New Music

[Bill Allen-9]

Here are a couple of new songs that I've done recently with Ardour, Hydrogen, ZynAddSubFX, AMS, and some ladspa plugins. They are pretty different from each other so if you don't like the first try the other :)

http://www.k2bea.org/Home/The_Tree_of_Life.ogg
http://www.k2bea.org/Home/Reflections-Apples-low.ogg

Best regards,
Bill

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[Bill Allen-9]

On Sun, Jun 28, 2009 at 10:08 PM, Bill Allen <bill@...> wrote:

Here are a couple of new songs that I've done recently with Ardour, Hydrogen, ZynAddSubFX, AMS, and some ladspa plugins. They are pretty different from each other so if you don't like the first try the other :)

http://www.k2bea.org/Home/The_Tree_of_Life.ogg
http://www.k2bea.org/Home/Reflections-Apples-low.ogg

Best regards,
Bill

I would love to get some feedback on these tunes, particularly mix and recording since these are my first fully done with lau tools. I understand that nobody has any obligation, but if you've got the cycles to listen, let me know what I can do better.

One part that I wonder about is the mix of the soprano sax in Tree of Life. At times it seems a little harsh. It was recorded with a not so great mic, which might account for some of that, but I'm wondering about techniques for mixing sax. At any rate, enjoy.

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[norv]

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Hi Bill,
I had a quick listen to both your tunes..
Both seem well recorded but there are a couple of audible click/pops which are distracting. The vocal parts in Reflections are not real tight in term of timing and might benefit from some compression. I don't like the bridge in Tree but I like the bridge in Reflections. Maybe you could get that sax back to split the lead break in Reflections? And maybe some delay on the gtar?
HTH
Norv

 

---

From: Bill Allen <bill@...>
To: Linux-audio-user@...
Sent: Thursday, 2 July, 2009 10:30:28 AM
Subject: Re: [LAU] New Music

On Sun, Jun 28, 2009 at 10:08 PM, Bill Allen <bill@...> wrote:

Here are a couple of new songs that I've done recently with Ardour, Hydrogen, ZynAddSubFX, AMS, and some ladspa plugins. They are pretty different from each other so if you don't like the first try the other :)

http://www.k2bea.org/Home/The_Tree_of_Life.ogg
http://www.k2bea.org/Home/Reflections-Apples-low.ogg

Best regards,
Bill

I would love to get some feedback on these tunes, particularly mix and recording since these are my first fully done with lau tools. I understand that nobody has any obligation, but if you've got the cycles to listen, let me know what I can do better.

One part that I wonder about is the mix of the soprano sax in Tree of Life. At times it seems a little harsh. It was recorded with a not so great mic, which might account for some of that, but I'm wondering about techniques for mixing sax. At any rate, enjoy.

---

Access Yahoo!7 Mail on your mobile. Anytime. Anywhere. Show me how.
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[James Stone-2]

Bill Allen wrote:
> On Sun, Jun 28, 2009 at 10:08 PM, Bill Allen <bill@...
> <mailto:bill@...>> wrote:
>
>     Here are a couple of new songs that I've done recently with Ardour,
>     Hydrogen, ZynAddSubFX, AMS, and some ladspa plugins. They are pretty
>     different from each other so if you don't like the first try the
>     other :)
>
>     http://www.k2bea.org/Home/The_Tree_of_Life.ogg


Great playing - sounds filtered in a way tho - too much mid scoop on the
eq? Sounds like I'm separated from the snare/bass drums too much - they
need more presence IMHO. I don't really like the choice of bass sound -
a more traditional bass guitar or double bass would fit better I think.
Overall very nice piece though. Sax sounds great! By the way, I have no
clue about recording so take what I say with a shed load of salt!

>     http://www.k2bea.org/Home/Reflections-Apples-low.ogg

Wow drums are so much better! They are still sounding a little too
filtered in some way tho - cymbals too sibilant, snare missing
resonance. Vocals could do with more top end and a lot less low end -
sounding a little muddy to my ears. Guitars sound quite synthy and could
maybe do with a touch of compression????? or mid? Mix again sounds like
it's missing the middle freqs and the bass up to around 300Hz is too
loud - too much different information going on from conflicting sources
there.

Again.. same get-out clause applies to my (probably wildly wrong)
statements!

