PDA

View Full Version : First tune in many years - Thanks Reaper!


Steve R
01-10-2011, 04:30 PM
"First In Class"

Well after many years, the ease of use afforded by Reaper has prompted me to record an original song. All instruments and vox by me. Interested in comments - please be gentle!

Thanks - Steve


** The updated and remixed track is here (after valuable suggestions for remix from members of the forum):

http://soundcloud.com/steve-rosenbaum/first-in-class-2




The original with too much reverb and delay is here (this is the one that is commented on in the first few posts below):

http://soundcloud.com/user6066082/first-in-class-verbed-out

mixer
01-10-2011, 09:47 PM
Catchy! I'll be humming this for a while. Overpowering reverb/delay on guitar and vocals kind of wash everything out. I hear drums buried in there somewhere :)

Yeah, listening for third time!

Sheppola
01-11-2011, 10:42 AM
You can obviously sing and play and construct a decent song but there's lots of work to do in the mixing.

I agree with Mixer.Way too much reverb and incorrectly used.Also splitting the vocals left and right doesn't work on this IMHO.

Bookmark this site as it has helped me a lot,

http://www.benvesco.com/blog/tracking/

If you are mixing in Headphones,DON'T!!!

Steve R
01-11-2011, 12:18 PM
Thanks mixer and Sheppola. Your comments are super helpful. Will clean this up per your suggestions. Thanks for the kind words from both of you on the performance and song itself. I appreciate your time very much!

Cosmic
01-11-2011, 12:28 PM
That is a brilliant song man....I'd agree with the previous posters..tone down the reverb...and on my system here its sounding a bit squashed..sounds like you have a limter on the master bus...dial that back a bit..

Reminds me of Shoes or Cheap Trick or something..I really like it..but,and don't take this personally..but I would strip it back a bit and give it a bit more edge....

mixer
01-11-2011, 04:21 PM
I find the "pure" vibe to the song refreshing, nostalgic. More edge? Maybe. Give it a try. That would be one of those personal preference things. AC/DC, man! :)

Nice site, Sheppola. Bookmarked.

Steve R
01-11-2011, 08:50 PM
Thanks again for all the suggestions, mixer, Sheppola, and Dj Gaz Le Rock. I remixed it without all the reverb and delay. If you can stand to listen to it again, please let me know what you think.

- Steve

http://soundcloud.com/steve-rosenbaum/first-in-class-2

Ed Zeppeli
01-11-2011, 08:52 PM
Nice. Love the fresh pop!

mixer
01-11-2011, 11:22 PM
Nice improvement, to my ears anyway.

The guitars seem to compete with the vocals just a bit, IMO. I like the sound of the guitars (you nailed that 60's/early 70's sound perfectly), but maybe put them back a little. There's a strong L to R stereo "pull" going on between the two guitars that makes me lose focus on the vocals. Don't get rid of the separation; it's nice. Maybe just push those geetars back a bit.

I suppose being a drummer, I'm biased, but I'd like to hear just a bit more drums. Not a lot, really, or you'd lose that vintage sound where the drums were not that prominent. Maybe pull them out a little bit more. Or maybe there's some frequency masking going on that's hiding them.

All that being said, we're probably into personal preference territory. It's really an instantly catchy tune. Someone said, "With a good melody, all else can be forgiven." In other words, melody is everything, and you grabbed a good one. Not much to be forgiven at all. It's a very nice piece. A few tweaks and... perfecto.

I underlined "bit" and "little" because I really mean it wouldn't take much. I think too much change would undo that vintage sound you've achieved.

BTW, are the drums real or programmed? I'm guessing Toontrack Vintage or BFD maybe?

Are all effects Reaper?

Ok, this song is ringing very pleasantly in my head now until I hear something else somewhere. I've been listening to it as I write this.

Cheers.

Sheppola
01-12-2011, 05:06 AM
Much better than the 1st version.I echo most of what Mixer says.It take a long time to get all the techniques of mixing.I've been home recording years and still not got it how I want as there's always something to learn.

