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GMC Forum _ PRACTICE ROOM _ Without Technology
Posted by: Ben Higgins Apr 26 2015, 07:18 PM
This week was a bit interesting in the way of things going wrong. I had a few important things lined up for this weekend so my mind was firmly on that. So the computer throwing a wobbler and turning itself off was not really the kind of thing I had in mind, if I'm honest! 
Suffice to say, the problem has since been sorted, after a spending all night effing around and most of the next day driving around http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yeovil trying to find somewhere that sold a cpu fan. Crisis averted, thanks to the age old exchange of coin for goods. I just hope my DIY fix is good enough. If you don't see me again for a week or so then you know something's gone wrong!
I'm sure you all know that feeling you get when one of your most relied upon items of daily life suddenly gives up the ghost and you're faced with trying to work out what the problem is and then either fixing it or paying out for somebody else to fix it. That sinking feeling in the gut, the beckoning of the vortex. Or, my personal favourite, staring out into space with phrases like "I can't believe this is happening" going through my head. Although, let's be honest, the language is a lot more....robust than that. 
Many of us use our computers for our livelihood. If our main tool (get your minds out of the gutter) isn't working then shiz gets serious. It just goes to show how much we need technology and how much it's given to our lives. Us guitarists rely on it all the time. Let's have a quick rundown of a few obvious points where modern technology is essential to what we do:
Amps
Electric guitars
Recording software
Plugins
Use of emails for sending audio tracks off to others.
Hell, can you imagine not having a DAW to record your bits on now? Going back to the old 4 track and using cassettes? In the modern world I can exchange tracks with somebody who lives across the world and collaborate on music. Without my computer I wouldn't have been able to record and release the 3 albums I have. As much as I love the idea of living a simple life in a log cabin somewhere in the wilds the truth is I owe a massive amount of my life to the advances of modern technology.
I've just got back from a weekend away from the computer so this is only the second time I've booted it up since the fix. Like I said before, I hope it behaves from now but it's not a nice feeling being without it. Have we surrendered to the machines? I like to think we work with the machines and they give us what we need.
I'm sure that computer issues are one of the most common tech fails amongst us but is there any other important pieces of gear that have flaked out on you and screwed up your life? Share your woes!
Posted by: bleez Apr 26 2015, 08:17 PM
The car 
I get to work the other morning and realise I have a fuel leak. Immediately, Im thinking 'that's a new petrol tank' and a really expensive bill. I drop it at the garage, get a lift back to work and google the price of used cars...... then I google the price of bikes ( pedal not motor ) 
then I google a bus timetable 
Turns out that it was only a pipe that was leaking not the tank so it wasnt a major issue but its only a matter of time until the next thing!
Cars are a nightmare when they break. If I was more responsible I'd manage my money better and have a new car ..... but Im not.
Posted by: klasaine Apr 26 2015, 09:01 PM
My computers or phones I couldn't care less about. *My cellphone was, for all intents and purposes, out of commission for a solid week about a month ago. Best week of my life in probably the last 10 years, lol!
The 'tech' fkups that F me up are things like input jacks, volume pots, cables and fx pedal switches failing during gigs or sessions. It's happening way more frequently now that so much of that hardware is made with cheap steel. It's a problem I hear many, many players complaining about more and more.
Posted by: Arpeggio Apr 26 2015, 11:47 PM
Finding out how to do or fix something with technology. You could be there for the next hour until you find out how to do something that takes a minute, or it could be another week before you find out how to do something that only takes a minute.
It's like waking up in the middle of the desert. Is there water in the next few miles, or next 100 miles? Because of that uncertainty, if it's important, I will go non-stop until I find water, after 4 or so hours I'm pyschologically crawling on my knees with my hands reached out while uttering "productivity" (in the same way you might do this in the desert for water) and I'm not even German. It drives me MAD.
With guitar practise, you can do yay much, for yay long, and make yay much progress. Predictable and productive.
Posted by: Todd Simpson Apr 27 2015, 06:33 AM
Just shoot me if the tech all dries up 
hehehe. Seriously, we are all so dependent on it that it would just be plain awful if it all stopped working. But I'm sure we would figure it out. They made music before computers and the interwebs but still....
