One of my songs that I can't finish. Can you have a listen for me?

Hey guys. I rarely post, but I thought, "What the hell"...

I'm a one man band - I compose songs, play all of the instruments (Guitar - my primary instrument), bass, drums, and I'm singing as well. I'm also recording, mixing, mastering, and everything else. I am the only person involved in my project, as being in bands never worked out.

Plus, my music is literally my therapy. You can tell through my lyrics...

So like I said, it's still not done, but it's getting there (this is just the latest of my originals, but the others aren't as good as this one, I think). I have two versions at the moment. One that I just added and took away from, and an older, more bare version.

Here's the latest version:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SCN9mduXRxE"]The Light and the Grip of Night - Added and took away things... - YouTube

And the version before it. Note the differences:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yKmaFmgPOpc"]The Light and the Grip of Night - Incomplete - YouTube

And if you guys like "REM - Losing My Religion", I turned it into a punk song:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IOtgi9vhCXE"]Lifelong Lesson - Losing My Religion (R.E.M. cover) - Punk Version - One-Man Band - YouTube

That was recorded about 2 years ago and I need to redo the vocals and do some general polishing. Plus I've gotten a lot better at mastering since then.

I also covered a 311 song (Eons), but it's nothing special. Sounds too much like the original (IMHO), (but the REM cover is awesome).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2LSKBxMj2uE"]iMPAiREd - EONS (311 - Cover) [One-Man Band] - YouTube

So anyways, please tell me what you think and if I have potential here!

Quick background info:

Started playing guitar at 14. Never had a lesson so I taught myself.

I soon realized that bass guitar is just like the regular guitar, just an octave lower, so I caught on to that (Nowadays, I will only use a 5 string bass because that low B string is very important for my sound).

Around 18, I realized that bands weren't working out. I was using computers since I was 13 (1993) so I was computer savvy back then. This was around 1998 - right when computers started getting powerful enough to record music with them. So I took to that easily and still even use the same recording software (modern day version, of course - Cakewalk Sonar 8).

Drums took a bit to get used to, and I could never house a drum set (neighbors - I live in an apartment and always did), but I knew how to play mentally - all I needed to get down was my coordination. I can keep a beat, but I still have no set and I have to rely on other people's sets or I will program them in. Regardless, drums weren't too hard, but I don't go crazy on them, so my standards aren't/weren't that high. But I do need a double-bass pedal to thrive just as I need a 5 string bass...

And then we have singing, which is THE hardest for me. I have the lowest vocal range (bass - I have Johnny Cash's range). But thanks to technology, I can sound good in a recording and because of that technology, it's even helped me to BECOME a better singer. I also hate the way I sound, but someone has to sing it and I plan on keeping it a one man band. Besides, as I said before, it's my therapy!

I can indeed sing these songs without pitch correction, but it just sounds so much better with it. And plus as a recording engineer (mixing), making the pitch correct sound real without sounding like T-pain is more of an art than a science, so I have a lot of fun with that. It's just when I record, I want everything to be as nice sounding as I can get it.

So nowadays, I only play when I'm recording. I rarely practice - if at all. So go easy on me.

Thanks for listening!!!

 

I just listened to the latest version, also it's not quite my genre so take this with a grain of salt. (Or a pound of salt, whichever fits)


Over all it sounds really good... I can tell you have put a lot of time into this. Some critiques.

At around 1.50 there is a "Mr. Roboto" effect on the vocals. Are you sure that's what is called for? Seems a straight up vocal, maybe with a touch of "grit" (Either added gain on the mic pre, or do it with your voice)

Also around 2.50 or there abouts is something that sounds like a casio-tone keyboard??? That needs a different tone. Is that keys or some effect on guitar? The riff is fine, the voice/tone just sounds "wrong" or "cheesy"... No offence.


About an ending... It's often misused but try ending the same way you start. 9 times out of 10 that's what you really need.

 

Yeah, you most definitely probably hear Mr. Roboto, which are artifacts (unwanted noise) of Pitch Correction (Autotune). I have to use it because I am not the best singer and I don't plan on playing live (I can't). But I can do Karaoke with it and hold it down. I just use it in the studio because I am a perfectionist.

And that Casio Keytone is just a quick synthesizer I used to get my vocal-line idea out. Even into the chorus it goes and like I said, that's going to be replaced with vocals. It's more or less a reference point, but I know how annoying it is. Just imagine my vocals instead of that.

