easy to pull off. But as RE pointed out there is nothing like seeing them live with Atilla at the helm.

[D.o.S.]

And, of course, there's the whole "they did it first" thing, as far as power drone/etc. Much respect, but they're just not really something I go for on record. My tastes run a little more toward Nadja for that sort of stuff.

Also, it's gotta be noted that Southern Lord put out a whole bunch of totally fucking awesome albums in the early '00s. Amongst them would be Dave Ghrol's "I love all things metal let me use my fame to put out the most badass vanity comp of all time" Probot.

Probot is so much fun.

[Ancient Astronaught]

And, of course, there's the whole "they did it first" thing, as far as power drone/etc. Much respect, but they're just not really something I go for on record. My tastes run a little more toward Nadja for that sort of stuff.

Also, it's gotta be noted that Southern Lord put out a whole bunch of totally fucking awesome albums in the early '00s. Amongst them would be Dave Ghrol's "I love all things metal let me use my fame to put out the most badass vanity comp of all time" Probot.

Probot is so much fun.

Tis true, and totally understandable. They are definitely not for everyone, but i think they like it that way.

Mmmmmm.... probot.....

[AngryGoldfish]

Sunn 0))) never really grabbed me, but I'd like to experience them live.

[conky]

My throat is killing me. I just laid down vocals for the first time since early November. I can't remember the last time I raised my voice over normal speaking levels other than the occasional cheering at my son's baseball games. I gotta start doing some exercises to build up my breathing and ability to hold notes out for a long time. I used to be able to do it in my old band years ago but the last few I have been in I haven't done any vocals so I lost what little bit I had.

[kbit]

Remember to breath into your stomach / stick out your gut out when you inhale. Expand your lungs and diaphragm downward, more air on tap

I wish my voice always sounded like I've just gotten out of bed. It's the best sound.

[ridingeternity]

My throat is killing me. I just laid down vocals for the first time since early November. I can't remember the last time I raised my voice over normal speaking levels other than the occasional cheering at my son's baseball games. I gotta start doing some exercises to build up my breathing and ability to hold notes out for a long time. I used to be able to do it in my old band years ago but the last few I have been in I haven't done any vocals so I lost what little bit I had.

I just quit smoking for this same reason. Im not sure what other vocalists are doing to hurt their vocal chords...happened to me a couple of times when I first started doing harsh vox, but quickly found a way to sound even better and avoid pain whatsoever.

You are probably privy, but a few things I do to make sure im ready to perform vocals at all"

1. Before any excercises involving your voice breathe in very slow...when you feel your lungs have reached capacity, pull in just a tad more air...and...exhale, repeat for about 5 minutes.

2. At the very end of this excercise, inhale as deep as you can...and while holding splash cold water on your face(induces the mammalian diving reflex that slows your heart rate down and makes your whole respiratory system more efficient with less amounts of oxygen)

3. Do a standard non-harsh vocal warm up(trust me it helps) even if you can't stand your clean vocals...cycle through your range from the lowest possible note you can reach to the highest you can reach without straining your vocal chords(falsetto).

4. Now do the same warm-up adding grit to the vocals.

5. You are set to go! I would recommend practicing keeping track of your diaphragm as well...I imagine mine as kind of like a fuel gauge and ask myself in a split second...is there enough air in there for this next line?

A lot of harsh vocalists don't use the diaphragm much in favor of the harshness of throat singing...but I really believe that throat control + diaphragm control as a whole is important for the discerning vocalist. Also another useful tool is learning how to do inhales...then learning how to make inhales sound good...then learning how to tactfully switch off between the two. Last but not least the mic is your friend...I am wholly against mic cupping...its like the sonic maximizer for vocalists...but bear in mind that a different angle of approach to the mic element will be better for certain nuances and dynamics much like placement on a cab.

Granted...it's different doing guitar/vox at the same time...I can't really get as wild and energetic as a standalone vocalist or cover as much of certain parts...but all steps listed above were vital in the transition from singing and playing acoustic stuff to screaming/singing/playing at loud volumes.

[conky]

My throat is killing me. I just laid down vocals for the first time since early November. I can't remember the last time I raised my voice over normal speaking levels other than the occasional cheering at my son's baseball games. I gotta start doing some exercises to build up my breathing and ability to hold notes out for a long time. I used to be able to do it in my old band years ago but the last few I have been in I haven't done any vocals so I lost what little bit I had.

I just quit smoking for this same reason. Im not sure what other vocalists are doing to hurt their vocal chords...happened to me a couple of times when I first started doing harsh vox, but quickly found a way to sound even better and avoid pain whatsoever.

You are probably privy, but a few things I do to make sure im ready to perform vocals at all"

1. Before any excercises involving your voice breathe in very slow...when you feel your lungs have reached capacity, pull in just a tad more air...and...exhale, repeat for about 5 minutes.

2. At the very end of this excercise, inhale as deep as you can...and while holding splash cold water on your face(induces the mammalian diving reflex that slows your heart rate down and makes your whole respiratory system more efficient with less amounts of oxygen)

3. Do a standard non-harsh vocal warm up(trust me it helps) even if you can't stand your clean vocals...cycle through your range from the lowest possible note you can reach to the highest you can reach without straining your vocal chords(falsetto).

4. Now do the same warm-up adding grit to the vocals.

5. You are set to go! I would recommend practicing keeping track of your diaphragm as well...I imagine mine as kind of like a fuel gauge and ask myself in a split second...is there enough air in there for this next line?

