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Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production
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Joined: Feb 2007
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I have had this song around for awhile and it has been slated to be the lead-off tune on a CD for about two years now (ha, ha). However the start of the intro has been bothering me. It sounds fine in sonar, OK in wav, but the 256 MP3 file it sounds "weird" at the beginning. Here are the three intros in a one minute Soundclick File1.) (0:01) The original with all instruments kicking it off. 2.) (0:18) dropped out the bass and drums at the beginning -- bass comes in pretty soon, but the drums hold off until the start of the first verse (and at a lower volume than before). No drums are heard in this intro part 3.) (0:36) the two RT guitars were sounding too "realtracky" to me, do I dumped them for me on guitar. The RT guitars work their way back in as the song goes on. Same bass and drum as in #2. Any comments on which might sound better? Here is the latest mix, if you are interested in that (I need to re-do a vocal or two, I think): Little Bit of Loving
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I thought intro #2 fit best. Any of the three work well, faced with a choice, I chose #2.
This is a really nice song with a lot of good things going on. The only other preference I found to differ with your version would be to pan the tenor vocalist more center and bring him up just a tad in the mix. I would choose the duo presence to be more like would be heard in Simon and Garfunkel, Seals and Croft where they vocals are treated more equally than one as a backing vocal. But that is simply a personal observation yielding to my preferences.
Again, good song, mix and performance so far. I'm looking forward to hearing the final mix.
Charlie
BIAB 2026:RB 2026, Latest builds: Dell Optiplex 7040 Desktop; Windows-10-64 bit, Intel Core i7-6700 3.4GHz CPU and 16 GB Ram Memory.
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Kevin,
On your latest mix, at 1:43 or thereabouts it's losing something in the translation - drum roll??? but it's a little up front and loud and maybe a little more clarity.
I like 3 or 2 for the intro.
Josie
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I like #2 best.... has a CSNY feel to the vox.
Ignore the funky issue with the MP3.. that could be a conversion issue.... always use 320kbs when doing any wave to MP3 conversion.
You're not going to print the MP3 version to a CD so no sweat...and if you sell it online, 320kbs always.
#3 is good, perhaps better BUT.... you need to get the guitar EQ sounding right and the levels adjusted properly, as the guitar was a bit too loud....and do not switch back to Real tracks if you start with YOU playing.... I often use my Taylor in my songs.... and when I do, it stays in for the entire song....wherever the acoustic needs to be. Nothing wrong with using RT's as well, but be careful how you splice them in. Chances are, you will not be able to duplicate the tone, quality, or playing style exactly and that can easily be noticed by the casual listener.
Last edited by Guitarhacker; 12/20/14 08:54 AM.
You can find my music at: www.herbhartley.comAdd nothing that adds nothing to the music. You can make excuses or you can make progress but not both. The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding.
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Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production
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Thanks all -- I was hoping the consensus would be #3 since it took me 15 takes (and I had to pause for awhile every time the house heater came back on!). However, I do think that maybe #2 is just more balanced.
Charlie: Interesting idea on the other vocalist. I'll think about it. Thanks for taking the time.
Sundance: Yea that is me trying to do a drum-roll like Russ Kunkel did on Jackson Browne's 2nd album 2nd side between the 1st and 2nd song. Oh well, I tried (ha, ha).
Herb: I was worried about going back to the RT guitars (especially the one on the same side as me playing). I brought RT#1 back in at the verse and then RT#2 in at the 1st chorus. Since they are panned 100% L and R, they seemed to be different instruments and not trying to be a continuation of my playing. However, if I go with intro #2, it won't matter, because my playing will be sent to the digital dust bin!
Thanks again! I switched the soundclick demo to the one with the RT acoustics in the intro. I am still not 100% convinced yet on which way to go yet, though.
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Hello,
I liked the drums in the first intro but I liked the "clean" sounding intro of intro 2. I was thinking the drums & bass could come in after the first melody of the harmonica before singing or on verse 1?
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Enthusiast
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AHH can i ask. Are you a neil young fan cause you sound just like him !
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PaulH: Thanks for the input, I think I am going with #2. AHH can i ask. Are you a neil young fan cause you sound just like him ! Ha, ha -- I am not that big of a Neil Young fan, but yes I have heard that comparison many, many times before. I should be grateful, I guess. If I was half as good as neil in the song writing, playing and singing departments, I would be pretty happy, though!
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Nice tune Kevin...definitely has that Neil Young vib. My only comment might be as noted above, regarding the drum roll around 1:40....a bit unexpected, at first I thought it was distortion in my speakers. But I do really like the tune.
Win11, Intel i7 7700K 4.2Ghz, 32Gb RAM, 2x1Tb HD, 500Gb NVMe, BIAB/RB 2026, MOTU 828MK3 audio, MOTU Midi Express, Yamaha Montage 7, DX7II, TX802, Motif XS Rack, Roland Fantom XR Rack, Oberheim Matrix 1000, VoiceLive3 Extreme, Kontakt 6, SampleTank 4.3
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FWIW, Kevin... I think that getting feedback on various aspects of a work in process is a great idea, and I'm surprised we don't see more of that on the forum.
By the time a song is considered "finished" most people aren't really interested in hearing suggestions any longer. Yet, that's when we tend to ask for them.
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