Tom Petty Cover

[musicturtle]

Just for fun, and getting accustomed to my new recording set up and guitar, I put this together over the last few days, not quite a afternooner from Greg but a quickie none the less

Give a listen if you will...appreciate any feedback.

[JD01]

This is really good Tony. Tidy guitar sounds all the way though, you've made a good job of the vocal and the mix is generally good.
Not sure about the drum sound at the start - sounds really programmed... Not sure what you can do about that other than try and artificially get a bit more feel about it and maybe get a better sound on the snare. Sounds alright when the rest of the instruments come in.

Your vocal performance is excellent, you can clearly sing well, but I think its a little piercing on the higher notes "Break..." listening to it through again, it might just be that the vocal is a little bit loud.

This is raelly good though, mate. Wish I could do this well.

[Armistice]

You've got the feel right in the drums there turtle, but I think as JD has said, the sounds themselves need a bit of work - what's the source?

I know this song very well. Bought the album on import when it came out as that was the only way I was ever going to get it in Australia - and was mightily pissed off to see what a cheapskate Mr Petty was, seeing it was under 30 minutes long... considering how much an import LP cost at the time! Petty of me, I know. *

Now - because I know the song well, I'm going to tell you you've got a wrong note at 0:22 - last one before you repeat the phrase. And from about 1:40, when you start guitaring again, you're just ever so slightly flat - or one of your doubles is - the one that keeps playing in between phrase. Actually I can hear it at the start but not as badly.

Nice voice - really suits the tune. More backing vocal volume in the chorus - it's quite prominent in the original and could stand to come up a fair bit.

Now if you're just having a muck around to get used to your gear, I wouldn't worry too much about what I've said and move on. But if you want a keeper, perhaps retrack one of those guitars eh?

Good stuff though! Impressed.




*Here all week.

[JD01]

Now - because I know the song well, I'm going to tell you you've got a wrong note at 0:22 - last one before you repeat the phrase. And from about 1:40, when you start guitaring again, you're just ever so slightly flat - or one of your doubles is - the one that keeps playing in between phrase.

Ah... I'll just add that I've never heard the original! I only known two Tom Petty songs, neither of which are this one.

[rayc]

I don't know the song - but I'm not a petty fan.
The reverb on the drums seems to have moved it into the corridor so to speak.
Otherwise it sounds fine to me.

[vomitHatSteve]

The reverb on the drums seems to have moved it into the corridor so to speak.

+1 on that. The drums definitely aren't in the space as everything else.

Everything else seems pretty in sync tho.

I think you're singing it a little cleaner than Petty ever did. His voice kind of cracks on the "break"s, doesn't it?

[musicturtle]

This is really good Tony. Tidy guitar sounds all the way though, you've made a good job of the vocal and the mix is generally good.
Not sure about the drum sound at the start - sounds really programmed... Not sure what you can do about that other than try and artificially get a bit more feel about it and maybe get a better sound on the snare. Sounds alright when the rest of the instruments come in.

Your vocal performance is excellent, you can clearly sing well, but I think its a little piercing on the higher notes "Break..." listening to it through again, it might just be that the vocal is a little bit loud.

This is raelly good though, mate. Wish I could do this well.

Thanks James. Yeah, I am struggling with the drum sound, it maybe the delay I have on it that needs adjusting as well. As far as the "break" sound I hear what you are saying, I will try pulling it down or compressing/eq'ing it a bit.

[Lt. Bob]

sounds good ..... I would avoid trying to get it note perfect ..... to me that's a waste of time.
Do it however it feels right to you.
I do this song almost every night ...... I play the lines and parts differently every night.

I don't like the snare sound would be my biggest thing

[musicturtle]

You've got the feel right in the drums there turtle, but I think as JD has said, the sounds themselves need a bit of work - what's the source?

I know this song very well. Bought the album on import when it came out as that was the only way I was ever going to get it in Australia - and was mightily pissed off to see what a cheapskate Mr Petty was, seeing it was under 30 minutes long... considering how much an import LP cost at the time! Petty of me, I know. *

Now - because I know the song well, I'm going to tell you you've got a wrong note at 0:22 - last one before you repeat the phrase. And from about 1:40, when you start guitaring again, you're just ever so slightly flat - or one of your doubles is - the one that keeps playing in between phrase. Actually I can hear it at the start but not as badly.

Nice voice - really suits the tune. More backing vocal volume in the chorus - it's quite prominent in the original and could stand to come up a fair bit.

Now if you're just having a muck around to get used to your gear, I wouldn't worry too much about what I've said and move on. But if you want a keeper, perhaps retrack one of those guitars eh?

Good stuff though! Impressed.




*Here all week.

Thanks for the detailed response Armi.

