pants slip down under the radar

[participant]

Aieeee... ok....

Sorry...

Ok...here's something posted a while back that had wildly bad guitar, out of tune vocs, and a little bit o-white boy funk... apologies to those who are sick of it already

(those who've suffered it already, you may freely skip this thread )

Toki987 does bass here, and is a complete brute force monster... props, Kenny...

Kenny had taken my sh#tty mp3 (before) and added his wonderful stuff to it... though the vocs were hardly on pitch, and
the mix was all anyone could manage using a bad mp3 as a "bed"...

This was to make an actual "mix" of my crap and Kenny's brilliant talent

Actually wasn't going to post this, b/c Kenny was also doing a mix of this at the same time... but he's apparently quite occupied with HRC4 at the moment... we still await his version (as time allows!!)

----

For the uninitiated -- a song from 8 yrs ago, written during some deep depression... re-recorded a year ago, and remixed just last week...

The guitar still sucks--I can't record any new right now, because the room in this new house is waaaay too echoey...

The vocs are improved, but still suck

Kenny's bass is hot... though this song feels naked without the keys/perc he originally added to the mp3...

"Sorrow"... third song down...

Thanks for your time.


C

 

[SLuiCe]

Well well well... what have we here?

I remember this tune. My favorite feature is the verses.

First thing I'm hearing is ...shit I don't have the right word for it. I'll try this, the acoustic sounds a bit bright/harsh/high-midrange/not very warm.

What a quirky chorus!

There's a repeating crash sticking way out in left field...might want to kick that a bit to the right if you can. It's a fairly centralized mix, and that cymbal feels like an outsider.

Crash is a bit too heavy at 2:56 IMO.

You've got the vocal sitting just right IMO...maybe just a bit more ambience would be good, but I'd have to hear it first.

I'm wondering if that synth pad shouldn't come in sooner. It seems to help the acoustic sit a little bit better, but I think I'd retrack the acoustic personally. You may possibly be miking it a bit too close for that particular guitar, I don't know. I just want it to be a little warmer.

Before this thread is gone I'm sure someone will have contradicted every observation I've made, but those are my impressions.

It's a very good song, and it would be nice if you spent a little less time critiquing and more time recording.

Tom

 

[SLuiCe]

Chad I just realized that was the most detailed critique I've given probably in months. I just felt I owed it you because you do give people a lot of your time and it's always appreciated!

 

[sloop]

Not bad

The guitar is harsh. I also hear a lot of fret buzz on the chords. The balance is pretty good. If you clean up the guitar it will really help. Sorry to send you back to the guitar again, but as the leading instrument, it needs to be tight.

Also the cymbals over all could use a little attention. There is a lot of sizzle going on that might be a little heavy.

 

[B.SABBATH]

can't wait to hear this one..


be back later..

 

[Pedullist]

Chad I just realized that was the most detailed critique I've given probably in months. I just felt I owed it you because you do give people a lot of your time and it's always appreciated!

True, I'll be taking my time for you too Participant. You deserve it But not right now, because.....eh.....it's time to puke

I'll get back to it tomorrow....I promise.

 

[powderfinger]

First thing I'm hearing is ...shit I don't have the right word for it. I'll try this, the acoustic sounds a bit bright/harsh/high-midrange/not very warm.

I would agree that the acoustic sounds a little off to me.......maybe it's just because it sounds quite dry.......maybe a touch of reverb.......i think that would help.........

not bad......i'm starting to remember this one......

i really like the drums....are they real? if so, how did you record them?

 

[fprod south]

Before this thread is gone I'm sure someone will have contradicted every observation I've made, but those are my impressions.

Actually everything I was going to say Tom just said .

Great playing Toki.

The drum part is very cool but maybe a little extreme with the panning. I can feel my brain cells bouncing from side to side. Could be very cool if I was intoxicated - maybe later tonight. Snare could come down a little.

"Place" and "feel" in the right speaker - nice touch.

I don't know how you would soften the acoustic. Sounds dry so maybe you could afford to put a little verb on there.

I know you play a mean electric from "Lumber" (which I still listen to). Could benefit from some of that electric.

Good to hear more of your stuff. Get that room dampened and post some more.

 

[participant]

One Man Gange

Harsh guitar... you're right... without a good monitoring set up right now, it's "fly by the seat of your pants"... listen in the car, computer speakers, and headphones... you've put your finger on it, though... something about the guitar tone in the car sounded boxy, too full... and harsh.

The crash is pre-panned in the "kit" (stereo)... so it will require balance L/R... good call...

