I Am The Walrus - cover

Author
dkbender
Max Output Level: -88 dBFS
  • Total Posts : 120
  • Joined: 2009/12/14 16:20:04
  • Status: offline
2012/10/05 21:44:30 (permalink)

I Am The Walrus - cover

Since the old thread was stale... I decided to post this new topic.
 
This is one of Rock's greatest songs of all time.   It took about a month but I got the whole song put together now.   
 
The background....  I'm doing all the instruments except, the sound effects, pre bridge break, spoken words (Hello Sir!, etc) and outro radio sweep, choral singers and King Lear recital.   A friend and myself did all the vocals until the outro, where I blend us and the outro together.   I watched the Fab Faux do this song and they even use samples from the Beatles to do their live version.
 
I used Producer 8.5.3.   Guitar, Bass and vocals are live takes.   Cellos, Violins, Drums, French Horn, Trumpet, Electric Piano and Shaker are all MIDI.
 
Hope you enjoy it!   (This is about 200 hrs of work.)  
 
http://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=11862729
#1

22 Replies Related Threads

    Lynn
    Max Output Level: -14 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 6117
    • Joined: 2003/11/12 18:36:16
    • Location: Kansas City, MO
    • Status: offline
    Re:I Am The Walrus - cover 2012/10/06 12:08:36 (permalink)
    I remember when you posted this earlier and have been waiting for this ever since.  It was well worth the wait.  This is one of my top 5 favorite songs of all time, and the Beatles would have been impressed by this.  Considering that they were working with 4 track recorders, bouncing from one machine to another, and mixing a small string ensemble with all this, they never would have believed that you could do this in a home studio.  I can't wait to hear your next project.

    All the best,
    Lynn

    my songs
    www.soundclick.com/lynnwilson

    www.youtube.com/lywilson
    my videos

    Cakewalk by Bandlab| Sonar Platinum @ 64bits| i7 860 | 8 gigs ram | W10 @ 64 bits | RME FF 400
    #2
    Wookiee
    Rrrrugh arah-ah-woof?
    • Total Posts : 13306
    • Joined: 2007/01/16 06:19:43
    • Location: Akahaocwora - Village Yoh Kay
    • Status: offline
    Re:I Am The Walrus - cover 2012/10/06 14:48:41 (permalink)
    I enjoyed it the first time round quite a promising production

    Thanks for sharing.

    Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass, it's about learning to dance in the rain.
    Karma has a way of finding its own way home.
    Primary, i7 8700K 16Gigs Ram, 3x500gb SSD's 2TB Backup HHD Saffire Pro 40. Win 10 64Bit
    Secondary  i7 4790K, 32GB Ram, 500Gb SSD OS/Prog's, 1TB Audio, 1TB Samples HHD AudioBox USB, Win 10 64Bit
    CbB, Adam's A7x's - Event 20/20's, Arturia V6, Korg Digital Legacy, Softube Modular, Arturia Keylab-88, USB-MidiSport 8x8 
    #3
    cwestmont
    Max Output Level: -83 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 379
    • Joined: 2007/05/25 13:23:00
    • Status: offline
    Re:I Am The Walrus - cover 2012/10/06 17:38:04 (permalink)
    That is really cool. Sounds like you had a blast making it. Your voice is well suited to it. There might have been very slight timing issues at the beginning but it may have been a streaming issue as well. Styx also did a nice cover of this tune. Might wanna check it out if you haven't already.

    My music:
    Hummingbird Cinema (vocal tracks, covers and remixes)
    Mosaic Manifesto  (remixes and instrumentals)
    "If you can solve your problem, then what is the need of worrying? If you cannot solve it, then what is the use of worrying?"- Shantideva

    One can acquire everything in solitude - except character. -- Marie Henri Beyle

    Windows 7
    Intel Core i7-4770 3.4 GHz
    8 GigaBytes DRAM
    Sonar X3
    Roland QuadCapture
    #4
    dkbender
    Max Output Level: -88 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 120
    • Joined: 2009/12/14 16:20:04
    • Status: offline
    Re:I Am The Walrus - cover 2012/10/06 21:19:11 (permalink)
    Thank you kind Sirs!

