HELP! - Need opinions on my nearly done EP!!

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Lost for words with all to say.
Contributor Since: Sep 12, 2003

I am in desperate need here guys! I got two redo's on the vocals on two of my songs and I am done! Well, not really, that's why I'm asking this of anyone here. I have re-posted my song "Rain Down" with background vocals and such. If everyone could give a listen and tell me what they don't like about it (course, besides, if you don't like the song....mixing wise I'm looking for). Anything at all. Bass sucks, vocals are loud, etc. Don't worry about hurting my feelings, I need to know this before I get it mastered. Anybody with mastering skills, let me know what needs to be fixed before I premaster and master! Any help is so much appricated. I'll send you the CD free of charge when it is complete, I promise!

www.homerecordingconnecti...usic&id=811

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A small pie will soon be eaten
Member
Since: Aug 26, 2004


May 11, 2005 10:51 pm

Vdale,

I think you have linked to your 'song management' section. For me that takes me to my songs.

For non Pro members they get an error message.

Here is the link you want

www.homerecordingconnecti...usic&id=811

listening now

A small pie will soon be eaten
Member
Since: Aug 26, 2004


May 11, 2005 10:55 pm

Already loving the 'phased guitar' at the start.

The backup vocals are great.

I can't hear any problems with the mix itself!

I reckon its good to go.

Sorry i can't be more help but it sounds spot on to me.

Great singing by the way.








Lost for words with all to say.
Contributor
Since: Sep 12, 2003


May 11, 2005 11:38 pm

Thanks for letting me know I had a bad link!! I fixed it now!

Thanks for listening!!! I'm thinking about putting some kind of effect on the main vocal during the bridge at the "Do not shut....do not shut..." part. I have some distortion when the singer gets really up there, but if it isn't noticable....

Thanks for listening Bleak! I'll have another song up tomorrow that is going on the EP.

A small pie will soon be eaten
Member
Since: Aug 26, 2004


May 11, 2005 11:52 pm

no worries! looking forward to the next one!

Hold 'Em Czar
Member
Since: Dec 30, 2004


May 12, 2005 11:26 am

listening now on pc speakers...


fisrt impression is nice levels!! i didn't hafta adjust my volume from normal listening level at all....

now lets crank it up...

i like the reverb on the snare, nice tail....vox are loud and clear....i'm not hearin' much bass at all, but that could be my speakers (i do usually hear bass on these though) maybe have it poke through at around 150hz. i'm gettin' a bit of distortion on the vocals when things get loud (this could be the mp3 though)

is this you singing? excellent job, nice range, and it dosn't get boaring at all. harmonies are mixed perfectly....

other than the bass bein' a bit quiet, the song sounds album ready to me...

good mix man

wyd

Hold 'Em Czar
Member
Since: Dec 30, 2004


May 12, 2005 11:27 am

after i closed winamp, i was gooin' back to my streaming music, and i started humming the chorus!!! it stuck!!! that's a really good thing.

Lost for words with all to say.
Contributor
Since: Sep 12, 2003


May 12, 2005 11:40 am

Thanks WYD!!!

The bass was something I kept going back and forth on, and I now know what I did wrong. My buddy kept telling me that the bass was too much, so I lowered it off some. Then I noticed just the other day that he is using a home theater sub (turned way too loud) with the little version of M-Audio monitors that I bought him. So it was his setup that confused him. I'll get that bass back a little bit!

Hold 'Em Czar
Member
Since: Dec 30, 2004


May 12, 2005 11:55 am

yeah there's two kindsa bass, sub bass (<100hz) and what i call "punch bass" which is usually between 100 and 200hz...i've found i usually hafta cut alotta mud out under 100hz and my bass guitar really hits at around 150hz. or 200 if it's a four string

Prince CZAR-ming
Member
Since: Apr 08, 2004


May 12, 2005 01:04 pm

very nice indeed! I wish I could listen more critically, but alas, i'm at work, and i only use the laptop spks, or headphones at home.

anyway, very smooth, very together. I'm quite impressed with the song itself as well. has kind of a keith urban bounce and spring to it.

nice job.

Lost for words with all to say.
Contributor
Since: Sep 12, 2003


May 12, 2005 01:40 pm

Thanks pjk!

