Hi Dan, glad to listen. It's a pleasure to listen to your stuff. I respect your work as well.

Getting Michael to play keys was a great touch. He knows his way around a B3. I just love the way it adds space, texture and countermelody, all without stepping on anything else in the mix. What a pro.

To answer your question, yes, I was going to post some stuff, some works in process, but you raised the quality bar! I'm not kidding. "Beautiful" is a fine effort, and I don't want to put anything out that's half baked on the same web page!

We have some re-writes as well as new stuff going on. Steve D has offered to give the drums on one of our tunes a going over, so we should be able to post some new tunes shortly.

Thanks for being an inspiration.

Ken

Howdy Dan, How are you recording, processing the accoustic guitar? Mic, preamp, soundcard, compressor, reverb etc. Thanks for sharing if you have the time. Cheers.

ORIGINAL: kiwisdontdrinktea

Howdy Dan, How are you recording, processing the accoustic guitar? Mic, preamp, soundcard, compressor, reverb etc. Thanks for sharing if you have the time. Cheers.

Here is how the guitar was recorded:

Equipment used:

1. Martin HD28 acoustic guitar
2. RODE NT-5 matched pair of small condenser microphone
3. Great River MP-2NV preamp
4. RODE NTK microphone
5. dbx 386 tube preamp
6. MOTU 2408 Mark 3
7. SONAR 4.02 PE

The part that is dominant on the left is the Martin mic'd by the RODE NT-5's in a coincident x/y configuration. The two microphones were run through the Great River MP-2NV and then in to the MOTU 2408 analog inputs.

The part that is dominant on the right is the Martin mic'd by the RODE NTK and this was run through the dbx 386 tube preamp. Also analog in to the MOTU. This part has a capo on the 5th fret and is played with an open D formation.

I used a UAD-1 1176 compressor on all of it for light compression and the UAD-1 Cambridge EQ. The lows are gently rolled off up to about 250Hz and then I put a very gentle rise somewhere in the 5Khz range for the parts on the left (something like that). The part on the right has no EQ'ing done to the high's but has a slight scoop somewhere in the mid-range (I can't quite remember where).

Thanks,

ORIGINAL: BlindDog

Man, this is a NICE song. Y'all have a great sound. That leslie ending the bridge is so cool. But... all things being equal -- why is the front vox so dry? It sounds lightly compressed, yet completely unfrosted, kinda reminiscent of early Carolyn Ahrens. Maybe that's the organic groove you're looking for, but it puts a little too much space between the vox and the instrumentation (IMO, of course).

Hi Kevin thanks for listening and I'm glad you enjoy the song.

I actually do have reverb on the voice, albeit very sparse. I am using the UAD-1 EMT Plate 140 plug-in for that. It actually sounds a lot different when the vocals are completely dry. I've never been a guy who actually likes to 'hear' the reverb on a vocal track. I prefer to give it enough so that it blends and enhances - not saturate. Anyway, it's mostly a matter of personal taste.

Thanks again,

Xavier, Thanks for your comments.

I play guitar and a little keyboard, too (I did bass on this song). Michael Fogarty (Michael Japan) did the piano and B3 work. He did a really nice job, IMO.

Thanks,

ORIGINAL: xavier onassis

Michael Fogarty (Michael Japan) did the piano and B3 work.

That's amazing. I actually thought it sounded like him. And great job with vocal and composition. This is a keeper.

Thanks so much for the kind words.

Regards,

Thanks for the length, detailed info Dan.

No problem. If you have any other questions, feel free to ask away.

Thanks,

I look forward to hearing it.

I'll going to LA this summer to visit relatives in Pasadena. Are you anywhere near there?

As far as being an inspiration; well that's just an honor for me. There are some very talented people on this forum and for you to characterize my work in that way is very humbling.

Thanks again,

Hey Dan, Pasadena is about three hours (on a good traffic day) away. It would be fun to see of we could hook up somehow. Maybe go to the Vintage Room at the Hollywood Guitar Center. Yowza.

There ARE a lot of talented folks submitting songs on this forum. I've benefitted enormously by posting, listening, critiquing and having my stuff critiqued. Never ceases to amaze me how I can post a song here after listening to it 200 times or so, and someone always hears something in the song that I haven't heard before. Usually something that I need to fix!

Ayhow, I just saw Amy's post. Good to meet the Mrs. Best of luck to you both on your project. I want the CD. Do you take VISA?

Ken

Hey Dan!

Did you use the NTK on Amy's voice with this song? It sounds familiar but I could be wrong!

Actually, I used an AT4040 for Amy's vocal on this song. It's has a bit more 'air' than a 4050 but still has a nice amount of midrange, too. I did use an NTK for the capo guitar part on the left part of the mix.

Thanks,

Andy -
Thanks for being so supportive of my music. My husband has played your stuff for me and I really like your voice (and your accent, too )

Thanks,

Amy:

Love your music! Looking forward to the finished product! Best wishes and God bless!

Carlos,
Thanks for the kind words. Your response is the kind I hope to get a lot of. I know this song evoked that kind of a emotional response from me, too.

I appreciate you taking the time to listen and comment.

Thanks again,

ORIGINAL: Chad Beattie

Dan and Amy, another fantastic job all around. This CD will definitely be a must buy!

Chad, thanks for the encouraging words. I'll be sure to make it as public as possible when the CD is ready.

Thanks again,
Dan

ORIGINAL: danhazer
Carlos,
Thanks for the kind words. Your response is the kind I hope to get a lot of. I know this song evoked that kind of a emotional response from me, too.
I appreciate you taking the time to listen and comment.

Quite to the contrary, Dan, you add esteem my opinion by valuing it so. Up to now, I have really only been aa technical/technique contributor. Someday soon I would like to offer some music here as well. This is such a great forum, and I'd like to be able to participate more actively.

I have also been blessed (more than deservingly, I assure you) with a wife who can sing and write with me. I would like to get a mic that 1) I can afford and 2) will best capture the essence of her voice. I like the airy quality of the AT4040 that you used. Now, my wife is a soprano. (Yes, she can go high.) I'm looking for "air" (I feel that it translates to "life") but without adding too much high end, because I'm telling you, it's already there. I was originally thinking Studio Projects C1, but I fear it would end up way too shrill. I guess I'm wondering if the 4040 could work well for her too.

I suppose that I could just grab a bunch of mics and try them all till we're both blue in the face, but I bet even after I did all that, you'd still have more varied mic experience than me. What do you think?