Looking Glass-my first recording (finally!)

glider007 · December 2005

Finally shook of my laziness and recorded something.
Since this is my first recording I'd appreciate all HONEST :-) comments

http://www.digitech.com/soundcomm/guitar_view_music.asp?productid=199&music_id=1916

iliace · December 2005

Hey man, not bad. Sounds a bit like Blind Guardian. Your vocals aren't as terrible as you make them out to be, so don't count yourself out.

First of all, mixdown in stereo. That'll make the mix easier to work with when mastering, and will sound, generally, better.

The guitar is sitting right on top of vocals, so those two parts will clash throughout. How you EQ them is not as important as EQing them differently to get them out of each other's way. Again, stereo will help there.

In general, try to keep the instruments out of each other's way, that will make each stand out. One of the best ways to do this is pre-plan the patches that you'll use in this way, so that you don't have to tweak as much in the mix.

glider007 · December 2005

Thanks iliace. You are right, everything here is mono....would panning guitars left and right help?
This may again sound very clueless on my behalf, but how can I see the different EQ responses of the audio tracks? For example, I believe it was a guitar3456 post, or it was you iliace- the suggestion was to play the sounds and sing the melody in a do re la mi fashion and watch the EQ responses, peaks etc, and make them as flat as possible by adjusting each band. Then change the settings a little to move each instrument out of the way.

Well...I don't know what I can use, does ProTracks have something like that?

Thanks for the comments.

iliace · December 2005

I use this VST plug-in in PTP/Sonar: http://www.elementalaudio.com/products/inspector/index.html

You'd need a VST-to-DX port to make it work, I'm not sure if that comes with GNX/PTP.

ne1roc · December 2005

Dammit glider007 you beat me to posting a recording.

Hey, the tune sounds cool, guitar,vocals and harmonies are great, (you can sing)! In general the recording is clear and not muddy. If you mix this down in stereo and play with the depth and panning, you will be very happy with this tune. Actually you should be happy with this being a first recording. Drums are a little lost so thats my one negative comment.
Keep up the good work!

Tal Rules · December 2005

Pretty Good Glider 8)

I agree with Ilace about the mix 100%.. A little more seperation of the voicings would be helpful..

All in all, Really good for a first attempt..

Keep em' coming,

See Ya,
Tal

glider007 · December 2005

Thanks all, your inputs are very important. ..will work hard to make the next one better :-)
Do you have any suggestions for a nice drum program (with fills etc)? I am a little intimidated by laying everything in midi using GNX4 and PTP, (but I have begun to study articles and tutorials on that) since I am not a drummer and I think good drums with changing patterns would also make a difference...

iliace · December 2005

A good book I would recommend is \"Chart-Reading for Drummers\", published by MI Press.

As far as programs I don't know of a good one. I use Session Drummer in S4P for random jams, and make custom beats on AdrenaLinn (which is admittedly hardware) when composing.

glider007 · December 2005

Great! I didn't even know what session drummer was, but now I found it. It looks like it would solve most of my problems. Thx!

granitehead · December 2005

Hey glider,
Great 1st effort! I really like your voice and harmonies... has a subtle Geddy Lee / Rush quality to it. A couple other suggestions:
1. This is a really good song: Once you get the mix/separation thing sorted out, I'd find some way to get a soaring lead worked in there somewhere. I hear one over the nifty chord sequence in the chorus. Maybe even a tight, twin guitar lead to compliment the close vocal harmony thing going on.
2. Record dry and re-amp your tone so you have ultimate flexibility at mix time in keeping tracks out of each others' way.

Great job! - g

glider007 · January 2006

Iliace redid all the mixing from the scratch, and this one sounds much more better than my original version. Thank you Iliace for doing this!
Here is the link:

http://www.digitech.com/soundcomm/guitar_view_music.asp?productid=199&music_id=1965

0Dannyboy · January 2006

Verry cool and I like the remix too guys! Also the harmonys at the end are nice and full...
Europe? was that there name? \"the final countdown\" I think, anyway your vocals remind me of that guy in a good way though ...nice and clear with a high timber. 8) Rawk on Brotha!! :twisted: :twisted: :twisted:

glider007 · January 2006

Thanks for the nice comments ODannyboy!

Now that I am psyched up I may attempt to play and sing \"The Final Countdown\"

By the way , I think that song has a verrry good guitar solo- a little difficult too...

Jerry_K · March 2006

Good one, glider, did you use any vocal harmonizers ?

glider007 · March 2006

I thought of vocal harmonizer but no... I had been looking for vocal harmonizers before I recorded this song. Having seen that they are very very expensive I just tried to sing & record everything the old fashioned way. lead vocals are 2 seperate recordings singing the same key. voices 3 and 4 sang the chorus in different keys and there is a high pitched voice# 5 between 37th and 41st seconds.

The vocals are not easily seperated in the first post because of the mixing quality , but you can hear them better in the second one

thedruid · April 2006

..

glider007 · April 2006

Hey druid, I saw your posting last night and today suddenly it was gone! Anyway, wanted to thank you for the comments before they were erased, I hope it doesn't mean that you changed your mind about the song.
Take care

tallone6902 · April 2006

Nice harmony and guitar work, great metal feel.... is that the whole thing....sounded like there was more, if so you should post the complete song if you haven't already....very cool 8)

glider007 · April 2006

Thanks tallone

This is the whole thing I recorded, for now, but yes- there is more to it. I have to record it somehow

Unknown · April 2006

I loved that glider. Your vocals are fine. Music is awsome.
Don't sweat it. Your in dude!

glider007 · April 2006

Work is verrrrrrrry boring today, but a comment like this and suddenly I feel happier

Thanks Roger

Looking Glass-my first recording (finally!)

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