Posted by: Ben Higgins Apr 27 2015, 08:53 AM
I get to work the other morning and realise I have a fuel leak. Immediately, Im thinking 'that's a new petrol tank' and a really expensive bill. I drop it at the garage, get a lift back to work and google the price of used cars...... then I google the price of bikes ( pedal not motor )
then I google a bus timetable Turns out that it was only a pipe that was leaking not the tank so it wasnt a major issue but its only a matter of time until the next thing!
Cars are a nightmare when they break. If I was more responsible I'd manage my money better and have a new car ..... but Im not.
Oh maaaaaaan, tell me about it! That's got to be right up there with the worst techno woes!!!
We also had vehicle issues last week as well and why is it that it always seems to fall on bank holiday so no garage can fit you in until the following Tuesday???
That doesn't bode well for our gigging activities for the future if it's just getting worse and worse in quality. Always trying to cheat us out of quality to improve those profit margins, eh?
It's like waking up in the middle of the desert. Is there water in the next few miles, or next 100 miles? Because of that uncertainty, if it's important, I will go non-stop until I find water, after 4 or so hours I'm pyschologically crawling on my knees with my hands reached out while uttering "productivity" (in the same way you might do this in the desert for water) and I'm not even German. It drives me MAD.
With guitar practise, you can do yay much, for yay long, and make yay much progress. Predictable and productive.
Yes, I hate the uncertainty. The trouble with doing research about it is like technological hypochondria... "It could be that.... but it could be that... or is it that?"
hehehe. Seriously, we are all so dependent on it that it would just be plain awful if it all stopped working. But I'm sure we would figure it out. They made music before computers and the interwebs but still....Hehe yep. Having less tech to concern ourselves with would eventually lead to a less stressful life but if you do want to lead a productive life in today's society then the truth is you do need tech. Simple as.
I just have as much as I need and no more. I don't go looking for the next toy. I only recently got a smartphone (and a basic budget one) after years of having a hand-me-down flip phone. But if I did have the money I would upgrade the pc and get better audio monitors and whatnot. And maybe a new guitar. And maybe a plane ticket to Atlanta to visit the T-Master
And I won't break your ankle like the Germans did
Posted by: Todd Simpson Apr 28 2015, 01:45 AM
You're welcome anytime Higgy!!!! Come on down and we will get crazy with automatic weapons and such Unless we spill some blood, or break a bone, or take a bullet in the toe, the evening isn't complete!!!
We also had vehicle issues last week as well and why is it that it always seems to fall on bank holiday so no garage can fit you in until the following Tuesday???
And I won't break your ankle like the Germans did
Posted by: Ben Higgins Apr 28 2015, 09:02 AM
Unless we spill some blood, or break a bone, or take a bullet in the toe, the evening isn't complete!!!
Deal!Posted by: Bogdan Radovic Apr 28 2015, 10:43 AM
I must say that I'm a tech addict Always was starting with ZX Spectrum and learning how to use the Basic (programming language) on it. I can feel your pain with the computer troubles. Since I had quite a share of it, I just nowadays try to ignore the frustration when things go wrong and push through. Though it is a scary thought how much we depend on computers, cell phones and internet nowadays. It surely kills a bit of "reality and real world" in turn. However, it is really amazing what musicians can do nowadays at their home studios. Even though complexity and more possibilities also bring cons with them, I think it outweighs the old school way. If nothing, nowadays every musician has a chance do something really cool and get heard. Something which back in the days where you'd strictly depend on finding a music label, finance a costly studio etc was not really the case. Not to mention the possibilities with Axe FX, Kemper and modern DAWs for editing and processing.
It is not gear literally, but I hate having car troubles. Mostly because I feel helpless to do anything about it and with some issues even going to the mechanics feels like playing the lottery. As they always say, the best car the is the new car Now to only figure out how to get one of those without robbing the dealership hehehe
Now back to gear, what I always liked about instruments and music gear is that it doesn't really break much. I only had my bass amp die on me in the past and it was possible to repair and now works normally. All the pedals and even cables I bought years ago still work. I can't compare it to "back in the days", but I do have a feeling that music gear seems to be much higher quality than gear in some other industries. I guess that they can't really implement "planned obsolescence" in this type of industry that easily as in others?
