Summer In The City (cover)

[Alison]

I recorded this exactly the way I play it live. I use a Boss Rc300 loop pedal playing live so, I have drums as well. What I wanted to do with the recording is make a YouTube video with it but, I think the recording is lacking something. . . maybe double the cello lines, add more effects? Hmm. . . anyway, here it is, my arrangement.
Summer In The City

I'm not sure I've added the song right either, it never looks the same as how you all do it. . . sigh!

[rayc]

COOL cover.
The left cello seems a little too grainy in the intro.
Vocal needs to be a little louder.
The non bass cellos do seem to have a high pass on them or something as they lack some body.
Are they bug pick up tracks of mic'd recordings?
The tone sounds like it's perfect for a fuller arrangement where the cellos need to cut through but is this open mix they could stand being fuller.
Nevertheless...loved it.

[Alison]

[mention]rayc[/mention] , this is the first time I have used my electric cello solely in a recording (normally use my acoustic) so, I may have missed some eq finessing somewhere. I've been thinking of doubling the cello tracks with some effects? Not quite surewhat to do. I'm glad you liked the arrangement, thank you!

[Armistice]

I recorded this exactly the way I play it live. I use a Boss Rc300 loop pedal playing live so, I have drums as well. What I wanted to do with the recording is make a YouTube video with it but, I think the recording is lacking something. . . maybe double the cello lines, add more effects? Hmm. . . anyway, here it is, my arrangement.
Summer In The City

I'm not sure I've added the song right either, it never looks the same as how you all do it. . . sigh!

Very interesting arrangement! Upright bass perhaps? I'm only listening on a laptop so what's going on down below isn't particularly clear to me. Nice work.

I used to use an RC-50 live with The Jongleurs to create crazy layered soundscapes. Great fun, especially when setting up the loop at the start when you appear to be making more or less random noises and melodies and chord changes which all come together at different parts of the song. Never worked so hard in my life!

[Lt. Bob]

always enjoy your recordings.

You do seem to have a tendency to mix the vocals a bit too soft

[rayc]

@rayc , this is the first time I have used my electric cello solely in a recording (normally use my acoustic) so, I may have missed some eq finessing somewhere. I've been thinking of doubling the cello tracks with some effects? Not quite sure what to do. I'm glad you liked the arrangement, thank you!

You may be able to tweak the tracks in your DAW...a little bit of chorus effect perhaps.
Doubling would be fine...lots of extra work though. You could duplicate the tracks and apply the effects 100% wet to the duplicates and blend them with the original.
The tracks sound good but there's a lot of space between the cello/bass part and the lower freqs of the L & R parts.
I have a user preset on an old Yamaha FX500 that works nicely as a space filler with my cello in the past. It's a mix of delay & reverb but that machine is not around these days.
Experiment in the box by boosting the freqs you don't hear but want to hear...you'll find a freq and a level quickly enough.

[Alison]

[mention]Armistice[/mention] Thank you! I am glad you think it's an upright bass! It's actually my electric cello. There is a 5th string on it that comes in handy for making good, deep basslines! Had to really work on the eq though. I love doing loop arrangements! It's become a passion.

[mention]Lt. Bob[/mention] Thanks, I'm glad you like it! Don't know why I mix the vocals low. . . maybe it's because I don't like the sound of my own voice. Ha, ha! Age old problem!

[mention]rayc[/mention] I thought of doubling the parts but, yeah, LOTS of extra work! Thanks for the tips though, I may give that a whirl and see what happens! The space is definitely what I'm not really happy with. . . sounds good in a live performance but not necessarily in the recording!
Thanks everyone, I appreciate the input!

[JD01]

Hey Alison,

I like this. You've got more balance than normal - you've got different parts on either side. So the mix is nice and even, leaving space for your voice in the middle.
One quick thing, I think you should re-track as its obvious. The first line of the descending bassline, I think its the 3rd note lacks a bit of conviction and its really obvious 'cos its just the bass and the hi hat playing at the time.
Have you got a kick drum on there? I can't hear one?
End is possibly a bit too abrupt!

