"Back to Basics" kind of singer/songwriter demo track

blackcatdigi · 30th April 2004

Submitted for your dissection:

Here's a fairly typical session for our little studio.
Young kid (23) singer/songwriter/gtr player and his band.

The guys are pretty good players and I've been moving away from any editing, so these tracks are far from perfect. No clicktrack/autotune/beat detective/sound replacer/etc. What was played/sung is what is there. Just the guys in the room. I also called a couple of buddies in to play keys and dobro on this one.

Quick mix, no automation.

Afterwards, tracks were sent off to mastering, and I'm not thrilled with the results. (I can hear the multiband all over the place, and it really skewed the balances; It's also a little harsh and loud for my personal tastes.) But, you live and learn.

Anyhoo, I'd love to hear any comments and would be happy to answer any questions as to the hows/whys...

Thanks!

Ruphus · 30th April 2004

Hi Blackcat,

Can´t give you the answer you´re looking for, first because being too less experienced with mastering, secondly because would had needed the unmastered version to compare and thirdly as I listened only through cans.

Only want to say that I like it over all. Performance, voice, and remarkably the kick which sounds very much to my taste. Means I believe this to be nice tracking work too.

Partially I thought some tracks to be mixed in too upfront, but through headphones ... you can´t really tell anyway.

Keep up the good work and tell the artists the same.

Greets,

Ruphus

blackcatdigi · 30th April 2004

Thanks for the positive review Ruphus!

Agreed about the 'too upfront' comment...

That's kind of what I was alluding to.

Sebastian · 5th May 2004

After clicking on dozens of these threads and listening to the MP3s, this is the first one I listened to all the way through. So for that, bravo. I'm sorry, I can't offer any thoughts on the multi-band compression--I've simply been looking for a decent song or voice. Something that makes me want to listen. Because without that, all this talk of gear is irrelevant.

I'm not even sure this is something I would listen to, normally. But what an education...I spend so much time obsessing about equipment, and intellectualizing minutiae, when all anyone wants is a good song and someone they like to sing it to them.

Psychoguitarz · 30th August 2006

Casey,

The track sounds great, period.

Jim

roxxon · 30th August 2006

Really nice mix.
Good song!
Love it.
Some good sounds happening there.
Vox are nice.
Sure it isn't perfect, but it sounds really cool for what it is.
I don't hear it as being loud. Some of the mids seem a tad harsh, at times.You are right.

But overall it's a pretty cool tune.

30th April 2004	#2
Ruphus Lives for gear Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Berlin / Germany Posts: 5,167	Hi Blackcat, Can´t give you the answer you´re looking for, first because being too less experienced with mastering, secondly because would had needed the unmastered version to compare and thirdly as I listened only through cans. Only want to say that I like it over all. Performance, voice, and remarkably the kick which sounds very much to my taste. Means I believe this to be nice tracking work too. Partially I thought some tracks to be mixed in too upfront, but through headphones ... you can´t really tell anyway. Keep up the good work and tell the artists the same. Greets, Ruphus __________________ "Am I the only one that tires of this "everything is subjective" watered-down-pop-culture-pseudo-philosophy bullshit?" Bravin Neff Wolgang Burr, former office leader of the German Chancellor before committee of inquiry: "You would not believe what unusual happens daily." "Patience, young Skywalker - let the object of your desires come to you." JTR "All thinking men are atheists." Ernest Hemingway

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30th April 2004	#3
blackcatdigi Lives for gear Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: upstate, sc Posts: 1,739 Thread Starter	Thanks for the positive review Ruphus! Agreed about the 'too upfront' comment... That's kind of what I was alluding to.

5th May 2004	#4
Sebastian Gear nut Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: SF, CA Posts: 97	After clicking on dozens of these threads and listening to the MP3s, this is the first one I listened to all the way through. So for that, bravo. I'm sorry, I can't offer any thoughts on the multi-band compression--I've simply been looking for a decent song or voice. Something that makes me want to listen. Because without that, all this talk of gear is irrelevant. I'm not even sure this is something I would listen to, normally. But what an education...I spend so much time obsessing about equipment, and intellectualizing minutiae, when all anyone wants is a good song and someone they like to sing it to them.

30th August 2006	#5
Psychoguitarz Gear nut Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: USA Posts: 97	Casey, The track sounds great, period. Jim

30th August 2006	#6
roxxon Lives for gear Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: burnaby, b.c. canaduh Posts: 939	Really nice mix. Good song! Love it. Some good sounds happening there. Vox are nice. Sure it isn't perfect, but it sounds really cool for what it is. I don't hear it as being loud. Some of the mids seem a tad harsh, at times.You are right. But overall it's a pretty cool tune.