Mangling The Classics #25
Hey all -
It's been a looooong time since I could record anything - my studio has been in mothballs for nearly two years.
Since then I haven't had access to any of my gear or instruments, except for my ac/el that I pulled out of storage so I could go do open mic nites.
I had an opportunity to record a few minutes, so I did this; it's a cover of an old JCM tune I like. It's a quicky recording of a tune I often do at open mic nites…recorded in one take, no mixing, nothing. Too much chorus on the git'r and too much reverb on the vox; but I don't have my studio set up right now so I don't know how anything will sound when recorded. Using my Taylor T5, Behringer dynamic mic, and my DigiTech Vocalist Live 3 for harmonies.
http://www.digitech.com/soundcomm/patches/GNX4/LonelyOlNight.mp3
It's been a looooong time since I could record anything - my studio has been in mothballs for nearly two years.
Since then I haven't had access to any of my gear or instruments, except for my ac/el that I pulled out of storage so I could go do open mic nites.
I had an opportunity to record a few minutes, so I did this; it's a cover of an old JCM tune I like. It's a quicky recording of a tune I often do at open mic nites…recorded in one take, no mixing, nothing. Too much chorus on the git'r and too much reverb on the vox; but I don't have my studio set up right now so I don't know how anything will sound when recorded. Using my Taylor T5, Behringer dynamic mic, and my DigiTech Vocalist Live 3 for harmonies.
http://www.digitech.com/soundcomm/patches/GNX4/LonelyOlNight.mp3
Comments
That's usually what I hear from my bandmates....or was it \"your singing tonight was not as bad as last weekend\".....I forget.... More seriously, good to hear that you are playing and singing Shredd. Just last night I was looking at the Vocalist Live 4 & 5. Any comments about either of those products? Take care.
If you just need it for basic harmony (one or two voices above) then you can stick with one preset and it won't be an issue. And also VL4/5 have a large variety of effects, some of which sound pretty cool, but you may or may not need.
Another thing that was a MAJOR improvement on the '3 from the '2 is that they allowed you to mix your guitar signal into the main output, OR keep it separate. That's huge, more than you'd think.
They also added pitch correction; reverb/delay and chorus for the git'r, reverb/delay for the vox, and a 2-band EQ.
I liked my VL2; did a nice job; but I love my VL3!
Don't know how much use I would get out of it. My bandmates are pretty much anti-tech with anything beyond their amps and pedals. For a long time, I have wanted to throw in backing tracks with keyboards/organs and maybe some other special effects for some of our songs. I don't suppose using a vocal processor would be any better in their minds. It's funny how some musicians think certain tools are cheating and others are not.
As for me, I feel if it makes the song sound better, use it.
FYI, a few years ago I was listening to a band and the singer was really sounding good. Then his vocal processor died half way through the night. Then he only sounded as good any average joe off the street. But, even back then, I thought I could sing as well as him and probably sound just as good IF I was using a similiar vocal processor. It sure made a big difference in his singing. It just goes to show that an average singer can really boost his performace with the proper tools.
I totally get how a lot of musicians are anti-tech; often they consider it clutter, or one more thing to break/go wrong/not work right, or an artificial enhancement to the actual talent of the band.
Myself...I'm like you: if it sounds good, use it.
That said - your bandmates are right about one thing: it does change the sound. I've found that using the VL3 with the pitch correction enabled clearly alters the timbre of my voice; if fully critical, one could say it puts a mechanical/digital tone to it. The upside is that my singing is so pathetic, that anything that alters it is usually for the better. :oops:
As far as technology goes...think about how many of today's pop tarts and pretty boys would be flipping burgers if it weren't for the slew of technology making them sound good - pitch correction, compressors, eq's, harmonizers, you name it. Not to mention being surrounded by people with actual talent who write the songs, produce/engineer, and actually play the instruments. Makes you happy to listen to Fogerty or Young Neil sometimes, don't it?
