UPDATED: Please Rate this Recording: Wild Night 2013

This is just different enough to be almost original.  I like this version with its driving bass line.  Well done.

Being familiar with both versions I would suggest the following: Bring some lower end back into the vox. Dial back the reverb and maybe use a delay as well to give the vox depth, but watch the timings of the tails. Or choose a different reverb impulse that ia a bit warmer and detailed (recall that reverb can be very clear or very colored depending on the environment it is projected into. Once you bring the bottom back to the vox will I be able to tell if the levels need be brought back, but right now they are too loud in the mix IMO.

I like a vox that is upfront.... I think the vox is at the right level. But not the BGV. On the back ground vox, try lowering them. this does not apply to where she echos some lines. 

I mix country primarily..... and the thing in country is to have the BGV really low,,,, just enough to know there is harmony but not as loud as the main vox... not even close. 

Example: http://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=12048139  There are 5 vocal tracks. One lead up front in the spotlight.... 2 leads recorded independently, not cloned and down about -20db for fattening,  spread wide in the panning....70% or more.... then there are 2 harmonies also spread wide at 50%... but only down 12db or so..... just so you can hear the harmony but it blends into the background as opposed to being a vocal group of harmonizing singers.  

Of course, that's how I did the example. It may or may not be what you are looking for. I would consider it on the harmony parts. On the chorus especially..... you don't want that onslaught of voices from the same singer..... lower them and they are there but not so in your face. 

On the intro, yeah I would envelope the vox a few db lower and then bring it up to where you have it when the band kicks into gear. the vox is the right level with the instruments playing. 

I would also run some pitch correction on the vocal. there are some places where it could use some tuning. I run pitch correction on every single vocal no matter how good the singer is.... so don't take my suggestion as an insult. It's not. As it stands, it has a live organic nature to it, but to give it that professional polish.... a but of touching up here and there would nail that baby dead on. 

nice job on the cover.

Hope that helps.

Guitarhacker


I run pitch correction on every single vocal no matter how good the singer is....  

You do?

Wow.


The one thing having a home studio gives us is the opportunity to spend as much time as we like getting things right. I would never advocate using pitch correction for the sake of it. Think of all the thousands of wonderful songs sung in the past before that software came along...performance is everything.

I wonder if Herb would use pitch correction on Neil Young...

  


Sorry to derail.

Back to the song;

I like this version, it's a huge contrast to the one I was involved in recently, and that serves to highlight how creative people can be. I like the stripped down, bass driven verses a lot.

Shad and James.... that's funny. 

Shad, your comments are always welcomed. You know that. 

James... Neil Young? Fixing his vocals.... assuming there is software that could handle such a monumental task......... no... that would be a travesty, but then again, not too many folks are able to build a career in music like NY has done by singing like he does.... I tried but they were't buying it. 

pitch correction software can be used to slam the notes dead on..... as many do....

Or... it can be used as I do,  with a light touch to finesse a note closer, but still not dead on.... and it can be used to fix a place in a held note that drifts or has a weak spot in it. It results in a more polished vocal or instrumental performance. 

I edit the notes that need it and only work in MANUAL mode so that it does not paint with a wide brush. The fixes I make are surgical and 95% or better of the track is not touched at all. 

Using it in this manner, does not, in my opinion, constitute an artificial performance nor is it an indictment of a singer's ability to sing. 

So, here is a new version with as much of the advice received as I have the skill to incorporate added.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7zO6u23nSI

Dave: I tried to tap into my inner Liberty Devitto to get a more agressive take. I also brightened the toms with a bit more attack and added compression to the overheads. The cymbals are much more evident now.

Shad: I lessened the scooping at 250 from the vocal. It should sound a little fuller (and smoother).

Herb: I did lower the BGV to just above audible. I have the mysterious V-Vocal bug that won't even let me open the editor anymore. I'll be sending you the bundle to let you work on it shortly.

Last: I incorporated a new Yamaha Sub-Kick on the bass drum. It adds a lot more fullness and punch to the low end.


Thanks for any feedback suggestions!
TB

Big improvement! The more aggressive drums are working well, the compressed overheads are giving it more of a 70's feel. Just one more suggestion to throw out: try putting a subtle delay on the snare.

bitflipper


Big improvement! The more aggressive drums are working well, the compressed overheads are giving it more of a 70's feel. Just one more suggestion to throw out: try putting a subtle delay on the snare.

Thanks Dave! I've been wondering what to do to get that intro to not be sooo sterile and lifeless sounding. I'll try it.

OK... after another listen I think I know. I think this is a matter of taste, so take it for what its worth. But, I think you need to do more vocal layering earlier on. There was a moment (let me track down the time... 2:38) that worked well and I think could be use a lot more. It is hard to say for sure, but I would experiment with a layered vocal track from the beginning.. but it might not work and I might discard it.

There is some volume enveloping needed on the panning vox and in some of the places that are layered, thought it could also be one of two other things.

1. It sounds to me like you may be experiencing phase cancellation due to parts of the vox layers being nearly identical in wave form but 180 degrees out of phase. You can hear this as the sound "dropping out" in places in the last third of the song.

or 2. You may also need to look at the compression on the vox track layers as that might also be the drop out I am hearing (pumping).

There is of course some need of pitch correction on the vox in a few places. Subtle is all that needed. I might bring more yet into the bottom end of her vocal track (if there is any as female vocal harmonics do not tend to drop very low). Your wife has some good pipes, and I think with a few more tweaks you will bring them to life.