Stuff I Saw on TV

  • Thread starter Thread starter TripleM
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crankyone - well you certainly are cranky. You didn't piss me off at all. If you BS'd me and said you loved it when you didn't I'd be more pissed. You and the other 6.4 billion people in the world didn't like the snare. :D I think I can fix that. The left and right guitars sound awful. They were double tracked, but not played at the same time. If anyone can tell me why they sound so crappy, I would be much appreciative. Singing like the Beatles? Hmmm. I don't know about that one. I was just trying to get all the words out and come up for air before I passed out. :D I wish I could sing more like them.

fender - thank you much for the comments.

jamal - what's weird is that I never thought this sounded like the REM song. Even with a reference to Stipe. But now the you and Fed commented, it's obvious. The chorui (is that Latin plural) of the two are different. I can make out the words too - hell I should, I wrote 'em. :D

Sam - thanks. It's nice at least someone thinks I'm cool. I think you liked the song more than most. Arghhhh those DAMNED guitars. I'm starting to think it's worth retracking them. I think they're what's burying the harmonies too. The guits are only lightly compressed, they're just played that way.

mixmkr - I'm seriously asking for guidance on what things need fixing, and MORE IMPORTANTLY advice on how to fix them. I would think that you, more than anyone around here, would have the best ideas. You had asked me to critique my own song, which I did. I was hoping you were going somewhere with that idea, but I haven't anything more from you. Not trying to sound rude - but the reason for the clinic is to get other people's thoughts. And I'd like yours. Thanks.

And as always, thanks to everyone who has listened and helped me.
 
TripleM,
I listened againg and the snare sound is kind of subjective (though it is a little too snappy IMHO :)) I realy think it's timing that makes it more annoying to people.

how do you record guitars and how do you get the sound you have?

cheers
 
Fed - if you would do me a favor and pick the timespots where the drums bug you I would appreciate it. Is it just the synchopation in the bridge or other things too?

I mic'd the amp with an SM57, one inch from the grill, either straight on or angled about 30 degrees (don't remember). I did that on both tracks. I've done that a bunch of times before and never had a problem. I don't know what happened this time.

Thanks for all the help. I owe you big time.
 
Cool song, like the lyrics.

I find the harmonies in the "tube" line are offkey. Like some other as said the snare is really...I don't know...weak? The off beat close to the end of the song is really annoying.

Other than that, I like it, Beatleesque
 
Ok, first of it's a subtle thing through the whole song IMHO
like I said before, the drums are just too strait as opposed to the guitar playing and singing. one of the places that stands out is right before "everybody wants to be like mike" when one guitar goes into this fast arpeggiated thing the snare seems like just shooting at random. I also mentioned the end part already...

and againg to my earlier post... I realise it's hard to keep up with the machine like a machine you are going to swing a little even if you play with the DM or a click that's why I sujested Acid and what I tried to do to get the feel better.

I tried the DM method and got simular results as you as far as feel and tightness being out of wack.

As you probably heard, the lack of "swing" is the limitation of DMs in general that's why some of them actualy have "swing" function where you can move a hit just slightly also people go to great length to program those things.

againg this all just IMHO.

I don't realy have a problem with the guitar sound it's kind of punkish and works in context of a song me thinks. they do sound a little out of tune for some reason. But as long as you like the sound it's fine.

againg the song is fast and buisy and it's hard to keep that strumming and other parts going perfect with the DM.

On the overall quality of the sound ... it's hard to say what is the deal here. that's why I sujested posting without any processing. Then at least you get some opinion on basic sound. and you will know that you sound going in is good or bad or so-so or workable. You already got a lo-fi comment ... it could be drums ...

dude I'm no help am I??? :(

I know there were some murmuring about people posting a raw mix but sometimes you got to do it if you stuck.

I'll listen some more and see if I have more thoughts. I'm new to this recording thing myself and I'm mostly a musician but I was incuraged by mixmkr's "go with your gut" comment in another thread to give people more feedback.

here is the song that I tryed that Acid approach that I was talking about. I didn't want to post it here yet as it's just for testing ideas but I spent like 4-5 nights to programm the DM only to find out it didn't cut it in the feel department.

againg it's NOT FINISHED but may will give you an idea of where I'm comming from

sorry if I wasn't much help.. I realy tried :)

cheers

PS I think i senced some frustration in your earlier posts... don't give into it... you got talant but as my wife says it's 1% talant and 99% hard work... :D
 
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lynx - thank you. The vocal part you mention is over a weird chord progression (Em to E). That may cause what you're hearing. But I'll check back and solo the vocal tracks to make sure. Beatlesque - I consider that a high compliment

fed - not exactly what I was looking for. But damn you put in so much effort, I gotta say that I really really appreicate it. Thank you so much for your thoughts.
 
so what ARE you looking for.. I'm gonna get it for you even if it kills me now... :D

I knew it, I rambled in vain.... i know nothing ... i'm good for nothing ... :( :o :cool: :D
 
Looks like you've been pretty well taken care of here, but I'll add that it sounds to me like most of the action is on the left. Might want to toy with some panning, in addition to other advice given already.. Also, Try cutting any vocal effects in half. There's nothing apparently wrong with your voice for this song, so bring it out. This might help define the lyrics better.

Great song though. To me it has a neat early Beetles feel to it with, with a little bit of punk attitude. Good luck with the mix!
 
Fed - I PM'd you.

Sluice - thank you. There are not many effects on the vocals. Just a slight amount of compression and reverb. I think they may need to be brought up a smidge. I'm going to fix this song if it kills me. So say your goodbyes now. :D
 
Disregard what I said about imbalanced channels. I just looked and my monitors were off balance. SOOORRRRYYYYYY!!!!

