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I'd like to add this to my completed demo folder. Called "Hang Him High" and it's not about capital punishment. Lol The genre/style would be Country.
I decided to start working with RTs, and I updated my original midi version with some RTs.
Any production comments would be greatly appreciated - ya'll know the routine.

Note: Assistive ears to date provided by the ever generous MarioD

http://web.ncf.ca/ifraser/HangHimHigh.html (the embedded audio may have difficulty playing in Firefox 2.x and possibly IE 7)

Have a good weekend all.

Last edited by Ian Fraser; 12/18/09 05:52 PM.

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Can't listen right now, Ian ... Kids are taking a nap ... will be later, though!

Have a great weekend as well, mate!

Cheers,
Mike


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Nice job on the tune and the tasteful use of the RT's (tasteful is not a word I am that familiar with -- LOL!). I think the story is well laid out and makes a lot of sense. Overall, just a fine tune. I'd probably have lots of ideas if it was a work in progress, but if you want to move it to your "completed" folder, you'd have no argument from me.

Kevin


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Kevin, I'm a little nervous to say this . . . but I never turn my back on ideas. So hit me . . . and if it's too tough send me a PM. Lol
It helps to hear it as others hear it. As someone once said "Country's in the ear of the Beholder" - or something like that.
What my hearing loss has done is actually forced me to be very minimalist in my backing track approach so that I can differentiate one track easily from another. So I'd like to hear any ideas.

Ian


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Hi Ian,

I just read your comment about using a minimalist approach to instrumentation. I don't think it's minimalist at all; it's just right. Don't change they way you are now doing things. You've really nailed a style that works terrifically for you. The whole package is really well done.

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Noel


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Ian,

This is one of my favorites from you. IMHO this one is finished my friend, be proud.

Later,

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ian,
i simply love it! you have a vox that is mellow and very easy on the ears...easy to listen to. nice application of rts. i especially enjoyed the harmonica parts, sweet my friend. i listened for your live finger picking but didn't hear any. the mix was spot on imho. great production all around. more please.

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Ian,

I am having trouble getting the audio with Firefox 3.0.16 - but I have had that problem on your site before - but went back later and it played - so I will keep trying.


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Noel, Danny and Don Thanks for the very positive comments. Noel - never thought of having a "style". My songs are produced with a country flavour because that is where I see my market but it does seem to suit.
Maybe minimalist wasn't the right word, but what I did was take each RT track and cut out the parts I didn't like, or the parts where say the harmonica conflicted with the resonator in the same space, and tried not let either of them conflict with the voice. The piano I kept as bg rhythm along with an RT strumming. Don, somewhere back in there just keeping rhythm is a midi voice 26 picking away.

I have never mic'd and played my acoustic. I do have a midi guitar controller through which I input any fingerpicking I do. . .then correct the glitches. Guess it's because I hate retakes but that's what makes recording a real challenge. If you want to hear fingerpicking check out "Great Winding Stairs" (recorded on tape) and "Wind Rider" (guitar picking midi input) on my website.

Kudos to MarioD for his patience as I would send each new mix to him saying "How's the balance?", "How's the eq?" As in the title words of George Martin's book - "All You Need Is Ears" - and I'm mighty glad the folks here can provide them for me.

Thanks - Ian

Last edited by Ian Fraser; 12/18/09 09:22 PM.
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Hey Mate. That was totally cool. Nice rhythm. Like the harmony with the TC. Well balanced. Good on ya. Ya did a winner.


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Thanks Russ, good to hear from you. Actually though, the harmony on "High" is yours truly, however the balance is indeed TC provided. What was the giveaway - too accurate? I've tried to cut the 1k-2k frequencies to try and make the TC voice softer and less identifiable. Have you found a way to disguise it?

Merry Christmas


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reminded me a bit of waylon cool


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Ian,

You did a great job on the trax. For my taste, the harmonica might be a little loud in places, but that's a personal thang.

Good one.

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Great tune, Ian!!! And I have to agree with Noel ... nothing "minimalistic" about this tune at all. Outstanding performance! Love the way you arranged this one.

Cheers,
Mike


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Ian,
Finally got to listen and it's a good tune. I usually listen on the cans - but I had it going to the speakers - my other half walked in and listened too. She liked the harmonica. I think she's a harmonica freak - she bought me a box of them awhile back. From a totally non musical perspective she suggested that in a lot of country tunes -the singer tends to be singing a story about themselves and instead of "him" using "I or me" would fit the mold.
Myself - I liked it - nice use of the RT's.


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Quote:

reminded me a bit of waylon


Mike - I should be so lucky, eh? Thanks.
Quote:

the harmonica might be a little loud in places


Robert - you know I surfed around the audio_edit window looking for those "big" waves . . . musta missed a couple. I'll fix 'em for the next mix.
MikeK - thanks for giving it a listen and the kind comments.

Quote:

she suggested that in a lot of country tunes -the singer tends to be singing a story about themselves and instead of "him" using "I or me" would fit the mold.


You know Powderman she has a point. One of the things songwriters are told is NOT to mix the perspective. But I do - Picture the verses as an old western movie trial with the accusations flying between the warring parties and the chorus as the town's people ready to convict the defendant in spite of his defense. Tell her I appreciate the input from both of you.

Cheers - Ian


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You know I think it's a winner


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I'd like to hear that honky-tonky pianner a little more, but that's just me. That's a great mix and a super use of (I assume) Real Tracks. Well done.

R.


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Hi Ryszard
Sort of points out the problem of too many faders and not enough mouse.
I've never gotten the hang of recording audio moves on audio tracks in PT. I like PT's simplicity too much to move to a more complicated software.

Good to hear from you.

Ian


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Hi Ian,

I'm new here but I'd like to offer my feedback if I may; firstly, this a GREAT song. From a songwriting perspective this is perfectly balanced on the 'originality / familiarity' scale for the genre. Great hook, nice chord structure - it all just works.

Love the laid back approach to the vocals, it was only once someone else mentioned TC harmonies that I took a 2nd listen and could hear some potential use - but 99.9% of your listeners would never hear this track and say "ooh, TC haramonies"

Two pieces of constructive feedback for ya; 1). Something a little weird is happening on the Bass RT (Assume it's an RT), right on the chord change when you say the work "Judge" in the chorus. The timing sounds a little out. Maybe a slightly different Bass RT style would make the transition smoother? 2). I'm a Pop producer so forgive me for this (!) but I feel the mixdown sound could benefit from being just a touch brighter on the top end. Maybe just 2db shelf at 10Khz upwards?

But..... a great song and performance - well done !


David,
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