My Newest Acoustic Guitar Based Song - Mary

  • Thread starter Thread starter K-dub
  • Start date Start date
K

K-dub

Well-known member
Still got a few more bits and pieces to add to my newest work-in-progress, but most of the core essential stuff is done as of this point. How does it sound so far?

Thanks for any/all thoughts on anything.

Best,

Kev-

 
Overall nice.

I'd add a little more instrumentation at :35 at the start of the second verse. I was kind of expecting something to develop there and it didn't. Maybe just a doubled guitar.

The section starting at 1:35.... The lead guitar sounds like it's behind the drums. Double tracked vocals in that section would probably work well. I think the drums are just a little too far forward through the whole section. Sometimes tough to hear the guitars.

Heard a pick hit the guitar body at 5:08. If you wanna get picky. I think there were a couple of other spots.
 
Yeah, I whacked the body a couple times ... but to me, it makes it sound more real -- like finger squeaks ... so I'm leaving them. I really like your idea about double tracked vocals ... and I'll look at the alignment of Stu's lead. If you pop over to RP, Stan has a slide guitar part to the "Butterfly" and "Refrain" sections that is really good. I don't have the premium version of Soundcloud, so I can't update the above file.

I'm still adding parts to this, so final mixing is a ways away -- I've got another middle section lead to add (after the first "You never tried) and I'm sent Tjarko a request for a lap steel part on Facebook, but he's not yet replied -- as I don't think he's on FB much.

Thanks for the thoughts as I build this, bud -- ALWAYS helpful!!

Kev-
 
To me the vocals have a bit too much muddiness. maybe a slight cut around 400 or maybe a slight boost at 1k. it's something i would try at least.
 
You've got some level issues happening here dude. This thing is screaming for automation or volume envelopes or something. The vocals are sometimes too loud, sometimes too soft. The hats are jumping in and out all over everything. Sometimes the guitars vanish and sometimes they're fine. Like when those hats come in, they stomp all over everything. Then they tuck back in once the whole "band" gets rolling. Some of your long held out vocal notes get really loud and drown other stuff out. It just needs better mix balance. The sounds are all fine. And I kind of agree with Bisson. The vocals are a touch "dark". Not muddy, but they lack some high end shimmer and air. Long song, but surprisingly enough I never lost interest, which is rare for me. Kudos on that. :)
 
Thanks, bud -- in total agreement. As the project now passes the "build" stage, it moves to where I started to knuckle down on the mixing ... which has been attended obviously "loosely" as of this point -- but attention will be paid to your mentions. Getting the drums "right" will be essential ... as they are very dynamic in this -- going from stick to full snare etc ...

Thanks also for the comment on the length -- for that's always a concern with tunage of this type. If you didn't get bored with it, few will. :)
 
I thought it was great. A refreshing sound.

A mature sounding bit of work, as Greg was saying it kept my interest but its not a usual sounding pop tune.

The sound of the recordings are sweet here.

You could level the vocals as has been suggested and I'd just roll off a few db around 400z and down, because the vocal sound is very pleasant and fitting to me the way you have it.

Great work!
 
Thanks Pete!

Yeah, I'm continuing to hack slowly away at things, but I really want folks to know that I listen closely to everything offered. For instance, Trip above noted that he wanted more development in the arrangement in the first passage -- and over on RP, Stan said he heard a George Harrison slide in the third passage ... and so I told him to go for it -- and he did.

I, too, was aware of the lack of sparkle in the lead vocal -- and so I went back today and mixed both "The Prelude" (opening passage) and "Butterfly" (third passage) and hopefully got the vocal corrected in those areas. I've not yet tended to "Mary" (the full band), because I've got other parts still under construction in it -- but I'll eventually get there.

Below is the updated file with the aforementioned updates and corrections. Since I can't update the original file on Soundcloud, I just uploaded the new one -- and THANKS so much to all for your helpful thoughts!

 
Last edited:
I wish I had the first version because I don't hear a big difference.

One more idea - doubled acoustic guitars at 1:35.

But like I say, going from memory it sounds like the version I heard yesterday.
 
The first version is in post #1, Trip -- the latest version is in post #9. There is no difference in "Mary" itself, but "Prelude", "Butterfly" and the "Refrain" all have new parts and have been remixed.
 
I made it simple ... I deleted the original track, remixed "Mary" this morning and loaded the most recent version into the starting post (#1). It is now VERY different from where I started -- although I've some minor things to add when I get around to it.
 
I liked the the beginning section more now. It develops over time better.

That lead guitar that comes in at 1:35.... Does it have a chorus or flanger on it? I know it did before, but i didn't comment on it. Can you just leave it clean? I think it would sound better without the effect.

Some extra haramonies right? The vocal stuff starting at 3:35... That's nice.

Just lots of little extras in this version that keep listener interest up. gotta do that with a 7+ minute piece of music.

Too much reverb on the the 12-string at 4:54. Personal taste thing, but it'd sound better without all the verb. Decay too long. Too many early reflections.
 
Stu sent it to me w/ effects. It was a moment. He turned on the tape recorded a brilliant part -- lost it because he saved the file wrong, then later found it in the cache created by the program when I yelled, "YES!!"

It's not clean ... it's fit it in ... but it so fits (IMO).

We'll agree to disagree on the reverb in "Butterfly" on the 12 str. I want the whole thing to be real, but "spacey" ... like life ... where nothing is perfect. :)

Thanks Trip -- I SOOOO value your thoughts.

Kev-
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top