Dark Hollow Ground

  • Thread starter Thread starter robgreen
  • Start date Start date
Terrific song. I'm in the "lower the vocals & add a little shimmer" (just a TINY bit) camp.
A bleak excursion sonically & lyrically but both belong together and you've avoided full on dirge drones so it's not a downer at all.
 
rayc said:
Terrific song. I'm in the "lower the vocals & add a little shimmer" (just a TINY bit) camp.
A bleak excursion sonically & lyrically but both belong together and you've avoided full on dirge drones so it's not a downer at all.
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Great, thanks for your thoughts Ray - good to hear the song works for you. I'm pretty much ready with a new mix that addresses the common themes in the comments, so I'll get that updated tomorrow.

Believe it or not, this was actually intended to be my attempt at upbeat.

...I don't think I'm hard wired to write upbeat :D
 
ps - this song is a real earwig. don't know if that terminology is the same over there, but it means a song that gets in your ear, into your head and gets stuck there..... fwiw, as to raycs comment, and I know its all in the ear of the beholder - but I don't find this bleak sonically at all. I think the organs and the propulsive beat give it kind of a cheery undertow. I meant to tell you that I really like what you've done with the percussion on this. Solid and straightforward.
 
chuckduffy said:
ps - this song is a real earwig. don't know if that terminology is the same over there, but it means a song that gets in your ear, into your head and gets stuck there..... fwiw, as to raycs comment, and I know its all in the ear of the beholder - but I don't find this bleak sonically at all. I think the organs and the propulsive beat give it kind of a cheery undertow. I meant to tell you that I really like what you've done with the percussion on this. Solid and straightforward.
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Aye, I know the phrase Chuck and I know what you mean - it's been a damn internal soundtrack for me for about a month now. I just started writing a new tune and I'm hoping it's going to finally shift it!

Glad you like the percussion too, I just wanted something simple that propelled the tune and I think it works.

fuzzsniffvoyage said:
Nice.


I really like the mood it invokes.
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Cool. Thanks very much for listening in mate :)
 
Right, new mix done. It's just the same as the original link, but for the sake of ease:

320kbps mp3
Dark Hollow Ground

Soundcloud:


I've put back in a fair amount of the high end to add a little shimmer, messed about with a lot of levels and re-recorded the first verse and chorus backing vocals that I couldn't hear without cringing. To my ears it all round sounds a lot better - would love to know what youse make of the new mix. Cheers folks :)
 
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No love for the remix! :( :p

..sorry Rob, but you were tumbling right off the page there...

I listened a few times and it didn't initially sound too different, but I just revisited the 1st dropbox link and sure enough, that one is a good deal darker. I like this better myself although I would've gone further in this direction.

What was wrong with the first verse? When I listened to the 1st mix again just now it sounded fine to me?
 
heatmiser said:
No love for the remix! :( :p

..sorry Rob, but you were tumbling right off the page there...

I listened a few times and it didn't initially sound too different, but I just revisited the 1st dropbox link and sure enough, that one is a good deal darker. I like this better myself although I would've gone further in this direction.

What was wrong with the first verse? When I listened to the 1st mix again just now it sounded fine to me?
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hey heat, thanks for rescuing me - I figured everyone was done for this mix, so thanks for coming back!

The remix is on the same dropbox address as the one on the first page - i kept it the same so as not to have any confusion between versions. I was okay-ish with the first verse until I played it to my wife who told me it was out of tune and the timing was off (but great other than that... :( ) - and from then on I cringed when I heard it.

I didnt want to do much on the remix other than open up the high end a bit - there's more on the vocal which I thought cut through a little more while being a little quieter overall; more high end on them, drums and guitar; more panning on the guitars and I think the keyboard has a little more presence.

I'd hoped it would have a little more shimmer and to my ears I thought it did when I'd finished remixing, but maybe jaded ears don't make the best judge. I don't think there's much more presence to put back in now, which may be down to the tracking. Thanks as ever for your thoughts mate.
 
