Thanks for the feedback. End of the Day I just wanted vocal and piano and nothing else. Wanted to see if I could carry a song without all the fluff.Bansaw wrote: ↑Thu Apr 04, 2019 11:40 pm I like Losing Your Mind a lot. The opening actually reminded me of a Queen-like progression. I like the lyrics of At The End of the Day, but I think you need a thicker arrangement to support your voice.
Some of the stuff you do is like, "Wow, thats unique and very well written" and other stuff is like "meh" its like Russian Roulette what will come down the pipe next.
The Wagtunes Corner
- KVRAF
- Topic Starter
- 21191 posts since 8 Oct, 2014
- KVRAF
- Topic Starter
- 21191 posts since 8 Oct, 2014
1st track from my upcoming CD "Still Out Of Sync"
A little background on the song, the CD and why I'm doing it.
In 1985, I did an album as a tribute to one of my favorite bands of the 80s. Unfortunately, back then I was just dreadful as a musician, producer, everything and the album wasn't very good.
Well, it's going to be 35 years in 2020 so I thought I would give this another shot. The album was called "Out Of Sync" so the sequel is called "Still Out Of Sync" and will be in the same style. You may or may not be able to guess the group. I don't know. I think it's obvious but you can never tell.
Anyway, it's going to be a 16 song CD.
On this particular song, production wise, I went back to heavily processed vocals and was a little heavy handed with the reverb. Just felt like going in that direction.
For the drum kit I had to think a bit outside the box. I normally use EZ Drummer for rock tunes because it has built in overheads. But I really wanted to use my Tama kit (especially the snare) and the only way to do that was to import some samples that I got. Unfortunately, there are no overheads and I don't have any sample playback for drums that has overheads. So I had to do some hocus pocus to simulate overheads for this track. I think they came out decent considering. There are a total of 38 tracks on this tune including tons of vocals, both real and synthesized.
All in all, it took me 9 days to finish this. For me, that's a hell of a long time. I like the way it sounds but I've long learned that my taste is vastly different from most people's here so I'm not expecting any rave reviews. But this is a CD I've wanted to do for almost 35 years so let the chips fall where they may.
The title track from "Still Out Of Sync"
Still Out Of Sync
I'm not right in the head
Some would say I'm better off dead
Teachers try to explain
What is wrong with my brain
Round and round it goes
Where it stops nobody knows
Please try not to blink
I'm still out of sync
I've been this way for years
Helps to ease the pain of my tears
Head shrinks claim I'm okay
But I'm here again today
Repeat Chorus
Instrumental Break
Maybe I can get well
Either that or end up in hell
Choices that we all make
Time to give and time to take
Repeat Chorus
Out of sync
Out of sync
Out of sync
Out of sync
To Fade
https://soundcloud.com/steven-wagenheim ... -bg-vocals
A little background on the song, the CD and why I'm doing it.
In 1985, I did an album as a tribute to one of my favorite bands of the 80s. Unfortunately, back then I was just dreadful as a musician, producer, everything and the album wasn't very good.
Well, it's going to be 35 years in 2020 so I thought I would give this another shot. The album was called "Out Of Sync" so the sequel is called "Still Out Of Sync" and will be in the same style. You may or may not be able to guess the group. I don't know. I think it's obvious but you can never tell.
Anyway, it's going to be a 16 song CD.
On this particular song, production wise, I went back to heavily processed vocals and was a little heavy handed with the reverb. Just felt like going in that direction.
For the drum kit I had to think a bit outside the box. I normally use EZ Drummer for rock tunes because it has built in overheads. But I really wanted to use my Tama kit (especially the snare) and the only way to do that was to import some samples that I got. Unfortunately, there are no overheads and I don't have any sample playback for drums that has overheads. So I had to do some hocus pocus to simulate overheads for this track. I think they came out decent considering. There are a total of 38 tracks on this tune including tons of vocals, both real and synthesized.
All in all, it took me 9 days to finish this. For me, that's a hell of a long time. I like the way it sounds but I've long learned that my taste is vastly different from most people's here so I'm not expecting any rave reviews. But this is a CD I've wanted to do for almost 35 years so let the chips fall where they may.
