michaelhanson
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Love Is - Scandalous Grace Band
A new song by Scandalous Grace. All comments are welcome on this song. I really enjoyed the process of bringing this one together with the Band. Michael Hanson- Lead Vocals, Bass, Electric Rhythm, Guitar Solos, Drum programming. Reece Bain- Keys, Backing Vocals Sean Peifer- Electric Rhythm, Guitar Solos, Backing Vocals https://soundcloud.com/michaeljhanson/love-is
post edited by michaelhanson - 2016/02/13 14:51:12
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Wookiee
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Mix comes across here a little dense, perhaps a few tweaks to give more space around each voice/instrument. The lead and backing vocals sit quite down in the mix.
It is close, thanks for sharing.
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michaelhanson
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Thanks for listening an commenting Wookie, I always appreciate your opinions. I am going to hold off for a little bit and see if there are any other issues that need tweaking when I go back into this file.
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batsbrew
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Re: Love Is
2016/01/27 18:49:53
(permalink)
☄ Helpfulby dcumpian 2016/01/28 18:37:57
love is
the opening vocal lines seem plenty loud enough to em,
i can make out all the lyric...
i don't really hear a problem with vocal levels during the choruses...
maybe the verse lyric could come up just a bit....
the kick drum, is missing any power...
it needs some poke, on both the high end and low end,
maybe around 90hz on the kick, and maybe at 3k....
the biggest problem i have with this particular arrangment, is the drums are just too straight,
too typical,
boring.
they need some serious programming tweaks.....
if you do this, i think it will elevate this song to the next level, maybe 2 levels.
the drums are killing it. (not the good way! LOL)
bass sounds good..
maybe if you brought the two right/left rhythm guitar tracks down a bit, to match the drums and bass levels during the choruses ("love is...")....
or even, mix it so that one guitar plays the first two strikes, and then the 2nd one comes in on the 'whacka-whacka' part and finishes the rest of the riff.
that kind of thing..... mix it up so that it's not a constant wall of sound, since they both sound pretty similar....
they drop all together during the solo, so that actually works well, but maybe let the keys introduce the 'love is', then bring the guitars in and out where it makes sense to make it powerful....
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michaelhanson
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Excellent review, Bat. I REALLY appreciate you taking the time to listen to this song and offer great constructive criticism. Much to consider here. Looks like I will be working on drums. 
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CreatingNoise
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Mike/Reece/Sean,
Great tune! The mix sounded good on my system. Nice performances and a lot of fun to listen to. Nice work.
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Guitarpima
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Nice song. I agree.
Very well done!
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markno999
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Good song, I agree with Bat's review above, tweaking the drums would seriously take this up a few levels. Definitely worth spending some more time on it.
Regards
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michaelhanson
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CreatingNoise
Mike/Reece/Sean,
Great tune! The mix sounded good on my system. Nice performances and a lot of fun to listen to. Nice work.
Thank you for listening and commenting, Tony. I'm really happy that you like the song.
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michaelhanson
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Guitarpima
Nice song. I agree.
Very well done!
Robert- Thank you as well for listening and commenting!
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michaelhanson
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markno999
Good song, I agree with Bat's review above, tweaking the drums would seriously take this up a few levels. Definitely worth spending some more time on it.
Regards
Hey Mark, I am really glad that you like the song. I did a little tweaking on the drum mix and I think they sound tons better now. I don't think I have gone as far as Bat is suggesting. I think he is looking for me to do some major changes to the drum patterns. I may have to come back and do that at a later time. Thanks again for taking the time to comment.
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daryl1968
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Great stuff - Very Tom Petty which is no bad thing.
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ABull
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I didn't read the other comments...
Man, that guitar sounds great in the intro -- very crunchy. Everything sounds great -- my only crit is that beginning with the first verse the drums sound kinda muffled. btw, have you ever considered adding a Hammond type part to the song -- I can hear it. :)
Allan
====
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emeraldsoul
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Nice tune, cool parts, good theme.
What kind of limiter are you using, is it set to slam? Do you have a limiter on the master bus? Is it adding a few db's? The mix sounds a little overcompressed to my ears, and if you were to drop the kick drum a bit lower, I think it would help.
I'd agree on the TomPetty comment, he sold a song or two.
cheers,
-Tom
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Beagle
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Thanks everyone for your great comments! this forum is invaluable! I'm not going to respond to any of the comments on the mix myself because Mike is the one in charge of mixing this one, but be assured we are discussing each and every comment on the mix behind the scenes. Mike's already done one mix adjustment and uploaded and we'll be discussing anything you guys comment on after that and making adjustments where we need to. Allan - I'll comment directly on your comments since you're talking about wanting to hear organ. . btw, have you ever considered adding a Hammond type part to the song -- I can hear it. :)
Allan
==== could you clarify what you're saying here for me? I can't tell if you can't hear the organ in the mix or if you are wanting to hear something different than what I've played or something else? the organ in this song is a Hammand XK-3c. I don't remember my exact settings, but I usually use a variation of a "full Hammond" sound. also, I record the organ audio output in stereo and it's mixed like that (no MIDI is harmed during my B3 recordings!). the organ in this is a very simple part, I felt it needed to be simple for this song in order to complement the guitar parts. Maybe you wanted to hear a more complex organ part?
