WHITE ELEPHANT RECORDINGFEST REVEAL!!!!!!

[aliensporebomb]

ASB - Are those programmed drums or real? Sound bang on either way. You've got some mad guitar tones, really huge sounding. Is that a guitar after the breakdown (from about the 3:16 mark)? I LOVE that.

Yeah - programmed and I wish I could take full credit for them because whoever did the fills did an amazing job but my own drum machine is either missing or I stupidly left it at the last venue I used it at because I've turned the house upside down and can't find the darned thing. It couldn't have just vanished could it?

I can't believe I can't find it so I had to use the track on a backing track version of that song so I just added bass and guitars.

Guitars was my black roland ready strat in dropped d tuning thru the Mesa Boogie studio preamp using the neck pickup for the verses and bridge for the choruses.
There might be a little reverb on the guitars but not too much.
Standard single coil pickups too.

I didn't use my Rogue six string bass for bass, it's just the VG-99 model of a Fender Jazz with no effects. That thing towards the end that sounds like a synthethesizer is using clean guitar thru modulation, delay and chorus and it sounds like a synth but it's just a guitar.

Then everything else is Kate and I set up four tracks of her voice all slightly different with different bouncing echoes to give it a kind of dreamy feel.

There's a couple things I'd have changed to it if it was going out on a record something but now but it's done and was fun to do.

In retrospect I should have called in a favor from my friend Pat and had him play real kit drums on it and Kate was hoping my friend Will could have done the vocals on it but I like her singing so no problem!

Update: spinning all of the tracks here at work, I hit the hay and was asleep before I hit the pillow yesterday.

[Modern Saint]

Dexter - Come as you are

Dex brought the

Sheesh - I was expecting something different and in comes a rock version of "One" from Three Dog Night and then it veers into METAL. Dude I haven't headbanged in years until now

ASB - Everlong

Great job bro! The drums on that freaked me out as I too was thinking that they were real. The programming is fantastic and helped to bring that piece to life. I am not a fan of the FF and never was a fan of the song either but what you did with your wife - sheesh I am a fan of both of you

[Phil513]

ASB - Your Mrs. has a killer voice! Wow!

[OGG]

OGG - The distorted guitar after the intro is fucking killer, uber-cool. Actually, I'm listening as I'm typing, everything is killer. Is that the E-mu or TR-707? I have samples of both machines, I may have to load them into my drum VST and use them soon.

Thanks, the guitar parts were all done with a Digitech RP350, out of all of the multi fx units, rack mounts and pedal combo's that POS was the only one that could get that sound accurately enough. go figure. No amp, just direct into the interface. The intro riff and the outro solo's had zero post production added to them (aside from the fade out), but I did apply some post fx to the guitar parts I added to the choruses.

As for the drum tracks. Ahhh... This is where everything went horribly sideways. That main loop is actually a combination of a Drumulator and a Linn 9000. I ditched the 707 early on, in fact, I must have made at least 15 different versions of that loop with samples from pretty much every drum machine that existed in the 80's. I was very happy with the one I ended up using, until the first mix down, when I found it to be way too bass heavy. after dicking with the eq for hours, I could not seem to find a middle ground between bass heavy and tin-can shrill. It was killing me. Never had a problem like this before, I finally decided to let it go in it's nuetered state. I had a similar problem with the second drum track (Snare and kick), same deal, it was either absurdly bass heavy or totally lifeless. through all of this, EZ Drummer was being an ungracious douchebag and doing it's damnedest to spoil my fun. I'm beta testing a new DAW that clearly has some issues with EQ implementation and EZ Drummer compatibility. Literally, at the last minute, I slapped together a new snare and kick track using just a key controller and the stock EZD kit. It sounds awful, but I needed something there.

I did record the entire song, as in... it goes on for another two minutes after where I faded the submission version out. it has all of the weird little flurry synths and what not. Synths: Juno 60, Jupiter 8, JX3P, Korg M1 and a VSTi String synth.

