Unmistakable Complete Revamp

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Robertt8

Robertt8

Well-known member
Well, remember that wedding song I'd posted a week or so back in dire need of assistance because I was under something like a 36 hour deadline? Well, I finished that song, but was more than slightly unhappy with the results...so I completely redid the whole thing now that I had a little time. This time around, I've got drums, a lead guitar thingy and all that good stuff. It now sounds more or less like a real tune.

I think I might need some variation or some extra spice here or there, because I basically repeat the first verse in the 3rd verse slot.

Let me know what you might suggest.

URL: http://bob.birdsallinteractive.com/
SONG: Unmistakable_Revamped.mp3
(The original is there for your comparisons called Unmistakable_Original.mp3)

Thanks!
Tait
 
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I've felt your pain, man - all alone on a thread - had to download and listen. And I like it a lot! I didn't hear the first one - should I? This one's nice. Hang on - gotta get headphones....copmuter speakers suck

Nice spread - I like the voices a lot. You mentioned "more spice" - man - you have a ton of spice going on there. Variations in rhythm parts. There's a lot of variation! The lead guitar is pretty - understated - makes you listen. Background vocals are cool.

The only thing I don't hear is a big difference between the low-end of the guitar and the bass - they kind-of run together - but it works on this tune 'cause you have so much other rhythm goin' on. (Is there a bass in there?) My ears like a clear EQ definition and a punchier bass. But I'm really reaching to find something to critique. (Oh yeah, it fades too fast at the end)
I like the tune - what can I say? That's some nice work!!
MC
 
Hey! A person!;)

Thanks for responding MC Gitarz! I'm glad you like the tune. It's not really necessary to download the previous one, but youre more than welcome to.

Well, I'm glad you think it's "Spicy" enough. It's kind of hard to tell after you listen to the song like 100 times...adding bits and pieces here or there. It kind of becomes a little cloudy.

...anyhoo, as you've noticed, there is no bass. I had ben told on an earlier thread that I might want to skip the bass if this song is to be played on a dj's system at the reception, because if I do it wrong...which I probably will, it'll come out way too bassy. I might go back and add that though.

It's funny, someone else on another board thought it ended too abruptly as well. I might be able to stretch that out some how.

Thanks for the feedback! Anything else out there?
 
hmmmmm....I don't usually have this much trouble getting people to comment on a tune?

does it suck or something?
 
It certainly does not suck. The tune is nice and the production is very "radio-friendly". To my ears and on my pc speakers it comes across with a tad too much sheen for my ears, but I really can't hear the low end, if there is any. Have you thought of doubling or tripling the vocals on the 'OOOhh's? Wouldn't hurt. Otherwise, this is clean, clear and upfront - a terrific mix.
 
Nice man!

I'm on phones right now so hate to make any comment about low end, but something is bugging me and I can't really pin point it, but nothing bad. This is really good!

At 2:26 I'm hearing something (maybe a percussion instrument) that at least on these cheap phones sounds like something distorting. Could be wrong, don't trust my ears but I'm picking up something.

Good job, I'll have to listen on monitors to pick up any detail of any potential low end problems.
 
Awesome--great job

Nice tune, well done.

I liked it the first time around, much better now. The oohs and aaahs fit great now, good balance---nothing doesn't work for me.
 
ASHULMAN: Hey thanks for replying! I was thinking this song must be pretty sad...so thanks! Just out of curiosity, how would you define sheen? too much high end? I've always been a little puzzled by that comment...anyhoo, yeah, there's no bass in there. I was told to maybe back off from a bass if this was being played by a DJ during the reception...fearing over hyped bass on his system...not to mention I have no idea how to EQ properly. So I just decided to leave that be, and hopefully cover that with guitar as best I can. I'll probably go back and add bass after I send this off. Thanks for the comments and feedback!

THERAGE!: Thanks as well for responding! Let me know if you figure out what's bugging you about the tune. It would be interesting to find out. as mentioned above, I've left the bass out for fear of having hyped bass through the DJ's speekers. As for a distortion around 2:26...I didn't hear it, but doesn't mean anything. I'm on crappy headphones. It might be the snare that might be peaking, or just have that "feeling" of peaking. Thanks for listening!

SLOOP: Again, thanks for listening and responding! I'm glad you like this version better than the first I posted. I've done it before where everyone seemed to like the older ones better...that's pretty annoying. Thanks a lot!
 
