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Hi all. Long time no post owing to real life schedule. I wrote this nearly 3 years ago about the value of friends. Thought I'd get another vocalist to sing it. What do you think? Vic https://soundcloud.com/vic-arnold/what-are-friends-for-version-2.What are friends for © Vic Arnold 2018 V1 Bad luck. Break up. We can help you raise up. Confidence is what you lack. Put you on the right track. Break time. Take time. Everything will be fine. Friends say "No big deal". Friends say that "Time heals". Pre ch. We're just a call away. So pick it up ... pick it up, pick it up. Chorus What are friends for? What are friends for? What are friends for? What are friends for? What are friends for? What are friends for? Inst. V2 Gonna drown? Come around. We won't let you go down Things are out of whack. We can get your cool back Wake you up, shape you up when it gets too tough Friends can understand Friends can hold your hand Pre ch. And so another day. So pick it up ... pick it up, pick it up. Chorus
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Vic...I love the feel and easy groove of this...I really like the melody especially of the chorus...very easy to listen to and great subject matter...vocals are super!
www.soundclick.com/firesongBiaB 2024, Steinberg Cubase Pro 13, Wavelab 11.2, SpetraLayers Pro 10, Audacity, Steinberg UR44 Interface, Yamaha Genos, Roland FP60 and FP10, Windows 10 You are who you are because you do what you do because of what you believe.
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I really, really liked Jack's voice on this. He reminds me of a beefier Passenger. Very, very cool. Of course, I know your voice and it would've been very good on this as well. Nice song, excellent work!
Windows 11, Intel Core I5 10400, 16 gig ram, Scarlett 2i2, Sony Acid Music Studio 10, BIAB 2020 UltraPlus Pak
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Nice voice BUT there're some plosives and essing to be dealt with particularly in the 1st stanza.
Cheers
rayc
"What's so funny about peace, love & understanding?" - N.Lowe
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Hi Vic,
This is a very nice song, well played and well sung. Also the mix is good.
I agree - the vocal plosives need a little attention. I would do them manually in your DAW - just blow the vocal track/s up to a very large size and you will see the plosives very clearly and can edit them out with a drop in volume of around -5 to -7Db. I have found this method superior and less intrusive than trying to fix them with a plugin.
Maybe add a little lead break in the middle for light and shade and these steps would take this song to a new level.
Well done.
Best Regards
Nigel
Nigel Spiers
Christchurch, New Zealand
info@nzacoustics.com
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Hi Vic,
I would do them manually in your DAW - just blow the vocal track/s up to a very large size and you will see the plosives very clearly and can edit them out with a drop in volume of around -5 to -7Db. I have found this method superior and less intrusive than trying to fix them with a plugin.
With you 100% on the manual method. In REAPER the Pref FIX volume Automation is the best option...if there's a spectoral view it's even easier to learn to recognize the issues visually as well...The BIG thing is to be careful with the degree of attenuation...too much and the singer sounds like they have a lisp.
Cheers
rayc
"What's so funny about peace, love & understanding?" - N.Lowe
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I like your songs Vic and this is another good write.
It's earthy and honest and makes me want to pick up my acoustic guitar and strum a few songs.
Sincerity, integrity and passion in a vocal are far more interesting to me than note perfect singing. For that reason I always prefer a song sung by the person who wrote it. Having said that, your singer did do your song justice.
Enjoyable listen.
regards
Gary.
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Thank you Tunemonger.
Glad you liked it. My voice has gone croakier in the last year. Maybe hay fever.
Jack did a good one on it though.
Vic
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YES!! Great write. Yes, Jack does a good one for sure. This is a song that needs to be said and heard. The lyrics grabbed me so much that I didn't notice any of the vocal anomalies, and I've followed Ray's advice and it's the best method. Still, when you write a song this good...
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Hi Ray.
Thanks for that observation.
I don't often notice things like sibilance. Maybe my ears have lost their ability to listen for high frequencies and I mix for the older generation :-). I have adjusted them now and I always adjust manually, not with a de-esser as they always alter parts I don't want altering.
Vic
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Thanks Nigel.
That's the way I usually do it but as I said to RayC, sometimes I don't notice them myself.
It's a good thing people on this site do.
Vic
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I nice write.
Love the little bit of grit and breathy vocals.
The harmony fits nicely.
Well done!
moto
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Hi Vicarn,
What do I think? I think you did an excellent job on the vocals. This is a very easy song to listen to. Not complicated, good write and sweet playing. Thanks for posting, I enjoyed the listen...
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Vic
Very pretty, and a catchy chorus.
A nice enjoyable song.
Peter
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Vic,
This is brilliant--truly. Jack does an great job on the vocals--rich, depth, resonates--but that said, I could hear you singing this and doing a great job too. The write is just so good--sweet and engaging message--and those internal rhymes aren't easy, to make them connect and deliver. But you do it here so well. That stop on the first "pick it up"--genius. Great harmonies to compliment Jack's vocal. I didn't notice the plosives and essing when I first listened to this a day or so ago, but like you, I don't always pick up on that stuff. On my own tunes, I have to make sure I go back at the end and focus on them in particular (in large part because I know rayc will call me out on it, rightfully so, if I don't, LOL!).
I don't want to diminish all the great work you've done to date, but this is close to tops in my book. I could easily see this on a movie soundtrack. Great stuff!
My very best to you,
Deej
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Thank you Gary. Pick it up then and play a few. It does you good.  Jack had my original from Soundcloud to work by. Vic
Last edited by vicarn; 09/28/21 11:59 PM.
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Thanks for your support, Marty.
You made my day.
Vic
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Thanks Peter.
Glad you enjoyed it.
Vic
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Vic,
Nice song. Catchy. Enjoyed the listen.
fj
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