This one I cant understand

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CyanJaguar

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THIS ONE I CANT UNDERSTAND

I'm happy that I'm finally using an outboard reverb but I wont even try and pretend that I am happy with the mix.

and the root of the problem is the blueberry. Its just an unsmooth mic in my estimation.

Anyhow, all objectivity is gone so I will appreciate any suggestions on the mix. I cant do anything about the instruments. It was a free track and I have spent more time on it than on paying friends.

what I like best is the harmonies on the second part

thanks

track is called - THIS ONE I CANT UNDERSTAND.
 
I think the pno sound is a big part of the problem...dull and mono sounding. However, I generally like the rest...maybe a bit more interesting things on the drums could happen. I like the delayed reverb on the kit...but not so on the kick. I also liked the vocals...and the bg vocs too....nice. I didn't object so much to the vocal sound. Stuff like your string pad would be better in stereo, imo. I do hear some extraneous noises in there..especially at the very end...that could be taken care of also.

very pretty tune...:)

ps...sorry about the rambling post...in no particular order;)
 
I like the lyrics.

This is a good Christian song!

I agree about the piano sound, but it could be improved by giving it more dynamics. Of course, there are many hit records that have used a similar sound, so use your own judgement.

The singing is a little out of tune, but maybe that's the sound that you were trying to acheive.

Keep up the great work, and continue to write and sing for Him!

-Rob
 
Agree with mixmkr comments and add...... i thought it was a very pretty song as well.
:cool:
 
I really liked it.
The vocals were the best part.
I have a BLUE mic,they take some getting used to.
Not warm,but really airy and open.

Great stuff,
Pete
 
thanks for the reviews guys.

The piano- yes, the piano. I dislike it now. at the time, I though it was warm, now it sounds to warm for the mix.

He went off in one or two spots but we did not notice till after the session.

Man, I've been reading all I can and testing all I can on the blueberry. I am tempted to put it up for sale, but I know that I might never forgive myself. I got a warm, detailed sound out of it today on tests, but I know that it'll sound dead in a mix. Too much or too little. Where is happiness?

I am enjoying the lxp-1 though. Man that unit sounds good.
 
I personally really liked the piano sound....warm,smooth, and inviting, just like hot apple pie. ;)

I think I am definetly in the majority here but I personally did not like the vocals, the sound was good but the dudes pitch seemed to be off quite a bit.
 
Hey CJ..

I like the piano.. It's different, but not dull, IMO.. Very nice verb on the vox. I don't like the drums.. Too clicky kick, and that hihat drives me nuts ;)

Sound is really good.. take a look at the drums.. :)

Good job.
 
I think it sounds good except I would add an instrument or two during the instrumental break,maybe some acoustic guitar and strings lightly in the background to build that part up a little.Overall,it sounds pretty good though...............
 
i agree with all the above ... this is a good mix. Nice verb on the piano. Nice backround vocal section.... i really like the arrangement of that in the second part .... that is also my favorite part of the song. I'd like a little more brightness from the piano too ...not much, because I hear what you mean by a nice warm sound. It almost kinda sounds like a Rhodes as it is... which I guess is pretty cool. It gets lost in the mix, though.
The kick is loud ... with the piano as-is ... it's about the same volume or even louder ... but has that brightness that really overpowers the piano. If you want to keep it that loud, I'd bring up the piano and the snare/clap a bit to compensate.
Really great vocal sound ... I don't hear what you think is wrong with the mic.
I think the singer is really good ... he can sing in tune pretty well.
Although, I found all the embellishments pretty distracting ... and that's what makes him seem out of tune sometimes ... like he can't find the note. It's cool to have chops like that, but discretion is important, because too much of a good thing eventually reveals a more amatuerish performance, imho. Just an opinion ... there's so many singers that do this same thing these days, so who's to say it's wrong? It just bugs me when I hear singers doing that too much. He's a good singer, though ... that's the only reason I mention it.
At around 2:19 there seems to be a build up ... but the bass drum is the only thing that's happening there. I'd say something else needs to be there to help bring it around to the head again.
Interesting ending ... i was gonna say it should be more complete at the end. But after a few listens, I kinda like how the piano stops and only the singer resolves the last note.

