CSW

You're placement of elements in the stereo field is really excellent and interesting to the listener! Your use of delays is excellent. Powerful panning effects as well. Craig

Thank you Paul.

Hi Group, I've been a recording hobbyist for a number of years and I'm pretty familiar with clip editing techniques inside your typical DAW. My question is based on an issue that I've had occasionally when editing and comping and I've had mixed results dealing with this. What is the most transparent way that you use to get rid of a nasty click or pop in an existing clip so that the result is an inaudible smooth transition?? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated! Regards Craig

Thanks Kurt, Coming from a musician of your caliber means alot to me. After listening to the song after a couple of days off from it I'm thinking that there's not enough definition in the choruses. I just started testing the soundcloud automated mastering service which in my opinion is not bad at all for as cheap as it is but it does make you realize that you have to mix with some anticipation of how the mastering is gonna squash things and ultimately what parts are going to sonically squirt out of the dense clump of sound. Once you pay for your choices it's a done deal although you can preview parts of the song mastered. As far as the drums that's a tough one for me... it always has been because I don't think like a drummer. I have so much respect for a good drummer that doesn't over play and plays in the groove. I downloaded a midi mega pack from Groove Monkey sometime ago which has over 3000 human played midi tracks of different styles to choose from and so when I fire up Addictive drums the workflow is pretty easy to be able to audition different midi loops. I keep auditioning midi loops and fills until I get something that I'm okay with. It's a very tough thing to do for a non drummer. Can you tell me where this mechanical vibe is coming from.... anything specific? Regards Craig

I'm gonna download the waves vocal bender and mess with it. It really gives your vocals a hoss presence kinda like the ZZ Top stuff from the 80's which some people thought was over produced but I really loved it.

Ultra cool song!

Thanks Larry! I'm a lucky guy to have a wife that can sing! She keeps me from "Debbie Booneing it" Craig

Thanks Mark! I know what you mean..... the ruling class has no regard for their "subjects". I will longer pay attention to it until I have to. Craig

Thanks Lynn. I'm really enjoying Cakewalk these days!

Thank Nigel, I posted the song in another Daw forum and I used to post my song lyrics with the link. ( I try and include them in the sound cloud description these days). A couple a betas got their panties in a wad over the lyrics and who/what the song was about. If a person accepts the BBC as their gospel and only news source then I understand why... but I like to look at many sides and I like to create story songs. The thread was eventually locked. That particular forum is pretty much a graveyard these days FWIW. Craig

You've got an amazing ear for delicate details. I'm blown away.

Love the song.! Super tight mix. Love the rhythm guitar placement and separation in the mix. Nice beefy lead sound. Nice snare/kick Bass pocket. Great lyrical subject matter. Regards Craig

Hi Group, I originally tracked this in Studio One and then mixed it in Studio One. After that I exported the stems to Mixbus 32c and mixed it there. This time around I changed the beginning verse and tracked some different guitars too. After being reinvigorated with all of the terrific progress that Bandlab has made with Cakewalk (I'm loving the new features and stability)I can say that it's my DAW of choice again! It's just fun to create music in. So many options.... and they pretty much all work now! FYI.... I used an ssl master bus plugin and mastered the track with the Soundcloud service. It came in a little hot at the end so I will probably make some adjustments to better anticipate the mastering process there. As a last mention this song caused a Big Stink in another DAW forum for the lyrical content and I had Cancel Culture Warriors trying to get it removed from the forum. I was pretty surprised that it touched such a raw nerve in some folks. Hopefully it will not be perceived that way here. There is no profanity in the song like you might hear in other genres.... just a group of thoughts and opinions considered "wrong think" by some. Craig

Lynn, Really cool. I really like the way you mixed your voice. How did you process your lead vocal? It's perfectly grainy and doubled for this song. Craig

Damn..... great definition in the mix. Really good guitar sounds. Excellent lead work. Craig

Nice pocket that the guitar/bass and kick are sitting in. What guitar setup are you using? Sounds like a Marshall ....very good! Craig

Kurt, Wow. I dream of playing guitar like that. Tones, groove...you got it! Craig

Totally pro! What a great sound! Excellent musicianship. Craig

Really good! Man I wish I could play acoustic like that! What mics are you using to record your guitars? I think the guitars sound excellent Craig

Hi Lee Good Organ/Acoustic/percussion mix. Nice and crisp. I think the echo in the beginning verses is a little too predictable. Maybe give a shot at revamping the very beginning lines of the verses slightly with more lyrical phasing and develop a short melody line there instead of just one word with echo. That's a lot easier said than done to make it match what you have but I think that could be a direction to explore. Regards Craig

Hi Robert, You play excellent guitar! You have excellent melodic sensibilities. BTW I used to live in Tooele in the 70s. I miss the Utah mountains. Craig

Hi Mark, You hit the nail on the head! The phrase "run out of gas" is the way I feel about it too. I'm gonna try your suggestions. When I was setting the markers in the DAW I didn't really have a strong sense of the verse and chorus delineations lyrically. The bridge is defined IMO but working the musical transitions should help.... my only problem is what the heck exactly to do. I wish I knew a really good keyboard/ Synth Ace. I did a project with Dan Campian from the old cakewalk forum...man what a great keyboardist/arranger he is. I You also have great ideas. If you want to take a stab at it let me know. I'm out of gas on this one! Craig

Thanks Kurt!

Thanks Jack!

Hi Lynn, Thanks man. I wish that were true....on the bright side it is the number one trending song in my truck! I think I recognize your Avatar from the old forum? Craig