Reflections In The Water

[BryanMoore]

Loved it man. I want to buy the album when it comes out... Here is what I heard: 1. The first time the distorted guitar came in it was thin, but then the second time the distorted guitar came in, it was much thicker. I personally loved that. I might even look at making the second time even beefier. 2. The vocals got lost a bit behind the mix for me. I'm not sure that more volume is the answer, although a touch more might do the trick. I've read in various places about using slight delay effects to bring different voices/instruments forward or back in the mix. You don't want so much delay that your ears can detect it, but just enough that your ears hear say the vocals a touch before the rest of the mix and they cut accross the mix without raising the volume. Idk, something to think about maybe? 3. I personaly loved the kazoo. I would keep it. It wasn't overdone, but very tastful and made sense at that section of the song. 4. Yes, the sitar needs to be tuned a bit. 5. Overall, I loved it!

 

[CrowsofFritz]

4. Yes, the sitar needs to be tuned a bit.

Easier said than done.

It was great to hear the sitar fleet. Interested in how you recorded it.

Some little critiques I have. They are subjective though.

1 - I think the drums should have some reverb. The beginning had a very spacey feel and then all of the sudden, the drums come in and I feel trapped in a sound proofed room. Maybe that was intentional?

2 - I think the vocals could be a little more trippy. Maybe add a chorus on top of the vocals and add a tiny amount of reverb. This is ENTIRELY subjective though, so take this with a grain of salt.

3 - Yes, the sitar needs to be in tune. Once you get that fucker in tune though, it will sound GOLDEN! Not many things sound better than an in-tune sitar. And there definitely needs to be reverb on the sitar. That may be subjective as well, but I guarantee it will sound better.

Overall, I loved it as well!

 

[fat_fleet]

Loved it man. I want to buy the album when it comes out... Here is what I heard: 1. The first time the distorted guitar came in it was thin, but then the second time the distorted guitar came in, it was much thicker. I personally loved that. I might even look at making the second time even beefier. 2. The vocals got lost a bit behind the mix for me. I'm not sure that more volume is the answer, although a touch more might do the trick. I've read in various places about using slight delay effects to bring different voices/instruments forward or back in the mix. You don't want so much delay that your ears can detect it, but just enough that your ears hear say the vocals a touch before the rest of the mix and they cut accross the mix without raising the volume. Idk, something to think about maybe? 3. I personaly loved the kazoo. I would keep it. It wasn't overdone, but very tastful and made sense at that section of the song. 4. Yes, the sitar needs to be tuned a bit. 5. Overall, I loved it!

Wow cool man, great detailed response - gives me some stuff to think about..

When you talk about the first and second times of the distorted guitar coming in, you're talking about the rhythm track in the intro and the guitars during the first (slow) vocal part? If that's the case it would make some sense to me, knowing how I tracked those two parts.

Also I noticed that about the vocals when the distorted guitar kicks in, but I'm not sure I know exactly how to remedy it... reverb would make it sound further back right? Maybe a boost in the upper mids would do the trick? To me the problem seems to be that the guitars and vocals in that part are too close in the frequency spectrum, but I would have to spend some more time with the mix.

Anyways thanks so much for taking the time and the kind words.

It was great to hear the sitar fleet. Interested in how you recorded it.

Some little critiques I have. They are subjective though.

1 - I think the drums should have some reverb. The beginning had a very spacey feel and then all of the sudden, the drums come in and I feel trapped in a sound proofed room. Maybe that was intentional?

2 - I think the vocals could be a little more trippy. Maybe add a chorus on top of the vocals and add a tiny amount of reverb. This is ENTIRELY subjective though, so take this with a grain of salt.

3 - Yes, the sitar needs to be in tune. Once you get that fucker in tune though, it will sound GOLDEN! Not many things sound better than an in-tune sitar. And there definitely needs to be reverb on the sitar. That may be subjective as well, but I guarantee it will sound better.

Overall, I loved it as well!

Thanks CoF!

Yeah, think I mentioned to you before how I was thinking about tracking it (sitar) but might not have gone into specifics. I used an AT4050 and a R0de NT1A, with the 4050 on the gourd and the NT1A about 18" up the neck, both about a foot out. I had to play with the tuning a little to get the open strings into G, and move one of the frets so the intervals were right with the notes I wanted to hit... I basically ignored the sympathetic strings as there was so much going on in that part I knew they would just get buried. Tracking that thing and trying to get good takes was the most awkward and challenging thing I've done so far with my home recorded stuff... and so I hear it with generous ears and hope there's enough going on so that a wonky note doesn't stick out so much. Having so many people nit on the tuning just bums me out.... I really don't want to re-track THAT part.

I never put reverb on any of my drum tracks and no one has ever mentioned it... where would one add it? You don't want it on the kick, right? Or in the overheads I imagine... would you just put it on the snare and toms? Like a subtle ambient reverb? Or like a plate type of thing? I guess I always pictured reverb drums as being for "stadium rock" or something...

Thanks again for listening dude - and for the sitar tips along the way!

 

[CrowsofFritz]

Wow cool man, great detailed response - gives me some stuff to think about..