The title track from "Still Out Of Sync"
Still Out Of Sync
I'm not right in the head
Some would say I'm better off dead
Teachers try to explain
What is wrong with my brain
Round and round it goes
Where it stops nobody knows
Please try not to blink
I'm still out of sync
I've been this way for years
Helps to ease the pain of my tears
Head shrinks claim I'm okay
But I'm here again today
Repeat Chorus
Instrumental Break
Maybe I can get well
Either that or end up in hell
Choices that we all make
Time to give and time to take
Repeat Chorus
Out of sync
Out of sync
Out of sync
Out of sync
To Fade
https://soundcloud.com/steven-wagenheim ... -bg-vocals
- KVRAF
- 1980 posts since 19 Aug, 2008
Nice. Parts of it remind me of E.L.O.
Would be interesting to know what your vocal chain fx was for this.
Interesting lyrics. Liked it overall.
Would be interesting to know what your vocal chain fx was for this.
Interesting lyrics. Liked it overall.
- KVRAF
- Topic Starter
- 21191 posts since 8 Oct, 2014
The vocal FX chain, which varied slightly depending on the track, was essentially this.
Lead Vocal
Fabfilter Pro-Q 2
Soundtoys Microshift
Melda Productions MUnison
Fabfilter Pro-C
Fabfilter Pro-L
Izotope Neutron
Waves Vocal Rider
Lead Vocal Send
Valhalla Plate
Fabfilter Pro-Q 2
Fabfilter Pro-C
Background Vocals (Real & Synth)
Antares Harmony Engine
Fabfilter Pro-Q 2
Soundtoys Microshift
Melda Productions MUnison
Fabfilter Pro-C
Fabfilter Pro-L
Background Vocals Sends
Melda Productions MTurboReverb
Fabfilter Pro-Q 2
Fabfilter Pro-C
All background vocals sent to group channel with Waves Vocal Rider.
And that's about it.
- KVRAF
- 25051 posts since 20 Oct, 2007 from gonesville
Still Out of Sync is pretty musical. The lead guitar interjections are crucial afaic, it would kind of lack otherwise. Quite good I think.
The drums sound fine, although I get no perception of overheads. Your MO seemed dodgy to me but there is no kind of problem actually.
I think a really pro mastering of this would amount to a radio-ready pop song. You're surely be out of sync with the times, tho
The drums sound fine, although I get no perception of overheads. Your MO seemed dodgy to me but there is no kind of problem actually.
I think a really pro mastering of this would amount to a radio-ready pop song. You're surely be out of sync with the times, tho
- KVRAF
- Topic Starter
- 21191 posts since 8 Oct, 2014
Out of sync with the times? That's an understatement. My music is essentially anywhere from 30 to 50 years old in sound and style. Wait until I do my 60s Brit Rock Invasion CD.jancivil wrote: ↑Wed Apr 17, 2019 8:33 pm Still Out of Sync is pretty musical. The lead guitar interjections are crucial afaic, it would kind of lack otherwise. Quite good I think.
The drums sound fine, although I get no perception of overheads. Your MO seemed dodgy to me but there is no kind of problem actually.
I think a really pro mastering of this would amount to a radio-ready pop song. You're surely be out of sync with the times, tho
No, I won't be winning any awards for modern "today's" music.
- KVRAF
- 25051 posts since 20 Oct, 2007 from gonesville
I have only the sketchiest of notions about what is popular.
However yesterday I was in Starbucks and it was indie rock for a while, then they kinda returned to it after a long set of old jazz vocal numbers, Ella, Nina Simone, Billie Holiday. I'm pretty sure from the production the indie rock was newish at least.
However yesterday I was in Starbucks and it was indie rock for a while, then they kinda returned to it after a long set of old jazz vocal numbers, Ella, Nina Simone, Billie Holiday. I'm pretty sure from the production the indie rock was newish at least.
- KVRAF
- Topic Starter
- 21191 posts since 8 Oct, 2014
Wow! No Starbucks around us plays that stuff. Must be the location.jancivil wrote: ↑Wed Apr 17, 2019 10:02 pm I have only the sketchiest of notions about what is popular.
However yesterday I was in Starbucks and it was indie rock for a while, then they kinda returned to it after a long set of old jazz vocal numbers, Ella, Nina Simone, Billie Holiday. I'm pretty sure from the production the indie rock was newish at least.
