Mama (Genesis Cover featuring Alkie on vocals) Updated Version

Here is a cover of the Genesis song, "MAMA" from their 1983 Album, Genesis (sometimes referred to as the Mama Album.)
 
New Updated Version:
http://www.soundclick.com/player/single_player.cfm?songid=12931900&q=hi&newref=1
 
This updated final version includes some minor volume changes in addition to changing out the organ during the Bridge part.   Alkie provided a better sounding organ for this part.   Also cleaned up the Koto a bit.   These updates are in addition to the last update that included a new lead synth sound.   Based on information provided by James, I found a product called The Beast by UVI which is a Synclavier II emulation.   Sounds a lot more like the original Genesis sound.   Also included in this mix is more verb on the lead vocals, and ran the master version through a multi-band compressor.   The old version is still posted below for reference.  Appreciate all the comments and suggestions.....
 
First Version:
http://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=12927108

 
This cover was sort of an unplanned event. I got an email from Arturia a few weeks back about an anniversary sale. I wasn't really familiar with Arturia but was interested in the Spark Vintage Drum Machines (a bunch of classic drum machines from 70's and 80's including a few Linn Drum machines, Roland, Yamaha, etc...They had a bundle called the V Collection with 30 classic drum machines and some Synths like the ARP 2600, Jupiter 8, Moog Mini, Oberheim SEM, Wurlitzer.   Was playing around with the Linn Drum Machine beats and stumbled across a Mama'ish beat so I decided to do a cover.

Most of my stuff has been traditional classic rock so I haven't experimented that much with synths, or, drum machines so decided to try a different style for this one. This song is all the Arturia synths except for the repeating 16th note synth which is the Synth Magic Quadra Arp (requires Kontakt 4 or higher) I went with Quadra over the Arturia synth for that track because it offered a unique effect that was not available on the Arturia version. The Synth Magic Quadra emulation has a Mama pre-set. The synth is a virtual version of the Arp Quadra that they used on the Genesis record. The percussive hits that Tony Banks triggered with their Linn Drums are triggered with MIDI notes in this virtual instrument, giving the sound an initial percussive hit and then falling off quickly between 16th notes. 

The intro drums are all from the Spark Vintage Linn Drums wiht varying degrees of effects on them. The main kit that comes in later is EZDrummer 2, 80's Drum Kit. The Verb effects are the newly released UAD AMS RMX16 Reverb emulation which Genesis used on much of their stuff after 1982. I am using the AMS emulation on guitars, drums and vocals, the vocal verb is a preset called Reverse Reverb. The vocals are also running through Sound Toys Microshifter which is an Eventide sort of effect popular in the 80's

Once I got done with the backing track I pinged Alan K. (Alkie on the Forum) to see if he would be interested in singing on the track, I knew from his previous posts that this was something that he might be interested in, and capable of doing. Sent him the backing track and he returned the vox in something like a day;) Most of the time spent since has been tweaking with mix, Alan had a number of suggestions about the mix, and provided his own mix to convey many of the changes that were incorporated into this final version.

Let us know what you think.

Regards

I haven't heard this song in a long time. The mix is really good. IIRC, the vocal had more reverb on the original. I guess that's not a big deal as your version sound very good.
 
Very well done!!!

jamesg1213
Tough one to attempt I would imagine, 'cos it's a very sparse production, slowly building. Very good version though, all the sounds are pretty faithful except perhaps the high synth, which seems a little weak. Throat wrenching vocal!

James,
 
Appreciate the listen and comment.   Are referring to the lead synth that sounds a little spooky at the intro and continues throughout in the Genesis version?  If so, I agree with you.   After auditioning a couple hundred sounds, the sound included in this cover is the best one I could come up with.  
 
If you, or anyone,  has a suggestion about to get that sound I would be very appreciative.   I think all the other synth sounds, the percussive synth and the low bass tones, organ, et. al., are pretty close, however, the right synth in that slot would really help bring the track to the next level.    Thanks for pointing it out....

Regards

Good Job! from a longtime "old Genesis" fan. Vocals are killer! I agree that the synth part kinda lacks. The rest of it was very impressive.

