Can you lend me your ears on a country tune?
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Posted on Aug 04, 2009 03:19 pm
BeerHunter
www.TheLondonProject.ca
Member Since: Feb 07, 2005
Hey all, I have been working on a mix for what seems like forever. It is time to put this one to rest. If you have a moment could you listen to "Camoflauge" in my profile and let me know any feedback. I would appreciate any comments good or bad.
Thanks!
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CptTrippsCzar of Turd PolishMember
Since: Jun 20, 2006
Aug 04, 2009 04:13 pm Ya know, I'm not a big fan of country (older stuff aside) and I would call this southern, but not really country.
It's a good song, and I think the vocals have alot to do with it not sounding country to me. They have alot of feeling to them and seem a little more rocking.
Aside from that, I'm on the ole work computer speakers and I would say everything sounds pretty darn good. I do wish the fiddle was a tad louder though during the solo as it is a focal point imo, it's level during the singing portions is quite nice.
Great song BH!!
BeerHunterwww.TheLondonProject.caMember
Since: Feb 07, 2005
Aug 04, 2009 04:20 pm Hey Tripps, thanks for listening and the comments. They call themselves "Country Fried Rock" and yes, they do have a southern sound.
As for the fiddle that is exactly what I have been struggling with on this song. First time I have worked with a fiddle. It really cuts through the mix and is a bit difficult to control. It can get pretty harsh really fast. I think you are right though and that is to bump the solo part up a bit. I will do this in a bit and post an updated version later this afternoon.
pjkPrince CZAR-mingMember
Since: Apr 08, 2004
Aug 04, 2009 05:38 pm I'm leaning in the same direction. For a country tune, I didn't even notice the fiddle till halfway through. Put that up louder, and it'll be more country.
I agree on the vocals too, they're more rock-ish sounding. I think they're too loud, and maybe not enough reverb (or similar).
I noticed too, that the fiddle in the solo is way quieter than the vocals. Not good, in my book. The fiddle can be pretty loud through the whole song, or, i guess, bring up the fiddle, down the vox.
I'm not a fan of the 'neil young' style guitar dist. Doesn't seem to fit for the country type tune. That could be their trademark / signature, so that's just my opinion.
Quincysanhttp://www.unitedmusicians.infoContributor
Since: Nov 11, 2007
Aug 04, 2009 06:25 pm I think a little more fiddle would be great...either way this is sounding great.
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Aug 04, 2009 08:46 pm That would be Alt-Country then if its Uncle Nestor. BH, you worked on there stuff before if I remember correctly?
I personally like this as I have several friends in some major alt-country bands. And I do dig country rock for the most part.
Anyway, the drums are pretty raw, which gives it a less processed sound like a kit in a small bar. The bass is perfect so don't touch it! I like the guitars as well, a nice mild twang behind the country crunch. Not real close but similar to Cross Canadian Ragweed guitar sound on a couple of their studio tracks.
The vocal's I am torn on. For the most part I think they are sitting well, then in spots I want to hear a bit more reverb. Just a very small tiny reverb only touching them not ringing with any tail at all.
On the fiddle, what mic or mic's did you use? That may be playing a huge part in it. Tell me exactly how you recorded it, room and all.
I'm thinking you could get away with a trick I've used on fiddle before like this. I passed the track through a compressor that was set up to duck it. But the fiddle track was cranked up so even as it was ducked it was still very audible, then we ducked it with the lead vocal as he was also in the chorus and it was one take all the way through so that track was the dead on for ducking it. You will need to find that perfect balance though and still automate the boost for the lead, maybe.
On the fiddle lead and then the guitar comes in, I might suggest using a bit of panning as well automated in. The guitar falls a little harder to the left and the fiddle a little harder to the right and then let the two work together as I can hear they already are, but the fiddle gets drowned by the guitar.
I wanna listen again tomorrow a bit more. Might have another idea or two to share.
Otherwsie, killer tune indeed.
BeerHunterwww.TheLondonProject.caMember
Since: Feb 07, 2005
Aug 04, 2009 09:17 pm Hey Noise, ya, I have worked with Uncle Nestor a lot.
Ducking the fiddle is an awesome idea. This was tracked in a studio at school. Very well treated. I used 3 mics on the fiddle. A spaced pair of AKG's and a KSM32 about a foot above the deck.
The vocals are tricky. He sings very agressively. I will try a bit of verb and see if that helps. I will also try a bit more separation on the solo section to see if that cleans it up a bit.
Cheers!
