Games We Play, New song
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Posted on Dec 28, 2004 12:35 am
olddog
Member Since: Jul 02, 2003
Here is the remake of the song that got the most votes on this and another site to be redone.
I had the all the tracks recorded and done in one weekend and have spent the last week & 1/2 mixing and remixing. I finally gave up and had the wife pick the mix She liked best and this is it. :) I had to call it done or I'd never get anything else recorded LOL.
I'd really appreciate comments/critque of the mix, so I can improve it.
Games We Play:
www.homerecordingconnection.com/m3u.php?id=475
If that link doesn't work, it's in my Profile under Music. :)
For those that need a lo-fi link
www.smokinhq.com/starting...inal-64kbps.mp3
Thanks, I appreciate any and all feedback & comments.
Dan
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Dec 28, 2004 01:38 am I really like that! It reminds me a lot of the Alan Parsons Project (and I like the APP, so that's a compliment).
That guitar(?) in the middle sounded like a saxophone at first...it's well-disguised sonically. My only suggestion would be to push it up in the mix a bit...as it is now, it seems to be a bit obscured behind the arpeggiated guitars.
Has a good driving rhythm to it, and seems to stay with the same motif throughout.
Dec 28, 2004 11:49 am Dan,
A great song...really an improvement over the old version that you uploaded a while back! Vocals are spot on, guitar work is top-notch! I really like hearing real drums too! They sound tight! You wife has great ears, because the mix sounds very nice coming through my monitors!
I still haven't forgotten about "Just The Girl For Me"! I listen to it frequently, and would love to hear an updated version of that one as well. Heck, I'd even be willing to help you out with it!
Jim
cooloFrisco's Most UnderratedMember
Since: Jan 28, 2003
Dec 28, 2004 02:02 pm I like this song. It kinda has an 80s feel that has lasted despite the updates.
Comments on mix:
I'd say the kick drum could use a boost in the lower frequency's. I hear it as more of the beater (pat) than the resonating boom. I'd also see about lowering the volume on the guitars and bass, so that the drums and vocals stand out a little more. Vocals are very well done by the way. Actually all the instruments are well done! I think mostly the main guitar theme could come down in volume (but it also seems good relative to the other guitar parts and the bass). Anyhow, that's my 2 cents, but good song, for sure.
olddogMember
Since: Jul 02, 2003
Dec 28, 2004 02:11 pm Thanks for listening thermocaster, I like AAP as well. The guitar I think your talking about is run thru an Octaver effect with some distortion and originally was going to be the bass line, but I decided at the last minute to add the real bass guitar with it. I'll try some mixes with it brought up some, thanks for the suggestion.
Dan
olddogMember
Since: Jul 02, 2003
Dec 28, 2004 02:18 pm Thanks much Jim. Mixing is driving me nuts! I have about 6 different mixes so far and several harbalized versions of each. <G> Thanks for the comment on the drums, the drum work I think is my best to date, it's simple to be sure, but at least I managed to stay pretty much in time with the whole song. :)
Let me pull something together on "Just the Girl" figure outt he key and such, and I'll get with you on it and see what comes out. :)
Dan
olddogMember
Since: Jul 02, 2003
Dec 28, 2004 02:24 pm Thanks coolo. I did cut a little low freq on the kick, I'll try boosting the low's a bit. The kick I used did have alot of beater and pedal sound to it. I'll play around with the volumes of the instrument mix as well. Thanks for the feedback I do appreciate it. :)
Dan
TadpuiI am not a crook's headMember
Since: Mar 14, 2003
Dec 28, 2004 04:19 pm The song itself is great. I can really hear your influences in this piece. I don't really have much suggestion as far as composition. Maybe a little variation in each of the arpeggiated guitar lines just for some spice?
Your voice sounds great here man! You sound nice and sure of what you're singing. The performance it tight and the backing vocals add good emphasis.
I could agree that the vocals are just a bit low, so I'll also vote for bringing down the guitars & drums, but just a little.
