Re-Lapse - Work It (Feat. Primary & D-Shawn)

[Re-Lapse]

EXPLICIT: Not Safe For Work
http://www.myspace.com/strictproductions Check out - "Work It" a new track by yours truly, and a couple buddies (Primary & D-Shawn).

Beat Produced by Re-Lapse
Vocals: Primary / D-Shawn / Re-Lapse (In That Order)


Tell me what ya'll think, I like it! Probably needs some tuning and that's where I need to learn!

Thanks in advance, I be lookin' out for trump, and fiev, and all ya'll.
Thanks fam,

Re

 

[Re-Lapse]

!BUMP!

Man, I remember back in the day it'd take a mere hour or less for someone to peep & reply. What's up with the forum these days? Ya'll be too busy!

Get at me!

Re

 

[Fieva]

Been a minute for me homie...I've been busy as hell...busier than I even wanna be sometimes...it's the slacker in me that most musicians possess LOL

Anyway, I'll give you a critique tonight homie.

Fiev.

 

[Re-Lapse]

Been a minute for me homie...I've been busy as hell...busier than I even wanna be sometimes...it's the slacker in me that most musicians possess LOL

Anyway, I'll give you a critique tonight homie.

Fiev.

Aight dude, preciate it. I'll be waitin'..

Re

 

[Fieva]

Aiight here it comes...least I know you can take it

I'mma start from the basics on up...

The beat is kind of basic, it's not really moving me at all. I've heard worse, and I know about where you're at, but I think you should pull deeper in and pull that inner beast out. This reminds me of some of my earlier work (circa 1993, at that skill level). I don't wanna go back to that point LOL. As for how to make it better, it's hard to say and that's only because with the right lyrics it could possibly work.

Ok, now onto the overall mix. This is a good part of what hurts the track the most. Sounds like you've got noise in your recording room that's messing with the vocals...OR you guys are too close to the mic. My suggestions would be to run the acapella through some noise canceling and/or de-esser vst's for starters. I might have to go back to the Myspace and listen to other tracks to see if the sound is similar. In addition, I'm not sure what mic you're using or your vocal recording setup, but there may be some flaws in there too (any info you can give me might be able to help me help you).

Mixing vocals isn't the easiest thing to do. You have to have an ear for it and it will provide a good start. Another piece of advice for you. Take a song from any mainstream artist that you really like. Then put it in your media player (I use Winamp for this but you can use whatever you want) and then put your song after it. Then with just those two songs in the list, play them back to back repeatedly. I promise you, it will help you compare and contrast tracks.

Before I go into the vocals more in detail, let me say this. I used to tell you that I could tell you were reading and told you that you should practice and practice until you heard the sound you were looking for. I can say that I think you took my advice on that note. A couple of times it sounded like you were trying to fit too much in, but hey it's progress which is all good. Keep working at that and make it even better.

Now having said that, I hate to break it to you but ya boy D-Shawn is hitting some awful notes and I mean god awful. It sounds more like whining than singing (and not in a smooth Keith Sweat way). I would take that out completely or redo the hell out of it. I'd also edit that interlude after verse 2. In my opinion, I think it's not needed and just makes it redundant.

I can tell you guys were just fuckin around and havin some fun and that's all good, but I would use those time to practice on your A game and learn from it as you go along.

Fiev.

 

[Re-Lapse]

Aiight here it comes...least I know you can take it

I'mma start from the basics on up...

The beat is kind of basic, it's not really moving me at all. I've heard worse, and I know about where you're at, but I think you should pull deeper in and pull that inner beast out. This reminds me of some of my earlier work (circa 1993, at that skill level). I don't wanna go back to that point LOL. As for how to make it better, it's hard to say and that's only because with the right lyrics it could possibly work.

Ok, now onto the overall mix. This is a good part of what hurts the track the most. Sounds like you've got noise in your recording room that's messing with the vocals...OR you guys are too close to the mic. My suggestions would be to run the acapella through some noise canceling and/or de-esser vst's for starters. I might have to go back to the Myspace and listen to other tracks to see if the sound is similar. In addition, I'm not sure what mic you're using or your vocal recording setup, but there may be some flaws in there too (any info you can give me might be able to help me help you).

