"Scatterbrain" Version 2.0

[CGord]

Made a change since the last time I posted this one; I wanted a little more variety to it, so I added 2 new riffs. Check it out & lemme know what ya think!

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/songInfo.cfm?bandID=570498&songID=4329483

 

[daemon barbeque]

Re: "Scatterbrain" Version 2.0

link do not work proprerly.i think your upload failed!!!

 

[CGord]

Re: "Scatterbrain" Version 2.0

Damnit!

I'll put it up on my server tonight when I get home from work.

 

[CGord]

Re: "Scatterbrain" Version 2.0

OK, Soundclick finally got their act together, link is up & running.

 

[daemon barbeque]

Re: "Scatterbrain" Version 2.0

The Perfect Action Shooter soundtrack!!!Man i love your rifiing style!!!
I love the new version more.The only (-) would be the 2. guitar mix on the first riff(and about 3 min) with the "stereo" stops-changes.
The new Riff is great ,but you def. need a nice solo after it.!!!
Keep on good work man and thanx for sharing!!!

 

[Wattage]

Re: "Scatterbrain" Version 2.0

Cool, very tight heavy stuff.

 

[Nightrunner]

Re: "Scatterbrain" Version 2.0

Killer riffage! Great metal tones and cool vibe. Good driving tune.


Watch the stereo compression though... it's pumping noticeably.



--Nightrunner

 

[CGord]

Re: "Scatterbrain" Version 2.0

I'm glad you guys like it!

Watch the stereo compression though... it's pumping noticeably.

Hmm...what can I do to change this?

 

[Nightrunner]

Re: "Scatterbrain" Version 2.0

I'm glad you guys like it!



Hmm...what can I do to change this?

Based off the clip & not knowing your recording chain, it sounds like it's happening at the final stereo bus mixdown.

Are you using compression/limiting on the main stereo outs? If so, you may want to experiment with different attack/release times (maybe a shorter attack and longer release), and make sure you have the threshold set properly. This all depends on where in the chain you're adding the compression, and for what purpose.

If you gave me some insight into the signal path you're using, I may have a better idea of what's causing the problem and how to fix it. It could even be the .mp3 encoder!

EDIT: Listening to some of your other tracks, it seems like the transients from the kick + the full distortion is clipping some kind of limiter at the stereo bus. When you play with lighter distortions/clean tone (i.e. the first part of "Digital Belch"), the "pumping" problem doesn't seem to be there. Each time the kick strikes, the whole level gets sucked down, making the guitar part sound like it's pumping.


--Nightrunner

 

[CGord]

Re: "Scatterbrain" Version 2.0

My setup is very simplistic: it's a Line 6 RiffTracker, which is the GuitarPort + recording software by Sonoma Wire Works. I plug the guitar into the GuitarPort, the GuitarPort into the computer.

I do have a virtual signal chain I can show you, with the compression settings:

That's the only compression level I adjust. RiffWorks mixes the tune to a wav file, then I compress it to vbr mp3 using EAC/LAME.

I should say here that this is not the actual setup I recorded this clip with, though the compression is set the same. The setup you're hearing is:

Here's a link for the original mp3 file, since Soundclick compresses it further: http://www.fiveofanatic.com/random/scatterbrain-v2.mp3

 

[CGord]

Re: "Scatterbrain" Version 2.0

EDIT: Listening to some of your other tracks, it seems like the transients from the kick + the full distortion is clipping some kind of limiter at the stereo bus. When you play with lighter distortions/clean tone (i.e. the first part of "Digital Belch"), the "pumping" problem doesn't seem to be there. Each time the kick strikes, the whole level gets sucked down, making the guitar part sound like it's pumping.


--Nightrunner

Maybe I just need to turn the overall recording level down?

 

[Nightrunner]

Re: "Scatterbrain" Version 2.0

Maybe I just need to turn the overall recording level down?

That's a possibility. The problem probably occurs when the Rifftracker software mixes it down to a .WAV file. Maybe Rifftracker has an automatic limiter on the main bus to avoid clipping. If you listen to the .WAV, do you hear the pumping? If not, then it's happening when you encode it.


--Nightrunner

 

[CGord]

Re: "Scatterbrain" Version 2.0

Ok, thanks for the input! I'll check it out this weekend.

 

[Wattage]

Re: "Scatterbrain" Version 2.0

I have had similar problems with MP3 compression, also if you use Windows Media Player to listen on playback make sure that SRS efeects are off, they do some screwy things to tracks that are a little more compressed than normal.

 

[CGord]

Re: "Scatterbrain" Version 2.0

I use Winamp.

 

[bigheadood]

Re: "Scatterbrain" Version 2.0

I get that problem when I use too much compression.
Just something else you could try.

I like this song though. Nice tone (when it's not cutting out).

 

[CGord]

Re: "Scatterbrain" Version 2.0

OK...I think I might have the pumping issue solved; I believe I had the levels too high when mixing to the .wav file.

I dropped the levels down & have remixed, recompressed, & reuploaded the song, please give it another listen & let me know how it sounds (both original links now go to the new version). Thanks to Nightrunner for the assistance!

 

[bigheadood]

Re: "Scatterbrain" Version 2.0

Much better.:headbang: :butkick:

 

[Nightrunner]

Re: "Scatterbrain" Version 2.0

Much better.:headbang: :butkick:

Totally!! Sounds a lot smoother now! Glad the problem was easily solved...

:cool3:


--Nightrunner

 

[StrangeSound]

Re: "Scatterbrain" Version 2.0

The Perfect Action Shooter soundtrack!!!Man i love your rifiing style!!!
I love the new version more.

The new Riff is great ,but you def. need a nice solo after it.!!!
Keep on good work man and thanx for sharing!!!

Yes! I'll test it with Quake 3 Arena :headbang:

Very cool man!