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INSTEAD of FIREWORKS
Massively reworked since the draft of JUNE2020 was posted.
I've added an extra chorus, replaced the vocal with a higher one, replaced the wah wah solos and goofed around with simpler ones.
Build in BIAB :
BRITSRR.STY
Classic British Swing 8ths Rock
4/4 key of G at 115bpm
The only remaining BIAB element is
RealDrums - RocknRollBritSwing
But it's a very strong element.
Vantage Bass, Squire Mustang Bullet guitar, Marshall amp (MV at 2), Marshall 4x12 mic'd with a 57 & an e609, Ibanez Renometer #95 EQ for the honk/cocked wah FX on the left guitar.
Verse vocal recorded with an AT2020 AND a Focusrite CM25 then blended (as in old style amp mic'ing). Chorus vocals recorded with the AT.
This isn't mastered so suggestions and comments are most welcome and likely to be implemented.
This mix is tweaked as per comments: more vocals (exposing the problem more I fear) and a little more top end on the panned guitars. I experimented with an hard stop with a held chord etc. and, whilst I like the idea there was no place that it seemed to fit..I tried end of chorus, end of verse etc. I did tweak the lead lick linking the last verse & chorus as well.
THANKS for the interesting ideas and suggestions.
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Sounds good to me, Ray.

Nice bassline! And I dig the chunky guitars too.

To my ears the guitar is maybe overshadowing the vocal a bit, but maybe that is normal for the genre?

But yeah, good song, I liked the video too.

Ray, I really like this particularly the guitar sound. My only comment is I wish I could hear the lyrics better.

ray,

This sounds really good! Great definition to EVERY piece of the Rock Pie.

I agree the vocals should come up just slightly (not much).

Great groove to this. ROCKIN'!!

fj

Just awesome Ray, I think it is just right. I always like a bit more guitar standing in the light, maybe a little presence to the left side rythym guitar about all i can think of. Cliff

Hi Ray,

To me this is a very cool song. Like the video; intriguing.
I agree with Dave and Floyd the vocals could given some more volume, but that's a minor point.
And speaking about the vocals, I was wondering how the lower voice would have sound. If it was like the 'Pogues', I mean the vocals I heard in the song before this one (I forgot the title of it, sorry Ray). Those I liked very much! But that is of course a matter of taste.
Well done, Ray!

Hans

Ray, this sounds wonderful to me! Is this your voice/vocal? It sounds great, but as others have mentioned, it needs a boost to my ears! You have serious ability in all aspects of music production and it's appreciated by me! Thanks, Torrey

Pretty groovy Ray. I like the song and the arrangement. If you are looking for suggestions in the mix I would say the guitars could come down in volume a bit and maybe not panned so hard. Either that or bring the vocals up a bit. It would be interesting to hear the vocals with some compression...

Hi Ray ...

A really cool song! It's a genre I can't say I know anything about, technically. But, I tend to rely on my ears and instincts when I'm outside my normal coloring lines. Regardless of the general expectations for the genre might be, I found this to be very entertaining. I particularly liked the way the bass line moved ... not just quarter notes and half notes, but a real sense of a modified swing movement

And yeah, the vocals could move a little more forward. Not much more I can add. I'm more a "Big Picture" guy than the "Nit-Picking" sort. Just entertain me, regardless of any little this and that quibbles. You entertained me. It was a very enjoyable listen. Nice work!

Best to you. Be safe ...

Alan

Ray,
Very cool. Super vibe! Acidic video, seems like you are having fun with it.

Ok... bashing time.
You have excellent vocals on it, but I wish they would come up more (More!).
Also I think drums are fighting with bass a little and are not well pronounced (too much low end on drums?) If I decided to try something, I would: Raise vocals 3db, spike "panning guitar" with high EQ, so it is more on "top", less processing FX on drums so they are more clear.

Sometimes, when I am stuck on the mix, I would just make a copy and do completely opposite of what I think it should sound like....and about half of the time I end up keeping the later mix

What I am saying is, if you will experiment with it, try to push "suggestions" beyond your "comfort" level and post the result. Comparing side by side works best and will give you a more clearer picture of your ear vs "average" ear.

Or you can disregard all my blathering

Thank you for sharing. Good one Ray!

Misha.

Musically, definitely you achieved what you were intending.

Vocally, well, I had no idea what was going on there.

Cool tune. Loved the tone of the guitar. Excellent driving backtrack.

I guess we are the odd folks out as we thought the vocal level was fine for the genre. Actually every time we listen to hard rock or whatever genre you want to assign to this we think the vocals are a bit buried. It took us a while to realize that its part and parcel of the package. There being no intent to be warm and intimate just let it work with those crunchy guitars as it well does.

Nice guitar performance and a cool baseline also.

And we enjoyed the light show!

Fun production...

