New Song - "Need to Know"

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eduard87
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2017/08/18 11:22:21 (permalink)

New Song - "Need to Know"

Hi everyone,
 
After about 3 years of watching my computer gather dust I finally got back into recording some music. I have to say, I really like some of the new features Sonar offers that just weren't there back in the old days.
 
Here is my song, "Need to Know" - 
 
www.youtube.com/watch?v=afM_1TJG7ks
 
 I was quite different this time around with my use of panning. In other projects I would always duplicate every track and spread the panning slightly, whereas on this occasion I haven't done that, so each guitar is just one track. I'd always heard that this wasn't best practice, but I found that if anything, it helped me out.
 
I think I am too light on the bass. I always seem to be too light on the bass but I only ever realise it after mastering. It must be something I do wrong in mixing, my monitor setup or something which causes it. Any tips for how to get round it are most welcome.
 
I'm starting a new song soon so any feedback on things I can do better would be really appreciated.
 
Many thanks in advance,
 
Ed.
#1

20 Replies Related Threads

    jamesg1213
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    Re: New Song - "Need to Know" 2017/08/20 09:46:04 (permalink)
    That's a nice song Ed. I like the drifty feel and your vocal delivery is quite contemporary to my ears. Cool little electric guitar break too.
     
    Here's the vid if that helps people get to it;
     


     
    Jyemz
     
     
     



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    #2
    Jesse Screed
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    Re: New Song - "Need to Know" 2017/08/20 12:25:34 (permalink)
    Nice, I really like the vocals at the beginning, and then they seemed to get pulled back.
     
    Nice arrangement, very nice mix, great choice of drums, nice use of reverb and panning.  Great Lyrics and vibe.
     
    Love it.  Seems to get a little thick around 2:39, but still a great effort.
     
    Thanks!
     
    Jesse Q Screed
     
     
    #3
    optimus
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    Re: New Song - "Need to Know" 2017/08/20 15:20:29 (permalink)
    Nicely sung, played and recorded.
    I think you have a great mix and arrangement.
    The only thing regarding the bass is perhaps it is a little indistinct, maybe a bit tubby.
     

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    #4
    interpolated
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    Re: New Song - "Need to Know" 2017/08/20 15:53:50 (permalink)
    Youtube is not a great reference point for judging audio however listening on my headphones it was clean and distinct. It's never easy to judge bass on headphones anyway although it was a little shy. So I turned on the Hi-Fi curve button on my headphone amp. The actual song is good and the YT compression doesn't detract from this,
     

    I have computer stuff.
     
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    #5
    emeraldsoul
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    Re: New Song - "Need to Know" 2017/08/20 16:42:33 (permalink)
    Go get a label, if you don't already have one.  :)
     
    Very contemporary, very well put together. Lyrics I think are exceptional. The vocal mixing is pretty stellar!
     
    The bass gets a little amorphous but it's a fretless I think? I don't think it hurts a song like this to have the bass guitar be a little "ambient"
     
    You might consider pumping the guitar solo up a tad in the mix when it comes.
     
    I'd say this is way more than 20% ready.
     
    nice one!
     
    cheers,
    -Tom
     
     

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    #6
    AndyB01
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    Re: New Song - "Need to Know" 2017/08/21 17:27:15 (permalink)
    Very nice song - thanks for sharing. I like the vocal performance and there really are some very well-crafted lyrics in there - well worth a repeat listen. I agree with @Tom - the guitar solo is too low in the mix for my taste and I'd like it to be more prominent but these are all creative choices that we make so you may prefer it as it is. Top work! Andy

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    #7
    eph221
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    Re: New Song - "Need to Know" 2017/08/21 19:36:35 (permalink)
    A different style than is often heard here.  Really refreshing.  Based on my furry ears, the song sounds well-produced.

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    stevec
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    Re: New Song - "Need to Know" 2017/08/29 18:46:22 (permalink)
    Yeah, that was really good.   Catchy but not poppy, nice clean mix, and the vocals + lyrics IMO are a standout.   On cheap headphones I thought the guitar solo sat nicely as-is.   I also liked that trailing pad... nice touch.  

    SteveC
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    eduard87
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    Re: New Song - "Need to Know" 2017/08/30 16:58:00 (permalink)
    Hi everyone,
     
    thank you all for the feedback. It's interesting that you picked up on the solo as being quiet as I was quite happy about the level of the guitar, however I have always listened to the track on a loud volume. Listening back to it today at a "sensible" level, I can see that the presence of the solo is much less and could have done with something more. If I was to simply turn the solo up in the mix though, wouldn't that just make it too loud if ever the song was played on full blast?
     
