aw, thank you! I love to hear feedback and advice!
Right now I've listening to what will be side 1 of a vinyl LP. Our drummer just loaded the file. He's doing the Order and the transitions.
Title: Re: Stuff I'm working on - songs
Post by: Animl-AW on February 09, 2025, 10:39:41 PM
Ya I have a problem with studio work, once I've dug into something deep and hard I almost never want to see or hear it again. Why I turned down quite a few tours. It takes big $ to get me to listen to the same thing 3 nights per week like the old days. I liked my one-off live stuff, they come, they go, it's someone else tomorrow. Keeps it fresh.
I took a few short tours. Turned down Prince tour in the 90s. Took Aretha, well, because it takes big $ to get me to listen to the same thing 3 nights per week like the old days.
That could change during retirement when I get "no finger on fader" withdraws.
One thing about music and sound, learning is eternal.
Title: Re: Stuff I'm working on - songs
Post by: icepac on February 10, 2025, 07:52:25 AM
I remember watching "the greaseman" live in the studio at DC101 and his mixing live skills were impressive.
Title: Re: Stuff I'm working on - songs
Post by: -gg- on February 10, 2025, 02:13:08 PM
Ya I have a problem with studio work, once I've dug into something deep and hard I almost never want to see or hear it again. Why I turned down quite a few tours. It takes big $ to get me to listen to the same thing 3 nights per week like the old days. I liked my one-off live stuff, they come, they go, it's someone else tomorrow. Keeps it fresh.
I took a few short tours. Turned down Prince tour in the 90s. Took Aretha, well, because it takes big $ to get me to listen to the same thing 3 nights per week like the old days.
That could change during retirement when I get "no finger on fader" withdraws.
One thing about music and sound, learning is eternal.
mixing can drive me crazy at times. You get so down into the weeds and focusing on things in such detail that it's hard to reset and hear the song as a whole, rather than the individual parts that were focused on for hours. I've got a pretty good room and god equipment, so I can hear what I need to hear without the room deceiving me, but it's just a tough job sometimes - and especially when mixing a song that you wrote and perform on.
Now that I've had enough time away from hearing our album (14 songs) I can listen as a listener and hear the song as a whole piece. So that's fun.
We're happy with what we were able to do on that first album. Very proud of it. I think we can do better on the next one.
Title: Re: Stuff I'm working on - songs
Post by: jigsaw on February 10, 2025, 07:47:39 PM
I can't count the amount of time I've lost doing.... just.... one... more.... tweak... Combine that with "Option paralysis" from having a dozen different versions of an EQ, Compressor, etc...
RE: Your acoustic stuff on youtube... Cool stuff. Only part that even vaguely reminded me of "Arizona" were the first two chords.
Title: Re: Stuff I'm working on - songs
Post by: Animl-AW on February 11, 2025, 09:34:39 AM
mixing can drive me crazy at times. You get so down into the weeds and focusing on things in such detail that it's hard to reset and hear the song as a whole, rather than the individual parts that were focused on for hours. I've got a pretty good room and god equipment, so I can hear what I need to hear without the room deceiving me, but it's just a tough job sometimes - and especially when mixing a song that you wrote and perform on.
Now that I've had enough time away from hearing our album (14 songs) I can listen as a listener and hear the song as a whole piece. So that's fun.
We're happy with what we were able to do on that first album. Very proud of it. I think we can do better on the next one.
It may apply to live more because of pressure. Best advice I can give is when you become too deep and not getting anywhere fast, walk away for 5 to 10 minutes and let your mind regroup. When you come back you may view/hear things differently.
Not a thing wrong with your mixes.
The difference between live (especially monitors) and studio is I have 2-3 seconds to make the right decision, or lose work. In studio you can lose your mind in time and options. We’re just going to recreate what you decided on in the studio. So your decisions go on for a long time. So ya, immense pressure to get it right on both sides. Its just a different type of pressure we bring on ourselves to be the best we can be.
