Track for review

shaundtsl

Hi Guys,

Please review, I have been trying to get to grips with compression and eq, but I just dont understand it and therefore I think the mix lacks quite a bit, or could be alot better.

http://www.dtsl.co.za/media/reviewt3.mp3

Thanks, I look forward to your comments!

raithza

that was very cool ? nice playing, nice atmosphere.

only comment... I would try and humanize the drums a bit... especially during snare rolls. also possibly use an open hihat for the the climatic part around 1.25.

Fingerpicker

Very nice, but try to tap the effects into time with the drums.
Can't see how Eq needs to be adjusted, so it must be close to right.
Are the drums live, from a machine or a loop recording?

(PS I'm an acoustic man, so take my comments with a pinch of salt!)

deefstes

I like it. If I had enough of it, I'd put it on a CD and listen to it in my car ?

I'm wondering if the tremolo shouldn't be a tad faster or a tad slower, I can't quite figure out which but it's almsot like it's not quite in sync with the beat of the piece - if that makes any sense. I'm anything but an expert though so I'm sure you'll get way more valuable advice from others.

shaundtsl

Thanks guys, I dig the constructive crit that comes out on this forum.

Ok, so timing is off on the effects, thats for sure. Something to make a note of (or I should have picked up in the begining)

raithza wrote: that was very cool ? nice playing, nice atmosphere.

only comment... I would try and humanize the drums a bit... especially during snare rolls. also possibly use an open hihat for the the climatic part around 1.25.

By humanize do you mean make it sound less programmed? If so, I definately hear you on that one! Maybe some effects along with a variety of cymbals (ie open hi hat)?

Fingerpicker wrote: Are the drums live, from a machine or a loop recording?

I used "My Drumset" VST plugin, basically a midi programmed drum pattern.

deefstes wrote: I like it. If I had enough of it, I'd put it on a CD and listen to it in my car ?

Thanks! ?

raithza

shaundtsl wrote:
raithza wrote: that was very cool ? nice playing, nice atmosphere.

only comment... I would try and humanize the drums a bit... especially during snare rolls. also possibly use an open hihat for the the climatic part around 1.25.
By humanize do you mean make it sound less programmed? If so, I definately hear you on that one! Maybe some effects along with a variety of cymbals (ie open hi hat)?

Someone else might have better advice on this - first thing to do is to slightly vary the velocity. Secondly you can try and mess with the timing slightly. Which DAW are you using? IIRC my drumset even has different samples for different velocity levels, which can be handy with cymbals.

shaundtsl

raithza wrote: Someone else might have better advice on this - first thing to do is to slightly vary the velocity. Secondly you can try and mess with the timing slightly. Which DAW are you using? IIRC my drumset even has different samples for different velocity levels, which can be handy with cymbals.

I am using Reaper, I know My Drumset has two different kits available. I can also adust the volume per drum/cymbal. But, if I change the timing (bpm?) of the drums, wont the whole track go out of sync?

raithza

shaundtsl wrote:
raithza wrote: Someone else might have better advice on this - first thing to do is to slightly vary the velocity. Secondly you can try and mess with the timing slightly. Which DAW are you using? IIRC my drumset even has different samples for different velocity levels, which can be handy with cymbals.
I am using Reaper, I know My Drumset has two different kits available. I can also adust the volume per drum/cymbal. But, if I change the timing (bpm?) of the drums, wont the whole track go out of sync?

what i meant was - turn off quantization (sp) and move some hits slightly before or slightly after where they 'should' be - as no human plays with 100% accurate timing.

I don't have much experience with this myself, only some reading up, so you're likely better off googling (or hoping for a response from a more knowledgeable person ? ). I've seen a humanize button SOMEWHERE on the reaper midi editor but I've no idea how it works.

EDIT: and apparently there is also a JS effect you can use. As it happens, I had my first experience adding drums to a track with My Drumset in Reaper just last night so let me know if you find something. otherwise I'll report back tomorrow with what I figure out tonight ?

shaundtsl

Ah, thanks raithza. Nice heads up, I will have a look for that. I am not at my laptop now as I am at work. I will check it out aswell. Will be a good thing to know.

BMU

Reaper has a really easy to use humanize feature, check out the manual. I'm sure it's as simple as right-clicking in the midi editor, or a menu command in the midi editor. With Reaper, everything you want to do is usually a right-click away from where you currently are.

With snare breaks, think about how the drummer strikes the snare. The first hit is loud (95?), and the rest tail off progressively (down to 75 maybe?). Don't rely on humanize for that, do it by hand until it sounds right.

I'd try to liven the track up with a broad parametric EQ boost of 2-3dB around 2800-3200Hz, Q of 0.2 - 0.5...usually it does a lot of good. But use your ears as always. (Maybe you've already done it.)

I don't know...it sounds good to me. Maybe the bass drum can dome down just a fraction, like 1-1.5 dB? Don't know, I'd try it and see how it sounds. Not saying it's right thing to do.

shaundtsl

I found the Humanize feature in Reaper. Open the midi editor and press "H". There is also a VST plugin in reaper called Schwa midi humanizer (or something along those lines), but that didnt seem to do much to the sound. The "H" feature in the editor works better.

Its going to take some tweeking and playing around with as its quite easy to make the drummer sound like he has had one to many amstels.... ???

Listenting to it now, I might not have humanized it enough. But with my untrained ears, it either sounds like to much or none at all.

I have also brought down the bass drum a bit.

As for the effects timing, I am getting the effects from my pedal, so I will have to re record the tracks to bring that down. I might just call it a day and move onto a new track completely and implement what you guys have taught me on something new.

I still dig the track though and am quite happy with it, but its flaws are still obvious and I will use it to refer back to later.

Here is the new track.

http://www.dtsl.co.za/media/reviewt4.mp3

Thanks again guys!

MikeM

I don't know much about arrangements and mixing etc, but the timing is off in a few spots.. Maybe get that right then fiddle with the other stuff? Oh shit, didn't see the other posts in this thread, thought that was the first post of it!