Finally found time for a new tune

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SLuiCe

SLuiCe

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Warning: meter and tempo changes have been spotted here.

You may get sea sick but the scenery may be interesting. I was going to do this just acoustic, but a HELLISH work week gave me a little shove in a particular direction. There's still lots of acoustic, though. Doubled even.

Anyway blah blah...my ears are fried. I know it needs work, especially in the vocal area, but time is limited. So any advice is welcome as always. And another cold beer would be nice too.
Thank you.

No, in the bottle is fine.

Thanks.

"Chrysalis"
www.nowhereradio.com/sluice/singles

Oh yeah...Lt. Bob, let me know if you have any ideas for this one. It's got a sort of eastern feel here and there like you were looking for.

Have fun...go easy on me...it's experimental .:eek:
 
a sluice tune!!yes

now.......im a little jaded when it come's to your stuff man. so it's hard for me to comment on your mixes, because im usually really into the tune......no "butt kissin" it's just a fact!!

and once again this song just groove's!!!! damn i like this!! maybe some more emphasis on key word's with a raspy type vocal, it's in a couple of spot's like that, and really sound's good!!!!! more often??

and more of that wood block!! that's cool.

fantastic song...it's all you bro.

peace

rick
 
had to listen in lo-fi because of some odd clipping problem on hi-fi........this critique could be off because of only hearing it on lo-fi..........sounds like the vocals could have a little more volume............it's a cool song.........sounds like system of a down
 
This sounds very good already. Couple notes from a listener (not yet a mixer), I would have liked more bass and the vocals seemed to vary in presence from a bit low in the beginning to maybe a bit loud at the end. I really like the song, the timing changes are way cool. Nice work! :)

EDIT: see I told you I was just a listener. probably my crappy system that made the bass low for me. I really did dig this tune alot :cool:
 
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Man, what are you doing here? I mean it...this BBS is for people like me who need help.

what the hell IS that??? FFWWWZZZZTTTT. Guitar? I dunno' what it is, but it's cool.

Okay, it's almost 7 minutes long, and I wasn't ready for it to end. I vote for "change nuffin'."

And don't think I didn't try to find something wrong.

:D
chris
 
SLu,

you're one of the reasons I refuse to put my stuff up here yet... you're just too good ;)

Really, really cool off-tempo guits. Stuff that you can't figure out right away... sort of a Zeppelin-like trick (and then done, at least in rock music, by dozens of others). Acoustics have a tad too much pick noise? (just me being paranoid :rolleyes: ) When tracking acoustics, especially strumming parts, I use a very fast attack (0.1 ms) to kill those lead transients. (You may not want to... matter of taste)

That bass sound is very cool... smooth as honey. The little accent shaker/hat sound seems about 3db too loud, whenever it appears.

Now, something that WATYF will make a stink over for sure (if he hasn't already while I'm typing :eek: ) are those tom rolls that start around 1:40... and reappear now and then? Too mechanical sounding. Can you edit each drum hit by hand? If so, try to vary the velocity on each hit leading up to the last; it would make the sound less mechanical (hopefully your tom-hits are multi-layered, so a softer hit would sound different)...

Man... there's some excellent guitar playing in here, with the subtle little harmonics...

A tad more compression on vocals could bring up the lowest parts...

This could be my favorite song of yours... you're like your own version of Sammy... deep dark music, with your own spin on it.

Excellent balance in this mix... the outro kicks ass, beginning with those snare hits.

Man... my ears are fried on my own little piece of crap mix, and your stuff that you threw together in one week comes by and soothes the ears... guess there's something to this "loud/soft" dynamic music ;) Very good, as usual SLuiCe.


Chad
 
Firstly - i like it
Yes you're voice is definitely unique.

I think a real drum kit would sound awesome for this song - with a sound like alient ant farms drums.

Dont tell me you did use a real drum kit.......................

Those low toms need heaps more reverb i reckon - it would make it sound a little darker/fuller.

What did u use for the "violin" sound??

well done , yiordanaki
 
geez... 12MB??? :eek: Do you use VBR at all...? that might bring the size down a little.

anywhoo.. I see you still have your affinity for the china boy... :D Your drum programs must look like insanity personified... :p Very intricate stuff. I agree with participant aboot the tom rolls being too "stiff"... but most of the drum hits are like that. That's what you have to deal with when using samples. I thought the "hi-hat" on the right was a little too present... maybe take it back a bit... it got a little overbearing in certain parts. I'd also like to hear those acoustics up front a little more... around 3:30 or so when it gets quiet, the drums just totally outweigh the gits.

