five songs from an album

[grn]

these songs are done, but I'd like to hear any feedback/criticism to see what can be done better next time around. thanks.

1. http://www.michaelchagnon.com/ev/mus...0me%20away.mp3

2. http://www.michaelchagnon.com/ev/mus...ve%20again.mp3

3. http://www.michaelchagnon.com/ev/mus...20Gwynneth.mp3

4. http://www.michaelchagnon.com/ev/mus...20-%201952.mp3

5. http://www.michaelchagnon.com/ev/mus...al%20world.mp3

we're gonna start recording some again soon for the next one...

[Dogman]

Away....

Very good recording..... You captured it well. It's loud, but I don't hear any clipping. Very full sounds...Man, that changeup at about 1:55 is actually pretty cool. Could make a whole other song....I'll have to listen to the rest later, but I'd say you got a good recording captured....
Ed

[travelin travis]

cool tunes and good recordings. i have that cd saved from when you originally posted it. you probably remember me because i said something stupid like, "why don't you post a song or two so I can see if I even want the whole cd". you'll have to forgive me for some of the stupid shit I say sometimes. one thing i notice though is the vocal sound is very brittle. i guess that's the right word. i think the vocals could be improved with a smoother sound. what mic and pre were you using for the vocals?

[Dogman]

Listening to Fall In Love Again. Guitar tone is most excellent. Very cool, mellow song. Just seems to flow along. Very cool.
Ed

[grn]

I was using a SP B1 for record vocals through the Aardvark Direct Pro 24/96... I'm not sure what I'll go with next time, I only have that, an SM57 and 58, and two Oktava MK012s... might try the Oktavas... but I'm gonna go a little easier on the EQing next time around and also record it at 24 bits which I failed to realize I could do at the time.

[grn]

surely there can be other improvements?

[Zed10R]

well, your stuff beats the snot out of anything Jesse Michael Garcia would ever be capable of......

Seriously, the only thing I can say is not recording related. I would say you captured the sounds very well. Personally I would go for different sounds, and different singing, but it sounds to me like you did a good job recording the sounds you had.

BTW - I only listened to the first 2, so take that into consideration......

[Zed10R]

it is occuring to me that it would benefit from turning down the vocals. When I have the volume set to a comfortable level, it's all good. Then the vocals kick in and I want to turn it down.......

I've been saying that a LOT lately.....

[Dogman]

Originally Posted by Zed10R

it is occuring to me that it would benefit from turning down the vocals. When I have the volume set to a comfortable level, it's all good. Then the vocals kick in and I want to turn it down.......

I've been saying that a LOT lately.....

grn, that would be my only real recommendation also. Vocals are a bit loud. Some stuff seems pretty dry, but this seems to lend itself to the effect that the music puts towards the listener. If it was overpolished, instead of a bit dry, It would seem like straight ahead pop. As it is, it has a somewhat "garage" feel appeals to me. Dunno, good stuff so.....
Ed

[grn]

note taken, vocals a bit loud and if I want polish then get it wet it up a bit... also possibly work on the vocal performance more so I don't sound so nasally? some people love my voice and some people hate it... the tone color and all that jazz.

[Dogman]

The End Of The Real World...
This one is mixed pretty well. Good performance once again....

Not much to say about it, just a good tune. Voice might be a bit too loud again, but is very crisp.

A note on your voice...I wouldn't say it's nasally. unique, maybe...but alot has to do with how you captured it. It's not polished so much that it sounds generic, or overprocessed. I think it fits your tunes very well. Reminds me somewhat of the Kirkwood brother from The Meat Puppets, or some of the singing by the guy from Butthole Surfers....just a different use of the tool...
Ed

[travelin travis]

Originally Posted by grn

note taken, vocals a bit loud and if I want polish then get it wet it up a bit... also possibly work on the vocal performance more so I don't sound so nasally? some people love my voice and some people hate it... the tone color and all that jazz.

I don't think you're voice is overly nasal sounding. It definately has a nasal sound but I don't think it's a bad thing. I think something is going on during the recording or mixing that is accenting the wrong things in your voice. That's why I asked about the mic and pre, which probably are'nt the problem. Are you getting in really close to the mic? I wish I knew more about this stuff but I don't yet. Maybe there is some extreme eq'ing going on? How did you eq the vocal tracks?

I agree that the vocals don't sit well with the rest of the song. Maybe a little too loud and up close. Have you tried letting some of the room sound into the mic when you track the vocals, by backing off the mic some? Your voice sounds good to me but needs to blend in with the instruments rather than sit on top of everything.

[grn]

well I mixed the vocals like a pop song so they should be more up front instead of your typical rock song. that mostly came from early Beatles mixes where mostly all you could hear was cymbals and vocals and barely any guitar work. but then of course the equipment we have in the home nowadays rivals their equipment... so the other instruments sounded decent as well.

[madmush]

great sladeresque boogeying on gwynneth, funny lyrics (deceased?!?!?!, cha-cha-cha!?!), the songs are well worked through, very enjoyable. I guess it's just a reflection of my taste that i laugh at this music, not because it's bad, i just think there's something comical about it, although it probably wasn't intended? I also laugh when listening to Dogman, i can't explain why. This is a good thing! But maybe it says more about me, and maybe i should keep those things to myself

I don't mind your vocals (oh, apart from a few spots on "the end of the real world"), i can see what the guys are saying about them sounding a bit loud in the mix, but what sticks out to me is the drums.... they sometimes sound a bit... hapless?, maybe it's appropriate for what you're trying to achieve, and the playfulness of the whole thing is important and mustn't be lost, but... maybe try another kit? "real world" sounds pretty professional in contrast with the tracks with drums.

Some serious beatles influences (or at least macca) on the songwriting

Good shit grn; keep at it


...

[grn]

thanks, will try a different kit next go round... and yeah... a lot of people laugh at my music, particularly when I'm being completely serious. then of course people don't laugh when I'm trying to be funny. oh well. it's just unfortunate you said mccartney and not lennon.