Variable speed CD player for practicing

Gary Ulinskas · Post by **Gary Ulinskas** » 29 Jan 2003 2:46 pm

Any of you ever used a variable speed CD player (supposedly maintains pitch) for practicing with a rythm track CD? As a beginner, I find it a challenge just to pluck the right strings and get the pedals right - let alone try to do it at the speed of the rythm track CD. Musician's Friend has one that goes from -50% to -32% to -16% to -8% to full speed. Seems like having something like that would lower my frustration level and blood pressure down a few notches.
Thanks

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Gary Ulinskas
MSA S-12 + Walker mono

Steve Alonzo Walker · Post by **Steve Alonzo Walker** » 29 Jan 2003 4:04 pm

Gary, I use a program called "The Amazing Slower Downer" It really does a great job at taking any part of an MP3 and slowing it down even in the same key. Great for slowing down those wonderful solo's...I can play them on stage as long as the band does them at the slowed-down speed!

Joey Ace · Post by **Joey Ace** » 29 Jan 2003 5:42 pm

I've used a Reed Koltner TR-1000 for about three years and am very happy with it.

Tascam has a new intresting CD Slow-Downer that was just shown at NAMM.

pdl20 · Post by **pdl20** » 29 Jan 2003 8:37 pm

I use a program called Slowblast.it works with the cd player in your pc.you can order it from pg music.try this site.www.pgmusic.com .will record a long passage if you need it.$19.95.us dollars.works good for me.good luck

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Rudy

Gino Iorfida · Post by **Gino Iorfida** » 30 Jan 2003 9:25 am

If you download the update to Windows Media Player (version 9 I think), it has the slow down capability.

C Dixon · Post by **C Dixon** » 30 Jan 2003 9:52 am

Prior to CD's, I used to have a speed control on both my Tape Decks, ie, reel to reel and cassette.

Then I discovered I could use my sterio HI FI VCR to record and play songs for me to practice with. And of course none of those have a speed control. But, I love the VCR method much better, because it has instant return to a given spot. Plus I can program it to play just a small segment over and over again. And the fidelity is 100% flat from 20 to 20KHZSo.

The one caveat is no VCR has a speed control. It can't. It would destroy the video. So, at first that bothered me. But I am glad I stuck with it. The following is why.

By forcing me to play often away from the frets, sharp or flat, it made my hearing better. And that improved my playing. Now, It does not matter; as I can offset each note according to how far my PSG is away from the pitch on the song played on my VCR.

I found this very helpful also, when I taught PSG. Because rarely was the student's PSG in tune with mine. So I asked them to sound an open E and I would find it at the 12th fret.

Then I would offset accordingly, when I needed to show him something. That way it would be in tune with his guitar. And we did not have to waste time tuning up to each other. Which would have taken unecessary time.

I am soo happy this happened. In pior times, I could NOT play off the fret to stay in tune. Now I can, and thank Jesus it is a real blessing. It take a lot of practice at first I will admit. But the reward has been worth it.

May Jesus bless you all,

carl

Ken Byng · Post by **Ken Byng** » 30 Jan 2003 12:18 pm

I use Slowblast Gold. As Rudy says, its great for short or long passages. I used it to figure out what Mike Johnson was doing on Brad Paisley's "Me Neither" - one of the quickest bits of picking ever recorded.

Jim Palenscar · Post by **Jim Palenscar** » 31 Jan 2003 8:17 am

ditto on Slow Blast

Michael Holland · Post by **Michael Holland** » 31 Jan 2003 8:30 am

This looks nice - The Tascam CD-GT1 Variable speed CD player with guitar input, loop points, effects, even chromatic tuner. It's new in the Musician's Friend catalog for $149.99.

Click here for info

Dave Birkett · Post by **Dave Birkett** » 31 Jan 2003 9:17 am

I use Cakewalk Pro Audio 9. It does everything. It's home recording software and works great for that. That's what I bought it for but have found its use as a teaching aid to be more valuable. You can record anything with it, not just use it with CDs. Once a piece has been recorded, you can slow it down, change its pitch, or both. You can make even the smallest portion repeat. It has made figuring out how a player plays a difficult passage possible. I highly recommed it.
As regards rhythm tracks, I like BIAB.[This message was edited by Dave Birkett on 31 January 2003 at 09:19 AM.]

Bob Watson · Post by **Bob Watson** » 1 Feb 2003 2:30 am

Dave, can you use Cakewalk Pro Audio 9 to slow a tune(or loop a solo) to half speed without changing the pitch? I have been wanting something that could do this for years. What would I look for in the help section to figure out how to do this? Any input will be greatly apprecitiated. [This message was edited by Bob Watson on 01 February 2003 at 02:34 AM.]

Al Marcus · Post by **Al Marcus** » 1 Feb 2003 12:43 pm

Bob- You and me too.
Dave can you tell me more about your Cakewalk software. I don't want to learn 3 different kinds of software. I just want a program to do everything from start to finish, like you have suggested.....Thanks...al

[This message was edited by Al Marcus on 01 February 2003 at 12:46 PM.]