Outrageous (about domestic abuse)

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

K-dub

Well-known member


It's unusual for me to give up singing my own material, but this song I wrote for my high school girlfriend about her abusive relationship could not be delivered authentically by a man. My drummer said he knew of a woman who would be able to do a good job on it.

I think she did a really good job on it.

He sings the background vocals with her. I don't sing at all.

Only thing I'm playing is the acoustic guitar and the keyboards.

Any/all comments appreciated!
 
You’ve done a really clean job of the mix - vocals might be tad to up in the mix - like the doubling and background vocals - how were the Drums and Vocals recorded?
 
Drums were originally done live w/ a Mapex kit - as we tracked drums/bass/keys live to a click track. Two overheads (sm condensers), E200 on the snare, Sennheisers on the toms, Audix on the kick, SM57 on the hi hat. I then converted all the drums to midi and run a blend of live w/ augmented Addictive drums 2 to add clarity and detail (w/ live overtones).

Vocals were done by Kelly in a small room at my wife's parents house - actually about a mile or so from where she lives. She sang through a Mitek large condenser mike direct into my Soundcraft UI24r. I recorded her takes on a thumb drive (which can be done on the UI24r) and then transferred them into my DAW.

I so really like the job she did - and I may have her vocal slightly forward accordingly. But she did a really good job on it. Subtle vocal gymnastics effortlessly inserted.
 
The drummers vocals btw ... were added probably 6 months later here in Maine - when he popped up for a visit. He's got a higher range than I do and his voice is well suited for harmonizing with female vocals. I'd have stuck out like a sore thumb w/ my lower register male timber. Again, using the Mitek large condenser into the UI24r - but direct to DAW instead (in the studio). I had him sing double parts and fed them left/right in the mix.

On Kel's vox, where I use multiple voices - it's essentially the other takes she did that I repurposed for BGVs - fanned out in the panning.
 
Oh - and all the hand percussion was a separate drunken night w/ the drummer sometime later after we did the original bed. We drank a bunch of whiskey and just pulled shit out of his percussion bag. He'd ask "How about this?" and I'd tell him, "Fine - do it. I'll track it and we'll make mix decisions later."

He had a blast just adding all sorts of stuff.
 
The vocals are really upfront, I might have pulled them down a tad and add reverb for a tiny bit more space. The doubled vocal parts really work! I like that.
 
TalismanRich said:
The vocals are really upfront, I might have pulled them down a tad and add reverb for a tiny bit more space. The doubled vocal parts really work! I like that.
Click to expand...
Great mention - and thanks bud! I left them really dry and intimate intentionally - but questioned the decision. I got the doubled vocal idea after listening to a Beatles recording. It's a technique Martin used frequently.
 
Very Nice ! There is a Lot of cool stuff in this. I really liked the keys track specially around 2:50. Everything sounded nice and clean.
I agree the lead vocal track could sit in the pocket a little better. There's also a couple of short sections I think the percussion got a little off time. All in all though I loved the way the different percussion instruments kept the song moving.
Great Production , Loved it .. ms
 
mark skinner said:
Very Nice ! There is a Lot of cool stuff in this. I really liked the keys track specially around 2:50. Everything sounded nice and clean.
I agree the lead vocal track could sit in the pocket a little better. There's also a couple of short sections I think the percussion got a little off time. All in all though I loved the way the different percussion instruments kept the song moving.
Great Production , Loved it .. ms
Click to expand...
That's three for pulling back the lead vocal. This is why I post. The input from additional ears is invaluable. My judgement is pretty good, but I'm human and my ears fatigue like anyone. Unsurprised the percussion might have wandered slightly. We were pretty sauced when we recorded it. :D
 
I'll add another vote for pulling the lead vocal down just a bit. Additionally it's quite a bit dryer than the other tracks. I think that's causing it to stick out more as well. I liked the double tracking on parts of it.

Great rhythm sounds on this. Love that arrangement.

Cool sounding guitars.

Cool harmonies.

Bass is sitting perfect IMO.
 
TripleM said:
I'll add another vote for pulling the lead vocal down just a bit. Additionally it's quite a bit dryer than the other tracks. I think that's causing it to stick out more as well. I liked the double tracking on parts of it.

Great rhythm sounds on this. Love that arrangement.

Cool sounding guitars.

Cool harmonies.

Bass is sitting perfect IMO.
Click to expand...
Got it bud - and thanks for chipping in your two. I'm going to have to quick post some of the other tracks for vocal level check now. :D
 
Sorry to be the voice of negativity, but I believe the secondary percussion is 6db too loud and some of the parts come in out of nowhere (such as the synth towards the middle and the sax after it).

That said, the drums are very good. Solid drummer there.
 
David W. Pontius said:
Sorry to be the voice of negativity, but I believe the secondary percussion is 6db too loud and some of the parts come in out of nowhere (such as the synth towards the middle and the sax after it).

That said, the drums are very good. Solid drummer there.
Click to expand...
It's all just an opinion. It's not negative. It's helpful - so thank you!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top