Inner Demons

thebigal_au

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/default.cfm?bandID=793572&content=songinfo&songID=6258999

Hi Everyone. Here is a song i have put together recently.
I have a gnx3000, Les paul custom midnight.
used reload patch added recently.
Used Sonar 7. FL Studio 7.

Always keen to hear other's opinions and possible improvments.
Thanks, i hope you guys enjoy it.

SlashNBurn99

Sounds a little out of tune mate . Other than that you have some good ideas 8)

thebigal_au

Thanks
any suggestions. to improve it.

BuzzHaze

I didn't hear anything \"out of tune\" as per say, so lets start with the good. I like the ideas of the song...going from soft to heavy, it's a well used formula. Both parts have potential. I think the spot to work on is timing. In order to get that super tight sound, you need to follow the snare and kick more closely with your guitar. The \"1\" is just slightly off now and then which can cause the tune to lose it's tightness.

I think if you were to tighten up your guitar playing to dead match the snare & kick, you will be on to something good. It will also allow you to wail out a nice solo on top...if the rythm is tight. The bass could be a little more crisp too but that's not a biggy.

I like what you're doing. It just needs to be tighten'd up a little and I think it would smoke!!!!

This is just my opinion. Music is very personal and I think you are on to something. Nice job. I hope to hear more.

thebigal_au

Thanks for the advise. thats the only way i am going to get better.
all taken on board.
Cheers.

partch

Not bad man!! Lot of good things happening in this! How did you do the drums? That's always the hardest for me!! I think everything sounds O.K Maybe a rough spot or 2 BUT hey good post!! Keep at it! You'll get there!

thebigal_au

Thanks very much
drums were done via FL Studio 7. using the real drum kit template is ok, but if you do some searching on the net you can find some awesome samples.

I have done some work to this song and will re-post very shortly.
- Slightly increased tempo
- fixed up some of the drumming, yes a few of the hihats and kicks were slightly out of place
- I have also made a better drum kit, was email some studio bass/kick drums and hihats which sound a lot better.
- Added some more grunt to guitars by adding some delay and stomp.

I appriciate everyones comments, and will let you know when the new version is online, for further feedback.

thebigal_au

Hi everyone
i have posted the updated version online, as mentioned below there has been a number of changes. I hope you guys see these as improvments and keen to hear your feedback.

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/default.cfm?bandID=793572&content=songinfo&songID=6258999

Thanks

partch

I think this does sound better! You made some improvements! The part I don't care for is the Harmonies that just sound out. Are you using IPS or something? Hey maybe that is the disonent sound your going for in those parts? Who am I to say. You are the Artist & I like what you have done! My ear questions those parts, that's all? Keep at it bro! 8)

shredd

Good stuff. Here's my $0.02:
First off, I'm not a metalhead, so the roaring entrance of the hard git'r was WAAY too harsh and sudden for me, as was the razor-sharp edge of the git'r sound. Maybe if I was messin' around with teenage headbanger groupies, I'd groove on this more???
I also thought the phase-y/flange-y sound in the intro and break were a little too warbly.
But the drums WERE killer, and I liked the off-tempo thing. Good stuff.

thebigal_au

Thanks guys.
First of all thanks, i think they were some improvments that i was happy with and im glad you picked up on some of those.

i do agree with your coments.
the background music probably isn't as good as it could be and may sound a bit off. I use FL studio with backing sounds and drums.
Perhaps me turning the level/volume down on that would be an improvment.

Also the roarng guitar intro also true.
I guess i have been spending so long trying to get a metal sound that is clean yet grunty and i may have gotten a little caried away. i guess if you put vocals against these it may be to strong.
I may also tone these down a bit.

Thanks for feedback,
i have a few more songs coming soon which i will post.

guitar3456

good- needs some simple mixing

pan the heavy guitar tracks L /R and lower the level some. Panning will bring them out. Leave the bass track centered but raise the bass track up a notch.

Take the effects down if you have them on and use a slight amount of multiband compression on the master with some post reverb mixed less than 4-6 %

At 1:17 when the other guitar comes in, raise its level and if you can, assign automation bring the backing guitars down as that little lead blurb is made to stand out in the mix.

