Just a note for anyone branching into solo gigs, you might be interested in reading about about how the PorchBoard Floor Bass has been a part of my rhythm therapy.

I Got Rhythm

With great respect for all of you solo acts.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: ST,

Hi ST. I'm glad you are enjoying your porchboard. I use mine at every gig, but I sometimes wonder if I use it too much. I have been avoiding using it on every song, and use it when I want to pump the energy, or make a song more dynamic. It seems to fit nice on Johnny Cash thumpity thump type songs. It is a great tool for single musicians.

The folks at Porchboard told me that it could be used to trigger some drum effects (not too sure how). I've been wondering if it would be a good effect to trigger hand claps, or maybe a tambourine.

The porchboard and the people who sell them are great!

Respect
Andy

Hey Col. - I was wondering about that. I have set up on my tracks a loop that is bass drum and tambourine. I like the variation it gives. I was thinking of a porchboard that had a sound for the toe and a sound for the heel.

quote:

The folks at Porchboard told me that it could be used to trigger some drum effects (not too sure how).

Yep, I'm thinking of it too.
It would make a nice kick drum trigger for my TrapKAT...it can be used with both feet, double bass mayhem!!
I'd also like it to accompany an acoustic guitarist using the Porchboard and a snare with brushes.
By Golly, I'm going to order one right now!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: DrumrPete,

Roy: The porchboard folks spoke of one person who bought 2 units and refit two active parts together to use toe and heel. I wonder if they might custom make you one if you asked?

Drumr: I was hoping to find something more simple and a lot cheaper than your trapKat to use. Do you have any suggestions?

Respect
Andy

Hey Col. Andy,

Good to hear from you.

quote:

Originally posted by Col. Andy:
Hi ST. I'm glad you are enjoying your porchboard. I use mine at every gig, but I sometimes wonder if I use it too much. I have been avoiding using it on every song, and use it when I want to pump the energy, or make a song more dynamic. It seems to fit nice on Johnny Cash thumpity thump type songs. It is a great tool for single musicians.

I also wonder about using it too much. I was thinking about that on the weekend, but also thought about how I really like to have a live Drummer on stage with me. There are very few songs where I wouldn't want that Drummer playing along. It also occurs to me that I do a lot of the alternating-string bass-line Travis pickin' thing, and I don't worry that *it* is too much.

I'm getting the hang of controlling the dynamics with how hard I tap the PorchBoard and where I do that. So it can be thumpity thump, or more subtle if I want.

I am finding it pretty liberating to be able to use it in some parts of a song and not in another or to change the tempo within a song where that is warranted.

It is also really nice to delegate the rhythm to my feet so that I can have more liberty to work the Guitar in other ways.

quote:

...

The porchboard and the people who sell them are great!

I am so glad you got to meet them at the owners conference.

+1 here on the PPB. It adds A LOT to your overall sound and feel! It gets real tricky when incorporating double kicks.

1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &

Play on 1 then & 3

This message has been edited. Last edited by: mike o,

I bought a PorchBoard at the spring conference and just love it. It's so cool. I would try not to over use it, but it really sounds great on that
Travis pickin' that I try to do.

I called Nadene, with PorchBoard, a few days ago just to tell her how happy I was with the purchase. We had a nice chat about the conference. They really were excited to be there.

Pete, I believe your idea about using the PorchBoard, a snare,(or trashcan) and brushes with an acoustic guitar player has some real possibilities!

ST, I can't wait to hear you perform at the next conference.

Roy and Andy, I'd love to hear a whole set of your music some day. Based on what I heard at the conference, I know it would be great.

Keep thumpin', Y'all.

Rick

This message has been edited. Last edited by: rwj,

quote:

Originally posted by Col. Andy:
... I was hoping to find something more simple and a lot cheaper than your trapKat to use. ...

I think that Pete means to use the Porchboard into the TD12 (I think that's what he's using) instead of (or in addition to!!) a more conventional e-drum kick pedal. However, buying a TD12 or TD20 just for use with a Porchboard seems a tad bit excessive. But if you already have a drum module ...

I could envision one even using the Porchboard's XLR output to one T1 channel and the 1/4" output to a TD12/20-class drum module, with the output of the drum module to another T1 channel ... and play with comparing and/or combining the two "kick" sounds ( ).

Of course, one could use the Porchboard-to-drum-module connection to trigger any OTHER sounds in the module, too. With perhaps some judicious trigger threshold settings on the drum module you could have the drum module add, say, a castanet sound only on the louder Porchboard taps ... hmmmm ... lots of interesting possibilities.

RWJ - That was my set!

Roy,
Then it was great!
Rick

I have a question about the porchboard! I'm a bit embarrassed to ask but ask I must. I have been wanting a porchboard for awhile. But, don't you have to be sitting to make it work?

OK! I asked it! Please be kind in the ribbing!

dhcrow

Hi dhcrow,

I wish I had a video to share of someone standing up while doing it, but nope. Still I figure if you can tap or stomp your foot while standing, you can probably make it work. There is an adapter included specifically for stand-up players.

I haven't tried it yet. I'm just recovering from a situation that precluded standing while playing. But when I'm up to it I'll give it a shot.

Oh - and speaking of videos, there are a bunch of PorchBoard Videos on YouTube. If you want to see what they would send you on their promo DVD check out the ones with numbers.

PorchBoard 1

PorchBoard 2

PorchBoard 3

I think it goes up to 8

quote:

Originally posted by dhcrow:
I have a question about the porchboard! I'm a bit embarrassed to ask but ask I must. I have been wanting a porchboard for awhile. But, don't you have to be sitting to make it work?

OK! I asked it! Please be kind in the ribbing!

dhcrow

Hey dhcrow,

I've seen Oldghm play his porchboard while standing. He does it very effectively. I've tried standing while playing mine and it seems to work fine. The only problem for me is it hurts my hip a bit because most of my weight is over to one side. I could be doing something wrong, but it can be done.

Larry, what do you say about it?

rwj

At the Little Switzerland conference Nadine talked about how some Porchboard users have used an additional piece of wood beside the Porchboard so that both feet are on the same level.

I have most often used mine while sitting (e.g.: at a keyboard), but I will probably take it to an event in a couple of weeks where I'll be standing playing a guitar ... I think I may try some experiments before then!

Rick and Mr Crow,

I most always play standing up and never really thought about whether or not it was difficult to play the porchboard while doing so.

It can be tiring on a long tune or when playing a couple in a row.

I use the long heel board which is designed for two feet, but it makes it easier to find the thing without looking down.

I certainly am not as effective as a drummer, I feel good if I can just keep steady time.

O..

Did a solo set at a party over the weekend.

At the end of the night, an old musical pal (and one of my favourite Drummers) came up to me and said, "Once you get your confidence up with that thing it's gonna be your new best friend".

He was referring to the PorchBoard.

This is all funny. I'm so lazy. I've had the Porchboard for over two years and haven't even hooked it up! Think I'll break it out and try it for a few gigs I have coming up.

I had a porchboard. Real good sounding but If you are a gigging musician and play for 4 hours standing up while using the porchboard will result in sore leg, hip and back pain.

I took a guitar pickup, braced it on a piece of plywood, put some thin carpet on the bottom and PRESTO! The thing sounds just as good with proper EQ (Put 'em side by side) and cost next to nothing.
he advantage of mine is you put both feet on the plywood so when you stand you are level.


As far as using - or over using it- I noticed sometimes people will clap along to the porchboard on the one and three if Im using foot percussion while others clap on the 2 and 4. Then the clapping becomes a distration and usually doesn't stay in time....

In case anyone wants to know, I run the PorchBoard into the L1® completely flat. That is, no Preset or EQ.

On the T1® I use Channel 4 or run direct to the Model II Power Stand. This works, but I prefer to run through the T1® so I can do minor adjustments to volume.

On the Classic I use Power Stand Channel 3 or Channel 4.

I just added a note about this to the setting section of the PorchBoard wiki page