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- KVRist
- 235 posts since 30 Dec, 2018
The song progresses nicely. I'm not huge on heavily processed vocals but it does fit the music pretty well here. What'd you use for guitars? The tone is just as smooth as the lead lines. Nice work there. As a guitarist, those parts caught my attention pretty quickly.
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- KVRian
- 884 posts since 3 Jan, 2016
It does sound like music from some time ago. I’ve listened to YT videos of relic bands that maybe had some measure success but never broke out. This could almost be one of their efforts minus the usual hippie/post hippie cultural jargon. The guitar work sounds pretty nice.
- KVRAF
- 25051 posts since 20 Oct, 2007 from gonesville
This was pretty anomalous. Berkeley CA is the worst in my experience; this is out in the sticks, I wonder if the personnel in the venue determines what playlist. I usually have to leave right away, in fact I don't even use Starbucks typically behind it.wagtunes wrote: ↑Wed Apr 17, 2019 10:22 pmWow! No Starbucks around us plays that stuff. Must be the location.jancivil wrote: ↑Wed Apr 17, 2019 10:02 pm I have only the sketchiest of notions about what is popular.
However yesterday I was in Starbucks and it was indie rock for a while, then they kinda returned to it after a long set of old jazz vocal numbers, Ella, Nina Simone, Billie Holiday. I'm pretty sure from the production the indie rock was newish at least.
- KVRAF
- Topic Starter
- 21191 posts since 8 Oct, 2014
Thanks.guitarmiester wrote: ↑Wed Apr 17, 2019 11:37 pm The song progresses nicely. I'm not huge on heavily processed vocals but it does fit the music pretty well here. What'd you use for guitars? The tone is just as smooth as the lead lines. Nice work there. As a guitarist, those parts caught my attention pretty quickly.
As for the guitars, there are two guitar parts, the rhythm and the lead.
Rhythm Guitar - Music Labs Real Strat VST
FX - NI Guitar Rig - Andy In A Bottle preset, TDR Labs Proximity, CNRS Analglyph, Fabfilter Pro-Q 2, Fabfilter Pro-C, Fabfilter Pro-L, Izotope Neutron
Lead Guitar - Music Labs Real Rickenbacker VST
FX - IK Multimedia Amplitude 4 - Brit 8000 AMP - Pro Junior Cab - Condenser 170 - MD1-b - Fabfilter Pro-Q 2, Fabfilter Pro-C, Fabfilter Pro-L
Sends - MturboReverb, Fabfilter Pro-Q 2, Fabfilter Pro-C
This is probably the most "guitar" processing I've ever done on a track. Naturally, using virtual guitars, I get a lot of complaints about them not sounding real. So I tried something different on this track. I figured if they didn't sound real, at least let them sound different.
Anyway, there you go.
Thanks again for the listen.
- KVRAF
- Topic Starter
- 21191 posts since 8 Oct, 2014
Thanks for the kind words. As you can see from the above post, I put a lot of work into the guitar parts. It's tough making virtual guitars sound good.fastlanephil wrote: ↑Thu Apr 18, 2019 12:01 am It does sound like music from some time ago. I’ve listened to YT videos of relic bands that maybe had some measure success but never broke out. This could almost be one of their efforts minus the usual hippie/post hippie cultural jargon. The guitar work sounds pretty nice.
- KVRAF
- 2909 posts since 13 Apr, 2008 from Charleston, SC
Ok this is a pretty cool track Wags. I bit Bryan Ferry-ish. Great overall sound and really a good mix. I like the way your voice works in this one. Looking forward to hearing more...nice 80's vibe. I am a true Breakfast Club alumni so this is fresh among the majority of what I hear today.
So who is the tribute to?
So who is the tribute to?
- KVRAF
- Topic Starter
- 21191 posts since 8 Oct, 2014
The tribute? Well, was hoping somebody would pick it up right away but apparently not. Maybe as the CD progresses.thejonsolo wrote: ↑Thu Apr 18, 2019 2:28 am Ok this is a pretty cool track Wags. I bit Bryan Ferry-ish. Great overall sound and really a good mix. I like the way your voice works in this one. Looking forward to hearing more...nice 80's vibe. I am a true Breakfast Club alumni so this is fresh among the majority of what I hear today.
So who is the tribute to?