'School Isn't Fun Anymore'

[analogpackrat]

Wow. Really well done all around. That weird scream that builds up going into the chorus gives me chills and really conveys fear. Great job. I'm curious what guitars and amps (or amp sims) you used?

[walker]

Thanks, Doug. That "weird scream" effect is a 2-part vocal harmony with lots of reverb set off in the background. (Reverb is your friend!)

The guitars were recorded with sims - capturing a good guitar sound using real amps is still my recording Achillies' heel. There are two different guitars playing the same part - one clean, one dirty. The clean amp sim is an old Fender Twin, and the dirty is something I custom programmed myself, probably based on a Marshall. Both are onboard effects of the Roland VS-1680. Honestly, I'd like to find a better amp/amp sim. It's always a struggle for me to achieve a guitar sound I'm happy with. I've got an old Marshall Master Lead Combo from the 70's that I use sometimes with various effects, but seldom do I get a tone that turns out sounding good "on tape." I use either an SM-57 or 58 to record guitar and bass parts. I'm usually happy with how the bass turns out, but that damn guitar tone eludes me. Maybe I need a better mic for guitar???

[analogpackrat]

I only have a little experience with recording--my own little home setup and a sort of rough and tumble studio setup with a couple of friends who are more experienced than I am. Two of us are DIY guys and have built a lot of our own gear (mic pres and compressors mostly). What we tend to gravitate toward for guitar is either a Neve preamp (1272 clone) or a Langevin (AM16 clone) preamp. For dirty guitar we've used ribbon mics a fair bit. I have a ShinyBox ribbon which is quite nice for the price. We've also used my Senn e609 dynamic, but it can be a bit strident. I recently bought the better e906 but haven't had a chance to use it seriously yet. From some rudimentary testing I did it does seem to sound smoother than the 609.

But when it comes down to it you should be able to get a good sound with a 57. Mic placement is one thing to really experiment with as well as cab placement within the room (unless the room is dead). Makes a big difference. Personally I prefer a small tube amp pushed hard for studio work, but we've recorded one group that used some bigger iron--a big Sunn tube head and a 4x12. If you have someone to help it's great to have them move the mic around while you play and listen in the control room or with really good iso headphones. Finding the sweet spot for the mic is a lot easier that way. Don't worry if you end up with a non-standard placement. If it sounds good, it is good!

Looking forward to hearing what you come up with next...

[walker]

Great tips, Doug. And believe me, I've tried all the different mic placement angles, distances, room tones, gain levels, direct with mic'd combinations, eq, etc, I can think of. I've also run my Marshall combo through my Hiwatt 4x12, but at the end of the day, I still can't get a tone that works as well as the sims I have. And those are ADEQUATE at best, in my mind.

*sigh* It really can be a delicate science, and my hat goes off to those who can do it well. Damn guitars!

[ram]

We've even had issues with humidity and guitar sound 'quality'... damn guitars - can't live with 'em can't live without them....

[walker]

hmmm... I beg to differ on the latter! But don't tell Jack I said that... or anyone else you may know who plays a six-string.

[kiramdear]

Hey, Mark, Great song and really well done! Good lyrics and story. Everything sounds great.

What kind of guitars did you use?

[ram]

...But don't tell Jack I said that... or anyone else you may know who plays a six-string.

He's vacationing so I can talk as loud as I want! I sometimes play a 12 string, so I am assuming I'm not part of the dis'ing here hahahaha..

Seriously - I really like the mix on this one. I think this is definitely one of your best forays on the technical side. Everything is so separate and yet together - clean! The guitars DO sound good.

[walker]

Well, I'm not TOO worried about my comment. It's just bass-players on this site, right?

Kira - thanks for the kind words! I used a Charvel guitar for all the tracks - not even sure if the guitar has a model number. It's one of those metal-riffic guitars from the late 80's. It's wired like a Strat with a humbucker in the bridge pos. I guess I've never gotten around to taking photos of it. After all... it's not like it's a BASS or something!

[ram]

Well, I'm not TOO worried about my comment. It's just bass-players on this site, right?

Kira - thanks for the kind words! I used a Charvel guitar for all the tracks - not even sure if the guitar has a model number. It's one of those metal-riffic guitars from the late 80's. It's wired like a Strat with a humbucker in the bridge pos. I guess I've never gotten around to taking photos of it. After all... it's not like it's a BASS or something!

Ummmmmm this part of the site I think is opened to all including non-big-string-players.

come to think of it I never have shot a pic of my acoustic 12 string... I'm thinking that there is only so much film and zeros and ones (for digital photos) in the world and you don't want to squander them on things aren't all that important do you.....?

[scotty]

Really enjoyed that Mark very powerful feel to it.Nice one.

[walker]

there is only so much film and zeros and ones (for digital photos) in the world and you don't want to squander them on things aren't all that important do you.....?

Exactly, Tom!

Thanks for the kind words and taking the time to listen, Scott!

[winston]

Mark,

Aside from the technical side of this song which is just pure wizardry in my book, just unbelievably good in other words, the song...............the song speaks for the masses who feel at risk just entering a school yard. Great job my friend.

[walker]

Thanks for the kind words, Brian. Much appreciated. It' hard to estimate how something you write will resonate once it's absorbed by a potential audience. Something like this might even resonate more with the parents of school-age children even more than the children themselves these days, what, given the gradual desensitization of the reality of violence and death that younger generations are going through. I think back to my high school days in the 80's, and as much as I had anxiety about certain aspects of that daily existence, and least I (we) didn't have to contend with the possibility of being shot dead on any given day, whether it be reclusive outcasts looking for revenge, gangs shooting at each other, or some lunatic taking out his anger and frustration on the innocent. Many blessing to count.

[ram]

....Many blessing to count.

+1