HRC: Gimme my damn compressor back you BASTARDS!!!

[Abyyss]

What ya' talkin' 'bout?

It's great!!

Sounds better than any of my stuff would even if it were mixed!

 

[Gidge]

this is a great song, great performance, and a very good solid tracking job.....no fluff and smoke up the ass, just plain truth......it could be left alone and sound good, but go ahead and make those "SLuiCe" adjustments and make this thing great......your music just fucking floors me.....

I think this experiment has made us all realize how important it is to track it right and not rely of fx for "fixes"......but compression and reverb and EQare our friends when used as tools and not bandaids.....

 

[therage!]

[B}
Another challenge, since I'm just starting to learn to play bass, was not having any compression on that. I really had to concentrate on my string attack, or the shit would just be pinned...errr, I mean the meter would go red. A lot. So that was good for me.

[/B]

Dammit! I just realized the piece I'm working for the challenge has compression on the Bass! But I don't know how the hell to control the peaks.

I don't see that you ever want to track Bass without it so for the challenge what's the difference beteen pluging my Bass into my pre using compression and plugging a guitar into an amp using reverb? I really don't see compression on Bass as an effect as much as a requirement. I'm sure not everyone uses compression on Bass but don't most of you guys?

 

[CrankyOne]

Well well. This is not processed?!? Wow. I can't get that acoustic guitar sound no matter how much I process it. Seems you've got some great gear This reminded me of some Pink Floyd song from the "Final Cut" album. Only slightly. This is so warm and all. The songwriting is great again. I've never heard a shitty song from you (or even mediocre)

This just reminds me how much I depend on effects to enhance my sound. I bow to thee, o master

GREAT tune. DO NOT mix this (sure you can, but it's not necessary)

 

[skids]

I've been swamped at work and stuff, but I wanted to catch this one (being the fan I am). Plus you started this whole thing! ...ok not really. I wish I could hear more of these as I think the challenges have always brought out some good stuff.

First, I think you prove here that you can't replace talent (melodies, arrangement, skills, etc.) with effects...despite attempts by the major labels in many cases. Crap in ----> Crap out!

I do think an SLuiCe mix will do wonders for this, but the intimacy here is great. It may get lost in the full blown mix, but I am sure it will be still be great. As I said before about talent, the song speaks for itself and would sound good even if I mixed it.

I think you have also proven, on a technical side, the key to starting with great recorded tracks. You can only improve from here. No turd polishing necessary.

Into the keepers folder she goes! *****

 

[Guernica]

...this should be interesting...

...I'll be back.... Poopy diapers are a callin'

 

[twist]

Why do you have poop in your diapers? Why are you wearing diapers?


Twist

 

[JMarcomb]

its very cool how 'up front' this is when you are effect free.
cool tune! it goes to show you can made great music without the effects. its cool to hear your unique signature all over this...
5 star song ***** nice work man!

 

[CanopuS]

Amazing song writing. You got a contract?

+ What do you use in terms of hardware/software

 

[F_cksia]

Can you explain the meaning of the lyrics..?
I'd really like to know.
Thanks.

 

[SLuiCe]

twist- Thanks for the listen! Ya, it's best just to assume you can't hide anything. Then you probably won't have to kill your mix with over use of effects. This was a fun, if somewhat frustrating, challenge. But mostly fun.

JR#97- That's so cool you like the title....I named it 10 seconds before converting it to MP3 and sending it off to Nowhere! Seemed appropriate. Glad you liked the vocal dry....gives me hope! Thanks man.

fprod south- mmm, yes...can o' worms for sure. But I think it's done a little good here and there.
As for...

I think the question is, do you get a better performance when you are free to just belt it out knowing that you can do minor touch ups later, or do you get a better performance by shooting for perfect while you're tracking?

I definitely can belt it out more and feel more free to express with vocals when the compressor is on. I mean you just can't scream into a large condensor mic without really pissing it off. So I go for good tracking, and never think about touching it up later. If I don't get a good track, I simply do another take. And if I'm lazy I pack a bowl and go fishing. Hey did you do any remixes of that 'amputations' tune?

WATYF- Ya that snare needs replacing fo'sho'. I slapped in there figuring I'd just cut some 1k after this challenge is over. But I think I'm gonna try a few other sounds. Something warmer if possible. Thanks man...this has been fun. Hey man I just realized the post for this thread was as long as yours usually are!

Doug H- Cool man, thanks. Ya, I'll be adding some verb to those back ups. I'm thinking small men's choir in like a children's auditorium sound or something goofy like that. I'll experiment.

Messhugah- I agree with all your suggestions. In fact I wept about them in my initital post. But that's what this was about right? Thanks a lot for listening.


muzeman- Hey Pete, ya the acoustics could use a soft compression. It's fingerpicked so it's not real real bouncy. That should make getting a good compressor setting easier. Glad you liked it man. I can only hope you meant what you said about the bass! Thanks.

groucho-

...obsesssive-compulsive...[/b]
You understand me. Let's be friends. No seriously, I totally hear what you're saying about the dry mixes. BUT it is very helpful for us all to hear what's actually being mixed. I've seen a few good tracking suggestions being handed out for free to people. Still, I can't wait to have some time to mix this tune properly. Thanks a lot man.

