James Taylor Tune

  • Thread starter Thread starter Rick Shepherd
  • Start date Start date
I used a Peluso 22 47 on vocals, AD4033 on guitar, Avalon AD2022 preamp, E-MU 1212m soundcard.
 
Hey Rick Shepherd, the guitar picking sounds nice. The voice is weak IMHO, but I'm sure I'd say "nice" if I heard you live in a cafe or something. :) Maybe try recording the guitar and vocals separately?
 
That's a good guitar sound Rick. I think you've got one of those voices that grows on you. At first listen I was a little distracted by the tone colors of certain vowel pronunciations but on the second listen I heard more of the expressive inflections, subtle vibrato and rhythmic accentuation that makes the song work. (And I don't even like this JT song... I guess because it's kind of preachy... and because personally I think the secret of life is something else entirely.) None the less I like your performance here. Nice job.

Tim
 
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My, what a nice rich even acoustic sound..... I'm going to pick up some JT, I'm not really familiar with any of it.
 
You set yourself up for a fall trying to cover a James Tayler song... that guy has an fantastic rich tone that few can better!

Nice sound on the acoustic though! And if it wasn't a cover I'd be singing your praises...
 
Ya, well thanks everyone. I don't really think of it as settting myself up for a fall really, because although it is not as good as JT, I am confident that it is good for me. I do think I can do better though. I don't really consider it so much a cover tune, because most people, unless they are a fan of his, probably have not heard it.
 
One of my favorite JT tunes... You've got the picking pattern down, certainly... couple of wonky chords in there, if you're trying to play the stock arrangement. A couple of rhythmic stumbles too. Vocally, it sounds like you probably have a good voice in there somewhere, but drastic confidence issues are preventing it from coming out; classic fear=thin sound stigma. Get a vocal coach, let them show you your hidden power.

Covering JT is difficult in the best of situations. This is a much more difficult tune to do well then you might thing. Courageous effort!
 
Thankyou sir, I do believe you are correct about my voice. I have yet to harness the power in it, very good advice, thanks! Alot!
 
Here it is again rerecorded.

Rerecorded Secret of Life

I must say that I am a bit disappointed in my recording setup for vocals. I was hoping for a more full, big, warmer sound. Although the sound is nice, it doesn't really make me sit up and say, "Wow!"

I am using the Cubasis that came OEM with the E-MU sound card. I tried using the EQ to see if I could bring out some fullness or warmth, or whatever, and any changes to the original just sounded like crap. Is this happening because of this OEM software, or does the software not make that much difference, or what?

I played this song for my Mother today, and she hates the song itself, man I never would have thought anyone would really dislike a song as much as she says she does, oh well, you never know I guess.
 
real nice, pickin and vox. I enjoyed it.
If I were there sitting against the wall listening to the playback I'd maybe say...
tame the upper mids a bit since your there already with your voice, boost the low end a touch for a bit more warmth. a bit closer to the mic with a pop filter and shorten the verb trail on the high end.
 
that was a healthy boost there... quite a bit warmer, more like your whole voice in real time. backing off the verb gets you a little closer to the mic. I like it. What do you think?
 
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