the lonesome bell - new song, new gear, same crap?

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Vocals - perfect level and nice and clear. Good doubling/harmonies.
Drums - seemed to have a bit muc reverb in the intro but that faded after the rest of the music came in. Could use a few more rolls to spice it up...
Bass - is burying the acoustic. The tone is not my fav, it sounds like it could use something but I'm not sure what. It's kinda huge and floppy, I'd like tighter, snappier...
Acoustic - buried under the bass.
Good tune - kinda reminds me of that Beatles song a bit. :D
 
ido1957 said:
Vocals - perfect level and nice and clear. Good doubling/harmonies.
Drums - seemed to have a bit muc reverb in the intro but that faded after the rest of the music came in. Could use a few more rolls to spice it up...
Bass - is burying the acoustic. The tone is not my fav, it sounds like it could use something but I'm not sure what. It's kinda huge and floppy, I'd like tighter, snappier...
Acoustic - buried under the bass.
Good tune - kinda reminds me of that Beatles song a bit. :D
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Thanks for checking it out ido.

Ugh, you're right...it kind of had an across the universe sound to it, right? Not intentional, but I think I hear that now. I do like that tune, but didn't want to sound like something else.

Yeah, the bass is big on this. Probably too much. I kind of go for that fuzz sound and think it is ok on it's own, but it does kind of overwhelm the whole thing when it gets going I guess. I was actually kind of happy with the acoustic sound (they're only there for the verses and the ending), but I'll listen again and see what I can do - maybe shave some bottom end off?

I have new tracking headphones which really help me to hear my voice better - it seems to help with doubling (and hopefully pitch :o :)).
 
Ooo I like this a lot. A grungy bass line, yet kind of Beatle-esque to be sure! Excellent song.
 
Props to you for a cool tune. I like the way it bounces along. The bass line is awesome, but I agree there is something funny about the bass. Maybe just needs the bottom rolled off. There seems to be this low rumble that muddies things up. Did you high pass the bass? Also agree that hearing more of the acoustic would add to the great feel this song has. Maybe turn up the acoustics and pan them out away from the bass.
 
I really like it, it's got a great "rolling along" feel to it that makes me feel like driving :)

I like the doubled vocal effect you have...usually I don't like doubled vocals, but the effect you achieved is subtle, and different than the type that you usually hear on home recordings. Do you mind sharing how you achieved that? Is is just two different takes with the same singer/lyrics slightly panned out? I'm just wondering why I like your version of that effect when I usually don't!

Regards,

Dave
 
This is pretty cool. I like the rumbly bass a lot. I wouldn't change it at all. A lot of "texture" on this one, and it all works pretty well to me. The acoustics could come up, but they sound cool all subtle like. Great job.
 
Zombre said:
Ooo I like this a lot. A grungy bass line, yet kind of Beatle-esque to be sure! Excellent song.
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Thanks much Zombre.

guitar zero said:
Props to you for a cool tune. I like the way it bounces along. The bass line is awesome, but I agree there is something funny about the bass. Maybe just needs the bottom rolled off. There seems to be this low rumble that muddies things up. Did you high pass the bass? Also agree that hearing more of the acoustic would add to the great feel this song has. Maybe turn up the acoustics and pan them out away from the bass.
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Thanks GZ. Ok, that's two of you hearing more or less the same thing wth the bass. Again, I like the sound by itself and even when paired with the drums, but there is some kind of low-end build up when everything else is going at once. I've been fiddling with it this evening with mixed results.

The acoustics are already panned almost fully (50 out of 63...er, pan units?) to either side. I have tried them with higher levels this evening, but not sure yet if I like it. Thanks again for the ideas :).
 
dewhitt said:
I really like it, it's got a great "rolling along" feel to it that makes me feel like driving :)

I like the doubled vocal effect you have...usually I don't like doubled vocals, but the effect you achieved is subtle, and different than the type that you usually hear on home recordings. Do you mind sharing how you achieved that? Is is just two different takes with the same singer/lyrics slightly panned out? I'm just wondering why I like your version of that effect when I usually don't!

Regards,

Dave
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Thank you Dave. I'm glad you enjoyed it.

