Kevin Walsh

I'm enjoying the heck out of this. Very cool musical choices and the synths sound really good.

Really good mix of a very good song. Great and imaginative vocals. Really like the drum sounds!

Priceless.

Really beautiful piece, I was anticipating every note. Something to be savored, thank you for posting this.

Thank you for listening!

This is great and it sounds fantastic on a phone no less. The cellos are an inspired choice!

Here's a new one, it's getting close, but it's still a work in progress. I think the ending will be reworked pretty heavily. Still, it's at a point where some critical feedback will help me put this on to bed. Thanks for listening and critiquing!

Update: Added a new mix and a bit of a re-worked ending. Thanks!

Update 2: Posted a  new mix that addresses vocal clarity, thank you, Kurt!

Update 3: A new mix was added today

16 hours ago, garybrun said:

Hopefully soon they will be making a systemwide version for the vsx.
I have a very expensive set of monitors in my studio....  and they would be redundant when the vsx plugin is released.

seriously...  these things are that good!

I use a tool called Equalizer APO that implements the Windows sound system's  audio enhancements capability. This allows developers to write things like custom EQ tools that can be inserted in the sound drivers chain for Windows. Equalizer APO is one of those, and it has the ability to act as a VST host, and I load the Slate plugin so that all Windows sound is processed by VSX. Works great.

Oh yeah,  👍 on your comment about how well the plugin and phones work together, the system is just incredible and IMHO it blows Sonarworks completely out of the water.

Sorry, I was referring to fret_man's post. I had it running systemwide until I got the Slate VSX headphones. Sonarworks has been bumped from pride of place by those wonderful (but pricey) phones.

I was assuming that the OP is using ASIO drivers in the DAW. I didn't think the systemwide service sat in front of the ASIO stack. In any case, the VST plug in does have to be disabled at render time,  at least with the version I have. 

Perhaps newer revs are different.

I believe the Slate system automatically disables the plug in when you export. I also have A Sonarworks and I'm pretty sure it must be disabled manually.

I picked up a pair about two months ago. I always mix with headphones and then struggle with making them sound right. Not using headphones wasn't an option. The VSX system has been a game-changer for me. I'm with you, I love them and I recommend them.

The Archon mid-field  with ear profile 2 is my go-to setup as well.

There's a method to the madness here and I like where you're going with it. I'd take some time to make the vocals stand out a bit more, they're really well done. Not so much make them louder but give them a bit of space to let them be clearer.  Maybe duck the overall instrumental mix very slightly with the vocals using the bus compressor's side chain input and maybe using some judicious panning of the instruments to make a hole for the vocals.

By the way, loved the "woo-oo" thing at the end, actually quite musical. I've always liked you're music, and this is a great addition.

Lots of stuff to like in this one. As always with your stuff, there are great vocals supporting a good melody over some truly interesting harmony. Sometimes I hear a strong Atlanta Rhythm Section vibe in there. Great playing everywhere you look. As for the mix, you always do a great job getting a "modern/vintage" vibe going with all the parts, nice and clear but smooth too. To my ears some additional work needs to be done to get all the parts to gel together better, but I'm not sure what that would be. Perhaps some light compression on the sub-mixes?  Finally, that is one groovy bass line, bro!

Thank you all, I'm calling this one finished. Whew. I appreciate your many listens of this track and your willingness to share your opinions!

Thanks for listening, David! My sense of honor compels me to protect your status as an innocent so I will refrain from explaining the lyrics. 

11 hours ago, Wookiee said:

And yet again @Kevin Walsh I find myself listening to one of your tunes when dear Missy got me out of bed at 04:20 am for some unknow reason, but today she did not want to go back to bed so I have been up since silly o'clock today.

This does sound nice though  

Thank Missy for me, won't you? Thanks for listening, Wookie. I see you have a few new ones out there that I have yet to give a listen to. Something to look forward to!

I've posted a new mix taking into account all of your feedback. Please let me know if it hits the mark better. Thank you!

7 hours ago, SupaReels said:

Hi Kevin, I take the fact the bass line is a little low in the mix as it could be a tad higher. The double tracking could maybe do with the harmony's taken up a bit too esp the chorus and the Ahoo's  and my last crit is that the ending has been cut too short.

Overall and as a fan of your stuff, I love to listen to a good song and follow the wording, so if you could post them up  .. ?

Great song, you have such a wistful tone to your vocal it's almost haunting.

ATB

Steve

Thank you for the kind words, Steve. I've added the lyrics as I wrote them before recording the song but there may be a few differences in the final version. I'm embarrassed that I let the cut-off at the end go out the door. Thank you for the feedback and the support!

Compulsion - Kevin Walsh

verse 1

a quiet compulsion
rollin round in his head

another day that
makes her wish she was dead

she don't mean nothing
she drives him out of his head

she don't know why but fine
she says, still in his bed

verse 2

she knows it's all in the eyes
they say everything

he gave her nothing
she gave him everything

a quiet compulsion
rolling round in his head

awake alone 
on the edge of her bed

she don't mean nothing
she drives him out of his head

she don't know why but fine
she says, still in his bed

bridge

(keep quiet)

keep quiet now 
the slightest creak
will give yourself away
and then he'll know

eyes in the back
of his head
will see you breaking the rules
and that'll be all,
yeah that'll be all

she don't say nothing
she drives him out of his head

she don't know why but fine
she says, still in his bed

19 hours ago, kurt soderquist said:

Sounds good, still really like this song. The back ground vocals sound nice. 

Thank you, Kurt!

18 hours ago, Fred's Gratis Scores said:

I like the smooth sound to this, very nice! The only feedback I have is that the very first part felt a little "jumbled" and my brain had a hard time grabbing on to something to find the beat. It's a great song and very much enjoyed it. Mix sounds good on my Sony MDX-1000.

Thanks for your feedback! Are you talking about the short little instrumental bit at the very beginning? 

53 minutes ago, jack c. said:

nice recording job.nice sounding voice and harmony,bring up the low voice harmony.i like your guitar parts.jack c.

Thank you! People are always telling me to turn down the bg vocals, guess I went too far.

18 hours ago, Lynn Wilson said:

Great song and good mix.  I love the vocals and guitar tones, very polished!  I'd like to hear the bass guitar a bit more, which would make this a stellar mix, imo.  However, this is really good as is.  Happy New Year to you!

Good feedback as always., thank you!

Thanks for everyone's great feed back. I've finished (yet another) remix and I think this song is ready for another round of criticism. Your input on ANY aspect of the song is most welcome!

Happy New Year!

Update: I've posted a new mix taking into account all of your feedback. Please let me know if it hits the mark better. Don't forget to refresh the page before listening. Thank you!

My goal is to get the hardware and software out of the way of letting things flow. When I have to restart the DAW or wait for something to finish it destroys the vibe.