Members Terje Posted January 1, 2004 Members Posted January 1, 2004 I'm thining of getting one of those. I had this little sampler that I got from someone here at HC and you could slow things down on it to learn it at half speed. You could also fine tune the part you sampled. Actually I'm fine with just that, I don't need all the effects the Tascam thing has. But I like the fact that it works like a regular CD-player. So, has anyone tried it? How does it look from a duablility point of view?
Members timbuk3 Posted January 2, 2004 Members Posted January 2, 2004 Terje, I haven't listened to the Tascam, but I did just buy the full version of the Amazing Slowdowner on True Fire's website. It was on sale for $28. Quite a bit cheaper than the Tascam and it works great. You can slow it down to any speed, not just some presets as with the Tascam. You can also change pitch, loop and load mp3s as well as audio CDs. It's worth a look if you haven't already. Tim
Members Terje Posted January 2, 2004 Author Members Posted January 2, 2004 Is that some kind of software for the computer? I'd go for that Thanks for the tip.
Members sec12196 Posted January 2, 2004 Members Posted January 2, 2004 The latest version of Windows Media Player slows down music and it's free so I would check that out first. I had purchased the Slow Downer software awhile ago and it worked great but I was tired of being tied to my PC to use it. When the Tascam unit came out I snatched one up right away. I think it's great. It doesn't have the infinite control of the software product since you can slow down the CD by only 8, 16, 32 and 50 percent (I think I'm remembering that correctly) but I haven't found it to be any real fault. I have it hooked into the Aux in of my Roland Cube 30 amp and it has been a terrific practice aid. The controls aren't the slickest and it is a bit "hissy" but I love the thing and consider it a valuable piece of kit.
Members PSTUART74 Posted January 2, 2004 Members Posted January 2, 2004 I have one of the Tascams and they are pretty cool. I use it with Headphones. Its got a tuner, a loop feature and a bunch of effects (most of which are pretty cheesy) but you can slow down tunes to figure out licks. When its slowed down to 1/2 speed it all kind of sounds muddy...just slowing down a little helps alot tho...But make sure you buy the Power Supply Cord. It eats batterys like a jet engine sucks fuel....
Members timbuk3 Posted January 2, 2004 Members Posted January 2, 2004 Yeah, the slow downer is a program for the computer. You can get a trial version from Roni Music on line. The trial version allows you to slow down the first two tracks on an audio CD, or the first 1/4 of an mp3. As sec12196 points out, the major downside is that you are tied to the computer with it, but I practice at my desk anyway, so it's not an issue for me. I think the major upside to it, aside from being $125 less than the Tascam is that you can work with mp3s directly without burning them to a disk first. I didn't know that Windows Media Player allowed you to slow files down so I can comment on this program.
Members Terje Posted January 5, 2004 Author Members Posted January 5, 2004 Hm... about a year or so ago I would have considered it a problem to be "tied to the computer" too. But thsse days... I have this notation program on the computer and I work with it a lot while I play music. I'll check with my wife's eldest son, who really know computers and who is stayhing with us now. Thanks for the tips people.
Members Terje Posted February 1, 2004 Author Members Posted February 1, 2004 Originally posted by sec12196 The latest version of Windows Media Player slows down music and it's free so I would check that out first. How? I have it downloaded but can't understand how this works. Where do you slow things down?
Members Bajazz Posted February 1, 2004 Members Posted February 1, 2004 Try winamp + pacemaker plugin. I use a loop plugin too. Or try Transcribe.
Members LPDesertBURST Posted February 2, 2004 Members Posted February 2, 2004 Terje- When your in media player click on View -> Enhancements then make sure Show Enhancements is selected then click on "Play Speed Settings"
Members Terje Posted February 2, 2004 Author Members Posted February 2, 2004 Originally posted by LPDesertBURST Terje-When your in media player click on View -> Enhancements then make sure Show Enhancements is selected then click on "Play Speed Settings" Thank you so very much. I'll try it next time I get a chance.
Members glasskangaroo Posted February 2, 2004 Members Posted February 2, 2004 The Tascam CD-GT1 both sucks and is indispensable. Bad news: the effects are mediocre to horrible. Across the board cheesy. I stick to a clean tone setting with an OK delay effect. If you want to run the guitar in with higher quality outboard effects and skip the GT1 effects, you can certainly do that. Of course, you can always pick up your acoustic guitar and forget about running anything through it. Good news: I couldn't live without it. It's changed the way I practice for good and has been instrumental (no pun intended) in improving my guitar playing by leaps and bounds. With the GT1 as my practice partner, the quality of my playing has jumped forward dramatically. What would have taken a year to accomplish without it has taken me only four months to do with the GT1. It will make your practice sessions come alive. Buy one. The fact that Tascam has put a '1' after the GT suggests to me that a CD GT2 might be on the distant horizon. Let's hope the sound quality of the effects/guitar tones are greatly improved. No excuse in this digital age for third rate effects. If your at all interested in how I practice with the CD GT1, go here and look for the post in the thread by face2face: http://sound-on-sound2.infopop.net/2/OpenTopic?a=tpc&s=215094572&f=7313001337&m=8333029057&r=6733001157#6733001157 Good luck - glasskangaroo
Members Terje Posted February 2, 2004 Author Members Posted February 2, 2004 How does it sound though? Cause everything digital I've ever tried that can slow down a CD sounds pretty damn horrible in "slow mode".
Members glasskangaroo Posted February 2, 2004 Members Posted February 2, 2004 Although I don't really use the GT1 to slow down what I'm working with, I have tested it out. Don't expect miracles. Even the most expensive audio software has definate limitations in slowing down audio. Is the audio still clear enough to work with when you've slowed down a tune? Yes, it is. But the more you slow down the tune, the less perfect the audio is going to be. Just a fact of life with the current state of audio technology. I've heard others say that anything below 40 or 50% slower is not good enough to work with. My recommendation is to buy the unit from a place you can return it to if you're not happy with it. The big music stores where I live have no issue with anyone doing this as long as they don't make it a habit. - glasskangaroo
Members Terje Posted February 2, 2004 Author Members Posted February 2, 2004 Originally posted by glasskangaroo Don't expect miracles. Even the most expensive audio software has definate limitations in slowing down audio. See why analog is still alive and well. Do this with a tape recorder and the audio will be just fine, just slower and at a different pitch. But then I have to go through the hassle of recording the CD onto a tape and rewinding every time I need to hear it again.
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