Rough draft

[screamingdaisy]

Fired up my Mark V and a couple of riffs came out of nowhere. Hit record so I wouldn't loose them and I think the groove has potential.

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/37532735/Song17.m4a

 

[screamingdaisy]

Version 2. Rough edit.

The 2nd distorted riff needs work and a new drum score. Not getting the level of excitement I'm looking for before switching back to the hollow clean sound. Once I get the drums and bass down I'll re-record and double track the guitar.

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/37532735/Song17-v2.mp3

 

[screamingdaisy]

Version 3. I put a little more effort into this one.

The timing on the scratch track went all over the place during the 2nd distorted riff which threw off my timing on the bass track which then carried back over into the guitars I tracked today. I spent about an hour trying to massage the rhythm before I figured that I can't polish that turd so it looks like I'll have to fix those parts tomorrow.

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/37532735/Song17-v3.mp3

 

[lailer75]

very brooding, has potential. would sound heavier with lower tuned drums and some tom fills. bring the reefer induced evil!

 

[screamingdaisy]

Good idea. I was trying to keep the drums really sparse in an effort to create a feeling of emptiness, but the lack of fills is leaving me feeling kind of flat.

 

[screamingdaisy]

Version 4. I'm going to take a break after this one.

This was my first attempt at working with an actual DAW. I've done some stuff in Garage Band before but the lack of fine control was frustrating. I find Logic is way easier to use but I have a way to go before I have it all figured out yet. I particularly like having the ability to program instruments in MIDI since this is the first time I've been able to create my own drum and bass tracks... although I think it'd be way easier if I could just lay down each track using a real instrument.

You sure do learn a lot about both your own playing and about composition when you record yourself and layer multiple instruments. I've also learned why need a set of proper monitors.

Anyway... points, comments, suggestions... I'm all ears.

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/37532735/Song%2017/Guitars%20Only.mp3

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/37532735/Song%2017/Full%20Mix.mp3

 

[YellowJacket]

I feel stoned just listening to this.

One small detail: I'd suggest balancing your clean guitar better with your dirt guitar. The dirt guitars are significantly louder which is a balance problem.

 

[screamingdaisy]

I agree. It sounded fine on my headphones yet was obviously unbalanced once I heard it on a stereo system. Yet another argument for needing proper monitors.

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/37532735/Song%2017/Full%20Mix2.mp3

 

[YellowJacket]

Much better.

Since you most likely have a much better budget than me, be SURE to get good monitors. If intend on mastering and can afford it, it is not a bad idea to have two sets of monitors instead of one.

My Mackie MR5s are great for listening to music, alright for mixing, but they simply are not honest enough for mastering.

 

[screamingdaisy]

Listening to my recording on different stereo systems is proving a painful lesson in mastering. What sounds good through one audio system sounds like crap through another. The guitars in that last version sound good (not great, but good) on my home stereo yet in my truck there sound really scooped with a woofy bottom end.

 

[YellowJacket]

EXACTLY!

The point of mastering a recording is so that it sounds 'good enough' on most stereo systems.

Studio Monitors are more flat but they still colour the sound somewhat. I'd definitely shy away from entry level ones since they are not terribly honest. My Mackie MR5s are fantastic value for the money and are great for high fidelity listening. They're extremely useful for mixing but when it comes to mastering, they colour the sound far too much.
I personally find that I get a better result simply leaving the audio unmastered.

 

[screamingdaisy]

New drum sound.
Starting to build up the drums so that they're as intense as the guitars.
New bass sound.

I'm starting to get more comfortable with Logic so things are starting to get easier, however trying to program in something you know by feel (i.e., groove) has been a difficult translation for me. The song has become become a straight up 4/4 where I want something that has a bit more swing in it. I want to DI a real bass tomorrow and see how it compares.

Lastly, I'd like to record a few more guitars tomorrow using different amps to see how they compare.

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/37532735/Song%2017/Song17-v5.mp3

 

[lailer75]

much improved. do you have vocals for it. i hear some Saint Vitus/Candlemass style vox

 

[screamingdaisy]

I'd have to learn to sing before I could add my own vocals. :lol:

 

[screamingdaisy]

+ Figured out that a compressor can make drums jump out more.
+ Replaced the MIDI bass with a real bass DI. More natural groove with a more natural note decay.
+ Re-recorded the guitars to lock in with the new groove.

- Drum score still kind of sucks.
- Guitars feel kind of flat and I'm not sure how to fix it.

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/37532735/Song%2017/Song17-v6.mp3

 

[screamingdaisy]

I was having a really hard time programming the feel I wanted in the drums when I thought of downloading some midi files that included tracks of Bill Ward's drumming (Black Sabbath) to see where the beats were landing visually and it all fell together.

Tightened up the drums, added a couple fills and started giving the drums some more dynamics.

Still not happy with the guitar tones and I want to create a bit more space around the drums since they currently feel kind of dry... like they're in a small room.

I don't plan on posting any more of these incremental updates. Next one will be when I'm happy with the final product.

https://soundcloud.com/jeff-jordan-3/song17-v7

 

[lailer75]

drums are much better!