a song I wrote

krangs_androidbody · 07-08-2009, 07:41 PM

hey everybody, here's a song I wrote and recorded last month. ya dig?

Send big files the easy way. Files too large for email attachments? No problem!

my_scatterheart · 07-08-2009, 07:45 PM

yes, yes i do!
moar plz

ps much more awesomer than all the bs people go "oh herez my songs". this is legit, and I like it. wasnt expecting the funkmanvoice. you sound fun

myxomatosis · 07-08-2009, 08:00 PM

Quite a bit actually, aside from whatever nonsense you have on the vocals at points. Doesn't sound good especially coupled with the higher background vocals. When the vocals are not obnoxious however it's quite good.

krangs_androidbody · 07-08-2009, 08:10 PM

thanks!

Don't like the fuzz vocal, eh? I was pretty sure that was something people would either like or not, but I think it needs it. I couldn't make my voice do what I wanted to naturally, and I like experimenting with effects. Very happy for your honesty.

If you or anyone else is interested in hearing more, send me a PM and I'll send you a link with a bunch of my music.

**Mafoo** · 07-08-2009, 08:17 PM

i kinda liked the distortion maybe just ease up on the amount there in the beginning.

is this all you playing? i liked the guitar alot

myxomatosis · 07-08-2009, 08:26 PM

It's not so much the fuzz as it is the odd stress on words and technique you're using I think, I dunno, just can't get behind it. I really dig the vocals on the rest of the song, and the song as a whole otherwise. Obnoxious was a bit strong in hindsight, so my apologies there. Appreciate the explanation and if you think it's warranted then fuck do I know?

I'm definitely interested in hearing more, how about you PM me though because I'm lazy?

krangs_androidbody · 07-08-2009, 08:32 PM

@mafoo - i played everything, programmed drums in this one. thanks!

@myxo - it's more brash in the first chorus too, because I recorded it without the effect then applied, the second one it's slightly more natural because i recorded with the effect on. It's all in an effort to just make me make stuff and not scrutinize it too much. Just enough. I'll explain more in the PM, ya lazy bastage.

al-Mu'akhkhir · 07-08-2009, 10:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by my_scatterheart

ps much more awesomer than all the bs people go "oh herez my songs". this is legit, and I like it. wasnt expecting the funkmanvoice. you sound fun

ouch

my_scatterheart · 07-09-2009, 05:07 AM

pretend I'm talkin aboutchu love. silly

HTAM · 07-09-2009, 11:48 AM

Nice work, VERY nice work. I am impressed.
I might mix it a little differently, I think that would really bring out the overall character of the song, but once again, NICE work.

cantSEEme · 07-09-2009, 12:02 PM

i likes.

i hear shades of sly stone, especially in the hooks. what'd you use to compose it with, instruments and recording wise? sounds like a wah-wah and chorus and/or phaser on the backing guitar, distortion on the lead, a smooth chorus and/or phaser on the other electric.

Waves · 07-09-2009, 02:24 PM

i def hear a flange on the lead for a bit

i really like this song, the vocals are my favorite part

im just finishing my first pro-tools only recording, maybe i'll upload it when im done

krangs_androidbody · 07-09-2009, 04:59 PM

Thanks! Nice to hear that you all like what you hear. I'm interested in your comments on what you like and don't like.

For this particular track, I probably won't go back on what I have unless I get it mastered, but I am interested because it can provide guidance in future recordings. So like, HTAM, what would you mix differently?

Recording details:

Software:Mackie Tracktion and Propellerhead Reason. Along with some VST plugins (amp simulators, reverb units, compressors, auto-wah, phaser, fuzz, overdrive)

Instruments: Electric Bass, Acoustic Guitar (rhythm in chorus, and the solo after the 2nd verse with the phaser), Electric Guitar

Condenser Microphone, USB Interface with Mackie Pre amps

This year I wanted to make an album in my apartment, so I can't really do the live drum thing. But I recorded an album a few years ago were I played everything, including drums. I'm actually looking forward to recording a bunch of my songs with a full band, get a real concept for an album.

Thanks everyone for the encouragement!

al-Mu'akhkhir · 07-09-2009, 09:25 PM

wait you have mic preamps that are USB? Like you have a USB mic and you pass it thru your preamps and into the computer?

HTAM · 07-10-2009, 12:41 AM

Okay, I will get back to you on that. It's about 145am presently, and I'm pretty wiped out. But, I have some ideas that you might be interested in using down the road that I will post tomorrow.