    Walrus is not anywhere close to being finished but wanted to let you know it's still alive and being worked.   More to come on this one.

    Coming up soon and in progress is "Strawberry Fields Forever" and "The Word".   I'll post'em when they are first available for evaluation. 
    #5
    M@ B
    Max Output Level: -68 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 1128
    • Joined: 2010/01/05 20:54:54
    • Status: offline
    Re:I Am The Walrus - cover 2012/10/06 22:19:03 (permalink)
    Great cover! After "I'm crying" sounded awesome. Nice job, thanks.

    #6
    Old55
    Max Output Level: 0 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 19791
    • Joined: 2008/09/19 20:10:05
    • Location: Californiashire
    • Status: offline
    Re:I Am The Walrus - cover 2012/10/06 22:34:04 (permalink)
    Good stuff.  

    Should auld acquaintance be forgot--hey, who the hell are you guys?  
     
    X2(X3 pending hardware upgrade), Emulator X2, E-mu 1212M, Virtual String Machine
    #7
    dkbender
    Max Output Level: -88 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 120
    • Joined: 2009/12/14 16:20:04
    • Status: offline
    Re:I Am The Walrus - cover 2012/10/07 19:07:06 (permalink)
    Old55 - thank you!   this isn't finished yet.   I have an alternate main vocal coming and still have to fine tune somethings.
    #8
    Warrenlee
    Max Output Level: -85 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 286
    • Joined: 2012/05/27 18:55:23
    • Status: offline
    Re:I Am The Walrus - cover 2012/10/09 09:38:07 (permalink)
    Brilliant!  Love it man, great work....
    #9
    notnat
    Max Output Level: -23 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 5236
    • Joined: 2007/09/25 22:21:43
    • Location: Southeast
    • Status: offline
    Re:I Am The Walrus - cover 2012/10/09 10:02:48 (permalink)
    yeah, I remember this... great job with the orchestration and all the background stuff... well done...
    #10
    JD1813
    Max Output Level: -74 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 813
    • Joined: 2008/04/16 10:25:04
    • Status: offline
    Re:I Am The Walrus - cover 2012/10/09 13:06:06 (permalink)
    Oh I agree, this is one VERY fine and polished production - can't imagine you doing ANYTHING else with this!   Brought back some great memories too since I haven't heard it in quite awhile.  The vocals are awesome, processed just right in that style - along with all those BGV's as well!   What a treat - superb orchestrations!    Wow, excellent job all the way around!        
    - John

    -John  *Acer Notebook Win7 Pro-x64 /Edirol USB UA-4FX/SP B1 Mic/Sonar PE X2a; Alesis QS-7 & Ovation 12-String.  Site: www.soundclick.com/bands/page_music.cfm?bandID=1007877

    Technology drives me to drink. Fortunately, it's a short drive..
    #11
    dkbender
    Max Output Level: -88 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 120
    • Joined: 2009/12/14 16:20:04
    • Status: offline
    Re:I Am The Walrus - cover 2012/10/09 17:46:40 (permalink)
    Warrenlee, notnat & JD1813.... thank you!  for the kind words and encouragment.   I'm happy that you enjoyed it.  It truly has been a labor of love.   And it actually started out as a project to see how this song worked and if midi could handle the challenges.   I do have an alternative main vocal coming from my main Beatles song partner that should be even better in the delivery category.
    #12
    darylcrowley
    Max Output Level: -48.5 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 2700
    • Joined: 2006/10/16 14:25:47
    • Location: Ludington, Michigan
    • Status: offline
    Re:I Am The Walrus - cover 2012/10/09 18:34:17 (permalink)
    You got a LOT of ambition man.   Well done.

