Help trying to recreate song by THE ZOMBIES

[Mr. Liszt]

I'm completely in love with this song and its performance by the Zombies titled, The Way I Feel Inside. Was not released as a single but it did appear in one of the later scenes in Wes Anderson's The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, which is where I heard it for the first time. The song was recorded in either 1964 or 1965 and released in the UK in 1965. I decided to try and recreate the recording and would love some help from some keen ears that can try and help me on how I might edit this recording to sound like the original as close as I can. The instruments are transcribed note for note. I tried to imitate very close the original vocalists tone, feel and nuances. Mine was recorded at a slower tempo to afford me more time to think about the following phrase as I was always hearing the original in my mind and trying to match that.

If you would, please listen to both tracks, they are short, and see if you can help me identify the sonic differences. I can hear them but I cannot exactly describe them. The original recording does seem to be "closer" to the speakers if that makes any sense. Like the singer is in the speaker or something. I don't know... I can't describe it as i said.

The original has three tracks:

1 - Vocal with reverb (would it be a plate reverb that they used in 1964?)
2 - Organ
3 - Bass guitar

Listen to the original

My recording has three tracks:

1 - Vocal with reverb, an IR preset in Logic Studios Space Designer titled "Vocal Plate."
2 - Organ, couldn't find an organ sound in Logic to exactly fit the softer original.
3 - Bass guitar.

Listen to my recording

As far as editing, I have no idea what they would have done in '65. Perhaps none on such a sparse arrangement of an already brief song. The sound, other than that of the original instruments and original vocal performance which is near impossible to recreate, could be largely a result of the studio gear I'm sure, mic, preamplifiers, placement, time of day or anything really.

I obviously can't recreate that for real but I would like to try if anyone can offer any suggestions.

So far what I have done is only to add "Vintage Warmer" to the vocal and to the mix. I feel that I am not even close (and probably never will be) to matching the original at the moment.

This recording was done as follows:

SE 2200a LCD mic (for vocals) > Apogee Duet > Logic Studio.

Thanks

[CherryFive]

sounding good liszt..there is certainly a lighter touch of plate reverb there on the original. 1964 or 65? I think those engineers may have been strict and it's just my guess that everything was mic'd. You say you can't describe the sonic difference but I think you already know. It's simply in the gear. You ask for suggestions and I think I have one. Buy one of those 4 track teac reel to reel decks...I think they're the A3340 Teac machines....I know this sounds crazy, but they're pretty small, inexpensive, and so is old 1/4" tape. Plug your mic into the a3340s and though you're vocals won't sound exactly like whatever these guys had in the studio, I think you'll find the tape machine can record sounds with more versatility, and you'll surely get much closer. If you're not interested in tape at all, then my only suggestion is to make the most of what you have, and simply bring the reverb down a little. Other than that, it sounds fine.

[GYMusic]

Try taking about 2-3 dB @ 10k out of your vocal with a Q of about 4-6. Your organ could also be darker. You're very close.

[cjogo]

Great Job --- I remember listening to ODYESSY AND ORACLE & PET SOUNDS >> that summer. You really come very close ~!!!~!

[Wo0d643]

I vocals and organ are too brite. I would take some off the top of the vocal then find the bump needed in the EQ or what sounds to me like proximity on the original vocal. If it was me i start with a lowpass and a highshelf together. where? i dont know just till it sounds right. Then move on to the reverb and take some off the top of the reverb EQ. Im not sure about the organ maybe a tiny bit of a very lightly overdriven track bussed in very low.
Now how to dull it up? im thinking its the equipment used. I dont know.
I hope this helps you find your way. Im not a pro but thats where i would start.

[Mr. Liszt]

Originally Posted by GYMusic

Try taking about 2-3 dB @ 10k out of your vocal with a Q of about 4-6. Your organ could also be darker. You're very close.

Thanks, GY! I will try this suggestion. What do you mean by "with a Q of about 4-6?" Does that have something to do with the horizontal reference? I use an EQ in Logic studio and one can do two things with it. Can boost or cut a frequency and then once that is done one can adjust how much of the horizontal spectrum that boost or cut covers.

Originally Posted by cjogo

Great Job --- I remember listening to ODYESSY AND ORACLE & PET SOUNDS >> that summer. You really come very close ~!!!~!

Man, I would have loved to hear those albums for the first time when they were new. That would have been amazing to me.

Originally Posted by Wo0d643

I vocals and organ are too brite. I would take some off the top of the vocal then find the bump needed in the EQ or what sounds to me like proximity on the original vocal. If it was me i start with a lowpass and a highshelf together. where? i dont know just till it sounds right. Then move on to the reverb and take some off the top of the reverb EQ. Im not sure about the organ maybe a tiny bit of a very lightly overdriven track bussed in very low.
Now how to dull it up? im thinking its the equipment used. I dont know.
I hope this helps you find your way. Im not a pro but thats where i would start.

Thanks for the tips Wo0!

Originally Posted by CherryFive

sounding good liszt..there is certainly a lighter touch of plate reverb there on the original. 1964 or 65? I think those engineers may have been strict and it's just my guess that everything was mic'd. You say you can't describe the sonic difference but I think you already know. It's simply in the gear. You ask for suggestions and I think I have one. Buy one of those 4 track teac reel to reel decks...I think they're the A3340 Teac machines....I know this sounds crazy, but they're pretty small, inexpensive, and so is old 1/4" tape. Plug your mic into the a3340s and though you're vocals won't sound exactly like whatever these guys had in the studio, I think you'll find the tape machine can record sounds with more versatility, and you'll surely get much closer. If you're not interested in tape at all, then my only suggestion is to make the most of what you have, and simply bring the reverb down a little. Other than that, it sounds fine.

Thanks, Cherry. Tracking to tape is something interesting to me. First I am trying to put together a mono vinyl listening outfit from the 60's. Once I get that I might move on to that pretty sweet looking TEAC machine. Looks fun.

[messengerbyrd]

Also try putting the organ in mono. In terms of the vocal, it seems to me that he sang the original with more volume and presence, not necessarily something you can add in the mix. Good work so far, this is a cool song. I too am a huge fan of Odyssey and Oracle. Incredible songs, arrangements, and production all around.

Jonathan

[cjogo]

Don't believe you need to make a direct replica .....very difficult to cop the room --vocal chain --etc. >> of their classic 60's sound . Your beyond anything I could obtain Listening to little 2in spkrs ~~of a mp3 >> on my PC ::: I could not tell any adjustment of a specific eq