I used to work in a wood shop as a side job. Built custom wood doors for mansions ( some sold for 5-8k), windows, furniture. I’d drive myself nuts getting the ultimate perfect finish. A guy watching me with my face 2 ft from it inspecting it, said if you can’t see it from 6 ft away, don’t worry about it. That was a game changer that reset me.
I suffer from perfectionism, the problem is, nothing is “perfect”. But I drive myself nuts trying to get there. I’m rarely happy with my own work. Even when others call it great. “No, its not, its OK”.
Title: Re: Stuff I'm working on - songs
Post by: -gg- on February 11, 2025, 10:06:46 AM
I can't count the amount of time I've lost doing.... just.... one... more.... tweak... Combine that with "Option paralysis" from having a dozen different versions of an EQ, Compressor, etc...
RE: Your acoustic stuff on youtube... Cool stuff. Only part that even vaguely reminded me of "Arizona" were the first two chords.
Yes! a mix is never done! haha.
Thanks for listening the songs - I appreciate it very much!
Title: Re: Stuff I'm working on - songs
Post by: -gg- on February 11, 2025, 10:17:46 AM
It may apply to live more because of pressure. Best advice I can give is when you become too deep and not getting anywhere fast, walk away for 5 to 10 minutes and let your mind regroup. When you come back you may view/hear things differently.
Not a thing wrong with your mixes.
The difference between live (especially monitors) and studio is I have 2-3 seconds to make the right decision, or lose work. In studio you can lose your mind in time and options. We’re just going to recreate what you decided on in the studio. So your decisions go on for a long time. So ya, immense pressure to get it right on both sides. Its just a different type of pressure we bring on ourselves to be the best we can be.
I used to work in a wood shop as a side job. Built custom wood doors for mansions ( some sold for 5-8k), windows, furniture. I’d drive myself nuts getting the ultimate perfect finish. A guy watching me with my face 2 ft from it inspecting it, said if you can’t see it from 6 ft away, don’t worry about it. That was a game changer that reset me.
I suffer from perfectionism, the problem is, nothing is “perfect”. But I drive myself nuts trying to get there. I’m rarely happy with my own work. Even when others call it great. “No, its not, its OK”.
In studio, I think one big factor is the mixing volume. Certain frequencies have a very pronounced perceived volume level depending on the level you're listening at. I try to do most of the mixing at around a level of normal conversation. I turn it up briefly to check things like bass and to see if anything gets harsh.
yeah - breaks! Take breaks.
After I'm burned out on mixing, I try to not come back to the mix for a day. A lot of times you end up being able to hear what's not working immediately after the fist listen after a long break.
Live mixing has a lot of challenges too. Just different. Same idea with taking a break, I think.
For studio mixing, I picked up of a good tip for getting a mix started. I like to start with the drums. I usually have 16 drum tracks, including percussion. So I bring all the faders to zero and panned center. Then ONLY touch the faders and get a rough balance for everything before touching the pans or adding any EQ or Compression. Then start to pan stuff.
Also, when EQing stufff in a mix, I try not to solo that instrument unless I'm checking for something specific. I do my changes in the context of the mix. A big trap is soling stuff and trying to make something sound good on it's own - and usually that will backfire and not sound good in the mix.
I could go on forever! lol. I love music. I love playing my guitar, writing songs and working with my good friends in a band context. It's rewarding.
Title: Re: Stuff I'm working on - songs
Post by: Animl-AW on February 11, 2025, 03:26:54 PM
In studio, I think one big factor is the mixing volume. Certain frequencies have a very pronounced perceived volume level depending on the level you're listening at. I try to do most of the mixing at around a level of normal conversation. I turn it up briefly to check things like bass and to see if anything gets harsh.
yeah - breaks! Take breaks.
After I'm burned out on mixing, I try to not come back to the mix for a day. A lot of times you end up being able to hear what's not working immediately after the fist listen after a long break.
