New song...

maestrowork · Jan 7, 2009

This doesn't belong in Music lab since it's not an original. But I did sing it.

But if Jay wants to move it, that's okay by me.

What do you think?

Breathe In Breath Out

III · Jan 8, 2009

I think half the reps I receive say "Hey! I didn't know there was a Music Lab!", so I won't hide this thread there

. Great recording and performance, Ray. Can you tell us more about it?

- What made you decide to record this song? Did it stir your romantic soul or was it just a song you felt you could perform well or did you have something new you wanted to add to the original?
- Did you play all the instruments?
- Were there any particular challenges in making the recording?
- What's the name of that effect you put on your vocals?

As always, your voice is so strong and your range is stunning. Great composition and mix. Thanks for sharing, man. This song is hitting me very hard this morning.

ETA: I've listened to the song several times at differing volumes and there's some clipping about 1/3 of the way through when the clean guitar comes in. It might be my headphones but you might want to adjust the gain or EQ at that point since I'm not hearing clipping at any other time during the song, even at the end with all the layers.

maestrowork · Jan 8, 2009

Thanks, Jay.

I chose this song because I think it's a very beautiful song (and yes, I'm a romantic, can't you tell?) and it's in my range, and allows me to experiment with the soft rock/alternative/pop genre, which I honestly haven't done much until recently. I heard it on the radio a few months ago and thought, hey, I can sing this.

I located the backing track and played a bit with it.

The challenges I had was mostly the mixing -- I'm really not a sound mixer/producer, so it took me a while to get the mix right (to my ears). But it also depends on my headphones.

I forgot I had noise canceling headphones on, so of course I was surprised when I heard it again with regular headphones. I also had a bit trouble getting the right level with my mic. I did modulate the voice a bit to give it a richer undertone. I also experimented with leaving the modulation out. It sounded really good with my noise-cancelation headphones so I want to experiment with the EQ to get the same mix (without the NC headphones).

Can you tell me where the clipping occurred? I'm not hearing it. Can you pinpoint the time [range]? I could be due to my NC headphones that I couldn't hear it....

I'm glad you liked it, though. I hope to record a few more in the next month or so. I have about three original songs planned, but I need to get to the lyrics first... eek.

III · Jan 9, 2009

Okay, now I'm listening to it through another pair of headphones and I don't hear the clipping. It was at the first refrain of "Cuz there is a light in your eyes" where the clean guitar came in. I wonder if it was just the different headphones. That's one of the great pains of mixing and mastering - you spend so much time getting it just right on your headphones or speakers and then you listen to it in the car and it sounds all wrong.

I read an interview with Steve Vai once (who's an obsessive genius about recording) and he talked about how you have to write and mix songs knowing that people will listen to them through their small TV's crummy speakers.

Can't wait to hear more.

maestrowork · Jan 9, 2009

I know! That's why I'd like to get myself some studio time because all that home recording stuff is fun, but I'm just not really a sound mixer and something that sounds great on my speakers or headphones sounds crappy on in my car, or another headphone. I can totally understand Steve Vai... that's the problem I had with mine -- my Bose headphones are really sweet, but they make everything I do sound better than it probably really does. LOL.

I'd like to focus on the composing and singing and less on the mixing and mastering, because honestly, I suck at that.

Cassiopeia · Jan 9, 2009

Well done, Ray! You can sing! Way cool.

C.bronco · Jan 9, 2009

I wish I could carry a tune. I can't tell when I'm off key, which is always.

Nice, Ray!

Fenika · Jan 9, 2009

Heh, nvm... bbs with comments

Fenika · Jan 9, 2009

Kewl. Very nice, though I think you hit your stride a few lines in

DWSTXS · Jun 24, 2009

great voice, and great song. I also listened to the rock song, loved it too. I haven't read your book yet, but it's on my list. (great pic in the Barnes and Noble)

ChunkyC · Jun 25, 2009

Very nice, Raymundo.

As for the clipping Jay is talking about, I heard it too through my computer's speakers. Just the first time you hit the high note on the first syllable of the word "eyes":

‘Cause there is a light
In your eyes
In your eyes...

It sounds almost like it's being compressed a smidge. Since neither you or Jay heard it through what are much better quality headphones, it's probably not actually clipped, just barely hot enough to cause that effect when heard through cheapo speakers.

maestrowork · Jun 25, 2009

Thanks, bro. Sound mixing is not my forte.

New song...

maestrowork

Fear the Death Ray

III

rockin the suburbs

maestrowork

Fear the Death Ray

III

rockin the suburbs

maestrowork

Fear the Death Ray

Cassiopeia

Otherwise Occupied

C.bronco

I have plans...

Fenika

Fenika

DWSTXS

Mr Mojo Risin...

ChunkyC

It's hard being green

maestrowork

Fear the Death Ray