This Old House

  • Thread starter Thread starter DM60
  • Start date Start date
DM60

DM60

Well-known member
Have a tune, it has been out for a while, but I have remixed it as I was struggling with it.
This Old House

Thank for listening and for the feedback.
 
Last edited:
I like the tune, tho that isn't important. The doubled vocal track, is inconsistent. I would edit the second track, or at least put it under the other track, in volume. Maybe not even use it until the chorus.

I hear a bit of intonation, or tuning issues with the acoustic guitar part also.

Drum fill at break at 1:13, sounds uninspired, and doesn't seem to make the transition well.

Sorry if I come off as nit picking. These are things I here. Just being honest. :)
 
jimmys69 said:
I like the tune, tho that isn't important. The doubled vocal track, is inconsistent. I would edit the second track, or at least put it under the other track, in volume. Maybe not even use it until the chorus.

I hear a bit of intonation, or tuning issues with the acoustic guitar part also.

Drum fill at break at 1:13, sounds uninspired, and doesn't seem to make the transition well.

Sorry if I come off as nit picking. These are things I here. Just being honest. :)
Click to expand...

After reading various inputs on this forum, I don't see it like that. This is exactly the information I was wanting to receive. Thank you for taking the time to listen.

I can't disagree with your comments. So, if I were to summarize, the mix is OK, but some of the sources either needs to be re-recorded or fixed?
 
Well, I would fix stuff, but I am one of the guys around here, that tends to do that a bunch, by necessity. Comes from having to 'save the day' often, as I have two jobs (studio and tile business) and a newborn. It is quicker for me to fix timing issues, with software. I could align your vocal tracks with Melodyne, much quicker than having you come to my studio, setup, and re-record the parts.

What DAW are you working with? You may be able to line up the vocal tracks better, manually.
 
jimmys69 said:
Well, I would fix stuff, but I am one of the guys around here, that tends to do that a bunch, by necessity. Comes from having to 'save the day' often, as I have two jobs (studio and tile business) and a newborn. It is quicker for me to fix timing issues, with software. I could align your vocal tracks with Melodyne, much quicker than having you come to my studio, setup, and re-record the parts.

What DAW are you working with? You may be able to line up the vocal tracks better, manually.
Click to expand...

Some good catches. Turns out I had one of the electrics off on one section by a 32nd and it threw everything off. I am using Ableton and it is pretty good to correct these kind of things (its primary focus is sound manipulation), I think bringing the electric back in line corrected the rhythm. Vocals need a little more manipulation in places, but those small little timings do make a difference.

Drums, I will have to work on those, I tend not to like doing the drum parts so grab patterns and use them, but you are right in that it is "hum" pretty weak.

Thanks for the feedback. Very good constructive feedback and that is what makes this place one of the best I have seen over the years.
 
@Jimmy69, just wanted to say thanks. I went in and started correcting things and it turned out the song was a mess. Re-recorded and few things, fixed some timing issues and some wrong notes (This what happens when you get too close to a song). I think it is a much better song now. Only thing left would be drum improvements and see if the mix works.

Good feedback. Thanks again.
 
Pretty good song. I like the premise of the song. I think you've got a good voice, but need to control it better. The doubling parts don't work, but I never find any doubling works well on vocals except for the rare occasion.

Those drums are horrendous. Sorry, gotta say it and after listening to your gearfest mix, I know you know how to mix drums. I always felt drums and vocals are the driving force with most every tune. Get some nicer sounding samples and put them out front with your vox.

The song arrangement lacks any kind of dynamics. It starts out full orchestra and just hums along at the same level. Make it more intriguing and keep the listener engaged by changing it up. The old standard is like a pyramid, start out with a stripped down basic intro and 1st verse and add more instrumentation as the song progresses. But there are other ways to do it. The big bang intro, to a quiet first verse, slammin chorus, moderate 2nd verse, screaming bridge, etc.... well, okay maybe this song doesn't require the screaming bridge, but you get my idea. ha ha ha...
 
