Wicked Game

[bennybob]

Ok, here's my first upload. Spurred by another cover of the same song on this forum. Go ahead; be brutal if you must. I must have mixed this a dozen times. I'm a novice at this. I can hear some clipping in the guitars. I could still improve the vocals with a better peamp. All inputs were direct into my Sony aw16g. My wife sang the backup and I sang the harmonies through a digitech vocalist4. DR rythm drums. Ten Points to guess what the other percussion sound is. If only I could have afforded to get set up and use the Van Mauer technique!

[garageband]

I could still improve the vocals with a better preamp.

Let's get this out of the way first. It really won't, so stop telling yourself this. A $2k preamp will actually illuminate the fact that you are just getting by, vocally.

Love the track. Nice sound. Nice arrangement. Great playing. I might try to figure out something to put under/around the fermatas up front. Really good mixing except for the vocals. The don't match the texture: too dry and too dynamic. Everything thing else has stuff going on to soften it. All the vocals are too different and plain. Have her sing some more tracks with herself. Three total would be good.

Get that one other guy who sang on the other guy's project and you'd really have something. I understand the "inspiration" thing. The other one was making me wish I still had a pedal steel guitar. The basic riff and logical variations would lay nice.

[bennybob]

[QUOTE=garageband;141052]Have her sing some more tracks with herself. Three total would be good.

GetQUOTE]

Didn't quite take your meaning about the quote above. Do you mean three simultaneous tracks of her voice?

Thanks for your remarks, Garageband. I find my vocal on this to be very thin and watery....even nasal. I know a preamp won't fix that

[garageband]

Do you mean three simultaneous tracks of her voice?

Yes, on different mics, if you got 'em. Little EQ differences on each.

[rockerdude]

I like this version.It has a soft smooth delivery that is easy to listen to.

I agree with GB on most of his points.Great playing BTW!

[bennybob]

Thanks Rockerdude,

I really want to work on improving my vocal from the root of it. Any advice on what to do from that point and through the recording would be welcome.
I asked for GB's citicism, so I accept it. However I have to say I didn't care for the vocalist on the other submission of this tune. He was fine, but I thought his style didn't fit the song. I suppose it's typical to be partial to the original. That's what I'm trying to come closer to.

BB

[garageband]

Any advice on what to do from that point and through the recording would be welcome.

90% of all singing can be improved dramatically with better air support. This is THE trick when singing more quietly than loudly.

[bennybob]

Thanks for the reminder. Years a cappella singing -barbershop actually- then I get in front of a mic and forget all the principles. Excellent point.

[awaken1]

Vocally, sounds like your holding back at times. Some good breathing exercises and a good 10-15 min w-a-r-m- (forgot that word is banded)-up before recording will help that a lot..You'll have fuller tone and be more consistant with your projection..I also notice you have the bass panned way left..centering it with the kick drum might give the mix a more sense of balance..

Other than that, pretty damn good take on the song!.. Thanks for having the guitars in tune!!!

[bennybob]

Thanks, Awaken 1.