Cheeky Reqest

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toad_uk

toad_uk

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I realise it's a bit cheeky asking for you to take the time to listen to this, since I've not been on the board and given anybody else any feedback for a long while; but i just wondered if anyone could have a listen to this excerpt and tell me what they think.

I thought I'd get my old school recorders out and try using them on a track and laid down a three part harmony in the middle and at the end. It's not exactly John Paul Jones or anything. If you've never tried the recorder it's quite tricky. If you don't get the breath just right the pitch goes all over the place. I'll never criticise another school recital again.

Anyway, thanks in advance.
View attachment Come In From The Rain Excerpt II.mp3
 
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Hey man.

Hate to be this guy, but to be honest the tuning isn't great.

I mean, it sounds ok, but if you'd said "how are the vocals" I probably still would have mentioned it.

I might get hit with the hate stick here, but for me, this is one of the few occasions where I would use autotune.

Maybe just on a 50% setting or something, just enough to bring the held notes in tighter. A little reverb on a bus would go a long way too with a sound like recorders, but that's personal preference.

FWIW I like it when it picked up in the second half. Maybe focus on making separating them slightly if possible? IDK.
 
Yer right tho Steeno. I hear the same thing, and it makes it difficult to listen to.
 
Hi Steenamaroo

It's Ok, I am aware of the tuning. I've re-recorded a couple of times to improve the recorders, so I know there's a problem, it's just that after a few listens your not sure what your hearing anymore. The problem with recorders is if you blow harder (even slightly), the pitch goes up and if you back off it goes down. I even used a tuner, but the slightest variation in breath and the pitch changes by 15% or so. Reverb wise, I put loads of reverb on, but with the recorders it just sounds like there's hardly any on.

Thanks for your thoughts. I was just an experiment, I may try then again, or maybe just drop them in the middle section.
 
Or send me the wav's and I'll tune them for you if ya want. I'm kinda bored anyway.
 
Really Jimmy? The recorder tracks are quite noisy, I record in a shed and there's not much level from a recorder. If I decide to send them, how would I get them to you?
 
Yeah, I do stuff like this for members all the time. Just export each separate track of recorder to a folder (24-bit .wav files), all starting at same point. Also include the mix without the recorders playing starting at the same point for reference. Then, zip the folder and send using streaky.com or whatever free file sharing site.
 
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Oh, and shut off all effects before exporting the recorder tracks!
 
Thanks for the offer Jimmy. Not sure when I'll get it done, I use a Roand VS which doesn't have a simple export to wav function, but I'm sure I'll think of a way around it.
 
Just done some research on the internet and apparently some recorders are not tuned to A=440hz. I've rerecorded the recorders with the sample rate lower to compensate. Would appreciate it if you could have another listen (I know it sounds a bit like elves dancing in a wood).

Many thanks

View attachment Come In From The Rain Excerpt II.mp3
 
toad_uk said:
I use a Roand VS which doesn't have a simple export to wav function, but I'm sure I'll think of a way around it.
Click to expand...

I use a VS2400. The only way I know of to do this (and I have successfully collaborated with others here doing this - although "success" is a relative term) is to burn a CD of each track as a WAV file (I think it is labelled "export wav"?), then rip a WAV file on your PC from the CD, then find a share site (mediafire, etc.) to post the WAV.

When the other party posts there WAV files, you essentially do the reverse. Burn the WAV from your PC to disc - insert disc into Roland and import them into your project.

It is time consuming, but otherwise works great. Perhaps others have shortcuts?
 
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Sorry for not replying sooner Toad, I missed the replies.


That update sounds a bucketload better.

They still aren't perfect, but if they were it wouldn't sound right. As you say, it's just the nature of the instrument.

Personally, I'd be happy with what you have now. It sounds really good.

Can i hear the full song?
 
Thanks for the feedback guys. And thanks to Jimmy for the offer to retune the originals.

Heatmiser - unfortunately the VS doesn't have the feature, but thanks for trying.

Steemaroo - this is the first part of the song, it was recorded in 3 parts (the middle bit is a bit self indulgant). I've not edited it together yet but I could upload the seperate parts.
 
Whatever suits man. You could just post it up when you're finished if you like?
 
The following is just my opinion. I'm feeling a lack of shimmer (for lack of a better word) on the intro. Some timing issues with the drums that could be easily fixed were it in a DAW. Then heavy guitars and vocals sound muffled to me. Mostly the 'boxyness' of the drum sound is not allowing the other instruments to have there place. Seems they are not in the same room.

I really like the song tho. I would love a crack at a mix on this if you can find a way to get the individual tracks out. I get tired of doing the metal thing all the time.

In any case, your mix just needs some definition, mostly with the drum sound to bring it together. I am not sure what your capabilities are with the VS-2400 so not sure where I would recommend starting.

Even with the 'elves dancing in a wood', I think the tune is worthy of my playlist. Good song Toad! :D
 
Thanks Jimmy. Glad you thought it was a good song. It's quite an old, one I originialy wrote way back in '82 when I was 16. I've embellished it somewhat, but I've ressurected some of my songs from that period to practice my recording/mixing. I've not been playing the drums that long (although probably long enough now not to be using that as an excuse) so it was a chance to practice drum recording.

The drum set only cost be £20 and the skins at battered to buggery. I have done mixes with more top end on the drums, but that seemed to make them sound a bit thin. Maybe I've got too much middle, but then I tend to loose the toms.

I record in a shed so there's not much room ambiance. I have the VS 880, which is just 8 tracks, so when I bounced the drums I probablly used a different reverb on the drums to that used on the guitars for the final mix, that might explain the different room thing. Next time I should probably make a note of the reverb I use and use the same one for both.

The acoustic I used on the intro is an electro acoustic with one of those moulded backs and quite a small sound box, so that could account for the lack shimmer, maybe my traditional acoustic would do better. As for vocals, again I'm trying to give it body without it sounding thin, there's an exciter on the vocal patch on the VS, maybe I could try that on the vocals in future?

Thanks for the feedback, it's certainly given me some ideas. If I find an efficient way of getting the tracks out I'll give you a crack at it.
 
I like the song composition, even the middle section. :listeningmusic:

As others pointed out, the recorders sound a tad off, but I have played a recorder before and I know exactly what you're talking about with the breath. I've also never personally heard anyone use recorders in a song, so good job!

I feel like some of the vocals could be turned up a bit. I like what you were doing with the background vocals though; some of the earlier background vox might be able to come up a bit as well, but later in the song the vocals were a bit louder and sounded better in my opinion.

I enjoyed all the guitar around 3 minutes in. It really made the song shine. The melody playing on the guitar towards the end is a little quiet compared to the drums. I also agree with Jimmy that the drum sound could be better if it were a bit more dynamic. I'm certainly no expert at recording drums though (even though I am a drummer, haha) so take what I say with a grain of salt.

Great song! I'd love to hear a mix from Jimmy just to hear his take on it. :)
 
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