The spacey intro is an Ovation Acoustic/Electric and the Korg M1 ran through more filters than you can imagine

When I have a little more time, I'm going to re-attack the mix and I'll provide a link to the full version. I also need to get rid of the annoying esses and plosives on the vocal tracks, that I forgot to do before applying compression and fx

Side note: Phil mentioned "attention to detail" ... You see, I suffer from both OCD and ADD (I know right?) in other words, I'm a perfectionist with a short attention span (read: recipe for disaster) . I mapped the original Prince album version at 126.454 BPM and placed it in a track and then built the song around it before dropping it out. If you're nerdy enough, you could put the Prince version and mine on a single stereo track with one hard right and the other hard left and they would be perfectly synched from beginning to end I'm such a dork.

[Knox in Box]

Thanks for all the Kind words about mine. I wasn't really happy with mine for a while. I originally recorded the ballad alone with the Intro from the other, but had it a 110 BPM which was WAYYYYYYYY tooooooooooooo Slooowwwww and Lazzzzzzzzzzyyyyyy, after a while It got too boring to hear time and again. So then I recorded the other and didn't like the vocals. [side note: I was surprised that my "shredder hot" guitar got that jangle sound so well on the Between setting with the untapped buckers] Went back to the ballad and recorded the guitars again at 125 BPM and was Okay with it. Judging from the responses I guess I was on the right track.

So now you know what it sounds like If Knox decides he wants to make a song that sounds like a Fabric Softener commercial.

Your's are all sounding good, some better than others, but it's not a contest. Reviews later. Have to enjoy my day off.

[micwalt]

Nice job, everyone!

[Prages]

FWIW, here's my basic rig rundown.

Drums: Played them on an Alesis DM8Pro kit triggering EZ Drummer with the metal expansion pack.

Bass: Fender Jazz direct with some amp modeling plugin and EQ and compression.

First clean guitar: Orange Warmoth on neck pickup into VHT Pittbull on the green channel with the gain turned way down and the volume turned way up into my homemade 212 cab with a V30 and a G12H30 speaker. I don't remember which I mic'd (with an SM57). A little EQ, reverb and compression added in post.

Second clean guitar: Orange Warmoth on the middle/neck position into Weber 5E7M into same 212 cab above. Again, EQ, reverb and compression added in post.

First dirty guitar: Orange Warmoth on bridge humbucker into Classic 30 and extension cab with G12H30 mic'd. EQ, reverb and compression added in post.

Second dirty guitar: This is just to add a little more grit to the prechorus and chorus sections. Orange Warmoth, bridge pickup, VHT Pittbull on red channel with gain most of the way up into same 212 above. EQ, reverb and compression added in post.

Main lead guitars: Orange Warmoth, bridge pickup, VHT Pittbull Red channel, gain up, same 212. EQ, reverb, compression and a little delay added in post.

There is one note at the end of each chorus that is a harmony guitar bend. I used SVH's new EVH Wolfgang into his Marshall Class 5 for that...mic'd with the SM57.

Synth: This is just a stock instrument plugin that came with Pro Tools. I think it's called 'Vacuum' and I used an electric guitar preset. I triggered it with a cheap Casio keyboard.

Vocals were done with an AKG C4000B and I did one lead vocal track and about 5 harmony tracks. I bussed the harmony tracks and ran a single compressor for all. There's also some slapback delay and reverb on all vocal tracks.

Then I ran the main mix through the Waves Ultramaximizer.

[Knox in Box]

My rig run downs have proven to be less than spectacular and boring as F__ .

All cheap guitars recorded directly into the mic input of OEM soundcard via converter plug and through cheap ass pedals.

The strings and orchestral instruments were programmed into the midi interface and run into the VSTi that comes with Samplitude.

[Modern Saint]

Major thanks to everyone and especially Kerouac who did the drums!

[T-BoneBarnet]

Thanks, the guitar parts were all done with a Digitech RP350, out of all of the multi fx units, rack mounts and pedal combo's that POS was the only one that could get that sound accurately enough. go figure. No amp, just direct into the interface. The intro riff and the outro solo's had zero post production added to them (aside from the fade out), but I did apply some post fx to the guitar parts I added to the choruses.