If you don't have a means within the software daw for automation, re-record that part while adjusting the guitar level volume to raise and lower that standout parts.

thebigal_au

Thanks guit3456 thats some great advise i will give these a go.
I ahve used some of your patches in the past so keen to give some suggestions a go.

when paning the guitar does this mean you would double the track, have one fully panned right and the other fuly paned left. Then decrease there volumes slightly.
If so then i can see your point with the bass working quite well.

I was really hoping when i posted this song i would get some goos suggestions, and these have been great.

Thanks and keep en coming

thebigal_au

Have made some of the suggestions you said and agree it gives the guitar a much fuller sound.

Ia m keen to give the compression and slight reverb a go.
i use Sonar 7, do you know how it's done using these. I know there are many options.

will post the updated version shortly/

guitar3456

You got it! Fullness or depth of tracks is something most modern recordings go for. To some stacking tracks is their ticket, to others just a plain jane mono track slightly panned is better.

It depends on the music genre and other styles that influence how to approach the mix. This is where clip editing has an advantage. You can have a section or phrase of a song and only add insert effects or Eq for that particular part.

Multiple parts panned tend to stand out so the track volume would not have to be as loud as say the mono track centered.

Be cautious that you don't overdo mixes and stack tracking. Many suggest ear fatigue can set in fast on your listeners and they may hit the track forward button sooner than you like.

This is where you take a small clip or \"split\" your track. Splitting just turns a full track into clips that allow you to change dynamics for a measure or two.. change eq for that measure.. and do things that offset that part from the basic track mix.

Listen to a variety of songs and adjust the balance control on your system. Hard panning of guitar tracks don't sit well in just the L or R channel. It's the blend that grabs attention to both ears.

Some interesting applications are with certain sections of a song. In metal type songs, you often hear a short burst staccato accompaniment track accented at the end of a ryth track that alternates with each verse etc.

Now the drum fill or maybe a floor tom would accent the verse when the guitar is not layered or alternate. So instead of just this heavy mush accent on every measure, instead you create a passage that alternates and attracts the listener more.

Maybe you introduce for example your clean guitar one measure panned L with Bass track slightly panned R for that measure.. drums stay in to balance the musical portion. At the end of that measure your panning changes again with the heavy riff.

Music tells a story... The track timeline directs the listener to where the story unfolds.. You do this in mixing. You bring parts out of the mix that indicate direction. If the guitarist kicked down a door on the left side of the room, you mix that way.. start with a heavy accent and then pan from L to slightly center.. now the listener can relate to song direction in an audible sense and even improvise visually what direction you have taken them.

You may also NOT want to add a full effect of a clips entirety. Maybe accent 1 beat of a measure with a small reverb/delay tail (starts high in Reverb and tails off into the next clip transition. This is where effects placement can make you song stand out instead of drowning the passage with effects like compression etc that can irritate listeners. Little bits added here and there are the attraction. Imagine a movie that recorded in nothing but dark scenes. Ten minutes and you are bored of it just waiting for something to change.

How many times have you seen a movie and then go wow that was awesome!! Visually and audibly you are engaged as a viewer and listener. Is it the heavy weighted parts you notice more?? Or is it the mastering and subtlety of the story direction with those associated parts that grab your attention??

Music production is the same thing. Create passages that engage the ears of the listener instead of making them hit the NEXT key on the cd player.

thebigal_au

I have done quite a few things but would really like to clarify something.
I have dobled all the guitar tracks and paned L/R.
I have turned guitar volume down to be a better level

I do want to ask about reverb.
I remember you said you should put reverb up about 5 %. Is this only for the guitar tracks or would you do this for all tracks.

Also when recording vocals do you generally have one central track, or do you double the tracks pan L/R then add reverb.

Thanks will post updated version soon.

thebigal_au

The new version is online. http://www.soundclick.com/bands/default.cfm?bandID=793572
Plus i have added another track i am playing around with ( in early development stage ).

I got my hands on Sonar 7's Vintage FX tool.
WOW what a difference, I really recomend everyone to look into this, it can do some amazing things.

I hope you guys notice a big improvment and am always keen for feedback and suggestions.

Thanks