No Reply

[JD01]

Alright dudes,

Got this "finished" on the weekend. I'm working on two songs at the moment and this is by far the simplest. Typical intro>VCVCBSCC>end song.
I got the idea of it by strumming a few chords and I ended up humming a melody so I wanted to turn it into a song.

I think its turned out way too poppy and basically a bit shit though.
Its short though and, aside from the vocal, I think the mix is pretty tidy.

Test Mix.mp3

[rayc]

Your vocals are much more assured than a year ago.
Cool bass fills & runs.
Too much click in the kick is my only nit.

[vomitHatSteve]

Too much click in the kick is my only nit.

That was my big first take too.

Vox might be burying the guits a bit too. Bumping the guitars up might make it feel less poppy.

[Bubba]

Not bad for a quick idea mate. I think it's lacking one of your classic hooks, though.

I'll keep an eye on any developments.

[WhiskeyJack]

Jd havimg listen on my phone and the song itself doesnt smack of your usual style but i do actually quite like the feel of the song. It is really in line with stuff i listen to regularly.

For what it is worth just on my phone i think you could safely bring the guits up a bit and maybe even dial back the drum group entirely a little. I know its just a phone and it really doesnt mean a heap but they are really dominating the song on this end. Food for thought.

[JD01]

Not bad for a quick idea mate. I think it's lacking one of your classic hooks, though.

I'll keep an eye on any developments.

Cheers, don't think I'm gonna develop this one anymore.

But if anyone has any ideas I can take forward to other mixes that would be much appreciated.

[musicturtle]

First listen, is definitely a bit different than other song I have heard from you. Which I don't think is a bad thing, diversity is good. The drums do sound a little "clicky" to me as well.

Second listen, now it sounds more like you to me. Guitars could come up. Really like your BG vox here. You are getting better with this.

[JD01]

Cheers MT - that's a few hits on the clicky kick, I'll have a look into that, its something I've had a problem with before.

[Armistice]

I'm not loving the double tracked vocals in this one - I don't think they're as tight as they could be. Are you doing this by comping takes and searching for the best fit?

I used to do that but these days I get the lead vocal right, and then I retrack the double against it so I can better match the phrasing and sibilants and plosives. I'd also tend to push the second back down a bit more in volume - but that's a taste thing I guess.

Otherwise, apart from the clicky kick, sounds pretty good.

[SweetDan]

The solo guitar sounds great. Seconding the suggestions by others to bring up the rhythm guitars, and drop the drum bus a tiny bit. The balance between the solo guitar and the drums is just about right, but the balance of the rhythm guitars to the drums leaves the rhythm guitars lacking.

The vocals sound a bit woolly to me; I'm not sure if the cause is mis-application of EQ, or compressor (or both?), but I'd certainly take a look at that if you intend to develop this mix further. Also, breath noise right before the singing in several of the phrases is pretty pronounced.

The vocal entrance surprised me (in the sense that the composition/arrangement of the intro didn't lead my ear where you ended up going).

[JD01]

I'm not loving the double tracked vocals in this one - I don't think they're as tight as they could be. Are you doing this by comping takes and searching for the best fit?

I used to do that but these days I get the lead vocal right, and then I retrack the double against it so I can better match the phrasing and sibilants and plosives. I'd also tend to push the second back down a bit more in volume - but that's a taste thing I guess.

Otherwise, apart from the clicky kick, sounds pretty good.

Yeah, you're right that they're not tight. Symptom of writing the lyrics and developing the vocal melody on the spot. There's no comping in any of the vocal takes.

I should re-do the poor timing I suppose, 'cos that's just crap.

[JD01]

The solo guitar sounds great. Seconding the suggestions by others to bring up the rhythm guitars, and drop the drum bus a tiny bit. The balance between the solo guitar and the drums is just about right, but the balance of the rhythm guitars to the drums leaves the rhythm guitars lacking.

The vocals sound a bit woolly to me; I'm not sure if the cause is mis-application of EQ, or compressor (or both?), but I'd certainly take a look at that if you intend to develop this mix further. Also, breath noise right before the singing in several of the phrases is pretty pronounced.

The vocal entrance surprised me (in the sense that the composition/arrangement of the intro didn't lead my ear where you ended up going).

Cheers, mate.
The breath noises before lines I don't mind. I think the wooleyness you're hearing is slightly poor timing on my double tracking - I will go back and improve this even though I don't want to waste too much more time on this tune.

So, tighter vocal double tracking.
Slightly louder rhythm guitars.
De-click the kick.

i actually quite like the guitar solo on this one too, its just a bunch of blues/country licks really but it turned out pretty well, I like the tone and its probably my favourite part of the song.