Nice song, work on the drums and piano a little, but leave the vocal blend as it is.
 
thanks nutdotnet meshuggah and strmkr.

I am beginning to hear the flaws that killed this mix. I added high eq to the master bus that'swhy the kick sounds so clicky.

I'm surprised that noone mentioned the vocal sound though. I listened on headphones yesterday and I just could not take it. reminds me of a dragonfly I heard. Harsh on top.

BigKahuna, Big thanks for the very educative post,man. believe me , I had to cut the kick more than I usually do. I guess I'll just have to get used to these ns-10ms more.

I think I'm going to bring the singer in here to retrack, and we will add some more to the track and maybe change the piano. I am totally dissatisfied with this song.

You say you cant hear the harshness on the vocal. I guess that's a good thing. What monitors do you use?

I appreciate you taking the time.
 
and thankyou mr.Wilson

I appreciate the kind words.

Hey muzeman, I just found your page and listened to the mps. I liked them a lot, but I liked precious lord the best of all. I know you did not write it, but the delivery was awesome.

I preffered the vocal sound on "precious lord" to the one on "amazing grace" was it the same channel and singer?

Precious lord has a really smooth, really warm sound.Great job.
 
CyanJaguar,
Thanks very much for the compliment.

It was the same singer and channel,but differant recorders.
Amazing Grace was done on a 4track cassette,Precious Lord was all digital.

Thanks again,
Pete
 
I especially like your rendition of "Precious Lord." A little strange in the beginning, but then you (as the listener) come around and find where you (the player), take the melody. Interesting twist. good job. Kinda like Mr."Midnight Cowboy" meets Ms. "Southern Baptist."
 
?

hate to be a stick in the mud, but I'm offfering my honest opinion. I thought the vocals (which consists of the whole song) were lacking..i.e. not enough lungs so it was a little out of key? flat?or almost forced, like running out of air...just my thoughts be they insane or be they not
 
CJ, hey, I finally found your post, and can see where you're comming from now. I think the vocal is pretty darn good as far as tracking it goes, but I'd have to agree that the singer seems to be "searching" for the key. Like I say, the BLUE line of mics takes some getting used to.

The piano does indeed sound like a rhodes though. It sounds to me like it was tracked using small condensors. There's just a tad lack of definition in the low end that makes it sound thumpy, or kind of muddy. Is this piano an upright? What mics did you use on the piano?

I'd agree too that the kick is almost at the same volume as the piano, if it were me, I'd make the drums sit in the back of the mix more.

When you re-track the vocals, maybe have the singer listen to this take, and politely show him where his waivering, or his key searching, is a bit too frequent.

Listening to this over and over as I write here, I don't think the mic is the problem. Your singer is driving me nuts with his....umm.... vocal stylings.

There's a point, about mid way into the song, where the instrumental starts, and I think some strings in counterpoint could really make this thing sparkle!!
 
thanks Michael and badassmak,

I have to say I've learnt a lot from all the responses to this song. I cant quite turn the kick up as loud as I want.

I listened and sang along with the vocal and it seemed to be a hair flat through the whole song.

I am going to take the blame for that one. I think I might have used a wrong headphone mix.

What is it again? If it is too loud the person will be sharp, if not loud enough the person will be flat? I also think the loud kick in the cans could have messed up his perception.

We will definitely retrack ths one.

Thanks y'all.
 
mixmkr,
Thanks for the comments.
Hey if they got married and had a kid,would it be called midnight baptist or southern cowboy?

CyanJaguar,
I never heard about the loudness thing causing you to be sharp or flat,great tip.
I used to have a friend who said it helps to keep one earphone off to stay in tune.
Never tried it,I always need both hands to run the equippment.

Looking foward to hearing your repost.

Pete




"just call me pete"
 
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