[vomitHatSteve]

+1 on bumping up the vocals a little.

On headphones, the hard-panned cellos sound a little close. Some reverb would help place them in the same room as everything else.

Nice work!

[Armistice]

@Armistice Thank you! I am glad you think it's an upright bass! It's actually my electric cello. There is a 5th string on it that comes in handy for making good, deep basslines! Had to really work on the eq though. I love doing loop arrangements! It's become a passion.

@Lt. Bob Thanks, I'm glad you like it! Don't know why I mix the vocals low. . . maybe it's because I don't like the sound of my own voice. Ha, ha! Age old problem!

@rayc I thought of doubling the parts but, yeah, LOTS of extra work! Thanks for the tips though, I may give that a whirl and see what happens! The space is definitely what I'm not really happy with. . . sounds good in a live performance but not necessarily in the recording!
Thanks everyone, I appreciate the input!

Alison, I was answering your question 'What's missing?' - IMO an upright bass... Played with the fingers, not a bow. Would fit in really well...

[Alison]

[mention]JD01[/mention] Yeah, I think I was too concerned about a rattle. Problem with that low F string, I can't pluck it like I do the others! I've been contemplating ending it the I started it. The end as it is now is the way I end it live (I get tired of constantly fading. . .) It's tough to bring out different parts of the drums when I'm using loops. You think I should add a kick?

[mention]vomitHatSteve[/mention] thank you. I was aiming for a blend (closer together) since there are only two lines. I do have reverb on them but, maybe not enough? I'm thinking of duplicating (or possibly re recording) the two lines, add some effects and send them to the back to fill everything out. And, yeah, I need to bump the vocals! Got some work to do this weekend!

[mention]Armistice[/mention] . . .oops! Sorry! I have to work with what I have. Sure wish I had an upright! My low fifth string works okay but doesn't have the fullness of an upright bass. I am plucking though. . .

Thanks you all, I really appreciate the input! I'll work on it more this weekend and hopefully post an update on Monday!

[CrowsofFritz]

I agree the vocals should be bumped. It sounds good, though!

[musicturtle]

[mention]Alison[/mention]

I agree with above that the panned cellos are a little close. Maybe some reverb added and drop the level a bit.

I don't really think the vocals are too low level wise, but I would cut the reverb some to bring them a little closer. Maybe some compression on the vocal as well would help to even things out.

Really cool arrangement. Played and sung very well.

[Alison]

Here is a new mix of this. I recorded the cello lines again and added some effects to, hopefully, make the sound much fuller. Got the bass note in the beginning fixed (I think!). Tried to work on a new ending but nothing really worked well for me so I left it.

https://soundcloud.com/alison-reynolds/ ... the-city-3

Anyway, I think it is fuller. Thanks for all your help!

[vomitHatSteve]

This seems to be meshing better than the last mix. Vox still aren't in quite the same place as the rest of the instruments, but the cellos are meshing better.

[Alison]

[mention]vomitHatSteve[/mention] thank you! I'm not quite sure what to do with the vocals, maybe double track them and add effects to one and send it to the back (kind of what I did with the cello lines). . . thinking on it!

[mention]musicturtle[/mention] thanks! I normally do add compression to my vocals, for some reason, I didn't this time. Might give that a try too!

[mention]CrowsofFritz[/mention] well, I bumped them but, they're still not quite there. . . gotta work on that! Thanks for listening!

[JD01]

Listening to that 2nd version now - you left that awkward note in the intro! You should just play the bassline again - you'll probably do it in a single take.
I don't think you need to double track it, I think that would detract from it - its a good single performance.
Just compress it a little and bring it up a bit - its still a bit quiet.
That kick is still really, really quiet!

[vomitHatSteve]

I think the vocals are a fair amount darker than everything else. You might be able to address that with EQ. Cut the low end; boost the highs.