Please Listen to This....

[ferguson66]

This is the first time I have recorded guitar and the first time I have recorded vocals. This is an original song that we want to "rock it" up and make it more of an alternative rock song.

I first recorded her playing an acoustic/electric guitar to a click track. I then recorded her vocal while she listened to the guitar in headphones.

The Details

The guitar was plugged directly into a DI input on the Digidesign 003 rack.
The vocal was done with an Audix KSM32 mic in my bedroom (away from my noisy computer). The room has a natural wood tounge and groove vaulted ceiling which I think makes a great recording room

The only software used was ProTools LE 7.1. I haven't started playing around with EQ or reverb or anything yet, I am still learning about all of that fun stuff.

That is it, I am new to recording, sound, music and mixing so any and all feedback is appreciated. Any musicians that have some advice on rocking this tune out would greatly be appreciated. Definitely want to add bass, electric guitar and drums. Exploring changing tempo and melody as well. I also need to find a bass player

[mikromort]

Sounds Great!!. Just a little boomy on the guitar, I'm no expert on recording acoustics (or anything else for that matter), but maybe move the mic a bit on the acoustic to reduce the boom.

[ferguson66]

Thanks for the listen. The guitar was recorded as a direct DI input. Her guitar had a 3 way EQ on it, maybe I can get rid of some of the low end there. I can certainly chop some of that out with EQ but I would like to start with the best raw recording as possible.

[tZer]

As you know, I am an absolute beginner with beginner's ears... so my evaluation is more along the lines of how I felt as opposed to technical.

She has a really nice voice and the recording is very listenable!

Being that the song itself is unfinished, it's hard to say much else - but what you have sounds really good to me. I listened at work through some sub-par walkman-style headphones, but all in all, her voice sounded strong and clean and the guitar sounded very real and present.

It's always rough evaluating or being evaluated when the song is still in it's early stages. Keep it up! I am interested in how it develops.

On a side note - and I hesitate to say this, but I can't help myself - I am a bass player and I have worked with singers who have a very similar style. If I can find a little time, I could see what I could to about a bass part - maybe...

Sorry for the wishy-washy - trying to get my little project studio and band whipped into shape too - but I like the song and would love to be able to contribute if I can.

Here are a couple pieces I did with my old band Bella Wolf in the mid 90's for reference...
SoLong.mp3
WoodenWheels.mp3
deeply.mp3



--tz

[ferguson66]

Thanks for the listen tZer. I definitely need to finish the song and then I would love feedback on it, I will most definitely post it when done. I was fishing for feedback on the recording quality etc. trying to get an idea if I am close to doing things right.

Her voice really does record well. I have a bass melody mostly but I can't play bass well enough to do it I will upload a verse and chorus with my crappy bass playing so you can listen to it. If you have time to play around with it, awesome, I won't expect anything, thanks for the offer.

I know what you mean, I can't resist offering to play drums on any and every project, it is just what I love to do.

I have been spending so much time on recording and mixing that my drum playing is suffering, I need to spend some quality time with my kit!

I am really digging the So Long song you uploaded, my foot was tapping right along with the bass melody, always a good sign. That is exactly the kind of thing needed for this song.

[tZer]

You are welcome!

Send whatever you may have and if I am able to send you back some useful lines, I will. Also be sure to send any direction regarding style, tone, touch, examples of other bass lines you'd like to emulate and I'll do what I can.

Once bitten by the recording bug, it is very hard not to obsess and lose track of time. A close friend was bitten a few years ago and to this day he feels like it's a devil's bargain. You end up forced to choose between keeping your chops in one area developing while your chops in another get neglected.

I have found that taking a very long view of things and telling myself that I am under no real deadlines helps me feel like I am progressing in all areas. I just have to keep my expectations of perfection in check!

[ferguson66]

So here is the intro, V1 and chorus with a bass part that she came up with. It is played at 95bpm.

If you do have time and need me to send it with the click track on or something like that to make it easier to record, let me know. I think the bass melody works pretty good, I just can't play it . I also need to come up with something for the interlude.

I started working on a drum beat last night, I think I may have something. I sent it in WMA format. If you need an MP3 I can make one. I just have to burn to a CD and then rip it. Kinda stupid to waste a CD everytime I need an MP3. I guess I need to upgrade Pro-Tools to bounce directly to an MP3.

[ferguson66]

Ok so the WMA thing didn't work out. I made an MP3. Here it is.

[DT Chris]

The bass is a little too loud for the current mix. I'd like to hear the acoustics up a bit, even perhaps doubled and panned to either side a bit.

[ferguson66]

Thanks Chris, I haven't started mixing anything at all with this, this is just the raw recording.

What exactly do you mean by doubled and panned on the vocal? The vocal, guitar and bass are all mono tracks. Are you talking about panning them individually relative to each other?

I have seen a voacl put through TrueVerb, is that doubling or are you talking about some other technique?

Very curious, I am so new to this that I love hearing about all of the different mixing techniques I can do to make it sound better.