As for the drum tracks. Ahhh... This is where everything went horribly sideways. That main loop is actually a combination of a Drumulator and a Linn 9000. I ditched the 707 early on, in fact, I must have made at least 15 different versions of that loop with samples from pretty much every drum machine that existed in the 80's. I was very happy with the one I ended up using, until the first mix down, when I found it to be way too bass heavy. after dicking with the eq for hours, I could not seem to find a middle ground between bass heavy and tin-can shrill. It was killing me. Never had a problem like this before, I finally decided to let it go in it's nuetered state. I had a similar problem with the second drum track (Snare and kick), same deal, it was either absurdly bass heavy or totally lifeless. through all of this, EZ Drummer was being an ungracious douchebag and doing it's damnedest to spoil my fun. I'm beta testing a new DAW that clearly has some issues with EQ implementation and EZ Drummer compatibility. Literally, at the last minute, I slapped together a new snare and kick track using just a key controller and the stock EZD kit. It sounds awful, but I needed something there.

I did record the entire song, as in... it goes on for another two minutes after where I faded the submission version out. it has all of the weird little flurry synths and what not. Synths: Juno 60, Jupiter 8, JX3P, Korg M1 and a VSTi String synth.

The spacey intro is an Ovation Acoustic/Electric and the Korg M1 ran through more filters than you can imagine

When I have a little more time, I'm going to re-attack the mix and I'll provide a link to the full version. I also need to get rid of the annoying esses and plosives on the vocal tracks, that I forgot to do before applying compression and fx

Side note: Phil mentioned "attention to detail" ... You see, I suffer from both OCD and ADD (I know right?) in other words, I'm a perfectionist with a short attention span (read: recipe for disaster) . I mapped the original Prince album version at 126.454 BPM and placed it in a track and then built the song around it before dropping it out. If you're nerdy enough, you could put the Prince version and mine on a single stereo track with one hard right and the other hard left and they would be perfectly synched from beginning to end I'm such a dork.

Funny, I did the exact same thing when I did my Killing Joke cover.

[aliensporebomb]

OK I've listened!

Blue Lady by Modern Saint:
Rockin' 70s harmonized guitars, melodic bass and breathy cool rock vocals! I did the melodic solo too - nice tones and solid bass and drumming going on here. Ends in a frenzy of soloing and bringing it home in double time for the ending. Very cool track!

Knox in Box:
Not one but two versions of "Boys Don't Cry" - the acoustic version is sweet with fingerpicked guitar, heartfelt vocal and nicely done orchestral strings sweetening. This is followed by what I'd call the "prog" version, with grandiose intro that would give the Cure heart attacks followed by a two-handed hammer-on cadenza and then a relatively straight rendition of the original. All three could be called "The Boys Don't Cry Topographical Suite" since it all goes together and the themes are the same. The pop version has jaunty clean rhythm guitar, supportive bass and propulsive drumming with a more awake version of the heartfelt vocal turn. This is pretty much proof that any song could be a folk song, a pop song or a prog song depending on how you arrange it. Cool!

Dexter:
At first I though it was going to be "Roxanne comes are she is" but it was a faux intro to bring us into the metrical metal of the main theme of the song and it comes out as a rockin' metal version of the Nirvana favorite. The vocals fit perfectly and the bass and drums are spot on. In fact, a friend was over and I played this and he said "I like this way better than the original!" I think I do too, it's got more of interest to those with little tricky bits and the swagger of the groove is right on.

Prages:
I figured he might be the "ringer" of this little event and I was not dissappointed: the rendition of the Cars tune is spot-on - the vocals, guitars, synths, bass and drums are totally right on and the mood echoes the original very nicely. But in this case it's a little heavier and you can hear the lyrics a little better. You gotta wonder who Ric Ocasek was writing about. I call this type of song a "not really a love song" since it's obviously about a guy who likes a girl who might be using him for a place to crash and get food, drink, companionship but the guy doesn't mind. I think you did a great job and yes, I think Elliott and Greg should hear it. Heck, they might be out of a job if Ric hears it.

