String Arrangment MP3s

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studioviols

studioviols

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http://artists.mp3s.com/artists/554/studioviols.html

Lots of good strings and grand piano, a touch of brass in 'Why They Hate U.S.' , this was written recently.

'Powerless' was written and recorded just over 10 years ago on a 4-Track, I've remastered it and now it is posted at the link I've given above.

I'm going to do another pressing of both of these songs.

I'm doing everything on a dual water-cooled PC using SONAR 2.

I have an echo mia, It's working very well.

I use a Mackie 1202 and it's onboard pre-amps. I'm shopping for the new XDR VLZ model, ebay has some killer deals used at the auctions from ~ $190.00 to $290.00.

I use an Alesis 3160 compressor, although I didn't have it when I recorded the vocals on 'Why They Hate U.S.'

I'm really not here for a political agenda, I'm honestly seeking feedback on the sonic quality of the resulting MP3 and any other feedback I can get. But the content of the songs is what comes out of my heart, and I can't change that.

So let's break away into our producer hats shall we ?

I've gotten a new microphone recently and a new cello. I've added another violin to the stable. The mic is a decent condenser, a Rode NT1 I got off ebay.com. I'll be using it to record the strings as well as sing.

For close-micing my instruments I have a vintage fender min-condenser, a lapel style mic, with custom mounting for the instruments. It's 20-20 and very, very sensitive. Phantom power or pre-amp. I'm using the phantom power from the Mackie, seems to be no difference between that and the battery powered preamp that came with it.

I intend to use all real strings as I perform and record with violin, viola and cello, on the next production of 'Why They Hate U.S.'

'Powerless' has real strings, violin and viola, the pickup was a barcus berry hotshoe and it sucks for recording, (but then again it has a very focused edge ...), so I layered as much as I could and bounced like a madman those years ago on that 4-Track, it was a Yamaha MT-120, hell it still is, but it's in the attic covered in rat doodie and spider-webs ...

On Powerless I used an epiphone Sheraton, a beautiful black one that I parted with for a violin, ... shoulda woulda coulda, damn I wish I had it now.

So give a listen, give some feedback, I'd appreciate it.

'Why They Hate U.S.' uses soundfonts and some real violin, viola and cello.
 
I tried to listen, but I couldn't get past the lyrics... that's all I'll say...
 
Thanks for trying

really, I appreciate your trying and staying professional about it.
 
LOL... we're not professionals. We're musicians. :D


And yeah... I had to laugh at the lyrics. Some of the most asinine stuff I've heard in these parts. :p


Vocals are a tad bit loud. And the fake strings really kinda detracted from any seriousness that was being attempted by the lyrical content (not that any informed individual could take any of that seriously, though :D). The bed of music needed a bit more support. The whole song was basically lyrics with a fake violin solo playing in the background. You gotta get some more elements worked in there to give the strings some support. Maybe fill out that piano part a little more. It's kinda staccato the whole way through. Or get a fuller orchestral production on the strings. That may be your intention when you redo this with the real strings, though.


WATYF
 
Viewpoint

I agree, I need more musical elements, I cannot let the bed of music be made solely with a string arrangement.

Suggestions for instrumentation are appreciated. I might try bass, and during a section or two I might add some percussion for a buildup effect.

The lyrics were designed to provoke as powerful an emotional response as possible and produce vivid images of the suffering of the innocent and the meek, children and women ... in the hopes that would kindle reflective thought, maybe even as long as a year from hearing the song, or longer still.

You have to be strong to make it through a listening of this song, I demand a lot from the listener here, I don't expect it to be a commercial success, that was not my intention.

Meek folk love this tune.

The lyrics are written from the viewpoint of those who have had their limbs and body parts blown off, and survived, from those who have suffered the loss of loved ones.

It is a snapshot of the human condition, as real as it can get, like the pictures of the children you can find on the internet who have had their limbs blown off of their bodies by bombs, who lie lifeless with swollen red holes in their bodies.

As I am but a tiny mote of protoplasm existing for a scant cosmic mili-second, these thoughts are framed in the current time, and current events lend themselves to the framing of this human anomoly, the blowing up of the bodies of other humans.

Bring these images clearly into your mind and hold them there, study them and you will be filled with compassion, and wonder at how we humans can actually stoop to such a base and animal level, yet survive and flouish. I'll never get used to the idea that black, brown, yellow or white men can be so hidiously evil and pound their chests yelling that they are pure and godlike while they do this.

I am filled with resolve though, and courage by the meek who endure this suffering, they are all powerful in their survival.
 
I'm wondering what you did to the vox as far as processing? It sounds like a slight delay/doubling effect? Personally, I'd like to hear it without that. It sounds pretty well-recorded and that delay effect gives it a slightly more amateurish feel that I think you could easily do without.

And this is just another "taste" thing, but I think you could do without the affected vocal mannerisms as well. I think you were aiming for some sarcastic social criticism - kind of like a slightly more heavy-handed Randy Newman or Zappa - and the "funny" vocal mannerisms nudge it into Weird Al territory, which is not where I think it belongs.

In other words, try singing it a little more sincere - or barring that, just less "goofy". I think it'll get it over better.

Chris
 
Vocal Mannerisms

Yes, as I approach the mic to sing this I find myself doing battle battle with myself the writer, and myself the musical performer, ... to release my feelings about the song ... and just sing the darn thing.

