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Post subject: Adventures with My B-DEC
Posted: Wed Aug 06, 2008 4:12 pm
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If the activity on this board is any indication, far fewer people have B-DEC than I first imagined. Nevertheless, I am having a ton of fun with it. There are so many great features, that despite having it for over a year, I still haven't explored them all. One feature I am really enjoying is using the amp modeling. I have a few favorite sounds that I have "programed on the user teacher loops. This way, the B-DEC pulls double duty as a monitor and amp modeler.

Another feature I have used ALOT to practice is loading MIDI files without the bassline. This gives me a little more variety then I get with the preloaded loops. When I have access to my laptop, I play the MIDI thru Guitar Pro. When I can only have the B-DEC, I can still practice the songs I am currently working on. If you are wondering why I wouldn't have access to the B-DEC, its when I have to move to another room and can't bring my laptop with me. I have checked into getting a laptop rack that sits on top of an amp. That would be sweet.

The one feature that I didn't think much of in the beginning, but have grown to appreciate are the performance loops. At first, I got bored with playing the same bass lines over and over again. This all changed once I began to understand the modes. I picked up this book called "First Bass" that has a ton of modal practice lines. Playing them over the performance loops have been extremely effective.

To close, the educational potential of the B-DEC is beyond measure. Hopefully, as I continue to work with it, I will be able to share some ideas with those who are interested.


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Posted: Tue Aug 12, 2008 12:24 pm
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Kevmove, thanks for sharing your thoughts on the B-DEC. I've had mine a few months now and it's a lot of fun. I've loaded on a few of my favorite songs, sans bass, for practice. The bass tracks on most of the performance loops are a little more advanced than I can handle right now, but if I turn it off I can play simple bass lines to work on what I know. I haven't really messed with creating my own bass settings yet, with the exception of a few experiments.
I really like using the speed and key changing features when practicing with the teacher loops. Very helpful for building finger strength and dexterity.
I'm a guitar player learning bass, so it's pretty much like starting from scratch.
Thanks also for the tip about "First Bass" I'll check into it! 8) 8) 8)
Cheers!
Da Cat


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Post subject: Adventures cont'd
Posted: Wed Aug 20, 2008 8:41 am
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As I continue to explore the features of the B-Dec and potential applications of its features, I believe I have hit upon a pretty decent set up for a digital tutor:

1) B-DEC 30
2) Computer with MIDI interface
3) One Month Subscription to Bass Camera

The B-Dec 30 Method Book provides excellent performance and teacher loops that provide plenty of practice material. As a supplement to this material, I connected my B-Dec to my laptop so I could play Midi Files through it. I then subscribed to Bass Camera.com, a website that features tablature and videos that show you how to play the bass lines to hundreds of popular songs. The website also has Guitar Pro files of each song that are downloadable.

With these tools, I developed this practice routine:

Method Book Warmup exercises 10 minutes
Dexterity Exercises 10 minutes
Rhythm Exercises 10 minutes
Method Book Scales and Chords 30 minutes
Song Practice 30 minutes

Using the B-Dec teacher and performance loops, there are limitless variations that can be applied to each practice segment. Bass Camera.com allows me to see the fingerings of bass lines I am having trouble learning then download the tab to Guitar Pro and play it as a loop till I get it right. I know that there are many bass lines available on youtube, but most of those videos have a audio sync problem, making it really hard to play along with them.

What practice routines have you developed? Please share!


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Posted: Tue Sep 30, 2008 7:49 am
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Just the other day, I had the pleasure of helping my nephew purchase his first electric guitar. Being a die hard Fender supporter, I hoped he would choose a Fender. Because he plays leftie, He had few choices. We ended up getting a MIM Strat which was pretty cool. Anyway, we get together to practice together, So I brought my B-DEC. Now, I know many complain that the B-DEC isn't loud enough to cut through the mix. This is true. however, by using a Toneworks amp modeler as a preamp (of sorts), I was able to boost the signal significantly. However, for gigging, I definitely have to use my 180 watt Behringer (which is not nearly as bad as people say it is. Sure, it doesn't sound as good as the top of the line stuff, but I only paid $179 for it, and by using the Toneworks unit as a pre amp, the sound is awesome).

