A Shorty Pop Rock Tune

  • Thread starter Thread starter PDP
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Well this is stereo and It is recorded well but the whole production of it is almost mono. I mean the only thing that is full stereo spread is the drums. They sound good too, but the rest of the song is coming right down the center. I don't think you want it to sound like this. Get some of the other instruments away from the center and it will allow for the vocals to shine and the other guitar parts to shine. You got a good song here this is just what I think.

To be honest this is yours and do it the way you want because it does not sound bad. Nice post.
Trump
 
Trump's post made me take a second listen...switching between stereo and mono. I found a decent spread image in the mix. Were you set to mono, Trump?? It might be a little middley, but the verb reflections in the wings were prominent. I found no fault with the panning and ambience...that is, I didn't catch it as a flaw on first listen.

The song is good, but it could use some finesse in the phrasing and the play of the instruments. Kind of plods on the 'one' a lot....and doesn't get airbourne. Like the snare rat-a-tats, and the evenness in volume, duration, and notes in the bass. The piano was nice and Gospelly. Vocal a tad over FX'd. The change-up about half way through was a nice release..followed by a long, fatiguing vamp. Made it seem like I was listening to an unfinished recording, with the intended feature missing. In short, it's a good tune that could use some invention and imagination in the arrangement and execution. Lots of potential, though!
 
I cant listen to indepth as my stuffs packed away but on a reference set of speakers this sounds great to me, the vocals could maybe come up a little and it all may be a little high in the HFs, shit what am I saying, I cant tell on these speakers, sometimes low mids and vocals disappear on them a bit so see if anyone else mentions it :)


arrangement wise I liked it, the guitar playings nice, the keys sound great...not sure if I hear anything Id change at all...maybe its missing a "gimmick" but it all sounded great to me and much clearer than some of your earlier mixes in here
 
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lol just read the other comments...three different takes on the same tune for sure...the clinic strikes again :D
 
Hey PDP - I think it sounds pretty good. It sounds like you're having fun on this which translates well to the listener.

I like the piano sound and playing a lot.

I found myself wishing that the vocals were not so processed sounding and the lead guitar tone was kind of sizzly for me.

Overall, I thought there was just maybe an excess of high or hi-mid frequencies to the mix. It could be a bit warmer sounding maybe?

Good job though. It's tight and very well thought out.
 
trumpino1 said:
Well this is stereo and It is recorded well but the whole production of it is almost mono..
Trump
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Thanks Trump,

The guitars (panned left and right) for example play the same thing just with slightly different tone, and voicings, so I could see how it might sound monotonish. I did make the cymbals very centralish, think I'll give em some more spread.

jeffmaher said:
The song is good, but it could use some finesse in the phrasing and the play of the instruments. Kind of plods on the 'one' a lot....and doesn't get airbourne. Like the snare rat-a-tats, and the evenness in volume, duration, and notes in the bass. The piano was nice and Gospelly. Vocal a tad over FX'd. The change-up about half way through was a nice release..followed by a long, fatiguing vamp. Made it seem like I was listening to an unfinished recording, with the intended feature missing. In short, it's a good tune that could use some invention and imagination in the arrangement and execution. Lots of potential, though!
Click to expand...

Thanks Jeff, I agree those are the weaknesses in a nutshell, it is meant as a "simple minded" song all around, but I think it would be more complete if I compose another part for after the bridge with a broken up bass line, then make the vamp shorter, most likely Axe the lead guitar at the end. I think that could make it a keeper.
The composition basically ends at 1:30, the beatles did it in 65, but today a Pop song needs, 5 to 6 parts a rap, a marble and two paper clips.
Thanks for the listen.

kcearl said:
all may be a little high in the HFs,
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Thanks Keith, pretty sure your right, I tend to thin things out, so it sounds good on my cheapy speakers, I should trust my Monitors more.

Thanks again.
heatmiser said:
Hey PDP - I think it sounds pretty good. It sounds like you're having fun on this which translates well to the listener.

I like the piano sound and playing a lot.

I found myself wishing that the vocals were not so processed sounding and the lead guitar tone was kind of sizzly for me.

Overall, I thought there was just maybe an excess of high or hi-mid frequencies to the mix. It could be a bit warmer sounding maybe?

Good job though. It's tight and very well thought out.
Click to expand...

Thanks Heat, Thats exactly what I intended, a fun, light hearted type emotion. Thanks for the listen.
 
Thanks for all the replies, I always end up backing off the reverb and doubling on the vocals for the final mix, thanks for all reminding me.
Appreciate all the help.

Pete
 
Sounds pretty good to me. Nice piano. The lead shreads. If I had a complaint, it would be that it's short.
 
Listening the 2nd time now. Something seems off to me. I think it might be that the drums are too far back in the mix for a pop song. Yeah.. When all the instruments are going and the vocals, there are quite a few snare hits that disappear completely. Bring the whole kit up so the snare pops through, even when all instruments are going. Everything else in the song sounded great to me. Personally, I don't mind the FX on the vocals. It definitely has its own flavor, but if that's the flavor ya like, I don't think it needs to be changed.
 
