My first recorded song with my new equip!

  • Thread starter Thread starter lifelyrics
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lifelyrics

lifelyrics

Training wheels on
Please listen to my song, and provide any feedback you feel/think might help me with my future projects. It is a simple recording, with only my piano + a little reverb, and 2 tracks of vocals - no effects. I don't aspire to go pro, but I want to learn and grow so that I can create decent, listenable recordings of the stuff I've written.

http://soundclick.com/share?songid=7807910

Thanks in advance for any constructive criticism you can offer!
 
I'll go ahead and move this over to the MP3 Clinic where it belongs.

peace.
 
Just a public thank you to Chili for doing that for me. I was writing to HR Contact Us to try to fix my mistake of posting to the wrong forum, as he was fixing it! That was fast!

I am hoping to hear from some of you about my song...
 
Piano sounds pretty good, voice is too dry for my taste, it's like the pianist is at end of the hallway. I have to comment though that the voice has a number of pitch issues. Not bad for a first try though, and I'm sure you'll get better in time.

Joey :)
 
Thank you for your response. I tried adding reverb to my voice, but the preset was too much for my liking. I tried adjusting the different settings (turned each one about half way down: room size, damping, wet, dry...) but it still seemed so unnatural to me, that I just took it off.

I would like to learn how to add a touch of reverb to vocals, but I'm at the beginning of a learning curve in so many things, a lot of it is still over my head.

Do you have any tips for me?

I've been doing lots of research/homework on this subject, and many other subjects having to do with recording, but it feels slow going.

That, and being practiced enough that my recordings are better (pitch issues). Thanks for the encouragement. I believe I won't be able to help improving as I get more experience, and apply the critiques I get to my future projects!
 
If you keep at it and have the patience to spend a lot of time recording, things will eventually fall into place. Most of us here have gone thru the process and it is a long one. What DAW are you using to record? With reverb, it's always better to put it on an Aux track and use the send in the original track to add the effect. That way you retain the original character of the voice and add the reverb to your taste. Works better than a dry/wet setting, IMHO.
 
Hi Joey,
Thanks for checking back. I just peeked over here, to see if anyone had added any tips, or anything, and there you were!
So, I am currently using Tracktion 3 (Mackie/TAPCO), Tracktion 2 came with my interface, and after tinkering with it a bit, I found it to be much easier for my brain to grab a hold of what was going on, than with the previous DAW I was using (SONAR HS 7XL). Before, I tried to understand about sending and buses, but I was getting confused.
The Tracktion software has a little icon, "new filter", and you just drag and drop it on the track you want to apply any, of a number of, effects, etc. Then you can adjust each parameter of the effect individually, or use the preset (which I did for the piano).
Reverb has been a tricky thing for me, for a long time. Before, when I used dynamic mic's and audacity for stuff we wanted to record, I found that audacity came short in its effects. That was one of the main reasons my hubby let me invest in some better equip/software. We have (in the past) used a Mackie mixer in the recording chain, in order to get the right reverb effect for a friend of mine, but I was hoping I could achieve the same end, using my new stuff, and Tracktion 3.
I had a thought today, about just taking my raw vocal track, and adjusting each parameter + and -, while it is playing, in order to really understand what each parameter does to the track. I haven't had time to do it yet, but I think you said a key point that I was hoping to avoid: It takes a lot of TIME to master this stuff. I am hoping to invest ENOUGH time, in between recordings, to improve every time, but I know I also need to be patient for my brain to soak in all I'm learning in the process!
Is there another effect that would help me achieve a soft, natural effect on the vocals, besides reverb? (I do realize it won't remedy my pitch prob's, but I have a friend who is a very strong lead, and I want to have a better approach for her sake!)
All the best to you, and anyone else who feels like pitching in...
 
recording good vocals is the hardest instrument to record. it's the most dynamic and unlike other instruments finding the right microphone and pre amp for your voice can only be discovered through trial and error. I've tried several microphones and pre amp combos on my voice and i don't think i've really found anything that i really think captures what i sound like live. Also, the room you're recording in has a lot to do with the sound that you capture. there are so many variables in recording that the only way to really figure out what works is trial and error. So, if you're serious about finding the right sound prepare to be addicted to buying recording gear.

But, first things first, you gotta work on your pitch issues. I think all you need to do is be more confident when you're singing into a microphone. there are moments when your voice sounds pretty good, but you kinda lose it in spots.

if you're just gonna do piano stuff i suggest trying to get a stereo spread of the piano. ie. low notes on the left side of the panning spectrum high notes on the right. i've seen this done pretty successfully with microphones, but if you're using a synth and direct injecting it you probably can't get a stereo spread.

good luck
 
Nice work. Sounds good to me. Vocals need compression and a little splash of verb. Otherwise, very good.
 
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