Anyway, as we start working through a couple of songs from the Method Book, I noticed that my nephew had this really intense look of his face. I asked what was up and he said that he was learning more during our time together than he had with all his "so called guitar hero" friends. I asked how it was different. In summary, he pointed out:

That none of his friend made a big deal about locking a groove, but focused on their solos. I was able to show him, that if you lock the groove first, the solo sounds so much better.

Because his friends focused only on soloing, he didn't have a sense of harmony. I was able to point out to him that by playing his solo an octave higher than the main groove, not only did it stand out, but a sound that was fuller.

While the B-DEC is kind of limited in loops, it does represent the various genres extremely well. As we picked apart the different loops, both of us got a better sense of what makes each style distinct. Sure, music loops found in the back of a book works the same way, but, can you mute any one of the instruments on demand, or change the key and tempo on demand?.

Finally, I believe that practicing should have a fun factor or payoff, such as jamming to a popular song. I have been working with this loops sequencer, Steinberg Sequel 2. This program has added more energy to practicing than anything else I use. For me, a fat beat gets me motivated and creative. So we started jam over a simple Motown type loop. My nephew loved it!

Because my nephew saw me using the B-DEC as the hub of everything I was doing, I could tell he wanted one. I connected my laptop, PSP, and toneworks amp modeler to the B-DEC with no hassles. The B-DEC may not be the best amp, but it doesn't need to be. Its combination of features and light weight put the in a class by itself, as well as best of class. If they come out with another version of the B-DEC, I can't imagine that it will be as economical as the current unit. Well done Fender!


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Posted: Tue Sep 30, 2008 10:47 am
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My daughter has gotten the bug - she wants to learn to play bass - partly to play with me - and cause the music bug has bitten her big time :P She has always loved music, now she wants to try and make some now that she has some spare time after raising 2 daughters - one a sophomore at college and one will be graduating HS in June.

So we have been checking out different basses at the local stores - we discovered early that with her small hands she will be needing something that she has actually picked up and played and can be comfortable with.

At the same time we started looking for a bass amp - and we have taken a long look at the B DEC-30 - and we will most likely picking one up for a Christmas present.

We liked it for all the reasons listed so far - it's an amp that you can learn with - even if a partner isn't available to play with.

So, sometime in the future, we should be able to give some feedback on the B DEC-30, but it is looking like the right amp to get, even if it is a little expensive, but it appears to have more learning features than any others that we have looked at.

And it looks like I will be able to use it to help me with getting in groove :shock:

Gil 8)

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Post subject:
Posted: Fri Jan 16, 2009 7:09 pm
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I'm pretty new to the bass and I'm looking to buy a B-DEC to help with the practicing. Everything I've read about the B-DEC and heard in this thread sounds like what I'm looking for. It's been a couple of months since the last posts. How's everyone still doing with it?


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Post subject: I'm still loving it....
Posted: Sat Jan 17, 2009 1:10 pm
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The B-DEC is still my primary practice tool. I use it in several different ways:

1. Drum Machine. I turn down the volume on everything except the drum track.

2. Scale/Mode Drill. Using the key change feature, I practice the Circle of Fifths and modes.

3. Monitor. I play a sequencer/drum machine through the line in on the B-DEC

4. MIDI Synth. Using Jammer Songmaker, I play MIDI files of songs I am practicing.

5. Amp Modeling. This one should have come first, but exploring the world of sound shaping is really engrossing. Between the on board amp models and effects, you can spend a ton of time finding that signature sound. After experimenting with all the settings, I have started creating patches for each sound I like in the teacher loops. This way, I can leave the settings on my bass the same and make changes by switching which loop is active (the foot pedal caomes in handy).

There are more things that I want to do with the B-DEC, like song composition, but for now I am focusing on woodshedding to improve my technique. Eventually, I will create a playlist of songs that I want to perform away from home and store them in the the B-DEC's memory.

I do caution you in your expectations of the B-DEC. If you don't have a teacher or a good practice method book, then a lot of the B-DEC's potential will be lost, because all of the teacher loops are directly tied to music theory. So if you don't know what a tritone is, you won't understand why you need to practice it. It may benefit you to download the B-DEC Method book and peruse it before you buy the B-DEC.

All that being said, i think the B-DEC is one of the best investments an aspiring bassist can make in their musical development.


