inertia

[chuckduffy]

Thanks for explaining that rob. Since I lost the drum set, I've been resorting to a few things, but mostly these loops that I bought. They're called Discrete Drums. They were designed specifically for the Roland VS series. I think they'd be classified as loops?...basically there are 2 CDs containing roughly 40 "songs" of drum tracks cut up into sections like "verse 1", "bridge fill", "crash", etc. It's pretty easy to cut them into pieces and assemble a song. They're divided into 8 separate tracks - so lots of versatility in terms of tweaking the sound too. Lately I've just been going down the list picking the next drum "song" and forcing myself to record a song over whatever those drums offer. It's been a good way to just force myself to create something...

I did a new mix last night and will try to add the link to the 1st post.

I lowered the OHs and reduced around 14k by at least several dbs.
I raised the kick drum
I raised the chuckD/beatles ripoff riffs
I replaced the wussy solo
I cut out the drums entirely for one passage right before the end

Does this sound better? I am totally willing to go back again and tweak further if not - thanks for all of the help so far everyone!

I guess maybe now the bass somehow seems more rumbly and I think I lost some of the good snare sound when fiddling with the OHs??

I will check it out. You are cracking me up with the ripoff stuff, still not hearing that. As far as the too long thing - personally I live in mortal fear of creating songs that go over 3:00, but this one chugs along nicely and I didn't get antsy towards the end (the usual sign for me)....

 

[propman]

Since I lost the drum set, I've been resorting to a few things, but mostly these loops that I bought.

How did you "lose" your kit?

 

[heatmiser]

I will check it out. You are cracking me up with the ripoff stuff, still not hearing that. As far as the too long thing - personally I live in mortal fear of creating songs that go over 3:00, but this one chugs along nicely and I didn't get antsy towards the end (the usual sign for me)....

Ha! I'm happy you don't hear it. Rob picked up on it though. He saw through me, so there has to be something to it. Take it as a compliment that I was at least trying to rip you off. I think your riff had tremelo though, so this is completely different.

I am terrible with song length. As a listener, I will sit through pretty much any length if I like the tune. I grew up listening to 20+ min. 1-2 chord grateful dead jams, so that helps with the attention span or whatever. Short songs can be cool too, but I struggle with that template.

How did you "lose" your kit?

Well...it wasn't my kit to begin with. My wife's coworker wanted their yamaha kit out of their house, so they asked us to keep it for them...it turned into 2 years, and then a relative of theirs wanted to learn, so they took them back .

 

[robgreen]

Well...it wasn't my kit to begin with. My wife's coworker wanted their yamaha kit out of their house, so they asked us to keep it for them...it turned into 2 years, and then a relative of theirs wanted to learn, so they took them back .

That's your cover story anyway. I heard it was something to do with mescal, hookers and a weekend in Las Vegas...

Thanks a lot for clarfying your drum loops-as I said, they sound good, so it surprises me that you got them from a commercial cd and managed to tailorthem to your sound so well. The closest I had to that was buying EZ drummer, but I didn't like it much and havent used it on anyrhing. I look forward to listening to your update.

 

[heatmiser]

That's your cover story anyway. I heard it was something to do with mescal, hookers and a weekend in Las Vegas...

Sounds like a Hangover movie.

Thanks a lot for clarfying your drum loops-as I said, they sound good, so it surprises me that you got them from a commercial cd and managed to tailorthem to your sound so well. The closest I had to that was buying EZ drummer, but I didn't like it much and havent used it on anyrhing. I look forward to listening to your update.

You're welcome. The loops sound pretty damn good as they are, but sometimes I tweak them heavily more for variety's sake than anything. Being stuck with whatever tempo they picked kinda sucks though.

No love for the new mix/solo....waahhh. I may have missed the mark in a few areas there.

 

[fritsthegirl]

You made me exercise my ears on this one. I'm sorry that I still couldn't pick out the finer details of the changes you made, blame my naive ears. If I can try to summarise what I thought...

I liked it rough sounding, and that's only because I don't & can't hear the finer details yet. The stuff you threw into my ears in the first version I liked a lot. It was nice and blunt, grungy is probably the word I'm looking for. Seemed to missing that a little bit from the redo.

I missed the drums at the end in V2, but I much preferred the guitar solo. Still, I love your voice. And that shit you thought up on that medical grade pot is excellent.

 

[robgreen]

Sounds like a Hangover movie.

Sounds like all three Hangover movies. It's rapidly diminishing returns in that franchise (though I enjoyed the first one).

I hope you don't mind Pete, but I took the liberty of cutting you a shorter version to satisfy mine, yours and Greg's curiosity. You mentioned that you'd tried unsuccessfully to cut out the first chorus, so I ran a quick mix off your update that did that:

Inertia - Single Version

The length of the original was fine with me, but having said that I didn't miss it's absence in the above. It's probably my least favourite part of the song - feel free to use it as you wish, or just leave as the answer to your curiosity.

The update sounds good to me - the beefed up solo is actually a big improvement on reflection, so good work there. The less prominent overheads are just a taste thing and I actually really like that Flaming Lips/Tame Impala type smashed and saturated cymbal sound, so whatever is best for you.

 

[heatmiser]

Cheers - I knew I could count on one or both of you to take pity and get back to me - the British are so polite !

You made me exercise my ears on this one. I'm sorry that I still couldn't pick out the finer details of the changes you made, blame my naive ears. If I can try to summarise what I thought...