    Daryl

    Daryl Crowley
    Sonica Labs I7 Quad Core -
    Windows 7 64bit Professional
    Sonar 8.5 Producer - Ozone 4
    http://www.darylcrowley.com/
    #13
    markno999
    Max Output Level: -62 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 1450
    • Joined: 2007/08/27 18:09:30
    • Status: offline
    Re:I Am The Walrus - cover 2012/10/09 19:55:36 (permalink)
    Really fine production all around.   Lot of time went into this song and it shows.   Amazing sounds and a great listen.
     
     
    Regards
    #14
    dkbender
    Max Output Level: -88 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 120
    • Joined: 2009/12/14 16:20:04
    • Status: offline
    Re:I Am The Walrus - cover 2012/10/09 20:21:53 (permalink)
    daryl & markno:  thank you so much for the appreciation of the effort!  

    #15
    Bob Oister
    Max Output Level: -47.5 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 2766
    • Joined: 2008/01/10 00:34:27
    • Location: Scranton, Pennsylvania USA
    • Status: offline
    Re:I Am The Walrus - cover 2012/10/12 04:52:06 (permalink)
    Hey,
     
    This is an absolutely spectacular cover of a very difficult song, and you really knocked it out of the park!
     
    Excellent performances on the instrumentation and vocals, and the mix sounds really nice and has a polished, vintage quality.

     
    Great stuff!
    Bob

    P.S. In your SoundClick picture you look a lot like one of my old bass players!
    #16
    dkbender
    Max Output Level: -88 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 120
    • Joined: 2009/12/14 16:20:04
    • Status: offline
    Re:I Am The Walrus - cover 2012/10/12 09:18:19 (permalink)
    Hi Bob,

    You are very kind!   Thank you!   Still more to do with getting things tweaked in on Walrus, when I get it finished, I'll repost it.

    Scary that I look like one of your ex-bass players! Bet that made you look twice!   LOL!!

    On a related topic...  here's the latest muse I'm starting... we did a quick, rough draft demo of Strawberry Fields my friend and I are considering doing this way as an up tempo power pop number.  
    http://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=11930770
    Different!  huh?     LOL!
    #17
    shawn@trustmedia.tv
    Max Output Level: -54 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 2136
    • Joined: 2008/12/06 09:41:18
    • Location: Hastings, MN
    • Status: offline
    Re:I Am The Walrus - cover 2012/10/12 16:29:39 (permalink)
    i have a beard now...but i am not the walrus! - kookookachoo! Outstanding!

    Studio SONAR X3. Axiom 25 midi controller, DUNE 2, Producer Content, Good Times, Bandlab Mojo

    #18
    BenMMusTech
    Max Output Level: -49 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 2606
    • Joined: 2011/05/23 16:59:57
    • Location: Warragul, Victoria-Australia
    • Status: offline
    Re:I Am The Walrus - cover 2012/10/13 02:57:00 (permalink)
    Now I am the biggest Beatle fan around these parts.  Ok this is souding great, vox is awsome.  All the instruments sound good apart from the fake trumpet thats somewhere in the mix.  It really affects the rest of the instruments because it does sound fake.  Also the drums need a bit more beef and for me the whole track needs more gravatis, or more bass.  It sounds slighty thin in places.

    On saying that it is an excellent job and I am somewhat jealous.  I was always a little scared to take this track on.

    Peace Ben

    Benjamin Phillips-Bachelor of Creative Technology (Sound and Audio Production), (Hons) Sonic Arts, MMusTech (Master of Music Technology), M.Phil (Fine Art)
    http://1331.space/
    https://thedigitalartist.bandcamp.com/
    http://soundcloud.com/aaudiomystiks
    #19
    dkbender
    Max Output Level: -88 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 120
    • Joined: 2009/12/14 16:20:04
    • Status: offline
    Re:I Am The Walrus - cover 2012/10/13 09:04:26 (permalink)
    Ben,

    Good catch on the trumpet, I wasn't real happy with that one either but that's what is in Dim Pro, unless I missed a better one hidden in there elesewhere.    At the start of this project, I was kind of curious if midi and what is loaded in SONAR Producer could handle the task.