So...the link on page one - the one I thought was "a good deal darker" - is the exact same mix as the one on this page??

Jesus, I am useless. Do not listen to me under any circumstances :facepalm:!

:D
 
Dunno. I think I'd put a parametric on the master bus and cut some low mids. I've been popping in and out of here for the last few days, and the name of the tune kept catching my eye - Dark Hollow Ground is excellent. The darkness of the sound matches the title, of course, but stuff like the organ about 3/4 of the way through is a bit too dark maybe. The guitar that follows it needs some air, too. If you sent this to an ME, the first thing they'd be reaching for is the EQ and the air machine. :D
 
Okay, I listened to the mix on page one at first, and I just spotted the new mix on this page above. I was happy enough to listen to it again cuz it's a good tune. You've added the air, but the low mids remain. Just a touch, that's all it wants - just cut the murk a little bit.
 
heatmiser said:
So...the link on page one - the one I thought was "a good deal darker" - is the exact same mix as the one on this page??

Jesus, I am useless. Do not listen to me under any circumstances :facepalm:!

:D
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Why do you think I rarely say anything other than 'great job steve'? I get totally lost when the number of versions goes past *1*. I used to just edit the first post to include the ascending versions as opposed to sprinkling them throughout the posts. Is it just me or does it seem like the slump is kinda over around here....
 
heatmiser said:
So...the link on page one - the one I thought was "a good deal darker" - is the exact same mix as the one on this page??

Jesus, I am useless. Do not listen to me under any circumstances :facepalm:!

:D
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'fraid so. I was trying to let you down gently here heat ;)

chuckduffy said:
Is it just me or does it seem like the slump is kinda over around here....
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I agree chuck. Some good stuff on here of late.

dobro said:
Dunno. I think I'd put a parametric on the master bus and cut some low mids. I've been popping in and out of here for the last few days, and the name of the tune kept catching my eye - Dark Hollow Ground is excellent. The darkness of the sound matches the title, of course, but stuff like the organ about 3/4 of the way through is a bit too dark maybe. The guitar that follows it needs some air, too. If you sent this to an ME, the first thing they'd be reaching for is the EQ and the air machine. :D
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Thanks a lot for your thoughts dobro. I've had one final bash at getting the balance right on this mix and focused mainly on the lower mids. I found and cut a few boomy lower mid frequencies & generally tried to get the bass under control. I kept the guitar ending as it was as it's pretty much how I had it in my head and I didn't want it too prominent in the mix.

I'm not going to hold it against anyone for not diving in a third time as it's probably starting to stretch interest/patience as it is, but for the sake of completeness as much as anything,

Mix three:


Mix two:
Dark Hollow Ground - second mix

I kept the previous mix up this time too to prevent confusion. Thanks for all yer help folks - think I'm going to do a cover next to work on my mixing skills :D
 
This third mix is good and I just wanted to say great tune. To my ears it has a very 60s vibe to it.
 
I listened to mix3 twice and the second time it sounded completely different and better...:eek:?
 
Yeah, I like mix 3 better. I like the tune better each time I listen to it. I bet that at some point at the future, you mix this one again after you've learned some more stuff, but for now the backing supports the vocal attractively and doesn't get in the way. Nice.
 
Ace, thanks a ton for coming back gents and Illsidgus for giving it a listen. The response to this one has been great, I appreciate it - as I do all the mix suggestions. I often need a gentle shove in the right direction and to reign in my natural inclination to make the bassline dominate everything. To my ears at least, the differences in the third mix change the dynamic of the tune completely - something that really surprised me when I listened back.

Dobro - I think you may be right. I've revisited earlier tunes and made improvements, so maybe the same with this once I've had a good break from it. My ears need a rest from this song now and I'm itching to start on something new. Thanks all :)
 
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