Music for the Cloth Eared Generation

[johnt]

Here's my story

Originally played drums in a couple of bands about 13/14 years ago with some really talented (and arrogant) chaps. I had no creative input and was quite intimidated by their musical prowess. They were good but they knew it! Anyway, we drifted to the 4 corners of the globe and work/wives took over and I ended up not having played the drums for years without having realised. I continued messing about on my Telecaster (started to learn when I was about 16/17) but with no one to play with I even stopped playing guitar for a year or so.
Not sure why, but after about 12 months of not playing at all I suddenly got the urge, went out out and bought myself a really good electrocoustic for my 30th birthday.
I was hooked like I never had been before. My Rickenbacker 330 followed very soon after as did the desire to actually record something. Some cover versions, and maybe if I could cobble it together, something original!
I added an iMac, PreSonus firebox and an Ibanez artcore bass (saving for the ric of course), and set about trying to learn to record and mix in logic, oh and play bass too. Still on the shopping list are monitors, midi controllers, pre-amps and more rics etc etc etc (you name it I need one )

Anyway, I present for your delectation my first ever original fiddlings committed to, well I was going to say tape, but it's actually a hard drive isn't it. There are no vocals, nor even a name for the track, I really don't sing at all well and don't write lyrics either. The style and influences aren't ones I imagine folks will go crazy for here, but thanks for just giving it a listen.

I am, of course, open to some GENTLE feedback, bearing in mind that you are the first ever people I have given anything I have recorded to even listen to, never mind appraise (yes the girlfriend is very supportive! )

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_so ... ID=7073219

[kiramdear]

John I find your song really cool. I love the bass as lead instrument and I really like what you did with the drums.

The guitar sounds a bit too wet for me and I'd like to feel that bottom end a bit stronger. The mid-range tones on the bass are fine.

I'd like to hear more about your actual process because I'm working in a similar way myself and learning as I go.

What a great start for your new interest. I'm curious to see how you work it out finally.

Too bad you missed the deadline for this year's compilation CD, but there's always next time. Look for announcements.

[Scastles]

Yeah, John, it's really pretty good. There should be no apprehension on your part about it at all. Job well done. I will say, for some reason, I kept expecting Gerry Marsden to start singing.

[paologregorio]

I likee!!! Pretty cool stuff.

[johnt]

Wow, thanks for the positive comments. I know it is stupid, but the initial fear of showing someone something you've written and recorded for the first ever time is quite scary, especially when you've built it up in your mind!

Kira, the learning curve with logic is pretty steep (I decided to skip Garageband for some reason, in hindsight maybe I should have cut my teeth there). I have watched an awful lot of videos on youtube and scoured the logic forums here http://logicprohelp.com/ looking for answers, tips/tricks - anything!
Luckily my set up is still very simple at this point, so quite easy to get the recording part right. My biggest step forward, after learning the basics, has been getting the signal path on channel strip plugins correct and trying to use plugins to master with, instead of using the default plugin settings logic provides.

Gerry Marsden! I was born in Liverpool, but I certainly don't sing like him!

[kiramdear]

John, that's about where I'm at with Logic too. I find that when you figure out how to go beyond the default settings you can start to define a really specific-to-you sound and I'm happy with the new world of options that are buried behind those tiny buttons. I haven't yet started to add any of the fancy plug-ins that are available. I found GarageBand mostly OK for a while. It's very easy to begin with it but I found I had outgrown its limitations in a few projects, But if you haven't started yet with Logic GB is a good way to get your feet wet.

[shamustwin]

I really enjoyed your stuff.

[johnt]

Thanks very much! It really is a relief to get some pleasant feedback.

I really enjoyed your stuff.

I am currently monitoring through a set of PC speakers, albeit decent ones. I have managed to twist the g/f's arm enough and it looks like a pair of KRK RP5's are on the way for Christmas!

[godber]

John I really liked that, it feels like a real mix of a lot of good things - The Style Council, The Smiths, Felt, an easy version of New Order bass, Beatles post Pepper...drifting, sweet, melodic, but ethereal.. You're playing with brushes yeah? Really cool flowing vibe. I'd like to hear flute in there and really breathy jazz drenched brass in the chorus (does Garritan work on a mac?).

Nice work, enjoyed it. Do more!

[espidog]

Nice atmospheric mix there, John. Makes me think of the Cocteau Twins. My only criticism is that there appears to be little or nothing in the way of bass frequencies, which suggests to me that you're monitoring your recording in a bass-heavy environment. This could be because your default playback EQ settings aren't flat, or perhaps you're monitoring on headphones and they're too 'boomy'. Apart from that, very nice indeed!

[walker]

Nice work, John. I thought it was a well-balanced mix, and I thought the lightness of the guitar sound was appropriate for the dreamy quality of the song. How many guitar tracks were there?

Nice melodic bassline, too. My only critique is that it was a little dry in comparison with the rest of the mix. I would have messed around with a small amount of chorus with a light sweep and/or a little reverb. Be mindful of the tuning, too. The bass sounded a little flat in some parts, which may not actually be a tuning issue so much as an Ibanez issue. Those cheap basses don't have the best intonation. But once you get your Rick bass, I'm sure your tracking will go much smoother!

Great work on the drums, too! Well played, and nicely produced. How were they mic'd?

[johnt]

Thanks again, I am very flattered that just about all my favourite bands have been mentioned, The Smiths, New Order, Cocteau Twins, Beatles, Style Council etc.
I was also thinking that the bass on the opening section, which is repeated mid song was slightly flat. There was also a low cut filter on the whole track at 150hz to take away the boomy bass drum. Can't decide if I like it more with or without. My PC speakers are quite bass heavy, which may explain an over compensation in the other direction - roll on Crimbo for some pro monitors!

Anyway I have re-tracked the bass in parts, added a slight hint of chorus to some of the bass parts and removed the low cut filter.

The drums are tracked using Ultrabeat in Logic and a Midi control pad.

The track has now been no. 2 in the Shoegaze charts for 4 days on the run! Woo HoOOO!


http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_so ... ID=7073219

[beatlefreak]

Sounds great - It's got a nice, easy feel to it.

[johneek]

John...I like what you've done with the changes to the bass tracks. It's definitely better IMHO. The sound is much fuller now and the bass isn't in such stark contrast to the dreamy feel of the guitar line. Mark and Kira gave you some great insight...nice job. And just think...you'll get better and better at this!!

[johnt]

Thanks again for the comments. I'm learning an awful lot, and having great fun at the same time!

I have (finally) picked up my monitors which has really opened my ears to what I have recorded so far, and it's straight back to logic for some tweaking and head scratching!

I have also picked up a copy of Izotope's Ozone 3 - http://www.izotope.com/products/audio/ozone/ only just started to scratch the surface with this piece of software, and all I can say is WOW! I have just reset the main output channel and just run Ozone 3 and a compressor on the untitled track and the difference when you play them next to each other is enormous! The previous recording sounded so muffled and dead next to the ozone tweaked version. Ozone refreshed the whole recording and added so much depth and position to the different instruments and sounds, am I making sense?

So here we are again - another remastered version!


http://soundclick.com/share?songid=7073219