Mixing vocals isn't the easiest thing to do. You have to have an ear for it and it will provide a good start. Another piece of advice for you. Take a song from any mainstream artist that you really like. Then put it in your media player (I use Winamp for this but you can use whatever you want) and then put your song after it. Then with just those two songs in the list, play them back to back repeatedly. I promise you, it will help you compare and contrast tracks.

Before I go into the vocals more in detail, let me say this. I used to tell you that I could tell you were reading and told you that you should practice and practice until you heard the sound you were looking for. I can say that I think you took my advice on that note. A couple of times it sounded like you were trying to fit too much in, but hey it's progress which is all good. Keep working at that and make it even better.

Now having said that, I hate to break it to you but ya boy D-Shawn is hitting some awful notes and I mean god awful. It sounds more like whining than singing (and not in a smooth Keith Sweat way). I would take that out completely or redo the hell out of it. I'd also edit that interlude after verse 2. In my opinion, I think it's not needed and just makes it redundant.

I can tell you guys were just fuckin around and havin some fun and that's all good, but I would use those time to practice on your A game and learn from it as you go along.

Fiev.

First things first, there is noise on the recording. We're using a crappy USB condensor microphone in an open living room with the A/C & a fan running...

I'm glad you said what you said about D-Shawn, because I told him that as well, but he won't listen to me.. so, when he reads this, it'll click with him. He's got singing skills when he doesn't try, when he tries, it sounds horrid. Not to diss him, cus he is my boy ya know, but.. yeah.. I'd like to rip it out completely.

As for my verse, I did take your advice and stopped reading, I memorized the shit and I got a lot better on delivery, I like rapping fast and I like a lot of words, it flows easier for me, than making the words go with the beat with less syllables.

The beat is simplistic because I made it a long time ago, I submitted it for the HM album, and never got approved (for obvious reasons) and we were just fuckin' around, so I pulled that one. I have a few others that we're going to work on as well, more intense beats. I'm progressing on my basslines right now.

I'm trying to learn the whole curve, sing, rap, produce beats, and mix songs. Vocals suck, I hate doing them. I use Audacity to record.. I'm thinkin' of switchin to Audition though.. seems nicer.

Other then that, lyrically, what do you think?

Everyone that listens to it, LOVES it.. but they dont' know it from a production side either, that's why I came here.

Preciate it fam,

Re

 

[Fieva]

First things first, there is noise on the recording. We're using a crappy USB condensor microphone in an open living room with the A/C & a fan running...

I'm glad you said what you said about D-Shawn, because I told him that as well, but he won't listen to me.. so, when he reads this, it'll click with him. He's got singing skills when he doesn't try, when he tries, it sounds horrid. Not to diss him, cus he is my boy ya know, but.. yeah.. I'd like to rip it out completely.

As for my verse, I did take your advice and stopped reading, I memorized the shit and I got a lot better on delivery, I like rapping fast and I like a lot of words, it flows easier for me, than making the words go with the beat with less syllables.

The beat is simplistic because I made it a long time ago, I submitted it for the HM album, and never got approved (for obvious reasons) and we were just fuckin' around, so I pulled that one. I have a few others that we're going to work on as well, more intense beats. I'm progressing on my basslines right now.

I'm trying to learn the whole curve, sing, rap, produce beats, and mix songs. Vocals suck, I hate doing them. I use Audacity to record.. I'm thinkin' of switchin to Audition though.. seems nicer.

Other then that, lyrically, what do you think?

Everyone that listens to it, LOVES it.. but they dont' know it from a production side either, that's why I came here.

Preciate it fam,

Re

I see. That would explain the noise. And not to sound too Kanyeish (LOL just playin') but people around me still love the shit I did back in 2000 even though I think it's the worst shit I ever recorded LOL. I would definitely go Audition that would be a huge step up from Audacity. If you can go Cubase or Pro Tools that'd be nice too, but Audition would probably be more realistic.