More 'verb on the vocal is a good possibility... I was playin' with that last nite... between that & snare drum... maybe something other than a long cathedral verb (on it now) would work better...

Thank you, Tom. Actually I'm glad you were the first to post on this... your ears are two of the most trustworthy around here... due to experience

And thanks for taking that much time on my stuff... certainly not expected... you're even better when you're cranking out those awesome soundscapes of your own... precious little time

hang on sloopy... sloopy hang on

Thanks for being a straight shooter. The guitar is pretty obvious, isn't it? It's a fairly crappy Epiphone... with extremely high-action. Seems a nice lower-action guitar would help many things... I may be able to stick in a few more leads and be adventurous on this strummy thing, eh?

Busy cymbals were just my attempt to copy the crazy 4-track version ... originally recorded when apparently too much amphetamine had been consumed Agreed. They could be toned down. Thank you.

son of sam I am



Ped-iatrist

LOL Time to puke.... are you following in Lt. Bob's footsteps... or did you hear this thing already lmao...

take a powder

More 'verb on the acoustic? Certainly worth a try... possibly some EQ... but Tom is right... this ideally will be re tracked (with a nicer guitar... and some warmer mics)... originally recorded x/y w/mc012s, which don't really flatter crappy guitars

Drums are LM4... individual samples for the cymbals from wizoosounds.com... thanks Drew

f-proud south

Yeah, Kenny's the MAN... maybe the drum panning is due to the odd tom-tom rolls... everything is pretty much pre-panned out of those LM4 kits (stereo) except the snare & kick, which are fairly close to center... I can split the L/R channels on 'em and "pan" some of them that way...

"Place"/"feel"... yeah... not a lot of imagination (so far) in the arrangement/panning departments... but this rough mix is by no means done. Thank you for your support


C

 

[Doug H]

Cool tune, this is "itself" perfectly. Organtic mix, not a lot of different tracks but it had a nice complete sound to it.

The chorus lines were great. I got a serious Bowie feeling listening to this.

Good stuff on bass.

Only complaint is the cymbals. Tones were a bit harsh and they were mixed pretty loud.

 

[David]

oh hell yeah! That back drop Ken threw in really made this tune even better than before. I dunno man, nothing really at all sticks out at me, nothing bad anyway's. sorry i'm no help but I did d/l and love the tune a bunch! Great stuff Chad..*****

 

[M.Brane]

I don't think the guitar sound is al that bad. It's lacking a little body, but that's helping it to sit in the mix well when the keys come in. I agree maybe they should come in sooner. A bit of surgical EQ, mild comp, and a subtle stereo chorus would probably warm up that guitar quite nicely. Maybe when you get around to re-tracking it you could try the same mics at the 12th fret/behind the bridge insyead of x-y. You'll be able to balance the string vs. body tone better that way.

I don't hear anything really bad about your vocal either. I do think some backing vocals would be a nice touch though.

 

[groucho]

Hey, cool song. I don't have much to add to what's been said. I definitely would like the cymbals less sizzly and loud. The guitar didn't really bother me. Not sure I would have even noticed it if others hadn't mentioned it.

On the 2nd listen, I'm thinking the vox could be evened out a bit volume-wise. In places they get too quiet - then they jump forward in other places. This is subtle, but it's worth fixing I think. And there's a couple slight pitchy spots (on the first "Sorrow" part) that I'm sure you could nail fine if you just took another pass at it.

Overall I dig it.

Chris

 

[Cyrokk]

Hey man,

This is a great song. I love the verses on this. The general warmth of the acoustic guitar works well in this song and sits great in the mix. When you can work on this in a better listening environment, be careful about the mids as they may just need a slight cut to remove the boxiness you are hearing on other systems. Cut too much and you could lose the charm that the acoustic guitar gives the piece.

Listening on computer speakers, I think the reason the cymbals stand out is because I don't hear the hi-hat work of the drums very well.

Nice work with the synth pad. I especially like the instrumental bridge at 2:38.. nice writing!

Cy

 

[twist]

Chad, I think this is a big improvement over the original post. Vocals seem to show a lot more confidence. Very convincing delivery. And I like all the additions.


Twist

 

[participant]

Thanks to all for the attention paid this somewhat simplistic tune... it's not a lot of exciting leads, or anything... just some old emotions...

Your time is what's most appreciated...

DOUGH RAY MI

The harshness may be coming from the hats... tried to sneak a 9k shelf in there on 'em and may have hurt your ears...

Thanks doog

David "fresh ears" McGinty DeBonmarchais

Much too kind... thanks Kenny sure made this fly, eh? Great to hear from ya... esp. from someone as vocally talented as yourself

M in MBrain

The guitars do have a bit of a higher roll off than usual for the mix... surgical EQ ... some slivers here and there... rightee o... will give that a shot... your ears/expertise always appreciated, man!

