Say It Ain't So - Weezer cover

[paulman]

Due to moving, a new job, and how slow I am at settling into a new place, I haven't started any new recording projects in a few months. So to get back into the swing of things, I wanted to do a cover of a simple hard rock song. Something I had no excuse not to be able to throw together quickly. I haven't done a whole lot to this, compared to everything else I've recorded. I like the simplicity of it, but after all this work over the last couple of days my ears are shot. There are some things I think may be too loud, and I'm not super pumped about the feedback (it's hard to get good feedback with amp emulations - I had to beat the shit out of my guitar with an Ebow to get it at all), but I'm going to wait until my ears rest before making any changes.

[rayc]

Paulman,
the file doesn't play for me: there was an error message then an offer to download then a message that it hasn't been virus scanned then the download begins for a 64meg file.
I did all of that & am playing it now.
The ride cymbal might be a bit loud in my headphones during the loud section.
The feedback doesn't have much life to it but works within the circumstances.
Well done, welcome back to recording. I'll have to listen to my Weezer albums again now.

[Greg_L]

Ha not too bad. A good performance on vocals. Sounds almost like Rivers himself. The guitar parts are played pretty authentically.

The mix is pretty rough to me. It's very pumpy, compressed, the loud parts are not loud and the quiet parts are too loud. No dynamics. The buzzing noise from the guitar is too much. The drums are bit crazy. I think you should visit the "fake drums thread" and work on your programming/mixing. It's a good effort on a good song, it just needs a lot more mixing.

[paulman]

Sorry guys, I'm trying to find a better way of posting files. Google Drive has gone all screwy on me.

[JD01]

Weird - doesn't work for me either mate. I link from google drive all the time too and no one seems to have a problem.

Did you right click on the file, share, get sharable link, copy link?

[liv_rong]

Not bad, good vocal performance! Definitely sounds like sims, but doesnt sound bad. I agree about the dynamics. I love that album.

[paulman]

Yeah, I did all that, same as always. The only thing I did differently was post a wav instead of my usual m4a, but it doesn't matter which format I use. I even have a slight issue playing it from the link that I've never had before, which is that it needs to use an external player. Really strange, but I haven't had much time to figure out what's going on in the last few days.

[rayc]

Paulman, will there be an update?

[paulman]

Paulman, will there be an update?

Yes, there will. I've been busy working on things for other people, so I haven't gotten back to this mix yet. I might do some work on it tomorrow. Thanks for asking!

[WhiskeyJack]

Paulman, will there be an update?

Yes, there will. I've been busy working on things for other people, so I haven't gotten back to this mix yet. I might do some work on it tomorrow. Thanks for asking!

I'm stoked to hear this. But i SUPPOSE i can wait till you get to it.

[Bubba]

Paul, I think the problem with this might be that it's a 62 mB file! Can you upload a smaller version?

[paulman]

Paul, I think the problem with this might be that it's a 62 mB file! Can you upload a smaller version?

Well, the reason I uploaded a wav is because someone (I forget who at the moment) had problems with the m4a format I usually use. I might just say fuck it and start using SoundCloud.

[paulman]

Yes, there will. I've been busy working on things for other people, so I haven't gotten back to this mix yet. I might do some work on it tomorrow. Thanks for asking!

I'm stoked to hear this. But i SUPPOSE i can wait till you get to it.

I've reworked the mix (not drastically, as I intended it to be fairly dry and basic to begin with), so now the only thing I'm waiting on is to get my old Marshall stack from my parents' house this weekend so I can redo the feedback. So I think I'll have it ready to post early next week, and I'm also working on another recording. I planned on having that done by Monday, but that depends on this cold I have going away.

[rayc]

I enjoyed reading that you had to collect a Marshall stack to redo something. Sounds so much better than getting a pedal or buying a VST. From a lug in position I have to give you extra rocker points

[Greg_L]

A Marshall stack is never a bad thing.

[Bubba]

I finally got round to downloading this and listening.

First off, great singing.

I think the production, in terms of how you populate the soundscape, and the panning of stuff could be improved for better impact; for instance, when the chunky rhythm guitar comes in it would sound a lot better and have much better impact if it was doubled and panned to the sides. The sudden widening of the stereo panorama would be really good, I think. Perhaps the snare sound in the quieter parts is a bit strident, too. It would sound more realistic if the snare was like that in the chorus but had a more subtle sound in the verses. I have to agree about the guitar buzz - you need to go around the mix and vacuum up a few bits.

[paulman]

I finally got round to downloading this and listening.

First off, great singing.

I think the production, in terms of how you populate the soundscape, and the panning of stuff could be improved for better impact; for instance, when the chunky rhythm guitar comes in it would sound a lot better and have much better impact if it was doubled and panned to the sides. The sudden widening of the stereo panorama would be really good, I think. Perhaps the snare sound in the quieter parts is a bit strident, too. It would sound more realistic if the snare was like that in the chorus but had a more subtle sound in the verses. I have to agree about the guitar buzz - you need to go around the mix and vacuum up a few bits.

Thanks Bubba. Most of that is done. I just haven't posted the new mix yet because I want to fix the feedback first. I could be mistaken, but I'm pretty sure I panned the heavy guitars to the sides. There are at least two of them, maybe three with one in the middle. If I didn't pan them, then I don't know what the hell I was thinking. I've tamed the drums a bit overall as far as the levels go. And the guitar buzzes are pretty much gone. I've got to shield my Strat, I think. It's noisy as fuck. I'm now trying to motivate myself to drive down to my parents' house to pick up that amp. I just really don't want to spend my Sunday driving my truck with no A/C to central Florida and back.

[paulman]

I think you should visit the "fake drums thread" and work on your programming/mixing. It's a good effort on a good song, it just needs a lot more mixing.

Some good stuff there. Thank you, Greg. The cymbal stuff especially will be helpful. The wacky drumming is all me. What little skill I have on drums is mostly focused on funk, and I suck at fills, so I don't really think like a rock drummer and I play weird shit. Any advice you have for me in that area would be appreciated. The programming comes in fixing missed triggers from my cheap MIDI kit.

[Greg_L]

Some good stuff there. Thank you, Greg. The cymbal stuff especially will be helpful. The wacky drumming is all me. What little skill I have on drums is mostly focused on funk, and I suck at fills, so I don't really think like a rock drummer and I play weird shit. Any advice you have for me in that area would be appreciated. The programming comes in fixing missed triggers from my cheap MIDI kit.

Ah I see. So you played it on an ekit. Well, the drums are pretty basic on this song. I don't really have any advice for that. Just keep it simple and in the pocket. A "funk" drummer should have the chops to break it down to a simple 4/4 beat.

[paulman]

Some good stuff there. Thank you, Greg. The cymbal stuff especially will be helpful. The wacky drumming is all me. What little skill I have on drums is mostly focused on funk, and I suck at fills, so I don't really think like a rock drummer and I play weird shit. Any advice you have for me in that area would be appreciated. The programming comes in fixing missed triggers from my cheap MIDI kit.

Ah I see. So you played it on an ekit. Well, the drums are pretty basic on this song. I don't really have any advice for that. Just keep it simple and in the pocket. A "funk" drummer should have the chops to break it down to a simple 4/4 beat.

The chops, yes. Restraint, no.