would appreciate some constructive criticism

I realize the drums are a little sloppy on the intro and I need to fill in the la la las with lyrics but wondering what you guys think of this.
Mixing is frustrating for me because it seems I always start too hot and then wind up having to bring everything down more and more...essentially doing another mix every time....thinking about getting the video subscription everyone's been talking about.
Anyway, it's at the top of this soundclick page titled "Diamonds" (working title) Diamonds (working title)


Thanks very much,
Randy

oops sorry
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/default.cfm?bandID=892315

JD1813

g_randybrown


I realize the drums are a little sloppy on the intro and I need to fill in the la la las with lyrics but wondering what you guys think of this.
Mixing is frustrating for me because it seems I always start too hot and then wind up having to bring everything down more and more...essentially doing another mix every time....thinking about getting the video subscription everyone's been talking about.
Anyway, it's at the top of this soundclick page titled "Diamonds" (working title)
http://www.soundclick.com/bandAdmin/default.cfm?content=songs&bandid=892315&sub=songInfo


Thanks very much,
Randy

Randy:   WOW!  I really enjoyed this.  I'm still listening again, with a smile.  The intro was hot, reminded me of vintage ELP!   I would not touch the drums, either!  The song's main body brought to mind another of my favorite styles - Moody Blues!   Ahhhh excellent stuff you guys are doing here. 
Interesting your comments about mixing, because that's precisely what I find myself doing.  I've been trying to teach myself to start at lower levels but still have a ways to go on that.  Hang in - you're further along than me and you've got a great sound going here!  Very well done!  

Wow, to be compared to ELP and Moody Blues... I'm blown away thanks so much JD...you've made my day year sir!

I wish I could offer constructive criticism, but I really like it the way it is. Vocals are just GREAT!  Great volume and harmonies!  Nice tune and great performances. :) 

(oh, and it would help to put the correct link in your original post.)  :)

Janet


I wish I could offer constructive criticism, but I really like it the way it is. Vocals are just GREAT!  Great volume and harmonies!  Nice tune and great performances. :) 

(oh, and it would help to put the correct link in your original post.)  :)

Wow thanks Janet, I don't think of myself as a "singer" but I think X1 can make anyone sound okay  

This is good stuff! I agree with the Moody Blues comments, but still sounds original. This was very pleasant to listen to. No need to change anything except (since you ask) maybe the drums could use a small doze of analogification.

Love the "La-la-laa's" or is it "Da-da-daa"?

ProjectM


This is good stuff! I agree with the Moody Blues comments, but still sounds original. This was very pleasant to listen to. No need to change anything except (since you ask) maybe the drums could use a small doze of analogification.

Love the "La-la-laa's" or is it "Da-da-daa"?

no, no it's la la da da da 
I'm open for suggestions for lyrics right there BTW


"analogification"...I'll have to remember that word
So I'm curious, is it the tone or the mechanical feel of the drums we're talking about here.
I ask because I used the Steven Slate "sizzle kit" in SD3/X1 but entered it using the step sequencer (as an excercise to learn the step sequencer) and a keyboard and then tweaked in PRV. 
If it's the mechanical feel then maybe I should bring my midi drum kit home and physically play the drum part ...and then tweak in PRV
Thanks for the comments,
Randy

Beagle


hey randy this is pretty good.  I have to agree about the drum comments, tho, they're dry and lifeless.  it's not necessarily the mechanical feel (although there is some of that), but the sounds are not great.  did you use the audio output of a drum machine for this?  I'd suggest replacing them with e-drum midi like you suggested and use EZ Drummer, Session Drummer 2/3 or Superior Drummer or something better than what you have.

vocals are good but spotty in places.

nice song!  keep up the good work!

Thanks Beagle, the drums are Steven Slate's sizzle kit which I like but yeah you're right, in the mix the snare starts sounding like a cardboard box...any advice would be appreciated.
Vocally; yessir I know they're spotty and downright flat in places. 
I need to learn V-Vocal or maybe do a 2nd and 3rd take on them eh?
Any other suggestions my friend?

g_randybrown

ProjectM


This is good stuff! I agree with the Moody Blues comments, but still sounds original. This was very pleasant to listen to. No need to change anything except (since you ask) maybe the drums could use a small doze of analogification.

