Hello everyone...I am new to the forums and hope I have done this properly. I wanted to let everyone know about a new song completed by my project (Fused In Blue) called "Blues Boy". Was hoping to really get some insights and comments from all on the tune, production and well, anythign that crosses your mind to say about the track! :)  Thanks in advance for your time. I am really striving to learn as much about utilizing Cakewalk as we record and do this all DIY so all input is welcomed! Please check out the song here... "https://soundcloud.com/d-s-49/blues-boy-final"
 
 

Nice guitar playing! You are definitely "doing this properly." You might want to see if you can make the drums keep up with the guitar as the intensity rises and falls. They get buried a bit.

Hi Dan,
 
Welcome to the Cakewalk forum 
 
Which flavour of Sonar are you using to create this stuff?
 
I'm not the best to comment on mixing and mastering because it's not what I am best at. One thing I would say, listening to Blues Boy, is I'd prefer to hear the drums in the centre of the mix... At least the kick and snare anyway, with the other elements panned to left and right to suit...
 
I listened to Long For Home next. The drums in that is what I would expect in a mix.
 
That said, it is only my personal preference, and perhaps I'm being a bit of a stick in the mud on that issue 
 
Guitar playing is fantastic... I wish I could play like that haha! Nice tones too. Care to share your process?
 
cheers
 
andy

Hi Dan,nice ballad. Solid guitar playing overall but intonation on a couple of slow bends is a bit iffy,imho.
 
Rik

Hey everyone...thanks for the initial input from all...I'm not a big "forums kind of guy so here goes my best shot at responses...I am using Sonar Producer X3. 
 
Larry...Thanks for that tip! I did not think to ride the faders on the drums while I was doing the final mix and it would have made a big difference for sure!
 
Andy...Thanks too. I gave the drums a little width on the channel tools and didn't touch back with it on a second set of speakers. As for guitar tones, I mainly record with a 2014 Les Paul (but do not use the boost toggle at all) and I live in an apartment so most times I am running through a Digitech RP500. I have a setting called "Eric Johnson" that I vary between using the built in Blackface (rhythm work mainly) or Soldano (lead work) and I change the cabinet to a Digitech Alt 4X12. I shape everything with either a tube screamer or DS1 (again depending on rhythm or lead work and how gnarly or how much sustain I am looking to get). Then I toggle the digital delay on and off as needed. I tap tempo it to the tune and usually have the repeats and level both  @25. Tone wise on the amp models themselves I generally start with Bass at 7.5, Mids at 7.5 and the highs cut back to between 4 and 5. That should get you in the ballpark nicely. I also used a Hamer Monaco XT on this track for one of the rhythm guitars and some of the cleaner things.
 
Rik...I checked out one of your pieces and was inspired / blown away. A LOT of Django in there and superbly played. I totally appreciate your comment and need to watch that. It is a weakness in my playing that I am aware of but loose concentration on in the midst of the performance too much....great constructive advice that I appreciate.
 
   Thanks a lot gentlemen...I really appreciate the insights. Hoping this weekend to get some more time to look around here and get into others' music as well. Take care all and many thanks again!
 
Dan S 
 

Thanks for the info Dan

I liked it...    It's got a cool vibe to it, and the lead guitar playing is very nice - great style.   Your input chain seems to be working well for ya!
 
Mix-wise the only thing that stood out to me (using cheapo headphones) was the extreme panning of the drums.  Otherwise I probably wouldn't change much.
 

Good stuff...good control of the arpeggio and smokin lead.
 
This would be cool to hear live!!
 
 
Cheers,
 
 
Billy

Killer guitar work. Very cool track.

Really well done track. Drum panning, while a little unusual, actually doesn't sound that bad, but all of your high frequencies are off-center, which does tilt the mix a bit. Right side guitars are a bit indistinct as well...
 
I'd center the bass and drums, because the bass sort of slides around left of center and center and is muddying things up a bit. Tying the kick and bass to center as the foundation is pretty critical to getting a solid underpinning for a song.
 
Really good guitar performances though.
 
Regards,
Dan