Hello everyone. This is my first post.

Song: What Was I Thinking?

https://soundcloud.com/rene-muir/what-was-i-thinking

I wanted to test out several string libraries along with my BIAB tracks. I was hoping for an old school country sound but I got something else.

I used the Audiophile version of BIAB

Lyrics:

V1
I thought you'd come around
and that you'd settle down
and that you'd would be home
when the lights went out

But lying cheating
coming home stinkin'
What was I thinkin'?

V2
I thought your were a prince
and that I was a queen
and we'd be like
stars on a magazine

But yelling
screaming
and just being mean
What was I thinking?

CH1
What was I thinking saying yes
in that old party dress
with bottles all over the floor?
What was I thinking in my head
when you held me and said
"I'm sorry" over and over again?

V3
I thought you could be changed
or at least rearranged
it seemed like a small thing
the first time around

But scheming
stealing
and double dealing
What was I thinking?

CH2
What was I thinking saying yes
in that old party dress
with bottles all over the floor
What was I thinking in my head
when you held me and said
"I'm sorry" over and over again.

I thought you could be nice
And that you'd pay the price
To stand in the love light with me

But fibbing, fighting
And gaslighting
What was I thinking?
What was I thinking?
What was I thinking?


Tracks by me: Vocals, background strings (SWAM Strings), some Kontakt Strings from their standard library (cello), some midi Piano (PianoTeq plugin)

Tracks by BIAB:
BBdrums_RealDrums PopRockWaltzEv,SideStickHatRide
BBDrums_RealDrums NashClassicWaltzSw^6-BrSdtk,BrSn
BBBass_Real 1123 Bass, Acoustic, CountryWaltz Sw 140
BBGuitar_Real 1109 Guitar, Acoustic, Strumming BluegrassWaltz Ev 140
BBGuitar_Real3146 5-string, FolkWaltzChops
Wonder BBPiano_Real 781 Piano, Acoustic, Rhythm PopWaltz
Wonder BBPiano_Real 3146 Fiddle, 5-string, Background FolkWaltzChopsAndy
FiddleRythm-cm-01
Fiddle1 cm-107


Recording in Pro Tools on an ancient 2010 Mac Pro (cheese grater)
Plugins used: Melodyne, VSS Reverb, Space (Avid) reverb, Trackspacer, NovelTech Character, Ocean Way Studios (UAD)

Vocals recorded with a Warm Audio 251 Microphone into a GA Pre-73 Vintage Pre Amp clone,
Every instrument group was fed into it's own separate Ocean Way Studio room.

Mastered by CloudBounce

The song is cool, the string arrangements are a little over the top for the most part. They may sit better lower in the mix.
I like the string arrangements mind you - some clever & funny bits too. Just too loud.
Again, very cool song.
Your vibrato almost gets out of control in the 1st verse...you could probably soften that in your DAW. Your voice is grand though.
Thinking back the strings were probably grabbed and pushed forward in the "mastering" process.

Hi, Rene.

Welcome to the forum!

Well, this was a pleasant surprise!

A clever "country" write, and I really enjoyed what you did with the strings. Those slides, harmonies and echoes of the melody? Sweet.

There are points where you vocal seems to be stepped on. You've got TrackSpacer going, so maybe it's just the volume imbalance and your low voice. I think perhaps the stereo spread was working against you as well - especially at the bridge. As lovely as the strings are, there are times when they have to be subservient to the melody.

Anyway, love this. What a fun listen!

A big welcome to the forum, Rene. Wow, those strings sound terrific. I appreciate that they are too loud. They really are featured, but they do cover up a really cool vocal at times. Love the waltz time, and you did an incredible job scoring those strings. I'd like to hear a mix with the strings lowered. This is such a good song.

I struggled trying to find the right volume for the strings. The consensus seems to be they are definitely too loud. So I'll remix. Great feedback.

What's great about this place is the targeted criticism. You play stuff for friends and they just say "great!". I presume it's because everyone here struggles with the mix and are more finely tuned to the results.

Rene,
A very fun tune. Great arrangement. Pretty cool string work. Excellent vocals and overall very well composed tune.
On critical side, I think it's not the volume of strings, it is an overall balance between musical bed and vocals. I think vocals can be a little more upfront. But that's just my amateur opinion. Nice one and thank you for sharing.

Misha.

P.S. I am exploring couple of plugins that do sidechaining. Ha...While I was typing this I went back and saw that you are using Trackspacer So here goes. I have Trackspacer too and I love it for fast sketches. However, what I find limiting is that you can not select specific "ranges" on it. You can only do upper or lower EQ spectrums and that often "eats" away other stuff. One of the plugins that I have is by Melda called MSpectralDynamics. It is a monster of a plugin, but a bit complex. So I am exploring it to do more advance ducking than Trackspacer offers.

Rene, I love the production and, along with the lyrics, kept me listening to the end! Awesome vocals, too. The raspy delivery fit the song well. Great job all around.

Welcome aboard!

Cool write, vocals and BiaB tack choice.

Regarding the above comments. We are partial to open upfront vocals (fully realizing it's not to everybody's taste).
But for this Americana feel we could hear the vocals a wee bit more forward In effect agreeing with Misha's thoughts.
It's a good mix and you might want to move the vocals up 2db's or less to see if it works for you.

Irrespective of our blather we enjoyed our listens!

J&B

Now for the caveat: Great mix opinions are offered here and we have learned a lot over the past 12 years on the forum. We also learned that if irrespective of the opinions we are happy with a mix and have stuck the proverbial fork in it then so be it. The longer you stay here and listen a lot to other's mixes you will find those productions that are similar to yours and from which you can learn and vice versa.

I agree with Marty.
If you remix and lower the strings you will have a masterpiece.
Great vocal and lyrics.
Super writing for those strings and you have a super backing band.

IMHO remixing will turn a very good song into polished pro-sounding song.

Hi Rene.
Apart from the strings being a little loud it's a great song and original vocal sound.

Vic