older song, but still looking for opinions(see warning)

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mixmkr

mixmkr

we don't need rest!!
I recorded this song in November 2001, and had it posted in the clinic around then too. Since it appears that there are many new faces here since then, I'd like to post this again for a couple of reasons.

I am going to record another CD with this vocalist, and I was interested about the feedback I might get from the clinic on her. She is NOT an accomplished singer by any means, but we get along very well together, and we both really enjoy recording together. Since she is NOT a pro, the 'prima donna' effects are a loooong way away, and she is very open to guidance and suggestions. She also has an unlimited supply of ideas and lyrics, is a 60+ yr old homemaker and cooks like the best chef in town. Plus, she is a great friend.

Also, this music has been hard for me to step back from a take a look at...even though I recorded this two years ago, and I'd be interested in comments on the style and any other relevant thoughts that may come to mind.

WARNING---- this IS obviously Christian oriented music...so listener be so advised.

this is one of about a dozen songs I recorded with her back then...

the name of the song is TRUST
and of course at Waldo's place....

http://www.nowhereradio.com/artists/9/1322/album54.shtml
 
Coming from me ( Without the expertise to critique much) She's got a nice voice, soothing if you will. I thought though, and I of course could be mistaken(see note above) in the begining and other times she would star a new versusI heard somthing that reminded me of my singer who has all the confidence in the world on stage then thinks too much in front of a mic with only friends around and then you almost hear the thought buffer affecting whats coming out the speaker...hmmm...OK see note above again. Nice voice.
 
That really really low synth stuff is cool...rattles the windows.

I think the mix was totally righteous (little pun there); I also think the arrangement was actually the strongest part of the tune, to be honest. She has one of those really "nice" church voices. I don't mean to sound like a total prick, but you know what I'm talking about; the technique is very good, the tone is pleasant, and it has all the soul and character of a box of bran flakes. But that IS what is expected, right?

By the way, this is one area where I actually DO know what I'm talking about...I've spent hundreds of hours in church, listening to church singers. LOL. They won't let me in the choir, so maybe I'm just bitter.

Nice mix, mix.
 
I just read your post....so I'm bordering on deleting my post...but that wouldn't really be fair. I didn't realize she was a friend.

I never would have guessed she's over 60...she's kept her voice in very very very good shape. If I live to 60, I'll sound like Abe Vigoda.

Apologetically yours,
The other Chris
 
bully...that is an interesting comment, and I understand where you are coming from.. btw, your opinion gives you excellent credentials for critique. That's basically what I am looking here for anyway...right? thanks..

c harris.. I am glad you didn't delete your post. I have tried other singers, kinda thinking the same thing, but I have "learned" to kinda like her voice...and when she brings over pecan pie and sings...welll... All the other singers... welll...again... with offers to record THEIR stuff free, etc... even the diehard Christian singers... either scheduling... or whatever... it just has seemed to be a problem of sorts. I'd like to get her to "belt it out"...but not sure how to really accomplish that, or if that is really called for.
Hey...thanks for the honest opinions... THAT is all I want.. no other bullshit pleeeze...
 
interesting song/mix..........an odd spoken word intro, it was hard to tell exactly where it was going, but a good setup.......

as for her singing.......she has a very solid voice and is very on pitch and all.....that being said, i wouldn't say that the singin 'moved' me too much, for lack of a better term.......it seemed to lack emotion at times......that being said, enough can't be said for a singer that is easy to work with and who is well trained, which she seems to be............
 
11 MB? Damn!

I think she's got a great voice. The slight but obvious weakness is either the melody or her delivery of it - lots of single syllables divided between two notes - always dangerous unless it works really well, and there's the issue of her timing - she's on the beat, but she doesn't always pick the best time to sing each note, if you know what I'm trying to say. If I was her producer LOL (got this idea from crawdad), I'd try two things: first, material that suited her style better. Second, I'd explore with her the possibility of her hanging onto single notes more and working with that note. You're doing exactly that with that screaming guitar soloing - nice work, btw. I'd work with her timing of many notes in this song - dozens of different places in the song. "Okay - now hang onto that syllable for one more beat, and *then* nail the next note and end it with a dying fall," etc.

