With Enough Effects, Anyone Can Sing

  • Thread starter Thread starter dachay2tnr
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Banal lyrics aside, you sing just fine. I'd push the vox up some. THe git is clean, well tracked and a tad too upfront. I think what my ears want is another element/instrument to balance things out. Perhaps a strumming acoustic on the right and pan the picking to the left.

Just some crude thoughts from a crude ear.

Sing and write and post some more,

Theron.
 
The vocal wasn't so bad! I was expecting much worse from your post. What the song lacks is any production--its the same same same all the way through. It could really be helped by some dynamics and some sonic changes--whether its altering the drum beat/sounds, or changing instrumentation in some way from ime to time. It just needs some variety. Don't be shy with that vocal--put it up in the mix.

Though I am as guilty as the next guy, I am wary of drum machines unless the tracks are tweaked to the max, and even then, they're too perfect!. Like I said, I use them too, so I almost expect a little bashing when I post tunes. Thats mostly what bugged me about this track, though.

Don't get me wrong and start cursing me. I think you have a good start going here, I just think you could take the production much further and maybe you intend to in the future. My sense is this song could have real extremes in it--sometimes sparse and sometimes huge production. Thats my single opinion and only my own. Just food for thought. Take anything you agree with and pitch the rest.
 
Nice enough tune, I agree with some of crawdads comments, I wasnt crazy about the drum sounds.. Mainly that snare.. Your voice is not bad at all.. I dont think I would raise the vocals though, they seem loud enough IMOP.. Yeah, I hate the drums..:D

Nice tune overall


sam
(B.Sabbath)
 
Banal lyrics aside
Click to expand...
You're funny, theron. So how do you really feel? :) Actually, I happen to agree with you on that one, and banal is the right word.

I agree with most of the other comments as well. Thanks to all for posting. The song is not finished, so I will be doing other tweaks. Maybe adding some background vocals. I like theron's thought of a stumming guitar as well - maybe coming in later on in the song.

The snare has already been replaced (although I haven't uploaded a new version to NWR yet). FYI, the drums were not provided by a drum machine - at least not in the normal sense. I have a friend who has this electric pad thing that you can run into the board. He plays the pads live, and it records direct as audio. But, I agree, the sound of the snare he was getting from it was pretty horrible. I replaced it with a midi snare that sounds much crisper.

Thanks again.
Mike
 
I've a friend that plays and tracks drums the same way. They sound solid for the most part and offer alot of quick freedom. Unfortunately, I can't tap the skins worth shit.
I could relate to the jist of the lyrical content, if that curbs any potetial ill feelings.
If you care to bother, post the updated version. I'd like to hear the progress/tweaks. And please, push the vox up.

Peace,
Theron.
 
I'd say...ditch the auto-tune(C1) or whatever youre using...It sounds so unnatural. Even if you are a bad singer...I'd still say...ditch the vocal tuner. Your voice sounds like it could be nice if you just would ditch that crutch youre relying on...
 
Harmony parts (the last section of the verses practically screamed, "PUT A HARMONY HERE!") and a strummed acoustic (as have been mentioned) would enhance this one considerably.

Nice singing voice - the part was easy for you to sing (which is always helpful :D). I thought the vocals could be brough up a bit, and I thought they were just a slight bit washed out in effects.
 
One thing I forgot in my first post...

The bass was a bit too "boomy" for my tastes. Not muddy - which is a good thing. It just came on so strong. I would pull back some of the lows and set it back in the mix just a bit.
 
The bass guitar sounds a bit too booming. The drum playing could be a bit more steady. The drums sound like average samples, and they would sound better if they'd be played better ;) (damn, I'm evil) The melody is pretty average, and sounds like you're just trying out some vocal ideas here, rather than actual doing a whole song. The singing is good enough, although I'm not sure if the stereo effect works here. There seems to be some other effects also here :)
 
Mike,
While you're replacing drum sounds, I'd see what I could do with the hi-hat and ride. On vocals, if you're having pitch problems, but would like a less processed sound, try double tracking the vocal. I don't mean copying it, I mean recording two takes. You can even play with panning them out a touch (one L one R). When it comes to vocals, two wrongs sometimes makes a right!!!

I also agree with earlier posts re production, this song needs to "go somewhere".

Queue
 
Again, thanks for the feedback. I'll try and take these in order.

theron - my friend also complains about his "kit". The pads are on the small side, and he says they have the wrong "feel." But compared to trying to mic a real kit, it's quite convenient for recording.

