APPLETON - pop/rock final mixes

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bleyrad

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Please check out either (or both) of the songs at:

http://www.mp3.com/appleton/


Critical feedback on the recording and mixing is appreciated. No mastering was performed, save a bit of limiting (as transparent as possible) and dithering.
As these are final mixes for our album, we will not be changing them at all, but it's good to know what we could do better next time.

Thanks a bunch.

Brad Danyluk
Drums - APPLETON
 
ok...

Come on guys, someone please take a listen and give some feedback. We'd really like it!!! Also, if you have any questions about the production, I'd be happy to answer.
Thanks.
 
Sounds great to me...what did you track it on? Mics? Pres? Etc.?

How did you do the guitars? What mic? What guitars? What amp? Did you compress them? What distortion? The distortion sounds fabulous! You must tell me how you got the distortion sound....

I wouldn't change anything....
 
Listened to "If you want me." Very nice song.

The harmonies blended so well together. Don't know if one vocalist did it or not. Real catchy melody.

If I had to offer suggestions... I thought some of the "answer backs" in the vocals were tough to hear, particularly at about 2:05 or so.

Perhaps double tracking the guitars to give them a fuller sound would help out too.

The song had that small section where it switched to a mellow sound - it was repeated a couple of times. I personally thought that took away from the overall feel. I'd keep it strong throughout.

The lead vocalist has a decent voice, but not terribly strong.

But all in all these are pretty minor things. I enjoyed it.
 
dude, sorry:( I checked out both of these tunes the other day, and liked them so much I forgot to tell you.. I just listened and forgot to post.. I listened to them a few times. I liked both tunes, and I thought they both sounded great.. A little 'weezer' in there..

good tunes, and they really do sound very good... I liked the first song much better though..


later

sam
 
Tracked in Nuendo with a Delta44, through a Mackie VLZ 1604 (not Pro) mixer for pre-amps. Mics were largely an assortment of SM57's and an NT1000. Bass was DI'd.

The NT1000 was used for both vocals and guitars. We close-miked a Marshall 4x12 cab with a Mesa Boogie Mark-1 head for the left guitar, and used a crappy little 8" Fender combo amp for the right guitar (guitars WERE double-tracked.) Then we EQ'd the heck out of them (and everything else). Let's see if I can remember... low cut around 150, a little boost in the 700 range, big cuts in the midrange, and a huge high shelf starting at about 8000. Yes, guitars were compressed somewhat, though not much was needed. All this was done in mixing - they were tracked completely raw (and sounded terrible to begin with.)
 
The recording and the Mix are excellent.Sounds as good or better as any major label releases of this genre of music.Catchy tunes.I was singing "meet me in the middle of the night" on the first play of "If you want me".

Cool tunes and something to be proud of.Now take it to the masses with a live show!:D
 
Really good. I hear more of a Daphne Aguilera thing more than a Britney influence, though.

Macle
 
thats some awesome tunes...if you recorded that with the gear listed, i am truly impressed....the tunes, songwriting, arrangements, recording, and everything else are top notch.....id buy it......

theres some good shit coming out of Canada....im moving......
 
the first song was recorded very well...although I didn't really care for the song that much...to "pop" sounding for my tastes. Only suggestion might be to raise the solo gtr...

The second tune ....I liked much better. I could take or leave the vocalist...performed well...not my cup of tea, so to speak. All in all..the recording is great, ready to master...and sell to all the teenage fans you outta have...

You do get nice gtr sounds..

After thinking about it...I think the reason I could take or leave it (if it came on the radio...I'd probably let it play without changing stations, however), is because the musical chops don't really come thru on this tune. Everything is performed ok...but the recording quality takes front stage over the playing and even the tune too. Not that you have to have blazing leads, super difficult musical passages...but there was just nothing that "grabbed me", so to speak. Every part seemed like it would be easy to perform, and the emotion to the tune wasn't really there.
Like I said, I'd listen to it on the radio, but I definately wouldn't buy it. Just my useless opinion...:rolleyes:
 
Even though I really liked the song (if you want me)...

I can feel what mixmkr is saying...

It does sound somehow emotionally lacking. I do like it...but, someone mentioned Weezer -

I don't think it has the edge of Weezer...even though it has the sound.

And I think mixmkr hit the nail on the head when he said "It *sounds* like every part would be easy to perform" - I am all for simple music. And, in reality - Weezers stuff is really easy to play etc. But, they make it sound on the record like it is very talented.

My first impression of this song was "bland".

I think it has more potential though...anyways, I don't mean for this to be a really negative review..

The sound quality is excellent. I actually think it sounds more like Ben Folds...hadn't heard that comparison yet..suprisingly.