What I will say right now is this. It's not easy recording at home, I used to multitrack with a series of live overdubs using a VCR. Yes, a VCR. Even now with what's available, it can be a pain in the ass, but it sounds like you have a good understanding of what you are using.

HTAM · 07-10-2009, 01:22 PM

Okay, Krang...

Again, I dig the work you did. These are just thoughts that you might want to consider adding to your arsenal of creativity.

Regarding mixing, It sounds like the EQ is a little scooped. I don't hear a lot of mid range, as though it's compressed. The highs seem a little hot hear and there.

I really like separation of instruments or signals in a piece like this, so I would take advantage of panning the guitars (not the bass) and vocal tracks.

Panning the opening guitar to the left during intro, and coming right up the middle with your first verse. At :54 I hear a distorted guitar line that I might pan right.

Maybe double the signal and split wide right and left with the harmony vocal lyric 'but you don't leave'.

Stay up the middle with the rhythm guitar, but panning left with the solo. At 2:17, 'Everywhere' might sound really cool if you wrote an envelope to bounce the it back and fourth from side to side, so the listener heard it everywhere in the mix.

I think the outro guitar at 3:02 being split wide and then coming back together (think the shape of an hour glass reversed...narrow at the top, widening at the middle and narrowing at the bottom) might be a nice touch for the ears.

al-Mu'akhkhir · 07-10-2009, 01:57 PM

^ dude... you must be a master of mixing

krangs_androidbody · 07-10-2009, 04:52 PM

@al - The preamps are in the USB interface. It's a Tapco USB interface. It supplies phantom power as well. You can plug in XLR or 1/4", so audio mics or direct line.

@HTAM - EQ is something I kind of ignore... because I don't have a plugin that's simple enough for me to understand. I need one that has bass, mid, and treble knobs. I can't really handle the multiband EQs, and I can't think in khz.

panning though, I usually do. So I gotta open up the file again and see what I did. I know the harmonies are panned, but I don't think they are hard pans.
I don't think I have hard pans in this song, but I think things are panned. It might just not be enough to notice.

In most of my recordings I do leave the bass in the center, but sometime I like panning it as well. I like doing things for the hell of it. Haha. I have my reason, too.

Also, I think this sounds better in headphones. Big headphones that cover your ears.

Home recording is fun, but it's definitely easier to hand it over to an engineer. This is the best set up I've had though, in the past I've done reel-to-reel and casette. That little Tascam 4track I had was fun. Bouncing tracks around is a fun idea.

Thanks though, another night I'm going to check out the audio more and dig into your feedback.

cantSEEme · 07-10-2009, 04:55 PM

look for a three or four band parametric eq. those are the best to use in audio mixing. multiband eq's are too hard to figure out, plus they arent as exact as they appear.

krangs_androidbody · 07-10-2009, 05:54 PM

I have a few of those, I'd still like something less precise. Haha. I don't want to see a wave, I just want knobs like an amp or simple stereo.

07-08-2009, 07:41 PM	#1 (permalink)
krangs_androidbody Old School Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 1,342 Thanks: 41 Thanked 65 Times in 52 Posts	a song I wrote hey everybody, here's a song I wrote and recorded last month. ya dig? Send big files the easy way. Files too large for email attachments? No problem!

07-08-2009, 07:45 PM	#2 (permalink)
my_scatterheart Today, I am alive. Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: NJ Posts: 3,565 Thanks: 1,486 Thanked 3,324 Times in 1,870 Posts	yes, yes i do! moar plz ps much more awesomer than all the bs people go "oh herez my songs". this is legit, and I like it. wasnt expecting the funkmanvoice. you sound fun __________________ Be mindful even if your mind is full. -J. De La Vega

07-08-2009, 08:00 PM	#3 (permalink)
myxomatosis life is music Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: between a pair of headphones Posts: 3,917 Thanks: 1,026 Thanked 933 Times in 597 Posts	Quite a bit actually, aside from whatever nonsense you have on the vocals at points. Doesn't sound good especially coupled with the higher background vocals. When the vocals are not obnoxious however it's quite good. __________________ oh sometimes the blues is just a passing bird and why can't that always be tossing aside from your birches crown just enough dark to see how you're the light over me last.fm blog deal (updated 12/22/11) Last edited by myxomatosis; 07-08-2009 at 08:03 PM.

