OK...Two more opportunities for you to kick my ass...

[Shaky Tee]

I guess I'm a glutton for punishment, huh?

I uploaded two more acoustic numbers on one of my pages at Artistlaunch. The are at the top of the page. I took some of the ample advice I got a couple of days ago (HEE HEE HEE) and applied it where I could.

The first one (on the very top) is called "Just This Side of Eden". THIS time, I double tracked the guitar track. The first take was done with the guitar miced with B1 mic powered by an ART Studio MP preamp.

The second take was done with the guitar pickup recorded direct into the ART Studio MP preamp.

I did some panning, stereo effects, etc. Initially, I thought the effect was pretty cool. However, this morning, after I tweaked one of the files to fix some "mistakes", I'm not so sure - it now seems kinda messy...I'm considering just dissing the direct in take and keeping the miced take and just copying it to another track for stereo purposes. What do you think?

I also (tried to) sing the song differently this time (thanks Studiovols, LOL!!). I think people are having issues with my voice because there's a REALLY harsh midrange in it that becomes REALLY obvious on the acoustic stuff. So, even tho' I used the Oktava mic I have this time for vocals (and it's really dark), I did some mid range equing. I think the vocals sound a lot warmer now.

Again, some opinions on that would be cool.


The second song is "It Got You Too". THIS time our bud CaryIndy took over the mixing duties. I sent him Ogg files of what I had and what I am presenting to you now is the result. I personally like it, but well...I wouldn't be here if I didn't want another take on it.

Sometime next week (before I go on jury duty) I"ll send him a track of the guitar miced rather than recorded direct in. I may even send him a new vocal track as well (I too am hearing that my vocals sound "pinched" in areas of this song).

Anyway...have at it:

http://www.artistlaunch.com/helens

thanks, all!

 

[kjam22]

Just this side of Eden. I like this song. Really like the hook. Liked the first verse really well. It needs a band to kick in for 2nd verse.

Didn't like the the bridge. It lost the "groove". Not really the groove. It lost the "cool" if that makes sense.

You playing the guitar?? It could be a LOT better whoever it is playing. But I really do like the song.


It Got You Too..... this one did nothing for me. Sorry.

 

[Shaky Tee]

Hey!! Thanks!!

Yeah, that's me on the guitar What I think is happening is that the fretboard on my Baby Taylor is due for a major adjustment.

Back to the guitarshop I go...

Im guessing the "bridge" was a little too depressing? Should I take it out?

 

[kjam22]

It's not the lyrics that I didn't like in the bridge. It's the melody and chord progression.

 

[Shaky Tee]

Ahhh...ok. In the other version I have I used completely different chords, and I changed them for this version, because I didn't know how to play them on my guitar

Man, do I have a lot to learn...

 

[studioviols]

Just This Side of Eden

As you mostly confine your vocal range to the 'heart' of your 'heart-voice', your 'real voice', your intonation is much, much better. The head-voice, for most of us, is more difficult to work within.

The tempo here lends itself to the difficult and challenging lyric. The tempo here is appropriate.

The stereo doubled guitar sounds nice.

Beautiful hook, well sung.

You sound very vocally relaxed here.

You let these synchopated verse vocals roll out and off your tongue easier, and more relaxed in this song.

At 1:50, you are moving into your head voice, you come back down into your heart-voice for a note and it's a touch out of tune, use these glissando exercises I've described to work that break, so you will have more control as you move in and out of your 'heart-voice' into your 'head-voice' and so forth.

Remember, I'm being very, very tough on you here with respect to your vocals, it's not 'bad', you ARE entertaining and your songs are good, I just want you to reach your potential.

At 2:50 this is your best singing yet, durn near purfect.

I can hear a really nice string arrangement to back you in this song, especially cellos, violins bopping up over the hook.

The guitar in this tune is overall much better in tune ... thus ... you guesed it, it is providing a much better reference for your ear, thus you sing better in tune.

This is a pretty tune, I think some of harmony vocals can work very nicely behind the hook, and just using part of the hook 'side of eden'. Don't try harmony vocals at first ,use the same musical material, just offset it. Start the 'side of eden' on the word 'of' in the full hook.

Example :

On this side of Eden.
'side of eden', (backups)

Just this side of Eden
'side of Eden'(backups)

nice chromatic movement in the vocal at 2:07, and in your headvoice too ...

You sound much more relaxed in this song.

 

[Shaky Tee]

Thank you again!

My head voice and my chest voice tend to do battle with each other on occasion. Especially if a song's got a wide range, like this one does.

 

[smellyfuzz]

Studioviols;

use these glissando exercises I've described to work that break, so you will have more control as you move in and out of your 'heart-voice' into your 'head-voice' and so forth.

WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT ??????????

 

[smellyfuzz]

Your voice is great. Really great.

I do hear some distortion on the lead vox of Just this side. (Acoustic version)

I like this song, I prefer the second, keyboard, version.


Sean

Ps.

Do not take to much of what Studiovoils said to heart.
I took many years of lessons, and I have no idea what he is talking about.

If your are in the process of taking lessons, just keep at it. If you are taking Internet or book lessons, STOP ! Go get yourself a teacher.

Either way you sound fine. IF you are off key a little, it is probably more about tracking the lead vox, VERY, VERY hard.

Your singing ability sounds fine to my ears, but what do I know.

Just keep tracking the lead vox until perfect.

ALL SINGERS DO THIS IN THE PRO SCENE, good and bad ones.

 

[Shaky Tee]

Smelly,

Thanks a lot!

I took several years of lessons, but had to stop for lack of funds. That was two years ago.

I've been out of practice since then, and even tho' I do vocal warmups every day (or try to), it seems the older I get, the harder it is for me to keep my voice open and to maintain pitch.

It's sounding like I need some new techniques.

But thanks!! Looks like I'm headed in the right direction...

 

[studioviols]

Where I learned it

I sang with the Centenary College Choir for a year and toured China with this choir. We had world reknowned vocal teachers visit the choir every month and give master classes to the choir, (the school is small and dripping with big cash).

Some of those master class offerings were 'old school', some were very progressive.

Some of this is take from the Feldenkrais methods, and yes, some of it is very avant garde.

When Pavaroti started getting hugely obese about 15 years ago, at his peak, (weight), he was literally only able to sing for about 30 minutes until he was overcome with exhaustion, his voice suffered horribly.

The voice teacher that was hired to 'save Pavaroti' ... i attended a master class with that teacher and studied for three months with his protoge. The glissando exercises were standard fare and well known by all of his students.

I use what works for me, and when I tell somebody else about what I've encountered in my 39 years, it's just with the hopes that they can take some of it, and benifit from the exposure to that.

 

[smellyfuzz]

Studioviols;

The voice teacher that was hired to 'save Pavaroti' ... i attended a master class with that teacher and studied for three months with his protoge. The glissando exercises were standard fare and well known by all of his students.

Yea,

Everyone has been taught by someone who has taught someone famous.

Ok, if you must, I was taught by a super star, who has taught other super stars.

Now doesn't that sound silly.

Heard it before, I do not believe a word of it. I do not believe or care for a word of your story.

Your facts about Pavaroti in find doubtful.

And more so, I heard your voice and although not bad, I hear no evidence of real sustained lessons. I in-fact hear a voice that has had some lessons, and did not stick out until training was complete.

I do not understand, accept or hear WTF your are talking about when you comment on shaky's voice.

AND BABY, Voices I know all about.


Sean

 

[dachay2tnr]

Interesting stuff, Shaky. I listened to This Side of Eden. I found the melody very catchy, and I think your voice sounds fine.

On the negative side, I didn't care for the bridge in the song, and I think you're pushing your range in that part (or probably just need to sing more often and build up those vocal chords).

Also, be a little more careful with the guitar. Sounds like you are playing mostly 4 sting chords, and manage to include a 5th string here and there. Guitar has a nice clean sound, though.

Good work.

 

[Shaky Tee]

Thanks, D!

I've got small fingers, but I tend to strum like a mutha! :lol

I think some of those 5th strings are from my di take....I'll have to fix that...

yeah, I need to sing more...

 

[studioviols]

Sing all day

Sing all day, hum when you can, do your vowel and consonant work wherever, and whenever you want, to hell with 'them' ... sing ... all the time.

 

[studioviols]

Post 666 !!!

OMG, your post about singing more was 666 ...

 

[Shaky Tee]

SOmeone's idea of a joke!

 

[muzeman]

Really nice voice!
Sounds like you could use a little more reverb on it though.

Guitar might sound better if you didn't try and double it.
Mabey the strumming on one side,and some simple picking on the other.
Stick with the mic,always better than DI'ing.
JMHOP

You have some great melody/lyrics going on here,definitly worth bringing out the production.
I liked the bridge too.

Pete

 

[Shaky Tee]

Thank you, sir!

 

[anywhither]

wo~
you sing so well!I like the vocal track in "Just This Side of Eden"
it's warm.
and I have a question.maybe it's just a simple question.
How to make that 2 guitar tracks appear clearly in left and right side.
everytime I pan 2 guitar tracks(same riff)one to left,one to right,it seems that only one track in centre.I want to make it wide.
not only guitar,string also like that.please help~