Litany Denial

[rayc]

Hello Folks,
Resurrection shuffling again.
This was up recently as Ten Signs of Longing but a guest has redone the rhythm guitars giving the track a fresh, aggressive take so I've chosen another phrase from the lyric to, yet again as an interim measure, rename it.
Solo by James, bass by me, drums by BIAB and guest guitarist on rhythms.
A pretty simple structure, riff and a touch of wham bam.
Lyrics are written but no yodeling yet.
The only thing on the master stereo buss is a tiny bit of subtractive EQ where the guitars, bass & kick overlap.

litany denial10318.mp3

Thoughts on the mix, accepting that a voice will go up the middle at some stage, would be appreciated.
MIX TWO
Lowered the guitar group a little.

litany denial020318.mp3

Here's a slight remix:
I removed some of the processing, (EQ, BDI and double compression), I had on the bass - removed the TSE BOD thing and Blockfish.
I cloned the solo and fiddled with that a little then fed a little flavour of that into the mix and tweaked the balance between the two mics on the guitars. One mic was a fair bit brighter than the other so reduced that one a couple of dBs.

litany denial040318.mp3

I REALLY like the sound of Blockfish - it's one of those VSTs that unashamedly colours the signal BUT I've noticed it adds a few pops and things in some situations - particularly when there's bee volume automation before it. I have to learn more about the settings before I comfortably use it again.

[Bubba]

Hi, Ray. This mix hangs together well, but my feeling is that the bass is a tad low and the rhythm guitars - though they sound great - are a tad loud. Lead guitar has a good recorded tone and is a good level. Not bad so far.

[vomitHatSteve]

So if you keep re-posting it named after different lyrics, how long until we can piece together the entire vocal ourselves?

Nothing's really jumping out at me as something that won't work once vox are added. Maybe the hard-panned guitars are slightly close? But adding 'verb or panning them in or something to move them out would probably just muddy it up.

[Greg_L]

I think this is good. Guitars are a little out front, but not too bad to me. Drop them a little and it'd still be good and let the bass pop a little more.

[rayc]

Bubba, VHS & Greg,
Thanks.
a) Lower the guitars a bit and then see how the bass sits &
b) Get a vocalist.
a) is dead easy & b) will be a different matter - need a volunteer I suppose. That's a good strategy Steve. It worked in the past - Rob Green commented that the vocal had gone missing on an MP3 Clinic post of mine for Listen Like Brian - there hadn't been one - he'd heard it a few times and created one in his head as he listened. After sorting that brain trick out he offered to sing what was in his head - and did - ended up a terrific melody.

[JD01]

Ray, only just got around to listening to this. The guitars sound great on it.
There's a small timing error on one of the guitars at 33-34s. The verse guitars sound great, that's almost a Greg tone! Which I assume is what you were going for.

I think the solo could probably do with a bit more drive now that the rhythm guitars have been pepped up! I already owe you a solo though for another track though and I didn't manage to get it done before I went on holiday.

Who are you going to get to sing on this one?

[rayc]

I think the solo could probably do with a bit more drive now that the rhythm guitars have been pepped up! I already owe you a solo though for another track though and I didn't manage to get it done before I went on holiday.
Who are you going to get to sing on this one?

James,
it's not me playing the guitars - guest artist.
The solo works a treat - I'll try something ITB and see if that works for you.
Mate, I'd be in Portugal - surfing or not - before retracking a solo any day.
I hope it was a good visit.
Singing? Well, you know the same old story in castles made of sand.

[rayc]

I think this is good. Guitars are a little out front, but not too bad to me. Drop them a little and it'd still be good and let the bass pop a little more.

Here's a slight remix:
I removed some of the processing, (EQ, BDI and double compression), I had on the bass - removed the TSE BOD thing and Blockfish.
I cloned the solo and fiddled with that a little then fed a little flavour of that into the mix and tweaked the balance between the two mics on the guitars. One mic was a fair bit brighter than the other so reduced that one a couple of dBs.

[Greg_L]

Sounds good Ray. I think you need to just sit on it until you get some vocals. No sense in tweaking and tweaking only to have to undo all of it just to make vocals work.

[rayc]

Sounds good Ray. I think you need to just sit on it until you get some vocals. No sense in tweaking and tweaking only to have to undo all of it just to make vocals work.

"Sounds good..." is all I needed to allow me to do just that. Thanks Greg.