the lonesome bell - new song, new gear, same crap?

[true-eurt]

I prefer the first mix bass..much smoother and interweaved.

In the other two mixes the bass sounds disjointed from the rest of the song...there is so much reverbration of the strings, they sound as if you loosened them.....but whadda I know!




I really like the song though..being a seventies child and all..

 

[heatmiser]

I prefer the first mix bass..much smoother and interweaved.

In the other two mixes the bass sounds disjointed from the rest of the song...there is so much reverbration of the strings, they sound as if you loosened them.....but whadda I know!




I really like the song though..being a seventies child and all..

Thanks for checking it out true . I'm pretty confused at this point and may eventually just stick with the first mix. It was fun tweaking and all, but I'm having trouble changing just one or two elements without throwing the whole thing off. This one has certainly been a learning experience.

 

[squibble94]

Your songs are usually really neat because the programmy drums sound good with the rest of the music. Good song.

 

[heatmiser]

Your songs are usually really neat because the programmy drums sound good with the rest of the music. Good song.

That is good of you to say quibble. I don't desire programmy drums, but that is all I have for now so I build songs around them. More a product of necessity than artistic choice I'm afraid.

 

[K-dub]

I'd add a touch of reverb to the snare ... and eq (or use a transient shaper) it so that it "rings in tune" when hit. It's ok to have programmed drums, but usually what one wants to do is infuse them w/ sonic character to compensate ... and in doing so, you can actually leverage the regularness of them into sounding interesting. Try to get an interesting tone to the snare that gives it as unique a sound as the bass (which I like).

... and then call it a day. Liked the tune btw ...

Best,

Kev-

 

[maximusbs]

Hey Pete,

Great tune - My favorite part is that haunting high B noodle under and past the chorus. I can't even tell what is playing that (guitar I think), because it is saturated with reverb (which I love). Of course, I liked the distorted bass part a lot; ditto what GZ said and it should be perfect!

 

[joeym]

Ooh....I love that grungy bass Pete, how did you that?
Great song too, beautifully arranged, it keeps the listener's attention although it's the same 3 chords the whole time, I just love stuff like that. Your voice sounds great too (listening to the latest mix....). Smooth work, no nits!

Joey

 

[stringtheory]

This sounds great Heatmiser. You've got lot's of good things going on in this song; I love the bass and the sustain-y guitar part paired with the subdued acoustic strumming. It does invoke "across the universe" but at the same time it doesn't sound like that song. it's a very creative, original piece imo.

The song is really cool as it is but if i had a critique (less of a critique and more of a feeling) it would only be that i kept waiting for a verse where the vocal went up an octave or two and let loose a bit. To me your voice has a Flaming Lips/Beck feel to it and i think you could pull it off... if you wanted to.

 

[heatmiser]

I'd add a touch of reverb to the snare ... and eq (or use a transient shaper) it so that it "rings in tune" when hit. It's ok to have programmed drums, but usually what one wants to do is infuse them w/ sonic character to compensate ... and in doing so, you can actually leverage the regularness of them into sounding interesting. Try to get an interesting tone to the snare that gives it as unique a sound as the bass (which I like).

... and then call it a day. Liked the tune btw ...

Best,

Kev-

Thanks for listening Kev - I'm glad you liked it.

The drums...hmmm. A real problem for me. This tune really just has a stereo drum loop from a guitar pedal as the basic track with some supplimental hand percussion to try to liven it up a bit. I usually throw a bunch of fx on these mechanical tracks so that it doesn't sound like I'm trying to pretend they're real, but these drums are pretty much left alone. I will definitely experiment with tweaking them in future mixes.

I really want to get either a kit or some software drum samples (not using a computer for recording, so that could be tough) someday. I am kind of sick of drum machines and guitar pedal loops...did you notice - not one crash, ride or even a fill throughout the whole thing? - crazy. Thanks for your ideas .

 

[heatmiser]

Hey Pete,

Great tune - My favorite part is that haunting high B noodle under and past the chorus. I can't even tell what is playing that (guitar I think), because it is saturated with reverb (which I love). Of course, I liked the distorted bass part a lot; ditto what GZ said and it should be perfect!

Thanks man, I appreciate the feedback. There is a slide guitar with an octave pedal and some distortion going on, and then another repeating high part with a short but loud delay that may be what you're referring to. Both those parts have of tons of spring reverb. I haven't recorded a normal guitar tone in some time. Thank you again .

Ooh....I love that grungy bass Pete, how did you that?
Great song too, beautifully arranged, it keeps the listener's attention although it's the same 3 chords the whole time, I just love stuff like that. Your voice sounds great too (listening to the latest mix....). Smooth work, no nits!

