noynekker

Colin . . . nice to see you here, you usually haunt those other Cakewalk forums . When you mention "Simple Minds" band, I definitely hear that in your vocals, and they are very well done . . . but would like to have the vocals more upfront in places, especially in the beginning . . . by the chorus it's more upfront. It's a great track you've done here, seems Simple Minds may have been ahead of the curve.

Ross . . . nice first post . . . like your sense of melody here. At 1:48 when the guitar part comes in, seems you've totally switched from electronic to acoustic, especially noticeable in the drum kit. Seems almost like 2 separate songs, or maybe you intended that. Mixing is good, and I really like the virtuoso guitar emulation in the second half. Keep em' comin' ! Would like to hear more of what you're doing.

RexRed goes EDM techno dance ? . . . never saw that coming, but you stir it up very nicely here ! Very punchy mix, lots of great melody, and didn't expect to hear that great voice of yours in this one . . . very well done indeed ! (might need to lose the hat and railroad tracks if this continues)

Hi Paul . . . such a great song ! . . . though, as jack c says there are some timing issues still. When I listen, it's like the song and vocals + harmonies have this great feel to them, but the drums just don't. Right from the get go when the drums come in, something is off. And, it seems something between the song sections, because some sections time quite well, then it changes to the next section and something is off. Mostly it sounds like the snare is too quantized in places, so when the next song section changes feel, the snare is too stiff, compared to the rest of things. Do you have a way of replaying in the snare hits ? Like I said . . . cudos for the great songwriting, and love the harmony vocals, the mix is very clean as well . . . just attend to that drum feel. Not intending to be negative, because this song is really worth the extra effort to get that drum feel correct !

Nicely done David, a very mellow piece . . . a nice bit of impressionism to relax my day . . . wait, my Sunday was already relaxing, now I need to go listen to some thrashing rock to get my edge back ! I'll certainly file this one for one of those days when I really need to lay back, like Friday.

What else can I say but sonically and visually stunning . . . ya' really well done ! Lots of very cool thwacking sounds at the start, transitions between the sections musically are excellent, creative use of efx, it's really got it all . . . I'm goin' back in for another whirl.

Wookiee . . . always a great listen . . . seems you found that old school sample and hold in this one and worked it into the piece, really like the echo rhythm, and the melody you play over it . . . WARP ON !

John . . . you're cookin' with gas with this one (as they say in Canada) . . . a really great production. Mixing and lyrics are extremely clear, and may I say just a great song !

Hi Paul . . . had a few listens through your first mix here, really like the song and the integrity of it here. I hear some timing issues between the instruments at the beginning and also about 3/4 of the way through the song. The lead vocals and background vocals are excellent, and recorded with a lot of honest feeling, that drives the song. I would also say that for the background vocals, you've really added something very special and unpredictable to this one. Not sure how you recorded this, so the timing issues are hard to pinpoint, but I think it's the piano out of time near the start ? . . . and 3/4 of the way through, the drums get out of time ? Anyways . . . just trying to help, and look forward to any future versions of this one posted here. Ha ! you are a brave one with your reality picture online, very cool.

Thanks guys . . . I still use CAL from time to time, thought I had them all . . . forgot you can roll your own . . . but alas, I'm no programmer, just a consumer. Thanks for all your time and effort, hope I can figure these out. (and not be such a quantize monkey)

RexRed . . . you've added some things to this since I listened to it last week, and it's really come together as a great song, a great arrangement, and a great mix . . . so glad I stopped by again !

Mark, had a few more listens on different speakers, studio monitors, car stereo . . . and it stands up as a really great and balanced mix no matter what. After more listens I must add the guitar solo section is really brilliant, you are truly right inside the music with your touch there, awesome !

Barry . . . I want to buy this for my collection of great classic songs . . . clicked on your links, but don't see a download . . . just love it so much.

Sorry, missed a few warps last week, they seem to fly by so quickly . . . I'll catch up next week. This one is a bit warped with all the detuning stuff, but always pulls out into something different, and unpredictable. I like the final triumphant bit, lots of stars flying by there.

Thanks Gary . . . amazing powerful song, and it seems talent runs deep in your family ! I did listen to both of your mixes on headphones, and must say I lean towards the first version, as the vocal on the second mix has way more presence and sibilance, sounding less natural and more electronic. It gives the impression of being closer to the performance, but maybe dialed back a touch would be a better place. (Knowing we all paint different pictures, this just my personal preference) No matter how I spin it, I really enjoyed listening to both versions. Your studio pic on Soundcloud looks very efficient and comfy . . . now I need to go buy some candles !

It's a very cool song, and the vocals are excellent, guitars are well played and very inventive. The mix sounds super clear, an overly picky producer might want to tame it down, but for myself it has a very raw and real authenticity to it the way it is. For some reason, the chorus made me think of Joe Walsh. BTW, the ending is brilliant . . . sounds like it just happened that way out of a genuine feeling, so well done.

Wow ! Wow ! (yes, one wow was not enough) What a great song, and a perfectly shiny mix . . . nothing predictable or repetitive in this one, jazz infused . . . what great creativity and songwriting, mixing skills are top notch.

Yes indeed SupaReels . . . when comparing to your older mix this is a great improvement . . . now the songs shines through much better, and I like it a lot !

Yikes, I can't feel my toes after this. Very peaceful and effective escape from all that's happening in life these days . . . I will surely play this on on my Monday AM commute. Especially like the outro with the water and birds. All through a great touch on the keyboards . . . thanks so much for the interlude.

Hi SupaReels . . . I can echo bjorn's comments here about the mix, and the quality of the vocal, but, the high end of the instruments simply overshadow the vocals . . . there's a good song here, just needs some further mix attention.

freddy j, I love a good rescue story, glad you found a way to make this one work. I've got lots in the dumpster, but the truck hasn't come yet, so maybe I can still pull them out. Great collaboration, lots of energy, and swirling things ! In the mix, there are parts where the kick gets lost somewhat, but there are lots of other things driving it along, didn't miss it 'til I thought about it. Also, it's fun that two great guitar players on the Cakewalk forum get together, love it.

Yep, like this a lot . . . right up there with your usual quality standard. Simple and effective. Your vocals are always great, and an excellent job with the harmonies ! . . . since you're still working on this one, well, I'm hearing cellos . . . but that's just me, I love cellos in songs like this.

Hi Mark, had a listen just now on headphones, and there is absolutely nothing offensive in your mix . . . what a great song, your talent really shines in this one ! I'll circle back after a few more listens on the bigger speakers, and the ever critical Ford Ranger highway road test. Really like everything you're doing in this one.

David . . . now I'm feeling left out for missing that other version ? . . . but, fortunately I like this version just fine, it feels comfortable, down home, and I really like the guitar part through this. Now, this is something different from your normal thing, didn't know you played guitar as well ? The thing I like about the guitar is that even though the chording pattern is repetitive, it changes up in feel and tempo constantly, very nice, like it's played live. I'm interested how you recorded this one.

Enjoyed listening to this very much Bjorn . . . some great clear tones from those guitar vsti's, then there's those flutes and fiddles . . . acoustic music can be so relaxing, and I like the ambience around the instruments the way you've mixed it, just the right touch . . . it's very well done, as I knew it would be.