"Share your recordings in a non-judgmental environment-fest" - THE REVEAL!!!

[Chihlidog]

I'm really not sure. Maybe a little of both. I just kind of expected it to come bursting out of the speakers, and instead, it's kind of subdued. Almost as if it were a mic'd amp, but mic'd from a few feet away.

Well then, when I get home I am gonna add a track to it to make it thicker and bring it up in the mix and see if that works. Willing to listen to it if I re-work it a bit? I'm really curious what you're hearing there.

 

[Prages]

Well then, when I get home I am gonna add a track to it to make it thicker and bring it up in the mix and see if that works. Willing to listen to it if I re-work it a bit? I'm really curious what you're hearing there.

Yeah, sure.

If you want to send me the individual tracks, I'd even have a go of mixing it to see if I can get it to sound like I'm wanting to hear it.

 

[Chihlidog]

Yeah, sure.

If you want to send me the individual tracks, I'd even have a go of mixing it to see if I can get it to sound like I'm wanting to hear it.

Haha ok. I dont have them here unfortunately, but I'll send 'em to ya tonight. Can I just send you the reaper project file? Will that work?

 

[Phil513]

That's a nice distortion sound, how'd you get it?
For the "chorus part" where you go C-D x3 then F-G-A-Ab-G, I'd probably write something like (C-D) (F-C) (F-G -A-Ab-G) - each bracketted part being 2 measures. I'm not trying to tell you how you should write songs though. I like the outro part too. BTW I think 2 minutes is a good length (The Ramones and Bad Brains come to mind).

Thanks dude. Those are great suggestions, i can't wait to get home tonight and try that out. I have been working on extending it to a full song, your stuggestion might just be the spark that does the trick!

The distortion was just two tracks of two different settings on my behringer V-amp, one panned a bit left, the other right (as chihli wisely advised me).

And a whole ton of trial and error. Im not sure at this point i can even duplicate it.

 

[cfgsteak]

Dexter and Prages: Thanks for the advise on vocals! I never thought about moving the song to an easier key to sing, DOH!

 

[cfgsteak]

AAhzz - I am listening to your song. I really like it...I'm actually listening to the 4th straight time so that obviously says something! I like your vocals a lot. And you guitar work is really nice and solid!

I got caught in a snowstorm yesterday and it took me 2 and a half hours to drive home, so I am really behind on listening to these great submissions. Catching up now!

 

[Denverdave]

I got caught in a snowstorm yesterday and it took me 2 and a half hours to drive home, so I am really behind on listening to these great submissions. Catching up now!

That nailed me too - plus I had band practice last night. And I cannot listen at work. But listening at home to the studio monitors makes a big difference, I'd rather listen that way. I will finish up listening to everyone's songs tonight. I am enjoying it so far!

 

[cfgsteak]

Ronk – love the tone. Your song has a kinda soulful Motowny thing going on for me. I really enjoy that sound. So tasteful.

Suhnton – I like this song a lot. I am listening to this through my computer speakers, so this may not be completely fair, but I would have liked to hear your vocals more…but like I said, that may be my systems limitation. Definitely cool stuff.

HoboHS – I like the moody sound of this.…you have so much more speed then I do, and it sounds really cool. I like the way the guitar effects sound. Nice!

Jay Hitz - that is a really unique sound and I like it! Sweet and bluesy. I dig it dude, great job!

Ok, gotta get ready to hit the office…can’t wait to hear the rest!

 

[cfgsteak]

That nailed me too - plus I had band practice last night. And I cannot listen at work. But listening at home to the studio monitors makes a big difference, I'd rather listen that way. I will finish up listening to everyone's songs tonight. I am enjoying it so far!

I was up in Arvada when it hit...traffic was simply STUPID...

Good point on the studio speakers...I don't think my cheapos are doing anyone any justice when i am listening...

 

[Prages]

Haha ok. I dont have them here unfortunately, but I'll send 'em to ya tonight. Can I just send you the reaper project file? Will that work?

I really don't know. I don't have Reaper, so probably not.

Plus, with my slow connection, it'll take forever for me to download the files.

Maybe if you send me an mp3 of the drums, an mp3 of the 'bass' track, and one of each of the guitar tracks. Using mp3s will degrade the overall sound a little, but not much. I've done it before with a lot of the collaborations I've done, and it usually turns out fine.

 

[Chihlidog]

OK, I will try that when I get home.

 

[hobo]

punchy: dug right into it , very nice playing and the rhythm "rocks"
Phil: interesting , liked it very much , kind of grew on me as you progressed on the song
Cfgstreak: started out nice and stayed that way throughout, enjoyed, enjoyed, enjoyed
Johnny N always nice to hear someone play that song and you played and sung it so well
Aahzz: nice movement in your playing very nice , enjoyed
Ronk: good feeling about it, just wish I was driving my corvette convertible and listening to it, very nice
Suhnton: cool playing , some fine lyrics too! enjoyed
Jay Hitz: like wow! stayed that way all through great stuff
Stinkymommasboy: liked your acoustic, so playful with much life in it
Tyoc: nice , very creative playing there
Baron 85: strong feel in your playing , interesting sound there
Ferdinandstrat: liked it, good movement with a creative touch
Chihlidog: liked what you were doing , always nice to hear someone experiment with their talent
telecaster: fine vocals, nice song , excellent guitar playing



Hobo Uncle Sam say's

Tomoore thanks for your nice comment
Aahzz thanks, glad you like it
Chihlidog thanks, just using a thick pick, no fingerpicking
Johnny N thanks for your nice comment
Punchy thanks glad you enjoyed and a big thanks for the audacity help
Dexter Inferno thanks for your kind comments
Prages thanks for your nice comment, I was just using a $3 skype mic hanging over my guitar stand in front of my amp
cfgsteak thanks for your kind comment, "speed", you got me beat any day

 

[T-BoneBarnet]

phil: If Led Zeppelin played proggy stuff it'd probably sound a bit like this. I like how it develops as it progresses.

cfgsteak - This reminds me of The Silver Jews for some reason. Good track.