I'm also on a shoestring budget, so I was using a lower quality mic. Without effects, it sounds so bad (as far as EQ and stuff). I really made it sound that much better, believe it or not.
And on those chorus vocals, It was like 3am and I wanted to get them down, but I had to sing them quietly and I never changed them. So I wasn't using my full force on the chorus. Especially the higher harmony. That whole chorus needs to be re-recorded big time. That is such a rough copy. But I need my damn mic cables!

Thanks again!

 

Can I bump threads here?

If so, BUMP!

If not, oopsie...

 

Most of my hardware, computer and amplification (Amps/Effects/Mics/etc.) are gotten either surplus, used (eBay) or broken. I then combine/repair/modify stuff as I see fit. I do so much "You can't do it that way" stuff you would be amazed. I just think back to what was available back in the 60's and early 70's and it makes my stuff seem high tech.

 

I could never do this shit on reel to reel or even the 4 or 8 tracks of the 80's. And if I could, it would take forever. Bless computers!

But the old shit is still boss. Look at what the Foo Fighters did on their last album. They recorded it and mastered it 100% analog.

 

If you're running Sonar 8 you have a plethora of post-effects available to you. dig in to that shit (I run sonar 7) Think about getting some formal instruction in pre and post-production engineering or buy a professional manual and study the shit out of it...

...or (and this is my better suggestion) don't worry about the technical shit, just work on your singing, general musicianship and so forth... get your songs tight with the quick and dirty demos, then take your ass to a professional recording studio with an engineer. lay down a butt-load of tracks then take them home to your desktop studio and mix/ manipulate away!
Be sure to use a professional mastering service before you start pressing disks...

good luck with your music and have fun!

 

Thanks. Yeah - I would rather have a real Masterer Master. But I like recording and mixing... I can make an SM57 sound awesome. All of the vocals were recorded on one. Now I have an SM58 Beta. Gotta get down with that.

And yeah, Sonar has some nice post effects. I love Waves, though. Do you have any of the Waves Plugins?

 

Anybody else?

 

All I have is the waves reverb...I really dig the Edirol plug-in's though. I have a pretty crappy computer, but I can still stack up about 8 soft-synths before I start getting dropouts

I rarely record these days, for one thing I can't afford the mics I need (ribbon), let alone a good sound-space for recording. Way too much ambient noise where I live.
Mostly work programing in 'notation view' transcriptions I use to make backing tracks for live practice.

 

Well, like I said, if I can get away with using a Dynamic microphone and make it sound good, you can too. I download my plugins because I can't afford them. Just saying... Torrents...

It's all about EQ. Oh, and Antares Microphone modeler. I can make my SM57 or Beta 58 sound like a Neumann U87. It actually has the input for an SM57 and output as a Neumann U87 and like 40 other mics that would cost a fortune. They even have that $10,000 Sony Tube Condensor mic. I forgot what it was called.

But yeah, man. Dynamic mics, EQ'ing and modelers go a long way.

Stay thirsty for music, my friend.

 

Just a friendly bump...

 

Newer version with added vocals:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zfEmUlJvZHA"]The Light and the Grip of Night - One Mand Band - Added More Vocals - YouTube

 

Damn, this site is dead.

 

Better.... I like the break to the doubled vocals @ 1:46 :2thumbsup:

No intro or outro?

Need a second guitar lead @ 2:20 .... something "hot"

 

The clean guitar in the intro originally went for 16 bars until the vocals came in, but I cut that so it starts right with the vocals. But that whole part IS the intro. The verse starts with "As broken souls...".

There is no outro because the song isn't complete, yet. But I'm getting there!

As as far as a second guitar lead, I already have one there at 2:20. Did you check the latest version I posted a few posts ago? It's the same one as the intro/pre-verse lead, but it doesn't fade out. Check it out.

 

The one I listened to before replying was the one in post 13...

 

Hmm. That is it indeed. Perhaps change that lead around, go higher, and perhaps throw a little shredding in there?

 

Either shredding or a smokin' hot soulful deal... (I'm not a fan of shred, but it's your piece) I would lead over what you have there now, add another track, don't replace what's there. If you get my drift.

 

You're right. I need to make every corner of that song interesting... Thanks for the advice!

I have a broken B string which is critical for soloing, but once I get a new one tomorrow, it's on, son. :mickey:

:2thumbsup: