WATCH back up again

rayc

rayc

retroreprobate
Here's the latest update of Watch.
Trish (FTG) has rerecorded the vocals - added some more melody to my drone and extra vocals for the chorus. I've dropped them in and set approx levels with no compression and just a little de essing.
I think she's done a fabulous job.
To flesh out the track around her I've added arpeggio chords in spots and some guitar harmonics.
Here're links (you can select between the streamer & the download) for your listening if you care to:


Thoughts?
Obviously if someone is interested in adding drums I'd be a very happy chappy.
30/08/13 UPDATE
Reduced vocals, a touch or reverb on same and a little more of the hard panned rhythm guitars.


This 31/08/13 mix has reduced the "shock" of the solo's entry a little:
 
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O forgot to mention that I'd really like feedback specifically a) on the vocal leve & b) on the varying texture of the verses.
 
Hi RayC,
I've had a couple of listens,, the first obvious thing is the vocal balance, It's standing a mile in front of the rest, so it's difficult to hear everything else,,, & I'm a bit old fashioned & I'd like more of the double tracking Trish has done in the choruses,,& a bit more attack on her voice(if that's the right word!) although I have NO idea how to go about that!.

I not a great fan of the sound on the rythym guitar, should it be acoustic?
but i love the rest of the guitar work,,to me this sounds as if it just needs more work doing on it! :)
 
jiff 41 said:
Hi RayC,
I've had a couple of listens,, the first obvious thing is the vocal balance, It's standing a mile in front of the rest, so it's difficult to hear everything else,,, & I'm a bit old fashioned & I'd like more of the double tracking Trish has done in the choruses,,& a bit more attack on her voice(if that's the right word!) although I have NO idea how to go about that!.

I not a great fan of the sound on the rythym guitar, should it be acoustic?
but i love the rest of the guitar work,,to me this sounds as if it just needs more work doing on it! :)
Click to expand...

I remember reading here a while back that if you're using someone else's guitar, vocals, drums, whatever, on your track that there's a tendency to push it too far forward/loud in the mix. I didn't really hear it yesterday because I'd been listening to it all day, but having listened to it fresh this morning I think that has happened. I agree with Jiff, the vocals are a touch too loud. Turn me down, don't be shy. :D

I really like the arpeggio chords and guitar harmonics though, they really add something, and think the intro is sounding great as well. I didn't record the vocals to all the changes you made in response to the first post, but I have to say it sounds really sweet. It's a great tune. I enjoyed working on it with you. :)
 
Jiff 41,
Thanks for the feedback. yep, getting the vocal at the right level is crucial & I left it up front because the usual crit. I get is that I've buried them. Now I can begin to find a middle ground.
The electric rhythm guitar - the slightly jangly one out on either side? I know it's occasionally a turn off for folk but I have to be honest and say that it's a part of my sound. If you listen back on all of my tracks that guitar (& often the strum) is integral. If there's an aspect of its tone you care to focus on I may tweak that somewhat. Let me know.
FTG,
I'll notch you back a little: I do want a good balance between the relentlessness of the rhythm, the evil of the lyric and the lilt of your voice. I could go My Bloody Valentine on it again!
Your changes were your decision and I'm very happy with them and the net result. It's been a fun collab and I look forward to a final mix which will make all collaborators happy.
 
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Always love to listen to frits's voice :)
My preference: vocals are a bit too loud, just a bit. Or other instruments are too quite.
 
I like the tune. Frit's voice is pornographic to me, but the weirdest things turn me on, so who the hell knows.

Ray, I was actually going to surprise you with a drum track for this tune vefore I had a bit of a set back and ended up in the hospital for a couple of weeks. I still might get around to it if you want, but it won't be for a while.

(I would bring the vocals down a bit, not alot though).
 
RAMI,
thanks. Yeah, concentrate on getting well, fat_fleet's offered to tub thump so literally - save your breath.
 
Yes the vocals are too loud and also seem to be "fuller" than the rest if that makes sense. Maybe less low mids?? I'm liking the overall changes to the vocals too.
 
This sounds really cool, but I do agree about the rhythm needing to come up around the vocal.
I heard a xylophone or similar at some point. I'd bring that up a good bit, but then I love little spaced out landmarks like that.

Real nice listen. Thanks for sharing.
 
TMS,
I'll address that this weekend.
FTG,
RAMI wrote & recorded an VERY excellent song that may demonstrate some sort of post traumatic thread: it's called Too Pretty For **** - he sorted a vid too - see it on utub!.
Greg,
It does make a difference. We had a little help from Phrasemaker who encourage FTG to develop her ideas further.
Ido1957,
Thanks for that detail - I look into it.
Steenamaroo,
Thanks mate. That sound was probably the 12th fret harmonic I played at the intro & over the chorus. I do like at little spaced landmark as well as a feedback tail outro - didn't do the latter this time.
 
I like everything about the song, the mix can do with some repair. I think everyone who has already stated it, vocals are sitting correctly.

@Fritz_Ze_Girl - Your accent comes out really nice in this, it adds a really good touch to the vocals.
 



Vocal reduced 30/08/13
I've lowered the vocal, add a touch of reverbto the main & lifted the main rhythm guitars a tiny bit.
Anythoughts?
 
Ray, The vocal seems to fit much better in the track with this version, the only negative for me is the verb is now making the esses more prominent so maybe a case of putting some time in on the lead vox track to nip out some of the prominent errant sounds. Overall the mix might benefit by having slightly stronger contrast to the dynamics as it leans a little towards being bland in that area. Perhaps allow the bass and rhythm guitar a little less containment in the mix by a small amount just to give the whole thing a bit more liveliness or vibrancy. Good job with the vocal, I wasn't completely sure about some of the melody initially having heard this vocal take but it's grown on me over a few days.

Good track, superb lyrical content.

All the best

Tim
 
DM60,
I'm working on it slowly. Thanks for the encouragement.
Thanks Tim,
the reverb def sets of the essing. that's why I avoided it for so long.
I'll probably settle for sitting the vocal a little better & avaoiding the reverb when I get some time this weekend.
I'm not pushing this part of the mix at present as there'll be significant reworking to do when the real drum track is introduced. I did think it reasonable to give folk a little of what they asked for though.
Thanks for the kinds words.
 
Oh, yeas, this sounds really, really good.
Reverb did the magic and everything seem to be in place.

What did you use to record drums, rayc?
 
Vocals sitting much better now Ray. The lead guitar sort of jumps out at me - perhaps it could go down a tad :) .
 
TMS,
I used my old, old Roland TR505 for drums/percussion. Thanks for the kind words.
Ido1957,
In terms of level the vox & solo match but I might tweak the other stuff to address that issue. Thanks Gerry.
 
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