Gimli's Lament with vox & some fixin'

  • Thread starter Thread starter rayc
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rayc

rayc

retroreprobate
Hi Folks,
I've applied some of True's suggestions, (adding some drums has caused me to think & play about quite a bit but no result as yet), am struggling to implement Tim's - but I'll get there - and have cleaned up some noise.
I've stripped away as much reverb as possible - the only stuff left was ON tape.
De-essing was a total failure - (mda de-esser) - but then again the free VST doesn't have much in the way of variation OR instruction.
The recorder/flute line is still to be re done - some serious distortion in the recording.
Any comments on the mix at this point?

http://www.soundclick.com/util/getplayer.m3u?id=5014534&q=hi
 
Hi Ray....I am having my listening time now. Just from this first listen, I hear the difference in the *busy* parts with the Cello....sounding great.

I am going to listen a lot more now. :)
 
The 0:46 mark has now opened up to the Cello a bit more... No more too busy there....it sounds good ray.

1:01 to 1:09 the Cello sounds out front now. I really love the sound of that Cello....Merriam and you did a wonderful job with them Ray. Is the Cello more center panned now?

I may just not remember the first mix good enough...but the intro guitar even seems more defined with nice clear highs.

At 1:38 to 1:50 the lead guitar seems to jump out a bit too far for the rest of the mix..just for this tiny moment....then mellows back down to where it seems to fit better...not that it's a bad thing, it just sorta caught my ear.

I love the many guitar parts in this. They are a good busy, complimenting one another...each with their chosen parts.

The vox is excellent...I love the effects on it....just enough.

I can't wait to see, what you will come up with for drums or percussion on the tune.

The bass in it's introduction of the Cello(00:33)...seems to have lost a bit of volume and the same for it's step-down around 00:38-00:50...I miss that. Did you remove some of the highs on that or add a bit more low to it ray?

Once again...I love the layering of sounds and the timing you execute.

The flute is still haunting, but sounds a bit stronger and clearer. I don't hear the distortion you hear I guess.

The guitars seem to have more of a defined panning, rather than that subtle center-left panning of before on two of them.....but ya know...one could just pick a decent song to death, if they can't control themselves. There are a lot of nits in my picking here....the tune is sounding good ray...it is very clear and defined and nothing appears to be fighting for space.

You've done a great job with this Ray!

...and Terry and Meriam.

True :)
 
The reverb level sounds improved....making the vocals much clearer overall. They could use a tad more level IMHO.

The lead cello and guitars have great tone, don't feel any need for any change there.

The cello seems to be fighting the vocals for center in the first verse. They could be panned a tad left or right and then brought center for the solo at 1:13. The guitar does the same thing for short span with the cello then with the vocals in verse #2. As I listen I also wonder if you mix the vocals louder you could leave the pan on those instruments center. Not sure....

Yes the recorder is a bit wetter than the rest and you can hear some distortion. Nice reverb patch though :D I'm a reverb junkie... :D

Tell Terry his lyrics are very good. He writes with great imagery and color. When combined with the music this has a great progressive/folk feel.

Coming along nicely....

:D :) :D :)
 
Sounds good. I don't recall the progression of your mixes, so I can't compare them from one to another, but this one sounds pretty good to me. The cello is great. Good job. :)
 
Dude, very thoughtful. :)

I would make only one suggestion. Feel free to ignore. Either lower or totally remove the strums behind the vox (0:40 - 1:10) in the very beginning. It sounds better to start it off with just the cello, arpeggio and build slowly. It sound a little busy in the beginning levels off very nicely once the song starts.
The beginning is way cool.
 
True,
yeah & work on the solo git. I lost some of the automation I had & didn't look to correct it. bass up or more defined - I agree though wasn't sure if it was an advantage to the cellos. I'll correct that too. I think I stuffed up the panning too. I'll play with it. Thanks for the detail - much appreciated.
Ido,
I like your panning ideas - will play with them. I'll listen carefully.
Greg,
You're very kind - ta mate.
BB,
I'll try your idea - I always try your ideas about a thinner build as there's usually a good reason for the suggestion - thanks mate.
 
Hi Again,
I've applied all recommendations above. There were a few probs that appeared as a result - the strums masked some string noise/pings/clicks which I've tried to deal with. there's a sudden drop in the classical guitar for a second which I've yet to explain.
Otherwise it's as close to as requested as I could get it.
I had to change the vocal compression (Floorfish) from Close Mic Vocal to Vintage Vocal as the less cluttered vox also showed up a few hard closing sounds etc.
Let me know...
http://www.soundclick.com/util/getplayer.m3u?id=5014534&q=hi
 
I listened to the link in your last post. Guitars sound beautifully delicate in the intro...love the cello.Vocals sound well balanced to me...I get a kinda Moody Blues vibe from this, very atmospheric.Enjoyable listen.
 
Sounds good - I like this mix :D

Panning the cello left and classical guitar right has opened up some space for the vocals in the center. The levels on the vocals are good too.

I'm getting some kind of frequency sound at the very end of the streaming audio. It sounds like a synth where the pitch goes from high to low very quickly. I'm not sure if that is because of the MP3 or not....just thought you might want to check that out.

