When I Arrived ...

  • Thread starter Thread starter K-dub
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I think the mix is pretty good. The vocals seem kind of hot - a little harshly compressed maybe? The drum programming during the chorus is way, way too busy for me. That's your call though. The rest seems fine. Nothing jumped out to me as bad or anything.
 
Greg_L said:
I think the mix is pretty good. The vocals seem kind of hot - a little harshly compressed maybe? The drum programming during the chorus is way, way too busy for me. That's your call though. The rest seems fine. Nothing jumped out to me as bad or anything.
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Thanks for the thoughts, G. I think I've got a little more refinement to do on the mix myself ... and agree with your comments.
 
Always love your stuff K-dub. I really like the backup vocals. My nit picks are more about how I would like it rather than a critique.

The toms and many of the cymbals seem close and abrupt compared to the snare, and the vox is a bit loud or compressed too hard. Perhaps some light master bus compression to smooth and glue it out a bit? I'm also not mad about the synthy lead sound that kicks in around 2:17.
 
Thanks for the kind words, Tobe, and your polite criticism ... but reading what you said, I was forced to admit I wasn't yet done. The kit was out of balance, cymbals and toms too loud in context ... the bgvs were too dry up against the main (you didn't say this, I did) ... and I pulled back ever so slight on the lead vocal compression ... which was (because of what Greg said above) reduced earlier. I also wanted the bass guitar featured a little more -- as this is a sort of "oompah" tuba-esque piece. :)

Hopefully I got it dialed in right ... new mix is on link above.

Thanks again!

Kev-
 
kev, kev, kev.... just use a default toontrack kit, ....they're already adjusted for you and no twiddling needed. jus pick one....
 
Great song - part Nilsson part ? My only crits would be that the drums are too busy in the fills - well at least they get in the way of the vocal for me and that the bass could use a little definition around 3k.
 
wow....I listened again... the lyrics are incredibly good.. and why more people don't even have a clue about what you're singing. Saying that...the gurgling leslie fits the song perfectly and in the perfect place. Your vocal phrasing is off the hook too, on this. This is great stuff Kev. yeah... the drums maybe busy in the chorus, but if Toontrack made a lousy product, we wouldn't put in all these bombastic fills that we wish we knew a live drummer would pull off, while sounding just killer on his vintage, rockin' Slingerland kit.
 
rayc said:
Great song - part Nilsson part ? My only crits would be that the drums are too busy in the fills - well at least they get in the way of the vocal for me and that the bass could use a little definition around 3k.
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Part Beatles ... part Queen? :)

Thanks Ray -- Wayne's bass defines the song ... so it is important that it stands out, yet doesn't overwhelm.
 
mixmkr said:
wow....I listened again... the lyrics are incredibly good.. and why more people don't even have a clue about what you're singing. Saying that...the gurgling leslie fits the song perfectly and in the perfect place. Your vocal phrasing is off the hook too, on this. This is great stuff Kev. yeah... the drums maybe busy in the chorus, but if Toontrack made a lousy product, we wouldn't put in all these bombastic fills that we wish we knew a live drummer would pull off, while sounding just killer on his vintage, rockin' Slingerland kit.
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Thanks, Chris. As I get older and deal with what comes from that fact, I'm starting to write more about aging attitudes. :)

Lyrics were written on the cusp of the Newtown disaster here in CT ... and my wife asked me to not publish it until that hurt subsided.

Then my Mom died on 12/30/12 and I had to live my own words of encouragement.
 
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This kind of reminds me of Joe Jackson or Randy Newman. I'm not a huge fan of either :), but I think it's really well written and arranged. The harmonies and backing vocals are nicely done. I see what everyone is saying about the busy-ness of the drums but not sure if I would have noticed if the snare sound was a little different, or maybe lower...
 
fat_fleet said:
This kind of reminds me of Joe Jackson or Randy Newman. I'm not a huge fan of either :), but I think it's really well written and arranged. The harmonies and backing vocals are nicely done. I see what everyone is saying about the busy-ness of the drums but not sure if I would have noticed if the snare sound was a little different, or maybe lower...
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Admittedly, a real drummer would probably play it differently, and better ... but since I'm lacking one at the moment -- Toontrack will have to do. :)

Thanks for the comments!

Kev-
 
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