07-08-2009, 08:17 PM	#5 (permalink)
Mafoo nice daze Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: the anguish of anticipated transformation Posts: 5,975 Thanks: 3,776 Thanked 2,651 Times in 1,697 Posts	i kinda liked the distortion maybe just ease up on the amount there in the beginning. is this all you playing? i liked the guitar alot __________________ PLUR For once you have tasted flight you will walk the earth with your eyes turned skywards, for there you have been and there you will long to return

07-08-2009, 08:26 PM	#6 (permalink)
myxomatosis life is music Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: between a pair of headphones Posts: 3,917 Thanks: 1,026 Thanked 933 Times in 597 Posts	It's not so much the fuzz as it is the odd stress on words and technique you're using I think, I dunno, just can't get behind it. I really dig the vocals on the rest of the song, and the song as a whole otherwise. Obnoxious was a bit strong in hindsight, so my apologies there. Appreciate the explanation and if you think it's warranted then fuck do I know? I'm definitely interested in hearing more, how about you PM me though because I'm lazy? __________________ oh sometimes the blues is just a passing bird and why can't that always be tossing aside from your birches crown just enough dark to see how you're the light over me last.fm blog deal (updated 12/22/11)

07-08-2009, 08:10 PM	#4 (permalink)
krangs_androidbody Old School Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 1,342 Thanks: 41 Thanked 65 Times in 52 Posts	thanks! Don't like the fuzz vocal, eh? I was pretty sure that was something people would either like or not, but I think it needs it. I couldn't make my voice do what I wanted to naturally, and I like experimenting with effects. Very happy for your honesty. If you or anyone else is interested in hearing more, send me a PM and I'll send you a link with a bunch of my music.

07-08-2009, 08:32 PM	#7 (permalink)
krangs_androidbody Old School Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 1,342 Thanks: 41 Thanked 65 Times in 52 Posts	@mafoo - i played everything, programmed drums in this one. thanks! @myxo - it's more brash in the first chorus too, because I recorded it without the effect then applied, the second one it's slightly more natural because i recorded with the effect on. It's all in an effort to just make me make stuff and not scrutinize it too much. Just enough. I'll explain more in the PM, ya lazy bastage.

07-09-2009, 05:07 AM	#9 (permalink)
my_scatterheart Today, I am alive. Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: NJ Posts: 3,565 Thanks: 1,486 Thanked 3,324 Times in 1,870 Posts	pretend I'm talkin aboutchu love. silly __________________ Be mindful even if your mind is full. -J. De La Vega

07-09-2009, 11:48 AM	#10 (permalink)
HTAM Old School Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 3,872 Thanks: 2,368 Thanked 2,117 Times in 1,179 Posts	Nice work, VERY nice work. I am impressed. I might mix it a little differently, I think that would really bring out the overall character of the song, but once again, NICE work.

07-09-2009, 12:02 PM	#11 (permalink)
cantSEEme Cold School Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 3,019 Thanks: 152 Thanked 127 Times in 457 Posts	i likes. i hear shades of sly stone, especially in the hooks. what'd you use to compose it with, instruments and recording wise? sounds like a wah-wah and chorus and/or phaser on the backing guitar, distortion on the lead, a smooth chorus and/or phaser on the other electric. __________________ Last edited by cantSEEme; 07-09-2009 at 12:15 PM. Reason: listened again, made some changes.

07-09-2009, 02:24 PM	#12 (permalink)
Waves Duderino Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: chiburbs Posts: 15,405 Thanks: 991 Thanked 4,036 Times in 2,224 Posts	i def hear a flange on the lead for a bit i really like this song, the vocals are my favorite part im just finishing my first pro-tools only recording, maybe i'll upload it when im done __________________ On this life that we call home The years go fast and the days go so slow

07-09-2009, 04:59 PM	#13 (permalink)
krangs_androidbody Old School Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 1,342 Thanks: 41 Thanked 65 Times in 52 Posts	Thanks! Nice to hear that you all like what you hear. I'm interested in your comments on what you like and don't like. For this particular track, I probably won't go back on what I have unless I get it mastered, but I am interested because it can provide guidance in future recordings. So like, HTAM, what would you mix differently? Recording details: Software:Mackie Tracktion and Propellerhead Reason. Along with some VST plugins (amp simulators, reverb units, compressors, auto-wah, phaser, fuzz, overdrive) Instruments: Electric Bass, Acoustic Guitar (rhythm in chorus, and the solo after the 2nd verse with the phaser), Electric Guitar Condenser Microphone, USB Interface with Mackie Pre amps This year I wanted to make an album in my apartment, so I can't really do the live drum thing. But I recorded an album a few years ago were I played everything, including drums. I'm actually looking forward to recording a bunch of my songs with a full band, get a real concept for an album. Thanks everyone for the encouragement!