:D :) :D :)
 
Axman,
Thanks cobber.The Bloody Mues - that's a compliment - I've actually slowly learnt to appreciate them over the last couple of years.
Ido,
Thankee sah. I think the bass strayed a little left as well - I'll correct that. I listened to the streamer & there was no extra sound on the ens so it's either meant to be there or an artifact that came down with the stream. Sorry. Thanks for the good ppointers in opening up the sound. I'm still very tempted to add a tiny bit of verb or expander to the whole mix. tempting...
 
Wow! Trippy. Reminds me of the oldest of the old Pink Floyd a bit.
Sounding cool Ray!

I have to agree that it would be interesting to hear the part with the cello starting at :40 with out the strummed guitar. The different rythems sort of pull my head around in there.

F.S.
 
Freud,
Thanks for the comments. You're a generous fellow.
http://www.soundclick.com/util/getplayer.m3u?id=3354827&q=hi
This link will take you to the latest tweaked version. I've reduced the strumming guitars as requested though you'll hear some passing chords strummed by the appeg/picking guitars.
Strangely this track seems to have devloped a recurring set of clicks & pops along with the changes that I've been editing with waverepair after mixdown as I can't isoltae them in the individual tracks.
Oh, Frude Dude - your signature link goes to a fairly vacant space. Please put your music link in there as well.
 
Yeah I'm hearing some Floyd in this too. Haven't heard any previous mixes, but this sounds very well balanced. Cello does sound cool
 
rayc said:
Freud,
Thanks for the comments. You're a generous fellow.
http://www.soundclick.com/util/getplayer.m3u?id=3354827&q=hi
This link will take you to the latest tweaked version. I've reduced the strumming guitars as requested though you'll hear some passing chords strummed by the appeg/picking guitars.
Strangely this track seems to have devloped a recurring set of clicks & pops along with the changes that I've been editing with waverepair after mixdown as I can't isoltae them in the individual tracks.
Oh, Frude Dude - your signature link goes to a fairly vacant space. Please put your music link in there as well.
Click to expand...
Where are the vocals? :confused: This instrumental mix sounds good. You've balanced everything nicely but I'm wondering where the vocals went.....

:) :D :) :D
 
rayc said:
Hi Again,
I've applied all recommendations above.
Let me know...
http://www.soundclick.com/util/getplayer.m3u?id=5014534&q=hi
Click to expand...
I am listening to this as a new song. I have trouble remembering each mix to compare, so I won't....just state what I hear in this mix on it's own right.

The intro is awesome !!! I love the subtleness of it. It is perfect for the piece.

At :17 there is, what sounds to be a special effect of some kind...? I don't hear it anywhere else though.... whatever it is, I like it and think it would sound good in a few more places of the intro and perhaps in a few seconds of the outro too.

I like the single guitar note at :36....it adds to the intro I think. As I have said before, I think these very minute touches you add to your tunes, make them unique...standing out. It amazes me, how such tiny additions or changes, can turn a song from regular to great. I am by far, even more amazed, at how I hear those tiny things. :D

The strumming at :40 with the Cello, does not bother me. I like it...especially how the Cello goes up a db or so in volume at :44...the timing is great! I think if you would jump the volume of the Cello at :53....:56...1:01...for three measures each as the one at :44....it would add some intensity.

The 1:09 to 1:20 part seems like a good place to marry the Cello and the guitar solo as one instrument.

... and I was wondering Ray...what do you think of taking the solo guitar up an Octave in that little 1:09 to 1:20 stretch..? There is something about that solo that doesn't sound right to my ears and I have been trying to put my finger on it. Just a thought.

I still love the flute solo 1:58 to 2:16.

Love the echo'd vox outro 2:49...it fits like a glove.

The outro is very good. I like how the Cello and Flute take the song out, and do it with passion, rather than quietly.

Kudos to the Moody Pink Pygmy Beats!!! :D

True
 
rayc said:
Whoops,
sorry Gerry - that last I'd left the mute button on the wrong track...silly me.
http://www.soundclick.com/util/getplayer.m3u?id=5014534&q=hi
Bulls,
Thanks mate - kind of you.
Click to expand...
I really do love that effect sound at :17.

Everything is so crystal sounding in the intro...nice.

The vox are buried somewhat. Everything is sounding really good, with the panning and the volume of the Cello ...just up one db on the vox ?

I still like the idea of marrying the cello and guitar with the Octave up during the 1:09 to 1:20 section.

After listening to this latest mix with the vox added(I didn't listen to it without), I am now thinking...perhaps a double solo'd guitar at the same octave as it is in now...at 1:21 to 1:56.

Wow, at 2:01 and 2:02 I hear that little click noise I like!! Keep it there! It sounds like an effect and I didn't notice it during the outro, in the last mix.

I think I know what Gerry was hearing as a synth...it is the Cello I believe... I hear it at 2:18 in this mix...I love that sound.

Sounding really good Ray!

True :)
 
That's better with the vocals :D The panning really opens up the space for the vocals.

The vocals seem a bit low in the second verse compared to the other verses. The guitar notes are as loud or louder than the vocals and so may require a bit of balancing too.

The effects on the recorder and ending vocals working for me.

Overall this is great. Just a bit of vocal tweaking maybe....

:D :) :D :)
 
Cool, Ray

This sounds better. Reverb is now under control. I really love the slapback delay that kicks in on the vox toward the end. Trippy, man!!!!!

Unless you plan on adding more instruments, I'd say you're just about done. Good job. Long live Gimli!!!!
 
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