Kerouac:
Losing End - it starts with an 80s power pop sound - muted 8th note guitars and right-on rock singing breaking into an almost pop-metal song with great guitar, bass, and drums. The solo is a nicely done harmonized lead guitar part that kicks back into the sing-a-long chorus. The most I listen to this the more I think "get a band and hit the road with this stuff" since it sure seems better to me than most of
the bands doing this kind of thing.

Suhnton:
The Final Countdown - when I first played this I wasn't sure what to expect. When I heard the groovacious backing I wondered what I might have gotten myself into since it sounded like something on any number of european techno imports but all of a sudden the Europe vocals were there and I was grinning from ear to ear. Great job, brilliantly done. Another one where my wife goes "I like this...and I don't like that song!"

Phil:
Time - nicely done. I thought when people reported you were adding other instruments it would build to a huge loud crescendo but this is better - it adds other instruments but not to the extent that it blocks the message of the lyrics out and I think you did a good job singing a song where the lead vocalist who originally sang it would make it hard to think of anyone else singing it. I like the quiet and sparse feel you put together here. Not really a big guitar song but it didn't need to be. Cool track!

Rev:
Just Got Paid: Well it's got the Gibbons tone for sure - especially in the solo section. The hard part is trying to play the rhythm lines and sing it at the same time - if it were me, I would have cheated all the way! The way the vocals were delivered here really reminds me of a guy who just DID get paid and he's off to have some fun. The other hard part of this deceptively easy sounding song is the rhythmic feel in both the first section and that second one with the jam. How on earth do you try to replicate the tops rhythmic feel with a bass and drum machine right? I think you did a good job considering those difficulties. I also like the tasty leads throughout. Lets hear some more next project!

When Doves Cry:
Well, Ogg gets the "Jeff Lynne/Roy Thomas Baker super layered production award" for this particular version and he gets extra points for doing the long intro that was never played when this song got on the radio. Given the difficulties of the multitracking on the original song and the pretty much note-for-note respectful reading of this (down to the timing and everything) I can't think of anyone else who would be crazy enough to attempt a cover of this song I'm really impressed. Bravo!

noquarter1983:
The A Team: First of all I have to say that I'm super bummed that this wasn't a cover of "The A Team" TV show theme song. That being said I'm really impressed you did your entry as video playing live. Very nicely done.

Everlong:
She's teh class I'm the trash. I realize now that I overdrove the mic on one of her vocal peaks. so sorry. I also came in slightly late after one of the drum out bursts and it sticks out like a sore thumb to me. I might even try to re-do that.

[cuffdc]

Yeah Randy, the original was by Neil Young. I absolutely hated it and just rewrote it.


Sent from my iPhone at a Tijuana donkey show.

I love the Neil Young version, but I also love what you did to it.

[cuffdc]

Prages - Jesus Christ. Un-be-liev-able.

[Knox in Box]

Knox In Box - Boys Don't Cry

Loved the "Am I Evil?" intro in the first version, but the second one was definitely my favourite. Great stuff.

Thankx, I actually thought more folks would pick up on the blatant rip off of "Am I Evil", which happened spontaniously on the third harmony guitar track. A added the harmonics on another track after I decided to leave it in.

I have no time for full reviews, but I can say that suhnton, Prages and OGG were my favorites this time around. I'm sorry I picked a song that was so daunting, I thought it would be easier to dumb down, forgetting that I also had trouble re-inventing a ZZ Top tune once before.

[OGG]

OK I've listened!

When Doves Cry:
Well, Ogg gets the "Jeff Lynne/Roy Thomas Baker super layered production award" for this particular version and he gets extra points for doing the long intro that was never played when this song got on the radio. Given the difficulties of the multitracking on the original song and the pretty much note-for-note respectful reading of this (down to the timing and everything) I can't think of anyone else who would be crazy enough to attempt a cover of this song I'm really impressed. Bravo!

Thanks!

