An acoustic song. Whadda ya think?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Chris Shaeffer
  • Start date Start date
The guitars are absolutely killer!

Wow, those guitars really make the song go forward. Recorded with the C1000s eh? Well, that just shows what we all knew, it's the playing that matters, not the equipment. At least that's what I tell myself everytime I record something. Ehh, I wish I did anyway.

I second the motion(s) that the vocal levels are a little low and lack a bit of sparkle, and my personal opinion is that the track is a little bit too long, almost to the point that I started hoping for a change in the arrangement around 2:20 into the track.

Those are very small reservations, mind you, I really like the feel of the song!

Regards,
/Henrik
 
Boy, do I feel like a dick....

I just read up a bit higher that Chris has a hearing impairment... Now I understand why I wasn;t hearing any Esses...... I once knew someone with the same problem... Sorry about that Bro :)

If you really wanted to get those Esses, you could have someone mouth the words, only actually saying the esses....on a different track.... Thats pretty easy..

But then and again, your voice is so distinct and cool I would just leave it....

Joe
 
This is great stuff, you guys. I didn't start this thread to be validated but so far I learned that my micing and playing techniques are working well, my singing is good despite being about 40% deaf, and that the songs work ok. I also learned that I need to pay attention to certain syllables and maybe boost some high freqs is my voice. I had no idea I would get so much feedback- gives me confidence that I can do this stuff well with a few extra steps to account for my hearing.

This is exactly what I needed. Thanks again for all your help!

mgiles7: I wouldn't be at all surprised if I'm just not singing those frequencies very clearly. I've been told by folks with super acute high freq. hearing that my voice sounds just slightly thick- like I'm talking through a blanket. I'm going to try boosting the highs a little to see if that will add any clarity to the vocals. I just keep wondering if they really are too low in the mix or if the absence of high end clarity is making them more difficult to understand. Every time I turn the vox up they then seem too loud - fill up the mix becuase those highs still aren't there.

Its probably just the way my ears interpret things. I'm thinking that I have so much good feedback on this song that I'm going to tweak the mix a little and post a new version for comparision. I figure that I can use what I learn there and apply it to my other stuff.

Thanks for listening again and giving me your thoughts. I really am using this feedback. Hardcore.

Valdemar: Thanks for the comments on the guitar. After reading so much about how the c1000's have a harsh top end I pretty much stopped using them. Especially since I can't hear that high end- it could sound like crap and I'd never know. When all my guitar tracks started sounding the same I thought "I'd better learn how to use all the mics I've got." Thanks for confirming that it was not wasted time.

Ah, the arrangement. I've really got to work on song length and arrangements at times. Two songs that I've done so far over 7 minutes long :eek: (though I like to think they are broken up enough to justify it. With this one I probably should have done the "solo" section with a different chord progression to mix things up, but I love the little instrumental stuff going on with the guitar that is there now. :( I don't want folks to get bored listening to this stuff! I was thinking of adding little fills and other spices to mix things up a little, but the over all arrangement would be the same. Its good to hear that, valdemar, since I really did focus on the lyrics of this tune at the expense of arrangement.

Vox: No sweat, man! Absolutely no offense taken. Its actually kinda cool that you heard it without having it suggested. It was your post that sealed it for me- my voice lacks high end, not my micing technique. I'm looking forward to playing with the high on the EQ and seeing if it makes it better or worse.

Hey! Could I use a de-esser in reverse? What a strange idea! Probably only highlight the pronounciation differences, but I might try it for the heck of it.

Kid Rock?! :eek: ROFLMAO! That pic was actually taken at the camp I used to work at. I was famous for taking classic rock and current pop tunes and rewriting them with nature-based themes for kids. "Signs, signs, everywhere there's signs" became "Plants, plants, everywhere there's plants." Pearl Jam's rendition of "Where, oh where, could my baby be? (Her love?) took her away from me." became "Where, oh where, could that wildlife be? Why does it always run and hide from me?" Hehe heh. I should post some of that stuff over in Songwriting. Kid Rock, indeed! :D

Thank again, guys. This CD might actually sound good when it is done!

Chris
 
Ok, I played with the EQ and level of the vocals and made some small clips of the first verse, b-section, and chorus with slightly different. I hope I wasn't being too subtle with the changes I made. :confused: This is all new territory for me.

I have 3 clips (0.78 meg each) on the IUMA site here:

http://artists2.iuma.com/IUMA/Bands/Chris_Shaeffer/index-2.html

The Original- clipped to the same length and put through the exact same dithering and mp3 encoding as the other 2 clips

Mute HR 1 - The only change is that I boosted the lead vocal by 1.5dB at 10K with a moderate curve. I pulled that freq out of the air- let me know if I should use a different one.

Mute HR 2 - Same EQ boost, but I also raise the whole vocal by 1dB. Again, I hope I'm not being too subtle, but even that 1dB seems to make a big difference to me.

Let me know how that sounds, or even if it sounds different.

Thanks, everyone! (I feel somewhat rediculous posting this...)
Chris
 
Don't feel ridiculous....This is what this is for, to refine your songs and get constructive input. I will listen to this in a couple hours, when my boss is out of the office....:cool:

Matt
 
Those C1000's have some nice punch on your guitar. I've been using a large diaphram and might get one of those to mix in. luckily the pawn shop down the street has one.

Cool feel to the recordings. Reminds me of a Neil Young album, very live sounding.
 
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