Singing w/feeling, an example?

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RockinRobby

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**Note, as I believe this is both a vocal topic, as well as a mix crit? I'll be cross posting. I am not doing so to offend.

New original, it’s called “Soft truths.” I didn’t set out to write it? I am the vessel, and songs come to me, I’m just glad they’re still coming!

A friend collaborated with me on this gem. I wrote it, and recorded it and then sent it to him for his opinion and to add a lead?

Well, he produced it, redid the drums (everyone likes his drums better) added some rhythm guitar, added some orchestration, did the solo, recommended the dobro in the beginning (which I added) and Mark did the mix.

He is the Seals to my Croft, he is the Garfunkel to my Simon, and I am proud to have him as a colab partner.

Submitted for your approval, I think it’s a monster hit?
At the top, “Soft truths.”

Rockin'Robby | Doraville, GA | Pop / Country / Acoustic | Music, Lyrics, Songs, and Videos | ReverbNation

I believe we all have and live with "Soft truths..." Sometimes from us personally? And sometimes from others close to us.

I'm playing the Goodall 6, a Taylor 12, and a Warwick fretless. the bro is my Goldtone. Good mics and pre-amps, I know Mark's stuff is the shizzy as well. I did the piano in Ivory, and my strings were EWQL Gold, He redid the drums (I think with Superior?) I'm really pleased with how it turned out, but also very interested in feedback from the mix-masters :-)
 
Not sure why you think this is a vocal topic since you didn't really talk about the vocal performance in your post. But alright, let's talk. Pretty good performance. I've read through a few of your posts lately about singing and feeling, et al, and I think you're carrying the torch. However, I think your performance and 'feel' is getting buried in the mix. Mostly, it's the reverb. You definitely need to pick a better verb for your vocals. The one you're using is smearing and muddying the vocal track. I don't understand a lot of what you're singing.

I think a shorter and brighter verb will help. Keep it low so there's no swimming. Some good advice I heard a long time ago is to turn it up so it sounds nice, then turn it down just past the point where you can't hear it anymore and leave it there.

I also think there's a few things you can do to even out the vocal track. Not sure how much compression you've got. I don't hear any mouth artifacts which is good, but I do hear the vocal stronger and weaker throughout the song. I'm guessing you're working the mic so as to not apply too much compression, which is good, but I still hear it pumping. I'd say try a limiter on your vocal track rather than a compressor. It'll let you work the finer details of dynamics, but will put a cap on the louder points so you're not overdoing it. Hmm, maybe I'm not wording it right, hope you get the idea. A good limiter plug will work smoothly, like an 1176 plug.

eh, just my thoughts.
thanks for sharing.
 
Yeah, Mark had Vallhala? I use Altiverb, which is top-o-the-line...

So I couldn't control the verb? But I agree with you.

And yes, I agree also on the limiter. I use fabfilter (personally) And am a firm believer. You worded it expertly :-) Thank you VERY much for your feedback Chili, most excellent.
 
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Also, I trippled the vox in many places? i.e, track one down the pipe? Track 2 a copy? panned 100 left not a copy really, but a comp?, track 3 a cloned copy of track 2, panned 100% right, with the phase inverted? In an attempt to give it a big phat sound...
 
RockinRobby said:
Also, I trippled the vox in many places? i.e, track one down the pipe? Track 2 a copy? panned 100 left not a copy really, but a comp?, track 3 a cloned copy of track 2, panned 100% right, with the phase inverted? In an attempt to give it a big phat sound...
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Man, I'm not so sure inverting the phase of a copied track will give it any kind of fat sound. Seriously, the best way to get three great vocal tracks is to record three great vocal takes. No copying/cloning/inverting or whatevers.... :)

I tried double tracking vocals before and the only thing I learned from that is that I suck at double tracking vocals. lol. All my vocals tracks are distinct takes singing distinct parts. your mileage may vary. :D

peace,
 
I like your songs man really nice, dont worry about the feeling bro your music made me happy and feel sensations, as i heard one time in It Might Get Loud Documentary Jack White said "When your song is honest, people will feel it" and in your music i totally feel it. bro keep doing your awsome music, i wish you could have soundcloud so i could follow you and also facebook !
 
