DrWho - Oct - Requiem For Bones (Dirty Dirge Mix)

DrWho · Post by **DrWho** » Sat Nov 01, 2008 12:08 pm

Greetings,

This month was hell - I almost bagged it. Now I know what writes block is. Nothing sounded good to me at all .... and it wasn't a time thing - I had plenty of time.

So this is a short little ditty for the hallows - I know a day late and a dollar short - but I was saturated last nite - needed to finish mixing this morning. I already hate this tune ... my worst offering for an OSAM to date.

I hope next month isn't as difficult.
Okay - without further whining, I present: Requiem For Bones (Dirty Dirge Mix)

http://www.korgforums.com/mp3/DrWho_Req ... ge_Mix.mp3

={> Art

ellll · Post by **ellll** » Sat Nov 01, 2008 12:46 pm

Hi Art,

This hit it for me pretty well from the first notes.....Perhaps it is your" least succesful", but I found some real interest in the sounds...

the actual "feel" of meter is skewed enough with the ambience, it seems to be really "haunted"...and allows one to hunt for an answer to the rhythm....

The overall sounds are very good for the use you have here;

It could do with a bit more development...but it is still good for what it was intended...

Enjoyed it!! John (ellll)

georgeinar · Post by **georgeinar** » Sat Nov 01, 2008 1:06 pm

This song is much better to ears that haven't heard it for a whole month. Nice bass and plucky guitar sounds. I too am going thru writers block, although I am unstuck at the moment. While I think there's some more you could do here, it's fine for what it is. It plays like a cut between 2 strong 'singles' on a cd, which I often hear a lot on certain kinds of cds. Don't apologize, but I feel your pain. I have had weeks where my original idea just becomes so flat sounding and everything I do sounds derivitive or lame. But that's what the rest of us are here for, fresh ears. This does not suck and is actually interesting to listen to. I enjoyed it and I'm glad you made the most of this difficult project. I hope you find you next song falls together nicely and is great fun to produce.

JonSolo · Post by **JonSolo** » Sat Nov 01, 2008 6:35 pm

This is really pretty cool. It is like a musical breakdown in rock opera by Savatage or Queensryche but without all the added sound effects to tie it in with other songs on the same album.

I could hear heavier reverb and maybe some echo on the guitar sound to really capture that feel as described above.

But as it is, the structure is well defined, and the notes and beat are on. The mix is clean. So it is what it is. Not a big pop hit, but also not a bad offering as you called it.

It is begging to be the musical break to a 3 or 4 part suite.

Jon

DrWho · Post by **DrWho** » Sun Nov 02, 2008 1:08 pm

Hi ellll - Well the best part of this tune is the name. I can imagine skeletons and zombi's and other undead doing the funeral march to this tune - to honor their fallen friend 'Bones'

Hi George - The guitar sound isn't bad actually - so that is one good thing from completing this tune - is now I've worked more closely with a few more sounds.

Yes - that's it - flat sounding, derivative and lame! Most unpleasant and annoying! I only completed it for the OSAM, and I did not want another unfinished piece!

Hi Jon - Rock opera - hey maybe I should create 2 of those so I can stick this one in between. Problem is I've never done a rock opera. Hmm .. never heard of Savatage. Okay on the heavier verb and echo ... tnx.

={> Art

chordial · Post by **chordial** » Tue Nov 04, 2008 7:36 am

It's not bad at all!

I think we all know how multiple listens to the same song can go.
Some really cool effects at the start, all very sinister and mysterious!
I like that guitar too, I might try a little phasing on it.

This is very film soundtrack to my mind Art, and it's conjuring up images as I listen.

Cheers Simon

Stephen · Post by **Stephen** » Tue Nov 04, 2008 12:08 pm

C'mon Dude, this isn't bad at all!
There's good imagination, the bass is very nice as always, I love the notes, and guitar sound, I could go on, but you get my drift.
I like it, and agree with Jon about incorporating it into a suite.

Diego · Post by **Diego** » Wed Nov 05, 2008 9:58 am

I agree, it isn't bad at all, the bass line is great, and the guitar arp with all these sound effects and sound scapes is great!
I would love to hear more crazy panning, as the ambience given is quite scary, and having sound sources coming from here and there would help to feel it even more.

Great entry, thanks for that!

DrWho · Post by **DrWho** » Sat Nov 08, 2008 4:25 pm

Well I just listened to it again - the first since I posted it - yep - it still bites

You all are being kind which I do appreciate. I hope to do better for the remaining months!

Thanxs,

={> Art

sewa · Post by **sewa** » Sat Nov 15, 2008 7:47 am

I like it quire a lot, perhaps because I'm into bass lately - bought myself a bass guitar couple of days ago

As far as my tast goes, this tune needs nothíng more, the base along with the synthesiser textures is all I need lol..

BTW, could you share some tips on how to record a bass guitar?

sewa

DrWho · Post by **DrWho** » Sun Nov 16, 2008 3:02 pm

Hi sewa - Congrats on the bass purchase. Which one did you get?

Recording the bass has been a major challenge for me. First thing to note is that all my basses have active electronics (9volt battery required). I have not tried recording a passive bass, but I am sure the technique below would work just fine.

I first tried plugging the bass directly into the Triton Studio - after all it has loads of EFX. The bass signal was overpowering - nothing I could do to get it not to saturate.

Then I tried a small not too cheap 6 channel mixer. Got better results, but the bass sound had no life to it

I then tried going directly from the pre-amp out into the mixer. Still too hot and wild a signal.

Then tried miking the bass cabinet with the mixer arrangement - got better results, but still had limiting problems when switching styles (plucking to thumping to popping). Also it still sounded 1/2 lifeless.

Did some research and ended up purchasing an EMU 1820m. It has 2 mic inputs, and a bunch of other types in the back. With the 1820 and miked cab - that is the best so far. The mic inputs have a very active (and adjustable) limiter which deals with the rapid volume changes across strings and techniques. Also the highs are much better represented - although it still isn't the same as listening in the room, but it is decent enough.

Of course recording with an open mic in the room is a challenge - stuff rattles on the walls etc... no foot tapping ... I don't have a real recording studio room set up so it is a challenge - especially when wanting to record the bass while listening to the tune.

Anyways -hope that wasn't too long winded.

Cheers,

={> Art

PS - The bass in this tune was all M3.

sewa · Post by **sewa** » Sun Nov 16, 2008 5:51 pm

DrWho wrote:Hi sewa - Congrats on the bass purchase. Which one did you get?

Its a 4-string Yamaha: http://www.musicstore.de/en_EN/FIM/Yama ... 001164-006

rather basic model but its all I need for the moment. I have a decent mixer (Yamaha MG series) with a built in compressor, so perhaps this will do for recording. Its hard to tell for the moment though because my audio interface (audiophile 2496) stopped working after I changed the PC motherboard...I'm still trying to get it up and running but eventually I might have to buy another one.

Meanwhile I'm learning the 'slap' technique and I'm eager to see where this takes me with my music but it will take a while before I dare to post any results

Thanks for feedback Art, much appreciated

sewa

P.S. The M3 sounds sweet, I thought it was a real thing.

DrWho · Post by **DrWho** » Tue Nov 18, 2008 2:33 am

Hi sewa - It looks like your bass is passive which probably gives you a good chance to get a decent recording of it with the mixer you have.

If you 2496 is truly dead - consider getting a beefier unit. It looks like the 2496 only has one input with RCA connections.

If you are looking for certain slap sounds - the Boss ME-50B Bass EFX unit kicks butt, and won't break your bank. It also has the sweetest reverb for bass I've ever heard.

Enjoy!

={> Art