As for rapping faster, yeah I'm good with that, but sometimes the shit is a science. Some words keep the tempo and fit better with the beat than others. I'm still working on my faster delivery (not as fast as Bone but pretty damn close) so I can figure out how to deliver the same message and keep that tempo going.

Heh, I'm like D-Shawn in a way. When I try to sing too hard I'd have to wind up editing it more than when I did it like no one was watching. Only difference is 1.) I know better and 2.) I know how to edit it to make it sound better than it did raw. The problem I think you're gonna have with him is he's hyped up on his own shit and that's a HARD thing to break (especially if you're not willing to do it yourself).

As far as vocals go, first thing would get get a better mic. I'd spend at least $100 on it. Other than your computer that should be your main piece of equipment. Then I'd layer your vocals and set them off just slightly like maybe 0.035 of a second. It should give them a bit more presence, but hell once you get the noise shit solved, that'd kill half of your problem right there.

Fiev

 

[Trumpspade]

I'll take a listen after work............

Damn fiev, you should be an American Idol judge..............

 

[Re-Lapse]

I see. That would explain the noise. And not to sound too Kanyeish (LOL just playin') but people around me still love the shit I did back in 2000 even though I think it's the worst shit I ever recorded LOL. I would definitely go Audition that would be a huge step up from Audacity. If you can go Cubase or Pro Tools that'd be nice too, but Audition would probably be more realistic.

As for rapping faster, yeah I'm good with that, but sometimes the shit is a science. Some words keep the tempo and fit better with the beat than others. I'm still working on my faster delivery (not as fast as Bone but pretty damn close) so I can figure out how to deliver the same message and keep that tempo going.

Heh, I'm like D-Shawn in a way. When I try to sing too hard I'd have to wind up editing it more than when I did it like no one was watching. Only difference is 1.) I know better and 2.) I know how to edit it to make it sound better than it did raw. The problem I think you're gonna have with him is he's hyped up on his own shit and that's a HARD thing to break (especially if you're not willing to do it yourself).

As far as vocals go, first thing would get get a better mic. I'd spend at least $100 on it. Other than your computer that should be your main piece of equipment. Then I'd layer your vocals and set them off just slightly like maybe 0.035 of a second. It should give them a bit more presence, but hell once you get the noise shit solved, that'd kill half of your problem right there.

Fiev

Yeah, I gotta work on delivery a bit more, but I got so much shit going on it's a bit difficult to find time, so when we record that's just the only moment I get, which happens to be once a month or less sometimes.. So, I mean, with that in hand I don't have much practice at it, but I'm proud of my improvements. I agree also, all my friends love my shit that I did with a 10$ walmart mic, I mean literally, I don't have to do anything but keep on tempo with a cool beat and they like it, but that's again because they don't see it from a production view.

As for D-Shawn, I've tried to tell him numerous times, but I don't wanna hurt him too bad. I'll have him read your review of it, and see what he thinks. He's taking vocal lessons, and has improved tremendously, the first time he worked on my Karma track, I ripped his vocals off and sung it myself because I couldn't stand it.. I dunno what it was about it, but it didn't fit. Now I love the Karma intro and outro. I dunno if it's cus I did it or what the deal is, however...

Sucky thing? I have an amazing computer for todays standards anyhow, 3gb's of ram, 2TB's of space, 64bit 3200+ amd proc. I mean I'm not lacking on computer.

I spent $120 for my mic when I bought it.... It's a Samson CO1U USB Condensor, I mean it sounds fairly nice if it's done right. I haven't figured out the best distance and best set-up quite yet, though.

I'd like to figure out some vocal editing but I'm not sure where to start so if you could throw me in a direction that'd be nice. I have Audition, so I can use that. (Bless the college,, )

Trump, I'll be waitin' your critique.

