New Version "Give my heart" (SteveD on drums)

Hi Guys,
Just poped over to SoundClick to listen to, "Give my Heart". Sounds better with the live drums. I listened to a couple others while I was there. You guys make good gospel music.

Steve,
Nice sounding production. SteveD does a fine job, just like always.

I remember we were all encouraging you to get a real drummer on Name Above All, good for you. ;-)

Some comments for this one: you're using a single level of instrumentation and dynamic level throughout. I think it could really help to use some variation, such as bring it down on the verse (less guitar) and kick it up on the chorus (more pad / lead guitar), and add some new instrument colors on the mid-eight to really make it distinct. I also thought there was room for a lead guitar counter melody, something soaring with sustained half and whole notes. Anyway, just some ideas.

To Ed and all those who had encouraged me to get a drummer, I just wanted to say thanks. Yes, i took the plunge and I'm grateful for it. SteveD did a great job which made it real inspiring when tracking. Thanks for not giving up on me as i do take all your comments very seriously. As far as guitar idea, i felt the same way. I've tried to come up with something that i like (not just for the sake of putting something there), but i have yet to discover it. You just confirmed my idea. Thanks. I'm going to ask a dumb question, but what do you mean by adding some instrument colors on the mid-eight?

ORIGINAL: ed_mcg

Steve,
Nice sounding production. SteveD does a fine job, just like always.

I remember we were all encouraging you to get a real drummer on Name Above All, good for you. ;-)

Some comments for this one: you're using a single level of instrumentation and dynamic level throughout. I think it could really help to use some variation, such as bring it down on the verse (less guitar) and kick it up on the chorus (more pad / lead guitar), and add some new instrument colors on the mid-eight to really make it distinct. I also thought there was room for a lead guitar counter melody, something soaring with sustained half and whole notes. Anyway, just some ideas.

I certainly agree Max. Thanks for your encouragement on the mix too.

ORIGINAL: MArwood

Much better with the live drums. Steve did a nice job. Mix seems to bo pretty good too.
Max Arwood

Hi, Opensky!

Yep, Steve sounds good here. All his choices are good ones. And I loved the drum break at about 3:40. Great!

I found myself thinking right off that you could lose the synth pad in this one. I think it'd be cooler with just the guitars, bass, and drums. The pad isn't that interesting and doesn't really add, IMO.

Like the rest, though. Voice is interesting. Guitars are working. But, was that a tease at the end? I thought I was getting a guitar solo!

Nice track!

Nice song. Good job on the musicianship
and production.

Hey M, good to hear from you again. I originally recorded it without the pad but it sounded so bare. Maybe i'm being self-conscious. I will listen to it again without the pad and reevaluate. Yeah, that was tease wasn't it! :) It was supposed to give a scottish bagpipe feel at the end but i was tempted to do a solo. I had to keep my rate (SteveD) under five minutes for a better price anyways:).

ORIGINAL: M

Hi, Opensky!

Yep, Steve sounds good here. All his choices are good ones. And I loved the drum break at about 3:40. Great!

I found myself thinking right off that you could lose the synth pad in this one. I think it'd be cooler with just the guitars, bass, and drums. The pad isn't that interesting and doesn't really add, IMO.

Like the rest, though. Voice is interesting. Guitars are working. But, was that a tease at the end? I thought I was getting a guitar solo!

Nice track!

I like this! Are you singing in this? I like the voice, suits the track very well. The production and mixing sounds quite good to me, listening thru headphones, though. The calmer section around 3:20 adds nice variation as well as the stuff after that, but I think the track still needs something realle different. Now it's quite long for the harmonic content it has.

The only thing which really bothers me is the drums, I think they're a bit behind at the beginning half of the song, but it didn't seem to bother me as the song proceeded towards the end. Maybe the drummer got a tighter groove towards the end, or my ears just adapted. Anyway, I think the groove should be more in time right from the start.

Petri

Yea, it's no big deal really, just thought I mention it. And I didn't mean to insult you, I hope I didn't do that.

And tell me about it, I've fought with some same kind of issues too. A "live" recording is always so much easier in terms of sync :)

Anyway, your playing sounds really good and I really like the sound of the drums the snare especially. And that clip you posted is tight, you're right :)

Petri

ORIGINAL: opensky

I'm bad...obviously i'm the culprit. I remembered when i first gave you (SteveD) the track (with the drum machine), i remembered you mentioning that the tempo ended up being a little faster at the end, i think 71.5 bpm whereas it started at 71 bpm. I used bass loops for this but didn't think about making the adjustment. Then i laid my guitar tracks listening to the bass. That's all i can think of (besides being a bad player) which caused it to come out the way i did. Didn't mean to embarass you Steve.

Whoa... whoa... whoa!

I'm not embarrassed. I wouldn't have even brought it up... except that you got similar comments from another forum... remember?

I'm just trying to help and I certainly didn't want you convinced by hearing this a second time that I can't keep a groove.

It doesn't sound bad. In fact everyone is telling you the song is great. But I warned you that these guys are good... VERY good... and they hear this stuff. This is the right place to come if you want to know where you stand and what to improve.

This is a good thing.

Here's a new version based on several suggestions given in this forum. When you hear something for so long, it's very hard to hear objectively. I say this because i'm not sure if i like the changes because i've heard it the other way for so long. So i need some fresh ears here. Thanks!

Even better now!
Max Arwood

Thanks regarding the vocals! Unfortunately i can't take credit for it. The singer's name is Matt Switalski who is a very talented 19 year old i recruited from church. Thanks for all your input and i can see SteveD has responded regarding the drums. Thanks again. PS: there is a new version loaded up. Let me know what you think.

ORIGINAL: Petronome

I like this! Are you singing in this? I like the voice, suits the track very well. The production and mixing sounds quite good to me, listening thru headphones, though. The calmer section around 3:20 adds nice variation as well as the stuff after that, but I think the track still needs something realle different. Now it's quite long for the harmonic content it has.

The only thing which really bothers me is the drums, I think they're a bit behind at the beginning half of the song, but it didn't seem to bother me as the song proceeded towards the end. Maybe the drummer got a tighter groove towards the end, or my ears just adapted. Anyway, I think the groove should be more in time right from the start.

Petri