Keep Your Distance

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Member Since: Feb 11, 2009

My first original song. Very ordinary and trite-sounding, to my ears, but I guess we all have to start somewhere. I'm pretty pleased with myself just for finishing the damn thing.

This is more of a demo than a finished recording. It's not very well mixed, and the vocals need a lot of cleaning up, ot more likely retracking.

I'm not giving up the day job, but I'd appreciate any opinions as to whether what I've written is truly awful, or just mediocre. :)

Thanks.

soundclick.com/share?songid=7414440

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Ne'er ate 'er
Member
Since: Apr 05, 2006

Mar 15, 2009 12:18 pm

First of all, I really like the drum sound. It's one of the best I've heard from an HRC member recording. Very natural without too much processing.

There is some digital noise on the vocal. Did you save the vocal track more than once, maybe as an MP3?

Otherwise I like this. Good song too.

'The Flying Dutchman'
Member
Since: Jan 11, 2006

Mar 15, 2009 12:59 pm

I like the song.. it's got a bit of a melancholy vibe but it's good.. great job.

Only thing like Herb said there's some noise on the vocals, but for the rest, I'd leave it be.

Member
Since: Jul 02, 2003

Mar 15, 2009 01:50 pm

Good song, musically well done, nice mix, retrack the vocals with a bit of conviction & feeling and you've got it.

Dan

Member
Since: Feb 11, 2009

Mar 15, 2009 05:07 pm

Wow. Thanks for all the kind remarks.

The drum sounds are samples :) I "played" the drum part in real time on a MIDI keyboard, and then applied some partial quantization, to reduce the worst of the timing errors while still keeping a loose overall feel.

The vocals were recorded with a cheap dynamic mic and a very noisy preamp. I had to apply some very aggressive filtering and gating to get rid the background noise and hum, which would otherwise have virtually drowned out the voice. The digital noise you can hear is the residual effect of the filtering. I will probably retrack the vocals completely, once I get some better hardware. (And learn to sing in key).

I very much appreciate all the comments. Thanks again to everyone.

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002

Mar 15, 2009 07:20 pm

Wow, drums indeed. What program did you use for the drums, or what samples? They are killer, very natural sounding.

I liked the rest of it as well, the lead guitar had a very cool razor edge sound to it, which contrasted well with the song.

The piano sound was great as well, nicely subdued but present.

I do agree on the vocal part though as well, and can understand the work you had in front of you with it. My one suggestion might have been to use a windscreen as well to help stop some of the plosives that you probably had to fight with as well.

On the comment you make of singing more in tune. I am pretty sure that isn't a problem as any off key bits were not even noticed as if it really was off it just seemed to fit.

I liked the key solo heading for the outro though, that got me cooking. Nice choice on vintage sound for that one as well.

A killer tune for sure!

Member
Since: Feb 11, 2009

Mar 16, 2009 08:01 am

I really didn't do anything special with the drums. Just fired up Addictive Drums Retro add-on, chose one of the Ludwig presets, and started playing. I always like to have the drums prominent in the mix, but apart from that I pretty much left them untouched. Any credit for the sound should go to the makers of AD, not me.

The piano track was the first part I recorded, and it was just the guide track to start with, which is why it's so four-square on the beat. It didn't sound too bad, so I left it in the final mix.

I wanted an intense guitar tone (I used RealStrat + Amplitube2, before anyone asks :) ). I just wish the solo sounded a bit more interesting. I may retrack it if I get an inspired moment.

As far as the voice is concerned, plosives were the least of my worries :) I've found the best way to eliminate pops is to process the wave file offline: just highlight the offending spikes and selectively apply a high-pass filter.

Thanks for all the positive remarks, I truly appreciate them.




Czar of Turd Polish
Member
Since: Jun 20, 2006

Mar 16, 2009 11:52 am

Wish i could hear, no soundclick at work.

Ne'er ate 'er
Member
Since: Apr 05, 2006

Mar 16, 2009 01:12 pm

Quote:
I really didn't do anything special with the drums. Just fired up Addictive Drums Retro add-on, chose one of the Ludwig presets, and started playing. I always like to have the drums prominent in the mix, but apart from that I pretty much left them untouched.

Good for you.

Too many home recordists feel they have to use all of the tricks at their disposal all of the time. Often, a lack of equipment can actually save your recordings.

Drummer Jeff Porcaro was once asked by an interviewer why he hardly practiced at all. He responded with something like "I don't want chops like Buddy Rich. I know myself. If I had them, I'd just want to use them."

And Porcaro was one of the best drummers on the planet.

Less can not only be more, it can be everything.

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002

Mar 16, 2009 05:40 pm

Tripps, listen at home. Its very good.

That RealStrat sounds great. It had me fooled on the first listen actually.

Oh my! On the vocal plosives you should always try and use a pop filter of some kind. It is very destructive to the audio the way you are doing it now. You can make a very simple windscreen with a nylon stocking and a coat hanger or one of those knitting ring thingy ma bobs.

Herb, put up the picture again!!!!

Anyway, had a second listen today and still really liken it.

Ne'er ate 'er
Member
Since: Apr 05, 2006

Mar 16, 2009 06:08 pm

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y128/Artlounge69/Pop-filter-AT.jpg


Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002

Mar 16, 2009 06:24 pm

Thanx Herb. Once again you have earned the hero of the day award.

I've got a vision.
Member
Since: Dec 05, 2008

Mar 18, 2009 10:17 am

Love Your alcoholic/homeless voice (hope You don't mind) but I think it's too quiet. Tune's rather long for such simple arrangement but luckily it's not boring. And I'd DEFINITELY go for some drum chops in this 'improvised' end - let Your virtual band improvise together like they're really on stage! ;)

Member
Since: Feb 11, 2009

Mar 19, 2009 03:05 am

Noize: Concerning plosives, I appreciate the advice. Not sure why my high-pass filter method is so bad, though. I'm talking about zooming right in and just (carefully) filtering the "p", not applying a filter to the whole file. It works for me and I haven't noticed any undesirable consequences. I'll try to post a "before and after" example so you can hear the result, in case there's something I'm missing.

Topti: I'm not an alcoholic, I just have a very dry throat :)

I didn't want to do anything tooo energetic with the drums, because I felt that would spoil the spirit of the song. I felt it was enough just to underline the groove, and keep things relaxed and understated.

You pay me the highest compliment when you mention my "virtual band". I usually try to get that "live" feel in my recordings: trying to emulate, not necessarily a live stage performance, but at least a studio rehearsal :)

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