OTOH, I watched a YouTube video of some Stone Temple Pilots song and the guy used the 3rd up harmony all the time, and it really sounded like the STPs song. That was pretty awesome. But then, there are 2 singers on the original STP song so the use of the 3rd up was appropriate in that case.
I use mine at open mic all the time; I do a lot of solo acoustic stuff - JCM, Eagles, The Weight, some country-chick songs. Amost all are written with nice harmonies in the chorii. So I sing the verses in one voice, then add harmony to the chorii (ex: the original post of this thread). I think it sounds great, and it definitely improves the drone of my lone vocal.
That said...YES, you can surely overdo it. I've even had someone suggest that I SHOULDN'T use the thing, without offering any other explanation than he didn't like it. But overwhelmingly, people think it sounds awesome...used appropriately, it's a real crowd-pleaser.
Good to hear a new mangle from you. I must say that the Taylor sounds mighty fine. I will also agree with Iliace, on the fact that these open mic outings seem to have helped your vocals. Maybe just better song selection, I do not know , but it is comming across much better IMO.
Glad you enjoyed the Taylor sound, despite the heavy wash of chorus. I didn't hear it when I recorded it, but afterward it was pretty overwhelming. Oh well. But it really is a sweet-sounding git'r, it's probaby one of the ones I'll always have. If only I'd felt that way about my mint ES-355ESTD when I had it...then again, I was young, stupid, and broke...sigh... :roll:
So that was with the VL?
Hope you get your complete studio up an running again. To much talent to b wastin' on a storage unit!
I'm trying to get a chance to rip out another quicky of one of my open mic tunes...
Yeah, this one had my VL3 doing harmonies for me, and disguising my heinous voice. But I do think my singing is gradually improving, even as my hearing worsens...
I too am hopeful to find a way to have my studio and gear available to me again...much as I love my Taylor and doing the play/sing thing, I'm finding myself sort of stagnant and unmotivated to play much. I really miss the ability to futz in my studio with all instruments etc available, and write/record ideas...
Hey, Shredd. One thing I really like about gigging with my bandmates is that we are always looking at new songs to put in our set list and dropping those songs that we are tired of playing. Lately, the guys have picked some songs that have been more challenging for me on bass so I have had to step up my skills - which is a good thing and keeps me motivated. I find I really enjoy having to learn songs at 50% speed just to get the fingers to play the right notes, and then I increase the speed slowly over a week, or more, until I'm up to performance tempo. Point is, I'm learning songs just a bit beyond my skill level, with the goal of performing it live on stage, and knowing the other guys are depending on me keeps me motivated. When I finally get the song down, I know I have increased my skill level, so that makes me feel good. I don't find myself feeling stagnant as long as I am working on new songs, and especially those beyond my current skill level.
If I only played the songs I liked, I'd probably feel stagnant and unmotivated after a short time. So I'm glad I gig with other guys who challenge me with songs that I would probably never consider doing myself. Also, not having to sing every song when playing opens up new doors for you. Especially as a bass player, there are just too many songs that I cannot sing and play at the same time because the bass line is moving around the melody. It was easier to sing and play when I was playing guitar.
Maybe if you are feeling unmotivated and stagnant on your guitar playing and singing, you might be able to hook up with another singer and play your Peavey Grind Bass for a few songs. It would at least present you with new challenges and force you into thinking another way when it comes to playing your music.
At any rate, we hope you continue to mangle the classics for us. Take care.
As usual, you nailed it - I'm pretty sure the reason for my 'stagnant' feeling these days is precisely as you've said: no new/challenging material; playing by myself rather than with others; and not having access to my studio and other instruments (I only have my ac/elec) are all factors contributing to musical malaise.
I don't suppose it would hurt to have a job and not be worrying about how to pay for dog food.
But...I hope to continue mangling, perhaps even someday have my studio together and finish the dozen or so songs I have partially finished on my Tascam... :roll:
I hear you. Hope you get your life back on track. Maybe this will help...
