Glass

Well... I could say a LOT about this song, but maybe it is better to say nothing and just post it...

Glass

Think I need a break from music making now...

Thanks for the (quick ) reaction! Glad you liked it.

About the fade in and out and the fade back to the guitar: it sort of symbolizes life. Coming out of (almost) nothing to a very basic start, you end up the very same way. Well, that's a very er... 'earthly' and not too optimistic way of looking at things (I do believe there is more to it), but er... well, (to cut a long story short) I just felt like this while making the song... So it's more than a 'gimmick'. I just had to do it like this.

The violin is killer.

Outstanding as usual.

I kinda like the fade in and out. So it is just a matter of taste. I also like the violin, I think it makes the piece.

Nice mix

Ron

Thanks all!

About the 'clean' recording: all regards to the VSTi's I used (specially RealGuitar in this case)... It sure makes life a lot easier than having to deal with the hum and noise you get when recording real guitars and instruments...

About the violin: glad it's appreciated. I often wonder why I do certain things when I make my music. So when I read a few of you liked the violin I thought 'Why did I use that violin? What made me choose that instead of the usual guitar?' I really don't know. I can't remember. Sometimes (or most often) an idea simply pops up in your head and that's it. And then it is funny and nice to see it worked out right. Or even that THAT specific idea 'makes the piece'. Funny.

Thx Bill!
Yes, I have been using some new EQ settings, after someone (who records and publisjes cd's) told me my voice was not er... sharp enough, as if I was singing under a blanket. Maybe I overdid it a bit... but it's still better than it used to be.

Thank you, Rob!

Yes, the guitars are Real Guitar 2. Later on Real Strat also enters.

Wonderful sounds. Acoustic and voice just perfect to me.

Hats off, really great tune in all aspects.

Michael

Fabulous in all respects!

KEv

enjoyed the song...country is not my gig...but really enjoyed the song..vox seemed a tad bit grainy...but really nice overall!!


cool stuff

I like the acoustic tones. Well done there.

What VST did you use for violin? Lovely recording.

Thx munmun and apell!

The violin is a solo violin from GPO. To get it sounding right however, I manually edited it from A to Z: specially the modulation-data, which deals with the volume (and hence the 'swelling' of the sound) in GPO, is 'handpainted' completely in great detail and lots of care , but also the velocity, which takes care of the attack in GPO.

Well, er... the modulation and velocity was all, really. But I edited it quite microscopic. The velocity ONLY takes care of the attack: if you want a slow attack, use a low velocity, if you want to hear the bow hit it with a scratching bang, use a high velocity. But velocity has nothing to do with the volume (in GPO that is, of course!): modulation takes care of that. Usually with violins the modulationdata in the controllerpane looks like a mountain: I hardly ever let the note start at the peak where I want it eventually: so the volume builds up for each and every note and goes down (quicker than the buildup) at the end. I imagine the violinplayer moving the bow over the strings and translate his movements to mod-controller-data, so to speak. ;) Also not all samples sound equal in GPO, so certain notes need a lower velocity even when they in the end sound just as loud as another one. So I usually loop the part I am working on and I keep on drawing controller data until it sounds good. Apart from this, all you also have to make sure the instrument plays monophonic, so notes should not overlap.

Although modulation and velocity are both important, the most work goes into the mod-data: that really makes it sound good or not. The attack is important too, of course, but a good attack with a bad 'swelling volume' sounds like crap, while a bad attack with great mod-data will sound a lot better already. But you got to edit both...!

This is how I did the solo in this song, but this is also how I do all GPO-stuff I make. Another tip when making orchestral arrangements, for instance with violins: create one track for every group (bass. cello, etc.) and make sure the mod-and velocity date is not the same everywhere (at the same time, I mean!): this will make things more realistic. So do not play a patch with all sounds in one: well, you can record them all at once, but then you have to split them up and edit all modulation data for each and every instrument seperately.

I have to say (said so a few days ago already) I only made one classical-like piece with GPO (Loning, the first thing I made with GPO, so I was still learning ) but now I only use it to spice up my rock/popsongs, because it was a bit too much like work for me...

EDIT:
One more thing: the sound of this GPO solo violin really lends itself well for this song: the built in vibrato fits perfectly into it. So imho it also depends on what kind of music you want to make (slow or fast, soft or loud): GPO won't sound good with everything, I think.

EDIT 2:
You can of course also simply record the modwheel and get good result (and save some time) but my problem is I don not have a modwheel on my synth (an old Roland D10): I have a pitchbend I have to PRESS for modulation and that sucks big time. So I am forced to edit the data manually, really. (Hm, yes, I know I probably could use the pitchwheel as a modwheel by redirecting controllerinfo, but well, I like to draw the controllers, because you get the most precise results that way.)