Feedback on a serious effort - "Oblivion"

[Pinky]

I've had this basic melody being tossed around in my head for a few months now. Over the past 2 nights I've been writing, tinkering, and practicing. Last night decided to hit record, and today I had my guitarist partner in crime over to lay one of his patented leads over it.

I tried really hard to make this a clean and tight recording. I think it may be one of our best recordings overall. Feedback welcome as always ("It sucks" is only an opinion, but if you have something productive to help make it into a better recording I'm all ears!).

Oblivion

**File has been corrected.

homepage

A side note - any tips on mixing leads? I'm having a tough time getting leads to punch through but not hurt my ears. Could also be Lew's Stratocaster, I generally don't use them and this is my first project using one in recordings...

 

[Rokket]

Try to shave off some of the highs with some eq'ing, and if you are mixing in software, then copy the lead track, add some simple delay to it (about 10ms), and bring it up just under the original track. Then bring the volume of both tracks down a tad so that it will sit in the mix.
And use a little less reverb....

 

[Pinky]

Try to shave off some of the highs with some eq'ing, and if you are mixing in software, then copy the lead track, add some simple delay to it (about 10ms), and bring it up just under the original track. Then bring the volume of both tracks down a tad so that it will sit in the mix.
And use a little less reverb....

I used to do this prior to owning a bass. Would record the bassline on a guitar then drop it an octave with software, then mix the original just under the octave track for a cleaner sound. Thanks for the reminder, excellent suggestion.

BTW, I fixed the track. It was more an issue with the VBR MP3 then with the acoustic, but it sounds better now anyway.

 

[Rokket]

I used to do this prior to owning a bass. Would record the bassline on a guitar then drop it an octave with software, then mix the original just under the octave track for a cleaner sound. Thanks for the reminder, excellent suggestion.

BTW, I fixed the track. It was more an issue with the VBR MP3 then with the acoustic, but it sounds better now anyway.

I do it all the time with vocals and lead instruments. I wish I had Randy Rhodes' talent to double track, but I don't spend enough time with my guitar anymore since I gained a wife and kid....

I listened to the mix off your homepage, if that changes anything....

 

[Pinky]

I listened to the mix off your homepage, if that changes anything....

Unfortunately I didn't save the original of the lead part, so I'll have to try that suggestion on the next song.

 

[Rokket]

Unfortunately I didn't save the original of the lead part, so I'll have to try that suggestion on the next song.

Cool, post it when it's done. I'd like to see how it turns out!

 

[oh_the_blood]

the bass to me sounds out of tune and doesnt seem like it fits in the intro

 

[Pinky]

the bass to me sounds out of tune and doesnt seem like it fits in the intro

I think I hear that out of tune feel in that one part. I know I was playing the notes dead-on (I'm a better bassist than I am a guitarist ). And because it happens only in that one segment it may actually be a funky effect from the flanged electric guitar and a second acoustic with heavy reverb. Though it is possible that the bass was falling out of tune, that was take 5 or 6 before it was a keeper.

Thanks for hearing it as well, means I may need to retrack the bassline.

 

[Pinky]

So I retracked the bass and tweaked a few things. It's about as good as I think I'll get it.

 

[Miggs6]

Great little track Pinky. Nice composition. I would agree with the previous suggestion of adding some delay to the lead to make it pop (but maybe you already have.)

Actually, I was wondering how you had your guitars panned? Are they double tracked? If so is each side EQ'd differently? Do you have the rythmn gtr panned wide and the lead in the middle? (I'm listening on some crumby (sp?)headphones at the moment, so I can't quite tell.)

Well done track. Very impressive.

(And thanks again for your comments earlier on my thread.)

 

[Rokket]

When the distorted guitars kicked in, it got a little muddy, but it was much improved. Perhaps a boost in the 1k range on the guitars under the solo will get you there.

Nice work so far, Pinky...

 

[Pinky]

Great little track Pinky. Nice composition. I would agree with the previous suggestion of adding some delay to the lead to make it pop (but maybe you already have.)

