What's your setup for transcribing/practice?

I have a Behringer USB thing (http://www.behringer.com/en/Products/UCG102.aspx)going into my laptop, which is running the free version of Amplitube (http://www.ikmultimedia.com/products/amplitubecs/). I don't bother fiddling with the effects too much, though it's tempting - just a decent clean sound so I can play along with music playing through other programs (see below).

For the material I'm learning, I use Transcribe! (http://www.seventhstring.com/xscribe/overview.html), which is a truly great program that allows one to manipulate what's being played in real time, mark sections (e.g. "Cool solo"). It also will read an mp4 video and play back the video (slowed down even, without pitch shift) along with the music.

I also like to use impro-visor (http://www.cs.hmc.edu/~keller/jazz/improvisor/), a really interesting program, though I use a fraction of its capability. Essentially, I use it as a free "band in a box".

Ironically, I wrote out tabs by hand and scan them to PDF so I don't lose them :-)

For those who like this sort of approach, what do you do?

p.s. I am not an employee of any of these companies nor am I a student at Harvey Mudd.

CD player-> rewind button

What's a CD?

Amazing Slow Downer any mac, iphone, or ipad...any guitar...generally my (mahogany) baby taylor (only acoustic i own). i don't "practice" the amp sound...unless i'm futzing with the amp or a pedal...rare. i don't need amplification to work-out.

used to be the needle of a turntable: "put it back!"
(never had a "riff-a-matic".)

YouTube, looper, iPod, ear, pen & paper.

Internet connected computer, Amazing Slow Downer, whatever guitar I feel like playing, amp or not depending on what I'm working on.

What's a CD?

It's like a little plate to put your drink on.

I use a computer too of course but no 'slow down' software.
This looks way cooler anyway ...

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-XPhta9cwIVU/UAxVIllId3I/AAAAAAAACqQ/qjzuZY8mQQ8/s629/DSC00198.JPG

Well, that CC neck pup is cooler, but that squeaky wicker chair would not help me at all!

The chair's not too noisy.

*I do have to slow things down once in a while but I'll just use the 'speed control' in my WMP machine. Can I slow stuff down in itunes on a macbbook?

I have been too chicken to try a Mac. I just barely know PCs and even though I have heard good things about music and Macs, I haven't had the guts to try one. ASD is wonderful.

For the material I'm learning, I use Transcribe! (http://www.seventhstring.com/xscribe/overview.html), which is a truly great program... +1.

I also like to use impro-visor (http://www.cs.hmc.edu/~keller/jazz/improvisor/), a really interesting program, though I use a fraction of its capability. Essentially, I use it as a free "band in a box".Good tip, that looks really cool. I will check it out. Thanks! :grin:

I like Transcribe! too. I used to use Amazing Slow Downer, but I find Transribe! to be a superior program, you just have to get used to it. For most stuff, I transcribe using a classical guitar. If it requires an electric guitar, I plug into a 10 year old Cube 30 that lives right next to my PC.

Recently got a Yamaha THR5, but I haven't been able to install the Cubase program that comes with it onto my PC (CD drive crashed, I really need a new PC too...) The THR5 sounds better than my Cube 30, and supposedly you can use it as PC or MP3 speakers. It's not as loud as the Cube 30, but it's plenty loud enough for transcribing or practicing along with MP3's.

I use varoius software programs, but the best tool I've used to help me improve my playing was using the Boss Micro-BR. I loaded some mp3 jam tracks in it (you can vary the tempo) and would sit on the couch in front of the tv and practice with head phones on for hours. When I got bored, I'd just watch the tv for a while. When I got bored watching tv, I'd continue practicing. I'm sure theres a cheaper route to go, but for a lazy couch potato like myself, it fits my needs.

Transcribe!
Metronome
Pen and paper
Self-made backing tracks.

I've been using Amazing Slow Downer (mac software program) for about 10 years. I almost never go below 75% speed, as I honed my chops in the 70's with 1-speed only cassette decks. But ASD has the great clips & looping stuff, and tuning; very intuitive. Easy to get the head, solo(s), & head out, and any other pertinent stuff. It can sit on the screen alongside Finale, for instant (almost) input.

I try & get what the player was intending or "meant" to play, rather than slow it all down & write out convoluted "accurate" stuff. Easier for the reader (generally me). Sort of like how those old Don Sickler jazz books were done.

I steer clear of notating fingerings, intricate articulations, and the like, focusing on just getting the pitches & "real" rhythms, & important articulations & dynamics. "Less is more" is a true benefit for me.

When I look at some cats' transcriptions, like in music mags, my eyes glaze over, seeing so much specificity.

I had some good jazz teachers years ago, & none of them wrote out transcriptions that way. "KISS" principle. If you need to check phrasing etc., listen to the recording again.

I use varoius software programs, but the best tool I've used to help me improve my playing was using the Boss Micro-BR. I loaded some mp3 jam tracks in it (you can vary the tempo) and would sit on the couch in front of the tv and practice with head phones on for hours. When I got bored, I'd just watch the tv for a while. When I got bored watching tv, I'd continue practicing. I'm sure theres a cheaper route to go, but for a lazy couch potato like myself, it fits my needs.
I love the Micro BR too, and I was using it before I switched to my current setup. The quality of the "slowing down" is much better in Transcribe! and I like being able to filter out bass (sometimes vocals). I still use the MBR sometimes to record a backing track and then copy it repeatedly.

I've been using Amazing Slow Downer (mac software program) for about 10 years. I almost never go below 75% speed, as I honed my chops in the 70's with 1-speed only cassette deck

I steer clear of notating fingerings, intricate articulations, and the like, focusing on just getting the pitches & "real" rhythms, & important articulations & dynamics. "Less is more" is a true benefit for me.

When I look at some cats' transcriptions, like in music mags, my eyes glaze over, seeing so much specificity.



I used to play my 33 1/3 LPs on the 16 2/3 RPM (half speed) of my KLH stereo. This is how I learned Whole Lotta Love :-).

I've found that the process of writing out the tab really fixes it in my head. I might refer back to it if I forget something but I never really play from it in real time after that. I just write down freehand any instruction I think might help me remember, and never get too hung up on writing out complex things like a prebend that then bends up 1/2 step, down 1 step, vibrato'd ....

I would post pics but I'm in the process of moving right now, looking at August 1st. So it's hectic right now but it is at a minimum a clipboard like Ken's and mechanical pencil. If I'm working on my Guitarchestra program http://guitarchestra.info/ or a long trasnscription, I've got a music stand with a long piece of board to hold 7 pages at full view.