As far as the drums, I don't really like the kick sound at all. Like mentioned above, it has a ton of high end and beater...I'd like to hear more of a thud, especially since it's so prominent in the opening couple of bars.
Also, I think that the hi-hat could have some hi-end taken off of it. In WMP, I dropped the 8K and 16K sliders down to -6 and I thought it sounded better. I'm not sure if Media Player's units are dB or not, so there's no telling how much I actually attenuated those frequencies!
Actually the mix itself sounds skewed towards the high end of the frequency spectrum, but my mixes always come out sounding muffled, so I'm not really one to take EQ advice from. Plus, I'm listening on walkman headphones, so I probably don't have the flattest frequency response.
Dec 28, 2004 05:05 pm hey cool song OD!
sounding great on my headphones
mix sounds nice no disturbing frequencies causing my ears to go PIEEP
no seriously it sounds great
spot on vocals btw
did you double track or used a slight chorus
it sounds great !
olddogMember
Since: Jul 02, 2003
Dec 28, 2004 06:41 pm Thanks for checking the song out Tadpui, and thanks for the compliment on the vocals. I put alot of effort into those. I didn't get the exact sound I was going after, but pretty close. :)
I'm going to work on the kick with some EQ.
EQ wise on the mix I was going after a fairly flat response. When I play it on my system, car, and stereo it seems to have plenty of low end. In the headphones it sounds as though it could use a touch more low end, but then the bass is overpowering on speakers. I used har-bal on it and when I A/B the EQ mix it sounds muffled as well without the EQ filter, though if you didn't hear the har-bal version it sounds fine. This mixing/mastering is one tough nut to crack. <G>
Thanks again,
Dan
olddogMember
Since: Jul 02, 2003
Dec 28, 2004 06:48 pm Presley, thanks man.
The vocals on this one I double tracked and cloned. :)
The lead vocal is dry with only EQ
The lead vocal double, has EQ, and Reverb and is mostly the reverb signal panned to the right.
The cloned lead vocal has some delay, EQ, and chorus on it but it's pretty low in the mix and panned slightly left.
I tried to keep all the extra vocal tracks low enough so the doubling doesn't jump out.
The harmony vocals have some verb, chorus, and compressed to h*ll and back. :0
I didn't get quite the sound I was looking for, but I'm pretty happy with the way they came out.
Dan
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Dec 28, 2004 11:08 pm OD, the others have made an critique I could think of. I gotta say, I do like the new mix for sure. I liked the tune b4 but it really has a life now.
As for the APP comparisons, spot on. I got that feeling b4 I even saw the other post. I love the guitar tone for the lead as well, settles in real nice. Slide guitar just says something more then the usual licks.
I would give this one a 10 for sure. And ya, you can dance to it too.
olddogMember
Since: Jul 02, 2003
Dec 29, 2004 01:09 am Thanks Noize. I'm a huge fan of slide guitar and finally decided to try it. That was my first attempt at slide guitar and now that I've tried it you'll probably hear alot more of it out of me, especially as I get better at it. :)
I really think Har-Bal is helping alot and as I get dialed in on exactly what my mixes need, it's going to make final EQ'ing a breeze compared to without.
Dan
tonyd1970The fat one always watches us.Member
Since: Nov 08, 2002
Dec 30, 2004 08:40 am the drums are Kickin- and the over all effect has a sorta "hopefull omnicence" i cant spell.
the lead guitar sound is a good one. thats a keeper, and the mix is really good, full sounding, rich and creamy...
you gotta take a chance.
great stuff....
olddogMember
Since: Jul 02, 2003
Dec 30, 2004 03:54 pm Hey tony, thanks for checking it out and the comments! Appreciate it man.
Dan
Dec 30, 2004 04:26 pm Hey Dan
Top song budd - top song. I like the dreamy smooth guitar solo and the vocals best methinks.
I listened to all yer stuff and like it all actually. This one seems to have the best mix so far, with the vocals being very clear, less jangly (for want of a better description) than your other vox and generally, darn good.
