I say, "I die"

[benbird]

Hi people! I've just released a new song and would appreciate some advice on instrumentation and mixing.
It's the first song on my page entitled "I say, 'I die'".
http://www.mp3.com/benvega

Equipment: Tascam TM-D1000(mixer), Alesis ADAT, Octava MK319(mic), BlueTube(mic preamp) used on Casio

Instruments: Casio CZ-101, triangle, Morrocan bongos

[Edited by benbird on 12-01-2000 at 17:45]

[drstawl]

First off I 'll discuss the one you asked us to review.
I say, "I die"
Man- you really have that Stevie Wonder thing nailed. You've got a very similar voice, a very similar compositional style and are closing in on his arrangement expertise.
Now if you could get some of his engineers and his equipment in on the act...
Some of the vocal peaks were a bit harsh (some were right on the money). They start out alright and just swell to unreasonable before releasing.
Read sonusman's post in the Mixing/Mastering forum.
A perfect example of his explanation of the dynamics of the energy in a vocal peak.

But while I was waiting for all your stuff to download I checked out the stream only (yeah- right) "Spare Time" and that really got me excited. My left hand is now cramped and useless from two hours of jamming on that ditty. That one, as you well know is Herbie Hancock all over.
It clipped regularly all the way through, but never more than 0.1 dB- but that's all it takes.
It had a very weird DC offset I removed with Sound Forge. Didn't help the clips.
You've gotta rerecord that one. It ROCKS.
Also loved Bambi's Blues. I had a Franklebeast named Franklin once. Burmese cordless heater cat.
When you say "Continue" was spontaneous, do you mean that was one improvised take front to back?
If so, buena vista: I'm impressed.

[benbird]

drstawl, Thanks for the compliments on my other works. Are my over the edge vocal peaks a problem on the tracking or the mixing? My main goal is to get the best quality on tape and then have it mixed at a pro studio. If I can do that, I'll be very happy!

Also, all my instrumental recordings are improvised.

[drstawl]

That's the tracking my friend. Keep on tracking but back off a couple of tenths of a dB. Keep Rockin' Hard!


Oh yeah- I'm impressed.

[CyanJaguar]

ben,

I had listened to some of your music before, and I was very impressed and I am still impressed.

the major thing that get me is the vocals. The voice is there, something is just not right. Did you put any reverb on the vocals? that might be the problem.

"Where do you belong?" still always gets me as my favorite. I also liked the rendition of what a friend, but I have not listened to the others.

[Dougie Johnson]

Well allright.
You have a great voice, excellent tone (Jon Gibson fan?)
But the lyrics were kind of muddied either through the mix or the initial tracking.
The keys were a little loud to me, but performed well.
You have the kind of timbre to your voice that needs a real band behind it, in a top of the line studio.
The potentential for your success in the Christian Music field I think is quite high..
Get your demos out to the labels.
DJ