Death Letter, Delta Blues

[sloop]

This piece is a re-master from the original I recorded years ago. Original recording, 7 channels mixed direct to 2 track using headphones. All recorded in the percussionist's living room of a mobile home.

In the re-master, brought the low end up, compressed the vocal range a bit, basically cleaned up the recording. Let me know what you think. This guy has a sound all to his own. He is playing a 1934 Reso-phonic guitar. Percussion is an odd mix of drums.

 

[Ingo Lee]

I like this, good song and playing for sure. I guess you can't go back to the original tracks which is too bad because I'd like to hear what could be done with this. For me this style of music wants a lot of bleed and natural mix without too much of anything else, IMHO, and that comes from the room and mic placement which you do as it happens and then live with I guess. Not knowing what I would do different, so good job!

 

[rayc]

The booming drum is really annoying.
the Vocals are a bit too aggressive and aren't easy to listen to.
Post what it sounded like before the "remaster" so I can tell if it's an improvement.
Sounds like a multiband compressor murder.
Cool song/performance though.

 

[Nola]

i don't even care about the mix because the song and performance are so cool.
what did you use for drums and how were they miked? they sound cool.
the guy's vocal is weird but grows on you.

this is one of the best things i've seen posted. good job.

 

[andrushkiwt]

I found it difficult to enjoy, though I really wanted to because of the style and performances. I seem to be in the minority on this one, so take what you will.

For one, everything seems centered and stepping over one another without much use of the sound stage. It's kind of a hollow, crammed experience. I thought the harmonica was a little rough around the edges, probably the upper mids. and the low end was unintelligible, to me, if there was much of one to begin with (aside from the kick, which wasn't too clear).

Performance and tune-wise? This is awesome. I think the recording and mix could have been better, though. Not bad for live in a living room, however.

 

[easlern]

I don't really have any complaints with the mix but the recording feels like it could have been better, at least where the drums (stomp and empty bucket?) are concerned. I'd just delete them and hope the drummer doesn't find out lol

Vocalist is fantastic, harp is great, guitar sounds good.

 

[Simon Fanta]

I think the song itself doesn't add anything new to the world of music.
To me it sounds like something people 80 years ago would have probably done better. So I wouldn't try to market a song like this.

For the mix: You could try to cut out heights and lows to make it sound like an old recording and more authentic. Also maybe more reverb on the vocals could be worth a try.

 

[Nola]

I think the song itself doesn't add anything new to the world of music.
To me it sounds like something people 80 years ago would have probably done better. So I wouldn't try to market a song like this.

What a weird critique.

 

[TripleM]

What a weird critique.

Agreed. Not exactly helpful.

Hey Sloop!

I actually liked the song. Maybe I'm just in the mood for this sort of thing. But I liked the feel. The singer was real good.

On the mix, I guess I'm just used to stereo. Mono doesn't do it for me.

The vocal is way on top of things. It sounds a bit wetter and in a little different space from the rest of the tracks. The vocal sounds nice and clear tho.

The mix needs some low end. It's got that low drum thing going (not 100% sure what that is). But it needs something to solidify the low end.

Maybe notch out some of that harmonica at around 2600hz or so? It's cool, but it's a little harsh.

 

[heatmiser]

Well, as far as I'm concerned that is a fantastic performance in terms of vocals, guitar and harp. I probably would have made do with just those 3 elements myself. I thought those sounds were captured very well.

I kind of like the steady, lowest drum sound that is almost like a deep foot stomp. That fits pretty well and holds the fort nicely. What I found unfortunate and distracting was the next lowest drum sound that was more reverberated and hollow sounding...almost like a deep conga. That was far too loud for me, and the short but sporadic little fills seemed a bit rushed and just out of place. If messing with the original mix is out, I would strongly recommend trying to isolate whatever frequencies that particular drum occupies and cut them drastically. Just my opinion of course, but I just think it could sound so much better if that percussion part wasn't there...everything else sounded pretty awesome to me. Good job.