Midnight Lenny - mp3's

[juanito]

Hello... Just finished my first recording project on my computer. I used Vegas Audio, through a Delta 44 card. This is just a demo we put out to get shows around town. The recording is far from perfect, and a little loose at times, but take a listen and let me know what you think!

If you have problems listening, I put the files on mp3.com, HERE.

Any feedback would be much appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

 

[MAC2]

Hey Jaunito!

Some nice relaxing tunes. Really enjoyed the lead guitar in "Colonel Saturday" and the harp in "Second Way" and "Three Of Me". Kinda thought the mix was a little heavy on the bass...maybe a little more definition there would sound good. Not quite enough stereo seperation and space in the mix. The overall level was a bit low also....but you did say it was a quick demo to get bookings (and you have played at least one more show than we have! )

 

[juanito]

Hey, Thanks for the reply. I agree with you 100%... I only have headphones to monitor through, there's no panning at all, and it was my first shot using this software. I've had an analog four track before, but that's the extent of my recording experience. That's me on guitar, and you know what happens when we guitar players run the show... As a question to you, I ran the 'normalizer' over it in the end to get the oveall levels up, is there a better way? Compression to boost? I'm still learning...

Anyway, thanks for the feedback, it looks like we just booked a show because of it, so I suppose it serves it's purpose well.

 

[Gidge]

Normalizing doesnt help a whole lot....I dont normalize at all.....I only listened thru one time and glanced at the wav and it seems there are a few instances in Second Way, mostly during those cool ass harp parts, where the wav form spikes...if you can go in and just edit just the little snips where the wav spikes and then run it thru a good limiter plug in, youll get some volume.....

 

[theron]

Hey Little Jon,
Nice song. I like the voice and tracking. Guitar tracking was also smooth and crisp. I don't know too mauch about this but, it sounds like you're having a prob with the overall (master) level.
I use Vegas as well and have been learnig it for about 7 months now. It is a treat overall but, I find it dazzing to mix and master with.
I'd say go through each track and apply proper compression before you master. Normalizing can make a low level track usable but, you get what you give. It is not a tool to use to try and boost your master level.
Very groovy and sedate tune. I dig the singing and git progression.

Peace, Theron

 

[CyanJaguar]

I listened to three of me. Not bad at all.

I agree with mac2 that it need more aggressive panning.

THe mids were noticeably absent on the vocals. Bringing up te mids a little bit should fix this.

I like the song and the singing

 

[Meshuggah]

Not bad. Maybe a little panning.. You'll get stellar sound in no-time. I can tell.

 

[MAC2]

"As a question to you, I ran the 'normalizer' over it in the end to get the overall levels up, is there a better way?"

Generally speaking compression is utilized to "even out" the dynamic aspects (soft to loud) parts of a track or total mix. In that way you can increase gain without "peaking out" the loudest sections. As with most things there is a balance to be achieved...as you compress you lose dynamics or the "real" sounding life in the recording and it becomes flatter, duller and "lifeless".

"Normalization", as it has been explained to me, meant making tracks or songs equal in quality and "loudness" within a given project (for example all the songs on an album). As a result I'm not sure what "normalizing" does on the software you use (I'm not familiar with it).

Increasing gain, as far as I know, is done in a variety of ways depending on the equipment at your disposal. Projects I've been involved with utilized a "stand alone" digital workstation (AKAI DPS16) which has a built in program to increase gain up to 12db. We also utilize a burner that can increase gain up to at least 12db. And finally there are software programs available that will increase gain up to 18db (maybe more?). Anyway, even with that ability it's always a question of getting things thick and/or "hot" as possible without peaking out (distorting).

Also visit Mixing/Mastering forum for more info...

BTW you'd probably need another 10-12db on the total mix and you'd probably be in the ballpark level-wise. But remember, any noise in the track gets louder too!