A Bit More In My Element This Time: Vocals + Synths

Virtual Kevorkian

New member
I was going to hold off posting this until I had finished writing it, but I've not had the time to really touch it during the past week or so.

This one is way more extreme than the past couple - kinda like Dimmu meets Dark Tranquillity? You be the judge!

I've been getting a lot more into using synths and orchestrating and whatnot - I've got the Vienna String Orchestra softsynth samples ordered and on the way, should be quite lush.

With all the crap that's going on in this, it was probably one of the harder things of mine I've had to mix; I still hate the lead guitar tone, and the main rhythms haven't been reamped yet.

Anyways... enough of me being picky.

http://jefftd.googlepages.com/SymphDM.mp3
 
Re: A Bit More In My Element This Time: Vocals + Synths

I really liked the vocal melody when you were singing in your natural voice. The part that sounded like it was through a megaphone or something. That was cool and sounded nice. Something about the entire mix sounded really scooped or something, but then who knows with my ears. They're always playing tricks on me. I actually liked your lead tone on it. For a 16 year old, you never really cease to amaze me man. I wish I would've been doin 1/10th of the things you're doing musically at your age. You really should feel proud of yourself.
 
Re: A Bit More In My Element This Time: Vocals + Synths

Thanks for the kudos, uncle Jolly.

I know what you mean - it's mostly the guitar tone scooping out the mix. I had to make room for the synths and ended up cutting too much low mid out of the guitars... **** POD.

Cool that the megaphone/telephone trick worked out as intended! I actually threw it on 'cause I think my voice is ****! :laugh2:
 
Re: A Bit More In My Element This Time: Vocals + Synths

That's good stuff! The synth really fits well. Sorta reminds me of Shade Empire, Axamenta, Throes of Dawn, and Catamenia all combined!
 
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Re: A Bit More In My Element This Time: Vocals + Synths

I haven't listened to much with vocals like this recently, but this reminds me of why I liked the genre in the first place. Great work.
 
Re: A Bit More In My Element This Time: Vocals + Synths

wow, interesting stuff. I hope you don't change the lead tone too much, I like that. I dig the clean vocals. the harsh ones sound fine, they just fall under the category of "just sorta there" to me, which happens with most death metal vocals on my ears these days. I think it might work a tad better if the harsh ones were slightly more accessible (more of your true voice in there somewhere), but that's just me, and also a lot to ask cause I know how hard vocals are to do, especially if you don't practice vocals all the time. Sometimes it's easiest to just do the super harsh thing, or just slap a bunch of distortion all over them (I'm gonna do that on my next little punk/metal crossover number).

I hope all this pans out to you being able to do this for a living since you have such a head start.
 
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Re: A Bit More In My Element This Time: Vocals + Synths

Very nice work man!! Lotta stuff to make work and you do it extremely well.
 
Re: A Bit More In My Element This Time: Vocals + Synths

God, when I was 16 I was playing guitar for one year and I was so happy that I could play Stairway to Heaven and Firehouse, lol. U make me sick--but in a most respectful way, lol. If that's your first attempt with synths Jeff, I can't wait to hear what else you come up with. Outstanding. Just outstanding.
 
Re: A Bit More In My Element This Time: Vocals + Synths

TOP CLASS
#10 from me,even though i´m not a keyboard fan
Q:p
Can you link me with some blackout 6 string clips?
Q:P
OF YOURS
 
Re: A Bit More In My Element This Time: Vocals + Synths

Fantastic!

Don't stop you've got an enormous amount of talent and ability.
 
Re: A Bit More In My Element This Time: Vocals + Synths

Nice work, Jeff. I really like how you've integrated keys and orchestral flavored parts into the song. My only gripe is that it's only 2 minutes. ;)
 
Re: A Bit More In My Element This Time: Vocals + Synths

Jeff, the time has come. It's time for you to do a full album by yourself. The vocals are just fine!
 
Re: A Bit More In My Element This Time: Vocals + Synths

Wow! Very cool! What's bordering on unbelieveable is that someone at that age can pull off something like this! Absolutely unbelieveable, yet I have to believe it.

I am very picky on growling (or this is perhaps more screaming); Åkerfeldt's probably the only I can appreciate, so I am not one to judge on vocals. (I'm a wuss apparently, lol)
The clean vocal is very cool, very Wilson-esque (Porcupine Tree / Opeth).

Keep up the amazing work, while you're extremely talented, you are sort of past the talent-phase; yet, thinking of your age, you're still a talent.. Hm, this makes no sense.

Well, at least, you will surely do some great things in the music world in the time to come!
 
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Re: A Bit More In My Element This Time: Vocals + Synths

Thanks for the kudo's, guys! I've not had any further developments on this one, unfortunately. :( I have this problem with not completing songs before starting new ones...

http://jefftd.googlepages.com/GladiatorMetal.mp3


That said... this was the last day of the quarter, and I've got a week off to do whatever the hell I want! \m/
 
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