Retracking w/a better guitar (near future?) ... but this song is about loneliness... so backing vox might be a bit too ironic

Thanks!

grouch potatoe

Another vote for the cymbals... down... or fixed... cool... most assuredly the hh and some crazy crashes... not too much else
in the way of exotic metals there...

You are on point on the vox, btw... those were just the fader
rides (automation) I put in initially... definitely have to do a detail
mix on this... (hopefully will get monitoring situation worked out
soon, here...)

Thanks for the double dip

Cy "anide" rokk

Really appreciate your comments John.... someone of your
considerable shredability ... this tune is chopsticks in comparison...
I thank you...

Mc twist

Thanks twist... these lines were sung about a year ago... they
are comped from about 5 takes... the vocal closet is complete now
... just have to practice up again...


C

 

[Pedullist]

I'm with SLuiCe and Fprod South! (somehow I don't find that very surprising, LOL)

However, I'll repeat the nice comments once more:

- great song, Participant!

- great creative bass part and playing, Kenny!

- the verses in particular rock, Participant!

- you should do this more often, Participant!

- you should do this more often, Kenny!

Btw, I was puking because I'm ill with the flu...no worries about your song being 'puke-worthy'.

O, just one tiny nitpick: the vocals in 2:32....do you really sing 'hahahahahaworrow'? Seems a little appropriate, because it sounds almost funny....(it occurs somewhere else in the song too)

The rest of the vocals don't suck as bad as you like to think. I think you've got a distinct, almost Smithsesque vocal sound. Very relaxed and nice. It's just the intonation you should watch, at spots.

 

[B.SABBATH]

chadij,

first, I still love the tune.. gives me a happy feeling.. I really like your voice, even though I think you could tighten up the minor pitchyness.. I'm just happy to see a thread by you..

My biggest complaint is the high end.. I can only describe it as the sound I used to get when I played electric drums through a Randall half stack.. the cymbals make my speakers sound like the tweeters are blown or something.. I'm surprised that you would have a problem like that because you know your stuff.. I can only describe it as sibilant high end, but WTF do I know? nothing..

the acoustic sounds good *when it has accompaniment*.. the keys sound good, but to me it almost sounds like your improvising them.. nice job on the bass Toke! I think it should start right away with the acoustic.. the acoustic alone with the drums doesn't sound right to me..

If it wasn't for the high end stuff, I think it would be just about done.. maybe another mix..

I've been thinking about getting the LM4 after I checked it out at my friends house.. only problem would be figuring out how to use it.. I've had Sonar 2.2 for awhile now and can't really make heads or tails out of it.. I need a new soundcard before getting into that anyway..

love the tune, but IMHOP this isn't a final mix.. hey, how about a solo somewhere? Don't wait another year to remix it..


BTW, I rented out a room with Dan's band.. Now I can do vocals again, but I can't sing too good.. I'll probably post something with vocals today or tomorrow..

then everyone can't get their revenge on me...

great tune either way Chadly!!

 

[Guernica]

....in my best Arnold the governator voice.

"Caulifornia needs more Chad.... I'll be back"

 

[skids]

....in my best Arnold the governator voice.

"Caulifornia needs more Chad.... I'll be back"

As long as it's not a hanging Chad

Alright let me try this name game:

Fart In C Pants I am also going to try and do a detailed critique as you always give many a valuable comment. Of course my detailed reponse probably does not mean a thing!

I remember this song and I want to say I love the song as well as your others. I agree with Ped on your Smiths type sound. Your songs have a certain feel I love.

First, I thought the guitar sound was harsh as others said. I think some of it could be the strumming on this song. If you listen to last strum in the song it does not sound as harsh because you are not strumming as hard. It could also be the guitar or strings. Maybe some heavier strings. Of couse it could just be EQ!

Next the drums are panned too far as others have said. As you know if there were overhead mics the other mic would still pick up the cymbals from the other side. Drums sound pretty good otherwise.

The synth was OK, but I would have liked some other guitars maybe with some FX to fill the space. The song seems more organic to me.

Great song! Please give us more. Your breaks between posts are too long. I love the Sorrrahahahaharrow. It conveys the feelings so well. If you described it to me I would have thought you were crazy, but it works so well IMOP.

That's as much as I have to offer. Take it for what it's worth!

edit - I listened to that last strum again and I think it sounds better because the synth is playing with it to fill the lower end - So maybe ignore my other guitar comments and look at the EQ.