New stripped back acoustic tune

[That90'sGuy]

It's cold outside which means time to break out the acoustic. I really wanted to try out a few new toys this time around, namely an AKG 451B for the acoustic, some Belden 1800F cables, A Designs REDDI for the bass and new ATC SCM 16A monitors. I haven't really spent any real time finessing any sort of mix out of this, just a quick arrangement. This one is sans Auto-Tune, a very bold move - especially given that there isn't much instrumentation to take the focus away.

The name of the song is "Don't You Ever Go"

http://www.myspace.com/chrisloganmusica

 

[ImmortalSix]

Re: New stripped back acoustic tune

Wow, man, I thought I was trippin reading through that gear list! What's that, about $6,000 worth of gear?!

New tune sounds good --- my only gripe is the compression; way, way too much compression across the board!

The sound was up-front and honest, and the move away from auto-tune didn't hurt you one bit. I like the vocals better without auto-tune - not because I am a non-auto-tune crusader, it just sound realer, and more palatable.

I also like the decision to exclude percussion.

I think picking up a shaker egg for a super-simple back and forth track could add a lot to the track - perhaps even a tambourine. I just tried adding those two to a recording of mine, and while it didn't go perfectly (my bass track didn't synch up, white boy syndrome), it added a lot to the track, and filled it out, without me having to resort to a real drum track.

I like the progression a lot - nice work there! Gives me an Oasis vibe!

-Hunter

 

[innerdreamrecords.co]

Re: New stripped back acoustic tune

Very cool, I like the vocal. I would try a plate reverb and a touch of delay on the voice and try and get the acoustic and vocal to sound as if they're in the same acoustic space. A little less compression on the acoustic too.

 

[tone4days]

Re: New stripped back acoustic tune

cant listen to myspace at work
i hope to remember to give this a listen from home tonight

 

[tone4days]

Re: New stripped back acoustic tune

cool!
nice work
i like the chords you chose and the melodic ideas
the bass sounds a little too prominent
i wonder if a 'little' auto tune mightve helped ... either that or dropping the key a step ... sounds like you were reaching too much for the high notes ... but i agree that there is a more 'honest' quality to it that is inviting

the compression doesnt bother me one bit

thanks for sharing it

 

[That90'sGuy]

Re: New stripped back acoustic tune

Wow, man, I thought I was trippin reading through that gear list! What's that, about $6,000 worth of gear?!

New tune sounds good --- my only gripe is the compression; way, way too much compression across the board!

The sound was up-front and honest, and the move away from auto-tune didn't hurt you one bit. I like the vocals better without auto-tune - not because I am a non-auto-tune crusader, it just sound realer, and more palatable.

I also like the decision to exclude percussion.

I think picking up a shaker egg for a super-simple back and forth track could add a lot to the track - perhaps even a tambourine. I just tried adding those two to a recording of mine, and while it didn't go perfectly (my bass track didn't synch up, white boy syndrome), it added a lot to the track, and filled it out, without me having to resort to a real drum track.

I like the progression a lot - nice work there! Gives me an Oasis vibe!

-Hunter

Thanks Hunter, the shaker egg is a great idea. My last band used that and a tambourine for one acoustic tune and it worked well. I may have to actually go out and get one. I actually chose to do an acoustic tune because I wouldn't have to play drums on it...haha. Drums are too frustrating for me to play and I haven't had the time to learn how to play them right. At least with a tambourine or egg I've got one rhythm to focus on.

Tempo is a hard, hard thing to get down right, especially if you're white I'd find myself jamming to a click track while recording and end up just picking out what verse, chorus or bridge seemed to sync up the best.

I struggled with how much compression to use on the acoustic. It jumped around quite a bit so I tried to find some sort of a compromise where it didn't completely squash it. The first few seconds of the song where it starts with the acoustic does make it apparent that it's used though, there's no doubt about it. I am used to lots of compressed material though, so I'm sure I do it to a certain degree subconsciously.

As far as the gear end, are you ready for this? The acoustic I used was an Alvarez RD20S that was a factory stamped second with finish blems. Nice irony, huh?

Very cool, I like the vocal. I would try a plate reverb and a touch of delay on the voice and try and get the acoustic and vocal to sound as if they're in the same acoustic space. A little less compression on the acoustic too.

You're the master of delay and reverb and I think you're absolutely right; some reverb and delay would make it fit much better. My voice doesn't give me much to work with so some modulation or effects would do me some good. It's probably a bit too upfront and honest...haha.

cool!
nice work
i like the chords you chose and the melodic ideas
the bass sounds a little too prominent
i wonder if a 'little' auto tune mightve helped ... either that or dropping the key a step ... sounds like you were reaching too much for the high notes ... but i agree that there is a more 'honest' quality to it that is inviting

the compression doesnt bother me one bit

thanks for sharing it

Thanks for listening and sharing I really liked the chord progression myself on this tune. The vocals not so much, but I did what I could to complete the song. I've used Auto-Tune tastefully in the past, so I may have to keep with it and just keep trying to work on vocal technique until I can get it to sound right without it.

 

[innerdreamrecords.co]

Re: New stripped back acoustic tune

^
It's very hard to produce your own vocals, the best solution is to sing the bum parts again but without an extra set of ears in the room it's tough to catch everything. Have you looked into Melodyne yet? I love it! You can be very subtle with it.