Posted by: TJHarrison5252 Apr 28 2015, 09:47 PM
Suffice to say, the problem has since been sorted, after a spending all night effing around and most of the next day driving around http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yeovil trying to find somewhere that sold a cpu fan. Crisis averted, thanks to the age old exchange of coin for goods. I just hope my DIY fix is good enough. If you don't see me again for a week or so then you know something's gone wrong!
I'm sure you all know that feeling you get when one of your most relied upon items of daily life suddenly gives up the ghost and you're faced with trying to work out what the problem is and then either fixing it or paying out for somebody else to fix it. That sinking feeling in the gut, the beckoning of the vortex. Or, my personal favourite, staring out into space with phrases like "I can't believe this is happening" going through my head. Although, let's be honest, the language is a lot more....robust than that.
Many of us use our computers for our livelihood. If our main tool (get your minds out of the gutter) isn't working then shiz gets serious. It just goes to show how much we need technology and how much it's given to our lives. Us guitarists rely on it all the time. Let's have a quick rundown of a few obvious points where modern technology is essential to what we do:
Amps
Electric guitars
Recording software
Plugins
Use of emails for sending audio tracks off to others.
Hell, can you imagine not having a DAW to record your bits on now? Going back to the old 4 track and using cassettes? In the modern world I can exchange tracks with somebody who lives across the world and collaborate on music. Without my computer I wouldn't have been able to record and release the 3 albums I have. As much as I love the idea of living a simple life in a log cabin somewhere in the wilds the truth is I owe a massive amount of my life to the advances of modern technology.
I've just got back from a weekend away from the computer so this is only the second time I've booted it up since the fix. Like I said before, I hope it behaves from now but it's not a nice feeling being without it. Have we surrendered to the machines? I like to think we work with the machines and they give us what we need.
I'm sure that computer issues are one of the most common tech fails amongst us but is there any other important pieces of gear that have flaked out on you and screwed up your life? Share your woes!
Dude Ive had so much stolen from me have to choose wisely who your bandmates are. Then my apartment got robbed at gun point it's all good I've had major setbacks before and I don't see one happening again Cheers! \m/
Posted by: Bogdan Radovic Apr 28 2015, 09:51 PM
WOW you've got robbed by your band mates? How did it happen and how did you deal with it?
I can imagine such situation being extremely complicated and disappointing
Posted by: TJHarrison5252 Apr 28 2015, 10:03 PM
I can imagine such situation being extremely complicated and disappointing
Only one bandmate bro I went to pick up my bass amp and he pawned it make a long story short, I didn't write the serial number down. My apartment happened in 2011 just a bad side of town
Posted by: jstcrsn Apr 29 2015, 12:20 AM
I get to work the other morning and realise I have a fuel leak. Immediately, Im thinking 'that's a new petrol tank' and a really expensive bill. I drop it at the garage, get a lift back to work and google the price of used cars...... then I google the price of bikes ( pedal not motor )
then I google a bus timetable Turns out that it was only a pipe that was leaking not the tank so it wasnt a major issue but its only a matter of time until the next thing!
Cars are a nightmare when they break. If I was more responsible I'd manage my money better and have a new car ..... but Im not.
My truck( f 150 ) just turned 2 hundred thousand miles, I have changed the oil regularly , getting ready to put on my fourth set of tires, changed the transmission oil once , new fuel filter I even have six of the original spark plugs (freakin phenomenal) . The only time I do something else , is when the computer tells me to do something on it.I haven't even changed the antifreeze . Let me tell you , it has been such an awesome truck, I will be heart broken when it finally dies . I know it is coming , but this has been such blessing having reliable transportation for these last 10 years
I have had this happen too. A left handed b.c.rich, multiple pedals even a 3 hundred dollar mic. And all of a sudden these people that have no jobs are buying everybody beers (and other stuff),
Deal!Posted by: Ben Higgins Apr 29 2015, 09:10 AM
Oh. That was a bit close wasn't it?
It's great when stuff serves you well. Nice to hear that something actually works and does its job. We've got a Toyota Hilux which has a widespread reputation for just carrying on and on. The reputation is well deserved too but, as with anything, there's always going to be perishables which is what we had lately.
Part of me would love one of these but I know it's wrong........
Posted by: klasaine Apr 29 2015, 02:37 PM
+1
I have a Ford Exp that's 17 years old. 210,000 miles. I never have to do anything to it except normal maintenance. I dread the day when I will need a new ride.
*It does eat some gas though
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