THANKS, for the listen buck62......
yeah, i agree with you about the drum volume, overall. i think i tend to keep it at the bottom of the acceptable scale, just because i'm so acutely aware that it is a drum machine.
as far as the comment on the "80's "over-processed" guitar sound".....
i've heard this comment before, you're not the only one, and personally , i just don't understand it....
take the song "bat's brew" for example...
drums:
the drum kit is straight, no compression, with just a hint of reverb. mixed in stereo...
rhythm guitars:
the 4 rhythm guitar parts were all recorded live, with a 57 only, and some subtle compression for taming the peaks, and mostly dry effects, maybe a touch of ambient reverb on one of the 4 tracks... again, no effects.....
the bass, recorded straight through a tube mp, and then through a guitar cab sim in the vs880ex.... no effects....
shaker and tambourine:
straight recording, a touch of reverb on the shaker....
backup vocals:
all straight recording, with a bit of plate...
lead vocal:
straight recording, touch of room reverb.... some pre-delay.....
lead guitar:
ah, here's where all the effects come in. straight recording, a bit of compression on the 57, and a 500ms delay, with maybe 2 repeats.
wow, lots of effect, huh?!
the idea here was simply to record it with as pure a sound as i could, with my limited gear, and a touch of reverb or delay to take the edge off. but it's so strange, i've heard this comment before, and i just don't get it. i'm missing something in the translation of "80's "over-processed" guitar sound"......
now, on the "michael's house" song, there is much more processing. that song was an experiment of sorts, i used 2 rhythm tracks that were recorded direct through a processing unit,with flange and distortion and delay, and then re-amped.... that was a cool discovery, on my part...
the solo was straight off my boogie, with my cheapy little delay pedal providing the 500ms delays....
the vocals were effected with distortion, and delay...
bass was straight...
and yes, "work it out" is a pretty aggressive song, and is not for the late night easy listening crowd... but when you're in the rowdy mood, please give it a 2nd listen...
again, it's a straight foward recording, without much effects except for a little reverb on the drums, some delay on the vocals and lead guitars.....
i guess the trend today is, to make everything bone dry....
but i never was much for trends, i'd rather avoid the sound of what ever is the flavor of the day, for doing something a little more original, even if it does sound "dated"...