First post after HOW many years?!?!?

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DaveO

DaveO

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OK, here we go. After about 3 1/2 years I'm finally posting an original tune in the Clinic. It's a scratch track of the song I plan to submit for the compilation CD - an instrumental called Joyride. It will be re-recorded next week but for now I'm just looking for some constructive criticism on how the mix sounds or on the song in general.

When we finally got these tracks it was about 2:30 AM and both of us had to be at work the next day (8:00 AM). We were pretty exhausted by then and there are several MAJOR playing mistakes in this version, but as I said, it will be completely re-recorded. The worst ones are probably a) the point where all the instruments come in (about 0:25) is just not tight at all, b) the guitar completely missing its cue and comes in very late around 1:50, and d) the bass begins playing the wrong part around 4:33 before finally getting back to where it's supposed to be. Other than those, there's a general sloppiness I know we need to fix.

As far as re-recording goes I will make some minor changes in the drums but the guitar and bass lines will probably remain written as-is. But just to get some help with the finished product, I'm putting it out there in it's current state, warts and all. Let me know what you think. If you want to ask any questions about how I recorded it I'll be happy to answer them.

... and for the record, my friend did the guitars, I did the drums and bass.

Joyride - The G & O Project
 
Nice job!

Hey DaveO, I don't know if I really have a right to comment, seeing as I have yet to post any material myself, but I seem to remember somebody saying that if you listen to a tune in the Clinic you should at least acknowledge it. So here goes.

I really liked this song. Reminds me a bit of Cheap Trick meets Eric Johnson. :D As to the "obvious" mistakes you refer to, I really didn't notice the last one with the bass playing a wrong part. Either you played the mistake convincingly enough to fake it or I just missed it (I am listening on crappy little Labtec computer speakers at work).

Is this going to be an instrumental? If so, how would you feel about adding a track for some keys — like, say, a honky-tonk piano, maybe, or a tenor sax or something? Just a little something to break up the sonic landscape a bit would be good. Even a guitar lead break would be do. If there will be a lead or if it's going to have vocals, then chalk up my requests as being ahead of their place. :D

Not much else to add or say, really. The mix is a good balance and everything is clear. Looking foward to the finished version, dude!
 
Thanks, all. Besides teh playing mistakes, there are two things I think I want to fix in the final version. One is that the kick sounded pretty good on the monitors but in the car and at home it sounds a little heavy to me (I'm still learning my monitors) so I'd like to tame it just a little bit. Also, the guitar sounds a little thin to me, especially compared to an earlier version. I might try re-mixing this version to take out less of the low end. I thought the guitar and bass were getting mixed up and I actually started cutting the guitar around 150 Hz, so maybe I cut too much.

beaverbiscuit, my friend (guitar) is on vacation and won't be back until Monday. We both plan to take a day off from work then to wrap this project up, so maybe we'll get a solo or two added then. But it is an instrumental. Maybe if I get some time before Monday I can work on a solo. I did a short one on one of our songs, but solos just aren't one of my strengths.

Cheap Trick meets Eric Johnson? I got a kick out of that comparison. My friend is a HUGE Rush fan (so am I, but he's at another level) and I always tell he I can hear a lot of Alex Lifeson influence in a lot of what he plays or writes. For some reason that didn't come through as much in Joyride, though.

Thanks again for the listen, guys.
 
definatly not Alex man.

This tune does rock, and your a damn good bass player.
The kick sounds fine out of my monitors...

Satch would go nuts over this.
Starts to sound like Radiohead in some parts too (Paranoid Android).. Quicktime stole control of my mp3 playing freedom for the moment so I cant add the exact time.

Good playing on all parts, and a nice recording to boot.
 
Man, I didn't expect these reviews, thanks guys. I was pretty nervous about posting this since it's my first time in The Mixing Clinic forum

One thing that I was hoping to get some feedback on is the drums. I always spend a rediculous amount of time programming to minimize the drum machine sound and I was curious if there's anything people hear that needs to be adjusted. I really want the drums to sound like something one drummer with two hands and two feet can actually play.

I already found a few places where there's a little too much going on and am considering taking out a little bit. They're all in the transitions between patterns, which is where I struggle with the same question all the time - do I a) try making a pattern work in multiple places to save space in the drum machine and time programming or b) programming even more patterns so there are some small variations that help make it sound/feel more lifelike.

Thanks again, guys. You've been pretty encouraging.
 
DaveO said:
One thing that I was hoping to get some feedback on is the drums. I always spend a rediculous amount of time programming to minimize the drum machine sound and I was curious if there's anything people hear that needs to be adjusted. I really want the drums to sound like something one drummer with two hands and two feet can actually play.
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DaveO, the only thing drumwise I would comment on (again, better-trained ears may give you more) is regarding those cymbal crashes where the drums first come in around :23 (and when they repeat later in the song).

I don't know what the drummers' term is for the technique, but are you going for the sound you get when you hit the cymbal and then quickly grab it with the hand to choke the note off? If so, it seems to me that the cymbal rings just a tad too long. It should cut off sharply with maybe a slight after-image of the sound, like the leftover reverb or echo. Does that make sense?

Of course I'm only guessing, and my pc speakers at work are kinda dinky. But overall I'm pretty impressed with the realism of the drums, both in terms of sound and performance. Keep up the good work, dude! :D
 
That's exactly what I was going for, and I kind of agree with you. Luckily it's an easy thing to change. I don't remember seeing a choked crash cymbal as an instrument in my drum machine but all I had to do was reprogram two pads. I used my normal "Crash 1" and "Crash 2" and just set the decay value to a low number. Voila, instant choked cymbal.

It will only take a few seconds to shorten it a little more so I'll give that a shot. Thanks.


Dave O.
 
Soundwise I've got nothing to comment. Sounds good...tight programming. I'd choose a different sounding snare though.

The rest you know yourself already. I hear some digital glitches in the beginning, perhaps it's the mp3 conversion. Not sure.

2:39: check what you're playing on bass there. Something sounds wrong, but I can't put my finger on it.
 
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