Mellower stuff from a couple metalheads...

Maddogg6

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Russ

Hi Maddogg6,
I just listened to the songs...

Best Friend:
I have heard this one before... I guess my comments are still the same. I like the song (it is probably the best of the 3, although that could just be the familiarity factor). I really like the instruments and the chorus, it kind of has a Tesla/Styx feel to it (thats what comes to mind at the moment anyway). However the vocals sounds a little off (a bit muffled, maybe?) to me in places (I mentioned this to you before, and you attributed it to the bathroom). I am not exactly sure what it is... every time I go back and listen to try to a pick something out specifically, I notice it less and less (I have gotten more used to it I guess), but there is something... I guess what I am trying to say is that I would like the song more if the vocals were recorded a little differently (except the chorus, as I like that).

I have less to say about the other 2 as I haven't listened to them as much as of yet, but:

Ms Understood:
I like the song. I like the vocals better (maybe they could be a little louder in the mix (in some spots)?)... The only thing that stood out negatively to me, was that certain parts sound a little overly compressed to me.

Trade a Day:
I like the song, but again there is a couple things that stood out (similar to the other 2 songs). The vocals sound a little muffled in a couple places (maybe the bathroom thing again), and at other times there seems (to me) to be way to much compression (I am guessing that it is compression, but it could be another effect).

Some of this may be EQ related (i.e. my DSP config), but I am using the config that I normally use when listening to music...

Again, as I listen to the songs more and more (and thus become more familiar with them), things stand out less (also due to listening to all 3 songs without listening to other music in between), so most of my comments are based on my first impression of the songs.

Maddogg6

hey thanks for the input Russ...

Some more things to keep in mind particular to the vocals we did; (that I may not have mentioned before ..??)
1) $100 condenser mic and an even cheaper mic-preamp
2) was done in his condo, and thus - several set-up / tear down occasions between takes - means lots of things change between takes. Simple things like - how many towels were hanging in the bathroom now seem to affect the subtle acoustics I didnt notice/think of at the time of recording.
3) he was constantly jumping between quiet and really belting it out - then quiet again when he realized how loud he was getting - then, trying to apply compression to even it out as much as possible through out the song - this was very challenging for me - it was also my first real attempt at recording 'serious' vocals. The one time before - was all a hodge podge attempt and was nothing to showcase.
4) The lyrics were pretty much written on the spot - minutes before recording - erm - at least there were significant changes made during recording. So, in many ways, I feel we recorded his rehearsals - and he never had complete confidence in what the lyrics were supposed to be - I think its coming through. I dunno...

/lame excuses

But yes - you are right - he is off key (1/4 tone) in many places - some times flat, some times sharp - I *think* its becuase he was also working out the harmonies -which btw - are all 'natural' - no pitch shifting or correction - but, some timing corrections were made - some are still wrong and require re-recording imo.

If anything *does* come of this stuff - we already agreed we would re-record in a more professional establishment - with better mics/pre's and less worry about neighbor tolerance, and engineer who is, well an actual engineer - hehe.

Last I knew we were gonna re-record some vocals - but he went and started passing it around... but, eh - it was fun and it does get a lot of compliments from the ladies