gtrjunior
Wannabe
Even though I'm not a big Smashing Pumpkins fan, I always loved how huge the bass sounded for them. This is my way to try to get close to that.
January Original Song Reveal!!!!!!
- Thread starter Denverdave
- Start date
Chicken Man
Kick Henry Jackassowski
+1. Do you mean "copy" as in "cut and paste" or "play again a second time"?
My listening so far:
Blanchard: Pretty cool. I think you're getting to where you write/play in a way that leaves room for the production. This one doesn't sound like an acoustic/vocal track that you sent off to somebody to sprinkle fairy dust on, it sounds like a recording of a song.
Gtrjr: Sounds great. Twin guitars are always good. I especially like the turnaround that first shows up around the 1 min mark. I can't be sure after one listen, but it sounds like you switch to a different interval between the guitars or something--it makes a great transition back to the start of the motif.
Mnebwb 1, submission one: Crank that vocal! It's swimming a bit too deep for me. Or maybe the vocal isn't the point. I really like the watery sound of the guitar on the solo.
submission two: I really like the cleaner synth sounds, and the vocals come through on this one. The burpy bass provides just enough contrast.
Ram: The only-electric-and-vocal thing is hard to pull off--it always sounds like a bedroom recording--but it really works here. The playing is simple but not stupid. I think the intro could be a lot shorter and still make your point.
Peen: I like the melody and guitar part.
Chicken Man
Kick Henry Jackassowski
I WAS TRYING TO SOUND LIKE PAUL SIMON!! I love his writing, but that style is not in my wheelhouse at all. I think the fact that you picked up on it suggests the influence was more regurgitated than fully digested, but at least I got it over the net.
Oh, and I missed jaxn's submission until re-reading through the thread. The slide playing is really great. I love the switch from the Southern rock style to a more Harrison type thing, and the chord progression retains my interest throughout (not usually what I get form a chord progression--it's extra-interesting).
Gary Blanchard
beloved, local musician
Thanks. Other than the drum machine, I played all the parts myself. I have gotten to the place where I say, "I could not do that live, but that's okay." Then Sonik mixes and masters it and the magic happens.
jaxn slim
Your Worst Nightmare
That's a good philosophy. Being able to do all of it live is overrated.
mnewb1
HC Refugee
I gave up trying to "do it live" a long time ago...I simply don't have extra time in my life to commit to playing out live...I love the ability to produce at home. It has really been the creative outlet I need. Every time I start on a new song, project, I learn new things about music, recording and producing.
gtrjunior
Wannabe
For something like a bass guitar, I mean cut and paste. I want it to match perfectly. But for regular 6 string guitar I'll play 2 separate tracks....that makes it sound more organic. At the very beginning (rhythm guitars)you can hear that there are 2 different electric guitar tracks because they don't 100% match perfectly....but that's a good thing. It helps the song breathe a little which is what you want. IMO
Gary Blanchard
beloved, local musician
Quite the contrary, what I picked up on was a Paul Simon influence in use of words and creative approaches in rhythm; it did not at all feel like an attempt to regurgitate his style. I probably picked up on it because I love that in Simon's work and know it is not my style and I don't attempt to do it. It was nice to hear someone show the influence without resorting to copying.
I appreciate that, but I might point out that this song is a detour for me. I had what I felt was a weak idea and needed to prop it up with bells and whistles. Acoustic/vocal tracks sprinkled with fairy dust is what I do, what I choose to do, what I love to do, and do proudly.
Chicken Man
Kick Henry Jackassowski
OK, I'm a beginner. How is the same track panned left and right different from a single track in the center? I see the advantage of two different tracks, but if it's cut and paste it seems like it'd be 6 of one, 1/2 dozen of the other.
I misunderstood the division of labor between you and sonik. I think that a song that depends on production is just as valid as a song that holds up around the campfire--"Bohemian Rhapsody" and "Everyday People" both sounds pretty lame without the production.I appreciate that, but I might point out that this song is a detour for me. I had what I felt was a weak idea and needed to prop it up with bells and whistles. Acoustic/vocal tracks sprinkled with fairy dust is what I do, what I choose to do, what I love to do, and do proudly.
Gary Blanchard
beloved, local musician
For the most part, I do guitar, vocal, bass, and keyboard tracks and send them to Sonik; he mixes them and masters them to bring out the best with what he has to work with. On this track I used a drum machine, electric rhythm and lead guitar, bass, two synth tracks, and the vocals. Sonik changed the drum track, provided the fuzz-tone and feedback, and mixed and mastered it. This song was too weak to work without "rocking it up."
mnewb1
HC Refugee
A bass track probably should be left in the middle of the stereo field...but it is a good idea to to pan different instruments around the stereo field so they dont clash with one another, and I will often double the guitar track and pan them hard left and right to broaden out the stereo field.
gtrjunior
Wannabe
I don't think I can answer that with a technical answer other than it makes it sound bigger...you'll have to try it for yourself and see.
2 is more than 1....
When you do it like I described you'll see that you'll need to lower the faders on the bass tracks because it sounds more "bigger-er"...
Chicken Man
Kick Henry Jackassowski
Buuuut... Doesn't it sound bigger because there's more of them, and you'd get the same result if you just put two bass tracks right in the middle? And wouldn't it be the same if you just turned your one track up a little bit?
Sorry to hijack the thread.
gtrjunior
Wannabe
Maybe it would be the same if they were both in the middle but just turning up the volume isn't the same thing. A thinner, louder sound isn't the same as a bigger sound. There's no right way to do it...experiment and do what sounds best TO YOU...
I panned them because that's what popped into my mind to do....ymmv
I panned them because that's what popped into my mind to do....ymmv
mnewb1
HC Refugee
if you put two of the same bass tracks together in the middle, you are going to get a lot of phase issues where parts of the audio will cancel each other out and you will end up with a smaller (?) sound.
Gary Blanchard
beloved, local musician
I must say that you do an excellent job of putting lipstick on the pigs that are the tracks I send you. And, with Reality, I finally gave you some room to show more of your ability. Thanks, sir!Who wants a line of my magic dust?
I would recommend Sonik to anyone who wants to improve the sound of a recording.
rsadasiv
Burnin' Daylight
Sorry, been a bit busy, but finally back.
Gary Blanchard - Gary wanted to make sure I mentioned that @sonik gets credit for the song production.
Enjoyed hearing you in a different context than your recent recordings. Good song and good production.
re: magic dust - ask sonik to hook you up with some of his Outre Lights vocoder and tempo synched filter moves.
Gary Blanchard - Gary wanted to make sure I mentioned that @sonik gets credit for the song production.
Enjoyed hearing you in a different context than your recent recordings. Good song and good production.
re: magic dust - ask sonik to hook you up with some of his Outre Lights vocoder and tempo synched filter moves.
rsadasiv
Burnin' Daylight
Gtrjunior -
https://www.dropbox.com/s/1yg17rmfp1jclu6/Audio%20Ozone%206.wav?dl=0
Quality riffage and tight harmony playing. Not sure that the bass panning technique you describe is really necessary, but the track sounds good.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/1yg17rmfp1jclu6/Audio%20Ozone%206.wav?dl=0
Quality riffage and tight harmony playing. Not sure that the bass panning technique you describe is really necessary, but the track sounds good.