I'd also like to hear your vocals present a little more.. you have got once cool voice.. but I hear you heavy metal guys like low vocals, so it may just be a taste thing... :p

Nice outro, btw.. :) Glad to see you "let it rock" at the end.

WATYF
 
Well first off....... your 12 1/2 meg song just about busted a computer nut........ (damn dial-up):mad:
.........looks like it was worth the wait though (as if there was any doubt):)

Man, you get some of the coolest sounds. I believe you mentioned in one of your past posts that you used a Triton. Is that where your drums come from? They really sound good.
The guitars sound GREAT! The acoustics are very smooth and pleasing. And, I agree w/ Participant about the bass tone.....very nice. I also agree that the vocs dip a little low in some spots. ....but I think you know that. MAN THAT LITTLE GUIT. SCREAM @ 3:40 IS UNDENIABLE. ........hows about a guit. solo? Im hearing something tool'ish, but whatever works for you. There are alot of vocs in this song, and allthough i know that you dont give a shite about pop arrangements:D ..... dropping a solo in one of the dynamically heavy parts 2:45, etc. might be a refreshing break in such a long song, imho..... ...something to keep the long song from sounding too long.

.........As usual Sluice, this just flat out smokes. Youve got one hell of a creative side to you. Love this alot.

G
 
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Wow........! Yeah....I'd love to do something with that. It's gonna take some studying though. :D Pretty intricate indeed. I'll PM ya' tomorrow and we'll talk.
 
Thanks for the listen guys. I know my shit can be kinda taxing, especially when it's almost 7 minutes. A few notes over a cup of coffee before work...

Fenderlikingood: I think I understand what you mean on the key words. I think I was just about to uncover the vocal character of this song when I started running out of time. (moving into a house in a month, which will solve most of my recording time issues! horray!) I don't feel a metal voice is appropriate here (which is good since I don't have one), but something with some "pressure" is what I'm seeking. I plan on redoing it at some point. Thanks for the listen.

Powderfinger: I've heard a few System of the Down songs. I don't listen to much heavy stuff at all anymore, but I think I might pick up some of their stuff. It's so different dynamicly than most hard rock these days. Thanks!

Barometer: I'll take a listen in my truck today to check out the bass. The monitors can be somewhat deceiving in terms of bass, so my tendency is to keep it down to avoid mud on the first mix. Glad you dig the song.

Chris: Haha...I'm surprised you had nothing to say about the fake strings. You dissapoint me. :D (Just kidding) I appreciate it bro.

Participant: Get your stuff up here. What's this "refuse to put my stuff up here" crap? You gonna leave me out here naked by my self? Hell, I've taken a ton of your tips, so I know you're work has gotta be pretty good. The pick noise I didn't manage to cut down a little with some EQ (around 2k) if I recall. I used a Bheringer B2 (yeah, they talked me into it) and a SM58 as an over-head. Keepin sound controlled for the acoustic was a BITCH. I repeat...BITCH. I'm thinking about trying out some Octava's once I get into a house. All I can do to keep the trucks outside from making a cameo appearance...
RE: drums. Yes, I have control over each note. I will definitely experiment with that. I know I can get these things to sound kind of real if I keep trying. Good ears as always Man.

Yiordanaki: I was playing with the verb on the toms actually last night when it started getting late. I totally agree they are too up front. On my to-do list. Thanks. Violin sound is a sample from a Korg Triton.

WATYF: I need to learn more about VBR I guess. Everytime I post one of these long bastards, I'm tempted to try it in VBR, and then I get cold feet, and I sweat, and I kick my cat. And then I just throw it up in 256. It's probably the wrong thing to do. I'll examine your drum comments. I know you're right about them.

Guernica: Again, sorry about the large file. It's a fear of sonic degradation my father instilled in me as a young boy growing up in the country. He said son, one day MP3 wave compression is gonna change everything, and not always for the better. Boy was he ever right.
Yeah, the drums come from the Korg. Beats any soft synth I've heard...so far.
"I also agree that the vocs dip a little low in some spots. ....but I think you know that." Yes, usually it's intentional- a little dynamic experimentation. Hopefully not too distracting though. I'll check it out with fresh ears tonight.
As far as the solo idea goes, Lt. Bob might be cooking something up for me in that department. Some nice horns perhaps...

Right Bob?
 
Fabulous

You my friend, seem to be a musical genious.

Maybe I grew up with too much Tull, but a flute on this song would send chills up my spine. Hint hint!!

Great work!!

