If at first you don't succeed...

  • Thread starter Thread starter dachay2tnr
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dachay2tnr

dachay2tnr

One Hit Wonder
I had posted this song in the clinic a week or two ago, but I had to pull the plug prematurely because it's a cover song and NWR doesn't allow covers. I've since switched it to another site.

The Players
This is a collaboration which includes the talents of Steve Hutter (Lt Bob) on sax, and Chuck Umanita (ChuckU) on trumpets. Props to both of these guys for their excellent work. You'lll see what I mean once you listen. Thanks again, Chuck and Steve.

The Song
The song is How 'Bout Us, a cover of a 1981 tune originally done by a group called Champagne.

This mix has fought me every step of the way, and I'm still not sure I'm there yet. Hopefully your collective ears can help me figure out what's still needed, because I'm about fried on it.

I did get some feedback from the earlier post I made. I've tried to incorporate most of the comments I received into this version of the mix. The biggest change from the first one is that we completely retracked the drums.

Where Do I Listen?

http://www.angelfire.com/jazz/dachay/music/

How "Bout Us

I've never used angelfire before, so I don't quite know what to expect. I think if you left click on the song title it will play (at least it did for me). If you want to download the song, you'll need to right click on the link and choose "Save Target As."

Thanks for listening.

Mike
 
Worked like a champ...I didn't even get a popup (I don't much since I ditched Microcrap's IE).

Man, I haven't heard this tune in a loooong time. Great song.

Before all the "mix" crap sneaks into my post, lemme' say that I looped it a few times, and nothing about it made me want to turn it down...that's a good sign, always.

The falsetto work is gorgeous...(sounds like Autotune, lol...I know it's not...IT'S A COMPLIMENT COMING FROM ME!!).

The first set of horn stabs seemed hot to me @ :51, but on multiple listens, I'm expecting them, and they're not jolting me, so maybe they're okay.

The Sax rules

The DI'd acoustic makes me a little disappointed in you, lol...but that piezo sound you got from it is not offensive at all. It's just...most people HAVE to use fake horns, and here you are, lucky enough to have a couple of horn sections sent to you (which is great), and you go and plug an acoustic guitar in, lol. :D

PNO sounds great. Is that a keyboard? Sounds great, whatever it is.

lol...tambourine's a little on the loose side...I only mention that because there's no way I should ever notice something like that. Seems behind the beat in a couple of places enough so that it sticks out to me.

Man, I can tell a lot of work went into this...nice job, ace.
 
I forgot the "overall,"...

It seems a little hyped in the low end, but the bass sounds so clean, I don't even want you to turn it down. Others may know better, but I think a little more surgical EQ work in the low mids might open it up some...I know that sounds like a totally generic comment, but I actually thought about it...hehehehee. Don't get me wrong, you've got GREAT seperation between/among the instruments, but it seems just a touch too much on the "warm" side.

Probably preference at this point. Just roll off some of the low lows and send a "Chris Copy" to me...I'll quit bustin' your chops now.

This is better than good.
 
I tried,Angelfire suspended you.
They always do that,buggers!

I pm'd you.

Pete
 
Sorry guys. :( I guess my next post will have to be "if at second you don't succeed."

Pete, I didn't get your PM. I would be interested in knowing what "terms of service" I violated. Is it simply the posting of an .mp3??

Chris, thanks for listening and for the critique. I may have to give up on getting more feedback on this song, as it seems I can't find anywhere to post it.

P.S. I tried to delete this thread to save people from trying to access it, but I didn't have any luck with that either. :rolleyes:
 
Oh, I forgot to answer a couple of your comments, Chris.

1. The DI'd guitar is because that's the only guitar I own. :)

2. The tamborene is not off in some spots - it's off in ALL spots. That was actually taken from the original version of the song. The tamborene is deliberately a consisten 1/16 behind the beat. We were laughing our ass off about it, cause it sounds about the way our lead singer would play it - so we decided to copy it.

3. Piano is a DXi synth. Several people have had positive comments about it, but it's just the Virtual Sound Canvas DXi that comes with Sonar.

4. No Autotune on the falsetto. Sorry. :)

5. I'll look into the eq. The eq and reverb have been the most challenging part of this song. And I still don't like what I've got.

Thanks again for the feedback.
 
Okay, let's clear up a misconception:

Posting covers on NWR is NOT FORBIDDEN. Posting material you DO NOT HAVE THE RIGHTS TO is. If you've got the rights (i.e., ASCAP, BMI, letters of permission) etc. from the original artist then you don't have a problem!