Live mixing has a lot of challenges too. Just different. Same idea with taking a break, I think.
For studio mixing, I picked up of a good tip for getting a mix started. I like to start with the drums. I usually have 16 drum tracks, including percussion. So I bring all the faders to zero and panned center. Then ONLY touch the faders and get a rough balance for everything before touching the pans or adding any EQ or Compression. Then start to pan stuff.
Also, when EQing stufff in a mix, I try not to solo that instrument unless I'm checking for something specific. I do my changes in the context of the mix. A big trap is soling stuff and trying to make something sound good on it's own - and usually that will backfire and not sound good in the mix.
I could go on forever! lol. I love music. I love playing my guitar, writing songs and working with my good friends in a band context. It's rewarding.
Ya, ya gotta commit to a volume as EQ will change.
I solo instruments and mixes non-stop on stage.
One thing I learn a long time ago, is don't let one frequency in one instrument mask it in another. Gotta kinda leave holes so another instruments can come through. I may have 220hz riding high in two instruments at 3db, but combine they are hitting 6db, really hanging out there and one needs to go.
Live sound check I get the drums in a ball park to start with, but I get that vocal screaming and build the mix under it. Some do the whole sound check of instruments and add vocal last and then they are out of headroom for it to come out on top and have to reorganize the whole mix get it that vocal out front. Some never succeed in getting it on top because they do a sound check backwards.
It's an art, you're painting a picture in a stereo image. When you consistently hit that honey spot, you're big money. it's not easy.
Yep, same pressure, different ends of the pendulum
Title: Re: Stuff I'm working on - songs
Post by: jigsaw on February 11, 2025, 08:45:42 PM
One thing I learn a long time ago, is don't let one frequency in one instrument mask it in another. Gotta kinda leave holes so another instruments can come through. I may have 220hz riding high in two instruments at 3db, but combine they are hitting 6db, really hanging out there and one needs to go.
That's something a lot of people have a problem understanding. The last working band I was in, I was the only guitar player. The other guys wanted to try out having a second guitar once. Guy came in. Set his stuff up. After listening to him, I told him he'd need to change his amp settings because the base was (insert range) here, and my guitar was (insert range) here. He got pissed and left.
One of the clubs we played at often had an awesome sound guy (R.I.P. Hobie). We'd load in after last call the night before our gig so he could do a full sound check for us. I remember when he finally took our "console tape" and hung it on the wall of his control booth. For a local band that was considered a big deal. Meant he thought enough of you to keep your mix handy for the next time.
Title: Re: Stuff I'm working on - songs
Post by: Molsman on February 12, 2025, 12:08:14 AM
if your ever looking for musicians that played the game GG I can endorse Von Messa aka Dan Messa on Facebook he is a Drummer and Stampf aka Dave Stampfli who plays a killer bass.
Von is in Pa and Dave in Ny somewhere. I played bass in highschool in a band 30 years ago,,, tried to pick up an acoustinc bass i had but electric is my thing...... I enjoy your music though
Oh I forgot Mudr who plays Electric Guitar and Played in the Band Called Bad Seed back in the day he is on facebook also known as Troy d Wheeland Sr Guitarist for Torn and Bad Seed
Molsman
Title: Re: Stuff I'm working on - songs
Post by: -gg- on February 12, 2025, 01:39:56 AM
Cool!
Right now I'm in a band with my longtime friends. We have a pretty stellar lineup! So currently not looking for anybody, but I love interacting with other musicians.
https://www.thejetglows.com/
Title: Re: Stuff I'm working on - songs
Post by: -gg- on February 14, 2025, 02:10:38 PM
This is Scott Hull, from Masterdisk. He will be cutting our record.
Title: Re: Stuff I'm working on - songs
Post by: -gg- on February 15, 2025, 03:19:06 PM
Travis, our drummer, explining to us what he was doing with our bass tracks in our song, Rule The World.