JohnnyN - Wicked voice. Man, I wish I could sing like that.

Aahhzz - Your voice reminds me of Chris Goss of Masters Of Reality. Actually the song has that M.o.R/QOTSA sound. Cool song, nice and chunky sound. I'd like to hear more of your stuff.

RonK - Great playing. Actually when I heard the opening bars, I thought it was an instrumental version of No Woman No Cry.

Jay Hitz - I'm a big fan of fuzzed out guitar. Much more interesting than boring ol' overdrive. I really like how there's about 4 different guitar parts all going on at the same time, but never sounds cluttered, which is cool.

 

[Punchy]

Punchy: I'm with Dexter...I don't get the bass being panned hard left. It's not that it doesn't work, it's just unusual. The effects at the beginning are interesting. Very well played and well recorded. It has a nice full sound. The cymbols are a little piercing, but otherwise everything is really well mixed and nothing is overbearing. Great job.

Thanks

I wasn't quite sure what to do with the "bass". . .it's just a Tele track, compressed and EQ'd, so I moved it left to separate it from the main guitar. Guess I moved it a little too far left

And I didn't run any kind of effects on the cymbals track. Oops. At least I can say this one still isn't finished biggrin

 

[jayhitz]

Steak, Sam and Suhnton- thanks for the comments, and thanks for listening!

 

[Phil513]

I want to thank everyone for their comments and advice as well.

From what i have heard, i really enjoyed everyones. I have been having a lot of computer problems at home, and can't give things an adequate listen here at work unfortunately, but what i have heard has been great. I'll try to do a good review if i can repair my computer tonight.

And for you guys that motivated to do a first time recording (like me) please keep it up. Lets encourage each other to continue!

 

[Johnny N.]

You know what, I dont think I have said thanks to everyone yet. This is a great group and I appreciate you listening and the great comments. I definitely feel better about my ability. The technical advice is also appreciated. I suspect I will get the mic set up better next time.

Speaking of next time, I have already decided on my project. Going a little more up tempo this time (thank goodness). Rhythm seems easy enough to learn but the lead and fills are going to force me to really work this time. Definitely pushing outside my limits this time. Vocals will defintely be an adventure too. No room to hold back this time.

Thanks again Mark for hosting this site for us and thanks again to you guys for listening.

 

[Denverdave]

Good point on the studio speakers...I don't think my cheapos are doing anyone any justice when i am listening...

I am declaring my studio monitors worth every penny I paid for them. They are far from being high end ones, but they were not cheap either. I actually goofed on the order. I ordered them and though the price was for a pair - it was for one. I then ordered the other one. They make a world of difference, especially in the mix. Though, when I burnt a CD and then listened in my car it sounded a bit different yet again. I'm really not sure what the best mixing 'technique' is, though there is no substitute for a good ear. I think that is where constructive criticism comes in. Someone notices something I missed or never really thought of before...

 

[Mark Wein]

Hey guys!


I'm glad everyone has had such a great time with this whole thing...I'm not ignoring the submissions but I haven't had enough time to hear everyones and I want to do one big critique so you might not hear what I have to say unitl tomorrow afternoon when things slow down.

I shouldn't have done the reveal A. the same day at the GJ contest and B. not on the first of the month when out studio billing is all due.

 

[Prages]

I am declaring my studio monitors worth every penny I paid for them. They are far from being high end ones, but they were not cheap either. I actually goofed on the order. I ordered them and though the price was for a pair - it was for one. I then ordered the other one. They make a world of difference, especially in the mix. Though, when I burnt a CD and then listened in my car it sounded a bit different yet again. I'm really not sure what the best mixing 'technique' is, though there is no substitute for a good ear. I think that is where constructive criticism comes in. Someone notices something I missed or never really thought of before...

I agree that my studio monitors are worth their weight in gold...and they are pretty darned heavy.

That said, you're still not going to get the perfect mix on your first try every time. I said it in another thread, but I usually go through at least 3 or 4 mixes of everything I do. Then when I post it, I still have people hearing stuff that I hadn't noticed.

Like the Back In Black track I posted. I worked on that thing and thought I had the mix perfect, and both Mark and DenverDave listened to it once and said there was too much reverb on the guitars. I listened to it again and they were 100% correct.

Sometimes you just hear something so much that you stop listening to it and need to let it sit for a while, get some outside critiques, or both.

Oh, and another mixing tip.


NEVER MIX AFTER YOU'VE SPENT A COUPLE OF HOURS TRACKING SOMETHING THROUGH HEADPHONES. Your ears get tired from wearing the headphones and you'll end up with way too much treble in your mix because your ears aren't hearing right anymore. If possible, always do your final mixing at least the next day after you've finished tracking.