Opinions Needed

Whoops...that didn't work..the new file...I'll have to redo it and post ASAP.

Sorry..

Nutty Annette

The new recording was much cleaner and crisp sounding....

How did you get that spray can sound? just kidding....

This is a better version of the song.... the guitar playing is good. I listened briefly to the old version.....

Here's my critque...more on technique... I think in the recording process. I'll tell you how I do it and let you decide.

I like instant gratification, I want a finished song NOW>>>! But, I understand it is a process. And as such I start with drums & a scratch track....both unfinished BUT they provide the structure I will work with, guiding me through verses & choruses and solo's and bridges, from the start to the end....

NOW... I start to lay down tracks...this is VERY important.... I lay down one track, and listen to it, and write down the location of ANY mistakes, wrong notes, timing issues, flat/sharp notes...anything that is not perfect, and that I want to fix. Then I go back and start fixing, to get that track perfect....before I move on.

This is important , especially on vocal tracks and in the BGV tracks....all BGV should be 100% in synch and in tune (as far as possible) ...pay attention to the starting and ending of words (exactly how long you hold a note, and how you end it) in the BGV. minor timing issues will stand out in the final mix.

Same applies to guitars, keys, etc... get it right in the tracking stage before you move on....if you don't, you very quickly have all these tracks with minor glitches in them that suddenly "appears" to big to fix. All these minor things add up to make the song sound sloppy, so take the time to fix the tracks....

Since it's recorded already...it's still fixable.... start by muting everything...then un mute the drums....be sure they are 100% like you want them to be.....when satisfied, unmute the bass....go one track at a time.

When working on the Vox & BGV....mute everything except a rhythm guitar or keyboard ( for a reference point to pitch & timing) start with lead vox..... get it right....unmute one harmony....get it right and so on. mute & unmute as needed, bring the levels on the BGV up so you can hear clearly as you record & fix the glitches. Delete enveolpes if they interfere with you being able to hear the tracks...you can always go back later, when it's finished and the tracks are perfect, and re do the volume envelopes.

The song has a kind of layed back folk sound to it. So the guitars being a little "off" on their timing works in a folksy way...

The big thing I see is in the vocals mix..... Your voice sounds good....you need to showcase it more effectively.

I don't use doubling on my vocals....I have a lead (up where it can be heard) and then BGV are setting in the background, to one degree or another...usually noticably down in relation to the lead. Eq them appropriately....and let them roll.

On the doubling...have the main vox up front but have the cloned or doubled vox much lower and maybe panned slightly off center. It sounds like two people singing with both levels up high. Maybe someone else who successfully uses Vox doubling can chime in on this.

I hope you take this as advice to help you grow, and not critisism of your recording.

In MC4, and probably sonar...if you right click on the track icon location a window opens and you can select a different icon for the instrument....bass guitars, guitars, vocals BGV....all can have a picture Icon that makes mixing and finding tracks so much easier. Dozens...if not hundreds of icons to choose from.

also...if you plan ahead...group the tracks together...all vox in tracks 1-4 all guitars in 5-8 etc... this makes life easier too.

I know the feeling.... having multiple versions of a song is not a good idea for me....I like to just have one version....it keeps life simple.

In the track view if you click and hold the track right beside the track number you can drag a track up or down to change the order.
Later
Albert

Hi Nutty, I think this version is more crisp and upbeat than the old version, and I think that was where you were trying to go? Did you write this song?