One tip I can give to to get better clarity and separation between instruments is to put this ReaEQ FX chain

http://www.box.net/shared/dtxfknkz36

into your FX chain folder(Use search to find it as it's not in your Normal Reaper folder) and add it to every individual track.Then move the left High pass until it affects the sound and then move it back a notch,then do the same with the Low pass(Right hand side).Doing this can cut out unwanted,"Invisible" frequencies that are not needed and steal frequencies.

Things like guitars don't need a 22/24k top end and low bottom ends and some of these high and low frequencies that may be present on the track don't actually add anything to the sound of the instrument but detract from the overall mix.


HTH :)

Cosmic
01-12-2011, 05:42 AM
THAT SOUNDS AMAZING!

I wouldnt touch it!!

Get Sheppo to master it!!!

Edit..I really love this song..YOU ARE ON FIRE!

Edit Edit..how would you feel about me doing a cover of it?

Cosmic
01-12-2011, 06:00 AM
CANT.STOP.LISTENING.TO.THIS

A CRACKER!

Steve R
01-12-2011, 10:34 AM
Thanks, everyone, for the comments on the remix. I'm glad I did it.

mixer, to answer your questions:

The drums are Jamstix 2. Not being a drummer, this tool works best for me as it takes care of almost everything. But I disable the tool's control of snare and kick so I can program those patterns myself (it will add additional snare for fills, however.)

The effects are various free VSTs that I've picked up, including some from reaper. The reverbs are the Christian Knufinke SIR v1.011 with various impulse responses. The delay is the JS delay that comes with reaper. There is some compression on the BG vox, which is ReaXcomp.

TheDigitalMafia
01-12-2011, 11:41 PM
Cool Pop tune~ loved it, reminds me a litle of TheOutfield jingly jangly guitars, just the right amount of clip on the drums, the almost phil spector style vocals, awesome.

peace

Cosmic
01-13-2011, 05:30 AM
OH MAN..I AM ADDICTED TO THIS..opens new project

Cosmic
01-13-2011, 04:47 PM
Steve you should set up a Facebook page man..I'll link to it from mine and you'll get a load of hits....My punk band MOUTPIECE are gonna be playing First In Class out live in a couple of weeks..we had a quick run through at practice earlier but I didnt have the words with me but it was sounding awesome..I cant wait!!Punters are gonna love it......plus it has a great story of how I heard it...YOW!

chas51
01-16-2011, 10:44 PM
just listened to it once.
ok.
it ended.
I pressed play again right away.
this is a beautiful catchy tune.
I'm sure you know that.
don't change a thing about it now.
its done.
its finished.
(thats my humble opinion.)
this song belongs on the radio.
today.
it is so pleasing. such a joy to hear.

COCPORN
01-27-2011, 05:23 AM
Hey. Just found myself humming to this tune in the cantina. Haven't listened to it in probably a week or so, so that's a testament to its ability to stick. Awesome work; really like it.

Cosmic
01-27-2011, 05:53 AM
I'm doing this choon tonight at band practice,I'll try record it somehow...

pdk
01-27-2011, 02:48 PM
Even the first mix reminds me 80's indie stuff I use to listen too.

Someone mentioned cheap trick. Raspberries comes to mind too. I love this!

Nothing beats a good pop tune. This is that!

Steve R
01-27-2011, 04:15 PM
Thanks very much for the nice comments from COCPORN and pdk. pdk, did you mean Cranberries or Raspberries?

Gonna be posting another one as soon as I can sing it right and Gaz gives it the thumbs-up!

pdk
01-27-2011, 05:32 PM
Thanks very much for the nice comments from COCPORN and pdk. pdk, did you mean Cranberries or Raspberries?

Gonna be posting another one as soon as I can sing it right and Gaz gives it the thumbs-up!

Wow - Raspberries absolutely!

Cosmic
01-29-2011, 03:52 AM
C'MON STEVE!!!

UNLEASH THIS BAD BOY ALREADY!!!!!

CHOON!

Yeah..PDK defo a big RASPBERRIES vibe off it..and the TRICK.
Steve sounds like he's mining these songs straight from 1978!CLASSIC POWERPOP!!!

Cosmic
01-29-2011, 07:20 AM
Nah,I like the new one more now..WALL OF SOUND