Greg Heumann
81 posts
Jun 09, 2009
10:47 PM
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My band has just completed the 3rd and final 2-day session to record our first studio album. We now have to get the tunes mixed and mastered.
It took a while to get the harp tone I was looking for to show itself in the recordings - but today I think we finally got it. This was a Kalamazoo, line-out'd into the Cruncher, with my wood mic with a hot CR element. It was recorded in a small room, acoustically dead. 1 mic about 4" from the 'Zoo, another about 1' from the Cruncher, and a room mic. In the rough mix, the engineer added a little "fat plate" reverb and 112ms slap back. Because it is a rough mix he didn't adjust gain during the playback so the harp rhythm parts are too loud - but I'm pretty psyched about the result. Here are a couple of samples.
http://carguystuff.com/expressions/06%20Early%20in%20the%20Morning.mp3
http://carguystuff.com/expressions/03%20Prison%20of%20Love,%20Take%202.mp3
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/Greg
http://www.BlowsMeAway.com
http://www.BlueStateBand.net
Last Edited by on Jun 09, 2009 10:49 PM
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Kingley
24 posts
Jun 10, 2009
12:04 AM
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Sounding good Greg!
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sopwithcamels266
102 posts
Jun 10, 2009
12:16 AM
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Greg:Well I assume you want feed back on the samples.
I will be totally honest with you, OK.
Heard that style of thing done a million times and it's OK fine. The Voice I really like but don't like the lyrics.
That slow tune I listened to,millions of blues bands play like that. The band isn't digging in, that guitar player should be tearing those strings apart on the openning to make a statement.
I have to say I don't like the hammond sound appearing, as opposed to being there, around.
It dosen't sound relaxed and dominant enough.
A tune like that should be played as if your about to rip somebodys head off and nail it to the wall.
The band sounds nervous and tired and stilled in approach..
Overall good work I enjoyed it but you have to judge it against the very best,simply because thousands upon thousands are doing the same sort of thing.
Simple to play hard to do well.
Wasn't keen on the harp sound but as iv'e already mentioned really liked the voice.
Last Edited by on Jun 10, 2009 2:13 AM
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MrVerylongusername
353 posts
Jun 10, 2009
2:21 AM
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Sounding good for a rough mix.
Personally I think the intensity of the guitar work is lost a bit. I bet the guitar was screaming when you cut the tracks. That's where I'd be focussing, giving it more life. You put the life and sparkle back in by double-tracking the guitar, with some tightish compression and delay added to the new track, then pan the two tracks ever so slightly to different sides. It's an old studio trick, I'm sure the engineer will know what he's doing. A few eq tweaks and Bob's your uncle!
On the second track I didn't think the harp and lead guitar were seperated enough.
Mastering will lift everything too. I'd love to hear the finshed mix so we can A/B them!
Good stuff Greg!
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Preston
413 posts
Jun 10, 2009
7:11 AM
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Greg, I thought you guys did a good job on Early in the Morning. That is one of my favorites off of the Billy Gibson Live at Rum Boogie Cafe album, and I like your version as well.
By the way, who did the original version of that? I've only ever heard Gibson's.
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Kingley
26 posts
Jun 10, 2009
7:23 AM
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Billy Gibson does a great version of that tune.
It's been covered by so many people, William Clarke and Kim Wilson come to mind. The original is no easy task to identify (to me anyway!) I have heard versions by Louis Jordan, Professor Longhair and Blind Blake. Although I wouldn't like to guess at who did it first.
Last Edited by on Jun 10, 2009 7:23 AM
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jaymcc28
64 posts
Jun 10, 2009
8:11 AM
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Greg. I enjoyed the two cuts. I'm not an engineer or a musician but I know what I like. I agree that the guitar could stand out more, particularly on "Prison Of Love". I found your harp playing when supporting the singer very interesting.
Billy Gibson's "Early In The Morning" is currently one of my favorites so that's a tougher sell for me. I thought your recording of it was very good, the harp work was great, but I can't help but compare the total song to Gibson's version. When I hear a new/different version of an old standard or one of my fav's that version has to knock me out of my seat to get on my playlist. Because the Gibson version is similar in that the guitar is NOT dominant at the beginning MAYBE SOP's suggestion of the guitar playing shredding it a bit more would make it stand out more to me.
Based on these two songs, I'd give the album a listen for sure. I'd also certainly purchase any music put forth by a forum member simply to show support, but this would have a chance to get some play time on my Sansa Fuze.
Last Edited by on Jun 10, 2009 8:13 AM
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Greg Heumann
82 posts
Jun 10, 2009
9:04 AM
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Thanks - all good and valid comments.
The voice is mine.
Guess I shouldn't have posted it in its rough mix state. The guitar and hammond will of course be louder in the mix during their solos and the harp quieter. I tend to agree that both were understated on this take - we don't always play it that way. We were very pressed for time in the studio and I think the guys wanted to be sure they had at least a usable take. I did too - I ended up doing 4 harp solos yesterday, one take each. Haven't heard Gibson's version of Early in the morning but I really like his stuff.
Mainly I was just focused on the harp tone.
Early in the morning is the ONLY old-school blues on the album. Most of our stuff is very arranged, and on a lot of that I play sax.
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/Greg
http://www.BlowsMeAway.com
http://www.BlueStateBand.net
Last Edited by on Jun 10, 2009 9:10 AM
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chromaticblues
137 posts
Jun 10, 2009
9:12 AM
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"Early in mourning" off Hoo Doo Man Blues is a good version. Not great harp, but good period blues.
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Jaybird803
28 posts
Jun 10, 2009
10:07 AM
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Nice job Greg. As a rough cut it is good. When the mix is tuned up it will be better. I have had the pleasure of recording at Fantasy Studios, and it is amazing how a good engineer can make a song sing.
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Patrick Barker
320 posts
Jun 10, 2009
5:43 PM
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sounds good to me- that's some monster harp tone you're getting... I like the cool blues style you're going for, it reminds me a little of the style of "Christo Redemptor".
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"Without music, life would be a mistake" -Nietzsche
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