When you talk about the first and second times of the distorted guitar coming in, you're talking about the rhythm track in the intro and the guitars during the first (slow) vocal part? If that's the case it would make some sense to me, knowing how I tracked those two parts.

Also I noticed that about the vocals when the distorted guitar kicks in, but I'm not sure I know exactly how to remedy it... reverb would make it sound further back right? Maybe a boost in the upper mids would do the trick? To me the problem seems to be that the guitars and vocals in that part are too close in the frequency spectrum, but I would have to spend some more time with the mix.

Anyways thanks so much for taking the time and the kind words.




Thanks CoF!

Yeah, think I mentioned to you before how I was thinking about tracking it (sitar) but might not have gone into specifics. I used an AT4050 and a R0de NT1A, with the 4050 on the gourd and the NT1A about 18" up the neck, both about a foot out. I had to play with the tuning a little to get the open strings into G, and move one of the frets so the intervals were right with the notes I wanted to hit... I basically ignored the sympathetic strings as there was so much going on in that part I knew they would just get buried. Tracking that thing and trying to get good takes was the most awkward and challenging thing I've done so far with my home recorded stuff... and so I hear it with generous ears and hope there's enough going on so that a wonky note doesn't stick out so much. Having so many people nit on the tuning just bums me out.... I really don't want to re-track THAT part.

I never put reverb on any of my drum tracks and no one has ever mentioned it... where would one add it? You don't want it on the kick, right? Or in the overheads I imagine... would you just put it on the snare and toms? Like a subtle ambient reverb? Or like a plate type of thing? I guess I always pictured reverb drums as being for "stadium rock" or something...

Thanks again for listening dude - and for the sitar tips along the way!

You're quite welcome!

I actually use a very tiny amount of reverb on the overheads. The kick can have a small amount too. It may lose some beef if you do that, but I don't think it really needs reverb on the kick. The snare is the one that really bugged me though. It was dry as a bone. A small amount of reverb will go a long way in maintaining that trippy effect. There isn't really a specific reverb I like to use. Just one that best suits the song. Play around a little.

Well you can mask the out of tune notes with some reverb (I sound like a reverb addict! ). Out of tune can sound cool if it's trippy.

I'm going to give this song another listen. Don't usually do that for 18 minute songs.

 

[CrowsofFritz]

At times, your vocals remind me of the second half of this song.



Try to strive for this kind of reverb with the sitar.




I find it's only okay to have no reverb when the room is somewhat good, the guitar is in tune, and the player has to be a borderline master!

 

[fat_fleet]

I'm going to give this song another listen. Don't usually do that for 18 minute songs.

Lol, you are a glutton for punishment.
Yeah I'll definitely try a little verb on it...

 

[Friday]

I'm enjoying the mix of styles in this,it feels like it could have been made in the 70's or the 90's or whenever and I mean that in the 'it has a timeless quality to it' kind of sense.
I can't really comment any further than that as I don't know my a s s from my elbow when it comes to tech stuff.

 

[B.Mitchell]

cool! what drums and mics did you use to acheive your drum sound?

 

[fat_fleet]

I'm enjoying the mix of styles in this,it feels like it could have been made in the 70's or the 90's or whenever and I mean that in the 'it has a timeless quality to it' kind of sense.
I can't really comment any further than that as I don't know my a s s from my elbow when it comes to tech stuff.

Wow cool, thanks a lot man. You may be the perfect listener!

cool! what drums and mics did you use to acheive your drum sound?

They are all cut up RAMI samples.

 

[HugoRibeiro.Com]

Good job! This takes me back!!! hehe.. the Kazoo is refreshing(at least sounds like a Kazoo). also good drums!

cheers

 

[fat_fleet]

Good job! This takes me back!!! hehe.. the Kazoo is refreshing(at least sounds like a Kazoo). also good drums!

cheers

Thanks for listening Hugo! Yep, that's kazoo....my first instrument

 

[GuitarLegend]

You certainly beat Iron Butterfly's 17-minute version of In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida. I don't know if there has been anything longer than that until now. And I did get all the way through it without any trouble. It was a nice listen. I commend you on your stamina for producing it. The word "psychedelic" comes to mind even though that is not used in recent times. I can remember a time when it would have been a number one hit but that is just showing my age. It would work well at some parties. Hell, it works pretty well now!! Its out of its time but its a keeper for sure. Well done

 

[fat_fleet]

You certainly beat Iron Butterfly's 17-minute version of In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida. I don't know if there has been anything longer than that until now. And I did get all the way through it without any trouble. It was a nice listen. I commend you on your stamina for producing it. The word "psychedelic" comes to mind even though that is not used in recent times. I can remember a time when it would have been a number one hit but that is just showing my age. It would work well at some parties. Hell, it works pretty well now!! Its out of its time but its a keeper for sure. Well done

Wow- those are all huge compliments for me... lots of that music came out before I was born and when I was a toddler, but I've just always had a thing for it.
Thanks for checking it out!

 

[GuitarLegend]

Wow- those are all huge compliments for me... lots of that music came out before I was born and when I was a toddler, but I've just always had a thing for it.
Thanks for checking it out!

It was a pleasure