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Post subject:
Posted: Sat Jan 17, 2009 2:14 pm
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Thanks for the comments. The first thing I did was to download the Method Book to see some of the exercises that are programmed in. I also have a couple of practice books that I have been using with some success. I am hoping that this will help me with the basics and help me develop my skills and knowledge of the bass. I know the machine won't do anything for me without a lot of hard work and dedication on my part.


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Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2009 7:43 am
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I have two B-Dec's, one in my music room at home and one in my teaching studio. I love the amp and I have only scratched the surface of it's potential. In both places the amp has become interlocked with the furniture of the room so access to the jacks on the back is really a hassle. A small tool bar of inputs running across the bottom of the face plate, under the controls would be wonderful. Besides that, it's a bassists best companion , next to live!
Thanx Barry

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Post subject: Re: I'm still loving it....
Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2009 8:34 am
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Kevmove wrote:

4. MIDI Synth. Using Jammer Songmaker, I play MIDI files of songs I am practicing


Which version of Jammer are you using? The pro seems pricey at $129 and I don't know if $70 for ver 5 is in the cards right now. Is it THAT much a tool for improving? The concept looks good - it's the money that is holdin' me back on Jammer.
Thanks for the answer in advance.


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Post subject:
Posted: Mon Feb 09, 2009 2:45 pm
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If you go through the B-DEC website, you get access to a free version of Jammer that has an option to download right into the B-DEC


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Posted: Sat Mar 07, 2009 11:29 am
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Time is flying by! Fortunately, its not been wasted time, as I discovered another use of the B-DEC that is pretty exciting!

As the manual indicates, there is a General Midi Instrument set in the B-DEC. For those who didn't know, all the loops are MIDI files played through the synthesizer. Well it just so happens that I have an Axiom 25 MIDI Keyboard controller. So you know I had to connect the two and see what would happen. If you didn't guess, my B-DEC is now a midi synthesizer that another person can play while I play bass. Since i have a separate drum machine, I don't need to play drum loops on the B-DEC. I also now can use it to play (poorly) the treble clef of some music I am learning. The only drawback (for the moment) is the need for external power for the keyboard.

If you needed another reason to buy a B-DEC, well there ya go!


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Posted: Tue Mar 10, 2009 3:46 am
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Great idea Kev! I never thought of plugging a midi keyboard into a DEC. I have one, but I can't play worth a darn. Maybe that's why!
The idea is imilar to the computer "playing" the DEC's midi sound module with a file. I wonder if a midi drum machine would plug and play as well?


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Posted: Tue Mar 10, 2009 2:06 pm
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It' really cool! When a couple of us get together, both the keyboardist and myself use the B-DEC as a monitor, we run the line out to the board and run a separate drum machine into the board for time keeping. It sounds really sweet without having to set up alot of equipment. Another option is to use a Sony PSP as a loop player. This really makes practicing fun!


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Posted: Thu Mar 19, 2009 12:09 pm
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Things are starting to get real interesting. As I explore the possibilities with the B-DEC, I discovered yet another amazing application. Jammer Songmaker 5 has an option for a VST plugin. For those who don't know, VST stands for Virtual Studio Technology , which allows for all kinds of amazing music recording on a PC. Why should you care?

If you have a song that you composed with Songmaker, you can now pplay that song in your favorite DAW, using your favorite instruments. Now imagine taking an arrangement from one of the song loops on your G-DEC/B-DEC and playing it with the instruments found on Cubase or Sony Acid, or Protools. I would hardly dare play a song through the B-DEC midi synthesizer during a performance. But if I were able to play the same loops through a Yamaha Motif or a Korg Triton, now we got some sweet sounds.

It is possible to import a MIDI file made by Songmaker into any DAW, but the availability of the plug in makes it so much easier, because now I can take advantage of the "composer" feature and hear the song played with great instrument patches. My laptop has now become a lethal weapon!

Now I have a road setup of:

Fender J-Bass and P-Bass
B-DEC 30 w/ULT-4 foot controller
Laptop running GUitar Rig, Cubase 4 and Ableton Live
Tascam US-144 Audio Interface
Axiom 25 Keyboard Controller

Everything sit together in a nice package. I plug in directly to the board and use the B-DEC as a monitor. When we practice, for every instrument that is present, I mute that MIDI track, so we always get the experience of playing with a full band, even when people are missing. In the words of
Peter Griffin, "that's pretty frigging sweet".


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