Chili said:
Pretty good song. I like the premise of the song. I think you've got a good voice, but need to control it better. The doubling parts don't work, but I never find any doubling works well on vocals except for the rare occasion.

Those drums are horrendous. Sorry, gotta say it and after listening to your gearfest mix, I know you know how to mix drums. I always felt drums and vocals are the driving force with most every tune. Get some nicer sounding samples and put them out front with your vox.

The song arrangement lacks any kind of dynamics. It starts out full orchestra and just hums along at the same level. Make it more intriguing and keep the listener engaged by changing it up. The old standard is like a pyramid, start out with a stripped down basic intro and 1st verse and add more instrumentation as the song progresses. But there are other ways to do it. The big bang intro, to a quiet first verse, slammin chorus, moderate 2nd verse, screaming bridge, etc.... well, okay maybe this song doesn't require the screaming bridge, but you get my idea. ha ha ha...
Click to expand...

Thanks for the inputs. Can't disagree with anything you've said. There needs to be something that breaks this song up. I always felt that way but, being new to this, I also want to avoid trying to get it perfect. I am sure there is some of that out there. But I think you are right, this needs a little more "something".

I will rework the song with your suggestions (in search of drums) and re-post in the near future.
 
DM60 said:
Have a tune, it has been out for a while, but I have remixed it as I was struggling with it.
This Old House

Thank for listening and for the feedback.
Click to expand...


OK, so I took a lot of everyone's input and I think I am ready for Round 2. Drums are still a weakness, but it fits better that the original track. OK, let it rip.
 
I feel like there is absolutely no low end. It sounds brighter than a supernova.

I like the tune, though.
 
I think it was my over zealousness to control the lows. Bass is very hard to master, now I see why people need bass traps, once it gets away from you, hard to get it back. I thought this as well, was waiting for a confirmation. Pulled the lows up, highs down. Left the mids pretty much alone.

Thanks for your feedback.
 
A nice song. Easy to listen to. I like your singing voice.

It sounded to me like the guitars were rushing the tempo in the first 30 seconds or so. It gets a little off.

Drums are pretty buried. I think in a song like this, they don't need to be right in your face. But they're way back. I wonder if you might want to scale it back. Take out the strings and replace the drums with a doubled shaker. It's kind of a stripped down sound anyway. It might work.

I might re-do the guitar solo at :42. It was a little too "stilted". Sounds like someone practicing scales. Later on that is buried in the mix.

Some minor pitch problems here and there. Mostly on the last word of a line.

Harmonies sounded nice, but I'd work to tighten them up.
 
TripleM said:
A nice song. Easy to listen to. I like your singing voice.

It sounded to me like the guitars were rushing the tempo in the first 30 seconds or so. It gets a little off.

Drums are pretty buried. I think in a song like this, they don't need to be right in your face. But they're way back. I wonder if you might want to scale it back. Take out the strings and replace the drums with a doubled shaker. It's kind of a stripped down sound anyway. It might work.

I might re-do the guitar solo at :42. It was a little too "stilted". Sounds like someone practicing scales. Later on that is buried in the mix.

Some minor pitch problems here and there. Mostly on the last word of a line.

Harmonies sounded nice, but I'd work to tighten them up.
Click to expand...

Yep, found the guitar issue. I must have moved them by accident. Once I resynchronized, it removed that "rush feeling".

Shakers, that might be what I am looking for. The intent was to get something just to move the rhythm along, nice and basic. So, this might be what I was looking for. I used a brush set and pushed in the back, but I like the shakers idea. I will give that a try.

Actually, it pretty much is scales. Now they stand out, I will add something with more flavor. They were meant to be buried later on just as background. When I redo :42, I will revisit that section.

Yes, hard to for me to keep in pitch towards the end of a line. Will revisit.

Good feedback, thanks. I think everyone's input is making this song the potential I see in it. Presentation is pretty important.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top