Can't take the credit, a band named Delirious wrote the tone!

Prince CZAR-ming
Member
Since: Apr 08, 2004


May 12, 2005 01:52 pm

oop, oh well. you did it well. i like the mix with the backup singer too, very complimentary.

Lost for words with all to say.
Contributor
Since: Sep 12, 2003


May 12, 2005 09:55 pm

Alrighty peeps. Got "I'll Always Love You" on the site now. I have never posted this one before so give it a spin and tell me what you think. Here's the link again:

www.homerecordingconnecti...usic&id=811

Lost for words with all to say.
Contributor
Since: Sep 12, 2003


May 12, 2005 09:56 pm

Oh yeah, tomorrow I will fix what we talk about fixing on both of them and repost.

Hold 'Em Czar
Member
Since: Dec 30, 2004


May 13, 2005 11:32 am

ok the mix sounds very good, everything is right there in your face....i'm tempted to say there's a bit of overcompresson on this one, my meters in winamp were pegged pretty hard, which is not normal. and i'm hearing the same distortion as the last one....did you have a limiter on the master buss? push the threshold up some if so.....as for layering with eq and whatnot, everything sounds perfect. LOVE THE TOM SOUND!!

ther's something wierd gooin' on with the cymbals at 3:46, i doubt it's real "fixable" but it kinda jumps out...hmmmm other than the compression/limiting beein' a bit too much, the song sounds darn good.

peace

wyd

Lost for words with all to say.
Contributor
Since: Sep 12, 2003


May 13, 2005 11:59 am

Actually, I don't think I compressed the guitars. I know I didn't compress the whole mix in general. Is it something that you hear that makes you think it's compression? I had a very hard time with this song, very hard to make it exciting. I don't know, everytime I go to mess with it there was something there I didn't like.

At 3:46, I think I know what you mean. Is it when he is doing that roll on the toms? It's like he was going down on the toms and hit a cymbal by accident and it made a weird noise. Think I can fix that, I'll see about that.

Thanks for listening WYD!!

Lost for words with all to say.
Contributor
Since: Sep 12, 2003


May 13, 2005 12:01 pm

After thinking about it, I think I know what you mean by overcompressing. The overall volume of it is loud. I probably could cut the overall volume down and it might help out. You think?

Hold 'Em Czar
Member
Since: Dec 30, 2004


May 13, 2005 12:10 pm

yeah it's just real 'hot' for some reason....try that.

Dork
Member
Since: Jul 25, 2004


May 13, 2005 06:38 pm

Loving Rain ... Great recording all the way around. I am very impressed with the quality. Good song too.

Always, again a good sound. The snare seems a little bit loud to me. Perhaps you may bring it down a touch. It seems a little too out front.

Otherwise no complaints here.
Good job Vdale

Czar of Cheese
Member
Since: Jun 09, 2004


May 13, 2005 08:45 pm

Vdale,

No complaints here! "Rain Down" is a great song, matched only be the great performance. I know I've mentioned it before, but my wife is a big fan of Christian music, and she says this is as good as anything she's heard!

"I'll Always Love You" is also an awesome tune. My comments from apply to this song as well.

You're on your way, man!

Jim

Lost for words with all to say.
Contributor
Since: Sep 12, 2003


May 14, 2005 12:24 pm

Thanks plithyone! I'll check that snare out! I got a list of things I want to change now.


Thanks guitar_jim! I really do appricate it!

I am going to send everyone a CD when it is complete!

I'll post back when I have these issues solved here in a few days (weekends are always busy).

Thanks a bunch guys!

Lost for words with all to say.
Contributor
Since: Sep 12, 2003


May 18, 2005 08:56 am

Ok, uploaded the new mixes with some changes listed below.

Rain Down

- Bass is poking through some more around 150-170hz
- Turn main volume down so vocals won't crack. That seems to fix that problem!
- Hated the Toms after more listens. Adjusted them some more and Gated them better. Still don't like.

I'll Always Love You

- Turned main volume down to fix cracking vocals.
- Adjusted guitar and turned down little. Seems that was making it sound weird that I kept trying to fix.
- Brought snare down just a tad
- Took weird chorus effect off on background female. It was sounding weird.


