The Road

  • Thread starter Thread starter muzeman
  • Start date Start date
not sure what you looking for... as far as feedback

if you want to leave the way it is... the voice needs to be more upfront IMHO, the singing is a little weak (don't know if it's the right term) also maybe a little long for a simple song like this.

I like the guitar sound you are getting ... but didn't like the doubling that much... it's not very tight so the groove gets lost...

liked llittle lead ideas there in between...

I got more thoughts on this but just can't get them out right now... :D I'll let others comment some...

cheers
 
I agree with basically all of Fed's comments. You get a nice acoustic sound, but then the problems occur after that....like Fed mentioned. You have such a laid back vocal style, and I suppose that is what you are looking for, ...and/or are capable of. A little more confidence and delivery would go a long way in making your vocals more the center of attention...rather than the doubled guitars, etc.

the song does also seem to need some direction, as it seems presented the same way at the beginning, as it is in the middle, as it is in the end.

You started off with some really beautiful guitar sounds, but then rode the wave all the way in on just that one item.

I think the "production book" needs to be dusted off....and do like you did in your previous tune written by Gidge.

just my measly 2 cents...

nice tune;) ...good lyrics.
 
Thanks guys!

I'll definatly have to dust the production book off!:D

I'm having some kind of trouble with the file,bad cdr I think.
I reburned it and converted it again.
I took the doubling off also.

Sorry about that!:eek:

Thanks for the listen,
Pete

BTW-Does anyone know of any decent free,(or pretty cheap),software that will let you adjust the stereo field on a wav. file?
Cubase is giving me major trouble when I try to do it.
 
Hey Muze,

Nice picking and somber mood...........

I read the other post and they hear what I hear. I'll offer some "production/opinion" thoughts. Take or leave them.

The lead vocals need to come up some but that isn't really the fix. I can see you riding the fader on the vox track to make it all sit better from begining to end and still not be happy.

I think some backup vox and reinforcement vox will help out alot.

The first bridge around 1:52 , or so, would do well with some back up harmonies. And , in general, I'd listen back to the song and sing along with harmonies, repeats and refraining vocals in mind. You've a soft voice on the tune. I think you could keep the natural integrity of the song by adding vocal support.

Maybe, and this will trash that natural integrity I think you are going for, consider adding some controlled delay to the lead vox.

:eek: :confused: :) ;)

I'd push the git fills at 2:41 ish up so they stand out a bit. The fill gets lost inside the rhythm gits.


Hope I didn't hit all the wrong spots,
Just sharing some thoughts:)


Theron.
 
Theron,
Thanks very much for taking the time to listen,I appreciate your input!

Definatly going to try some harmonies,don't know if I can do it though!

This was my first attempt at writing,so it's a little lame.:D

I'm going to scratch this production,and add some more instruments to try to make it more interesting,like mix suggested.

I'd like to try the delay,any suggested settings?

Thanks,
Pete
 
Pete:

I really like stuff like this. The only thing drummers contribute to the world of music is the addition of meaningless criticisms about how any drum that's not recorded live, on the spot, in a 30'X20' sound chamber, just ruins a song beyond repair.

:D

(For the record, I love all drums and drummers and their mothers).

I read the other posts...and I can't make out any problem with a doubled guit...the thing sounds spot on to me. I cannot, however, make out the vocal. I've noticed these particular speaks I have at work really boost everything that's not panned at 12:00 o'clock, so all I can say is, I can't hear the vocal. I can't tell you if it's the track's fault or not. Will listen at home. I appreciate stuff like this. I will also be the first to volunteer to throw some bg vox on here, if you don't mind. Songwriting critique from a novice will follow.

keep posting,
-chris
 
Yes... the Acoustic sounds very nice and real.
You might want to turn the vocals up a tad... and maybe a little plate reverb on the nice voice of yours.
I really like fingerpicking.... :) Dust in the Wind was one of the first tunes I learned... I still love to play that song :) Again... nice work!
 
Chris,
Thanks very much!
I appreciate your listening.

It would be really great if you could add some bg vox!
I'm going to rework it,here's some ideas I had;

Speed it up a couple of notches.

Keep the verse pretty much the same,add bass&light drums.

Add electric guitar,organ,and heavier drums to the pre-chorus and chorus.

What do you think?

My friggin back has been out since Saturday,so I'm pretty much incapacitaded,might take me a while!
(Man am I a crybaby or what?):D



Looking foward to hearing from you!

Best to you,
Pete

BTW-Did you ever try that ripper?
 
muze my man,

I like it.. Your getting some nice acoustic sounds.. in some parts the vocals sound too low, but not all the parts.. You should lay a few harmonies to this, maybe some ambient keys.. Nice tune, great melody, and I think it sounds better than it did.. I think it could use a few little noises to spice it up, but not overkill.. it's almost 5 minutes long so some extra bits would help.. Nice tune though, just add some more stuff..

Didn't you say you had a JV 10-10? dust it off!! :D


BTW - thanks for the LAME link.. It works great, and I will always use it from now on.. :)
 
This is a nice tune. I like the lyrics and sentiment. I remember this when you posted it last time, but I didn't really notice any major differences (to my ears). The arrangement sounds pretty much the same to me, but I'm sure there are some minor differences on there.

