Advice Please: "Red John" (original) - Is it good to go??

IainDearg · 3rd May 2006

Edit: Mastering Complete

After many months of recording, mixing and posting songs for comment, the mastering of the CD is done, and the artwork is complete. It was a relief that the mastering engineer didn't bury his head in his hands in despair - in fact he had some kind things to say. Whether this was a professional way with clients, or sincerely meant, I cannot say, but I was glad to take it at face value. In truth, not a great deal of surgery was required; just a bit of EQ and some gentle compression. I was glad to more or less sit back and let him practice his craft and answer his questions, as they arose. There was the odd click and plosive to deal with, and he was good enough to clean up some slightly hissy fades. So there it is. All that's left to do is dispatch the artwork and await delivery. More anon.

Thanks all for your earlier comments!

-----------------------------------------------

Hi,

This is my first post here, and I apologise for waltzing straight in with a song post and request for help.

I'm near finishing recording a set of songs for CD release. All the songs are original. These have taken a while and I have been bedevilled with uncertainty throughout the process with regard to the quality of the recordings (they are done at home with the equipment listed below). However, apart from some balancing and minor editing I find that my ears have had it with respect to hearing where improvements might be made. I need fresh, experienced and honest ears to test my output before I commit to mastering (out-sourced, but no commitment made).

The attached song is representative of the whole set (acoustic guitar & vox) and any comments would likely apply to the others, particularly if there are any perceived gross imbalances. (However, some of the others are posted on this page. if you have the inclination...)

I really would be indebted to you for any comments, good or otherwise, on the effort.

For interest, this is the gear:

Guitars: Martin OM-18V and OOO-28
Mics: Neumann KM184s in X/Y setup (guitar) & Audio-Technica AT4033 (vox)
Pre-amps/console: Allen & Heath GS-3
Soundcard: RME Multiface
DAW: Cubase SL with Voxengo & Kjaerhus plugs
Monitoring: Cyrus amplificiation and JBL 4208s

Cheers and thanks!
Dave

djui5 · 3rd May 2006

what a cool song....like the "ring of fire" style....

The acoustic in the chorus is a bit "bright". There's a couple performance issues, but it's not really the end of the world. I think it's good for mastering.

Maybe some bass would be nice....

John Suitcase · 3rd May 2006

I agree, it sounds good. I usually like to pump up the lows a little on acoustic guitars, if there aren't any other instruments to fill it out. I might be tempted to try a few different reverb/room type things. Maybe real low, but just enough to give a little more sense of the space. I generally throw up a room mic or two for acoustic stuff.

So, maybe try some more lows on the guitars, and a little room verb (even with a low pass filter, to just give some rumble without overemphasizing/muddying the picking).

But it sounds good, and I'm probably being nitpicky!

Sofine · 4th May 2006

Dave, Great tune and lovely gtr playing.

Let me know if you ever plan to tour Dublin!

Simon.

dim light · 4th May 2006

Hey!

First - good work - the a&h pre's sounds good. I have a&h to and I like the sound I'm getting.

Some feedback:

I think the tempo is a little forced on this one - it feels like you over play yourself a little... I would turn down the tempo just a little. I think it would feel nicer - and the vocals would get more edge with slower tempo.

Just a thought!

Good work man!

IainDearg · 5th May 2006

Hi!

Thanks for taking the time and trouble to listen and for your thoughts. I find them well considered. And thanks, too, for the kind compliments. Anyway...

djui5: I'll check out the brightness issue. By "bass" did you mean more low-end, or add a bass guitar??. The "Ring of Fire" allusion: mmm... you might have a point. I'll give the Cash a listen - I hope its not too close!

John: Yep, I'll look at the lows again. To be truthful, I'm fighting a couple of bothersome room modes and will fix this in a couple of weeks with some broadband absorption. So at the moment, I'm fighting mud and maybe over-compensating. Reverb sounds like a good idea - there's a very small amount of ambience added - maybe it could use something along the lines you suggest.

Sofine: Never played that fair city - but would jump at the opportunity! Maybe someday!

dim light: Not such a dim comment, though! Well, performance-wise, it probably is what it is now. In truth, an earlier version was even a bit faster and I ditched it because of that. It's a valid opinion and I'll keep it in mind. There is some other stuff I can tend to rush.

Everyone, thanks again. It's been helpfull!

(Looking for an appropriate couple of smilies here, but - sheesh - what a choice!)

Cheers!
Dave

And just for giggles....

3rd May 2006	#2
djui5 Lives for gear Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Phoenix Posts: 6,661	what a cool song....like the "ring of fire" style.... The acoustic in the chorus is a bit "bright". There's a couple performance issues, but it's not really the end of the world. I think it's good for mastering. Maybe some bass would be nice.... __________________ _________________ "What is a crossfire hurricane & why wasn't I born in one?" Randy Wright

3rd May 2006	#3
John Suitcase Lives for gear Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 2,134	I agree, it sounds good. I usually like to pump up the lows a little on acoustic guitars, if there aren't any other instruments to fill it out. I might be tempted to try a few different reverb/room type things. Maybe real low, but just enough to give a little more sense of the space. I generally throw up a room mic or two for acoustic stuff. So, maybe try some more lows on the guitars, and a little room verb (even with a low pass filter, to just give some rumble without overemphasizing/muddying the picking). But it sounds good, and I'm probably being nitpicky! __________________ Come Mix With Us! Mixoff.org -All Mix Offs, All the Time!

4th May 2006	#5
dim light Lives for gear Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: China Posts: 2,336	Hey! First - good work - the a&h pre's sounds good. I have a&h to and I like the sound I'm getting. Some feedback: I think the tempo is a little forced on this one - it feels like you over play yourself a little... I would turn down the tempo just a little. I think it would feel nicer - and the vocals would get more edge with slower tempo. Just a thought! Good work man! __________________ Moderators you can't kill my art!

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4th May 2006	#4
Sofine Gear addict Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Dublin Posts: 429	Dave, Great tune and lovely gtr playing. Let me know if you ever plan to tour Dublin! Simon.

5th May 2006	#6
IainDearg Gear interested Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Scotland Posts: 29 Thread Starter	Hi! Thanks for taking the time and trouble to listen and for your thoughts. I find them well considered. And thanks, too, for the kind compliments. Anyway... djui5: I'll check out the brightness issue. By "bass" did you mean more low-end, or add a bass guitar??. The "Ring of Fire" allusion: mmm... you might have a point. I'll give the Cash a listen - I hope its not too close! John: Yep, I'll look at the lows again. To be truthful, I'm fighting a couple of bothersome room modes and will fix this in a couple of weeks with some broadband absorption. So at the moment, I'm fighting mud and maybe over-compensating. Reverb sounds like a good idea - there's a very small amount of ambience added - maybe it could use something along the lines you suggest. Sofine: Never played that fair city - but would jump at the opportunity! Maybe someday! dim light: Not such a dim comment, though! Well, performance-wise, it probably is what it is now. In truth, an earlier version was even a bit faster and I ditched it because of that. It's a valid opinion and I'll keep it in mind. There is some other stuff I can tend to rush. Everyone, thanks again. It's been helpfull! (Looking for an appropriate couple of smilies here, but - sheesh - what a choice!) Cheers! Dave And just for giggles....