Oh - and what are you monitoring on? I just noticed it sounds much
better on my terrible computer speakers than on my (more decent)
headphones. I guess your monitors might be a bit mid-emphasising?

2 fantastic songs tho!

James
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[Bill Allen-9]

On Wed, Jul 1, 2009 at 10:00 PM, Norval Watson <norv2001@...> wrote:

Hi Bill,
I had a quick listen to both your tunes..
Both seem well recorded but there are a couple of audible click/pops which are distracting. The vocal parts in Reflections are not real tight in term of timing and might benefit from some compression. I don't like the bridge in Tree but I like the bridge in Reflections. Maybe you could get that sax back to split the lead break in Reflections? And maybe some delay on the gtar?
HTH
Norv

 

 

http://www.k2bea.org/Home/The_Tree_of_Life.ogg
http://www.k2bea.org/Home/Reflections-Apples-low.ogg

 

Thanks for the comments. Your right about the vocals. I was attempting a sort of loose feeling, as in a couple of drunks singing together, but I think it's overdone. That's a great idea about the sax in Reflections. I'm thinking of tenor instead of soprano, though.

Regards,
Bill

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[Bill Allen-9]

On Thu, Jul 2, 2009 at 6:40 AM, James Stone <jamesmstone@...> wrote:

Bill Allen wrote:
> On Sun, Jun 28, 2009 at 10:08 PM, Bill Allen <bill@...

> <mailto:bill@...>> wrote:
>
>     Here are a couple of new songs that I've done recently with Ardour,
>     Hydrogen, ZynAddSubFX, AMS, and some ladspa plugins. They are pretty
>     different from each other so if you don't like the first try the
>     other :)
>
>     http://www.k2bea.org/Home/The_Tree_of_Life.ogg

Great playing - sounds filtered in a way tho - too much mid scoop on the
eq? Sounds like I'm separated from the snare/bass drums too much - they
need more presence IMHO. I don't really like the choice of bass sound -
a more traditional bass guitar or double bass would fit better I think.
Overall very nice piece though. Sax sounds great! By the way, I have no
clue about recording so take what I say with a shed load of salt!

That's a good idea. I actually did the bass track riding on an Amtrak train between New York and Boston one Friday night using the laptop keyboard through Alsa Modular Synth. I kind of like it, but maybe I'll try a a new track using my fretless bass. It just wasn't convenient on the train :)

>     http://www.k2bea.org/Home/Reflections-Apples-low.ogg

Wow drums are so much better! They are still sounding a little too
filtered in some way tho - cymbals too sibilant, snare missing
resonance. Vocals could do with more top end and a lot less low end -
sounding a little muddy to my ears. Guitars sound quite synthy and could
maybe do with a touch of compression????? or mid? Mix again sounds like
it's missing the middle freqs and the bass up to around 300Hz is too
loud - too much different information going on from conflicting sources
there.

Interesting about the guitars. They are actually the least processed of the bunch. Just guitar->amp->mic. I put a little reverb on (Caps Plate), but that's it.

Again.. same get-out clause applies to my (probably wildly wrong)
statements!

Oh - and what are you monitoring on? I just noticed it sounds much
better on my terrible computer speakers than on my (more decent)
headphones. I guess your monitors might be a bit mid-emphasising?

Hmm... I fear that's probably my ears. I actually mix with both a small set of monitors (old Boston Acoustics A40) and headphones. It's possible they both emphasize mid, but I think it's more likely that my ears are just off. I'll work on that.
 
Thanks for the great feedback.

2 fantastic songs tho!

James
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[Folderol]

On Sun, 28 Jun 2009 22:08:06 -0400
Bill Allen <bill@...> wrote:

> Here are a couple of new songs that I've done recently with Ardour,
> Hydrogen, ZynAddSubFX, AMS, and some ladspa plugins. They are pretty
> different from each other so if you don't like the first try the other :)
>
> http://www.k2bea.org/Home/The_Tree_of_Life.ogg
> http://www.k2bea.org/Home/Reflections-Apples-low.ogg
>
> Best regards,
> Bill

Tree of life seems rather stiff, and that synthesiesed sax is not at
all good - hard to get right at the best of times.

Reflections is more dynamic. You really want to use compression on the
vocal so you can get more even levels. Also the singing sounds as though
there is a lack of confidence.