Mike> They probably nailed you for; posting copyrighted material (as will any host who pays attention), for hosting files w/ direct links offsite and no other content (they make up for the expense of hosting with ads, which they can't put on mp3's), and possibly for mp3's altogether. Lots of bulk free providers don't allow mp3's anymore at all.

I strongly advise any of you who do alot of covers to spend a little time, protect your ass, and get legal at the same time! You can get rights for FREE if you take the time!

W.
 
Amazing lycos has the people to keep track of that. Very.

Seeing as it took me half a year to get them to remove my site of original tunes.

If you need a place to host the tune for a couple weeks email the file dachay2tnr and I'll link it. I wanted to hear the tune.

I doubt Champagne will be too upset, probably appreciate the interest. :)
 
man, that's a shame...

Okay, props to you for the intentional "offness" on the tambourine.

Take emeric up on his offer, btw. This should be heard by somebody smarter than me, lol.
 
TheRealWaldo said:


I strongly advise any of you who do alot of covers to spend a little time, protect your ass, and get legal at the same time! You can get rights for FREE if you take the time!

W.
Click to expand...

Can anyone point me to a URL on how to do this? Chris, I know you did this for the patty griffith tune. I'm about to do some covers for a friend of mine who's a singer and I'd like to be able to post them online.
 
Hey Dachay,
...man, I tried. .but i get the angelfire "error" page...... I'll try again later.
g
 
G-man - thanks, but if you read the earlier posts you'll see that lycos pulled the page on me.

I'm looking into some alternatives. Thanks for trying.
 
http://www.harryfox.com/

http://www.ascap.com/

http://www.bmi.com

You can sometimes get licensing free through harryfox (or find out if the song is public domain, etc.), and ascap's 'ACE' system can be used to search publisher contact information, wherein you can use the information to find the proper contacts to get licensed, sometimes for nothing.

Other times (for those who do quite a few covers), simply getting a blanket license is easy, and not expensive at all. Most use ASCAP for this.

W.
 
Waldo - I thought Harry Fox Agency was for licensing songs for mechanical reproduction (i.e., manufacturing and selling CD's). I have purchased mechanical licenses from Harry Fox before. The charge is $.08/song per copy, with a minimum of 500 copies (i.e., $40.00). We produced a CD with 11 cover songs on it, and it cost $440 for the licenses. It would have cost more had we planned on selling any more than 500 copies (that'll be the day :D )

However, the mechanical license only gives you the right to put the song on a CD and sell the CD. I think we are talking different copyrights for posting on the internet (or radio broadcasts, etc.).

That one still has me confused - although I think BMI and ASCAP are the big hitters in this area. Usually in these cases, I thought it was the broadcaster who pays for the copyright (e.g., the radio station). Same deal as playing cover songs in clubs. Usually the club is responsible, not the band.

Anyway, whatever additional light you can shed will be helpful - although in my case, all I want to do is get some feedback on the mix. Getting copyright releases so 10-15 people can listen to the song and critique it, just ain't worth the hassle to me. I am only seeking to improve my mixing skills from the collective wisdom of the homerec BBS members.

Ultimately I guess I could just e-mail the song to them. Or is that illegal too?? :)
 
BTW, I have no particular problem or issue with your policies at NWR. You gotta do what you gotta do.

However, all I want to do is post a cover tune for a few people to download and critique. Seems like that should be easier that it's turning out to be.
 
You can get performance rights through harry fox as well, and at the very least, you can get contact information as to where and how you'd get performance rights for a particular track/artist.

I thought it was the broadcaster who pays for the copyright (e.g., the radio station). Same deal as playing cover songs in clubs. Usually the club is responsible, not the band
Click to expand...

The venue is NOT responsible for paying the royalties to third parties or getting the rights when live bands are involved and playing covers. If they are playing copies (CDs) of original music, then yes, they are responsible for getting the rights to air that music. (I.e., the radio station pays YOU the royalties, then YOU pay the royalties to the rights owner, etc.)

With NWR (and other sites), this is done when the artist signs up (you grant us a royalty free license to play your stuff).

If you do not own the rights, or are not granted rights via. licensing, then you cannot give us the right to play the songs legally, thus making the contract null and void, and risking legal action from several fronts.

W.

P.S., if you want a radio station to play your stuff, 90% of the time, YOU pay THEM for the airplay these days...
 
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