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Post by mcarp555 on Sept 30, 2005 10:40:32 GMT
A song about the sea, recorded on the 788. Here's some details about the process: Recorded off and on over the month of September (about three weeks). It's 16 total tracks broken down thusly. . . Drums left & right (PS5, transferred to the 788) Bass (acoustic, PS5) Jazz guitar (PS5) Nylon guitar (PS5) Acoustic guitar 1 (me) Acoustic guitar 2 (me) Acoustic guitar 3 (me) Mandolin 1 (me) Mandolin 2 (me) Keyboard strings (me) Copy-delayed keyboard strings (me) Keyboard pan flute (me) Vocal 1 (me) Vocal 2 (me) Vocal 3 (me) A rhythm submix was made of drums, bass, guitars. A second submix was made of the mandolin & strings, with a third submix of the three vocals. The final mix order was: Track 1 - pan flute Track 2 - empty Track 3 - Vocal submix left Track 4 - Vocal submix right Track 5 - Mando/string submix left Track 6 - Mando/string submix right Track 7 - Rhythm submix left Track 8 - Rhythm submix right Bass and vocal tracks were compressed during recording, then during submix bouncing, then the whole mix was compressed again. The vocals also had chorus applied, and reverb on most tracks. The final mix was redone about seven or eight times. Edit: oops, better add the link: Soundclick
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sgulley
Superstar
If you really like music and recording it then never stop trying to get better at it.
Posts: 2,994
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Post by sgulley on Oct 3, 2005 2:59:26 GMT
This song has a really nice up-tempo to it. I think it was still singing in my head for about a minute after I listened to it. Very catchy tune indeed which I can get into, (of course I am 1/8 Irish... It has a lot of folk-style instruments which blended together really well, with well thought out lyrics that has a nice story line. Hope "Long John Silver" doesn't hear this or they might try talking you into selling out your music to commercialism.... I think Dylan was accused of that once which was bad in the 60's, but today.... Thanks for sharing your music, Stan
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Post by mcarp555 on Oct 5, 2005 8:40:46 GMT
Only a minute, Stan? Thanks, two of my goals with this song was a) to make it catchy, and b) to make it sound folky. When the wife read the lyrics, she said it was quite unlike my usual stuff. It was mainly a case of figuring out what the verses should be, since the chorus was spontaneously delivered. Anybody else listen to it?
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Post by Rob on Oct 5, 2005 12:52:11 GMT
downloaded...
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holzra
Superstar
is that any way to treat an expensive musical instrument?!?!?!?!?
Posts: 879
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Post by holzra on Oct 6, 2005 6:15:23 GMT
well, i listened . . . . and i liked a lot . . . . was tapping my feet the whole time, and i had it stuck in my head for a lot more than 1 minute great feel mike, and yeah, somewhere down the line everyone has a sea shanty song . . . . but not many have one as good as this one
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Post by Rob on Oct 6, 2005 19:41:58 GMT
Sounds like a Havin' Fun tune. Lyrically. Good vocal Mike, though the last note at the end of some lines of the verses is a tadd off...which seems fixable to me since the rest of it sounds so good. I wonder what it would sound like if you redid the vocal again, after a few beers and maybe some period of time later i'd like to hear you redo it....the rest of the music is fantastic as usual...but particularly interesting to me cos i been listening to some peruvian folk music and this sounds like its been lifted...not just the tune and instruments but also the way you have managed to get the pumping feeling...you knwo what i mean..?...anyhow....this is a great improvement over other stuff ive heard you do....not my style of music i generally listen too...but you succeded in achieving your goals.
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Post by mcarp555 on Oct 6, 2005 23:18:09 GMT
Roger: Thanks. It's a funny little tune, but I finally heard it last night (not in "record mode" if you know what I mean), and it struck me as not bad.