For the vocals, essentially, yes, just two takes sung on back to back takes and panned to either side. One new thing for me this time was using better headphones for tracking. I got some $100 sony phones that have much clearer upper mids than my prior set. Also, based on advice from another HR forum, I kept the overall headphone mix pretty quiet and turned off most of the string instruments while tracking the vocals. This seemed to help me hear myself better.

Greg_L said:
This is pretty cool. I like the rumbly bass a lot. I wouldn't change it at all. A lot of "texture" on this one, and it all works pretty well to me. The acoustics could come up, but they sound cool all subtle like. Great job.
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Thank you Greg. I like the bass too, but maybe a bit much for some depending on taste...speakers, etc.?

It is a simple song obviously, but lots of layering of little parts. This is my first recording in a digital format ever and I am pretty overwhelmed with all of the options. Much more complicated than cassette, but easier in some respects. Not as much noise to deal with, but the gain staging is so much more complicated! Thanks again :).
 
new mix

Hey, I put up a new mix (link below) trying out some of the suggestions from this thread. If anyone can compare the two I'd really appreciate it.

Although the fuzz bass is actually a bit louder, the sub bass rumblings have been cut considerably and the acoustics were turned up a bit. Also, I messed with the levels of the BGVs a bit and now you can hear the "bell"...such as it is. The 1st and 2nd mix are both at the top of the soundclick page...thanks!

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_songInfo.cfm?bandID=660667&songID=9058089
 
The higher level on the acoustic guitars are a big improvement! Fills the song out better. The bass I'm not sure about. The first one has more low rumble but also seems to have a bit more "growl", if you will. I actually think I prefer the bass on the first one. Vocal level is about perfect. Nice work.
 
guitar zero said:
The higher level on the acoustic guitars are a big improvement! Fills the song out better. The bass I'm not sure about. The first one has more low rumble but also seems to have a bit more "growl", if you will. I actually think I prefer the bass on the first one. Vocal level is about perfect. Nice work.
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Ok, thanks GZ. I am trying to see if I can combine those elements of both into a 3rd mix. This is difficult, but fun ;).
 
Big Beat beginning!
I didn't get to hear the 1st mix. Nice fuzzy bass - it ALMOST doesn't belong but to my ears it glues the rest together & anything less would make the drums stand too far forward.
Yeah, the melody is quite ATU.
Nice layering & arrangement.
It's a bit up the middle until the acoustics come in - they fit neatly by the way.
Vocal level is just right.
 
Cool tune, it's something different for sure. Vocals are v good and I like the growly bass. My only suggestion would be to lop a few bars off the drum intro and get into it it more quickly. Good stuff
 
rayc said:
Big Beat beginning!
I didn't get to hear the 1st mix. Nice fuzzy bass - it ALMOST doesn't belong but to my ears it glues the rest together & anything less would make the drums stand too far forward.
Yeah, the melody is quite ATU.
Nice layering & arrangement.
It's a bit up the middle until the acoustics come in - they fit neatly by the way.
Vocal level is just right.
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Thank you ray...yeah, even though I have tons of stuff panned all over the place, I agree it sounds less spread out than one might expect/want. The electric guitars are kind of bunched up there...

Bulls Hit said:
Cool tune, it's something different for sure. Vocals are v good and I like the growly bass. My only suggestion would be to lop a few bars off the drum intro and get into it it more quickly. Good stuff
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Thanks for checking it out man. Good point...the drum intro is not interesting enough to warrant being so long. I fiddled with having it come in later a few mixes ago but didn't find a good spot. I will keep experimenting. Maybe if I threw some crazy fx on the drums just at the beginning there it could create some interest...
 
guitar zero said:
The higher level on the acoustic guitars are a big improvement! Fills the song out better. The bass I'm not sure about. The first one has more low rumble but also seems to have a bit more "growl", if you will. I actually think I prefer the bass on the first one. Vocal level is about perfect. Nice work.
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I'd agree, at least in my room the bass on the first mix was more pleasing than on the second. I didn't hear a low mid build up but my system is notorious for hiding such things. I'd personally have been afraid of using a bass sound that floppy, so good for you! It works really nicely here.

