KVR Audio

Steven West · Post by **Steven West** » Sat Jan 29, 2005 3:53 am

Just wanted to do something fast and nasty. I keep picking away at the mix, I'm going to make it bleed.
SR-202, Ethnosphere, Junglist, Cadenza Strings, tons of nasty effects. Sweet and Sour EXTREME!

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/9/stevenwestmusic.htm

Sorry, only space available currently.

And 'subject to change without notice'... I wanna pop this mother!

Enjoy!

blipp · Post by **blipp** » Sat Jan 29, 2005 10:26 pm

Nice track there steven. Very well constructed. There was always a lot going on, but you could still hear everything clearly in the mix. Good one.

Steven West · Post by **Steven West** » Sun Jan 30, 2005 4:20 am

Thanks Blipp... But my apologies on the mix. I had a real rough time balancing the bass and the DC Offset. Usually a Waves Hum would smooth it off, but this time it was brutalising everything down -3db or so. So I had tried to pump it back up with BBE Sonic Max and Peak Masters et al, and just made a mess of it.

Turns out, all I needed was a little Q8 down at the 20hz and everything came out good and punchy as should be.

So, if you'd like to take another listen - I think you'll be further impressed. (I hope?

)

annode · Post by **annode** » Sun Jan 30, 2005 4:50 am

Hey,cool trk Steve!

Liked the chord changes,and all the good sounds you used.
Good effecting going on there too.

Know,as you said,it was a fast job...some percussion in it would be nice.
It does sound dulled out here on phones.(sony MDR-7505)

I still never learned what dc offset was,and how to tell it needs ajustment.

Studio is still a mess here,and haven`t connected the zip drv yet.

Steven West · Post by **Steven West** » Sun Jan 30, 2005 5:02 am

I was thinking percussion too, but didn't know what or how to put it in to be honest.

Triggering the delay on the bass and the snare was the hardest part, and I feel they're getting drowned out already. So I either 'lather it up' or 'strip it down even further'. Still not quite sure?

As for DC Offset - in a nutshell it's the amount the whole wave is off by the '0 line'. Now this could be caused by a bass frequency, or something that's loud and out of phase, etc. I always used to use WaveLabs 'Remove DC Offset' until I noticed it would leave these thick bars between the bass drum beats after. Then I resorted to Waves Hum remover, and it seemed to do the trick nicely - until I discovered with this song, it was compressing it WAAAAY down.
I think it was Shamann that pointed out the trick of just using EQ with the bass frequency at 20hz and take the gain down -1 or 2db, or use a HPF knee on it, and that seems to work the best 9.9 out of 10.

Let's see the Dalai Lama tell you THAT!

annode · Post by **annode** » Sun Jan 30, 2005 5:42 am

Sent you a PM Steve.

blipp · Post by **blipp** » Sun Jan 30, 2005 2:07 pm

So, if you'd like to take another listen - I think you'll be further impressed. (I hope? )

Yeh i am further impressed, that's really brought everything out clearer. This is really excellent work steven. Keep it up.

mystahr · Post by **mystahr** » Sun Jan 30, 2005 6:31 pm

Cool sounds in a great production J. Not as fast and nasty I would have thought this to be though.

We all have the answers within ourselves. Yet we spend our lives to seek the questions to justify them

How very true

Steven West · Post by **Steven West** » Mon Jan 31, 2005 5:00 am

Thanks guys!

It was like the last 4 pieces of a jigsaw puzzle, and I just couldn't make them fit - until I turned them around.

I'm usually a 98BPM shoegazer my man Mystahr - so to say 160BPM is a huge milestone for me.

Glad you liked that little quote too, I usually just spout the first thing that comes to mind when I put a song up - and feel so embarassed about it after.

But if it makes sense to you, I'm glad it means something then.

Steven West · Post by **Steven West** » Tue Feb 01, 2005 6:14 pm

SoundClick was down for a good part yesterday, but seems to be back up again. (Same servers as KVR? Blame it on the solar flares?

)

For anyone who might still want to take a listen - NOWS YOUR CHANCE!

tuz · Post by **tuz** » Fri Feb 04, 2005 1:03 am

dude, I don't know how you compose, come up with such melodies, beats. I have all the f**king tools here in front of me. I must say I am very jealous of your talent. one day, I will find my direction. I think your music and technique is the most inspirational to me. the sucky part is that I can't do it like you. someone said you put in all those sounds and every separate instrument is still distinguishable. I agree. and all of them sound fuckin awesome. btw you still owe me an Aphex collab.

Steven West · Post by **Steven West** » Fri Feb 04, 2005 5:02 am

I hear you bro - I'm working on it, I'm working on it!

Trying to get away from my 'Archies' chords on this one (like DJ The Freak and Modern Istanbul, etc.) I was close to 'jazzing it up' - but left it minimal in the end. Bad enough I'm 'At War With Dalai' - din't need to take him to Vegas as well.

I just wish I could be as good as Psynus with the beats. Now there's a MASTER!

Check him out here if you ever get the chance.

Thanks bro!

JerGoertz · Post by **JerGoertz** » Fri Feb 04, 2005 6:28 am

Tip of my hat to you, Steve. This is a bitchin' song, sounds like something from the ICBYD/Windowlicker era of Aphex. RDJ would be proud, methinks...

cptgone · Post by **cptgone** » Fri Feb 04, 2005 9:12 pm

YUMMY! This one's delicious.

Congrats man!

Steven West · Post by **Steven West** » Fri Feb 04, 2005 9:16 pm

Mr, James can like me all he wants - but it won't get me in with Warp.

(I'd actually prefer 4AD if truth be known.

)

Thanks guys! Much obliged!

At War With The Dalai Lama - Aphex D+B noise