Twisted State of Mind

[RAMI]

I guess this is more a Songwriting Forum question but I'd like to ask how you're arranging your vocals. Do you figure out intervals on guitar?

Do you mean the harmonies or the main melody??

For the main melody, that's usually something I do in my head. Then, I'll pick up a guitar and make sure that the notes I think I should be singing are actually in the chords I'm playing.

For harmonies, I just find the intervals on the guitar, then decide if I want a 3-part harmony, or just a 2-part. And, if it's a 2-part, I decide whether I want it over the main vocals or under the main vocal.

I hope that answers your question, Ido.

 

[ido1957]

Do you mean the harmonies or the main melody??

For the main melody, that's usually something I do in my head. Then, I'll pick up a guitar and make sure that the notes I think I should be singing are actually in the chords I'm playing.

For harmonies, I just find the intervals on the guitar, then decide if I want a 3-part harmony, or just a 2-part. And, if it's a 2-part, I decide whether I want it over the main vocals or under the main vocal.

I hope that answers your question, Ido.

Yep! .......

 

[Xeries]

Do you mean the harmonies or the main melody??

For the main melody, that's usually something I do in my head. Then, I'll pick up a guitar and make sure that the notes I think I should be singing are actually in the chords I'm playing.

For harmonies, I just find the intervals on the guitar, then decide if I want a 3-part harmony, or just a 2-part. And, if it's a 2-part, I decide whether I want it over the main vocals or under the main vocal.

I hope that answers your question, Ido.

I don't have any trouble finding the harmonies be it 2, 3, or 4 part, but what I think you have going for you is the timing. I find it a bitch to double sing and get the timing as close as you to. Good job.

 

[RAMI]

I don't have any trouble finding the harmonies be it 2, 3, or 4 part, but what I think you have going for you is the timing. I find it a bitch to double sing and get the timing as close as you to. Good job.

Hmmm...Yeah, people have commented on that before, which has surprised me. I guess, being a drummer, I take timing for granted. I hear people in the RECORDING/MIXING forum often saying they can't double a part because they can never sing it twice the same, and I always found that weird. Shit, now that I know it's SUPPOSED to be difficult, I'll never be able to do again.

 

[MCI2424]

Just finished this latest tune.

I mixed it a few hours after recording, so my ears may be shot. Help me!

Thanx.

TWISTED STATE OF MIND

Great tune. I personally would add alittle more distance to the drums (more reverb). They sound a bit too dry for this song. Also, clean guitars need a tad more definition. It sounds like your ears were fried at that point. Everything sits well in the mix but the drums and clean guitars were a bit muddy.

 

[RAMI]

Great tune. I personally would add alittle more distance to the drums (more reverb). They sound a bit too dry for this song. Also, clean guitars need a tad more definition. It sounds like your ears were fried at that point. Everything sits well in the mix but the drums and clean guitars were a bit muddy.

Thanx, man. I appreciate your ears on that. I haven't listened to it critically since posting it...and yes, my ears were fried for the mix I posted. So, I'll definitely listen again with the issues in mind that you mentioned.

Thanx.

 

[CIRO]

KILLER SONG,COMPOSITION,PERFORMANCE,MIXING, AGAIN, RAMI!

I read some comments. I don´t agree with:
lack of bass frequencies on Bass guitar. (it´s fine for me)
I like the room of drums and clean guitars,no need for more reverb IMO.
Snare could be even the contrary (more "on face") and would works well too.

Some things "if I could put my hands":
For my taste, guitar solo is too "dry and mono" for the song.And a bit "boxy" (lack of better word).
First vocal parts (the "12 Rami" singing) has the "ssss" character I think could be tamed a bit.Main vocal(solo) sounds excelent.

 

[RAMI]

KILLER SONG,COMPOSITION,PERFORMANCE,MIXING, AGAIN, RAMI!

I read some comments. I don´t agree with:
lack of bass frequencies on Bass guitar. (it´s fine for me)
I like the room of drums and clean guitars,no need for more reverb IMO.
Snare could be even the contrary (more "on face") and would works well too.

Some things "if I could put my hands":
For my taste, guitar solo is too "dry and mono" for the song.And a bit "boxy" (lack of better word).
First vocal parts (the "12 Rami" singing) has the "ssss" character I think could be tamed a bit.Main vocal(solo) sounds excelent.

Hey CIRO, thanx alot!!!

Yes, the solo I had trouble deciding how to treat it. It's doubled (as in I played the solo identically twice). So, at first I had the 2 tracks panned. But then I thought it sounded too stereo and un-natural. So, I decided to pan them together so it actually sound like one guitar. That might be the problem. I'll try different pannings for them now that you mentioned it.

For the vocal parts with too much "sss", I did those parts really close to the mic, so that might be the problem.

I always go through my older threads when I re-mix a song, so I'll be listening for everything mentioned here.

Thanx alot.