Okay, believe that was all I fixed. Let me know what else doesn't sound right. I'm thinking I did more bad adjusting the toms in Rain Down then good :(

Here's the link again:

www.homerecordingconnecti...usic&id=811

Czar of Cheese
Member
Since: Jun 09, 2004


May 18, 2005 09:09 am

You know, I have a hard time separating the "technical" listening from the "aethstetic" listening. I can't listen for little nuances like a lot of guys around here can. All I know is that I REALLY like these two songs! I've been listening to them over and over. I usually sing a song or two in church over the summer, and I hope you don't mind if I do an unplugged version of "Rain Down"...I love it!

Jim

Lost for words with all to say.
Contributor
Since: Sep 12, 2003


May 18, 2005 09:18 am

Hey, I don't mind. Delirious wrote it who is my all time favorite band. www.delirious.co.uk

Thanks guitar_jim!

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002


May 18, 2005 11:47 pm

vdale, on Rain Down the toms are sounding pretty good here. I love that song for sure, nice work on the arrangement. Give the vocalist my compliments as well, nicely done indeed. I love the guitars as well. I am torn on the organ part though, I would like to hear it a pinch louder, but I am not sure that would fly well. Maybe it is just I have been listening to soem stuff were the organ is more present.

I am gonna have to listen again to I'll always Love you. I like the feel of that one though for sure. Nice drum work as well. And again, the guitar arrangement is top notch.


Lost for words with all to say.
Contributor
Since: Sep 12, 2003


May 19, 2005 08:14 am

Thanks Noize!

I actually played piano with strings on there. The only problem I have fitting it in is that it conflicts alot with the guitars when it's pushed up. So, I sat it at a low volume that still fills in the sound. Believe me, when you mute it, the sound is very weak. Even though that's the only instrument that I'm playing on the album, I'm comfortable just having carry the song and the guitars do the main part. Heck, both of these are guitar driven songs. I'll try pushing it more to see what happens.

Once again, thanks Noize!!

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002


May 19, 2005 10:30 pm

vdale, after I got to listen a bit louder today, I must retract my loudre key part statement. It actually didi fit in well and I can see how it might conflict if it gets any louder. I knew I shoulda listened a bit louder before I made that comment.

And again, I love both tunes, very well done.

Lost for words with all to say.
Contributor
Since: Sep 12, 2003


May 30, 2005 03:07 pm

Alrighty.

Got the vocals done on the other two tunes for the EP. I left it together as one song on here so you could easily listen through it. On the CD, I'm going to have it seperated into two tracks. Name is "Your Love Is Extravagant/Lord, Let Your Glory Fall". I deleted the other two songs on here because I didn't have space here to have all 4 :(. So, if everyone could give a listen I would appricate it!

Link again:

www.homerecordingconnecti...usic&id=811

Hold 'Em Czar
Member
Since: Dec 30, 2004


May 30, 2005 05:56 pm

will do first thing tommrow vdale....(hehe i'm off today)

Lost for words with all to say.
Contributor
Since: Sep 12, 2003


May 31, 2005 08:47 am

Thanks WYD!

Hold 'Em Czar
Member
Since: Dec 30, 2004


May 31, 2005 11:53 am

DOH! can't stream it...if ya put it up for d/l i can give it a listen...

sorry man

ยง=o(

Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


May 31, 2005 11:55 am

WYD, I am nearly done with a solution (and a very cool one) to the streaming problems...

Just FYI

Hold 'Em Czar
Member
Since: Dec 30, 2004


May 31, 2005 12:04 pm

SCHWEET!!! can't wait!

Lost for words with all to say.
Contributor
Since: Sep 12, 2003


May 31, 2005 12:35 pm

Ok, got it for download now till the good ol' dB has the streaming going.