A lot of harsh vocalists don't use the diaphragm much in favor of the harshness of throat singing...but I really believe that throat control + diaphragm control as a whole is important for the discerning vocalist. Also another useful tool is learning how to do inhales...then learning how to make inhales sound good...then learning how to tactfully switch off between the two. Last but not least the mic is your friend...I am wholly against mic cupping...its like the sonic maximizer for vocalists...but bear in mind that a different angle of approach to the mic element will be better for certain nuances and dynamics much like placement on a cab.

Thanks for the info. I've only really ever done the first thing you've mentioned but today I didn't even do that. I was too focused on setting up the mic and recording to remember to do that. I'll try the rest.

Here's what I shredded my voice on. There isn't but one rhythm track and no bass. I have to add them later. Plus I realized that the Obama sample needs to come up a little more.

[soundcloud]https://soundcloud.com/divinemotherrecordings/deadhand-track-1-draft[/soundcloud]

EDIT:

I just listened to it and realized that there was some bleed through on the delay'd guitar and the metronome and footswitch popping are at the end. That'll have to be rerecorded later.

[ridingeternity]

My throat is killing me. I just laid down vocals for the first time since early November. I can't remember the last time I raised my voice over normal speaking levels other than the occasional cheering at my son's baseball games. I gotta start doing some exercises to build up my breathing and ability to hold notes out for a long time. I used to be able to do it in my old band years ago but the last few I have been in I haven't done any vocals so I lost what little bit I had.

I just quit smoking for this same reason. Im not sure what other vocalists are doing to hurt their vocal chords...happened to me a couple of times when I first started doing harsh vox, but quickly found a way to sound even better and avoid pain whatsoever.

You are probably privy, but a few things I do to make sure im ready to perform vocals at all"

1. Before any excercises involving your voice breathe in very slow...when you feel your lungs have reached capacity, pull in just a tad more air...and...exhale, repeat for about 5 minutes.

2. At the very end of this excercise, inhale as deep as you can...and while holding splash cold water on your face(induces the mammalian diving reflex that slows your heart rate down and makes your whole respiratory system more efficient with less amounts of oxygen)

3. Do a standard non-harsh vocal warm up(trust me it helps) even if you can't stand your clean vocals...cycle through your range from the lowest possible note you can reach to the highest you can reach without straining your vocal chords(falsetto).

4. Now do the same warm-up adding grit to the vocals.

5. You are set to go! I would recommend practicing keeping track of your diaphragm as well...I imagine mine as kind of like a fuel gauge and ask myself in a split second...is there enough air in there for this next line?

A lot of harsh vocalists don't use the diaphragm much in favor of the harshness of throat singing...but I really believe that throat control + diaphragm control as a whole is important for the discerning vocalist. Also another useful tool is learning how to do inhales...then learning how to make inhales sound good...then learning how to tactfully switch off between the two. Last but not least the mic is your friend...I am wholly against mic cupping...its like the sonic maximizer for vocalists...but bear in mind that a different angle of approach to the mic element will be better for certain nuances and dynamics much like placement on a cab.

Thanks for the info. I've only really ever done the first thing you've mentioned but today I didn't even do that. I was too focused on setting up the mic and recording to remember to do that. I'll try the rest.

Here's what I shredded my voice on. There isn't but one rhythm track and no bass. I have to add them later. Plus I realized that the Obama sample needs to come up a little more.

[soundcloud]https://soundcloud.com/divinemotherrecordings/deadhand-track-1-draft[/soundcloud]

EDIT:

I just listened to it and realized that there was some bleed through on the delay'd guitar and the metronome and footswitch popping are at the end. That'll have to be rerecorded later.

Sounds good man! You definitely have a good vocal sound, just find a way to do it that doesn't hurt(those warm-ups will help) and do it over and over and over until it's second nature.

I severely underestimated the power of warmups for the first year or so of my current band and always had varying results in my vocal sound and delivery...then when I started to notice that it was always 200% easier on a second pass of the set at rehearsals was when I really started analyzing vocal approach. It's just like guitar, some things you can just do immediately when picking it up, and some require a bit of a warmup.

[ridingeternity]

saw sound city and i felt the 2nd half wasn't really all that, it became more about dave grohl's dream album ever ever! than anything else. good overall if you're into it.

gotta try those vocal warm-ups, that splashing water on your face was new to me!

Glad those sparked your interest! Hope they work out for you!

I'm definitely into it. Someone that came from nothing, faced adversity on his path, became what he wanted to be, and brought his dreams full circle by sheer will and perseverance without compromising integrity is what rock music is all about and i'm glad that even if I am not a fan of everything he does...that there is still someone like that with a mainstream audience when normally their only glimpse into the minds of artists is egotistical and self-absorbed...whereas Grohl definitely doesn't give off that same air.

[The Wood Wizard]

Dear conky,
That was awesome. Hope your throat heals so you can do more.


Asked a local place if they could get 12 ply birch for me in small quantities. They misunderstood me and ordered in a sheet for me. Guess Ill be starting that 2x15 sooner than I thought! Hopefully its good enough looking for stain, I hate not handpicking my materials.

[ridingeternity]

California dudes, mark your calendars, major doomage atop a mountain Saturday June 29th. Very excited for this, my band Bloodmoon will also be playing but some of you are familiar with us by now...stoked on the general theme of doom, but each band executes it in their own unique manner which will surely make for a great experience:

Antikythera(OR)
http://antikytheradoom.bandcamp.com/

Bad Blood(CA)
http://ourbadblood.bandcamp.com/

Sutratma(CA)
http://sutratma.bandcamp.com/

Will probably add another bitchin band as well.

[ridingeternity]

Sabbath releases debut song off of new album on CSI