Lt. Bob- Hey Steve, I was hoping you might like this one when I posted it. I hoped you might be able to appreciate the melody, despite its repetitiveness. Thanks brothah.

lilray99- You know I fail to notice the Bowie influence everytime I do something like he might, until someone mentions it and I'm like holy shit, you're right. So without further ado, Holy Shit You're Right. Thanks man...very glad to meet ya.

tubedude- hehe...As a matter of fact I've got something really heavy I'm working on. It just needs vocals that I haven't written yet. Everything else is tracked. And ya, I personally feel that dirt[/i[ was perhaps the best hard rock album of the 90's. They were a great band anyway, but that album was just genius. Oh, thanks for checking this tune out Paul.
You know now that I think about it some more, I REALLY want a boogie. I would totally go back and retrack just about every heavy section I've recorded. I would.

Khompewtur- Ya, I get a theatrical vibe from this too. Check out The Play if you like that approach. It's a twisted little ditty. Thanks for all the comments man. Appreciated.


therage!- Thank you bro...I dread to think, if they were even interested, what they would do to my music. Maybe do some good, but mostly bad I bet.


Abyss- Thank you for that.

Gidge-

I think this experiment has made us all realize how important it is to track it right and not rely of fx for "fixes"......but compression and reverb and EQare our friends when used as tools and not bandaids.....

Well said. Thanks Gidge.

CrankyOne- Hey dude, thank you. If you're interested, the mics on the acoustic are Oktava MC012's. They're about $200US for a pair. Not very expensive. They don't hype the highs. I like that. Thanks for checkin this out man!

skids- Very nice dude...thank you. I promise I'll try not to bury too much in the mix when I do one! Thanks again.

[bGuernica[/b]- mmmmmmm, sounds enticing, Mike. You can name him Shitica. (Bad sluice)

Jmarcomb- Thanks for the stars man!

CanopuS-

You got a contract?

On my head. Get it? ...on my hea... contra... nevermind. Brief gear rundown.
Mics: Studio Projects C3;Oktava MC012's, SM57, Sm58;
Pres: Studio Projects VTB-1
Compressor: RNC
Guitars: Seagull acoustic; Gibson Les Paul;Paul Reed Smith
Pres: Studio Projects VTB-1
Sound Card: Delta 66
Software: Sonar
Flyrod: Sage XP...sorry wrong hobby.
Thanks man!

F_cksia- It's about my uncle who died of a senseless cocaine overdose and my father's feelings for him.


Thanks a lot everybody! This was fun!

 

[chrisharris]

Okay, people seem to hate the snare on this. I have no idea what the criteria is for a snare to be liked, but it sounds like something that would sound good on one of my tunes. Is it a midi font? Or could I actually find that snare somewhere.

If for no other reason, I like having a healthy collection of offensive snares around to distract from other problems in my mixes, lol.

This one passed the "Michael" test, btw...he's only 2, but he has excellent taste.

 

[SLuiCe]

hahah Chris, you rule. I actually like the snare too, just not on this tune. Something less agressive is needed I think. It's from Drumkit From Hell. Cya.

 

[M.Brane]

Talk about rising to the challenge!

This thing is going to pretty much mix itself.

A few EQ & dynamic issues, but all very minor. I actually really like the way this sounds as-is, but I'm a dynamic range freak!

Seriously, it almost sounds as if your in my room. Anyone who thinks you can't make a good recording with budget oriented gear needs to listen to this.

Of course the engineer deserves most of the credit.

Great song & performance. Very inspired.

Your stuff is really starting to grow on me.

Oh, BTW fuck the fan noise!

 

[Kramer]

Sounds great to me man!Sounds better than anything I've achieved with effects,eq and compression.LOL.Im still waiting on that EQ tutorial man!Im taking notes from all of these threads lately.

Good job!

 

[Emeric]

Great music Chris! Very nice acoustic tones.

A+

 

[Jamal Bucket]

ok sounds really full....you get great sonic clarity....

its not my taste in lyrical content but ..im sure im in the minority...great vocals tho ....outstanding actually..I WANT TO HEAR BIG HUGE 13 PART GUITAR SECTIONS THO....then ill tell you how great it sounds for being "bare"....lol.im diggin the acoustic at any rate...what kind of guitar is this??....




sweet.

jamal

 

[chrisharris]

Great music Chris! Very nice acoustic tones.

A+

No, you're confusing people. It's me and JAMAL that are the same person. Sluice is a different guy...in every sense of the word, lmao.

 

[crawdad]

OK. Listening right now. I'm digging the tune. A White Album vibe here (read:good). I want more vocal--give me more vocal--more NAKED vocal--hear me?! On the chorus only. Nah, everywhere!

Boy, that opening guitar sounds sweet! You know what? This song would COMPLETELY work with just guitar and voice. Again, think, White Album. Somehow, the drums and bass seem out of place on this one. Great song, BTW. Just model it after the beginning of Mother Nature's Son, mixwise, and its would be so fucking perfect. How perfect? Trout will crawl up the banks into your net!

And, yes, go ahead and take it to the mix stage--add a bit of EQ to clean up the bottom on that acoustic a bit. A dash of verb on the vocal and a bit more on the BG's. Raise up the vocals and you are done--MASTERPIECE!

Did I ever tell you personally that I think you are a high quality writer, singer, performer AND a great human being to boot? Excellent effort.

 

[christiaan]

Great song. Very nice tune. The only thing is that doubled vocals are a nice effect but not for a whole song. Imho it should be an extra here and there in a song. I think it would make the song even better. For instance when you start with just one voice and then at 0:58 go to doubles, the effect would have much more impact. You voice can carry a single vocal track, I'm sure.