Suggestions/Thoughts on Alternative Rock song

[adamandadam]

I'm curious what people would think of this song. I'm mostly a beginner at recording, and I don't have access to a lot of gear. Feel free to mention anything you notice, including the song itself, instrumentation, performance or production (but keep in my mind that we're not seasoned drummers). Thanks!

 

[Armistice]

OK...

Vocals are a bit pitchy at the start on the long notes. Drums aren't very well recorded, in particular the kick, and the ride is too loud.

The softer bits after the big start sound quite nice... good lo fi vibe going, probably helped by your instruments not being exactly in tune / intonated correctly, which is I'm sure accidental, but it sort of works anyway.

It's those big notes in the chorus... I don't think there's one line there where pitch doesn't raise its ugly little head. Shame, as the general tone of voice is quite nice.

The lead guitar tone, for mine, doesn't fit, contextually, with the other instrument sounds - it's not really the tune for screaming lead.

Pretty sure you've got some clipping in there as well on the big vocal notes.

If no-one in the band can actually play the keyboard, apart from chords, then drop it and add another guitar or something for the build. It's a pretty average part. Chord, chord, chord, chord... yeah, yeah. Dull.

The bass needs a bit of variety in the playing note, note, note, note....

I think the song's too long and if you chopped everything off before 0.55 that would be a better place to start, rather than with the big singalong chorus thing as you do.

You've got an amp buzzing too loud in the quiet bits, and various clicks and pops and sibilances happening with the singing and god knows what else....

Now before you go and throw yourself off a cliff, you've got a recording. Good. Now put it aside, and start again, assuming someone else comes along and tells you much the same stuff as I did so you actually believe me. A complete new recording of everything and I'm betting you're going to like the results way, way better than what you have now. I'd trim it a bit, and do a proper ending instead of that crappy fadeout.

The song has potential but I think you're trying too much - it's not a 7:20 song, really it isn't. There's not enough there. It's probably an excellent 4:20 song.

And BTW, the drumming's basic but it's largely OK... you just need to work on the recording of it.

I mean if it was 1967 we night think you could be Velvet Underground, but that was 45 years in the past and the bar's higher now...

But don't be discouraged. It's a start. My $0.02, YMMV.

 

[TripleM]

I thought Armistice gave a very good review.

Although there was a pitchy note here and there, I thought the singer had a good voice. The vocal level was quite uneven. So I'd watch mic technique to try to level out the volume.

I think you're close to a decent drum sound. Right now it's a bit roomy. So if you have any reverb on it, I'd take it off.

The mix is kind of lacking a strong low end. The bass needs some more low end and the kick needs to be boosted. Bass level is uneven in spots, but to a less extent than the vocal.

Little pop at 3:48.

You called it an alternative rock song. But the guitar tone was way too tame for that type of song. I'd prefer something with much more gain applied to it. The tempo it a bit slow.

A stereo would be preferable to me. But maybe mono is what you want.

 

[adamandadam]

@TripleM Thanks for the advice. I shouldn't have called it an alternative rock song - that's really not what we were going for (more indie, I guess). We did try to make this mix stereo, but I guess it wasn't quite enough? Also, I'm not catching the "pop" at 3:48 - was it with the "n" in "nice?"

 

[adamandadam]

@Armistice Thanks, we really appreciate your time and consideration. It's helpful to have advice like this when we don't really know that much about how to do this stuff (16 and 17 years old), and we're also using Garageband with one condenser and one dynamic mic. I agree with a lot of what you said. A lot of the clicks and pops might be coming from the mic, seeing as we don't have a pop filter. What exactly did you find problematic with the kick drum? This was the first time we recorded drums so I think our set-up might not have been ideal - since we're limited to two mics, would you have put one of them on the kick?

 

[TripleM]

We did try to make this mix stereo, but I guess it wasn't quite enough? Also, I'm not catching the "pop" at 3:48 - was it with the "n" in "nice?"

Assuming you're in a DAW, when you exported the song did you maybe select mono instead of stereo?

And yeah the pop might have been a vocal artifact. Something sounded amiss at that spot.

 

[greenascanbe]

if that is one of your first tries... we'll I've heard (and done) worse...

Is your goal to work on your recording chops or get a workable demo of your band? I know sometimes it's both. If it is to get a demo reach out and get some help if time is off the essence. I know cash flow isn't too much at that age so DYI is always seductive but remember you don't get a 2nd chance to make a first impression.

If time is on your side I'd work on the following issues:

1. Vocals. There is one part where the interments come in that the vocals start getting lost a bit. Learn how to ride the vocals to make sure they stay in front.

It sounds like your singer is straining on the high notes. Consider bringing the song down a step or 2 to fit his vocal range.

Also a good pop filter is an investment worth making. There are a few sites I've seen where people have made their own for less then paying retail and have had good results. A wind screen may help as well.

2. As far as having two mics for the drums experiment with the mic placement. It's going to differ from room to room but I've found some good results putting the condenser about three feet high and 6 to 10 feet back to capture the entire set. Also some good results putting the condenser mic on the side of the drums by the low tom and sometimes in the middle over the drums. Drums can be the hardest thing to capture to a recording. Always good not to rush it when it comes to placement. Keep moving the mic until you get close to the right sound.

3. I'd bring the keyboard part down since it seems to be competing with the guitars for space. Maybe add some reverb to spread the sound a bit and help give the guitar more bite.

4. Armistice has a great point. If your going for art house / experiment rock and wanting it to build then it works. If your looking for something that will fit in with all the other music out there then editing is a must. Especially when most people who won't know you may give you 20 maybe a full 30 seconds before they "switch the station." (old man term for finding another song to listen to.) If there is an instrumental hook you could bring in consider it. If not " don't bore us, get to the chorus."

 

[PDP]

In this day and age of everything sounding so perfect there's something really endearing about this tune. I think if it was done with a professional drum track it would be great, the way it is. Nice Job!