Hold 'Em Czar
Member
Since: Dec 30, 2004


May 31, 2005 01:21 pm

*listening*

your love : the vocals are perfectly placed in this one....wow, excellent blend of sound here!! i'm gonna put on the earbuds.....the guitar solo sounds great! and the drums, they sound nice!! what did you use? i'm havin' a hard time figuring out if they're real or sampled.

glory fall : the synth pad/string thing is very nice!! super pleasing to the ear. hmm there's a bit of brite reverb tail on the vocals here...can you eq some of the highs out of the reverb??? warm it up a bit...super production here. GOOD DRUM SOUND HERE!!!!!....

man you got some skills!!! both writing and the recording is top notch, sounds radio ready to me.
lemme know how ya mixed this stuff, i want production notes!!! hehe

good job man

wyd

Lost for words with all to say.
Contributor
Since: Sep 12, 2003


May 31, 2005 01:51 pm

Thanks for the kind words WYD!


Can't take credit for the songs once again. First song (Your Love Is Extravagant) is written by Darrell Evens and second song (Lord, Let Your Glory Fall) by Matt Redman. We have started writing original songs but not any this good!


Here's some notes on these songs to see if I'm good at explaining what I tried to do:


Your Love Is Extravagant:

At the very first, it is sampled drums my buddy did using Fruit Loops. Our drummer is a genious! He has a cheap Roland electric drum set that has been beat to death from constant traveling and uses MIDI to do the drums "live" so to say. He uses samples from a very pricey package. I have heard it being mentioned around here but I'm hitting myself over the head trying to remember what it's called! Course, he uses Fruity Loops to tweak it and then hands it to me.

When the song breaks in for that guitar solo, it's real drums. I have found the best way to record drums is in a cage or tight room. The other two songs I had on here was done in my living room with carpet and sort of open. These two songs here was done in a custom made clear walled room at our church. It was created right when we went to record these tones and decided to see how it does. I want to do a tutorial on a drum cage/room, just haven't had time to do so. Made it for like $200 dollars and works better then a clear sonic that cost nearly $1500 for drums. Anyway, it was so much easier mixing the drums in that cage. Compression along with EQing and the right reverb and you got yourself a nice sounding drums. Course, having a subwoofer to hear the lows better helps a bunch.


Lord, Let Your Glory Fall:


I liked the synth thing too! (*cough* because it was me!*cough*). Did you notice the guitar in that? Put some hall reverb and you got your a nice celtic sound! I have to say that's my favorite part myself.

Yeah, I was having problems finding a good setting for the reverb in the vocals. I will mess with that some more and get rid of the highs in it.

The drums, at first I didn't like. I thought they were too crisp. Then I told my drummer that right before I went to mess with them and he told me, "If you change them drums from the way you have them sounding. I will kill you." So, I left them and they grew on me. Once again, compression, eq, and good reverb!

Thank you so very much for listening to them WYD! I will be sending you a CD (and everybody else) once it's complete!

Hold 'Em Czar
Member
Since: Dec 30, 2004


May 31, 2005 03:09 pm

Quote:
If you change them drums from the way you have them sounding. I will kill you


HAHAHAHHA nice!!!

yes i totaly caught the guitar mixed in with the synth, nice use of reverb there!! almost made the guitar sound like a keyboard, way cool.

i too used an extremely small and tight room for tracking drums, and indeed it made them easier to work with.

excellent mixes though....all definately sound pro to me, infact, i'm gonna take these home and throw 'em up on my monitors.

cheers

Lost for words with all to say.
Contributor
Since: Sep 12, 2003


May 31, 2005 04:10 pm

Awesome! Do so and see how it sounds! Course, when it's premastered and stuff, it will sound better in any speaker I believe.

Lost for words with all to say.
Contributor
Since: Sep 12, 2003


Jun 04, 2005 08:11 pm

Hey, got all my songs on myspace.

www.myspace.com/starhouseofpraise

If anyone is interested, take a listen and see what you think. I believe I am done mixing. Course, I'll listen through the week and see what I hear.

Visit the site and listen and add me as your friend if you want.

Thanks guys.

Lost for words with all to say.
Contributor
Since: Sep 12, 2003


Jul 07, 2005 03:41 pm

The CD is FINALLY DONE!!!!!! It's going to be released this Sunday at the church.

Thank you so very much everyone for listening and chipping in your ideas.

whosyourdaddy00, dB, Noize2U, philthyone, pjk, Bleak, and guitar_jim. If you guys could like private message me your address, I will send you the CD like I promised.

Thanks guys.

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