Joey

Thanks Joey, you are always so encouraging.

This bass sound is all about cheapness. A Peavy Milestone bass > Behri mic 100 pre-amp (with tube upgrade (ha! like putting nitrous in a ford fiesta)) > digitech fx pedal for eq, gate + some lame amp sim > line in jack. Sounds kinda like a fuzz pedal I think. Glad it works for you. I really like that sound personally.

3 chords....yeah. I think you are more likely to find a straight male flight attendant than find a complex chord progression in one of my songs. My next project will have no chords whatsoever .

This sounds great Heatmiser. You've got lot's of good things going on in this song; I love the bass and the sustain-y guitar part paired with the subdued acoustic strumming. It does invoke "across the universe" but at the same time it doesn't sound like that song. it's a very creative, original piece imo.

The song is really cool as it is but if i had a critique (less of a critique and more of a feeling) it would only be that i kept waiting for a verse where the vocal went up an octave or two and let loose a bit. To me your voice has a Flaming Lips/Beck feel to it and i think you could pull it off... if you wanted to.

Cool...I'm really glad you liked it. My goal is to not sound too much like anything else in particular, so to some extent I have succeeded.

I like your ideas on vocals. I get those two suggestions a lot - sing higher and let loose. I have tried those things with mostly poor results. I think I have like less than one octave of range .

BTW - My wife made her recording debut here singing the longer "whoa - o -ohhhhhhhhs". Not bad. I turned out to be a prick in the studio..."too timid!"..."try again!"..."AGAIN!". She put up with it and did well I think.

Thanks again everyone - lots of great ideas - very helpful!

 

[kcearl]

didnt read the thread but was one of your new purchases a drum machine?

the samples sound much better that the usual machine you use?


great stuff.....loved the bass and overall its a catchy wee number...loved the guitary whine riff and the whoas...really had me bouncy my head along with it


I couldnt hear anything Id change....

 

[heatmiser]

didnt read the thread but was one of your new purchases a drum machine?

the samples sound much better that the usual machine you use?


great stuff.....loved the bass and overall its a catchy wee number...loved the guitary whine riff and the whoas...really had me bouncy my head along with it


I couldnt hear anything Id change....

Good to see you're still around...

No new drums I'm afraid. This is a loop from a guitar pedal . The new stuff inclludes a new recorder and better tracking headphones. Seemed to help with clarity somewhat.

Glad you liked it - thanks for the good word.

 

[kcearl]

whatever works is the best drums


a meister and a greg L for my return...now where's joeyms last one?

 

[fHumble fHingaz]

At the risk of repeating what has been already said... I LOVE the bass & drums on this - character by the bucketload - I would like to hear the acoustic guitars higher in the mix & more "in your face", but its not a deal-breaker.... Great stuff!

 

[heatmiser]

...now where's joeyms last one?

I think you missed a couple of solid submissions while you were gone. He is due for another soon I hope/expect..?

At the risk of repeating what has been already said... I LOVE the bass & drums on this - character by the bucketload - I would like to hear the acoustic guitars higher in the mix & more "in your face", but its not a deal-breaker.... Great stuff!

Thanks ff! I have tried messing with the guitar levels but went off on a tangent and wound up messing with other things too and kind of got off track. I am taking notes from this thread though for potential remixes.

I'm glad it sounded good to you especially having heard your recording.

 

[alanarbor]

Great song. I really like the bass tone, and all the instruments fit nicely in your third mix. However, I think it would be great if you had just a bar or two lead in with the drums. The first mix had a bit too much lead, but the last one feels a bit jarring. That little bit of front loading sound makes the bass that much more dramatic when it kicks in IMO.

 

[ibleedburgundy]

Sounds good to me dude. I really like the lyrics.

 

[heatmiser]

Great song. I really like the bass tone, and all the instruments fit nicely in your third mix. However, I think it would be great if you had just a bar or two lead in with the drums. The first mix had a bit too much lead, but the last one feels a bit jarring. That little bit of front loading sound makes the bass that much more dramatic when it kicks in IMO.

Cool. Thanks for checking it out . Good advice on the intro. For some reason starting it anywhere between where it begins on the 1st & 3rd mix sounded wrong. But I will keep experimenting. And I totally agree with you in theory at least.

Sounds good to me dude. I really like the lyrics.

Thanks man. A friend of mine from Seattle sent me the first verse in an email to get me started. I wrote the 2nd verse but couldn't think of a chorus...hence the "Whoa-o-ohhhs"