Outrageous

[K-dub]

Outrageous - Finished this morning.



When I realized I could stay no longer
As I knew I must be on my way
Broken hearts when mended
Will grow stronger
… and I hoped that I’d get there some day

When you meet someone
You greet their sunshine
Hiding darker shadows
In shade

Hard to see around bright smiles
Hard to see the outline of the strange

But I learned who you are
And it was outrageous
I once thought that love could conquer most things
I even talked my fears away

But there comes a moment when you feel
That to feel again
You’ve got to change

For I've seen who you are
And it's so outrageous

It was a hell of a time (Yes. It was)
Just a hell of a time (Yes. It was)
It was a hell of a time (Yes. It was)
So I changed everything
Yes I changed everything
I so changed everything
Not to walk in a shadow

No.

I don’t walk behind you any more
I don’t walk behind you any more
I don’t walk behind you any more
I don’t walk behind you any more

‘Cause that’s oh so bizarre … and oh so outrageous

Any/all comment warmly welcome and appreciated

Best,

Kev-

 

[K-dub]

New tweaks ... probably only I will notice.

Still working on the massaging of the mix. Today was first pass. There will be more.

 

[BillyBenson]

Man, the instruments sound so good, I just wish the vocals had a bit more clarity.

 

[K-dub]

Man, the instruments sound so good, I just wish the vocals had a bit more clarity.

Do you mean the overall level, Bill, or the consistency (do they drop in and out of the music bed to you)?

I mixed the vocal up to where it could be heard ... but I'm wondering if they're still ducking under the waterline at times. I have been accused of putting them too far out front.

 

[K-dub]

Okay ... based on feedback on other boards, Bill's comment was consensus on the vocal(s) issue. Others noted the lyrics were hard to make out, and the vocal levels were inconsistent. I therefore eq'd a little more of the articulation range in (2-3k area) and cut some of the low-high mid energy back (fog area in my voice is roughly around 600 cycles). I also fixed some compressor settings on it ... to even out the level and bring more consistency to the dynamic range.

I then subbed all the BGVs to their own bus, and worked on getting those levels more regulated ... rolling off the highs and lows so they didn't compete directly with the main vocal. Then I brought their level more forward ... and I think the blending worked better ... cementing them solidly.

I was also, I think, a little timid in the solo section with the featured instruments ... so I brought them more out front.

New mix is up top. Better?

 

[K-dub]

This is the instrument I played after the tag line. Yes ... it could use a little cleaning.

 

[K-dub]

... just notification of a new mix on the OP ... based on recommendations from about the net (including here). BGVs and Lead vocal still needed better balancing.

 

[TripleM]

I liked the drum sound. I liked the piano-like sounds too. I liked the bass sound too.

Vocal sounds bad to my ear. Phasey/chorusy/delay-y or something. Hurts clarity.

I'd probably bring up the BGVs a little bit.

I didn't like the keyboard sound on the solo around 2:15. I didn't like it in the 70's, and I still don't today.

It needs some work to get it up to your usual standards (which are among the highest on the board).

 

[K-dub]

I liked the drum sound. I liked the piano-like sounds too. I liked the bass sound too.

Vocal sounds bad to my ear. Phasey/chorusy/delay-y or something. Hurts clarity.

I'd probably bring up the BGVs a little bit.

I didn't like the keyboard sound on the solo around 2:15. I didn't like it in the 70's, and I still don't today.

It needs some work to get it up to your usual standards (which are among the highest on the board).

It's a doubler plug on the vocal ... blended in under the drier top. Some have mentioned elsewhere that they really like the effect, but well noted, bud. I wanted it to be there ... but not really noticeable unless you're listening really close. If you caught it as a problem, then I have too much of it dialed in.

lol ... on the dislike of the keyboard sound. I spent a lot of time trying to decide what sounded like crap to you.

I've been monkeying with the bgv levels to get them just right. I think I've got the straight harmonies in the chorus dialed in okay ... but I think I'm going to bring up more of the harmonies on the "Hell of a time part" ... as they're not quite cutting through in the way I wanted.