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Aug 04, 2009 09:43 pm Ya, I remember now what you went through with his vocals on the other track last year or whenever it was.
On the fiddle thing. I am wondering if getting the SDC's a bit closer might pick up more body and bow. I'm missing hearing the bow on there. But that might just be my ears today. That's kinda why I was going to give it another listen with fresher ear's tomorrow night.
I've always had pretty good luck with a single SDC aimed kind of down the neck like an acoustic guitar would be and then the LDC just as your doing it. Only trouble was find that sweet spot that didn't induce any phase. But that is a big room and looks like a carpeted floor as well.
BeerHunterwww.TheLondonProject.caMember
Since: Feb 07, 2005
Aug 05, 2009 01:11 pm OK, I didn't do any ducking but I did widen the spread between the gtr and fiddle. I also bumped up the verb on the vox and cranked up the fiddle for the solo. .... its getting there!
Cheers!
Quincysanhttp://www.unitedmusicians.infoContributor
Since: Nov 11, 2007
Aug 05, 2009 01:46 pm Ducking?
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Aug 05, 2009 07:28 pm I'm gonna listen in a minute.
@ Quincysan
Ducking is the use of a compressor side chain, commonly used on radio to lower the music level while a voice over comes in. In this type of situation I've used it similarly to only slightly reduce an instrument such as the fiddle is this piece while the vocal comes and then the fiddle would again be more present when the vocal stops or is lowered. You can set your threshold to make it work nicely. And its a whole lot faster then automating the whole thing.
You can also use to achieve a kind of pumping effect which was very popular in dance music back in the day. I over used it back then on drums and such to give them that huge throbbing feel.
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Aug 05, 2009 08:17 pm Whatever you did with the fiddle seems to have worked. That or my ears were really messing with me yesterday.
Anyway, the fiddle is now holding its own all the way through, and whatever you did to the spread actually ended up setting the drums even better in the mix. Odd how that works sometimes. The fiddle solo is pretty loud now, maybe just a pinch too loud. last night I heard a kind of competing thing going between the fiddle and the guitar solo near the end of the solo section. That is gone now or is it behind the fiddle now?
But over all the sound changes you made really helped give a lot more definition to the mix now. I'm really digging this.
olddogMember
Since: Jul 02, 2003
Aug 06, 2009 03:20 am The mix sounds pretty good to me now, I agree with noize that the fiddle might be a bit loud now in the solo section, but all in all sounds good.
Dan
BeerHunterwww.TheLondonProject.caMember
Since: Feb 07, 2005
Aug 06, 2009 09:31 am Ya I agree... it is too loud now. Gonna turn it down a bit and then it should be good to go... finally :)
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Aug 06, 2009 09:30 pm Let us know when you get another version up. I'm really diggin that tune.
Aug 07, 2009 03:33 am Dude, I like it!!
I think the fiddle and vox are mixed well in my opinion!
The fiddle comes through great during it's solo, and it takes a little back seat most of the rest of the song.
I think it's a super mix!! Maybe I'm just responding too late, and you already have the new version up, but keep on it, man!
I envy your stereo drum stuff!
BeerHunterwww.TheLondonProject.caMember
Since: Feb 07, 2005
Aug 07, 2009 03:50 am Hey guys, here we go.. finally - lol. I have uploaded the latest mix and I am happy with it. Not sure what else I could do at this point. It is a pretty dynamic mix with a real agressive crescendo at the solo section. The gtr and fiddle seem to work well together now. I gotta put this one to rest soon. I hope you like it.
Thanks for all the input! It has been really helpful.
Kaos62Kaos is only a form of insanityMember
Since: Feb 03, 2005
Aug 07, 2009 08:59 am great mix BH really enjoyed it - lovely natural drum sound and i do like a good fiddle!
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Aug 07, 2009 07:27 pm OK, now I can hear the guitar at the end of the solo section again.
Nicely done, and indeed you could put it to rest now.
Quincysanhttp://www.unitedmusicians.infoContributor
Since: Nov 11, 2007
Aug 07, 2009 08:00 pm Awesome BH, really great work.
Noize: Thanks for clearing that up, I'm sure that will be useful in some of my projects.
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Aug 10, 2009 06:20 pm @ Quincysan.
I though for a moment what did I do now? :-)
Then scrolled back through the thread. I forgot about that.
olddogMember
Since: Jul 02, 2003
Aug 10, 2009 07:58 pm Yep, everything seems to be sitting well now, well done!
Dan