I have to say though, I have no idea what you're referring to in regards to the intro. as far as I know, there never was an extended pre-intro to the song, it's just something I came up with as an addition in order to put my own twist on the song... If there's a Prince version out there somewhere that has a weird, spacey intro, I (to the best of my memory) have never heard it. Now you have me wondering if I somehow unconsciously kyped something from deep in the recesses of my sub-conscious memory

Oh, and I'm still working on a new mix...

[aliensporebomb]

Thanks!

I have to say though, I have no idea what you're referring to in regards to the intro. as far as I know, there never was an extended pre-intro to the song, it's just something I came up with as an addition in order to put my own twist on the song... If there's a Prince version out there somewhere that has a weird, spacey intro, I (to the best of my memory) have never heard it. Now you have me wondering if I somehow unconsciously kyped something from deep in the recesses of my sub-conscious memory

Oh, and I'm still working on a new mix...

I don't know if it was THAT Prince song but back in the 80s I knew a guy who listened to a lot of Prince and I remember some ambient bed with massively flanged acoustic on it and figured you were paraphrasing that. Maybe it was something that hasn't really been released.

[T-BoneBarnet]

A friend of mine went to Indonesia a few years ago, and bought a Prince tape. When he put it on, it was some Indonesian guy singing Prince tunes.

[SVH917]

FWIW, here's my basic rig rundown.

Drums: Played them on an Alesis DM8Pro kit triggering EZ Drummer with the metal expansion pack.

Bass: Fender Jazz direct with some amp modeling plugin and EQ and compression.

First clean guitar: Orange Warmoth on neck pickup into VHT Pittbull on the green channel with the gain turned way down and the volume turned way up into my homemade 212 cab with a V30 and a G12H30 speaker. I don't remember which I mic'd (with an SM57). A little EQ, reverb and compression added in post.

Second clean guitar: Orange Warmoth on the middle/neck position into Weber 5E7M into same 212 cab above. Again, EQ, reverb and compression added in post.

First dirty guitar: Orange Warmoth on bridge humbucker into Classic 30 and extension cab with G12H30 mic'd. EQ, reverb and compression added in post.

Second dirty guitar: This is just to add a little more grit to the prechorus and chorus sections. Orange Warmoth, bridge pickup, VHT Pittbull on red channel with gain most of the way up into same 212 above. EQ, reverb and compression added in post.

Main lead guitars: Orange Warmoth, bridge pickup, VHT Pittbull Red channel, gain up, same 212. EQ, reverb, compression and a little delay added in post.

There is one note at the end of each chorus that is a harmony guitar bend. I used SVH's new EVH Wolfgang into his Marshall Class 5 for that...mic'd with the SM57.

Synth: This is just a stock instrument plugin that came with Pro Tools. I think it's called 'Vacuum' and I used an electric guitar preset. I triggered it with a cheap Casio keyboard.

Vocals were done with an AKG C4000B and I did one lead vocal track and about 5 harmony tracks. I bussed the harmony tracks and ran a single compressor for all. There's also some slapback delay and reverb on all vocal tracks.

Then I ran the main mix through the Waves Ultramaximizer.

Haven't got to listen to it yet but u must have changed a lil buy I'm sure it's great

[Knox in Box]

Haven't got to listen to it yet but u must have changed a lil buy I'm sure it's great

It is. As usual....................

I've been waiting like 7 years for Prages just to tank ONE entry. And it still hasn't happened.

[SVH917]

It is. As usual....................

I've been waiting like 7 years for Prages just to tank ONE entry. And it still hasn't happened.

Me an Prages have been friends for a long time and if I can say anything about him it's that detail is everything. Its in his being, I Iove that guy, wish I could spend more time playin with him. When we were young we recorded all kinds of stuff. Even then it was " get it right." we've both loved EVH and many others and he always just finds this way to bring it through in the end. Much talent there that's FOR SURE. I hope we can get together and do another original. Hes an influence

[OGG]

Here's a new mix I am much happier with, it does not have the spacey intro, and I let it run the full length like the album version...

https://www.box.com/s/9bt9w5wua6ijnsrjw78s