424mkIII Demo Apr'09: Lennon Blues Jam: It's So Hard

[A Reel Person]

Recorded either in Apr or May '09 on the Tascam 424mkIII. I wish I'd labelled my tapes better! Mixed on 06/26/09. Posted on 06/27/09.

This one has all the typical flaws I load into my recordings! It's the 2nd version of the only song I've produced to date in 2009. More maybe soon.

Thanx for listening! Aye!

424mkIII Demo Apr'09: Lennon Blues Jam: It's So Hard

[A Reel Person]

I tweaked it so many times that I think this is the definitive mix, w/gentle EQ applied at mixdown. To me the mix seems right in the pocket & easy on the ears, not overpeaked, strident, harsh or dull. I go mainly for an authentic natural sound in my recordings. YMMV.

Featuring the TEAC MC-210 stereo condenser mic, Pro Co Roadkill distortion, Squier Bullet guitar & Ibanez GSR-200 bass.

Your comments are welcome, but mainly pls have fun!

Thanx as always for listening!

[A Reel Person]

I took the 06/27 mix, bumped up the bass a hair & boosted the overal mix level a couple dB. It took a dozen or more remixes since 06/26 to optimize the levels between the std. soundcard & hardware mixer.

I think this remix update of 06/28/09 is the definitive mix ATM.
I think this one's the keeper!
Pls catch my update!

Thanx as always!

[greyharmonix]

i think you could boost the bass a lot more. i really don't feel like there's any bass to this at all. The guitar fuzz i think is a preference thing but i think it's too fuzzy and lacks any punch. But again if that's what you're going for i guess its fine.

Don't be shy with the bass. Turn it up imo.

[A Reel Person]

EQ: I'm falling a little out-of-love with the "standard" EQ controls on this class of Portastudios. It's 3-band EQ with Hi/Low fixed and Mid-sweepable, so I feel the only "real" useful control is the midrange, while I avoid putting on too much Hi/Low shelving EQ for fear it may create more "mud"(low) or "haze"(hi) in the mix, rather than boosting or clarifying those frequencies in a pleasant or useful way.

HINT: I've become more endeared to the "classic" (old-style) Portastudio 2-Band/Sweepable EQ. Overall, I find 2-band/sweepable a little more utilitarian than 3-Band/Mid-Sweep. You can pinpoint the Hi and Low EQ better with the 2-band sweepable controls. (An obvious point, maybe).

HOWEVER: I opted to use the 424mkIII Portastudio, and so I'm working within the standard controls offered on this unit. Maybe next time I will use the classic 244 or 246 Portastudio instead, for this very reason (TBD).

Thank you for listening and your comments!

[Greg_L]

Bass seems okay to me. The guitars are extra fizzy though.

[A Reel Person]

Yeah, that,... plus I think the abscense of a drum track leaves a little void in very low end spectrum, but it's a 4-track and u get what u pay for. I'm generally against bouncing and cheezy tricks like that. 4 is 4, and for more I'd likely scope a project to an 8 (or more) track format.

On the other hand, the guitars "fizziness" is basically planned by forward thought and intention. Whatever the hell that means!

Thanx's!!!

PS:... I've listened & considered backing off the midrange boost a little on all tracks, then bumping up the master level again, just a hair. That might tame the midrangi-ness a bit and add fullness. Since the 424mIII's midrange-sweep EQ gives the most control, it's the one I used most in the mix. It may be a bit too midrangey, though.

I've also considered mixing this one down off tape and playing the drum track in stereo live to the master on PC (wav).

That's another remix or round or two of tinkering with this song, all future/TBD, maybe soon!

Thanx again!

[A Reel Person]

I endeavored about 8 remixes on 06/29, 06/30 and 07/01 that rendered virtually no improvement, so the 06/28 mix stands as the "definitive" mix. The EQ applied here is so subtle that removing it entirely may make only a miniscule difference, if any. News? Not news!

Thanx as always for listening!

[auburncatfish]

I actually love the fizzy guitar - it is preference. Not sure if you're a Hounddog Taylor fan, but this fizzy type guitar is right out of his playbook. I'd consider adding some reverb on the vocals.

[guitar zero]

Nice song. It's screaming "Please add some drums, please... oh and some harmonica too, while you're at it". The guitars are a little too fuzzy for my taste as stated before. Also seems to be some timing issues with the guitars, but again, nice song.

[A Reel Person]

Your tips are reasonable & I'd agree!

Come again! Aye!

[COOLCAT]

hey reel thats a great one...the fizzy guitar sounds like you got it.

i remember that one, a b-side wasn't it?

mind games album...?

vocals were clear, great job.

[A Reel Person]

that's the Road Kill distortion.

It's off the Imagine album.

It's just a fun rock & roller!

Thanx!

[Erockrazor]

Sweet song Reel. I'm down with the fuzzy guitars. As you know, revolution had one of those guitar tones without a speaker cabinet, this is what it reminds me of a little bit. They liked that on a few tracks for I suppose more abrasive guitars.

Mix sounds good to me. I could probably deal with some verb on the vocals or backed up from the microphone. But I'm not sure where that stands in your recording ethic code though. First time I've seen someone against bouncing.

Hope all your tape decks are treatin you well.

[A Reel Person]

The Road Kill's minimum setting is rather gritty, & you've determined correctly that this is sans-amp sound. I record most electric guitar & bass tracks with a combination of a DI line-in and close-mic sound. It's a technique I use regularly. You can dial in almost any sound, IMO. I hardly ever use an amp when recording, except on a few occasions. I don't play out anymore, play in a band or have raucus jam sessions that would lend itself to recording that way. Just me & my gear going solo. The amps are handy if I'm really looking for that sound, ATM.

On these particular guitar tracks, in retrospect I feel I got too much line sound & maybe not enough mic sound, but it's a minor difference & the guitar sounds are passable (& in-yo-face).

I'd not made the (this song) & Revolution track (guitar sound) connection, but I definitely hear what you're saying!

I'm not an add-reverb-y person, for the most part, but I'm agreeable to boosting the mic preamp gain & backing up the mic a bit. My vocal (mic distance/delivery technique) varies a lot from time to time. You've also correctly determined that this is a relatively close-mic vocal sound. Maybe 8~12 inches distance, IIRC. Often times I've recorded vocal tracks with very high gain and at arm's length distance from the mic, (for open/room sound). However, this time it was (kinda) like a quickie-vocal, so (I can't recall) I think I was not feeling well & didn't want to put too much effort into it. That night I was low energy. However, I'd done a previous version of this song, too, with higher energy and acoustic guitars! Execution-wise (overall) this version 2 is much better, though. Trust me!

It's such a simple song, but I needed something simple! Still, I've never like the Blues or have been particularly good at it,... perhaps evidenced here!

My tape decks and tape-less decks are treating me well, indeed! I flat out sleep with my Tascams, and I love it! I could live, breathe and eat this stuff, if it weren't for more trivial stuff like work!

Thanx, aye!