GT
 
Very good stuff again Sluice. Definately a thumbs up. The song has your trademark mood again, and the mix is good. I still don't like the clicky kick sound, though. I guess it's just a preference. The drums sounded pretty good, but again I could hear they weren't real (obviously). Still, not a bad choice of a drumkit. I'd prefer a not-so-clicky kick, and a bit more reverb on the snare. The performance was great and the song too. Granted that it was not so easy to digest on the first listen.
 
I just listened at school, and let my students listen along with me. These are 16-18 year-olds at an alternative high school.
The general concensus is.....

Awesome, dude!

Now, please don't tell my principal that we're critiquing music in here...

Mark
 
phew ... listened to the whole thing almost twice ... :) sorry very hard to "digest" ... can't comment on the mix except it was somewhat muddy and I would like to know what the song is about ... so hard to make out the words for this forienger ... :) ...
very creative stuff for sure ...
cheers
 
Very advanced songwriting - a complex piece of work. Awsome craftsmanship. Not my favorite genre, but I really appreciate the skills it takes to produce something like this. All kinds of interesting sounds and things jumping out at you when you don't expect it. Ranks at the top of the cool-o-meter.

Maybe bring the vocals up a nudge?

Terrific work! I'll be sure to download your next one.
 
SLuiCe said:
WATYF: I need to learn more about VBR I guess. Everytime I post one of these long bastards, I'm tempted to try it in VBR, and then I get cold feet, and I sweat, and I kick my cat. And then I just throw it up in 256. It's probably the wrong thing to do.
Click to expand...
It's O.K... that's what I'm here for... to tell you the right thing to do... :D

And here it is... :p

Step One: Download CDex. (version 1.40 is fine.. you can try 1.50 beta if you want.)

Step Two: Install CDex.

Step Three: Open CDex and click on the "Options" menu, then select "Settings".

Step Four: Select the "Encoder" tab at the top... in the middle of the Encoder options window will be a selection box named "Quality". In that selection box choose "R3Mix Preset”. Then click OK.

Step Five: Click the "WAV > MPG" button on the right to convert a .wav file to an .mp3.

From then on... all you have to do to convert a file is open CDex and click on the "WAV > MPG" button.

CDex is a very small, low resource, spyware-free audio conversion tool. It converts from CD to wav (or mp3), from wav to mp3, or from mp3 to wav. etc. etc. The "R3Mix Preset" is a very well designed VBR preset. Basically it allows you to use great VBR conversion without having to know a d@mn thing aboot VBR. :D It takes me aboat three clicks to convert my wav files.. nothing could be easier... and the R3Mix preset will give you great sound and small files. Using manual conversion, my current 5 minute song was 6.8MB... with the R3Mix preset it was 5.2MB and played at a higher bit rate (461).

I hope that helps you get better results in the future...

WATYF
 
Some very kind and very helpful comments. Thanks guys...

GT: I've been a closet Tull fan for a long time. I haven't listened to it much in the last few years, but every now and then it's just the right thing for me. I'm totally hearing you on the flute, and as mentioned Lt. Bob might be putting some winds to this one. We'll see... Thanks for checkin it out.

CRANKY ONE: The drums are going to be the main focus on the remix. The click is more apparent on this song for some reason. But I'll EQ the little bastard out of there on the remix. Stay faithful, I am determined to get this drum thing down... As far as "not easy to digest on the first listen," I'm somewhat surprised you guys even listened to the whole thing. I mean, it IS kind of a weird song. Thanks man...

MKG: God bless our youth, eh? Say hi and thanks to those guys for me. And thanks to you too! My lips are sealed...

FED: Sorry you couldn't make out the words. If I had to summarize what it's about, I'd say it's about co-dependence doomed to failure as it becomes a paranoid over-dependence. Does that make sense? It's something I've delt with and watched a lot of friends deal with. One becomes so needy of the other (or worse, both) that their fear of losing them becomes suffocating. More to it than that I suppose, but in a nutshell. Sorry about the muddiness you heard, but thanks for the listen.

TripleM: Thanks for the listen. And kind compliments. I'm curious...what genre would you personally put this in?

WATYF: Thanks for all that info. I'm on it!

Alright I got some listening to do...thanks guys!
 
hey Sluice, I'm on this later.. Right now I have to kick some ass on 'Quake 3' We play these other dudes online and it is time to slay some people..

late
 
SAM, I actually have Q3. Let me know what server some time so I can de-rust my FPS fragging skills (which btw I aquired in Long Island working from home...:D)
 
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