riseowfind said:
I like your songs man really nice, dont worry about the feeling bro your music made me happy and feel sensations, as i heard one time in It Might Get Loud Documentary Jack White said "When your song is honest, people will feel it" and in your music i totally feel it. bro keep doing your awsome music, i wish you could have soundcloud so i could follow you and also facebook !
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Thank you "very much..." In time? It's another that came to me? I was there? I was part of it? But it's weird? I can't really say I wrote it? I was just there when it happened... It's a very special song to me though, and I really appreciate the fact that you listened to it, and that you enjoyed it. "It time, in time, we'll have all that we need in time..." Or as Cheryl Crowe sang? It's not haveing what you want? It's wanting what you've got? Same deal... "Make yourself happy?" I'm a believer. Thanks again for listening to that one (down the list) and for commenting on it. It's my passion man... And you made my day! :-)

In time... a love song. Written from the heart... Again, I can't thank you enough for stopping and exploring, That is one of my originals and it is from the heart... Thank you.
 
Chili said:
Man, I'm not so sure inverting the phase of a copied track will give it any kind of fat sound. Seriously, the best way to get three great vocal tracks is to record three great vocal takes. No copying/cloning/inverting or whatevers.... :)

I tried double tracking vocals before and the only thing I learned from that is that I suck at double tracking vocals. lol. All my vocals tracks are distinct takes singing distinct parts. your mileage may vary. :D

peace,
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Chilie, when I refer to copying and inverting? I'm talking about a Mid/Side recording technique?

I use it when recording my acoustic instruments,

It's shown better than I can explain it here...

Recording Acoustic Guitar - Mid-Side Stereo Micing - YouTube

I recommend it very highly for anyone recording acoustic instruments.

As for my vox? I tracked them multiple times.

And on a doubled vox part? I may sing the part (doubled), then clone it? (The dbled part) Then pan one hard L and the other hard R and invert the phase i.e., on the one panned hard R? It it works well, and I used it here? I think the vox came out pretty good in this example. But there's always room for improvement.

I'm hoping to be able to listen to more of your stuff w/in 2 days, My PC I listen on is f'ed up :-(
 
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Hi Robby. About the cloning, panning, flip phase - I think it's actually detracting from the vocal. It's causing some phase problems on my setup that make it seem a little washed out and unfocused. A little like it's coming from everywhere and not from the center. It also sounds drastically different in mono, which may not matter one bit to you.
 
chuckduffy said:
Hi Robby. About the cloning, panning, flip phase - I think it's actually detracting from the vocal. It's causing some phase problems on my setup that make it seem a little washed out and unfocused. A little like it's coming from everywhere and not from the center. .
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^^^^^ this ^^^^^^
In general flipping phase is to take care of issues caused by multiple mics at different distances from the source or multiple takes using different mics which might be out of phase with each other. Doing what you're doing causes phase cancellations which actually make the track less fat.
I'm a big believer in no rules so do what sounds good to your ears but I personally wouldn't do the phase thing.
 
Well, I played it for my son this evening (Daddy weekend) he's 9? I was watching the visualizer in windoze media player? And when it ended, I looked over and he was crying his eyes out. I said, "what's wrong son?" And he said, "it's just so sad..."

Singing/writing with emotion. Moving someone to tears. It the highest praise any singer songwriter could ever hope for.
 
A 2nd remix is posted...

My partner (we're not gay? Not that there's anything wrong with that?) is responsible for the mix. He's good... Really good? I think this mix is much better.

He's a freaking wizard at the mixing. It's a mystery to me...
 
And he boosted the low end, which features my performance on the fretless? You're welcome ;-) I am well acquainted with that bass... And it is a sweet sweet bass.
 
I feel like I should maybe change the title of my thread to;

"I really suck" or

"Tell me why I really suck as a singer?"

Or

"How can I suck less as a singer?"

Those seem to be trending now on this forum.
 
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