Not The Man

Here is a new song that I have written and just finished tracking.  Let me know what you thing of the mix on this song.
 
Not The Man:
Words and music by Michael Hanson
 
Links:
https://soundcloud.com/michaeljhanson/not-the-man-12
 
http://www.reverbnation.com/michaeljhanson/songs
 
 
 

I didn't hear the tuning problem on the guitars but the vocal was pitchy.  Nice, but pitchy.  Pitchy is an American Idol term, LOL.  I've never used pitch correction (Melodyne, Autotune) but I understand they work really well.  Not that I couldn't use it, I just didn't, lazy.  I kept waiting for some break or chorus.  Could've used it, IMHO.   Good song though and clean mix.
 

Hey Michael - good song
guitars sound really good, mix is pretty good, but there's a lot of low end building up especially when the bass kicks in.
I do hear the pitch problems these guys have mentioned.  I know that's something you've struggled with and I feel your pain!  I really do! 
 
I also thought the song could use a break - something to make it stand out from the rest.

Hey brother, I thought the guitars sounded fine. I really like the sound of that acoustic! The vocals do wander a little. I think I would just retrack them. I really think some harmonies during the chorus would really set it off too. As far as the low end buildup: it did sound boomy to me, and that snare needs to come up in the mix. I really like the lyrics, though, as I do with all your songs! This song is gonna be great with a little work on the vocals and some tweaking here and there.

Play the melody on the keyboard? Noodle around with it, get it the way you want it. Then you have something to compare your performance against? 

BTW, saying it's pitchy doesn't mean it's THAT bad, it's just something one person tells another that they are hearing.  Not to hurt feelings but to point out something that is aware to that listener.  I just don't want you to think this is really bad, it's not.  Listen to your playback with only one melody instrument playing and see what you think.  Personally, if I thought it was unredeamable, I'd probably say that.  You just need a bit of work.  I definitely agree GTRPSTR that new songs are definitely more prone to be pitchy cause, well,.....no one knows them yet.  When I compare my first few tracks of a new song to the finals, it's almost shameful.  That's a VERY good point.  Anyway, I didn't want you to get the wrong idea about what we were saying.  

Pug,
 
I didn't take your response that way; I understood what you were saying.  You felt like there were a couple of areas that had some pitch issues that needed to be worked on.  That was no big deal to me.
 
Teego,  Thanks for listening.  I wonder if what some are hearing on the guitar is me altering a chord, like D, by dropping the pinky and creating a sus2?  I will do a lot of accents on in my chording by adding a 7th or sus to some songs.  Are you hearing this on the chorus, that is were I am alternating the D chord to a Dsus2 to add an accent in parts.  All of the chords are pretty much open chords and I don't feel like I am stretching or bending them while playing. 
 
Gtrpastor,
Thanks for listening and commenting.  Sounds like you have experienced the same issue from time to time.  I could try a different key, but I think I can work with this one alright and will give it another go.  I am glad you like and can relate to the lyrics.  Lyrically, this may turn out to be one of my favorites; time will tell.

Hey Herb,
 
Thanks for listening brother.  I have actually already resung this song and tracked some new vocals.  I mowed the yard shortly after posting it; right after reading all the pitch comments.  It bothered me so much that I came in the house soaking wet from our first real hot day in Texas this year, flipped on the preamp, grabbed the iPad with lyrics on it and tracked 2 takes start to finish, while I had nice swetty vocal chords.  I think it came out better this time a round, but I haven't posted a new version yet.  I think the ear pads on the cans are still soaking wet, actually.  Ha! 
 
Yes, It's how we sound and its not going to be perfect with me singing the song.  I have already gone into the new version with melodyne and as you say.....nudged a few notes up or down here and there.  I know that my vocals are improving, melodyne proves that when you can graph them and over time and songs, see that you are hitting things closer all of the time.  Just me an the acoustic, like you say, probably does contribute to the issue.  I left myself a little bit naked for the first time. 
 
On the guitar, I am pretty religious about tuning repeatedly between takes.  It could happen I guess, but I carry a Peterson strobe on my iPhone for the acoustic; the electrics and bass are using Ampitube 3, which has a built in tuner which is basically always on, so that I can flip back an foreth.  I guess if I had Melodyne Producer I could graph the guitar as well, just to check it.  I am not hearing the guitar issues.  I have had a couple of people PM me and say that they don't hear the guitar issues.  Who knows?  Maybe there is, maybe there isn't.  I know that I can't pick out which one might be the issue right now.
 
Glad you liked the song Herb.  I worked pretty hard on these lyrics to get them where I wanted them and fought the urge to settle for less.  Lyrically, it is one of my favorites right now.  Time will tell, I guess.

Well, your ears can't be worse than mine, Teego. My wife keeps telling me that I need hearing aids. I don't think she has figured out that I have selective hearing. :-)

I'm sure that there is something there if a few of you guys are hearing it. I just can't hear it. It must not be very noticeable though, I have this up at another site as well and the 5 or 6 that have responded didn't pick up on anything out of tune on the guitar.

I had a room mate in college and the first time I met him, he walked into our dorm room and said to me, "Your speakers are out of phase"...I was like....what? He went over to one of them, switched the cable over and walls...they suddenly sounded really good. Turned out he was a pretty good guitar player as well and the two of us eventually started our first band together. I learned very quickly, that if Chris heard something out of tune or timing, it definitely was. It took me years to be able to hear some of the things he heard in an instant.

Thanks for the comments Lynn.
 
I posted a new version of this one if you get a chance to listen.  I have re-tracked ALL of the vocals.  I hope that they all sound on pitch now.  I brought the electric "crunch" guitar up a little in the mix.  Also switched out snare drums and brought it up a little in the mix; that was an excellent suggestion.  It adds a little more groove to the song.
 
Yes, the acoustic tone came out really nice.  Nothing different than I usually do, but I got a great capture on this one, for some reason.  Both the acoustic and vocals are from a single MXL 63m mic.  Acoustic is pointed right at the 12th fret, about 8in away.  Don't tell the guys that think the reflection filters don't work, but I used one here, plus some shipping blankets strategically placed/ hung around my garage.  Not going to be able to be out there much longer...summer is here in TX.

Mike, I listened to the new version and think that you improved this.  The additional vocal thickens up the chorus, and you addressed the pitchiness quite well.  The electric guitar is better balanced with the acoustic which makes this mix sound fuller.  Your efforts make this song jump out of my speakers, now.  Well done.

 I agree with Lynn and Herb, sounds way. way better ! Glad you fixed it because it is a song worth fixing!

Agree...acoustic sounds out of tune

New version is a huge improvement.  Sounds really good.  That Texas lawn sweat worked well. 

I have plenty of mics, but can't sing a lick, so can't comment on vocals.  I have to focus on instrumentals. I do like the clarity of the acoustic guitar. I have tried using my acoustic guitar thru a mic on one of my songs and obviously had improper setup. If I had more attention span, I would have experimented more. But I feel like trying again after hearing yours thanks capg