I will listen to the guitars and see I want to change any of it.

As far as the drums go I am using Addictive Drums and a delay on the snare, I think that might be adding to the artificial sound of it all.

I am just mucking a bit but still would like a nice bow on it, so thanks.

[musicturtle]

The reverb on the drums seems to have moved it into the corridor so to speak.

+1 on that. The drums definitely aren't in the space as everything else.

Everything else seems pretty in sync tho.

I think you're singing it a little cleaner than Petty ever did. His voice kind of cracks on the "break"s, doesn't it?

Thanks,

Yeah I tried to gravel it up some but it just sounded too forced, so I just sang it in my voice. I used to get caught up in trying to much to sound like a singer when doing a cover, now I just try to put my own spin on it kind of.

[musicturtle]

I don't know the song - but I'm not a petty fan.
The reverb on the drums seems to have moved it into the corridor so to speak.
Otherwise it sounds fine to me.

sounds good ..... I would avoid trying to get it note perfect ..... to me that's a waste of time.
Do it however it feels right to you.
I do this song almost every night ...... I play the lines and parts differently every night.

I don't like the snare sound would be my biggest thing

Thanks for listening, seems the consensus is that the drum sounds need some work.

[WhiskeyJack]

Hey MT. I am only on earbuds at work here and i don't have anything to say that hasn't been said already about the drums. The actual sound of the kit could work well it just needs some work in the mix to get it sitting with the rest of the players a little nicer.

Coming from someone like myself who can't sing worth a shit i feel you absolutely crushed the back ups, harmonies and vocal performance overall. The backups sound to me as they are all piled up on top of each other left of center? (could be my ear buds though) It could round it out to consider spreading them out a bit. Unless that is where they sit in the original and the mix is an homage to the original then that is fair? Your main vox track is pristine. maybe a little bright but i don't see it hurting it too badly. it may be less bright if you get those drums redone and filling up some more of the lower end of the song. Could very well balance it out.

3rd listen
1:45 there is a hard stop followed with a click after the little guitar bit. Sounds just like a rough punch point that could be easily smoothed/edited out.

[musicturtle]

Hey MT. I am only on earbuds at work here and i don't have anything to say that hasn't been said already about the drums. The actual sound of the kit could work well it just needs some work in the mix to get it sitting with the rest of the players a little nicer.

Coming from someone like myself who can't sing worth a shit i feel you absolutely crushed the back ups, harmonies and vocal performance overall. The backups sound to me as they are all piled up on top of each other left of center? (could be my ear buds though) It could round it out to consider spreading them out a bit. Unless that is where they sit in the original and the mix is an homage to the original then that is fair? Your main vox track is pristine. maybe a little bright but i don't see it hurting it too badly. it may be less bright if you get those drums redone and filling up some more of the lower end of the song. Could very well balance it out.

3rd listen
1:45 there is a hard stop followed with a click after the little guitar bit. Sounds just like a rough punch point that could be easily smoothed/edited out.

What clicking sound, wtf, I don't hear any clicking sound!!!!!

[musicturtle]

Just kidding WJ.....thanks for the input. I heard that after I posted as well. Going to work on my drum sound now.

[einstein magoo]

Sounds great MT. I realy like the piano and the tones thereof

[musicturtle]

Sounds great MT. I realy like the piano and the tones thereof

Thanks EM. I used a plug in called Lounge Lizard for the electric piano sounds.

[Armistice]

What clicking sound, wtf, I don't hear any clicking sound!!!!!

It's there throughout the whole song in the right ear! WTF do you mean you can't hear it....

But seriously... I gave up on Addictive and switched to Slate which I find easier to work with, and more to the point, better sounding.

[musicturtle]

What clicking sound, wtf, I don't hear any clicking sound!!!!!

It's there throughout the whole song in the right ear! WTF do you mean you can't hear it....

But seriously... I gave up on Addictive and switched to Slate which I find easier to work with, and more to the point, better sounding.

Yeah Focusrite had a free download for AD and one kit. I also have Groove Agent with Cubase but is it a bit harder to use. Anyway, I touched up the drums and vocals a bit. I think it's a bit better.

[WhiskeyJack]

What clicking sound, wtf, I don't hear any clicking sound!!!!!

It's there throughout the whole song in the right ear! WTF do you mean you can't hear it....

[musicturtle]

It's there throughout the whole song in the right ear! WTF do you mean you can't hear it....

Seriously though...I went back into Cubse and the artifact wasnt there. So I did another mixdown and there it was. I went back into Cubase and I heard it, but only on the first playback, then it went away. I figured it was part of the clip, even though it wasnt a punch in, just a recording on a new track. So I re-tracked the part and the click still happens at the beginning of that wave clip. But only on mixdown.

A little frustrating to say the least.