guitardood
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Two work-in-progress songs begging for some critique.
Hi All, I've got two tunes that I posted to my bandmix page and would love to hear your thoughts on both the mixes and the tunes themselves. Especially, if you had to label them with a genre, what would it be? The tunes are at http://www.bandmix.com/guitardood1/ The two tunes marked as 'current material' are the ones in question. The one titled "Runnin in the Night" does not have any vocal tracks yet, but essentially will have verses and a bridge over the acoustic guitar/piano (the lead playing is not the melody but meant as a pad) sections and chorus over the crunch guitar sections. My biggest question/frustration has to do with the drums and am kind of in a holding pattern thinking that they need to be replaced with an actual drummer rather than the MIDI that I created note-for-note. What are your thoughts? I appreciate any and all comments and for even taking the time to listen.
post edited by guitardood - 2014/01/21 15:04:11
Best, Guitardood Reverb Nation: http://www.reverbnation.com/ChuckFletcher "Life is like a box of chocolates. You know, eventually you're going to get the one filled with alien-like nasty tasting goo and have to spit it out and say YUCK"
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Lynn
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Re: Two work-in-progress songs begging for some critique.
2014/01/21 16:27:43
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Chuck, these two songs are really cool and reflect your influences quite well. WITHOUT YOU is tight and well performed, both instrumentally and vocally. As for the drums, I liked the sound and volume of the bass and snare, which gave some punch to the mix. There are high quality loops galore in any virtual drummer, however, if you have the capability to record a good drummer...it's up to you. My only observation was that the whole mix is very narrow on my monitors, and a song like this begs for space and openess. Every thing sounded kind of bunched together, to me, iow. Your 2nd sound sounds wider. That being said they are both well written, and I look forward to hearing words for the 2nd song. I'm curious to know what you're using.
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guitardood
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Re: Two work-in-progress songs begging for some critique.
2014/01/21 16:37:28
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Thanks for the feedback, Lynn. Very much appreciated. Lynn
I'm curious to know what you're using.
Not sure what you mean here. Using for guitars? Drums? FX?
Best, Guitardood Reverb Nation: http://www.reverbnation.com/ChuckFletcher "Life is like a box of chocolates. You know, eventually you're going to get the one filled with alien-like nasty tasting goo and have to spit it out and say YUCK"
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clintmartin
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Re: Two work-in-progress songs begging for some critique.
2014/01/21 16:55:49
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Great songs. You have a very good voice...It reminds me of someone, but I can't think of it (maybe the guy from Bad Finger). Guitar sounds big. Something about the snare or drums sound a bit thin, but that could just be me.
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guitardood
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Re: Two work-in-progress songs begging for some critique.
2014/01/21 19:15:31
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clintmartin
Great songs. You have a very good voice...It reminds me of someone, but I can't think of it (maybe the guy from Bad Finger). Guitar sounds big. Something about the snare or drums sound a bit thin, but that could just be me.
Thanks for listening and the feedback, Clint.
Best, Guitardood Reverb Nation: http://www.reverbnation.com/ChuckFletcher "Life is like a box of chocolates. You know, eventually you're going to get the one filled with alien-like nasty tasting goo and have to spit it out and say YUCK"
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rebel007
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Re: Two work-in-progress songs begging for some critique.
2014/01/22 09:48:04
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Chuck, there are two great songs in there, hits even. I feel like there is some refinement needed with the instrumentation. Could be your thoughts about the drums, I'm sure a good drummer would really give life to the groove.
Keep working on the mix, I hear everything ok but it doesn't quite glue together.
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Wookiee
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Re: Two work-in-progress songs begging for some critique.
2014/01/22 11:12:17
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Both mix's come across here as quite well balanced though as noted by Lynn the first track Without You does sound very narrow.
Regarding the drum's what drum software are you using? they sound good but a little mechanical as MIDI drums can often suffer.
Overall they sound accomplished tunes well played, the vocal is good and the general production is good.
Thanks for sharing.
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theguitarplayer
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Re: Two work-in-progress songs begging for some critique.
2014/01/22 13:48:58
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I thought they both sound pretty good but like Lynn was saying a bit narrow on the first. I think with a few tweaks here and there you can bring them both together nicely. You know what your looking for your own sound, so you will have to decide. Both are very well written and sound pretty good so far, so stick with tweaking the mix. I do like your vocals, you sing very well.
Peace and Blessings, John
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guitardood
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Re: Two work-in-progress songs begging for some critique.
2014/01/22 14:09:31
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@rebel: Your comment about 'not gluing together' is kind of how I've been feeling but just can't hit the nail on the head. I know part is the rigid MIDI timing on the drums, but I have a feeling it's part to do with the verb settings in trying to create a 'drum room'.
@Wookie: I'm using BFD2 with a custom kit. Not using any FX from BFD2 and pulling each piece into its own track and then applying UAD2 FX. I entered the drums by hand and are right on the money. Even tweaking the humanize function in BFD didn't seem to help. Perhaps a bit of random quantizing might help, but I would really like to hook up with a drummer. I've got a nice mic'd kit, can't get anyone local interested in playing. Probably going to have to resort to hiring a studio drummer.
@John: Thanks for the compliments on the vocals.
@rebel, Wookie, John: Thanks so much for listening and your feedback. Very helpful and very appreciated.
Best, Guitardood Reverb Nation: http://www.reverbnation.com/ChuckFletcher "Life is like a box of chocolates. You know, eventually you're going to get the one filled with alien-like nasty tasting goo and have to spit it out and say YUCK"
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