You will want one of these!

clive swindell · Post by **clive swindell** » 11 Sep 2003 12:15 am

As I understand it, years ago the only way to learn steel was to listen to vinyl records and try to find the licks.

Then we got computer programs that will let you record licks from CDs and slow them down withoiut changing pitch - but that is a bit time consuming and requires a decent computer sound card.

Well, now we have a little machine from Tascam called a CD GT1 which will plug into your hi-fi system and do exactly the same. It will even loop a lick that you choose and it will even alter key.

I got one this week and I am most impressed.

Ole Dantoft · Post by **Ole Dantoft** » 11 Sep 2003 12:50 am

Clive,
That's interresting ! What's the price for that gadget ?

I too have gone the route of recording on a reel-to-reel at 19 cm/s and playing back at 9,5 cm/s to get half tempo/one octave down and later I rebuild a casette-deck so it had a switch that took it to half speed. It sounds absolutely horrible but it enables you to steal those licks.

These days I use PowerTracks Pro Audio to slow down and/or transpose but you're right : It IS time consuming, so a device like this would be nice, if the price is right !

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Ole

My homepage !

clive swindell · Post by **clive swindell** » 11 Sep 2003 1:10 am

Hi Ole

It cost me £150 plus £15 for a mains power supply (it works on batteries) so thats about $225. Sorry, I dont understand Euros!

Go to www.tascam.com and follow the CD GT1 guitar trainer thread.

There are lots for sale on e-bay by the way so you may get a better deal.

I had difficulty finding one because apparantly they are selling like wildfire. Every guitarist seems to be getting one - so join in!

Ole Dantoft · Post by **Ole Dantoft** » 11 Sep 2003 1:21 am

Thanks Clive !

I'll lurk over at eBay then !

And now to something completely different

: Will you be at the Irish steel festival in October by any chance ? It seems like I might be able to go there and it would be nice to meet as many European steelers as possible !

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Ole

My homepage !

clive swindell · Post by **clive swindell** » 11 Sep 2003 1:54 am

Yes Ole, I shall be at the Irish convention - but Saturday only.

I have arranged to take my new Nashville 112 so you will be able to have a look at that as well. You will want one of those as well so start saving your money!

Ole Dantoft · Post by **Ole Dantoft** » 11 Sep 2003 2:06 am

Great Clive !
As I said, I hope I'll be able to attend and I'll definately check out the N.112 !

Hope I'll see you there !

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Ole

My homepage !

clive swindell · Post by **clive swindell** » 11 Sep 2003 2:20 am

Just had a look at your web site. Can you bring me a CD please. Also, do you have a playlist for the band? I am always interested in what other bands are playing. Take a look at www.90west.com to see what I mean.

Bob Hoffnar · Post by **Bob Hoffnar** » 11 Sep 2003 6:30 am

The tascam practice thing is $149.00 at
http://www.fqms.com/

I just ordered one.

Thanks for the heads up.

Bob

Mark van Allen · Post by **Mark van Allen** » 11 Sep 2003 9:56 am

Will you guys keep us updated on how well those things work? I bought one at the local guitar megamart and it didn't work right, froze up and finally died. I took it back and was told they are being returned in droves for breakdown... a pal in Chattanooga had the same thing happen. I'd love one but would prefer to hear that they're reliable! Let us know? Thanks.

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C'mon by and visit!- www.markvanallen.com
My Bands: Sugarland Kate and the Retreads Kecia Garland Band Shane Bridges Band Dell Conner Blues Band

b0b · Post by **b0b** » 11 Sep 2003 10:50 am

Moved to 'Electronics' section.

Joey Ace · Post by **Joey Ace** » 11 Sep 2003 11:19 am

I've been using a Reed Kolter TR-1000 for a few years. It's all solid state, so I have my Stereo's CD plugged into it.

It's been 100% reliable and great to work with.

There's software that does the same job, but I find it much more convient to have this unit.

The Tascam CD unit caught my eye when it came out a few months ago, but the TR-1000 is doing the job.

