Is this epic?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Steenamaroo
  • Start date Start date
Steenamaroo said:
Damn. I wish I knew what to do.
I mean, I've put in all these elements that are pretty energetic on their own, but it just seems to melt into one sound.
I do think it's banging, but I'd totally agree that it's.....consistent?
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Yeah, it's thicker, but consistent. I think maybe you've got two issues at play here. The act of "building up" doesn't really allow the listener to be slammed into a wall of sound. Yeah it builds up nicely, but it's gradual enough that it doesn't come as a shock to the system. That's perfectly fine in it's own right, but if you're looking for that "hit", I think you need to do it with everything coming in at once. Let the last notes of the softer part ring out, and then BAM! The song picks up again with everything going on. Secondly, the "master" compression or whatever you have going on is keeping everything even. It's done well and it's quite smooth and transparent, but there's not much dynamic range between the soft part and the built up part. It all sounds very good, it's just not really "hitting" in the build up part.....if that's actually what you want to happen.
 
Greg_L said:
Yeah, it's thicker, but consistent. I think maybe you've got two issues at play here. The act of "building up" doesn't really allow the listener to be slammed into a wall of sound. Yeah it builds up nicely, but it's gradual enough that it doesn't come as a shock to the system. That's perfectly fine in it's own right, but if you're looking for that "hit", I think you need to do it with everything coming in at once. Let the last notes of the softer part ring out, and then BAM! The song picks up again with everything going on. Secondly, the "master" compression or whatever you have going on is keeping everything even. It's done well and it's quite smooth and transparent, but there's not much dynamic range between the soft part and the built up part. It all sounds very good, it's just not really "hitting" in the build up part.....if that's actually what you want to happen.
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I'm defeating my own purpose in a way.
Everything you said there is bang on.

I suppose we want the best of both worlds. We do want the gradual build up and the slam in which immediately makes the whole thing a trade off.
I just didn't plan for that.

I volume automated to keep everything at least close to being on a level which, again, is really the undoing......

I need to think....lol.

Thanks Greg.
Tip top critique as always. Appreciate the reality check.

Worst case scenario, I'll maybe split the difference on the overall track volume automation.
I know the guy is keen for the CD to have that modern levelled out feeling so it will be tradeoff in the end.

I'm currently adding little touches to make the main loud section a bit more interesting, but it's at that stage where things get lost.

I know it's old news but, man, it's amazing how much you lose perceptive.
The preceding track is a shamelessly feel-good pop/rock tune with a 'born in the USA' style repetitive chorus.
By contrast I'm like, Holy shit! Gone is epic! :p
 
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I'm late and I can't add much to what's already been said.

I think you're biggest challenge at this point is your build up. To me the drums kick in too gradually. The vocals are sung in the same style. I think you could go a long way by have the drums really kick in with a big tom roll or some monster snare hits. Then I think the singer needs to really belt it out once things kick in. Just my initial thoughts.
 
One way you could really add to the "big" section is to drop a steady snare in there on the 2 and 4 if there isn't one already - like a kit is being played. (I'm not listening right now, just going off memory). The appearance of a steady normal drum beat will automatically make it sound like the whole band has kicked in.
 
Hmm. I'm going off memory too. There's a snare in there but I think it's half the time of that.
I'll give it a go now. Thanks.


EDIT: I just made the snare really deep and ringy and put it on 2+4 like you said.
I love it!!!

I'll update asap.
 
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Yup, better to me. Try putting it up in the mix a little more so it really drives that section and you hear the pow.
 
its epic in that two chords can hold you for 6 minutes. and it sounds great.
 
Manslick said:
its epic in that two chords can hold you for 6 minutes. and it sounds great.
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Holy shit. I duno how sarcastic you're being, if at all, but I hadn't thought about it that way.
It totally is two chords.....:facepalm:
 
Steenamaroo said:
Holy shit. I duno how sarcastic you're being, if at all, but I hadn't thought about it that way.
It totally is two chords.....:facepalm:
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Chords schmords...I have tunes with just one...barely.

Reading Greg's advice now. Curious to see where this will end up. Cool.
 
heatmiser said:
Chords schmords...I have tunes with just one...barely.

Reading Greg's advice now. Curious to see where this will end up. Cool.
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He was bang right about the snare. For some reason it highlights all the other percussive tracks.
Like they're all part of something now? Maybe that's just me.
 
Steenamaroo said:
Holy shit. I duno how sarcastic you're being, if at all, but I hadn't thought about it that way.
It totally is two chords.....
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No, i have a habit of grabbing my guitar when I hear acoustic intros like this one. i immediately recognized this pattern being just like a tune i did some years ago. it was at the end i realized the two chords throughout, and then epic. so i take a breath and go "Wow, I didn't see that coming" or whatever.
 
Manslick said:
No, i have a habit of grabbing my guitar when I hear acoustic intros like this one. i immediately recognized this pattern being just like a tune i did some years ago. it was at the end i realized the two chords throughout, and then epic. so i take a breath and go "Wow, I didn't see that coming" or whatever.
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You played along with it and it took you the entire 6 minute song to realize it's two chords?
 
Greg_L said:
You played along with it and it took you the entire 6 minute song to realize it's two chords?
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To be fair I played bass, two guitars, shakers, handclaps, piano, loads of percussion and about 8 vocal parts before I realised. :facepalm:
 
on about the 10th listen,loving this :D


edit:- lost count now ... its on loop its fecking ace ... git :P
 
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