Great job! I would think you could find a better synth in Omnisphere or Zeta. The synth you chose doesn't have enough energy and resonance, if memory serves. BUT, you did a great job capturing the feel of the original!
 
Regards,
Dan
 

Sounds well here but as I am burning in new monitors I am a little hesitant to make to many comments about how a mix sounds.  Been an Arturia user for sometime and the V Collection offer was to good to miss.
 
Thanks for sharing this, Alkie did a good job on the vocals.

Overall, really nice job on this.   The performances are real solid on everything.   The high synth... yeah, a little too staccato "beow" and not enough sustained "beeoowoo" for me.  About the only other thing I'd probably do is compress a little more although that's subjective.   But the version still sounds really good.  
 
Oh... I also saw them on the Mama tour.   Collins with that green light on his face during the "ha ha ha" part.   

I think it sounds excellent!  I love the sounds of the drums in the beginning and how you mixed in the different layers of synths.  The vocals are great.  I like the verb on the vocals - what is that?  Guitars sound perfect.  Really well mixed - Sounds like you put on some nice finishing touches since I first heard it.

Daryl - Thanks for the comment.  It was a tough song to capture "the vibe" and the vocals are even more challenging because you have to hit the notes as well as convey the raw emotion in this song.    I think Alkie definitely did both on this one.  
 
Anonymungus - Thanks for the listen and comment.I think the general consensus has been a weak synth line so I picked up The Beast by UVI (a Synclavier II Emulation) and will re-post a copy with the new synth and some slightly altered Vox reverb.
 
Dan - Thanks for the comment.  I did find a better synth for that line so hopefully the new version will be up to par.  Will probably post it later tonight. 
 
Regards

John (Wookie) - Thanks for the listen and comment.    Glad to hear you like Arturia, your stuff always sounds superbly professional so I know great results are possible with the product.  
 
Mesh - Thanks, will be posting an updated with all these excellent suggestions.  Hopefully it will get a little bit closer to the Genesis sound.  Would have loved to see them, I have watched their Wembley concert from 1986 a couple times on YouTube but I doubt it really captures what is was like being there.  Good stuff.
 
SteveC - Thanks for the comment.  Making suggested updates, also running the final master through a Multi-Band compressor so hopefully that will dial in the right amount of compression for the track.  Thx.
 
FreddyJ -  Thanks for the listen, appreciate it.  Always fun to go outside the comfort zone a little and mix it up.    This song was probably the easiest song from a performance perspective that I have posted, however, from a mixing and engineering perspective, probably one of the most difficult.  I can't speak to the vocal performance, that sounds difficult to me, the instrumentation wasn't that hard.   Glad you liked it.
 
Geno - Thanks, appreciate the comment.  The verb on the vocals is UA's new AMS RMX16 Digital Reverb emulation.   Also using a little echo, some chorus and the SoundToys MicroShifter which is sort of like the Eventide detuner/chorus effect.   The Microshifter sounds great on guitar too, help is sit in the mix and add some more dimension.   Hope you like the new mix....
 
 
Regards

You really nailed the lead synth this time, well done.
 
At 4:59 there's a crash that cuts cut off very abruptly ... you might want to check that.
The lead guitar playing the sustained notes..  I would fade them in slower, sustain them longer and make them much wetter on the reverb.. but that's just me.
 
A great cover and great vocal performance.
 
 
edit to add : a trick for '80s covers. Digital synths had only just been introduced and most people didn't know how to program them. If you can find an original or soft version there's a very good chance the sound you need is a preset

Goose bumps! That new synth is perfect! Great job guys!
 
Regards,
Dan
 

markno999
Posted an update - see beginning of thread...

The changes have made a HUGE (improved) difference!!!! The level of verb transmits really well for the vocals and is a definite improvement from the original mix. Great job!!! Enjoyed listening to this all 3 times!! :) 

Had to come back for a listen
 

Thanks everyone for the comments and suggestions. 
 
Posted one final version to replace the last update at the start of the thread.     This final updated version includes some minor volume changes to the vocal track.  Additionally, changed out the organ during the Bridge part.   Alkie provided a better sounding organ for this part which adds some more substance to the part.   Also cleaned up the Koto a bit, less reverb.  On to the next project.... Thx.
 
Regards