Gene Jones · Post by **Gene Jones** » 11 Sep 2003 11:32 am

I bought a Tascam CDGTE-1 Variable Speed CD Player from MUSICIANS FRIEND in February of this year when they were first available, but returned it because it was defective. The price was $149.99

It was a neat unit and I have intended to order another one after waiting long enough to insure that the mfg would have corrected any other problems that might develop with this new product. I think I would be wary of the used units being sold because they may be from the original run of defective units.
www.genejones.com [This message was edited by Gene Jones on 11 September 2003 at 12:38 PM.]

Graham · Post by **Graham** » 11 Sep 2003 4:10 pm

I really fail to see the reason for the purchase of either of the mentioned items IF you already have software that will do this for you. Sure, it takes some of your time but the end result is you can slow down ALL your licks files and then burn them ALL to a CD. There could be many hundreds of licks on 1 CD.

Makes sense to me!

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Rebel™
ICQ 614585
http://users.interlinks.net/rebel/steel/steel.html

Joey Ace · Post by **Joey Ace** » 12 Sep 2003 3:57 pm

I'll try to explain the reason it works better for me.

Typical practice session, there'a a new song I need to learn.

I put it on my regular CD player and loop on the song.

Most of the song comes easy after a few times, but there's a turnaround (or what ever) that is tricky. I record that phrase on my TR-1000, and loop on it half speed.

If it's really fast I'll slow it down more, but half speed is usually enough. If I can't pick it up, I change the TR-1000 playback window to play a smaller part of the phrase, still at half speed.

I loop on that. If I get it I increase the playback window size to include a bit more.
If I didn't get it I try a smaller sample.

I repeat the above steps until I've learned the whole phrase at half speed. Then I'll increase it to 2/3 speed, loop on it and play along. Then 3/4 speed, loop on it until i can play it well, then 100%.

As a bonus, maybe I have to learn the tune a whole step higher due to the singer. The machine allows that too.

This can be done with software and CD burning, but it's much faster with the hardware.

Bob Hoffnar · Post by **Bob Hoffnar** » 12 Sep 2003 4:34 pm

It also means I can work on tunes in between sound check and the gig, on the bus or in the hotel room.
When I'm on the road I practice every chance I get.

When I'm at home I can practice and transcribe licks without driving my girlfriend nuts. We live in pretty much one big room.

I'll let you guys know if mine works right. I should have it in the morning.

Bob

Terry Downs · Post by **Terry Downs** » 15 Sep 2003 5:18 pm

I agree with Rebel. But Bob Hoffnar has some good points as well.

I do quite a bit of this on the computer and have never found the need for these gadgets. I use Cool Edit 96. It has a recorder, time stretcher, and loop player all in one. I just loop the portion of the WAV file selected after timestretching.

Robert Parent · Post by **Robert Parent** » 16 Sep 2003 3:45 am

Another option are the performing arts units from Superscope. I purchased one about six months ago and like it alot. They have three models (PSD220, PSD230, and PSD300). The first two models are CD players only while the third can also record. These units are a bit more than the Tascam unit in price but they are an option worth considering.

Bob Hoffnar · Post by **Bob Hoffnar** » 16 Sep 2003 5:57 am

MIne is going back from whence it came. It does not work properly.

Bob

Bob Hoffnar · Post by **Bob Hoffnar** » 16 Sep 2003 7:55 am

I just talked with tec support at Teac and they straightened me out. The GT1 works fine. I just wasn't pushing the right buttons in the right order.

Bob

seldomfed · Post by **seldomfed** » 16 Sep 2003 10:39 am

Korg's Pandora does this as well. Samples up to 32 seconds of something and let's you slow it down and keep pitch constant, loop etc. PLUS, great effects, small, bass/rhythm box built in. Worth a look
http://www.korg.com/gear/info.asp?A_PROD_NO=PX4

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Chris Kennison
Ft. Collins, Colorado
"There is no spoon" www.book-em-danno.com

[This message was edited by seldomfed on 16 September 2003 at 11:42 AM.]

Mike Fereday · Post by **Mike Fereday** » 20 Sep 2003 9:41 am

Hey Clive

After the the comments at St Louis from Francois and Kurt I picked up one today to evaluate - from the comments it does not look like too much evaluation will be necessary and I will have to pay out some money!!

Mike