Marty - no Autotune involved. The vocal has a reverb and a flange/chorus effect on it. It's probably the flange you're hearing. I tend to like it myself (maybe cause I hate my voice), but I did back off a bit on the latest mix.

TripleM - Right on about the bass. It sounded great to me on my studio monitors, but when I finally burned it to CD and played it in my car (which has a subwoofer) I thought the rear view mirror was going to come off. I *think* I've corrected it - but I haven't had a chance to test it in the car yet. :) Also, I plan to add harmony parts. Need to work them out first - maybe next weekend.

Cranky - I think I've answered most of your comments in my other responses. Thanks.

Q - how bad can cymbals sound? You must be a drummer. :) I agree with you, the song needs to *build* - I'm working on that.


Anyway, I've posted a newer version for anyone who's got another 2:50 or so to listen. I added another guitar as theron suggested. I'm not quite happy with it yet and will probably track it again. But it gives you the idea. I also replaced the snare and backed off a bit on the vocal effects (but didn't remove them).

Are we headed in the right direction??
I Will Love You In Rain
http://www.nowhereradio.com/artists/album.php?aid=1084&alid=-1
 
Mike,
Version 2 is a significant improvement!

That second guitar helps immensely, and pulling back on the vocal fx helped them sound less "processed". Remember, even John Lennon hated the way his voice sounded. :eek: You really oughta try double tracking, it is a time tested technique that naturally gives you very similar results (mild chorus/flanging) if you get it right.

It is almost starting to sound a little like a Journey song, I was waiting for that (insert name of Journey lead guitar) solo to come in!

No, I'm not a drummer. I couldn't play the drums to save my life!! I'm just trying to listen to all types of music, and pick out each and every instrument that I can, and make mental notes about how things sound, and where they are in the mix. I'm quite suprised at how prominent the hi-hat ride and snare are in most songs. They've been there all along, I've just never been consciously aware of them.

That being said, the problem with having fake rhythm trax is their consistency. Especially when it comes to cymbals. The little nuances that come from the hi-hat when a good drummer is playing.... open, close, half open and everything in between. Then there's all the different ways you can hit a cymbal, and all the different places you can hit one..... anyhow.... I'm rambling... if you have separate drum trax, and intend to keep these, take the hihat track and screw with it, put a volume envelope on it, bring it up/dn, put some fx on it that make it vary a bit. Try a few different samples/soundfonts if you have them. And more fills/variations would help too.

Queue
 
Your voice holds its own very well. I wouldn't do very much to it. I'd actually like to hear it real dry and up front.

This song is very good. The guitar micing is very clean and the playing is very good also.

My one complaint is pretty much in line with everyone else's....it's the drums. We all can't afford a nice drum kit, set of mics, a nice room, and the soundproofing that goes with owning something so loud AND have a friend nearby who actually plays well, but for the rest of us there's....loops!

Try some drum loops on, they sound less processed, less perfectly timed, less fake overall.

Sorry if that sounded like a commercial for looping. I don't actually sell any.
 
Hey, at one point this thread had 5 stars - now it's only got 3. Did I get demoted? :)

It's probably because:
theron hated the lyrics.
crawdad, samicide and erichenryus hated the drums.
Marty hated the effects.
3M hated the bass.
Cranky hated the melody.
Q hated the cymbals

Thank god for the guitar and my great singing voice! :D

Actually, I appreciate all the feedback, and most of it was pretty much on the mark. Good thing I still have a day job.

Lastly, you guys have convinced me to redo the drums completely. I'll probably give that a try this weekend.
 
I'm glad you have a sense of humor about all this. As for the drums, I hate my own drums, whether its the D4, my Roland keyboard, my sampled drums or my recorded drums. I'd like real recorded drums if only I could actually play! I work on it but there's miles to go.

As for drum machines, I was listening to Don Henley's "Building the Perfect Beast", recorded in 1984. Most of the percussion tracks are drum machines. Of course, this is when the drum machine was COOL and new. Like, let's experiment, dude! What makes the drum parts work is mostly inventive programming. The parts are interesting. There is some processing going on too. For me, I think a study of percussion patterns would help.

The other thing is that even though you are getting some flak, at least people are responding to your song. It sure beats watching your post sink in a sea of oblivion.
 
Dude - I WISH I could sing as smooth as you, with no Autotune!

I confess, I've only listened to the second version. Seemed quite well balanced, and the vocal sounded fine (really). I'd like to hear some harmonies, particularly as the song builds.

Nice!

Fab
 
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