First recording on VS 2400 with vocals and drum pads.

Posted: Tue Feb 12, 2008 9:56 pm

I finished the song I have been working on. I had so much to learn and still have about recording. I'm happy with it but know how many mistakes I made. Next one will be better and so on.

I bought a new mic for my vocals. I was not happy with the RODE NT1A I used on this recording and bought a Mojave MA 200. I don't sing all that good and need all the help I can get. The para EQ in the Roland VS 2400 really sucks. I really have to learn how to work this machine. It has it's good points but overall just OK.

This is the first recording with a full band, just me, I am the whole band and played every instrument. I learned how to play drums on this recording. I used hand pads, I never played drums before.

Hope you like, let me know what's wrong so maybe I can fix it.

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Posted: Wed Feb 13, 2008 8:36 am

Big Daddy!
In the past, you have put down your voice...WHY? You're voice sounds a bit like Kim Wilson's. You're pickin' and singing are great. And your slide work...I'm jealous, you bastard!
Your weak spot is definitely...those "drums". Too much hi-hat, and the time-keeping is so-so. Sounds like the tambourine "fights" the HH, sounds too busy. I use a DD-55 (like yours), but I sequence it with a Native Instruments' Battery program so that I can clean up the hits and quantize it for a decent groove. In any case, you might scout around for a drummer in your area who can assist you in playing your DD.
As for the vocals, IMHO, they are too dry and a bit upfront. Try adding a delay to add some space and depth. Play with the timing of it to match the tempo. You're gettin' there, you bastard. LOL!!!

Posted: Wed Feb 13, 2008 10:26 am

Thanks, Kim Wilson, yeah that's what I was thinking......I hate Kim Wilson...LMAO.

I have to keep working on my mix downs. I end up just over doing things a bit EQ wise. The EQ is not that good in the Roland and I think I need better monitors.

That was the first time I ever played drums. I have the DD and a Roland hand pad. Next one I'll get it right on!!!

It's a work in progress.

My guitar playing is better than that too. There are sounds and tones I'm just not getting yet.

Once it was on CD the vocals and hi hat came out and I don't know why. Everything sounds a little muffled too.

I have FX that I didn't use yet for mastering, it's software by Roland. There is a lot of stuff I don't know how to use yet.

But thanks a lot I appreciate the honesty. I have two more songs one is kind of like an Otis Redding song and another is a funky thing.

Posted: Wed Feb 13, 2008 11:39 am

What are you using for monitors? This may be part of the reason that the vocals and hat are too strong in the mix. I don't think that the overall sound is "muffled". Certainly not on my JerBL's. There are some spots that got a little too "busy" and "dense" with all of the guitars and such, but that's not necessarily bad thing. And as far as my "big, smooth, and tight" friend is concerned, I got her with my guitar playing, and I'm damned sure not turning her on to you! LOL!!!

Posted: Wed Feb 13, 2008 1:33 pm

I always knew that with women as soon as they heard me play I was gettin' sum.

I have the alesis powered monitors, they don't make this model anymore. They aren't too bad and I have them on mopads which helps. I think it's a number of things mostly my inexperience but the monitors are part of the equation.

Posted: Wed Feb 13, 2008 5:34 pm

Hiya BD. Theres very little 'wrong' with yer voice. Was this track done with the Mojave? Its nice and tight sounding and though its dry as a bone, theres certainly a lot of tone to your voice. Stay positive.

The guitar work is nice. I think a bit careful, but still a good blend of the several tracks.

Then theres the drums. Ya tell me that in NY there aint drummers that would play on this stuff? Theres a WORLD of grooves that you could apply to what you have there and this thing would get large in a sec.

The bass needs to counter the guitars. But its gonna be hard to do that until you get the drumbeats in the right place.

I wish there was some way I could do the bass and drums for you. My drummer and I would kik the living shiest outta this stuff....

really.

I really think its got something happening in there....it just needs to get out of the box and go for a ride with the top down.

Posted: Wed Feb 13, 2008 6:29 pm

Thanks, my best friend is a bass player and is going to do the bass parts from now on.

Believe me I'm my worst and best critique, I'll never be satisfied with my work.

Yes I know a few really good drummers but I am stuck in my bedroom with my studio. I can't really get around, my back is so bad I can hardly walk now.

I will keep working on those drums until I get them right.

The mic was the rode. I had some reverb on it but for some reason it didn't come out??????????

The Mohave will sound a lot better. Next duo of songs will be much better.

I have to feel a little more comfortable playing guitar to canned music, I'm more of a live player.

I would be much better if I could just go to a studio with a drummer and bass player and rip it up, that's my way. Just get into that zone and let it rip. It's hard to find a zone doing it this way.

Like I said, I'm happy with it because I know I did my best. Anything less and I wouldn't be happy. The more I do it the better it will get.

By the way did you like the song? To me all playing aside if the song ain't sheet then what's the sense?

Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2008 9:18 am

The song is certainly good BD. For having 3 or so guitar (that I could hear), there was/is good space between them all. Are you using the POD for the guitar work? If so, you got a good tone working.
Personally, I think the bass was a little quiet, but that's just my opinion, or it could just be my headphones.

Are you using the Roland pres on this or are you using one of your others?

Keep rockin' bro, it sounds good.

/Shack

Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2008 9:34 am

Thank you very much.

Yup POD on all guitars. I know I can do better guitar wise so I just ordered a Blackheart amp and I'm going to mic it if it sounds good. It has a 3/5 watt switch so it's not very loud.

I pulled out one of my amps that I built and wailed away a few days ago. I cannot get the sound like that just with the POD. I need the pickup speaker interface working to get certain little nuances of live performance techniques. I use little tricks with he pick and bending notes, catching harmonics and feedback, you just don't get that with a POD. You get that with a nice setup of 2 or 3 amps all lined up or at least one that sounds like it's ready to explode.

Now I have a nice bass line running through my head....LOL. But I didn't then.

All in all it needs A LOT of work but I'm slowly getting there.

The POD was a UA Solo 610, bass UA LA610, snare, cymbals Summit pre, Kick and vocals Great river pre. I actually doubled the vocals with the GR into the LA 610 and 2 channels because the rode mic just sounded like crap no matter what I did. Wrong for my voice.

Next 2 will be a lot better, My new vocal mic, the mic'd guitars, a better bass player, but I really need to work on the drums.

I wish I could get a live drummer but that will never happen. Although in the future getting a smaller electronic kit and setting it up in the living room and running cables to the bedroom might be an idea.

Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2008 9:48 am

Seems like the UA did you good on the guitars man.

FWIW, (to dovetail on what Dave said), there are plenty of drummers that you could get for something like this. The drummer in my band actually cuts drums for people and sends them the tracks to mix as they like; at a reasonable price too.
He's a solid drummer, quality gear, great recordings, etc. If you're interested I can hook you up, just let me know. I'll be using him on a few recordings in the near future.

/Shack

Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2008 1:28 pm

Why find a drummer when there's BFD?

Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2008 11:43 pm

Big Daddy, if you want the REAL TEXAS BLUES drumsound, get it from a real texas drummer, brother! I can help. BFD's can sound great if you know how to program, but if you spend your time writing and recording SONGS and not learning how to work software, leave it to me!
go visit Realstudiodrums.com!...

In fact, just for you...You buy my tracks for one song,...I'll play another song of your choice for free! In other words, Two for the price of one.

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