New Song (WIP)
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Posted on Dec 29, 2005 12:16 am
olddog
Member Since: Jul 02, 2003
Well my wife bought me a VoiceWorks vocal processor for Christmas and I had to give it a shake down run and wrote this song to try it out.
It's a very sparse recording 1 guitar, bass, and vocals straight out of the voiceworks 2 tracks 1 lead vocal, 1 harmony. So the song isn't finished, but it's close.
Song title is: You Don't Understand (Whats on My Mind)
www.smokinhq.com/starting...imm-t3_eq16.mp3
Here's the lyrics if anybodys interested. :D
You Don't Understand (Whats on my mind)
Copyright 2005 Dan Epp
If I seem to act little strange to you
And my mind don't seem to be quite right
Maybe I'm just pondering the world around
Or maybe I'm just having too much fun
Chorus:
You don't understand where I go inside my head
No you don't understand whats on my mind
I might be playing in a rockin' band
A big star thats for sure. You'll never know
Or myabe I'm just staring at the clouds above
And wondering why I exist at all
Chorus:
You don't understand where I go inside my head
No you don't understand whats on my mind
Mr. Mittys taught me well
As I slip, into another Day.. Another Day dream
Staring thru the window of illusion now
Making all the best of everyday
Life without these dreams of being more than me
I'd never get beyond the one I am
Chorus
I'd apreciate any comments anyone has as always. :)
Thanks for checking it out,
Dan
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Dec 29, 2005 06:50 am Dan
Like the song...like the song indeed!
The "sparse" sound is superb, the SG sounds hot and the drumming is spot on. Like the bass and the melody itself is good.
Indeed, the harmonies generated (presumably on the fly by the VoiceWorks) sound EXCELLENT..did it do that automatically??? Thats JUST the type of thing I could do with!! I checked the unit specs and it also does effects, compression and pitch correction too huh??? EXCELLENT piece of kit and has given you a decent melody/harmony sound IMHO.
Good work...
Coco.
olddogMember
Since: Jul 02, 2003
Dec 29, 2005 01:34 pm Thanks much for the listen & comments Coco! Yep that's the VW (hmm, that don't sound right LOL) that created the harmonies on the fly while I sang the lead. I just had to figure out what key scale to use (DMaj variation 2 in this case) and it did the rest. Most times I'll probably do the harmonies separate but I wanted to see how it would do in a 1 take situation. I need to learn how to use the midi options with it too for more complicated stuff. LOL
Thanks again!
Dan
TallChapAnswer:On a good day, lipstick.Member
Since: Jun 24, 2004
Dec 29, 2005 02:22 pm Love it, Dan. The harmonies are wonderful, and I am knocked out by the guitar sound. What are you going through with the SG? Tight song.
It's got the elements of a Ray Davies type thing, but with the guitar sounding like it does, it takes it beyond that. Mix is great too.
HuePinnipedal Czar (: 3= Member
Since: Apr 11, 2004
Dec 29, 2005 02:24 pm Sounds good olddog ! We've got one of those, but don't use it that much . Anyway, sounds very nice... natural sounding, that is . : )
Dec 29, 2005 02:29 pm Dog,
That's a great song! The "sparse" arrangement is just the kind of thing that I love! And it looks like I'm gonna have to get me one of those VoiceWorks deals! That frickin' harmony is perfect! It does it on the fly??
Is that you playing the electric drum kit? Very tight! Bass sounds great too! As soon as you get enough songs together for a CD, let me know and I will be the first in line to buy it!
More! More! More! Give us more!
Jim
olddogMember
Since: Jul 02, 2003
Dec 29, 2005 04:16 pm Thanks TallChap! The SG is running thru my GT6 straight to the mixer. One of these days I'm going to try mic'ing my Cube 30 but I'm pretty much getting the sounds I want straight out of the GT6. :) The VW so far is really great, it allows me to just worry about reaching the notes on the lead vocals. LOL This song was entirely a result of having it.
Dan
olddogMember
Since: Jul 02, 2003
Dec 29, 2005 04:22 pm Thanks for listening Hue. I could see in a band situation the VW wouldn't be nearly as useful, but it's great when you have to do all the parts yourself. :) Harmony parts have been the biggest challenge for me since I started doing this again, I've been forced to do songs in key's that are too low so I'd have enough range to do the harmonies. I think this new addition to my tool box is going to help alot.
