April08 - Chordial

chordial · Post by **chordial** » Wed Apr 30, 2008 6:55 pm

Hey guys,

Here it is,

http://www.ferntill.dsl.pipex.com/songs/April08.mp3

Think I could develop this more, quite a few mixes tried too.

Cheers Simon

JonSolo · Post by **JonSolo** » Wed Apr 30, 2008 9:38 pm

This is pretty cool. There are some really nice chord and mood changes. It is great to hear some real guitar! The lead is great. The breakdowns are a welcome change. The synths work well with the guitar parts too!

The drum programming fell a little short (maybe TOO much time spent programming them), and there are a few spots toward the middle where the rest of the song is not in sync.

My first reaction would be to say: clean this up around the edges and call it a day! Polish the performances a tad you are there.

Overall good job.

Jon

chordial · Post by **chordial** » Wed Apr 30, 2008 10:57 pm

Thanks Jon,
I loved this song to start with, but couldn't get it down as I wanted in time for the April deadline.
Some parts I'm really pleased with, but mix after mix didn't quite work out.
I'm still pleased that I can still hear the original ideas for this, but it needs more time.
I'm really enjoying the guitar, and recording them has become a challenge too

Cheers Simon

JonSolo · Post by **JonSolo** » Thu May 01, 2008 12:06 am

Personally I thought the mix was alright. Like I said, just tighten up some of the parts...and I think the rest will come together.

I really love the comped synth parts. Even the small lead every now and then is fantastic. Good groove despite my comments on the drum programming!

Jon

ellll · Post by **ellll** » Thu May 01, 2008 12:19 am

Hi Friend!! \

What a great sound....Just a little sparce in some opening passages..but very fine guitar!!!

The synth does need to be closer in agreement with piano and guita.. Perc is good and solid...I think of Jethro at a few spots....

Hope thats O.K...(as in Tull...)

Too short...but that is not a biggie..you could repeat the partial break section o.k.

I like the sound and structure overall and the Chords!! they are good planning !!

Thanks Much for this one!!!

Johnny (ellll)

georgeinar · Post by **georgeinar** » Thu May 01, 2008 10:55 am

I like this very much and echo the comments already made. I wonder what a different bass sound would do as something with a different texture might bring that aspect out more. Also, there is something that makes the drums stand out separate from the rest of the instruments. But very nice and really glad you made it.

Diego · Post by **Diego** » Thu May 01, 2008 12:10 pm

Very good drumming, and I like the real guitars, too!
I totally like, at most, the discant made by the lead,, it's very good sounding and fits perfectly, in timbre and notes, the rest of the lines/song.

regards

jazlover · Post by **jazlover** » Thu May 01, 2008 11:08 pm

The same comments about the live guitar playing. The real strings give it a more organic sound. I really like near the end from about 1:52 on (cool beans). This is nice, bro.

DrWho · Post by **DrWho** » Fri May 02, 2008 3:57 am

Hi Chordial,

I too like the real guitar - yea - getting the recording of an analog instrument can be a real pain. So can programming da drums - my arch nemesis. The only thing worse than programming drums - is trying to record them with a real drummer. Actually, I am not sure which is worse!

You got some good feedback above. Congrats on making the deadline!

={> Art

chordial · Post by **chordial** » Sun May 04, 2008 8:59 am

Been offline for a few days, great advice, no two people hear the same, and that makes it so interesting to post and listen to everyone’s songs.

This was the clearest mix I could come up (time was running out), lots of scenes on the D1600. As Art says Jon, drums .... never easy!
Thanks John, when I started mixing I thought about improving the arrangement, another chorus after the bridge etc. This was composed on the acoustic, not easy to add parts later, although it is becoming easier after about 9 months or so, so I shouldn't complain really!
I don't think I used enough reverb on the drums (not like me!), they sound a little dry now George. I knocked the bass back a fair bit, it was too strong when recorded, but it still seems to try and take over.
It's a slow process Diego! I am pleased with the way the lead guitar recorded, especially in the quieter parts. It's also more fluid than my earlier ones.
I really liked recording that part JL, it's nice to play too, like a real guitar player!
None of it's easy Art, but I'm also finding tuning can be a problem with guitar. Even though it's in tune, a slight misplacement of the finger can push it out enough to notice. The first mixes were on headphones, then I played it through my monitors, and there was all sorts of tuning weirdness going on!

Many thanks for the comments.

Stephen · Post by **Stephen** » Sun May 04, 2008 12:29 pm

What I like most are the variations.
This is an excellent idea, and lots of the parts are very cool, so I hope to be able to hear this again when you have more time to spend with it.
I'm glad you made the deadline, I enjoyed the listen.

Regards,

chordial · Post by **chordial** » Sun May 04, 2008 10:31 pm

Cheers Stephen,
I'm finding more a lot of ideas are coming from this osam.
I'm enjoying it very much, and wish I could spend more time on each song.
May next, and I don't have anything sorted yet.

Dee · Post by **Dee** » Sun May 11, 2008 11:38 pm

Hi Simon

Sorry to be late to listen, but am so glad I did. I liked the lead guitar sound most of all and also the drumming. Many nice moments here in this one, I've got it looping here and hear something new and interesting every time.

I'm in the same boat for May - an idea, but not much progress at the moment. This osam is really stretching me!

Good luck for your next one,

Regards from
Dee

Daz · Post by **Daz** » Mon May 12, 2008 12:16 am

I am a big fan of synthy sounds meshed with guitars, I think the two really compliment each; so there were lots of spots in this where I getting a big kick out of what you were doing. There is a lot of nice work in this it just needs a little bit more of a structure or flow. I am not necessarily the right person to talk about this subject... oh no ... but one thing I am learning and working hard with is the idea of setting a big picture before I get into the details. My last piece was just a bunch of stuff tagged together and I hated it, but my other two pieces I felt were more structured (if a little repetitive) because I had an overall picture of what I wanted to do. For my new piece I am really being disciplined about the big picture and ensuring that I can play the song all the way through on the acoustic guitar and have it work like that, with the thing feel like a complete unified piece.

You're right at a point where I think that if you start looking at your pieces holistically more it is going to turn a bunch of interesting performances and melodic ideas into more complete rounded pieces. LOL, god willing so am I too

Still can't get over some of the great guitar work you doing for such a neophyte !

Daz.

chordial · Post by **chordial** » Tue May 13, 2008 7:40 am

Thanks Dee,
I'm still looking for that May sound.

A very newbie Daz!
Good points, structure especially. I need to really concentrate on the next one.
Once the basics are in place, I'm hoping to really think about the arrangement too.

It's all good fun though