Disclaimer
Opinions likely to vary and settle in transit :)

--
Will J Godfrey
http://www.musically.me.uk
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[Bill Allen-9]

On Sun, Jul 5, 2009 at 5:51 PM, Folderol <folderol@...> wrote:

On Sun, 28 Jun 2009 22:08:06 -0400
Bill Allen <bill@...> wrote:

> Here are a couple of new songs that I've done recently with Ardour,
> Hydrogen, ZynAddSubFX, AMS, and some ladspa plugins. They are pretty
> different from each other so if you don't like the first try the other :)
>
> http://www.k2bea.org/Home/The_Tree_of_Life.ogg
> http://www.k2bea.org/Home/Reflections-Apples-low.ogg
>
> Best regards,
> Bill

Tree of life seems rather stiff, and that synthesiesed sax is not at
all good - hard to get right at the best of times.
 

Thanks for the feedback, but ohhh - that stings. The sax is a real soprano sax played by a real human sax player (me). I'm gonna have to work on that if it sounds synthesized.

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[Atte]

Bill Allen wrote:

> Thanks for the comments. Your right about the vocals. I was attempting a
> sort of loose feeling, as in a couple of drunks singing together, but I
> think it's overdone.

I don't think it's overdone. Allthough I didn't think of drunken singers
when listening, it sure is very effective in setting the mood.

--
Atte

http://atte.dk   http://modlys.dk   http://virb.com/atte
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[Arnold Krille-3]

On Wednesday 22 July 2009 03:38:40 Bill Allen wrote:
> On Sun, Jul 5, 2009 at 5:51 PM, Folderol <folderol@...> wrote:
> > Tree of life seems rather stiff, and that synthesiesed sax is not at
> > all good - hard to get right at the best of times.
> Thanks for the feedback, but ohhh - that stings. The sax is a real soprano
> sax played by a real human sax player (me). I'm gonna have to work on that
> if it sounds synthesized.

To me that statement sounds more like "synthesized sax's aren't that bad
nowadays" ;-)

Arnold, who finally has to load all that fine music on his player and listen to
it...


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[Jörn Nettingsmeier-6]

Bill Allen wrote:

>
>
> On Sun, Jul 5, 2009 at 5:51 PM, Folderol <folderol@...
> <mailto:folderol@...>> wrote:
>
>     On Sun, 28 Jun 2009 22:08:06 -0400
>     Bill Allen <bill@... <mailto:bill@...>> wrote:
>
>     > Here are a couple of new songs that I've done recently with Ardour,
>     > Hydrogen, ZynAddSubFX, AMS, and some ladspa plugins. They are pretty
>     > different from each other so if you don't like the first try the
>     other :)
>     >
>     > http://www.k2bea.org/Home/The_Tree_of_Life.ogg
>     > http://www.k2bea.org/Home/Reflections-Apples-low.ogg
>     >
>     > Best regards,
>     > Bill
>
>     Tree of life seems rather stiff, and that synthesiesed sax is not at
>     all good - hard to get right at the best of times.
>      
>
> Thanks for the feedback, but ohhh - that stings. The sax is a real
> soprano sax played by a real human sax player (me). I'm gonna have to
> work on that if it sounds synthesized.

probably because you partly doubled it with a synth, and because it's
mixed very wet. but once i've managed to listen "through" this, i like
the sound. very unobtrusive, which is hard to achieve with a soprano.
and good intonation as well! for my taste, it would be mixed a little
more in front, and dryer.

didn't like the drums, kinda static - my standard advice: go pick a
starving drummer from some burger joint. the 5/4 part is fun, but the
"take five" groove doesn't have room to settle (at this tempo), and so
it sounds quite repetitive to me after a short while. i think i should
try to get rid of some beats, and try to play "over" the bars more, i.e.
not be back on every downbeat.

liked the grinding guitar sound on "apples" (although it does lose
reveal some oddness over headphones), and also the sizzle cymbal. drums
are more "loose", but still mixed too artificially perfect for my taste.
and i really hate how everybody seems to feel obliged to spread the drum
set across the entire sound stage. i've never seen a drummer with arms
longer than a metre, but i've never heard one with less than four...

the vocals are not quite happening. is that yourself singing? if so,
rule of thumb: finish the mix, then raise the vocals by 3 db, walk out,
never listen again. everybody under-mixes their own singing :)
the choir effect is very nice sometimes, but at some points the voices
differ too much in phrasing, and the choir sound falls apart.

thanks for sharing!

jörn

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