Re

 

[Physical Ill]

Definitely use some more compression. I mean I hate how much compression is used these days but it really is useful. You can do it dude, I mix all of my own stuff and self taught 80% of what I know. The vocals just seem to dry - like they aren't really mixed at all. Get someone who knows mixing to sit down with you and show you the ropes or something

 

[Re-Lapse]

Definitely use some more compression. I mean I hate how much compression is used these days but it really is useful. You can do it dude, I mix all of my own stuff and self taught 80% of what I know. The vocals just seem to dry - like they aren't really mixed at all. Get someone who knows mixing to sit down with you and show you the ropes or something

See, the problem is? The only person I know that does producing is myself. The other dudes around this town are all about "Hey man, I learned it on my own you can too" So, I'm set to learning things on my own on my spare time (which isn't very often, lately.)

Is there any good tutorial sites you would recommend to me to visit and read up on some information pertaining to vocals?

Thanks in advance for all the replies.

Re

 

[dnkygirl]

Hi Re-lapse,

You've been really working hard. I remeber listening to some of your earlier stuff and with each song seems like your really starting to change. Recording vocals is tricky... there's so many things that can affect the sound. I've been doing alot of just dry room tests myself and trying room treatments to reduce the over room effect in my recordings. I ended up buying a SE reflexions screen along with a bluebird mic. I started with a rode nta1 which is a good mic, but it's got an interesting bass response on vocals... I've also noticed that now my vocals are sitting better in the mix and they sound clearer. I've also managed to totally take the room out of my vocal recordings.

I have been testing how far i can push it with the reflexion filter and the mic placement. I can have the door open along with the ac unit running and not hear a single thing now.. You really don't want the room in your recording... dogs barking.. cars passing.. just crazy stuff.

I've been reading a book called the mixing engineers handbook by Bobby Owsinski. He has alot of good information packed in to this book from people he has met all over the industry. He has alot of great information on how to get a great sound, even when you don't have a big budget. Simple compression, eq'ing, and using effects like delays, and reverbs really can change the dynamics of a vocal...

I like the overall song concept on this one. The production can use some work... but we are all learning.... so stay focused and keep going...


Demi

 

[Re-Lapse]

Hi Re-lapse,

You've been really working hard. I remeber listening to some of your earlier stuff and with each song seems like your really starting to change. Recording vocals is tricky... there's so many things that can affect the sound. I've been doing alot of just dry room tests myself and trying room treatments to reduce the over room effect in my recordings. I ended up buying a SE reflexions screen along with a bluebird mic. I started with a rode nta1 which is a good mic, but it's got an interesting bass response on vocals... I've also noticed that now my vocals are sitting better in the mix and they sound clearer. I've also managed to totally take the room out of my vocal recordings.

I have been testing how far i can push it with the reflexion filter and the mic placement. I can have the door open along with the ac unit running and not hear a single thing now.. You really don't want the room in your recording... dogs barking.. cars passing.. just crazy stuff.

I've been reading a book called the mixing engineers handbook by Bobby Owsinski. He has alot of good information packed in to this book from people he has met all over the industry. He has alot of great information on how to get a great sound, even when you don't have a big budget. Simple compression, eq'ing, and using effects like delays, and reverbs really can change the dynamics of a vocal...

I like the overall song concept on this one. The production can use some work... but we are all learning.... so stay focused and keep going...


Demi

Thanks Demi, you always have encouraging advice. I should take my songs acapella and just mess with them until they sound crisp. The thing that confuses me, is do you want the vocals louder than the beat or the beat louder than the vocals, cus if they're the same, the vocals are hard to understand at certain points. That's one thing I've always asked myself.

Otherwise, I think I have improved dramatically from a year ago. One step at a time, I'll work on vocal editing til I can clear up those songs I have on there, then I'll worry about doing a new one.

Thanks for the advice, I'll check out that book from the library if they carry it.