Anyway, if you can't find a way forward with her, give her my contact info - I'd *love* to work with a voice like that. ;) You can learn something about a person from their voice too. She sounds like a good person.
 
I agree with what everyone said. She just needs someone to tell her, "yes, you can do it!"

Cool guitar effects/panning. I have always liked the ambience in your mixes. What happened to your older stuff on NW??

AL
 
powder... yeah..that is a big plus...actually perfect to work with...but no training on her end. I am basically coming up with melody lines for her, and I think that is a good portion of the problem too. Also, possibly if we work on it more...let her get comfortable with the material (she basically does her singing in one night for a song), she might belt out a version with more emotion.

dobro...11 megs...yeah..tried the variable bit rate this time..and actually I liked the encoding..but dang..11 mgs.. I realize that probably elimantes all the dial-uppers out there:( ...but...

like I replied to powderfinger...I understand about the phrasing thing...I think. And I have to blame that probably on me. I would just play solos on my guitar, and we would try to extract a melody line for her to sing when we wrote most of our stuff together. I'd get the basic song down fairly quick, we'd get a melody for her to sing, I'd re-record a more final song and she'd have a couple days to practice at home, and then she'd come over and lay down a vocal track over a basically completed song. Possibly not the best way to work, but the fastest, most economical way for us, ....I think....
You pointed out some great issues, and I will SERIOUSLY take them to heart in the future. I'm a real slacker when it comes to singing, and telling someone how to sing...well......
thanks for the 11 meg patience!! and the suggestions.. Mucho appreciato...
 
A1A2 said:
I agree with what everyone said. She just needs someone to tell her, "yes, you can do it!"

Cool guitar effects/panning. I have always liked the ambience in your mixes. What happened to your older stuff on NW??

AL
Click to expand...

thanks Al... I can be that someone..hopefully:)

I take down the older stuff...keep it around for a month or so.
 
I'm not really struck by her vocal performance. It kind of sounds like she's not into it. She obviously can sing... but she should enjoy herself and put herself into it.

The guitars sound good, as well as the mix... but the music seems a little too cool for the vocalist. :)

Thanks for the song :)

P.S. This is just an emotional response to the song, not a technical one (wouldn't know how to respond technically lol )

Take Care,

Adam
 
Well.Shes a Fifty's/Sixty's style singer...Can't remember the name of the singer she sounds like.."I will follow him"..Dammit I hate when that happens!LOL..Gogi Grant,Petula Clark naw thats not it...Well my point is that you've gotta go to "her" style..You know her better than anyone else..Also she seems like shes haveing a bit of a time with the tempo..A couple of bpms quicker would help her feel and phraseing..also help with the the tales of the phases{vibrato??}And shes definately not a Rapper.LOL..Which would be a good idea for your intro by the way..I enjoyed the listen...Good luck.. I'm sure that what ever you do it will be cool

Don
 
this was the first song I heard by you last year, and it was always my favorite of yours.. (until 'yellow brick road - we're pilots)

Just figured I'd chime in.. I have no problems with the vocals at all.. I like her voice a lot.. Maybe it's partly due to the production.. I also think the vocal melody is *great.*

could you put yellow brick road up again? I thought about covering that a while ago, but lost it during the great computer crash a few months ago..

My opinion is, you could do some great music with her, as shown in this song..
 
mixmkr, first off, the spoken vox intro IMO is great. Strong. I have no right to comment on anyone's vocals, cause I am just a hobbist. But I think her voice is super, and works so well in this mix. Can I use her for back-up, he he he he he. And the music is absolutelly the bomb.