Lovely song, Pete!
I found the arrangement and performance very nice. If I had to look for a nit, I would say the piano needs a more "roomy" sound but it all depends on what you were going for. Your singing's pretty good and the song has a very good hookline. Nice listen!
 
I really like the spread on the (backup?) vocals. There is a few parts where they really pop out (at .47 and .56) - sounds great. Well done.
 
Track Rat said:
Sounds pretty good to me. Nice piano. The lead shreads. If I had a complaint, it would be that it's short.
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Ha, thanks man.

PoeticIntensity said:
Listening the 2nd time now. Something seems off to me. I think it might be that the drums are too far back in the mix for a pop song. Yeah.. When all the instruments are going and the vocals, there are quite a few snare hits that disappear completely. Bring the whole kit up so the snare pops through, even when all instruments are going. Everything else in the song sounded great to me. Personally, I don't mind the FX on the vocals. It definitely has its own flavor, but if that's the flavor ya like, I don't think it needs to be changed.
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I had them louder and blended them in more, I could bring up the pop on the snare without cluttering anything else, I'll give that a try.
Thanks for the listen.

joeym said:
Lovely song, Pete!
I found the arrangement and performance very nice. If I had to look for a nit, I would say the piano needs a more "roomy" sound but it all depends on what you were going for. Your singing's pretty good and the song has a very good hookline. Nice listen!
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Thanks Alot Joey appreciate the kind words. That piano is a Model D (lid closed, a close mic sound) from "The Grand three" collection. The Bosendorfer open lid sound is stunning. I'll be using that on another tune.

arcadeko said:
I really like the spread on the (backup?) vocals. There is a few parts where they really pop out (at .47 and .56) - sounds great. Well done.
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Thanks alot appreciate the listen.
 
jeffmaher said:
Trump's post made me take a second listen...switching between stereo and mono. I found a decent spread image in the mix. Were you set to mono, Trump?? It might be a little middley, but the verb reflections in the wings were prominent. I found no fault with the panning and ambience...that is, I didn't catch it as a flaw on first listen.
Click to expand...

Alright maybe I should have said middley and not mono.
This is a great song PDP, the mix ain't bad. Good jamming.
 
I pretty much agree with trump and heatmiser's comments. A little too centered for my tastes and the vox and drums seem a little too roomy/processed sounding. I'd also like less keys once the song gets rolling and more but less fizzy guitars to fill it out. More variety or a change-up in the song would work too, but it's so short that you could just leave it alone and be fine. Not bad though.
 
Sounds great to me Pete.
I guess you sang this?
Reminds me of the guy from Alan Parson on Eye in the Sky.
I like the vocal thing you did at about 1 minute in.
Nice work.
 
Greg_L said:
I pretty much agree with trump and heatmiser's comments. A little too centered for my tastes and the vox and drums seem a little too roomy/processed sounding. I'd also like less keys once the song gets rolling and more but less fizzy guitars to fill it out. More variety or a change-up in the song would work too, but it's so short that you could just leave it alone and be fine. Not bad though.
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Thanks, I'll try a less "artsy" drum and vox sound. I agree a less washed out sound will be better for this. Thanks for the listen!

Manslick said:
Sounds great to me Pete.
I guess you sang this?
Reminds me of the guy from Alan Parson on Eye in the Sky.
I like the vocal thing you did at about 1 minute in.
Nice work.
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Thanks Man, I do sound alot like that singer.
 
I really like this song. I wish I could write like this with your real piano skills and all :). I wanted it to be longer. I tend to be picking on lonesome instruments today...so my preference would be just wanting that piano to have more depth to it...kinda sounds small and donkish. I'd like to hear it again with things spread out more too. :D
 
Something amiss at :22 on the vocal track (my guess). A strange sound. Smaller occurrences of it elsewhere in the song.

I agree the vocal could come up a nudge. I'd keep it dryer too.

I liked the guitars.

Overall mix seems to have a hyped 6K to it. Kind of an edgy/sizzly sound.
 
maximusbs said:
I really like this song. I wish I could write like this with your real piano skills and all :). I wanted it to be longer. I tend to be picking on lonesome instruments today...so my preference would be just wanting that piano to have more depth to it...kinda sounds small and donkish. I'd like to hear it again with things spread out more too. :D
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Thanks, I may try the open lid sample of the Model D, the open lid Bosendorfer sounded too open, so i went back to the more Honky Tonk sound. Thanks for the listen.

TripleM said:
Something amiss at :22 on the vocal track (my guess). A strange sound. Smaller occurrences of it elsewhere in the song.

I agree the vocal could come up a nudge. I'd keep it dryer too.

I liked the guitars.

Overall mix seems to have a hyped 6K to it. Kind of an edgy/sizzly sound.
Click to expand...

Thanks I know you've got great ears Trip, I'll look into that.
Thanks
 
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