Love the "La-la-laa's" or is it "Da-da-daa"?

no, no it's la la da da da 
I'm open for suggestions for lyrics right there BTW


"analogification"...I'll have to remember that word
So I'm curious, is it the tone or the mechanical feel of the drums we're talking about here.
I ask because I used the Steven Slate "sizzle kit" in SD3/X1 but entered it using the step sequencer (as an excercise to learn the step sequencer) and a keyboard and then tweaked in PRV. 
If it's the mechanical feel then maybe I should bring my midi drum kit home and physically play the drum part ...and then tweak in PRV
Thanks for the comments,
Randy

"La la da da da" you say? If you ask me, the lyrics are finished! That part sounds really cool. I'm not joking, I love it!
 
"Analogification", yes, English is not my native language so I get by by making words as I go along he he.
 
But what I mean about it is that the drums sounds a little programmed. The drum sounds themselves are great so that's not what's causing it. However, I see you've used the step sequencer and while that is an awesome tool for programing drums, it does play everything on the same velocity repeatedly over a short amount of time, in an 8-bar loops for example. It takes away some of the organic feel in my ears when the same drum sounds come over and over again. Out side the computer a drummer, doing a thousand hits on the snare during a song, none of the hits will sound the same. It's just a question of emulating it in software. Physically playing the parts is a great option, I use a Triggerfinger for my beats and play as long passages as I can and never fix the velocity on repeating parts. However, it doesn't have to be a problem using the SS or clicking in every note with your mouse. If things sounds a little machine gun I usually trow the Velocity MIDI FX on it and choose it to randomize the velocity within a certain range (115-127 if it's multilayered at that range). You could drag the step sequencer MIDI files onto the track and apply it there. Groove Quantize is also one of my favorite tricks up my sleeve for the same effect. Or you could use the mouse and edit the velocity in PRV - but that can get tedious he he.
 
But actually, my comment on the drums were just because I was listening for something to put my finger on. They did sound great as they were too. It's just us nerds who notice, I'm guessing the rest of the world wouldn't mind But one final trick I like to use is to set up a send on the drum bus with a very short reverb, usually shorter than the "drum room" presets in most reverbs, and adjust the send level to taste so it's not quite audible but slightly noticeable. It can generate some random artefacts on its own to the sound and give the feel of a good old room miced kit
 
OK, I've written too much already. Bottom line is; I really, really liked the song and everything about it. I'm not able to check out the latest version on this computer (Soundclick messes it up for some reason) but you already had a winner

Smooth as silk!

Thanks so much guys, I think I'll just take the ghost snare hits out (at least most of them)...they do seem to get a little monotonous.
I also gave my 21 year old son a copy because I want him to sing the lead and the rest of the family to do the harmonies. 
Thanks again everyone I feel pretty good about this now (I wrote it in 1985, did scratch tracks on a 4 track cassette and shelved it all this time).
You guys have me pumped to dust off all the others that my wife and I wrote (in the early 90s) and get the family involved....which might be easy if they knew who the Moody Blues were (I'm still blown away by that comparison)

I hear overtones of the Moodies and ELO.

Strikes me that the problem with the drums is they are just a little to repetitive.  I would not loose all the ghost notes just some of them about 10 to 15%.  With those left use the Veyvel CAL to make some general charges to them.  You may also want to nudge a few around just by five or ten ticks just to add a little feel.

Wookiee




I hear overtones of the Moodies and ELO.

Strikes me that the problem with the drums is they are just a little to repetitive.  I would not loose all the ghost notes just some of them about 10 to 15%.  With those left use the Veyvel CAL to make some general charges to them.  You may also want to nudge a few around just by five or ten ticks just to add a little feel.

Thanks Wook...wow another Moody Blues/ELP reference....I'm ecstatic!
Yessir, I like the ghost notes, it was initially a fake cabasa (as evidenced by the original version at the bottom of the soundclick page). After listening I feel they do become a little redundant so tomorrow I'd like to get rid of some of them as well as check out the script you mentioned (or just play it...hell I was a pro drummer for 20 plus years).
Thanks again my friend,
Randy

vechung


Yeah, I meant, if your intro is aggressive, you should build the song into that.  It is your choice what part.   More crunchy guitars, heavier drums, massive distortion, earthquakes, and Cat5 huricanes  .

 I'm thinking the intro is just inappropriate and should be used in another song or something.
The initial idea was for that to be an outro of another song ...kind of a concept album thing....like the Moody Blues...yeah that's it!!! (JK) 
Thanks my friend,
Randy

Janet


"Wow thanks Janet, I don't think of myself as a "singer" but I think X1 can make anyone sound okay"

Really?  Maybe I should upgrade!  :)

hahaha...I guess I meant Sonar (or even just a DAW) in general : )