Inspired by a youtube video of yazoo playing this track live, I looked to sequence this for play on the MC-808 and the Access Virus. All done in Sonar from start to finish with sounds from the Virus, drums from the MC-808. Vocals recorded with an AT2035 condenser mic.
 
This is my first vocal recording session, and first post in the songs section, and I would appreciate your feedback and any suggestions for improvement in mix/mastering.
 
thx, Ian
 
https://soundcloud.com/mystic38/only-you-feat-bethany-mcgill

Excellent!  Stripped down synth pop.  You do it well!  Bethany's voice is great, but it's your production that makes it work perfectly.
 
I also listened to a few of your other songs on soundcloud.  I love your work.  You've got a new fan Ian!

That's pretty cool -I like it.

Music is absoluetly spot on, but the vocal is a bit too forward to my ears and doesn't quite sit right spacially speaking. It doesn't sound like she was in the same room as the rest of the recording. I think it needs the vocal level and reverb tweaking. I'm no kind of expert, just saying how I hear it.

Nicely preformed and sounds really good at this end. Thanks for sharing.
 
Peace and Blessings, John

It's all good!  Is that supposed to be a hand clap in the background?  The mix is nice and the vocalist is really easy to listen to.  Perfect pitch, or did you trick that?  

Thanks all for the kind comments...
 
@ Paulo, 
thx for the comments: in the original Alison Moyet is quite in your face iirc.. so I tried to bring he vocals intentionally forward.. with comparison though I think the original has quite a bit more reverb... perhaps I could have traded some vocal level down for reverb up?..
 
@evadianepug,
thanks!.. yes there is a clap on beats 2 & 4 along with the snare.. its a stock 909 clap with a touch of reverb.
 
Bethany has a really easy voice and has very good natural pitch. I did however run the dry vocals through a Voiceworks processor to
a) add soft reverb & mild compression,
b) thicken the vocals (Voiceworks can add two programmable detuned streams to the original for more body in the vocals, and
c) a very mild 40% pitch correction (ie moves pitch by 40% of difference). In an A/B comparison its effect was only noticeable if I looked at the LED.. :) ie.. I couldn't tell..i think.
d) The harmony vocals in the chorus were also generated by Voiceworks off the same dry vocal track. I programmed a single harmony part to make Bethany a Soprano and harmonized her up a 1/3rd
e) Eq was done in the pro channel
 
This was my first "real" vocal recording job and I am sure I could have done better but to my ears the effects part of voiceworks [item a) and b) above] sounds pretty classy all by themselves.. and having harmonies being generated with a stomp of a footswitch is pretty cool... provided the vocalist doesn't burst out laughing, that is.. .. she did, so I did it afterwards...lol
 
thanks again all,
 
ian

Nice job for first time. I add to what Paulo said above on the vocals being too 'up front'. Need to be put back into the mix. Have a look up on youtube for some mixing vocals tutorials!

Good cover, as noted by Paulo the vocal, which is excellent, space needs a little attention to glue it to the instruments.  Did you use a master reverb or individual verbs?
 
Thanks for sharing.

Loved it Ian!!