J&B

Ray,
Add lyrics to the video and most listeners ( myself included) might not find vocal levels to be such an issue.
You make an excellent dense driving sound and to my ears the higher pitched vocal is a good part of the noise.


Robert

Nice rocking sound, Ray and trippy video. I wasn't too fussed about not being able to make out some of the vocals but agree that posting the lyrics would be one solution.
Regards,
Leon

@rayc - This is a conundrum. I really like the effect of the dreamy/hazy vocals - it fits really well with the guitars. On the other hand, I concur with others that it would be better if the lyrics could be discerned. I would add that they could be improved at points with some effect which would add more dynamics - maybe something to bring out the peaks, but strategically. As to how to do that, it is beyond my ken.

In any case, the vibe comes across instantly and with a powerful drive. You know instantly what type of song you're listening to and you just sit back and say "yeah - lay it on me baby!"

So overall, loved it, great listen, no complaints.

Edit: What about inserting some short holds or a couple silences in there at key points? For example, let one of those guitar chords ring out and then sort of hang and fade out, then come back hard with another chord and bring the vocal in strong. That might really add some tension. Just tossing out ideas.

The vocal is a contentious issue becasue I'd rather have a good one, the one I have isn't much chop requiring HEAVY treatment to be as bad as it is.
IF I can't get another voice I'll have to lift it a little.
Thanks for noticing the bass. I enjoyed playing that one.

Noted 911, thanks.
Please see that above comment re the fate of the voice.

Thanks fj,
I'll get to the vocal level, eventually. I'm please the added chorus didn't interrupt the groove. Thanks.

Cliff,
I'll try a little more presence...nice touch. Thanks.

Hans, the audio only version posted as June2020 Project is based on the lower vocal
You'll find it here:
https://www.pgmusic.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Main=84034&Number=601948#Post601948

Thanks Torrey,
Yes it's me singing in a register I've not used for 30+ years.
I'll attempt to get a more acceptable level if I can't replace it.

Chris,
Yes, thanks.
The vocal level is up for debate and tweaking.
I'm interested in your suggestion to narrow the guitar panning. I'd have thought a narrower image would crowd the vocal even more. I'm probably wrong in that though. I'll give it a try.
Vocal compression...each individual vocal track, (it'd double tracked for mains), has two compressors - one for evenness and colour the 2nd being a fader rider. There's another compressor on the Bvox bus as well as the main vocal bus and, finally, there's a compressor on the VOCAL bus. Where ought I add another? I'll happily do it if it helps. The cops used are the Focusrite Red3 for colour, ReaComp for fader riding and Density MkIII for pinning down very dynamic tracks - used in different configurations to achieve different aims.

Hello Alan,
Thanks for the kind words and positive world view.
Yes, vocals are an issue to be dealt with.
The bass part was fun.

Misha,
I love the idea of running contrary to expectations in a parallel experiment.
I'll give that a go.
The tweaks you mentioned, (in detail which REALLY helps), will get a run tomorrow.
PHANQUE

VT,
the vocals are the problem and the reason for posting, apart from feedback about adding the final chorus.
What was going on was me "singing" an octave higher than normal, blending a matched lower octave in and some bvox: not very successfully from my perspective.
Thanks for the positive regarding the backing.

Thanks Scott,
the tone is: humbucker into cocked wah setting on an ancient Ibanez EQ, High & Low from the same EQ, then Marshall Superbass (modded) at channel vol 8 and MV volume 2.

Thanks.
A lyric video is an option but I'm more inclined to reward curiosity.
The video, rather better than the viewer may imagine, tells the story of the narrative quite closely.
I'm pleased you hear the higher voice as effective 1m below the surface of this maelstrom. I HOPE to have a better vocal soon and one that will be better heard as a result.

Hello Leon,
I'm glad you're not unduly concerned about the vocal level. As to a lyric video...please see my response to Robert.

I can toy with the idea of hold and silences but, as the backing isn't BIAB other than drums, I'll have to do some careful editing etc. I will give it a whirl though. Could be excellent.
Thanks for taking the time and listening/considering options as well as the kind words.

Hi Ray,
Yes I listened to that song as well and I liked the vocals. so I would suggest you use those vocals ;-)

Hans

That would be my preference too Hans. It seems, however, that the low vocals bury any residue of melody in the verses.
I THINK I have a vocalist lined up to save the day. New mix in first post pending new vocal.

That is one good recording. I love all the real instruments. The drummer is good too. Cool video.

Liked it a lot, vox sound good enough to me that raising them a tad wouldn't be a bad reveal IMHO. Surprised not to see a lyric sheet, even if it is a repeat. Excellent work, mate!

Cool video. Cool song, Ray. All of the instruments seem very well mixed. You know me, I always suggest the bass should be louder, but everyone pretty much ignores me. I'd like the vocals a bit more up front, but then they sound cool behind the guitars --period-like.

I agree with Dave on all points!! Sounds really good....just a hair up on the vocal! Take care. Greg