The Gift (final mix)

Very nice. I like the lyrics.

the guitar tone sounded like Brian Maye of Queen.... although it sounded good, I didn't think the overly gained out tone did not fit in this particular song. I would have gone for a more natural tone.... the song is closer to country in genre, so even a sweet acoustic would work...especially since it is a harmony lick there.

The engineering and production are good. Up to what I expected to hear form your studio.  Good job... just that one small nit on the guitar tone.

EDIT: even a fiddle would work in there in place of the guitars.....

Thanks Herb, I agree with you about the harmony guitar tone...
I think a Sitar would sound cool...

Reece... I think you're right about the vocal performance...
The key may not be right for Walter's voice...
Pedal steel? I don't know... Maybe this tune should have more of a "country" feel...

Thanks for listening, and sharing your thoughts guys...

  It's a very good
      Song
      Production
      Players Performance
      etc

  I even think the vocs are very good, But, the combination of so many instruments and
the accumulation of the "low mid frequencies" through the combination of those instruments
causes a "build up" that the vocs can't compete with and therefore are covered up.
For example the low mids of a strumming acoustic, left hand piano work, (maybe organ
too) in combination with a boomy kick is also leaving the bass guitar no room in the mix too.

 Such as sounding if the low end is one constant boom without a distinctive bass
guitar "note". It sounds like there is a type of compression on the mix as a whole
that lets the attack come through but then "comps" creating a "pumpy" sound
"after" that "attack".

  The "side stick" sounds good level wise but the snare hit might be a touch strong.

  Closer to the end it's more noticeable how the low mids (and maybe mids too)
are strong on the acoustic, though in "those" areas the acoustic sounds good
this isn't competing with the "whole band" in those areas.

  I applaud how well you've done everything here in the production, the mix and the
playing. That is top notch in all respects. The reason that I mention all the things above
is that this type of song and production is no easy task to do and sound remarkable.

  You've got all the right parts and a great production. A+ on that

   

 
  

Cool snare sound Frank, that jumped right out at me. Excellent work on the arrangement and instrumentation, mix sounds fab too. The vocalist is OK, sounds a little nervous though and perhaps that's making him restrained and 'nasally'. Well-written song though.

James

Astonishing!

Message: Excellent

Sweet lead nasal Vox: I personally crave slightly more presence, even tape harmonics, and/or upward compression ... some spark at 3kHz ... and/or more HPF wouldn't hurt either. 

Otherwise, I'd notch the lead instruments at 2-3kHz with a wide bandwidth (Q=0.8 or something) and widen things out a bit more for the central vox.

Outro is superbly handled (AS IS) ... a heart-melting and climactic ending ... that there majestic guitar pomp is my favorite guitar work I've ever heard!

A++++++++++++++++++++++++

Thanks Philip, I'm going to try your suggestions...
I recorded this vocal with a decent condencer mic... too much bass for his voice... finally I tried a cheaper condencer and it sounded a little better... Thanks for your feedback... 

This was very good, and I don't really like country that much. You sir, however, I could actually listen too. It was nice and clean, no flashy stuff, and your voice was great too. Full and rich without having to bellow.

Nice job!

Appreciate the feedback James... Walter was nervous, and maybe a little taken aback with my treatment of his song...
Thanks...
 
Thanks Tony... I love your new tune...

aaawesome song and production + + + + 1
suggestions- - - - the hat cymbals during the verse and chorus are to busy

Great job Frank. 
I've listened to this about 5 times now, and there's somethin bothering me with the snare. Not sure if it's just that the snare just seems too loud or it's on the 4 and not the 3.  My head seems to want it on the 3. I listen on a laptop so a lot of the subtleties may get lost. Might be that I'm not hearing any clik in the kik or no accent push on the 2 (there is a hat hit there, maybe bring that up on the 2.)   There is a snare hit at 3:16 that seems about the right level. Sorry to go on 'nitting'  cause it's a real nice Notnat signature production. I like the quality of the singers voice. Maybe some Melodyne harmonies (or, Frank Harmonies) could put a little more range in the voc. 

I definitley get a country vibe from the song.  Instrumentally I think everything is fine and fits the song well, production is good.  The snare I'm not crazy about and don't think it fit's with the song particulary well.  JMO opinion but I think the snare should be softer and have a bit of rattle to it.

Great song, I think the vocals were pretty good myself, maybe a little reserved but they seemed to work well too me.  Real nice job on the mix.

Dan

I liked the song Frank.

I was a bit surprised with the guitar, but, it did give it a 'modern country' vibe.

Larry

Such a lovely day today here in Southeast Alabama... a shame to spend all afternoon in the studio...
 
Added another harmony part... Re-eq everything, and added some tempo-dely to the vox...
Here is the new mix...  
"The Gift"
http://www.soundclick.com/TanTon
 

  New mix is super well done. It seems you (this time) went for a more delay sound on vocs
and that sounds very good. If you could "treat" the tails in places where the "delay" after
the voc stops a phrase where that isn't noticable that would sound awesome.

  I say this because having a longer delay on vocs instead of "the type of voc" effects
you have used in the past which was (shorter maybe?) (or medium room?) makes the
vocs fit really well. (done this way).

  The other instruments have a more "back seat" now, but that sounds great because
they are "just right" and now the bass, vocs, and drums are laying the "quality" of
the song, mix and production into a very "cool" manner.

 Impressive Frank, Well done

 

Wow he's got a DEEP voice! We need a duet with him and Beagle! The music sounds good. Everything works well together - I did keep feeling like I was wanting it to strip down to a reallly simple instrumentation for a little section. Not that it's too busy, that just might be cool for a change up. But it's a good song and you did a great job on the production!!