As always, old friend, thanks for the thoughts. Much appreciated.

 

[Greg_L]

First of all I think it's mega squashed and very hot. I think the vocals are mega squashed and very hot. I thought the "outraaaaaaaaaageous" line was gonna blow out of my speakers and kill me. Not a good sound for music like this. Too harsh. It's not a metal track. The vocals are basically sitting on top of the mix because there's no room in the mix. All the sounds are fine, it's just got no breathing room.

 

[K-dub]

First of all I think it's mega squashed and very hot. I think the vocals are mega squashed and very hot. I thought the "outraaaaaaaaaageous" line was gonna blow out of my speakers and kill me. Not a good sound for music like this. Too harsh. It's not a metal track. The vocals are basically sitting on top of the mix because there's no room in the mix. All the sounds are fine, it's just got no breathing room.

Interesting. On another site, the complaint was the vocals weren't hot enough. I'll attend. Thanks for the thoughts, bud. Still dialing it in.

 

[Greg_L]

Interesting. On another site, the complaint was the vocals weren't hot enough. I'll attend. Thanks for the thoughts, bud. Still dialing it in.

Well I mean "hot" like they're harsh, too compressed, and way too high in the mix. Everyone hears things differently, maybe they heard a different mix or something, but I'd seriously have to question the ears or general thought process of whoever said these vocals aren't enough.

 

[K-dub]

... and they are people who do this sort of thing for a living. Goes to show, huh?

Early mixes had them severely less forward ... particularly the tag line ... which I boosted (and you evidently noticed).

 

[Supercreep]

I am fan of the thumb piano. I think the acoustic piano works okay, but I hear a spanky Rhodes or Wurlitzer. Overall the tune seems a little sparse to my ears (but I am a notorious over-arranger).

This is reminiscent in style of Donald Fagen. Maybe that's why I hear the Rhodes. Nice job, K.

 

[K-dub]

I am fan of the thumb piano. I think the acoustic piano works okay, but I hear a spanky Rhodes or Wurlitzer. Overall the tune seems a little sparse to my ears (but I am a notorious over-arranger).

This is reminiscent in style of Donald Fagen. Maybe that's why I hear the Rhodes. Nice job, K.

The Dan is exactly what the bass player thought too, bud. I'm up to work on some of the issues Greg mentioned this morning. It's midi so I could easily post a revised version w/ elec piano instead. That might be interesting ... although the person who the song is written about would kill me. She likes regular piano.

I purposefully kept the arrangement simple and organic ...

Thanks for the thoughts!

 

[K-dub]

Okay ... totally backed off compression on the lead vocal, and cut it significantly on the master bus. Trip -- I also took the doubled vocal WAY down. Let me know if you still are offended.

Thanks to all for the input! Truly apperciated.

New mix (hopefully done) is up top and here:

 

[jimistone]

I really think this sounds great. Fantastic drum sounds and bass guitar. I'm listening to your latest mix and I can't find any flaws.
Great recording k-dub.

 

[K-dub]

I really think this sounds great. Fantastic drum sounds and bass guitar. I'm listening to your latest mix and I can't find any flaws.
Great recording k-dub.

Thanks Jimi! I really couldn't do it w/o the help I get from places like here. Greg's notes were particularly helpful in making it sound more "natural" ... he was (as usual) spot on.

 

[Greg_L]

Okay ... totally backed off compression on the lead vocal, and cut it significantly on the master bus. Trip -- I also took the doubled vocal WAY down. Let me know if you still are offended.

Thanks to all for the input! Truly apperciated.

New mix (hopefully done) is up top and here:

Holy crap that is significantly better. The vocals now sound like they belong with the song. Now that it's a little better balanced, next I'd suggest you bring the hats down a little. They're banging away kind of obnoxiously over there on the left. Bring em down a little, and move them a little closer to center. They make the mix seem lopsided IMO.

 

[TripleM]

Personal preferences aside, I like the mix. My only nit is the vocal still has a low mid frequency that is making it a little tubby. Like somewhere around 500hz. A small notch in that area might help.

Other than that, I think it's good.