New country song

[Bigpuppy]

This is my newest song and it is country. I normally write and record pop/rock songs but for the last couple of years I've been writing a few country songs. I played all of the instruments. The song builds and gets bigger as it goes.

Please feel free to comment on the performance or production.

The name of the song is: I Tried To Live

Audio gear used:
Mac Pro tower
Logic 9 (audio software)
Apogee Ensemble (DAC’s)
Wunder Audio PAFOUR (mic pre’s)
Toft Audio Designs ATC-2 (compression)
Rode NTK (mic)
AKG 414 LTD (mic)
Ocean Way Drums

Guitar gear used:
Gibson Les Paul Axcess (using coil tap)
Fractal Axe-Fx Ultra (guitar processor)
1952 lap steel guitar
Music Man Sting Ray 5 Bass
Taylor 510-LTD 6 string acoustic guitar

YouTube - Courtney Shane - I Tried To Live

[Bigpuppy]

Here is the MP3 if the youtube version sounds bad.

[Jared1426]

Hey man, I think it sounds great. What made you get into country if you usually do pop/rock? I noticed that you use a Rode NTK. I've been thinking about getting one of those for vocals. Have you had any qualms with it? I need something kind of warm sounding.

If you get a chance, check out my stuff that I just posted for listen as well on this board. The first track, "If We Had Each Other" has kind of a country/pop/rock vibe to it.

Cheers!

[Rockshamrover]

Sounds great, I love the acoustic guitar sound.

[Bigpuppy]

@Jared1426 - Thanks !

I was born and raised in Fort Worth, Texas and another name for Fort Worth is Cowtown...lol. So country is in the blood, but the music I gravitated to was rock and pop when I was younger.

My Rode NTK is one of the earlier production mics (ser. no. a3663). I bought it new at GC. It came with the Sovtek tube (still has) and the first version of the circuit board. I have read some threads here on GS that the older version has some advantages but I've never had the chance to compare versions. What I can tell you that my mic sounds great to me, open and warm. I have also heard here that they can be easily modified to improve the quality and sound.

I want a Bock Audio 251 mic because I love the Telefunken Elam 251. But I would like the chance to try one first.

I heard your stuff and I really liked it !
The song "If We Had each Other" has a very cool dreamy 60's / country vibe that works well together. love the guitar work.
The song "I Want to" is awesome. I really like that style of music.

[Bigpuppy]

Originally Posted by Rockshamrover

Sounds great, I love the acoustic guitar sound.

Thanks, I used two mics - AKG 414 and the Rode NTK pointed at the sound hole about 6 inches away from the guitar in an XY formation with the Rode on the body side to get the warmth. The AKG was on the neck side to pick up the sparkle.

[Jared1426]

Awesome, so you used the Rode on your vocals too? Your recording sounds great, so if that's an indication then I think I'll be in the market for one sometime in the near future.

Yeah, "I Want To" is a slight departure for me musically. I'm normally inclined to go more 60's 70's brit-pop. If you couldn't tell, it's a Christian tune in the vain of the CCM sound. However, I wanted it to sound a bit different than most CCM so I tried to make the ending more epic with some reverb saturated Radiohead "Ok Computer"-esque guitar work at the end.

[Bigpuppy]

Originally Posted by Jared1426

Awesome, so you used the Rode on your vocals too? Your recording sounds great, so if that's an indication then I think I'll be in the market for one sometime in the near future.

Yeah, "I Want To" is a slight departure for me musically. I'm normally inclined to go more 60's 70's brit-pop. If you couldn't tell, it's a Christian tune in the vain of the CCM sound. However, I wanted it to sound a bit different than most CCM so I tried to make the ending more epic with some reverb saturated Radiohead "Ok Computer"-esque guitar work at the end.

I really like the Rode NTK, but like I mentioned, I don't know how good the newer versions sound. I was told they have a cheaper tube and circuit board. Maybe look at some the threads here on GS for a more in-depth insight.

Lately I've been looking at the MikTek-CV4 mic. The reviews have been great and it's less than a quarter of the price of the Bock Audio 251.

[magnetophon]

Originally Posted by Bigpuppy

Please feel free to comment on the performance or production.

Nice playing!! I also like the build-up with the pads and everything.

Maybe the vocal could use a bit of (longish) delay, perhaps with some reverb on the delay. Make it space/swim a bit.
For my taste the acoustic guitar is a bit bright, or maybe it should just be strummed a bit more subtly in the intro
IMHO the bass and kick are a bit sub-heavy for this style.
Maybe you could also boost the volume of the snare and the distorted chords a bit, but that will only work decently if you decrease the overall loudness of the track a bit; at certain points you can hear the 2-bus compressor or limiter pumping with the drums a bit unpleasantly.
Decreasing the sub will also free up some headroom.

Otherwise it sounds great!