My take is: there's a kind of thinness about the track that I'm not crazy about. The lack of low end is part of it. And then during those parts where you're holding the long notes, I think the vox need to be more level dynamically. They get way too loud, whereas the rest of the vox are back nicely where they should be.

Also, I feel like there's too much sizzle on the high end. There's something about that cymbol I don't like - some kind of phaseyness or harshness, or... something?

I'm trying to be helpful.:) This is a tough one. I'd start with leveling out the vox a little, and if you did any drastic eqing - undo it (real helpful, huh?:)

Chris
 
GROUCHO: Thanks for responding! I'll see what I can do about cleaning this up a bit with your suggestions. I actually didn't do any EQing here at all. Do you think maybe I should maybe take the High end down a bit?

Also, saddly, I think I'm actually getting better when it comes to the harshness thing. I think I've been WAY over compressing things for the last year or so, and it's really been giving my tunes a real harshness to them (at least I think that's what it is) check out the original version that's still up there if you want harsh. I've had the threshhold set so the damn thing was compressing practically everything all the time, and now I think I've got it better, but I might need to back off even a bit more. The drums i didn't compress at all, but I did do an over all mastering setting on my Roland VS 880EX which might have messed with some of the stuff.

Well, if you can think of anything else I'd be eager to hear. I'll piece in a bass soon. maybe that will help as well.

Thanks!
Tait
 
Ah... the mystery becomes less mysterious...

Okay, my advice is:

1) if you're tracking using compression, stop it.

2) DO NOT run the entire track through some "mastering" setting on some Roland VS thingie. Eliminating that step will probably do wonders for the sound quality. In fact, for now I'd recommend doing nothing to the track as a whole if at all possible, and concentrating on getting the sound you want before mixdown.

Bad use of compressors and limiters is the quickest way to completely trash a mix, in my opinion. I'd say: if you're not confident with them... lay off!

Cheers,
Chris
 
DAMN! I was writing a nice long response, and the mutha froze up on me!

To simplify...

Thanks Groucho!

I'll post an unmastered version of the same song, and you can let me know if it's any better. I do like the extra volume, but if it f*cks with the sound that much I don't need it.

At the same time, I'm learning to not have that stupid compressor pumping all the time. Some day I'll have a vague idea what I'm doing with all my little toys. Home recording is like a never ending self discovery.

Thanks for helping!
Tait
 
Nice song. Cool lyrics and sounds...I like it. The mix is more mellow than I would make it but I think it's good for this song.
 
I wish I knew what i meant by sheen. My guess is it has something to do with tight compression and prominent upper mids, but I could be blowing smoke.
 
JAKE-OWA: Thanks for the kind words! I made sure this mix was fairly mellow, because it's going to be played for everyone at the wedding reception...that's grandma's, little kids, crazy aunts...that sort of stuff. Thanks!

ASHULMAN: Well, I know what you mean...I think I still over compressed everything, so that's probably what you're hearing. Thanks for responding.
 
groucho said:


Also, I feel like there's too much sizzle on the high end. There's something about that cymbol I don't like - some kind of phaseyness or harshness, or... something?
Click to expand...

I hear what groucho is saying here....there seems to be a rather harsh high end......if you are using a mastering preset, I would suggest in to either completely dropping that, or tweaking it a bit and seeing what sound differences it makes.....that mastering setting might add some high end eq at the end there that you don't need.......

still a good song........nice clean lead playing
 
Bright. Almost too much so. But passable.

Mix isn't too bad... may need more level on kick drum, but just a little. A more prominent bass part (no, not more "level"... just more "notes"...) might help the arrangement, too.

Singer sounds like Bono.

You've done a good job!


Chad
 
POWDERFINGER: I'm glad you like the tune. I'm gonna need to do some learning of the compressor. I think it's the main reason that my tunes are coming out way too harsh. I've been using WAY to much compression, and just been killing any kind of"professional" quality. Thanks for responding!

PARTICIPANT: Yeah, I've been getting that "bright"/"harsh" thing a lot here, but this is how I learn. I'm glad I'm finally getting that, because my other tunes were even more harsh and no one really mentioned it before. I've got to learn that stupid compressor. I've never gotten that I sound like Bono, but thanks! I'll take it. Thanks for listening!
 
Hey man…downloaded several days ago and just getting a chance to listen. Listening on phones at work.

Hey…this is a really nice song. Very easy to listen to and a lot of cool stuff going on in there. I read a few of the other responses and it seems like you got some good direction. The lack of low end kind of is what really stuck out to me.

You have a good voice. You did very nice job singing this.

Thumbs up here. Sorry it took so long :)
 
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