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Nate_s

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Okay, I have a song at

http://www.mp3.com/NathanielSimpson

The song is called "ice".

Anyway, I want to know what I can do to make it sound better with the limited equipment I am using to record it all in the first place.

Basic details:
Drums: Sampled.
Bass: Recorded straight into SB Live "line in"
Guitar: Ditto.
Vocals: Recorded into "mic in" on the same sound card - I am having (as always) real problems making this "sit" properly in the mix of it all - I've tried manipulating it but I'm not sure WHAT to change, really. I'm using a Radio Shack midrange mic for the vocals (horrors! hehe)

I have all this compiled using Cakewalk Pro 8 and the SB Live - no external amps/preamps/anything else.

Soooo...any help/criticism/whatever would be appreciated.:-)
 
First off, I like the song! Cool, sparse, simple chord patterns, but the vocal melodies make it work.

Vocals turned out pretty good considering going into a mic in on an SB.

- The lead vocal is panned to far right. Put it dead center.

- Pan the rhythm guitar more left, around 3:00.

- Bring up the bass guitar, lots.

- Bring the drum synth up.


Other things:

- Dynamics. I don't hear any. There are lots of places to do a dynamic thing, even without the drums playing a role. Re-mix may help out this.

- Harmonize some of the lead lines.

- Second verse, time for a change. Either some other instrumentation, variation of the rhythm guitar doubled and panned opposite.

- 3:13, the chord changes need some rework and tightening up.

A few timing issues, rhythm could be tighter with the synth drums.


All in all, think you have a good start. Your vocals are on pitch and have interesting melodies, which really make this one work.

You do need a preamp though. That would get you a much better signal into the SB.

Emeric
 
Okay I tried the suggestions on the mixing and it DOES sound better. :-)


About the rhythm - it DOES need work, however, 'til I can round my guitarist up again to sit down and replay...hehe
That was basically a one-session recording so agreed on those tips about the dynamics and variations and thanks!

The vocals seem to be sitting in okay? I had a bit of a feeling at first that it was a situation of almost the vocalist being in a room singing along with a radio - it's hard to make it "feel" right.
 
Well I think once you get the rest of the mix in balance it will be that much easier to get the vocals to fit in right. They could easily be louder in this mix.

It does need more instrumentation though, and the odd guitar/keyboard/whatever frills here and there, this will help the vocals fit in. Synth drums kinda suck, but with the right program and lots of patience it can work.
 
Emeric nailed it with every suggestion....a nice full sound would result.....I liked the song too, particularly the vocal style...totally original vocal sound and it stuck with me nicely.....this is the stuff that will always set you apart, and that's how new artists get heard....dug it....gibs
 
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