Ben Folds with just a tad less emotion - keep at it!
 
awesome.

hey guys -

thanks a lot for what i consider to be very useful and conscientious criticism... i'm the guy who wrote, sang, and played guitar on these songs. if anyone cares to, i would love to hear a little more on a) the vocal delivery and b) what makes these songs sound lacking in emotion. i try very hard to write songs that contain a lot of emotion and dynamics, and i'll be the first to admit that that doesn't always come through in our performance. these recordings are a little sterile sounding, IMO, and i think i attribute that to: a mediocre vocalist (heh) who was too concerned about pitch to give any soul, and the fact that we tracked to a metronome - you can hear us falling in and out of metronome time and the song doesn't always 'groove'. the parts ARE intentionally easy to play - as are the parts in most pop music - but i don't think that's what makes it sound dull. thoughts?
 
I think both songs are well written. There's no doubt. And you have a really good voice but I don't think we're hearing your best performance.

If you want me: I agree with your comments about being too concerned about pitch. Your pitch is right on, but lacks a convincing delivery imho. I don't think the metronome necessarily messes up your groove. I think you guys should just play it faster. This song seems to want to be locked into a tight, quick tempo. In my headphones, the vocals were a bit too low. Guitars were overtaking them.

Scream It Out: Again your pitch is nailed, delivery is lacking. For example at :52 'god damn town' should really be more in character. Sounds like you're bored. I also think the chorus should have some harmonies in the vocal line.

You know, if you're not satisfied with it as is, do you really want to release it? It's really good writing and you have talent, just seems like you may be rushing to press it.
 
I don't know, I was thinking that that's the style, kinda deadpan. (I was gonna say Ben Folds before, and Weezer and Fountains Of Wayne, too, but I was too busy making my Daphne joke, cuz you've listed Britney as an influence.) I agree that the tempo and groove seem sometimes not great. The second song drags a bit, and the drums sound kinda dead, and it does seem to be making you sing a bit stiffly at times. And the first song, there are definitely spots where stuff seems a little off, rhythm-wise, and tightness-wise. But they're both good. And your voice is really good, too, I agree it should be louder, and, I do think there's emotion in there (I'm not a huge fan of that Ben Folds singing style, but lots of people are. I think he's really good though.) I would think a producer/remixer might be able to make your tracks really really good.

Macle
 
Yes. I'm thinking about getting macle to produce my album ;)

I have a tendancy to do the same thing with my vocals man....kind of...sing them soft...and that can be a good thing, but at times...you just have to let it go...not be afraid to miss a note and do it again.

I think "If you want me" could go for a little of that lennon *push* on the hook line "If you wannt me!" part.

I'm not trying to change your sound.

I think the drum parts could be a little "fuller" on that song...I think that is one reason why it sounds a little sterile, to me.

I wish I had better advice for you....I'm just not that good. Try recording with maybe an SM58 or something to get a litttle more character? Works for Bono. Instead of the more clinical sound of an LD Condensor.

But I definately second the notion that if you don't think it's your best....don't press it...

Leave it up on the website...becuase it's really good...but, keep working at it. Commiting to a CD is a very finite thing.
 
It all seems a little slow. It reminds me more of the Get Up Kids than anything else. All the clean parts seem fine, but then when you hit the distorted parts, choruses, etc, it just seems like you are walking where you shoudl at least be jogging. Dragging, slow, morose. It needs to be a little more exciting.

I think your voice and the production is fine, except the snare is a little papery, missing a little bite.
 
thanks a ton, this is all extremely helpful feedback...

alas, the CD is printed and already in the public's greedy hands, and we're happy with it - it's only got three songs and is intended to serve as a "sampler," so i think we met that requirement. i think the majority of these comments are more long-term things that need work over a period of months and years, not areas that we can expect drastic improvement in over the course of recording one release. but next time we record something, we will turn here early in the process... you guys rock.
 
good deal man...no problem. i'll keep up with your bands progress on the website.
 
I like both tunes but I like Scream it out the best. On both tunes my biggest comment would be the drums. They just don't seem to have any power. And I don't just mean they're too soft although they are. but they sound so small, I'm not sure if that comunicates anything to you but it's the reaction I had to them. Good songs though man. especially Scream.
 
wes480 said:
Yes. I'm thinking about getting macle to produce my album ;)
Click to expand...

Haha! Have me do it, and maybe it'll be done by the year 3000. Hurry up and get your studio together so you can produce mine!!

Here's to all us crazy fools taking on the overwhelming task of writing, performing, producing, and engineering actual (full on)productions and arrangements in our fucking bedrooms!!

Macle
 
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