Rob: There are a few duff notes, as usual. The last few songs have been somewhat experimental in terms of vocals. I've found that the key I write the song in isn't always the best one to sing it in. Most of the time I don't find this out until I've recorded most of the backing. This one I did change (up three half-steps) before laying down any keeper tracks, but ended up having to half-whisper it in the same way I did while writing it. I did the main vocal very quickly after that, and felt that belabouring the point probably wouldn't improve it much. I did chart out the melody to the chorus (after singing it, of course) and then worked out a harmony part, which I worked on quite a bit (with a piano playing the proper notes loudly in one ear).
The pumping feeling is probably the simplicity of the drum & bass part, accented by a simple chord/bass note acoustic guitar buried in the center of the mix. And lots of compression.
I didn't set out to write a song like this, but when the chorus fell into my lap, I had to work backwards from there to try and figure out what it could be about. Most of the time I haven't a clue how the song will end up once I start it. I like it, but it's not the deepest song I've ever come up with, for sure.
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Post by nikonbob55 on Oct 7, 2005 20:27:15 GMT
Finally had a minute to listen (albeit while working on the laptop)....perhaps not the deepest piece Mike, but my feet were tapping happily along, nearly enough to shake up all the little boxes in Excel! ;D
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Post by mcarp555 on Oct 7, 2005 22:23:59 GMT
Thanks Bob! The previous couple of songs have been very deep, so it's nice to cheer one's self up with a bit of a singalong. I'm hoping that when some of you with 2488's come up with some new tunes, you'll take some time to detail the writing/recording process like I've done with Ollie. I for one, always enjoy reading about what other people are doing (and stealing any good ideas).
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Post by nikonbob55 on Oct 9, 2005 12:37:09 GMT
Hi Mike,
Well, I've got two in process right now - when I get them completed and posted, I'll detail the process. Feel free to adopt any of the ideas or techniques that I'm using!
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Post by nikonbob55 on Oct 9, 2005 16:48:40 GMT
OK, let's try an experiment - I've posted a song up on Sound Click that isn't complete yet. It's a way to track the progress and what goes on "under the hood" as it goes along. Here's the link : www.soundclick.com/bands/pagemusic.cfm?bandID=138556The song is tentatively called "Autumn Light", and here's the rundown so far: Track 1 - Rhythm #1 (Strat, dry - right into console) Track 2 - Track one through chorus, delay, and BBE Track 3 - Rhythm #2 (Strat dry - right into console) Track 4 - Track three through flanger, delay, and BBE Track 5 - Jazz Bass through Direct Box - no FX Track 6 - Track five through Bass EQ and BBE Track 7 - Lead #1 - Strat through Marshall - lots of overdrive, delay added in amp Track 8 - Lead #2 - Strat through Marshall - lots of overdrive, delay added in amp Track 23/24 - 2488 TG Drum Pattern, bounced from the tone generator Track 21/22 - Ran tracks 23/24 through "Live Studio" ambience setting, and the BBE The effected tracks are generally panned farther to the extremes than the dry are, and generally set at about 60-75% of the level of the dry tracks, so as to enhance the dry tracks. I haven't added anything else, other than the effects mentioned here, all of which are done with the Behringer Virtualizer Pro and the BBE Sonic Maximizer in the rack. I did the rhythm sections first, then added one of the leads. Wasn't sure if I liked it or not, so I added the second one. In some places, they work well together, not quite as well in others. I'm not yet sure if this is going to have a lyric, or if I'll continue to develop it as an instrumental piece. Either way, I'll probably noodle with the keys a bit and try to develop a keyboard part to add next. Stan, this is what I meant about using the tracks in the 2488 as "Elbow Room" - Once you start dedicating tracks to dry and effected signals, it's nice to keep them isolated so that you can fine tune them in the final mix. I use all 24 tracks quite often, as a result. OK Mike - here's my first contribution to the "behind the scenes" view that you began. I think it's a great idea, and I'll follow up as I work through and finish this song. Questions, suggestions, and critiques are welcome, as always - for those who suggest I hire the right guitarist for this tune, I did try, but Mr. Clapton has previous obligations at the end of this month in my home town. Bob
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Post by mcarp555 on Oct 9, 2005 18:30:19 GMT
Bob-
Nice! I really like the feel of this - very 70's, but that's our milieu, isn't it? I'm interested in the obvious way you approach your songs, which is different from the way I do it. I see you focus more on a melodic idea, whereas I tend to work on chord progressions. Playing-wise, there are a few little hiccups here and there, but nothing that can't be fixed, I don't think. What are your pans set at? It seemed (w/headphones) that most of the sound was contained close to the center. It may sound odd, but the impression I got was most of it was in a small ball inside my head. I'm looking forward to hearing more from this.
