Construction Paper Heart Finished, Mixed & Mastered

[rayc]

Hello Folks,
I quite understand if you don't look at or listen to this one: it's gestation period was been about 10 weeks of micro development.
I, finally, bit the bullet: re did some of the vocals, tidied the mix and had it mastered by Fran Ashcroft of HappyBeat Studio in the UK.
Done & dusted.

MST construction paper Heart.mp3

[JD01]

Shit that's loud!

This sounds pretty good though, ray. Way more verb and swishyness than I'd ever use. But it all holds together pretty well.

How much tuning did you use on the vocal in the end? Or did you just practice it until you didn't need the tuning?

[rayc]

Shit that's loud!

This sounds pretty good though, ray. Way more verb and swishyness than I'd ever use. But it all holds together pretty well.

How much tuning did you use on the vocal in the end? Or did you just practice it until you didn't need the tuning?

Thanks James.
Almost all of it came from a reverb drenched FX machine - and it's way way more than I would use if there was a good singer - I needed the reverb wash of the backing to absorb the vocals.
I worked and worked at the vocals - I could sing up to the note & then warbled a bit trying to stay there. I came as close and solid as I could and then steadied the notes where necessary with ReaTune. I improved thanks to your insistance and erudition but I'm no singer,

[JD01]

I worked and worked at the vocals - I could sing up to the note & then warbled a bit trying to stay there. I came as close and solid as I could and then steadied the notes where necessary with ReaTune. I improved thanks to your insistance and erudition but I'm no singer,

Me neither! I just work and work at it using ReaTune on my guide track until I get something that I'm happy with that I don't need to tune. The process is getting easier and easier over time with practice!

[rayc]

Me neither! I just work and work at it using ReaTune on my guide track until I get something that I'm happy with that I don't need to tune. The process is getting easier and easier over time with practice!

I've definitely made progress and will continue to improve to make better guide vocal tracks but I'll also keep looking for singers,etc.
Thanks for your encouragement & strategies James - very helpful stuff.

[vomitHatSteve]

Nice! Congrats.

[rayc]

Shit that's loud!

Here's the .wav view in Waverepair. Certainly not smashed but it is loud.

.wav CPH.jpg

[rayc]

Nice! Congrats.

Thanks for the ongoing responses and commentary VHS. You helped quite a bit.

[rayc]

[BBvideo=560,315]https://youtu.be/uknUuwBOiFM[/BBvideo]

[musicturtle]

Nice job Ray. Not really my type of thing, but the mix I think is very good and the vocal fits the genre. The sounds really blend together well and wash over the ears.

Kudos!

[vomitHatSteve]

It's a little on-the-nose between the visuals and the lyrics.

During the second verse, when the imagery gets more abstract I think makes for a better video.

[Armistice]

Nice work ray!

[rayc]

Not really my type of thing...
Kudos!

Thanks Tony. It's not really my sort of thing either BUT it sounds pretty much like I heard it in my head, (though I heard a great singer and a stellar guitar solo). It's vaguely Magazine, (love them), and very 80s new FX world.
This is what inspired me...[BBvideo=560,315]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJDY0w-lR0c[/BBvideo]

[rayc]

It's a little on-the-nose...

Steve,
Thanks - the quoted part of your comment is a general insult in Australia but, I assume, that within the context of the thread et al you're referring to the overly literal illustration of the lyric by the vid.
I don't disagree.
It was a quickie and will have to suffice.

[rayc]

Nice work ray!

Thank you David.

[musicturtle]

Not really my type of thing...
Kudos!

Thanks Tony. It's not really my sort of thing either BUT it sounds pretty much like I heard it in my head, (though I heard a great singer and a stellar guitar solo). It's vaguely Magazine, (love them), and very 80s new FX world.
This is what inspired me...[BBvideo=560,315]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJDY0w-lR0c[/BBvideo]

I can see this, absolutely.

[WhiskeyJack]

I think it all turned out great Ray. giving it a listen now on the ear buds. It come out of the wash quite nicely. i think post mastering the effects sort of jump out at me more. But not in any kind of negative way. I think it just acts more of a player than the previous unmastered versions i have heard.

Furthering the rpoof that mastering does help a tune out.

The video is pretty bang up too. Is any of that footage of you you and original content to call your own or a patchwork of "stock" video ?

[rayc]

Is any of that footage of you you and original content to call your own or a patchwork of "stock" video ?

Shan,
the guitar & bass miming is me as is the face at the end the rest, apart from a few photographs, was nicked from utub & image searches.

[vomitHatSteve]

It's a little on-the-nose...

Steve,
Thanks - the quoted part of your comment is a general insult in Australia but, I assume, that within the context of the thread et al you're referring to the overly literal illustration of the lyric by the vid.
I don't disagree.
It was a quickie and will have to suffice.

Ha ha! Oh, sorry! Yeah, I meant in the form of "too precise and literal" not in the "foul smelling" sense.

[Minerman]

Cool stuff Ray, not really my cup of tea, but still good, you should be proud...

The only nit I have is the ambient sounds are a bit loud & the guitar solo @ 3:00 or so should be a bit louder...

Nothing wrong with your vocals at all Ray, so get that idea out of your head dude...

Loud is good as long as it ain't squashed to death & this ain't...


Good job Ray...