Natural Forces * Lyle Lovett cover * Final mix/Master

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mark skinner

mark skinner

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Hello , I finished this one up a couple of weeks ago , but just now getting around to posting it. I think it's pretty close but not quite sure about the low end and vocal levels. I always have a hard time getting the vox right on my own songs. Thanks for the listen and any crits or suggestions for improvement. Thanks .. mark
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Natural Forces (Lyle Lovett cover) by mark alan skinner

self taught multi instrumentalist obsessed with creating music. #indie #jazz #blues #experimental #singerSongwriter #cello #instrumentalist #indie #jazz #blues #experimental #singerSongwriter #cello #instrumentalist
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That’s great. His writing is one I can always appreciate and his delivery so recognizable. You did a great job “making it your own” as they say.

We live not far from where Lyle LOvett grew up and would see him occasionally at the church we went to way back when. Never got up the nerve to try one of his tunes…
 
@PorterhouseMusic , Thanx for the quick reply , I always wonder how the first one will be 😊
@RFR , I appreciate that but you know I'll have to change "something"
@keith.rogers , Thanx , I too think LOvett 👍is a Fantastic writer. There are a few more I would like to do if I had time .
@Thekesslerboy , Thank You ..
Thekesslerboy said:
I lovett, too!
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nice .. Thanks .. mark
 
As far as low end and vocals they seem bang on to me. Love how the acoustic guitars trade licks left and right. Nice pro job as usual from you.
Oh yah beauty tone on the acoustics
 
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mark skinner said:
Hello , I finished this one up a couple of weeks ago , but just now getting around to posting it. I think it's pretty close but not quite sure about the low end and vocal levels. I always have a hard time getting the vox right on my own songs. Thanks for the listen and any crits or suggestions for improvement. Thanks .. mark
soundclick.com

Natural Forces (Lyle Lovett cover) by mark alan skinner

self taught multi instrumentalist obsessed with creating music. #indie #jazz #blues #experimental #singerSongwriter #cello #instrumentalist #indie #jazz #blues #experimental #singerSongwriter #cello #instrumentalist
soundclick.com soundclick.com
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Very interesting take on Lyle Lovett's tune - does your voice 'crack' like that naturally or did
you copy Lovetts' style? I don't think the Low end is a problem on the vocals - but you definitely
have to bring them up and isolate them a bit I think. Good performance too.
 
@BTStudio , Thanx for the listen and comment. I like doing L/R guitars mainly because "I dont know how" to treat a single guitar. Hardly ever recorded Takamine LTD used on this one. Fairly easy to get a decent tone , but I'm not crazy about the neck profile..

@RFR , after a few listens , I for sure agree. I think at least some volume automation is in order for the vox bus. Thanx ..

@Papanate , Thank You for listening and confirming the issue with vox level. You have always given valuable input and I appreciate it .
Nope , that's not my natural voice. I tend to adjust it on these cover songs that I do just for fun. I'm going to step on my own song and give an example of how I can change my voice. It's getting harder though in my old years ..
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Tom's Diner by mark alan skinner

self taught multi instrumentalist obsessed with creating music. #indie #jazz #blues #experimental #singerSongwriter #cello #instrumentalist #AMK #GiantRooksCover
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I love Lovett and I really like this one. The sound of the guitar and that mando are beautiful.

As for the vocal, two things. First, a touch more volume on the acapella note, please. And then another dB on the whole vocal track (and also on the bv track) to pull it forward a bit.

This was an iPad earbud listen, so I reserve the right to change my opinion entirely when I listen later through the big speakers. 🥸

Really like this one.
 
Great composition, great cover.

The track sounds pretty muddy to me and if I were working on this... I'd start looking for a big dynamic boost in the high end of around 4-8dB, cut the lows around 1.5dB, boost up the high mids and boost the vocal up 1dB or so. Pultec it up a bit.

I'd move it that way and see how I like it then go from there:



Better, worse? Who knows, my ears aren't what they used to be!


Really nice work as usual, you know I love your stuff (y)
 
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dobro said:
As for the vocal, two things. First, a touch more volume on the acapella note, please. And then another dB on the whole vocal track (and also on the bv track) to pull it forward a bit.

This was an iPad earbud listen, so I reserve the right to change my opinion entirely when I listen later through the big speakers. 🥸
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Big speakers: Don't boost the vocal overall, but that acapella note on 'underneath' - yes, please.

Good work, Mark Skinner.
(y)

'Sometimes at night I can hear voices'
 
HumanPlanet said:
I'd move it that way and see how I like it then go from there:

View attachment 146684

Better, worse? Who knows, my ears aren't what they used to be!


Really nice work as usual, you know I love your stuff (y)
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I like when you mess around with stuff like this and I get to actually hear what you're talking about because I'm one of those people for whom 'cut a bit of this and boost a bit of that' communicates nothing - I have to hear it.
 
dobro said:
I like when you mess around with stuff like this and I get to actually hear what you're talking about because I'm one of those people for whom 'cut a bit of this and boost a bit of that' communicates nothing - I have to hear it.
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I'm usually a bit reluctant to do it as I'm sure many hate their baby being messed with but I know my explanations aren't always very comprehensive and I think sometimes hearing it makes it easy to decide if my opinions are worthy of attention or not. I'm only trying to help!
 
@dobro , Thanks for the suggestion and multiple listens. 😁 I'm now in the middle of close up editing . I had faded the acapella notes before bouncing clips. I'm into volume automation on the lead vox and boosted that part back up. Sounds better , I just was unsure about it. Good call..

@HumanPlanet , Thanks for the remix and you are exactly right. I'm in the middle of a collab with an audio engineer in Norway. He sent me a master that was a night and day difference than the muddy mix I posted. I think he basically made around the same EQ changes you put in yours. When I'm done editing he's going to master it for me.
One reason I put "free download" on these songs is to let anyone play with them and give audio examples like you have.
I Really do appreciate your support and help. 👍 Thanx .. mark
 
It doesn't sound muddy to me, but it does have a big bottom. I AB'ed it with 'Even After All' by Finley Quaye, which is an endstop mix for big lower end. Yours is inside that okay, but less well-defined.
 
dobro said:
It doesn't sound muddy to me, but it does have a big bottom. I AB'ed it with 'Even After All' by Finley Quaye, which is an endstop mix for big lower end. Yours is inside that okay, but less well-defined.
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Yep . well-defined is the "perfect" description. Besides my mixing skills , I for sure need some fresh strings on my bass. Especially in this dropped D tuning . I never use reference tracks , but am going look up the A/B song you mentioned .. Thanks .. mark
 
Very good. I especially liked the beginning before the drums come in, reminded me a lot of this tune which is however a bit more ominous in tone:

 
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