Dan
olddogMember
Since: Jul 02, 2003
Dec 29, 2005 04:30 pm Thanks Jim glad you like it! :) This one is really "sparse" for me, you could do this song exactly as recorded with a 3 piece band, the whole song is 5 tracks. The vocals are indeed on the fly, both harmony and lead recorded in 1 take!
The drums are actually a loop that comes with Audition on this song. I haven't been able to nail a take yet doing live drums, but the final of this song will hopefully have live drums.
When I finally get a CD done (which I am actually working on now) you'll get one free for sure! :)
Dan
Dec 29, 2005 06:47 pm I must say Dan, thats an impressive piece of kit then....all on the fly, superb...indeed, if I had the bucks, I'd get me one!!
Maybes need to get saving or find a software solution because, like yerself, harmonies are the single worst thing I need to do personally
I hae enough bother myself just sorting a darn melody :-)!
Again, top song and nice vocals indeed.
Coco.
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Dec 29, 2005 09:40 pm OD, that tune is greatt. You got great results with the VW for sure. Yer right though, VW just sounds like a car. Oh wait, it is. :-)
Anyway, I liked the harmony it created. Agree on the guitar sound as well. I do however like the sparse feel as well. At first I kinda got a feeling from the vocals of Byrds meet Beatles mated with Jimmy Buffet. Dont ask what gave me the Jimmy Buffet feel though.
olddogMember
Since: Jul 02, 2003
Dec 30, 2005 02:59 am I know exactly how it is Coco, in the 80's it took me years to get what little equipment I had, now it's easier to afford the equipment but time is running short. LOL
Dan
olddogMember
Since: Jul 02, 2003
Dec 30, 2005 03:07 am Thanks much Noize! I'm not sure what else I want to do to the song, I think I'm going to keep the song pretty much as is except for maybe doubling the lead vocal and cutting the distortion on the guitar just a bit along with maybe a few more guitar fills thru the song. For this one I too kind of like the minimalist approach I've taken so far to it.
Byrds/Beatles/Jimmy Buffet, that combo works for me :D When I was working on the song Paul Simon popped up in my mind, but I think it was cause when I was working on the settings, one of the settings on VW (LOL) made my voice sound somewhat like his.
Dan
TadpuiI am not a crook's headMember
Since: Mar 14, 2003
Dec 30, 2005 11:24 am Sounds great for a quickie, that's for sure. Definitely a Beatles-esque chord progression. Let us know when you get the finished version up!
olddogMember
Since: Jul 02, 2003
Dec 30, 2005 05:14 pm Thanks Tad, appreciate the listen! :)
Dan
Jan 03, 2006 07:13 am Great work Dan! I need to get me one of those processors! Sounds really well mixed :-) I like it...
olddogMember
Since: Jul 02, 2003
Jan 04, 2006 12:14 am Glad you liked it Michelle, thank you for the listen & kind words. :)
Dan
Jan 12, 2006 09:47 pm Really enjoyed this. Guitar sounds great! I'm rather amazed at the great harmonies produced by the VoiceWorks vocal processor. Good production too! very cool tune...
olddogMember
Since: Jul 02, 2003
Jan 13, 2006 12:37 am Hey thanks much for checking it out, glad you enjoyed it Bob!
Dan
Jan 13, 2006 11:37 am How difficult is using that VoiceWorks vocal processor? Gotta check out the price... $599.00 at Zzounds.
olddogMember
Since: Jul 02, 2003
Jan 13, 2006 03:05 pm Not difficult at all for using the basic features. If your up to speed on midi, those features shouldn't be to big a deal to get familiar with either. It takes a bit of tweaking so that the harmonies don't sound to flanged, but nothing difficult. I'm still working on getting the best sound possible out of it and I'm sure it will improve even more as I get used to using it.
Musician's Friend has it for $599 + a $100 rebate lowering the price to $499, great piece of equipment for that price.
Dan
Jan 13, 2006 04:27 pm I see zzounds mentions the $100 rebate as well. I might check into one... thanks!
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Jan 13, 2006 07:40 pm Yep, zZounds does do the rebate as well.
