• Songs
  • Impromptu w/Rik edited 3/2 (p.3)
2015/03/02 22:32:48
Janet
OK, just checked it out.  I had the guitar and cello panned on the buses and now have also panned them on the individual tracks.  I'm listening on headphones, so can't tell if it helped or not.  I toned down the piano a bit. Not sure why you heard the piano all at 127, Bapu, but it could have just been too loud.  The synth is already 100% wide. 
 
Thank you, Dan, for checking in.  :) Yes, it really saddens me to think Rik may not play again.  He plays so beautifully.  Would have loved to do a CD or two with him.  Not that I have time anyway, but I wish he could...
 
Thanks very much Freddy.  Good to see you again.  Don't hold your breath, but we'll see. :)  
 
You guys are great!
 
Oh, and I posted a new version just now.  I'll edit my post up top.  
2015/03/02 23:39:00
bayoubill
ahh Mamabear!!! This is beautiful! Great playing by Rik and yourself as usual. Thank you!!! Rik your tone is pristine! I love it 
2015/03/02 23:48:46
emeraldsoul
Howdy! This certainly is a nice mellow piece. I'm a big fan of Mark Knopfler as I'm sure many are - kind of "Princess Bride" territory, very nice.
 
Sorry to hear of the guitarists illness and hope things improve for him! I'm new around here, so I didn't get to hear anything in the "years ago" category, but judging by the comments of others, seems like their was much respect and admiration for you both!
 
OK, I did think that during the first minute of the song, the piano and the guitar seemed to be fighting each other rhythmically, seemed a bit out of sync. It seemed like both were trying to establish the rhythm of the song, but it wasn't the same rhythm. It got better in this regard towards the end, which was more of a true blend and more lined up rhythmically. Perhaps I'm the only one who notices this, but you could look at more editing in the first minute, to bring things in line. ?
 
Perhaps the answer is, during one part of the song, the piano could be brought forward (louder) as prominent, and then switch - later the guitar could be foreground (with the piano background).
 
Your piano playing is lovely, which version of Ivory are you using? I have the Ivory D "American Steinway, but I'm not exactly in love with it . . .
 
Overall, it's a cool combo and a very soothing kind of piece, nice job. Have you tried it without the cello/string line? Just the piano and the guitar?
 
cheers, and thanks for the share,
-Tom
2015/03/03 13:59:00
Janet
Thanks, Bill.  Yeah, he's good, isn't he? :)
 
Thanks, Tom!  And BAM!  You nailed it!  This is a hard one to play along with.  He laid down his part first, with no regard for timing (he knows it). :)  My piano would be the same except I play to a drum track and can then edit it using PRV.  Anyway, so it's hard to get the timing just right and I'm not perfectly happy with it.  I threw it up here to see what you guys thought.  I never thought about having the instruments take turns being prominent.  That's a good idea, actually, and one that most people probably follow.  I have a hard time making those decisions in mixing though.  (that's only one of my problems in mixing).  :)  And about the cello...I just added that last minute, hoping to add something nice to the bottom.  Take it out, huh?  I'll try that again and see.  I do love that low part. But if you're thinking everything's fighting too much, you're probably right.  I've struggled with that a lot...wanting to play along, but not quite sure how.  I imagine some strings and no piano would be best. I'll think about it.
 
I can't remember which version of Ivory I have.  When I boot up my DAW I'll check and get back to you.  I'm totally in love with it, but I messed with it a lot when I first got it, using a few guys' input for dialing it in. 
 
Thanks for the input.  I have about 90 songs on my soundclick page if you want to hear what I did years ago.  But I won't be offended at all it you don't! :)  
2015/03/03 18:09:19
markno999
Janet,
 
Very nice song.  Great to hear your and Rik's playing again.  Lot of great suggestions above, I am hearing the 3/2 mix so missed some of the early versions and this mix sounds good.    It sounds very nice, however, some timing issues that make the parts seem to step on each other and ultimately take away from the overall performances.   
 
I think, as you mentioned, that you got Rik's part and then played along with it.    I think if you create a tempo map to Rik's original performance that would bring things together.  The great thing about Rik's playing, other than being an awesome player, is his natural cadence abilities for this style music.   If you are playing to a click track that has the tempo mapped, much easier to match up all the parts.  At that point you could loosely quantize some of the piano to tighten it up rather than dragging individual notes around in the PRV.
 
Really beautiful song and playing by both though.  Very much enjoyed it.

Regards  
2015/03/04 20:21:33
Janet
Thanks so much, Mark. Always enjoy reading your input.  I'm not sure what you mean by creating a tempo map.
 
Thanks again for stopping by. I appreciate it!  And yes, he's good.  ;) 
2015/03/04 21:27:25
markno999
Janet,
 
A tempo map would create a project tempo that follows Rik's performance.   Most songs that are performed by real humans (not computers) don't follow a defined tempo, there is a ebb and flow in the timing.   When you have performance that meanders around in timing, a tempo map follows that timing and helps you keep everything in sync. Like a conductor keeping the orchestra in time.....
 
A number of ways to make them.   You line up the start of the performance to a measure (I usually start at measure 2) so that the first beat is aligned perfectly to the first measure.   Then you can manually map them, or, I have been using Melodyne to automatically create the tempo map.  Sometimes Melodyne works great or gets it close enough that minor tweaks will get you there.   Here is a tutorial by Karl Rose (fasktbikerboy) showing how to do a tempo map.
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_HPlejc2HkE
 
Regards
2015/03/04 21:32:26
Janet
Thanks Mark!  Never tried that before, so I may just check into that. :)  
2015/03/06 12:11:16
Thatsastrat
Hi Janet!
         Glad you are still involved. As others have given mix advice, I will only comment on the fact that I enjoyed the listen.
          Wishing you the best.
2015/03/06 13:02:38
Wookiee
Definitely sounding much better now.
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