Feedback appreciated on this song

defdwight · 3rd March 2009

Hey all, here's an original acoustic song I've recorded that I'd love to hear some feedback on. I was a one-man show here, I wrote, performed/recorded, mixed, and mastered the song entirely myself. I won't mention equipment used just yet so that biases can be avoided.

Anyhow, let me know what you think. Tell me if you love it, hate it, what you like, what you'd change, etc. Don't hold back, I promise you won't hurt my feelings!

"Acorn"

defdwight · 5th March 2009

Anyone?

Swisha · 5th March 2009

Right,

so I'll approach this like I've just walked into your studio. First I would pan those strings, make them softer and spread them out to the edges of the mix.

Next if possible I would make the guitar sound more stereo (if thats possible) although still leaving it positioned in the centre of the mix.

If your vocals are being fed into a Bus, on which the reverb is placed, I would fiddle with the amount of signal sent, I assume make it less.

Next I would beg you to let me wack on some drums! This track is screaming for it. Something which gives it a 'live drummer' feel. So not too screwed up sounds. Maracas - not a hihat. Dirty clap, not a snare.

Everything sounds heavily compressed, which I would pretty much get rid off, and work to keep the same volume through other techniques.

If there is a bass instrument I would make it clearer, (this is just what I usually do) I think I can here a bass guitar. I can feel the bass listening to it. But its not distinct enough! Although it has been written well.

Kool, thats just written from my position currently. Which is I make good instrumentation but try to make sure it has all the bells and whistles that dj's want to hear, but still preserves the original power.

Yep, thats my opinion.

defdwight · 5th March 2009

Thanks very much for listening and providing the detailed feedback! Interesting suggestion about the drums.....I'll definitely consider it. That's the great thing about having other ears check it out!

defdwight · 5th March 2009

Oh, and I suppose I should mention that this was recorded in a bedroom.

UCOVI · 5th March 2009

Well Im not in my studio listening on my Yamahas but through my cans I love this song. To me the bass sounds like you did it with the keys? Right? I think the guy above was right about the panning thing (make the acoustic sound wider) other than that I like where the vocals are level, eq, etc...So for what this song IS ...everything sounds just about right. Very professional, now of course if you go adding all that stuff the other guy was talking abbout then who knows what will need to change but from this point that song is great. Just gotta decide if you want to keep it acoustic or not. I like it the way it is, good job.

defdwight · 6th March 2009

Wow! Thank you very much, I'm glad you dug it! I've been getting some great feedback on this tune elsewhere and it's nice to see more of it!

defdwight · 23rd March 2009

So I figured I'd reveal what I used for this track. Acoustic guitar was recorded with an SM57, vocals recorded with an SM57 using Ableton Live. All strings, bass, and piano stuff recorded in Reason. A TonePort KB37 was the interface and I used Gearbox for the mic pre models. Mixed and mastered in Ableton Live.

hurd300403 · 23rd March 2009

i love this song!

defdwight · 23rd March 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by hurd300403

i love this song!

Awesome! Thank you very much! Please share it with others who you think would like it as well!

warmer · 23rd March 2009

I agree with other comments, i think drums are needed.

I would like to hear the vocal more intimate in parts to give a bit a light and shade and interest. So cutting the reverb right back when it goes to just vocals and guitar.

I also want to hear a more of raw/live/real sound amongst the string pads, something with a bit more bite.

Good voice, REM like.

defdwight · 23rd March 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by warmer

I agree with other comments, i think drums are needed.

I would like to hear the vocal more intimate in parts to give a bit a light and shade and interest. So cutting the reverb right back when it goes to just vocals and guitar.

I also want to hear a more of raw/live/real sound amongst the string pads, something with a bit more bite.

Good voice, REM like.

Thank you much for the feedback. Great idea for the vocal. Admittedly, I just did kind of a "set it and forget it" with the vocal processing. I definitely think it could be improved with suggestions like yours.

Thanks again.

3rd March 2009	#1
defdwight Gear interested Joined: Mar 2009 Location: FL Posts: 18 Thread Starter	Feedback appreciated on this song Hey all, here's an original acoustic song I've recorded that I'd love to hear some feedback on. I was a one-man show here, I wrote, performed/recorded, mixed, and mastered the song entirely myself. I won't mention equipment used just yet so that biases can be avoided. Anyhow, let me know what you think. Tell me if you love it, hate it, what you like, what you'd change, etc. Don't hold back, I promise you won't hurt my feelings! "Acorn"

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5th March 2009	#2
defdwight Gear interested Joined: Mar 2009 Location: FL Posts: 18 Thread Starter	Anyone?

5th March 2009	#3
Swisha Gear interested Joined: Jul 2008 Posts: 10	Right, so I'll approach this like I've just walked into your studio. First I would pan those strings, make them softer and spread them out to the edges of the mix. Next if possible I would make the guitar sound more stereo (if thats possible) although still leaving it positioned in the centre of the mix. If your vocals are being fed into a Bus, on which the reverb is placed, I would fiddle with the amount of signal sent, I assume make it less. Next I would beg you to let me wack on some drums! This track is screaming for it. Something which gives it a 'live drummer' feel. So not too screwed up sounds. Maracas - not a hihat. Dirty clap, not a snare. Everything sounds heavily compressed, which I would pretty much get rid off, and work to keep the same volume through other techniques. If there is a bass instrument I would make it clearer, (this is just what I usually do) I think I can here a bass guitar. I can feel the bass listening to it. But its not distinct enough! Although it has been written well. Kool, thats just written from my position currently. Which is I make good instrumentation but try to make sure it has all the bells and whistles that dj's want to hear, but still preserves the original power. Yep, thats my opinion.

5th March 2009	#6
UCOVI Gear Head Joined: Feb 2009 Location: Atlanta Posts: 32	Well Im not in my studio listening on my Yamahas but through my cans I love this song. To me the bass sounds like you did it with the keys? Right? I think the guy above was right about the panning thing (make the acoustic sound wider) other than that I like where the vocals are level, eq, etc...So for what this song IS ...everything sounds just about right. Very professional, now of course if you go adding all that stuff the other guy was talking abbout then who knows what will need to change but from this point that song is great. Just gotta decide if you want to keep it acoustic or not. I like it the way it is, good job.

6th March 2009	#7
defdwight Gear interested Joined: Mar 2009 Location: FL Posts: 18 Thread Starter	Wow! Thank you very much, I'm glad you dug it! I've been getting some great feedback on this tune elsewhere and it's nice to see more of it!

23rd March 2009	#8
defdwight Gear interested Joined: Mar 2009 Location: FL Posts: 18 Thread Starter	So I figured I'd reveal what I used for this track. Acoustic guitar was recorded with an SM57, vocals recorded with an SM57 using Ableton Live. All strings, bass, and piano stuff recorded in Reason. A TonePort KB37 was the interface and I used Gearbox for the mic pre models. Mixed and mastered in Ableton Live.

23rd March 2009	#9
hurd300403 Gear maniac Joined: Feb 2006 Location: Washington DC Posts: 249	i love this song!

23rd March 2009	#11
warmer Lives for gear Joined: Aug 2006 Location: London, UK Posts: 602	I agree with other comments, i think drums are needed. I would like to hear the vocal more intimate in parts to give a bit a light and shade and interest. So cutting the reverb right back when it goes to just vocals and guitar. I also want to hear a more of raw/live/real sound amongst the string pads, something with a bit more bite. Good voice, REM like.