To release any 'judgements', even as the song compels judgement .. I believe will release tensions where maybe they ought not should be ... providing for a better performance.

I may be struggling to sound sincere, which of course doesn't come across as sincere at all.

I think if I try to 'speak' it a little more than sing it ...

Yes, this is biting social commentary, a reflection on the human condition.

As far as the processing on the vocal, I used SONAR'S timeworks reverb and delay, not much, and some very light compression, timeworks also.

The vox was produced as a composite track from about 40 takes over four days, in SONAR of course. I used volume envelopes judiciously to craft the vocal.

I doubled and sometimes tripled the vocal, sometimes even four tracks where I thought 'many persons' might be saying the lyrics, or many persons a group might be expressed by that lyric.

When there are more than two tracks I do a critical analysis of all tracks that are going to be used for that section and assign one as the 'lead' track, and drop the second best track about 3-9db, and the next best track another 2-5db, and so on.

When the lyric is drier, that is the individual, the little girl or boy, the mother, or that darned writer who keeps interfering ...

Thanks for listening, I'll try to DL your piece again soon, but I'm timing out.
 
the contrast of your clean cut voice and the very dark lyrics is disturbing. not sure if that's what you were looking for but that's what you got here. not sure what else to say.
 
Well,since you dont want it to be about politics(even though it is blatantly about politics).

I'll just say,this is one of the worse songs I have ever heard on this bbs and leave it at that.It's sounds like really bad karyoke at best.
 
The lyrics are not my view at all but everyone is entitled to..blah, blah, etc.

Having said that (and you touched on it yourself), the lyrics are very graphic but the way you deliver the vocal line, it sounds like Weird Al at times and I couldn't help but snicker. I'm sure you were not going for that reaction.

I'd find better strings than that, those have no bite.

Piano structure was interesting, I kind of enjoyed that part.
 
Emotional Reactions

Thanks for the feedback lynx, thanks for listening.

My intention was to elicit strong emotional reactions.

Some people feel angry when they listen, angry at me for writing it, angry at me for being somehow unamerican, or unpatriotic.

Some people feel frusterated because their emotional reaction is so powerful ... they can't even continue to listen to the song.

Some people feel numb and disconnected from the song.

Some people find a twisted humor in the song.

Some people feel profoundly sad at the images in the song.

Some feel paternal and think I am making fun of the injured, gloating over the executed.

And that's all good. Perhaps the one single image they do encounter ... before they shut it down ... is burned into their brain, forever.

I think it gives birth to many different and complex conflicting emotions, europeans of course have a very, very different reaction, but still highly emotional.
 
Re: Emotional Reactions

studioviols said:
Thanks for the feedback lynx, thanks for listening.

My intention was to elicit strong emotional reactions.
Click to expand...

Oh really?So you were just joking in your original post when you said this:

Originally posted by studioviols I'm really not here for a political agenda, I'm honestly seeking feedback on the sonic quality of the resulting MP3 and any other feedback I can get. But the content of the songs is what comes out of my heart, and I can't change that.

So let's break away into our producer hats shall we ?
[/B]
Click to expand...

Here's an emotion for ya.

Buzz off troll boy.hehehehehahahaha.:p
 
Kramer's anger

I hear your anger and vehemence. I have compassion for you.

lynx made a specific and pointed comment as to the reaction I wanted by how I sang the lyric.

You are FISHING for trolls.
 
I listened to this "song" because I read your opinionated "critiques" of some of the other submitted material. I specially liked your "critique" of Erland's last tune. You're quite something, aren't you, dear? You can find fault with everything you "review"(?!!), while positing this POS as music.
"...biting social commentary" ????????
I will agree with the "biting" part. This bites. The Big One.

"their emotional reaction is so powerful ... they can't even continue to listen to the song."

Right. What color is the sky in your world, Studiovile? I listened because I couldn't decide which was funnier - the melody-less, whiny lisping vocal, the lost meandering piano or the pretentious subject matter.

I listened to it ALL THE WAY THROUGH!!!!!!

Can I get my 4 minutes back?
 
the first clip sounds like it is playing thru a transistor radio and the vocals are just silly.

the second song, the vocals are even sillier. I admit, I listened because of reading your other reviews. This was pretty bad in comparision to some of the slop we ourselves put up around here. Just goofy... silly vocals. nevermind the lyrics. Sounds like you are on a pronuciation quest to spit out every last sylable correctly and take the breaths at the right time. Is your vocal teacher standing there watching you track!!! you need some lessons boy on how to loosen up musically.
 
I listened. Sounded too dry, vegetarian, and anemic for me. I like big, fat, wide, and greasy, with warm dripping edges on mixes. Music with a "PULSE"*.
Vocal sounded quite over-articulated and like you were trying to compensate for something on the first tune.
The piano on the 2nd was ok but didnt have any low end structure to kept it from teetering on the edge of abrasive. strings were done well, not enough ambience though. A cello line was sporadically maxing out on initial attack of the bow.








(*swiped from EL Track Rat)
 
*post deleted*

[edit](Peddy regrets forgetting his own rule: no non-musical posts only intended to ignite new flamewars)[/edit]
 
Last edited:
Re: Kramer's anger

studioviols said:
You are FISHING for trolls.
Click to expand...

Isn't that supposed to be "trolling for fish"?

BTW...didn't listen....don't want to ruin my day off.


bd
 
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