:p
 
MMM

you've got a zillion replies...and I kinda skimmed thru most. MUCHO sorry-o for not getting back sooner. too many posts...too little time:(

First off..I think there was a suggestion of getting the drums down first, click track...whatever. As you agreed, the snare sound is very weak. Almost a non exisistant kick drum and the hh's are kinda ...well...kinda..you know. You need a STRONG drum track to start off with. Being the backbone of a rhy section, and having a mediocre sound to them starts you on a crumbly foundation. Get them with the [basically] decent bass sound kicking together. Now...I'm saying this is NOT the only way, but I think it is the EASIEST way, and the MOST "accepted" way to get things down. Now...when the drums and bass sound good together, it becomes much easier to put your guitars IN TIME to the beat...and TO ME becomes actually easier to work on getting a sound that compliments. (and of course you got the click track for your intro).
The guitars NOW are harsh....even though you said you cut some EQ. Is that how they sound live? Remember..."garbage in...garbage out".

I think you hear the things that need work on too...but are not getting what you hear in your head on tape.

I think this songs suffers from enough "small" (to big) problems, they all add up very quickly. Figure...you have drum/gtr timing issues, the vocals are grating, the guitars are harsh...the snare drum (providing the beat) sounds weak. Honestly, what's left? Ok..the bass works (and a cool little riff there at 2:00), but the bass is not featured, and is basically just ok..nothing stupendous.

So...wank this puppy with a solid rhy. section FIRST. Lay scratch vocals if you have to. Then, WORK on a guitar sound....get a POD, J-station...or whatever if you have to... Sure, plenty of naysayers about those, but you can dial up some pretty good sounds really quick. The good players then use the fingers to make those dialup presets sound even better (like basically amazing to me!).
Now...work on the vocals...take some breaths. You';re whipping out a lot of words there...

And lastly...some production will go a long way. The little riff at 2:00 is a PERFECT example why it works (for me). Instead of just banging guitars all the way thru, frenzied vocals, etc. etc....put some climaxes, crescendos,....you know...build the song up...blast off with a solo maybe, calm down...then up again to end the song..as an example. Instead of =========== all the way thru the song, try ---===+++--___+++===--- for more interest. Catch my drift?

Unfortunately, some retracking may be in order to get the timing issues back in line. The drums might also be hard to salvage too. That almost leaves starting over, but using this is a great guide and finding out what problems surfaced and what you need to overcome.

Again, the apologies for the "dry spell"...but I think the following post after my first one kinda summed up my thoughts at the time. "Where to begin...."

You can do it...Rome wasn't built in a day ..:)
 
wow mixmkr great reply.... I know I'm not TripleM :D.. but it was great reply... well said... I knew I wasn't crazy.... :D
 
One last item, Mr Mmmms

try using less EQ... A lot of eq knob twisting can really add up to trouble if you're not careful. Providing you get your sounds right when tracking, the eq should be minimal. I basically use ZERO eq when I record....from tracking to mix. I find that I really don't need it. I tend to use it to cut hiss from a noisy synth patch...loose mic rumble, and stuff like that. Otherwise, I tend not to use it, and I don't really use it for "creative" effects all that much either. Granted, I use ALOT of synths...but still...

this is certainly no rule...but I like my tracks to "mix themselves"
 
Damn, you just got a full semester in Mixmkr 101. Consider yourself fortunate and go with it! :D
 
I think the last reply mixmkr gave me was a B! That's it.. He gave it a B and said 'next!' :D









cranky one - we'll you certainly are cranky
Click to expand...
by Triple M



and the Cranky one comment was funny! :D I said the same thing to him once I think.. His stuff does sound great though.. I had to comment on that comment because it made me laugh.. :D
 
mix - a thousand thank you's. That's what I was hoping for. I had already decided to re-do a solid drum track, retrack the guitars, and lay off the EQ. So at least I'm moving in the right direction. I was kind of disheartened that my vocals sound harsh. I thought they were ok. Oh well. Maybe I'll re-do them to.

Thanks again.
 
thats fun! i like the drum part! one of my old favorites is the velvet underground so im used to hearing minimalist drums and i like them. i see what you mean about slap. it sounds like a slapstick!

i couldnt really understand the lyrics but that ok im used to that too. i used to go to a punk bar at ohio state university and dance and this would have fit there very well. sounds punky/new wavish.

:)
 
mmm

hey neigbor, sorry it took so long to reply to this one. you have some original ideas, they are just having trouble making it to the recording cleanly i think. i'll just end up echoing a lot of the comments already posted so not going to bother with the details. i'm wondering what your recordings would sound like totally dry though. no effects. no eq. no nothing.

gotta fix those timing probs to start.
 
Ok, I wasn't going to bump this again, but since I now owe two people a thank you and it got bumped anyway, I'll re-bump it.

Thanks jeap-ster. Glad someone likes the drums and minimal drum parts. Many people on the board pay a lot of attention to them. I personally prefer that they keep time and don't do much else.

erichenryus - thanks for the listen neighbor. The bridge notwithstanding, the drums were right, the rhythm problems were in the guitars. My ears got numb and I didn't notice the problems.

I tried to do a goofy thing with the drums in the bridge. I thought it worked but it didn't. I have that fixed. I'm now going to blow up the rest of the tracks except the bass and maybe lead vocals and redo it. I'm going to use either no EQing, or minimal EQing (like rolling off bass frequencies) and see what people think.

It'll take me a while, but I'll repost it.
 
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