First MP3 Post - feedback please

  • Thread starter Thread starter ido1957
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ido1957

ido1957

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This is my first time posting a song on this forum (actually anywhere). I've been writing for a couple of years and would like to get some feedback on the song, lyrics, mixes, etc. so I can improve.

I know I have a long way to go compared to some of the recordings I've heard posted here so I'm ready for some constructive criticism. There are two mixes - one of me solo at home and one with my friend (bass) at his place.

There are two versions of the same song. Here's some backgound on the two mixes so you know where the differences are in equipment used:

Overtime No1
= Guitar/Bass/Cakewalk Drums
Vocals -> SM58 -> Behringer MULTICOM PRO-XL MDX4600 Comp -> Alesis Studio 32 (dry)
Kramer Guitar -> Mesa F50 Record Out -> Behringer Comp -> Alesis Studio 32
Ricky Bass -> Fender Bass 400 Effect Send -> Behringer Comp -> Alesis 32
Drums -> Midi playback from PSR550 -> Alesis 32
Alesis 32 -> All tracks Live to ADAT Blackface.
Mixdown -> Blackface -> Alesis 32-> Boss ME50-> ART EQ -> DBX 1046 Comp-> Computer

Overtime No2
= Guitar/Cakewalk Drums
Vocals -> Rode NTK -> TC Electronic Triple C Comp (Light Male) -> Alesis Studio 24
Kramer Guitar -> Roland GP8 -> Marshall 4100 Record Out -> Alesis Studio 24
Drums -> Cassette Tape playback -> Alesis 32
Live Effects (all) -> Lexicon PCM80 (Hall 2) -> Alesis 24 (sep. Channel)
Overdubs -> Lead Guitar / Vocals Doubled
Alesis 24 -> Two stereo takes to Tascam 424 MKIII (1+2 and 3+4) w/DBX
Mixdown -> Tascam 424 MKIII -> Studio 24 -> Inserts -> TC Electronic Triple C Comp (Finalizer Patch) -> Lexicon PCM80 (Hall 2) -> Tascam Porta Two Cassette Deck (Stereo no DBX).

Thanks and have at 'er....... ;)

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/pagemusic.cfm?bandID=394158
 
Ok, sounds like the levels are balanced ok.
But guitar sound direct as it will be and the drums blatently drum macine stuff.
If you wanted comments on does it sound real, then... no.
If you wanted comments on does it sound good for my first recoding considering the equipment, then yeah, its ok.

One thing the bass seems to overpower at times. I would use more compresion on the bass and maybe a hi pass filter to get rid of some lo lo end.
 
OK... first track.. the bass is really woofy and waffly. not a lot of definition. Roll 64HZ and down back a LOT, and pull in from 250-400Hz and a hum at about 1K, that'll give it back some punch. The final mastering is really tentative and scrunched down tight, like you're on tippytoes walking on broken glass. there's no air underneath any of it. Then again, you're on cassette, so you only have a 55db dynnamic range to deal with. Sounds like my early Porta ONe recordgins sounded. :)

All of this is inexperience, and to some degree, equipment limitation. It's a good start for a newbie, to be sure. The vox sound like you were on the edge of clipping in acquisiiotn, and are covering it with a verb/delay thing. Pull back the acquisition levels, I suggest never exceeding -6db in acquisition; it's a lot asier to make up gain later than have to deal with clipping...

Track two is a LOT clearer, a lot punchier, and has more air. I'd retrack the bass on it, given this as a start point, but evne this has too much applied to it; it's a bit overproduced in an effort to sound under-produced, ya know?

Performances are fine. Your limitations here are not playing or singing, but all post-production. If you have the bare drum, guitar, and vox tracks, completely dry, and you can get them to me, I'll show you what you can do with it.
 
Good songwriting.

I was just going to listen to the first version - the mention of cassette tape in the description of the 2nd version made me think I'd pass on it. However, that one sounds incredible and the first one doesn't even compare, IMO.

All the 2nd version needs is a ballsier bass. The gtrs and vocal are well recorded and VERY well performed. The fake drums are better further back like they are in this, compared to the different but still fake drums in the first being so prominent.

Good job (on number 2 :D )

Tim
 
This is very well done, performance wise. Would prefer a little less reverb. As Tim said, lacking just in the bass (as a bass player, I would love to let rip on this:)) I think you'd get a more homogenous sound if you dropped the vocal level a little (which would allow you to get away with a bit less reverb). Only IMHO of course.

Soundclick will let you upload at 128 kbps which always helps, more guitar texture would come through.
 
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