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jamesg1213
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I think this your best yet guys, good catchy, well written song. Like the hook, vocals and the guitars. have to agree with Bats on the drums, they are very 'straight'. To me they would possibly sound better starting at half-time then doubling up later to build the song more, maybe after the 2nd verse.
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michaelhanson
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Daryl- thanks for listening Brother. Yes, the Petty thing surfaces quite frequently. I have learned to embrace it.  I'm really pleased that you like the song. ABull- Thank you for listening and commenting. The intro guitar is an American Strat through Amplitube 4. I think Reece has replied on the Hammond. Glad you like the song, brother. Tom- Thanks a bunch for listening and commenting. I heard the same thing you did on the Kick right after punching up the drums. It was on my list to pull the fader down a touch on that. I have uploaded a new version this morning with new levels on the Kick. As far as Limiting, I am using PSP Xenon. I didn't feel like I was squashing the mix and I had less than 3db of Limiting going on with the song. However, while updated the Kick, I decided to back off that Limiting a touch and see if that helps things to breathe a little more. So the new file also is LESS limited. Hope this overall sounds better to you.
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michaelhanson
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Jamesg- I appreciate your comment about...best song yet. It helps to know that we are growing as song writers and people like what we are producing. I agree with both you and Bat that the drums are a pretty simple straight forward pattern. I may, down the line, see if I can work a different drum pattern into this mix. However, we don't really want to re-track everything at this point, so it would have to be something that fits with the existing instrumentation. I just think I need to walk away from it for a bit...before attempting something like that. Really glad that you like the song and mix, overall.
post edited by michaelhanson - 2016/02/01 10:54:21
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stevec
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Good song! Catchy, straight-ahead rocker with the nice crunchy guitars. Really liked the solo - short, but fluid and melodic.
Yeah, the drums could use more variation, they come across a bit "metronome-ish". I also couldn't hear much top end in there, mostly kick (which is solid but very straight) and snare, as though the hihat and cymbals are being masked by everything else. I agree with Bats comments there - if the guitars were not quite as consistently strong it might leave more room for the rest of the mix to breathe.
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michaelhanson
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Hey Steve- Thanks for listening and commenting.
Sean is playing the solo in the middle of the song. I think he did an excellent job and it fits this song perfectly. We traded off on solos at the end of the song. I have part 1 & 3, Sean has part 2 and finishes it out at the end with part 4.
Drums.....I'm noodling around with different midi patterns now. If we go with something new, I will post an announcement on the new mix.
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michaelhanson
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I have posted a new version of this song, with new drum programming. Let me know what you think.
post edited by michaelhanson - 2016/02/06 10:14:18
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jamesg1213
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Sounds much better to me Michael, I like the half time on the intro/chorus, good job.
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Leobert
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Hi Michael,
Sounds nice. Still some comment. I think the guitars are to divided, one left and one right. A bit blending here would make listening easier. When changing to a verse there's a sudden loss of high brilliant tones and it all becomes a bit dull in sound. I miss overall a rim of brilliant sound (ad here or there some high organ, bells, violins, or even a hidden flute). Just enough to clearup the sound.
The text in chorus could be a bit more complex or changed during the song. For it is a bit boring..;)
When heard it I thought: This is clean rock... Very, very organized I mean.
Nevertheless, it's a wel performed and I'm jeaulous for your guitarplaying...
Keep on rocking for YOBO (you once be old),
Leobert
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michaelhanson
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James- I very much appreciate you listening again and commenting on the new mix. I like this drum arrangement much better as well. I repeated the half time during the solo section and I think it gives a nice change up to the pace. Leobert- I greatly appreciate you listening and commenting. I am not sure where you are hearing the loss of high's from Verse to Chorus. The majority of the tracks were recorded all the way through, with the same instrumentation. The only area that would be the exception is Sean's electric rhythm parts. He likes to track a slightly different tone for Verse than Chorus; it would be the equivalent of stepping on a stomp box for additional crunch on the Chorus's. Maybe you hear the cymbals entering and leaving between verse and chorus. That is a very common way to play the drums. I especially like you comment about the guitar playing. I have never thought much of myself as a guitarist, but it seems like I am starting to finally find my way around the neck. It only took 30 years.
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Leobert
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He Mike,
I listened again. And whatever it is, at 38 seconds, entering the verse, the left rytmguitar changes to a duller sound. A bit more brightness would lift that part up, in my opinion.
But still a good job,
Leobert
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Beagle
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Thanks again everyone! this forum is an absolute treasure! we appreciate all of the great feedback we get on our songs and mixes!
keep em coming! :D
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stevec
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michaelhanson
I have posted a new version of this song, with new drum programming. Let me know what you think.
Yes, that is mo better. Seriously though, it does make the entire song sound much more "live" IMO. Just one other comment.... I'd really like to hear the solos at the end panned out a bit.
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Beagle
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Thanks again everyone!
Steve - thanks - Mike's taking your suggestion into consideration. We appreciate it!
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String Jammer
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Nice song. No suggestions on the arrangement, but what jumped out at me was a lot of high EQ in there bringing siblance to the entire mix. The drums and bass could come up some too.
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Tap
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Sounds pretty darned good here.... Nice work! I like the organ just as it is present, not overwhelming.
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