 

[CIRO]

Yes, the solo I had trouble deciding how to treat it. It's doubled (as in I played the solo identically twice). So, at first I had the 2 tracks panned. But then I thought it sounded too stereo and un-natural. So, I decided to pan them together so it actually sound like one guitar. That might be the problem

Hey, just a coincidence...When I said about the "mono" thing in the solo, I was thinking in stereo reverb/delay effects for match better with the song.
I Don´t knew was 2 double guitars center panned!

Ciro

 

[RAMI]

Hey, just a coincidence...When I said about the "mono" thing in the solo, I was thinking in stereo reverb/delay effects for match better with the song.
I Don´t knew was 2 double guitars center panned!

Ciro

Shows how good your ears are. You heard SOMETHING wasn't right.

 

[MCI2424]

A question. Did you use compression on the drums?

 

[RAMI]

A question. Did you use compression on the drums?

Some on the snare and kik. Not the overheads.

 

[MCI2424]

Some on the snare and kik. Not the overheads.

One technique to preserve the highs and avoid the mudd is to put the drums into 2 stems. Compress one 2 buss stem for a full sound and mix in the uncompressed stem. The compressed stem will add the punch and fullness and the uncompressed stem can be mixed in at a lower level. The "snap" of the snare and cymbals will be much clearer and you can cut the midrange to avoid the other tracks which invariably hog it.

Just a suggestion.

 

[RAMI]

One technique to preserve the highs and avoid the mudd is to put the drums into 2 stems. Compress one 2 buss stem for a full sound and mix in the uncompressed stem. The compressed stem will add the punch and fullness and the uncompressed stem can be mixed in at a lower level. The "snap" of the snare and cymbals will be much clearer and you can cut the midrange to avoid the other tracks which invariably hog it.

Just a suggestion.

Yes. Parallel Compression...or New York compression. Thanx, man. Worth a try.

 

[NL5]

The compressed stem will add the punch and fullness and the uncompressed stem can be mixed in at a lower level.

I think you have it backwards. At least that's how I do it. You get the snap from the uncompressed track, and the fullness from the compressed track. I generally tuck the compressed track under the uncompressed, not the other way around.

Whatever works though.

 

[true-eurt]

Another kickin' song RAMI!

Your songwriting is impeccable with your minds view of life. You are true to yourself on that.



Love the Phase on the intro/outro guitar and it's use elsewhere.

Bass is full and rich sounding...rhythm guitar sassy when not leading(same guit?)...other rhythm guitar wraps around the bass. Is this one the phase'd guit..? Curious to know how my ears are doing ...I think we need another mix contest...the one way back, really gave my ears some new perspective on listening.

Drums are right on as usual.

Well...you've got this all down to a science for yourself RAMI...great sounding tunes, mixed with perfection. KUDOS to the Canadian artist known as RAMIT...

 

[RAMI]

I think you have it backwards. At least that's how I do it. You get the snap from the uncompressed track, and the fullness from the compressed track. I generally tuck the compressed track under the uncompressed, not the other way around.

Whatever works though.

Shit yeah. I missed that part of it. I also always thought that the compressed tracks should be mixed in under the main track. I guess trying each can be interesting.

 

[RAMI]

Another kickin' song RAMI!

Your songwriting is impeccable with your minds view of life. You are true to yourself on that.



Love the Phase on the intro/outro guitar and it's use elsewhere.

Bass is full and rich sounding...rhythm guitar sassy when not leading(same guit?)...other rhythm guitar wraps around the bass. Is this one the phase'd guit..? Curious to know how my ears are doing ...I think we need another mix contest...the one way back, really gave my ears some new perspective on listening.

Drums are right on as usual.

Well...you've got this all down to a science for yourself RAMI...great sounding tunes, mixed with perfection. KUDOS to the Canadian artist known as RAMIT...

Thanx True!!!!! Your 2000 bucks is in the mail.

The phased guitar (flange, actually) only happens in the parts where it's obvious. The rest is either clean, distorted, etc....It's all the same guitar. I only have one.

 

[Waffleness]

I really like the bass. Structure of the song is awesome.

The snare needs a bit of verb in my opinion. I think the guitars need to be eq'd with some more mid-highs in. Make them a bit more defined. Maybe also drop them down a notch just to bring the vocals through.

All the cymbals need to be louder. Crash especially. The toms are really good as is the kick.

Overall excellent though. The vocals really are superb.

 

[true-eurt]

Thanx True!!!!! Your 2000 bucks is in the mail.

The phased guitar (flange, actually) only happens in the parts where it's obvious. The rest is either clean, distorted, etc....It's all the same guitar. I only have one.

Thanks RAMI...you're invited to the upcoming bash, on the Island of Malta...paid for by yours and others on my mailing list donations...


I think I worded it wrong...I meant.....was the flanged guit track recorded separate from the other guitar ones? Nothing but flange guitar on that one track?

Yah..that is your white strat isn't it?

I have 13, but can't play one of them!...so the frown fits me better, but I prefer to grin anyway!