    I had the bass at one point more elevated but after listening to the original, decided to pull it back down a couple of dB.   I'll revisit it again.   The drums are SD3 and I played around with tuning the snare to give it that thin sound like the original.   The kick and the tom have normal weight.   I do agree there are a couple of spots yet where the song in general has some thinness and I haven't decided what to do about that yet.

    Thanks for the excellent crit! 
    #20
    BenMMusTech
    Max Output Level: -49 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 2606
    • Joined: 2011/05/23 16:59:57
    • Location: Warragul, Victoria-Australia
    • Status: offline
    Re:I Am The Walrus - cover 2012/10/13 20:12:10 (permalink)
    dkbender


    Ben,

    Good catch on the trumpet, I wasn't real happy with that one either but that's what is in Dim Pro, unless I missed a better one hidden in there elesewhere.    At the start of this project, I was kind of curious if midi and what is loaded in SONAR Producer could handle the task.

    I had the bass at one point more elevated but after listening to the original, decided to pull it back down a couple of dB.   I'll revisit it again.   The drums are SD3 and I played around with tuning the snare to give it that thin sound like the original.   The kick and the tom have normal weight.   I do agree there are a couple of spots yet where the song in general has some thinness and I haven't decided what to do about that yet.

    Thanks for the excellent crit! 

    I've used the trumpets from the dim pro for a cover of strawberry fields and I found them more than useable, so thats funny.  I suggest you use Rings Beat Kit in session drummer three.  As far as I know it is a Beatles Ludwig kit.  Detune it, not the Kick, I can't remember if I did the snare not the cyms as well but def the toms.  This gives you Ringo's almost timpani sound he was getting at the time.  Also whack a low pass filter over the top of the all the drums except the kick and cyms and roll of betwen 3 and 6 db to around 2Khz.  This will slighty muffle the drums, this simulates the tea towel effect Ringo was using at the time.  If you don't know Ringo was quite fond of placing tea towls over his drums.  I've also used a fairchild limiter virtual compressor this gives you a realistic Beatle drum sound.
     
    As for copying The Beatles sound in terms of bass, don't.  I was going to mention this yesterday.  My first question to you is what master are you listening to in terms of IATW.  Are you listening to the original 1987 issues or the latter ones.  Because if you are listening to the originals the masters are really thin.  I haven't heard the new remasters but I have heard the Love version of this track and none of that inherent thiness from the orignal CD is there.
     
    Peace Ben

    Benjamin Phillips-Bachelor of Creative Technology (Sound and Audio Production), (Hons) Sonic Arts, MMusTech (Master of Music Technology), M.Phil (Fine Art)
    http://1331.space/
    https://thedigitalartist.bandcamp.com/
    http://soundcloud.com/aaudiomystiks
    #21
    CLEAN
    Max Output Level: -47 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 2842
    • Joined: 2003/12/07 14:51:04
    • Status: offline
    Re:I Am The Walrus - cover 2012/10/13 22:18:28 (permalink)
    Well done - they would have approved.

    THE PUGTONES
    Mark
    #22
    dkbender
    Max Output Level: -88 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 120
    • Joined: 2009/12/14 16:20:04
    • Status: offline
    Re:I Am The Walrus - cover 2012/10/15 14:08:09 (permalink)
    CLEAN:  thank you!  doing these things is always so instructional for me.  

    Now, my Strawberry Fields departure from the original (posted elsewhere) is one that is controversial.... but I actually would like to believe that if Lennon had heard this version, he would have really liked it.   He liked to push the envelope.
    #23
    Jump to:
    © 2024 APG vNext Commercial Version 5.1