    Also with regards to the bass. Is it as simple as me bringing it up in the mix or is there some more processing/conditioning that I need to do in order to get it to stand out?
     
    Finally, I noticed that the hyperlink for youtube doesn't work. I thought before that it was just my browser playing up, but now I realise it might be that youtube links are blocked here on the forum. I apologise if I broke any kind of etiquette. It for sure wasn't intentional.
    #10
    Wookiee
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    Re: New Song - "Need to Know" 2017/08/30 17:39:23 (permalink)
    I like this, nice sounding mix, clean and present vocal sitting nicely in the mix, good job.  well that is what my furry ears tell me even if David (eph221) apparently borrowed them when I was resting.

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    jamesg1213
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    Re: New Song - "Need to Know" 2017/08/30 17:40:13 (permalink)
    YouTube isn't blocked, you weren't able to post a link because you haven't got enough posts yet, that's why I linked it for you.

     
    Jyemz
     
     
     



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    #12
    eduard87
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    Re: New Song - "Need to Know" 2017/08/30 21:32:26 (permalink)
    Aaaah man. That makes sense now. I was in this forum for a long time as greekmac7, but then when I upgraded cakewalk I registered with a different email address and I was never able to sign in to my old profile. Well if this is the case then it's a good incentive to be more active in the forum. Thanks for clearing this up for me and thanks of course for linking.
    #13
    Johnbee58
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    Re: New Song - "Need to Know" 2017/08/31 00:13:30 (permalink)
    Your vocal work is impressive.  Very professional sounding.  It captures the emotion in your voice as if you're singing right into the listener's ear. 
     
    John B.

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    auto_da_fe
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    Re: New Song - "Need to Know" 2017/08/31 18:42:21 (permalink)
    Very Nice job.
     
    Performance and recording very well done.
     
    JR

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    savoy
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    Re: New Song - "Need to Know" 2017/08/31 19:34:12 (permalink)
    wow bravo that's really good both the song & the mix!!!

    (apologise for my english)
     
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    Mesh
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    Re: New Song - "Need to Know" 2017/09/01 14:53:17 (permalink)
    Wow Eduard, this is a very nice recording, performance, and mix. I enjoyed everything......on my headphones. The bass did seem a bit light, but didn't take anything away from the song.
     
    Well done mate...really well done!!

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    eduard87
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    Re: New Song - "Need to Know" 2017/09/01 22:31:40 (permalink)
    Thanks all for your feedback. with regards to the vocals, I used baby bluebottle mic and izotope nectar to shape the sound. I think I read in the forum here about there being a sweet spot at 5k and 10k on equaliser and that Vocals on commercial tracks tend to boost these, so I did the same.

    I think I could have spent more time automating to get a more level volume and there are some parts where it feels like the vocals gets a bit hot, and also sometimes words are lost depending on what headphones or speakers it's played through.

    Also, next time I will try to stand further away from the mic. Whilst I got a great sound in places by being up close, I think it also resulted in some pops and hisses here and there.
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    johndavidross
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    Re: New Song - "Need to Know" 2017/09/05 19:54:33 (permalink)
    Love the tune. It feels deep and is sung with emotion. I hear heavy influences from some of my favorite artists like Howie Day, Parachute and Cary Brothers. I'd buy this track as is. Let us know if you release it.
    #19
    eduard87
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    Re: New Song - "Need to Know" 2017/09/05 20:10:24 (permalink)
    johndavidross
    Love the tune. It feels deep and is sung with emotion. I hear heavy influences from some of my favorite artists like Howie Day, Parachute and Cary Brothers. I'd buy this track as is. Let us know if you release it.




    You're too kind John. I actually don't know these bands but I will definitely check them out. My favourite band are the counting crows, but I'm not sure it shows in this track. 
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    jmasno5
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    Re: New Song - "Need to Know" 2017/09/13 14:41:07 (permalink)
    I like this tune.  The instrumentation is great.  I have to agree with you that the bass is light.  The other thing that stood out to me is that the vocal seems to be too out front at times.  I know I get a lot of flack for this sometimes but I like the vocals in the mix as though they are in the same room with the band.  But hey, mixing is all subjective.  You have a great song here that is VERY marketable.  It has a nice modern sound.  Good luck. 

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