One Bossa Nova, One Standard

  • Thread starter Thread starter Obi-Wan zenabI
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Obi-Wan zenabI

Obi-Wan zenabI

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some of the first stuff from the new studio up on my band's website.

http://waterfrontjazzproject.com/songs.html

The speakers on this laptop aren't hooked up, so I have not listened thru the site yet.

Other than persformance issues (I can't get the band to stop playing too many damn notes and chords all the time), any advice? I'm working on getting the bass to sound better on small speakers.
 
Dude...that is some nice sounding stuff...well done. I'm not a huge jazz type fan, but I hear it alot as my Dad likes jazz. Thi is as good as anything he has on cd....nice sounds. :cool:
 
Wow, Thanks Dogman. I'm always more critical of myself and my band than other people are. Mostly I hear the mistakes! Nice to hear good feedback!
 
My affection for jazz is limited, but these two tunes sit within my comfort level, and they are recorded extremely well.
 
Vocals sound a bit high compared to the solo instruments, but that's how the old recordings are too, so you're being faithful. The other song is quite nice, no complaints there. Excellent job! I love the sound you got on the tenor sax, what mike(s) did you use, odd settings, etc?
 
Obi-Wan zenabI said:
Wow, Thanks Dogman. I'm always more critical of myself and my band than other people are. Mostly I hear the mistakes! Nice to hear good feedback!
Click to expand...

Isn't that always the case... :)

Listening to Corcovado... It's challenging to get a standup to record so it doesn't wallow; you'll want to find a way to get more of the harmonics of the instrument, if you're doing it open mic, you could try a placement/orientation that gets more the neck into the soundfield and less of the fat part of the body... if you're coming off a pickup, you need to add a close proximity mic right above the right hand position to capture some of the articulation.

There's a certain sterility, or coldness to the overall patina. With a piece this romantic sounding, it needs to have a warmer genral tone. I think it's the edginess of the drum EQ. I'd roll the highs off a bit and deemphasize the snare a tad if I could. The soundfield placement choices are contributing a bit as well. The guitar is right in your left ear, sorta, and the vocals are sitting on top of your head... but the bass is distant, and the drums are perhaps TOO clearly defined. I think if it were mixed closer to a mono soundfield, more of a distant, open mic feel to it, it would capture the organic warmth of what was a lovely, nuanced performance. Everybody's playing and singing was very satisfying; it's just some production issues. Nice tune!!
 
Thanks for the const. crit. Lliarion, you were probably right to pick on the upright first-- that's a free-from-some-dude-who-sold-me-his-LPs radio shack electret on the upright.

I don't have any LDCs yet, and have tried my ribbon on the upright, but wasn't impressed. Have to work on that more. The piezo I have is not great. (BP 100)

The Tenor was recorded with a little gooseneck mic that Danny brought with him. I can't think of the brand name... it wasn't an AKG I think.... something that started with "R..." hmmm. We played with it a bit-- right in the bell, and further out, and settled on more in the bell. He's a fine player, so it was kind of like falling off a log.

The 603s on the drums might be what's getting that over defined ness to it.
But probably it's just the weak reverb that came with Cubase LE. I think better ambience in the reverb (a better plug in, too) and hanging the rest of my 703 should help.
 
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