I liked it rough sounding, and that's only because I don't & can't hear the finer details yet. The stuff you threw into my ears in the first version I liked a lot. It was nice and blunt, grungy is probably the word I'm looking for. Seemed to missing that a little bit from the redo.

I missed the drums at the end in V2, but I much preferred the guitar solo. Still, I love your voice. And that shit you thought up on that medical grade pot is excellent.

I'm not sure about the grunge factor there, but maybe it's because I cleaned up the cymbals a little. I don't like what that did to the snare though, so I'll probably try this one more time and seek a further compromise between blunt and, uh...less blunt?

You're right, I think the drum drop-out didn't work. I just noticed how so many tunes have the drums come and go and it adds interest and tension. I've done it successfully myself in the past, but this sounds wrong. I'm going to replace them. It seems like you both agree the solo is better, so that's cool. I guess I'll keep the 2nd one. Thanks so much for checking back and I'm so glad you appreciate the swirling backwards keys + toy guitar part that is the whole point of this tune .

Sounds like all three Hangover movies. It's rapidly diminishing returns in that franchise (though I enjoyed the first one).

I hope you don't mind Pete, but I took the liberty of cutting you a shorter version to satisfy mine, yours and Greg's curiosity. You mentioned that you'd tried unsuccessfully to cut out the first chorus, so I ran a quick mix off your update that did that:

Inertia - Single Version

The length of the original was fine with me, but having said that I didn't miss it's absence in the above. It's probably my least favourite part of the song - feel free to use it as you wish, or just leave as the answer to your curiosity.

The update sounds good to me - the beefed up solo is actually a big improvement on reflection, so good work there. The less prominent overheads are just a taste thing and I actually really like that Flaming Lips/Tame Impala type smashed and saturated cymbal sound, so whatever is best for you.

Yeah, I just saw the 3rd film 2 nights ago and it was merely ok. Myself, I think the 2nd one is by far the best. I'll watch that over and over. I love the Allentown tune by the dentist!

Wow...thanks for doing that cut. I had tried to cut out the entire chorus, including the ahhhhs, and that doesn't work. I bet I can do what you did here pretty easily. It was just a cut on the stereo mix obviously, and it souded pretty smooth...no other trickery there? This could shorten it up at least a little.

Yes, I am all about that squashed, over-the-top drum sound lately, but I thought the 1st one had crashes that were simply too overbearing. I think I need to find some middle ground, or simply go back to compressing the living shit out of 'em. Thanks again for your continued input!

 

[CrowsofFritz]

Finally got around to posting here instead of the little Souncloud comment.


Like I said, it really reminds me of early Beatles! I suppose it's just the tone of all the guitars and I guess the chord structure is similar.


I really like it, especially those "ahhhhs."

 

[chuckduffy]

Finally got around to posting here instead of the little Souncloud comment.


Like I said, it really reminds me of early Beatles! I suppose it's just the tone of all the guitars and I guess the chord structure is similar.


I really like it, especially those "ahhhhs."

Haha - yeah - I specifically mentioned Beatles 65

 

[heatmiser]

Last mix

Finally got around to posting here instead of the little Souncloud comment.


Like I said, it really reminds me of early Beatles! I suppose it's just the tone of all the guitars and I guess the chord structure is similar.


I really like it, especially those "ahhhhs."

Thanks Crows. That is high praise that, while undeserved, is much appreciated!

Haha - yeah - I specifically mentioned Beatles 65

That was a good year...Ticket to Ride, Help, and stuff like that...

Ok, this is the "final" mix. I replaced the original Soundcloud version with this one (same link as "original" mix in OP - couldn't edit the name). It's shorter, has the new solo, OHs are back up a little and I actually doubled down on the drum-less section by removing everything but the vocals, acoustics and hand percussion. This is about as good as I'm going to get it for now. Hopefully an improvement - thanks for all the input!

 

[fritsthegirl]

Sounds awesome.

 

[chuckduffy]

Thanks Crows. That is high praise that, while undeserved, is much appreciated!



That was a good year...Ticket to Ride, Help, and stuff like that...

Ok, this is the "final" mix. I replaced the original Soundcloud version with this one (same link as "original" mix in OP - couldn't edit the name). It's shorter, has the new solo, OHs are back up a little and I actually doubled down on the drum-less section by removing everything but the vocals, acoustics and hand percussion. This is about as good as I'm going to get it for now. Hopefully an improvement - thanks for all the input!

This is hot man. Love the new solo

 

[elmedia]

Love it, Love it, Love it

I just heard this, linked from the Home recording e-newsletter. This is just one happy tune. My only crit and really minor against such a great piece of work, is that through my event monitors, the guitar solo near the end still comes out a little bit harsh. Fantastic piece otherwise and an honor to be able to listen to such a skilled artist.

 

[heatmiser]

Sounds awesome.

Yay!

This is hot man. Love the new solo

Thanks chuck.

I just heard this, linked from the Home recording e-newsletter. This is just one happy tune. My only crit and really minor against such a great piece of work, is that through my event monitors, the guitar solo near the end still comes out a little bit harsh. Fantastic piece otherwise and an honor to be able to listen to such a skilled artist.

Best first post ever!!

Seriously though, thank you elmedia. Yes, there is still some harshness in this. I struggled with this mix more than most. Still not quite where I wanted it, but pretty close. lol @ skilled artist...but hey, I'll take it . Thanks again.