Actually, I was wondering how you had your guitars panned? Are they double tracked? If so is each side EQ'd differently? Do you have the rythmn gtr panned wide and the lead in the middle? (I'm listening on some crumby (sp?)headphones at the moment, so I can't quite tell.)

Well done track. Very impressive.

(And thanks again for your comments earlier on my thread.)

I provided a full explanation in the other thread .

Rokket, I'll give that a try. I didn't know there was a problem in the lead part?

 

[Rokket]

I provided a full explanation in the other thread .

Rokket, I'll give that a try. I didn't know there was a problem in the lead part?

Not with the solo, just the guitars under it. They just got a little muddy...

 

[Pinky]

Not with the solo, just the guitars under it. They just got a little muddy...

Ah, let's see if adding a little water will help .

 

[jake-owa]

The acoustic is too roomy and not clean enough. The bass is not hitting with coinfidence in the intro...

Way to drum machiney....sorry Bazzlad, I know that's not a word.

This track has mud issues. Mute that drum machine...argh.

Wait that was a song? That was an intro to a song right?

It goes nowhere and it has some real problems. Most of them are sound choices. You are doing a lot of direct recording here I take it? the peice has no integrity or real point to it. It comes in pokes about and dies like it couldn't get the breath to even start.

 

[Pinky]

K, fixed a few more things (all subtle). Even used a different normalizing strategy on it and it seems to improve the lead part.

 

[Pinky]

Jake-owa, I appreciate constructive criticism. But when ALL it EVER IS becomes criticism it defeats the point of asking (already knowing the answer). You can hide behind "it's my opinion" BS, but you're just a cruel and unhappy person (the term "troll" comes to mind).

If you think so lowly of my recordings, I can only imagine what you think about half of the other stuff posted here. Perhaps your head it too big for your shoulders, or maybe you're just clueless and enjoy being an ass.

Congrats, you just got the pleasure of being the only person on my ignore list (and not just on this board, any of the several bulletin boards I participate on).

 

[jake-owa]

Great, another one bites the dust.

That was my take, I'm just one guy. You can go ahead and put me back on ignore now because I know you had to take me off to read this.

I will never usderstand why people get so bent on this shit. That was a near 2 minute intro, I fully expected the song to start when it ended.

 

[Neeps]

Correct me if I'm wrong but for most of us the ultimate aim isn't to make good recordings but to make good music.

That said i'll tell you what I think you should do to make it a better recording\song\music... this might sting a little...

you need to record something that sounds better...

I'll explain...

I've had this basic melody being tossed around in my head for a few months now. Over the past 2 nights I've been writing, tinkering, and practicing.

for a minute there I thought you were talking about the melody for the lead guitar... that would be fair enough... but then you say...

Last night decided to hit record, and today I had my guitarist partner in crime over to lay one of his patented leads over it.

So what melody exactly were you tossing around in your head?... as far as I can hear the lead guitar part that comes in at 1.18 is about the only thing close to a melody in this song... and that's my biggest problem with it

so I'm guessing that you were tossing around the chord progression that the acoustic plays...

And on a postive note theres nothing wrong with the chord progression... in fact it's a solid base to build upon.

but chord progressions need more to turn them into songs...

yep a bass line is a good idea... turn up the volume a little...

smothering a chord progression with a flangy sound won't turn it into a song...

in a nutshell you need vocals on this track... even a bad singer would be better than none here... we could at least imagine what the song would be like if sung well...

I know this maybe isn't what you want to hear but in my opinion this isn't worth mixing properly...

Take the chords and go write a tune with lyrics...

The go back to your bass...

For the electric guitar you'd then need to think of a nice supporting role for it...

By all means keep the solo... even although the mix is muddy here it's the only bit that sounds like something happens..

Do all that then we'll see if we can talk mixing... not that I actually know how to mix but I'll chat about it anyway if you like...

 

[Transducergeek]

A coincidence? I just posted this....

I have long held the conviction that when I, or anyone, finally dies, we will "experience" exactly what we "experienced" before we were concieved... Absolutly Nothin'..... (What is it good for?....)
The only LOGICAL conclusion....

Infinity of oblivion......unitl life occurs, we have experience.....then, after..... Infinity of oblivion....

What say you?