Nice arpeggio guitars and as I say, love the lead tone..the SG?? Top sounds anyway bud.
As for the song itself, its moody and I like that. Some good instrumentals there, playing wise I mean, and overall - a well played song. The mix is all but perfect. I reckon I'd maybe variate that arpeggio a little as someone suggested but aye, big thumbs up from me.
Good work Dan.
Coco.
olddogMember
Since: Jul 02, 2003
Dec 30, 2004 10:31 pm Hey coco, thanks a bunch! Yep that's my SG, the only e guitar I own. :)
I'll be revisting the mix on this one and take into account everyones suggestions.
Thanks again for the kind words puts a smile on the ole face. :)
Dan
HuePinnipedal Czar (: 3= Member
Since: Apr 11, 2004
Jan 06, 2005 03:02 am *POW* On the playlist Oldog ! Nice One ! I agree 'bout the APP reference, but also sense a bit of the Floyd influence going on with the slide-work, yet too original to say it sounds like anything in-particularly . Terrific drums !
Very cool stuff !!!
olddogMember
Since: Jul 02, 2003
Jan 06, 2005 03:56 am Hey thanks alot for checking it out Hue and the encouraging words on the drums! I appreciate it. :)
Dan
HuePinnipedal Czar (: 3= Member
Since: Apr 11, 2004
Jan 06, 2005 05:28 am How'dja mic them puppies ? Nicely sepparated, as well as nice sounding .
olddogMember
Since: Jul 02, 2003
Jan 06, 2005 03:26 pm The drums are my Roland Vdrum kit, so no mic'ing and that's how the the stereo mix comes out. I did play with the pan settings on the Roland and used a little compression, a little but they are pretty close to stock.
Dan
BleakA small pie will soon be eatenMember
Since: Aug 26, 2004
Jan 07, 2005 08:34 am Sorry about the late response! been on holiday :)
This is great tune. Cant really add much more than everyone else.
Wish i could get drum sounds like that :)
And i love APP too and there is a slight similarity there!
Great work
olddogMember
Since: Jul 02, 2003
Jan 07, 2005 03:03 pm Thanks Bleak, appreciate the kind words. :)
Dan
Jan 10, 2005 09:44 pm Another great song Dan...it amazes me how people can write such great songs...and the way the lyrics paint the picture with so few brush strokes.
The music seems to me to portray the intensity and drama of the inner turmoil of meeting someone you more than just like...in a very masculine and restrained manner...of course...I could be just talking through a hole in my head...hehehe!
But when I listen...I don't know about you Noize...but I see a flamenco dancer.
I'm with everyone...I like the drums and the arpegiated guitar...and like Coco says...the dreamy smoothness.
Your vocals are what I really like...I seem to be able to hear the harmonies better by playing the song out your profile though...I don't know why...grrr...I'm useless with these computers.
Cheers Dan,
BM:-)
olddogMember
Since: Jul 02, 2003
Jan 10, 2005 11:21 pm Very kind of you BM, I'm just very happy when others find the music interesting and enjoy it. I surely thank you for the complements on the vocals as well, I'm always pretty self conscience about my singing.
Lyrics for me don't come easy, I start off with alot of disconnected thoughts as I'm working on the music of the song and then I try to assemble them all in some kind of coherent fashion.
I think I have the harmonies in this one mixed kind of low, they are pretty hard to hear. :)
Dan
Jan 11, 2005 09:49 pm Good stuff OD, The rhythmn is awesome. Got me swaying a bit listening to it. Lots of air in the mix too. Thats something I'm still trying to produce. I would love to hear some sort of keys with a strings patch, just enough to be heard. Would kind of put a frame on the whole thing.
Love the tune and the recording overall. :-)
olddogMember
Since: Jul 02, 2003
Jan 11, 2005 10:44 pm Thanks philthyone! You know I've been thinking about possibly adding in some keys. Just been trying to think of what would go good with it. I've been thinking since the song has no formal chorus/hook that adding a little something more might be just the thing. :)
cheers,
Dan