Thanks for posting this one.

dtb
 
Mix,
production-wise, this one is just off the hook.....just a totally awesome arrangement and recording of a very nice song......

as far as the vocals, she has the tone and pitch...she just needs to put the emotion in it and if anyone has advice on how to do that, give me a call:D

good job, friend.....i dont care if you had the ultimate diva knocking on your door, stay with this one......she sounds like a very nice lady:)

MIKE
 
A narrative...

HARD CRITICISM: ON She's overacting, isn't she? Almost too melodramatic. Ok... now she sings. Not bad... but now she's kind of "ho hum". Needs more drama. Music is great, for it's part.

Nice doubled vocal there. Some backing singers (different peeps) in the second verse would heighten the emotion, and I'm sure you've thought of that.

The doubled vocal seems to lose a touch of presence... or maybe I'm nuts.

Nice gtr solo...

Reverb might be too brite (matter of taste)... but if I were to mess this up w/my touch, I'd use a darker room.

HARD CRITICISM: OFF I'm not familiar w/worship stuff... do most churches do this for fundraising? Make CDs and such? My uncle is a killer gtr player in an Evanglical worship fellowship (that what you call them?)... I've offered to record him... possibly you'd see something here from him soon.

Nice stuff, mix.




















Now, how 'bout a few originals? :eek:
 
Hey Mix........
First of all..... when someone says "Christian Music", It instinctively makes me head for the ole "yeah, i know you farted.... but it's ok, .....I dont smell it ....really" response.
But dude...... this is Cool!!! This chic has such a "story book" kinda voice. Its almost kinda eery sounding. Its totally non pretensious, which i can totally appreciate in this genre. Now if you can put a face on her thats about 25...... and kinda hot, well...I would be heading for the next Harvest festival. (big hoots are nice too:D ) Seriously, I would do more of this stuff with her....... really cool!!
The mix was very comfortable, the verb on her voice was perfect. The way she trails her vocal line really works for her and the verb worked well for it. If i had to nit anything it would be a little excessive ring in the overlapping bg vocs @ around 2:40, etc. I notice this 'cause its a problem i have. The synth was very well done.... as to be expected. .....and the guits sounded nice, full, and song-appropriate. .......VERY nice work man!




G w/5
 
hey adam.... thanks for the input...seems like a trend...your thoughts, that is..

H Devill... I had never thought of a rap beginning, and that could be a very contemporary idea. I was actually kinda hoping that the "clash" of styles might actually produce something "new"...but... looks like the jury is still out.

sabb... yellow brick rd is back up again.. sorry, I even made a friggin thread out of it.. you take whatever you can get to post, eh? don't hit me!!:eek:

dtb.. dan...thanks for the kind remarks... and your last tune certainly doesn't sound like a "hobbyiest"!! I appreciate the listen

gidge... I wasn't expecting such flattering remarks...but I'll take them. I think "working" with her is the idea, as we'll both learn, for sure.

participant.. this is not a fundraiser for a church or anything...just something we did and gave away, hoping for the best results... and it is original... I think!!;) the dbl tracking vocals do have an effect of losing presence, but I think closer tracking with the 2nd vocal would be the solution...or editing. I also agree about other vocalists being involved, and have thought about getting bg vocalists...just for those duties.

Guern...thanks for the stars:rolleyes: ha!...you're always good for that... and I like the fart analogy... or like...it's the dog!!... I'll tell her about the hooters...she'll get a kick out of that:eek:
 
:cool: COOL!

Mix;

I love this, Bro! I remember it from when you first posted it long ago. I hadn't even started recording at the time I found this place and this tune.

AWESOME RECORDING Bro. I love the lady's vox on this in both the storytelling and singing and like was mentioned, the verb on the vox is perfect for her voice.

The synths sound really great but I love whacha do with the Axes on this tune the most. They fit absolutely perfectly in this tune. The pan on the lead at around 6:30 sounds fantastic in my Headcans.

Awesome message in the tune for everyone out there!

Thanks for posting this again. I lost this and another one that you recorded with this lady long ago when a HD crashed. Hope ya post it too!

Bless ya!

CR ><>
 
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