One thing I noticed was that the vocals could come up a bit in the mix. You had nice playing throughout. Maybe bringing in another instrument or some harmony might get this one off the ground. It just needs something a little bit extra -- imho -- but I'm not sure exactly what.

Overall I think you have a good song and a lot of possibilities here.

Oh yeah, I did read in one of your replys that your looking for a cheap software that will let you play with the stereo field. I have one called "Magix Audio Studio Lab" which is really made for burning old records and tapes and things, but it has a kinda neat mastering section that will let you play with the stereo field and it works pretty good. You can use it on any wave or mp3 file. I think it is under $30 ...

Nice song!
 
Hey Pete,

I don't think I can really add anything more than anyone else said. I can't
say too much about the singing because mine isn't all that great, but I think
maybe a little reverb might also help. In regards to your question about stereo
field, if you have access to a sequencer program liek Sonar
or Cubase or ..., it's easy to reduce a stereo field by bouncing a stereo wav
to two mono tracks, and panning each track more towards the center. Hope
that helps.
 
JMarcomb,
Thanks for listening!

Glad you liked the acoustic,(It's fake stereo.);)
Plate reverb,never tried that one,thanks.

Dust in the wind is one of my favs too!
I read somewhere it was kind of a fluke,they really didn't like it,and weren't even going to record it!
Good thing they did!:D

Sam,
Thanks my friend

I'm working on spicing it up now.
I have a micro piano,but I suk at keys and my board isn't velocity sensitive.
When I get it together,want to add some keys?please!:D

Glad the Lame worked for you,that's all I use now too.

One thing about the vbr though,seems like if you use it on material with loud and quiet parts,it drops the bitrate on the quiet parts too much,lowers the sound quality.
Especially on vocals.
Also,I converted the same file at constant and vbr,and the file came out the same size?
Did you find this?


boydrj,
Thanks for taking the time to listen!

Your right,the arrangement is pretty much the same as last time.
I'm working on spicing it up now.
Too monotonus for the material as it stands right now,I think.

Thanks very much for the link,do you know if any of the big chains sell it?
I have Sam Ash,Guitar Center,and all the big computer stores by me.

Blue Cyberia,
Thanks,I appreciate your comments!

I usually spread the stereo field with Cubase.
I have the original vst version,but it's such a pig either my computer chrashes or it takes 15 minutes for it to export the audio file.
To bad,it works great for giving some width other than that!

Thanks very much,
Pete
 
I really like the acoustic picking here...

Vocals sound really dry, have you considered changing the melody line just a touch for it to be a bit higher in the verse, seems when you hit the low notes it dies all together.

I really like the song though, excellent stuff.
 
Pete, I can't offer any new mix suggestions, just wanted to let you know I still think it's a very cool song...and I still love your acoustic guitar sound. And you know my mantra by now:
"Vocals up!"

Mark
 
lynx,
Thanks!
I did another mix with more reverb on the vocals and tried to bring that low note up.

mkg
Thanks my friend!
I raised the vocals and changed the acoustic some,hope you still like it!:D

If anybody has the time,I recorded a quick mix with some ideas to beef up the production.
Any comments or suggestions would be really appreciated!

It's-The Road 2-
At the top of the page

http://www.nowhereradio.com/artists/album.php?aid=1317&alid=-1

Thanks very much,
Pete
 
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Hey Muze -- I'll take a listen in awhile (have to get going right now) ... but, to answer your question regarding Audio Cleaning Lab, I just picked mine up at Best Buy. It isn't really a "Pro" kind of software per se, but it works pretty good for simple things and it has a good Stereo Field effect on it. You can pretty much set the field however you want it. If you don't have a Best Buy around, you can probably order it from their web-site ...

Good luck and I'll check out your second version when I get a chance ...
 
muzeman,
That's a cool song. It's got a cool transcendental mood. Sound's good with just basically the acoustic. Like everyone else has said, the vocals could go up a tad. I can't offer any recording advise as I'm extremely novice, but I look forwarded to hearing more.
 
much improvement on the new version.. It's very different.. The notes that you start with at the beginning sound better than the original imhop.. I'm not crazy about the no high-hat or ride cymbal, or any cymbals at all scene, but the drums don't get in the way like a previous song I've heard of yours... The one with Gidge. :eek:

:D

I think it needs a longer fade, and if possible, a bit more of those leads thrown in.. That sound you get immediately when the song first starts..

I'll send you an email about the VBR thing.. It's 1:30 a.m. and I am half asleep. I have to be up at 7 tomorrow. :(


I really like how the tune is progressing..




late
 
Oh Yeah, this is much better. It is coming along nicely. I think just adding the bass and a bit of a beat behind it has really made a big difference.

Nice guitar playing...I like how you bring in the second guitar during the chorus. Just gives it a fuller sound.

This is a better arrangement altogether. I still think it could use some harmonies in there, but this is minor.

Great job on giving this tune more life!
 
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