Re

 

[dnkygirl]

I would start with placement. Vocals are always in the middle and so are kicks, snares, and bass guitar. Everything else surrounds these elements. You also want to try to stay away from making things hard left and hard right. Start by doing a real listen to your favorite song. Listen to how they placed the instruments around the vocal. The mixers book has a chart that shows you the frequency range each instrument affects and gives really good tips on how to blend and fill in using eq and effects. I never played with delays much until now and it seems to be a big fav because I hear it alot on vocals. I have been doing dry vocals sessions and then experiementing with eq and compression. I've also really started using protools for sequencing, version 8 has way better midi tools and the sequencing is way better than reason. Again your song structure is good, just need to start working on overall production. Don't get frustrated just turn it off then get back to it after you've rested and keep learning.

 

[Re-Lapse]

I would start with placement. Vocals are always in the middle and so are kicks, snares, and bass guitar. Everything else surrounds these elements. You also want to try to stay away from making things hard left and hard right. Start by doing a real listen to your favorite song. Listen to how they placed the instruments around the vocal. The mixers book has a chart that shows you the frequency range each instrument affects and gives really good tips on how to blend and fill in using eq and effects. I never played with delays much until now and it seems to be a big fav because I hear it alot on vocals. I have been doing dry vocals sessions and then experiementing with eq and compression. I've also really started using protools for sequencing, version 8 has way better midi tools and the sequencing is way better than reason. Again your song structure is good, just need to start working on overall production. Don't get frustrated just turn it off then get back to it after you've rested and keep learning.

Thanks, again.

I'm going to load up my songs and listen closely to each acapella and see if I can make it sound better. For some reason I can't seem to find my project file for "work it" and that is frustrating me very well. I don't like to lose hours of work in cyberspace. Ugh, the joys of 2TB's of un-organized space. *sigh*

I'll find that, edit it, and re-post it in due time. Right now, I get to work the next 12 days with no day off, until then. Thanks for the advice, I'll be back soon.

Re

p.s. I let D-Shawn know about his vocal comments, he's pretty heated, he doesn't take criticism well. I didn't at the beginning, but then I realized it only was there to help me. and I'm still around, and i still come back, and I've learned alot along the way. So maybe, he'll do it too. he's trying too many things at once, Dancing, singing, rapping, choreographing, producing and whatever else he can throw in there. he's trying to perfect them all at once, it aint working so hot.

I told him to pick one thing that he wants to learn the most, learn the SHIT out of it, and when he's got the gist of it move to another thing, but still learn new things as often as he can for the first option of choice.

I'm hoping he strays away from rapping, because that's not his strong forte in any manner. It isn't mine, but I've developed my voice, and flow, and I'm stillllll learning!

Each day, a new thing..


Thanks again, all of you.

 

[Fieva]

I'll take a listen after work............

Damn fiev, you should be an American Idol judge..............

LOL Trizz....I'd be better than Ellen DeGeneris that's for sure.

But anyhow...I was critiqued hard when I started and so I'll do the same because if you can't value an honest critique, you're in the wrong industry. By the way, I've been out of the loop a little bit going through possible HM2 ideas. Yeah it's still in the kitchen an I just turned the damn stove on so shit's about to get hot.

What up Peritus and Demi, LTNS.

Fiev

 

[Re-Lapse]

Okay, so I went back over the first verse just to see what I could do with it and play around a bit. He didn't record his verse all in one shot so it's hard to adjust the volumes right at this point, but I edited it up to 40seconds. Does it sound better, :01 through :40, because when :41 hits, it is loud as shiittt!

Let me know what you think, if I'm headed in the right direction I'll continue. otherwise, I don't want to waste my time, it's a lot of individual recordings to edit.

http://www.soundclick.com/strictproductions (Re-Lapse - Work It)

Thanks in advance, I'll await a reply.

Re

 

[dnkygirl]

One more thing .. you mentioned you were using a samson mic... hum.. not so sure on that one. I would pawn it and trade up to a shure sm57. It is one of the absolute best low cost mics on the market. It gives you the right dynamics right in the center and keeps the room out of your recordings. They are pretty cheap you can get one for about $99. I've seen big studios use this on vocals just because it gives you the right sound right upfront.

Just another 2 pennys... )


Demi