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Post by nikonbob55 on Oct 9, 2005 19:53:43 GMT
Thanks Mike, The pans (from memory - 2488 is off) are as follows: Dry guitars at about L35/R35 Effected guitars wider - about L50/R50 Bass tracks centered Lead tracks at about L20/R20 Both dry and ambient drums at L63/R63 (max) Where did this start - I put on some new Elixer strings on the Ovation to try out (very nice sound and feel, by the way), and as I was getting them tuned up, I was fingerpicking an A minor. While doing that, I simply slid my finers up one step, still using the open A and high E strings - that sound forms the entire structure for the verse parts. I decided to walk up from A to D on the bass, and then on the leads as well, because the harmony worked well against the chords. Then I had to devise a chorus that would work with that, so out came the D minor - G - C major 7 - E minor 7 part. The working title Autumn Light? Well, normally this weekend would be near peak for fall foliage in New England, and I'd be roaming the countryside, Nikon in hand. However, the weather patterns over the summer have both delayed and probably minimized the changing colors, and it has been a raw, cold, and rainy weekend here, sooooo.....the idea from the other night and the 2488 made the clouds go away! Update - I burned a CD to bring to work today, and came to the conclusion that yes, there will have to be a lyric for this one. There are some parts where the two leads work well together, but overall it turns into bedlam and chaos (now it's not often I get to use those two words together! ). I've updated the Soundclick track to version 1.5 (now I feel like Matt), which removes the leads and leaves just the rhythm section. Much easier to get a feel for the structure this way, I think. In any case, I need to send an invite to the old muse to drop by and leave me a story or two to work with.
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sgulley
Superstar
If you really like music and recording it then never stop trying to get better at it.
Posts: 2,994
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Post by sgulley on Oct 17, 2005 23:27:24 GMT
I found it! So this is where everyones hanging out. Actually 1 minute was suppose to be a complement considering that it is the threshold limit of my maximum concentration level (no comments please, Matt) Traversing through this post I've realized that this home recording stuff is "Serious Beans!" It is time to get out my Excel spreadsheet and calculator. I am very impressed with the amount of effort and detail that comes in play (high-quality H-2-O) I've related recording a complete song to Golf. All phases must be done correctly to come out... Lyrics aren't so good, but instrumentation sounds OK. Vocals too in front, or vocals too far back. Dry & wets signals, individual EQ, to compress or not to compress. Actually I change my mind now, in golf it is only driving, fareway, and putting to put together all on the same day. Learning, still learning...
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Post by nikonbob55 on Oct 21, 2005 9:58:12 GMT
Hmmmm.....I'd love to see the formula in the cell on that sheet! It would have to account for all the potential variables in the recording process for each track, each instrument.....wow! It is a LOT of learning, that's for sure, but it's fun to try different things and see how they work. I try and keep notes in a notebook (just as I did when I started with my PS5), along with prints I've made from various sources on EQ, compression techniques, etc. Finally, I let the song dictate which path to take as far as how it's tracked, mixed, effects (or not) - I try to insure that what and how I am doing compliment the piece, and not take away from what it's intended to be. Learning all the time..........
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