The electric guitar sort of sucks the whole mix into the center at times, I'd almost like to hear a less washy reverb on the electrics, while still pushing them back in space.

This tune really sticks with ya. I had to step away from the computer for a bit after listening - but my brain kept playing the song.

Reminds me a little of Peter Gabriel, particularly your voice.
 
I am listening to the 2nd version (v4.24 lol). Anywyas, I like the bass as it is. The acoustic is in a good supporting role. I'd like to hear the vocals a little louder, on level with the kick and bass. Can't quite figure out what's being sung.

You might revisit the reverb on the kick. I lke the way it sounds solo in the intro, but maybe it adds too much during the rest of the song.

(Ha, I just heard the ending, cool. Bringin it back in a couple of times)

Cool tune!!!
 
davekmusic said:
I'd agree, at least in my room the bass on the first mix was more pleasing than on the second. I didn't hear a low mid build up but my system is notorious for hiding such things. I'd personally have been afraid of using a bass sound that floppy, so good for you! It works really nicely here.

The electric guitar sort of sucks the whole mix into the center at times, I'd almost like to hear a less washy reverb on the electrics, while still pushing them back in space.

This tune really sticks with ya. I had to step away from the computer for a bit after listening - but my brain kept playing the song.

Reminds me a little of Peter Gabriel, particularly your voice.
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Thanks for listening dave. Good stuff here...another "floppy" bass comment :p...I guess that's a sound I like, but hearing it called "floppy" kind of takes some of the cool factor out :D.

You're right about the electrics. Part of my intent here was to ceate contrast between the "verses" and "choruses" (to the extent that they are present) not only in terms of tone and instrument choice, but also in panning and in the amount of reverb. I have spread them out a bit based on ray's comment, and I think they are clearer now witout being truly spread out.

They are awash in spring reverb from the amp which was intentionally imprinted on the tracks (I have very limited post-tracking processing power currently), but doesn't allow for much flexibility post-tracking.

Thanks again. I'm glad the tune stuck with you, and hope that wasn't in an annoying kind of way...hearing this thing so many times now, it's starting to sound like a car commercial or something to me :eek:!
 
Chili said:
I am listening to the 2nd version (v4.24 lol). Anywyas, I like the bass as it is. The acoustic is in a good supporting role. I'd like to hear the vocals a little louder, on level with the kick and bass. Can't quite figure out what's being sung.

You might revisit the reverb on the kick. I lke the way it sounds solo in the intro, but maybe it adds too much during the rest of the song.

(Ha, I just heard the ending, cool. Bringin it back in a couple of times)

Cool tune!!!
Click to expand...

Hey chili...thanks for the suggestions! Like the guitars mentioned above, the drums sounds were largely imprinted during tracking. I agree about the kick, but need to start tracking real drums or get some kind of drum sample library to have that kind of control.

This is really fantastic getting all of this input. Thanks everyone. Before now, I'd get all of these interesting suggestions and would go back to my cassette deck's mixer and have to start from scratch each time. Now I have automix with motorized faders, so trying out your ideas is easier and specific changes can be made without undoing the whole thing. That is so cool. Maybe digital can be my friend :)? Really, I want to figure out how to incorporate both formats into one project.

Anyway, one more mix based on all of the above...(4.25 remix - link below). The bass is more less restored to its original floppiness. The acoustics remain raised, the intro has been cropped (kind of abrupt, but better I think (thanks Bulls!)). Also, the electrics are panned a bit more which makes their parts more distinct. Here it is:

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_songInfo.cfm?bandID=660667&songID=9061664
 
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heatmiser said:
They are awash in spring reverb from the amp which was intentionally imprinted on the tracks (I have very limited post-tracking processing power currently), but doesn't allow for much flexibility post-tracking.
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Yeah I always record my guitar effects too. I know it is "wrong" but I figure my g-force has better fx than a plugin. There are alternatives but I guess I'm just a little lazy and don't want to have to manage a bunch of extra fx tracks.

heatmiser said:
Thanks again. I'm glad the tune stuck with you, and hope that wasn't in an annoying kind of way...
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Oh, I meant it as a compliment. I was just trying not to call it "catchy". ;)
 
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