True story coming.... After 3 years of attending Nursing school, I spent another year and a half applying for jobs without much luck. At my age, I was beginning to think that I would never get another job. During that time, I spent more and more hours in the woodshed. I took out those instruction books that I never had time for while attending school. I learned a bunch of new songs and went back to relearn a long list of old songs that I was just hacking away on my bass. Since I had so much down time, I really was able to learn how to play those songs correctly.
Anyway, although my life was not a bowl of cherries - getting rejections and mostly ignored on my applications for employment - practicing and playing guitar/bass kept my attitude upbeat (no pun intended). One of my last interviews (where I actually got hired), I remember telling the interviewer that yes, it was tough looking for a job, but that I knew there were lots of good people looking for a handful of jobs, that I was still hopeful, and by the way, I had been \"working\" on my guitar/bass skills during this period and had really improved. So, although, it had been a tough period, I was still enjoying life and making the best of what I did have.
Something I said in that interview got me the job. When I started working at my new job, I found that my musical background is one of the main things I talk about with my patients. Not all patients, but many of them. As it turns out, I am the only musician on the staff and only I can relate to our patients on that level. If anyone comes through the door that has an interest in playing music, they gravitate towards me.
Also, since I work in Adult Mental Heatlh, talking about music is one way to build up a relationship with our patients that is non-threatening to them. I have been able to talk to some of our very mentally sick patients on a level that nobody else on staff can, and often times it's just being able to talk about anything that starts the healing process for them. I sometimes wonder if I was hired for my musical background as much as my Nursing skills.
At any rate, music has always been a positive aspect in my personal life, and now I have come to believe that I was hired partially because I have been able to express those positive feelings about music and share those experiences with our patients, who desperately need something positive in their lives.
Hope things work out for you, Shredd. It's been a tough economy and many good people are still looking for jobs. Best wishes.
Sadly, I have great challenges with such thoughts. Some people come back the strongest when things are the hardest; others are more a reflection of their reality. Sort of the \"see it when you believe it\" vs. \"believe it when you see it\". The good news is that I try to believe and stay hopeful and optimistic, despite the apparently dismal circumstances.
Now if only I could nail \"Rain Song\" again, perhaps my confidence would improve!!! :P
Yes, we don't have much control over whether or not someone hires us. But we do have more control over our attitude. Music has always been a positive in my life, and although being unemployed a year and a half with no prospects was not my choice, at least I was able to really hit the woodshed which improved my skills and kept my spirits up. I'm sure it was the positive attitude I had in the interview that got me the job. Nobody wants to hire a sourpuss. Obviously I was hired because of my Nursing credentials, but I also think my musical background - for this postion - turned out to be more of an advantage for me than I realized. You just never know what skills or background an employer is looking for.
Whatever the combination was that got me my current position, I can tell you that it has been a perfect fit for me. I am very happy to say that this has been my best job ever.
Anyway, keep mangling the classics for us. Take care.
My professional life has been swirling the bowl for nearly two years: a tragic combination of the bad economy, a severe injury & recovery for me, and just basic circumstance. The outlook is so bleak that I've considered, at my advanced age, trying to establish a whole new career for myself. That outlook ain't so good-ish either.
So needless to say my morale has suffered. I'm proud to say that I continue to be hopeful and take the steps to move on; it just hasn't happened yet. Like with you, it can take time until the right thing appears. I try to stay positive and keep trying; when I do get interviews, I focus on doing my homework, being positive and presenting myself as best as possible.
But I have to say; this long struggle is affecting my morale and that has affected my git'r playing...besides the fact that 95% of my eqpt is in storage, I don't have that passionate, fire in the belly feeling that makes you wanna play hours a day. It's not that I love playing any less; shoot, I even learned to sing (matter of opinion, really :P ) this year. It's just that the joy of it is muted by the angst of my situation.
Anyway...congrats on scoring such a great-fitting job. It really helps in life to be happy in one's work. I hope I'm so lucky (again).
And yes, I'll surely continue mangling the classics, and perhaps even finish some of the songs I've started (my Tascam has at least a dozen unfinished songs on it!!! :shock: ).