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Hi All,

Need some help.

I'm now song-writing with a good friend, under the artist name of "Armstrong & Stayte". We're also promoting a fantastically talented and attractive singer called Emily-Jane.

We've just had a song played on BBC Radio (and thanks to Brian Travers of UB40 for the encouraging comments about the potential of the track). We did a live radio performance back in January which has received very positive comments.

I've also just come back from Peter Gabriel's recording studio where I mixed the song again (just for the hell of it! )

However, I need your help - having a good song and talented musicians isn't enough. Promotion and support is needed.

As such, I would welcome your support by subscribing to our YouTube channel.
ArmstrongAnd Stayte - YouTube

There's some videos of our performance from BBC Radio on there, and more stuff is being put up.
We've also got Twitter and Facebook pages.

Here's the audio of "Hold Me" - video coming soon

https://soundcloud.com/emilybeament/hold-me

Of course, if it's not your thing, then no worries - but thanks for reading

Dan

Sounds very professionally done Dan.

Well done.

I've heard a lot of tracks by non commercial artists lately and this is one of the better ones.

Thanks very much Mike

It's hard work to put it "all" together! The music's the easy bit.

Promotion has never been my strong point, but it appears that the main way now is to get lots of hits etc.
Easier said than done imho (well, not without "buying" the interest)

Dan

Radio1 written all over it. Excellent study piece for anyone getting into commercial pop. Good job, guys.

Any chance of a quick run down on how it was done/gear used/recording equipment etc?

Giner - that's VERY kind of you to say Thank you

Mike, I can gladly go through the whole thing for you, as the track is a hybrid ITB/OTB.

Let me write it up and copy/paste. Will try and source some pics too


Dan

Hold Me - Armstrong & Stayte.

This track started off in Logic as a dabble. Nigel and I work on ideas first, then email each other the logic files (starting off with the basic ITB instruments for compatibility).

The song actually ended up with over 50 tracks:


I'm using Logic 9 for this project as I moved over to Logic X just after, but due to using some 32bit plugs, I have to wait for 32Lives (soundradix) to come out of beta to check it all. Still not quite there, so for this song, Logic 9

So, in the grand scheme of things, the track programming is quite simple as it's down to the playing and performances.

There's a fair bit of Kronos in the track too - predominantly the E Pianos, and I sampled Nigel's bass (Yamaha 5 string).
I run the Kronos in Combi-mode for the song too.
There's also a bit of Virus B - tweaked preset from years gone by!
And soem V-Synth XT - again, tweaked preset.

The guitars and bass were recorded through my Focusrite mic pre/channel strip (OTB).

The vocals were recorded with a Neumann TLM170, going through my Focusrite, and then into my MOTU 828 interface.

From the arrange page, you can see that I like to arrange my production how I'm going to throw it onto a console (old habits die hard!) - and it really does make it easy to mix.
I use lots of bussing of audio and groups to control everything too.



My plugs are pretty basic - mostly SSL and Tubetech. Reverb is courtesy of the Lexicon. There's also a bit of the quite excellent Chorus-60 (TAL).


This was good enough for demo purposes (in fact it was this mix that got us onto the radio - although I would like to think that the song did that! )

Then the opportunity presented itself to mix the song at Real World. Now I've been VERY lucky to go there in previous years (mine was the 1st Kronos @ Real World - even Peter Gabriel "only" had an Oasys! ). I ran the Kronos live via MIDI.




Real World uses Logic 9, but it wasn't set up for the HDX hardware (64 outputs) - so I transferred the project into ProTools 10.
I'm perfectly happy in 'Tools - in fact for audio editing, it blows Logic out of the water for speed. Midi? well, let's not talk about that, as Avid will embarrass themselves with this!!


However, more importantly, it gave me the opportunity to actually focus on mixing the song, rather than ar$ing around with feckin' screens and programming.

So mix-wise: SSL channel compression/dynamics were used on most channels. For 90% of the channels, the K series console has the ability to emulate the older E series EQ, which IMHO is a warmer sound. I've used SSLs for years - starting with UB40's G-series (with E & G eq). I know the sound and like it.
However, there were certain sounds that needed that little bit more.

Primarily the eq - the BVs, keys and guitar were also put through this lot -


yes - Neve 1073s, 33609s and 33115s (why not eh? )
Em's lead vocal was treated to some SSL channel dynamics and then on the insert was a Urei 1176 daisy-chained to a GML (George Massenburg Labs) 8200.


The drums were put through the Anthony Demaria compressor, and the Distressors were used on percussion.
The Pultecs were also used on the Kronos (set up in multi-output mode).


LA4 was used on the bass and guitar too.

Reverb was handled by an Eventide H3000, and Lexicon 480l

ProTools was then slaved to the SSL, where the automation system was used to mix.


So, SSL + Real World + great musicians and music =



I will put the video up of the Real World mix, but I think it'll be going to a record company first

Hope you enjoyed this - feel free to ask any questions though

Dan

Great song Dan. Very catchy. I can definitely see this getting in the charts.

Pep.

Thanks Charting would be very nice!

The big thing to take from this is that the music is by FAR the easiest bit!!

Dan

"The music being the easiest part of this". Scoob, you got that right. I was lost after the first couple of sentences. I can only marvel at your expertise.

The song is the thing, though. When you think of the great records that were recorded on some of the most basic equipment, in the most haphazard circumstances sometimes, it's the song itself that 'sold'.

I wish you all the best in your efforts on this. Please keep us all posted on the marketing progress.

Cheers, Giner.

Thank you

Great job!!
I liked on YouTube.
will spread around

Nice eighties/nineties vibe! Hope you can ride the revival wave and come out on top! Definitely a nice production.
It's funny hearing the Kronos Rhodes I know so well

I hope you give Deadmau5 his due!

In all seriousness, yes - I'm buying the sample pack: you've GOT to. It's a copyright issue. I found the sample on the net, but was aware that it came from his sample pack.

There's also the drum fill, which is a sample too - all acknowledged on the PRS site

Can't afford to get this stuff wrong!

But again, thanks

Dan