My first post . . .

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chessrock

Banned
Alright, I figured enough of the jabbering, and time to actually post something.

Just upgraded some of my equipment . . . abandoned the vs-880 for a DAW setup.

This is the first thing I've recorded with the new sound card (1010LT). Just looking for some very basic impressions/opinions on the overall sound. The performer is a friend of mine doing some pre-production work at my place. I personally like his material, but I'm a little more concerned with the quality of the recording job.

It's a little rough, as I haven't gotten a chance to edit out some of his errant guitar glitches that pop up from time to time.

http://www.nowhereradio.com/artists/5/1298/singles.shtml

Thanks!
 
Please, please pan the vocals center unless you consider that some crucial element of the song. I'd prefer the guitar on center too...or at least closer. Personally, I like to rely on delay/reverb for any sort of stereo effects that are going to last through the whole song. As an effect for a couple seconds, hard panning can be good, or as part of a big mix, but not on this song.

Other than that it sounds good.
 
Listening now-

Nice. It's really pretty and sparse. The bass sounds really good through the monitors.

The loudest acoustic sounding guitar (panned towards the right) is up front but has a slightly distant sound- like I can hear a little more of the room then I want to.

I put the cans on. I like the panning of the voice and guitar at first. I keep on waiting for it to come to the center, though, as the song goes on. Kinda distracting. Didn't notice it too much on the speakers, though. I wanted to hear the voice dead center when the second guitar kicks in.

The panning does a great job for seperating the mix out. It sounds good except in the cans.

Good work.

I like the sound of the voice, too.
 
Chris Shaeffer said:
I put the cans on. I like the panning of the voice and guitar at first. I keep on waiting for it to come to the center, though, as the song goes on.
Click to expand...

LOL...I was thinking the same thing.

BTW, I was listening through headphones as well, maybe the panning isn't so bad through speakers, but I still want things centered, at least for the bulk of the song.
 
alright, alright, alright.

:)

Thanks for the input. Some very good points made, and you're both right.

I posted a revised version where panning issues should be much more to your liking. It does sound more centered with the headmuffs on.

http://www.nowhereradio.com/artists/5/1298/singles.shtml

I did notice that when the guitars double, I must have used the omni-directional mic on the right-pan (one of Harvey's ECM 8000's), and hence the extra room noise. Very observant, Mr. Shaeffer. I have another take with a cardiod somewhere I should probably use in it's place (if I can dig it up - I'm so organized).

I think I this has got to be about the best bass guitar sound I've managed to date. The only thing I did different was I re-strung with a different brand of string than I normally use.

Thanks again for the input fellas. Excellent observations.
 
chessrock said:
I think I this has got to be about the best bass guitar sound I've managed to date. The only thing I did different was I re-strung with a different brand of string than I normally use.
Click to expand...

Do tell!! I was just getting frustrated with my bass and I realized that the strings are older than the sea. :rolleyes: What strings did you use for the bass and what is the rest of the signal chain?

Chris
 
Very sad to report that I am unable to retrieve the original packaging the damn things came in. I'm calling the store first thing tomorrow and asking them to pull up my last purchase and let me know what they were (I'll relay the info). But yea, new strings, period, make all the difference.

As far as signal chain, it was just a Fender P-light (with active pickups) d.i.'ed through an art tube mp. Come to think of it, I usually use the meek (vc6q) for that, so maybe that has something to do with it. I've heard the arts are good for that.
 
is it just me or..?

The guitar and voice seems a little too far apart? And the guitar sounds a little to bright to me( but this is always one's preference). Nevertheless, the guitar and bass blend in very well, i thought.
Nice mood, nice song :)
 
I like the intimacy of the guitars and vox. Guitars sound nice and crisp, no boominess. Bass sounds nice. Didn't hear the first mix, but the mix sounds nicely balanced now. I can hear some backing vocals in my head - my be nice on the chorus especially. I like your voice.
 
Thanks for the comments (that's not my voice, by the way).

I almost like the song as is, but I'm thinking it could use some keys. I'm hearing a hammond throgh leslie speakers tucked away in the background, kinda' distant, and some harmonica during some of the breaks where there's no vocals. Nothing overpowering.

What do you think?
 
I thought that the guitar was too loud in comparison to the rest of the music. It sounded crisp and hard though.

What mic were using on vox? a c1? It has a a high end that I cant describe. Maybe fuzzy or scattered.
 
Used a Shure SM-7 on the vocals. I Love that mic. It has a bass roll-off and a high-end boost (kinda fuzzy sounding since it is a dynamic), and using both will generally negate any need for further eq-ing in the mix.

Yea, I was thinking the guitar might be a bit on the loud side, myself. The Joemeek comp. really gives the guitar some attack, which is what the musician was looking for.
 
Chess,

Liked the song. I had it cranked up pretty loud in cans. Then the vocal kicked in a scared the shit out of me... I'd write more, but I have to do some cleanin. I would have liked to have heard some drums, but I think that the song was good.

Fangar
 
I like, the vocals are definately pushed back, like the sound of them, just a tad too far back though to make any sense. Reminds me of 'intro' background vocals... Not quite audible, but the effect is made in that it causes the listener to strain (and often play the song over and over) to make out what was said. Excellent effect to use once in a song, just not throughout.

Scratch that, -- was patched mono into my monitors, all fixed now ;)

Sounds damn good to me! Vocals are a tad short on this in my opinion, I'd add a little extra chorus + micro verb. It's a very ripe candidate for the 'genesis' sound ;)

I think the harmonica would sound good in context, but really mellow, not out front for a solo.

W.
 
Nice job chess,

I also think the vocals are a little to far back. But I don't know if the singing, as is, could stand up to more scrutiny. He's a bit thin and wandering on some parts.

Personally, I'd like to hear him sing in a more quite and intimate style, then brought very forward, and push the guitars back just slightly - sort of like you hear on Leonard Cohen or Roger Waters recordings.

The guitar pan to center in the beginning is too abrupt. Bass sound great!

barefoot
 
nice tune, chess.... yeah...the vocals gotta go in the middle. I hear some synth "mood stuff" in the background. ...a *new* sound, and not your typical strings, pads, etc. ....and down low. Good sound on the vocals too. I like the bass sound too.:)
 
my non-technical input... I like this song & recording.

newbiephile tech comments... this is the first time I've seen the pinguin correlation meter go into the red :eek: phase issues?

irritating sounds comments... ~1:56 TWANK!

on the first few listens I was wanting to add a bunch of different stuff, but after about 5 or 10 I'm wondering if any of that is necessary. I guess it would help vary things a bit, and move the song along.

anyhow, Great work (especially for a first effort)

Queue


ps - what's up with the "hidden bass note" at the end?
 
Hmmm . . .

Phase issues. Damn. That's some very helpful info. The microphones I used were very close together. Any advice on how to avoid this issue in the future?

And don't say "move the microphones farther apart" or I'll strangle you. :)

As I mentioned, this is just a rough mix for pre-production work I'm doing for a friend. It doesn't have to be flawless, so twanks, pops, and errant bass notes are acceptable.

I am looking at this strictly as practice. The comments I've received so far have been very honest, helpful and encouraging. Thanks again.
 
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