07-09-2009, 09:25 PM	#14 (permalink)
al-Mu'akhkhir Vem Para Ficar Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: in some pussy Posts: 3,203 Thanks: 500 Thanked 351 Times in 270 Posts	wait you have mic preamps that are USB? Like you have a USB mic and you pass it thru your preamps and into the computer? __________________

07-10-2009, 12:41 AM	#15 (permalink)
HTAM Old School Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 3,872 Thanks: 2,368 Thanked 2,117 Times in 1,179 Posts	Okay, I will get back to you on that. It's about 145am presently, and I'm pretty wiped out. But, I have some ideas that you might be interested in using down the road that I will post tomorrow. What I will say right now is this. It's not easy recording at home, I used to multitrack with a series of live overdubs using a VCR. Yes, a VCR. Even now with what's available, it can be a pain in the ass, but it sounds like you have a good understanding of what you are using.

07-10-2009, 01:22 PM	#16 (permalink)
HTAM Old School Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 3,872 Thanks: 2,368 Thanked 2,117 Times in 1,179 Posts	Okay, Krang... Again, I dig the work you did. These are just thoughts that you might want to consider adding to your arsenal of creativity. Regarding mixing, It sounds like the EQ is a little scooped. I don't hear a lot of mid range, as though it's compressed. The highs seem a little hot hear and there. I really like separation of instruments or signals in a piece like this, so I would take advantage of panning the guitars (not the bass) and vocal tracks. Panning the opening guitar to the left during intro, and coming right up the middle with your first verse. At :54 I hear a distorted guitar line that I might pan right. Maybe double the signal and split wide right and left with the harmony vocal lyric 'but you don't leave'. Stay up the middle with the rhythm guitar, but panning left with the solo. At 2:17, 'Everywhere' might sound really cool if you wrote an envelope to bounce the it back and fourth from side to side, so the listener heard it everywhere in the mix. I think the outro guitar at 3:02 being split wide and then coming back together (think the shape of an hour glass reversed...narrow at the top, widening at the middle and narrowing at the bottom) might be a nice touch for the ears.

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07-10-2009, 01:57 PM	#17 (permalink)
al-Mu'akhkhir Vem Para Ficar Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: in some pussy Posts: 3,203 Thanks: 500 Thanked 351 Times in 270 Posts	^ dude... you must be a master of mixing __________________

07-10-2009, 04:52 PM	#18 (permalink)
krangs_androidbody Old School Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 1,342 Thanks: 41 Thanked 65 Times in 52 Posts	@al - The preamps are in the USB interface. It's a Tapco USB interface. It supplies phantom power as well. You can plug in XLR or 1/4", so audio mics or direct line. @HTAM - EQ is something I kind of ignore... because I don't have a plugin that's simple enough for me to understand. I need one that has bass, mid, and treble knobs. I can't really handle the multiband EQs, and I can't think in khz. panning though, I usually do. So I gotta open up the file again and see what I did. I know the harmonies are panned, but I don't think they are hard pans. I don't think I have hard pans in this song, but I think things are panned. It might just not be enough to notice. In most of my recordings I do leave the bass in the center, but sometime I like panning it as well. I like doing things for the hell of it. Haha. I have my reason, too. Also, I think this sounds better in headphones. Big headphones that cover your ears. Home recording is fun, but it's definitely easier to hand it over to an engineer. This is the best set up I've had though, in the past I've done reel-to-reel and casette. That little Tascam 4track I had was fun. Bouncing tracks around is a fun idea. Thanks though, another night I'm going to check out the audio more and dig into your feedback.

07-10-2009, 04:55 PM	#19 (permalink)
cantSEEme Cold School Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 3,019 Thanks: 152 Thanked 127 Times in 457 Posts	look for a three or four band parametric eq. those are the best to use in audio mixing. multiband eq's are too hard to figure out, plus they arent as exact as they appear. __________________

07-10-2009, 05:54 PM	#20 (permalink)
krangs_androidbody Old School Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 1,342 Thanks: 41 Thanked 65 Times in 52 Posts	I have a few of those, I'd still like something less precise. Haha. I don't want to see a wave, I just want knobs like an amp or simple stereo.