General Music Chat

Hey everyone, I posted a new recording on my profile. It's a cover of "Brass in Pocket" from the Pretenders. Let me know what you think.

Tracy

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Still, it's pretty close to the original, by the pretenders.
Fix the volume, add the same reverb & echo - and not many people would notice.
One point; to sound as close as possible to the original, you'll need to sing at the same volume.
In the Pretenders version, she probably sang 3 times louder. That means you'll have to play the song 3 - 4 times louder when recording.
Good luck

You know Rich, I'm doing the best I can. I don't have that much experience in recording and I'm with a VERY knowlegable teacher that is helping me as much as she can. I've progressed TREMENDOUSLY over the past few months. I've got alot of possitive feedback from people and just because you may not be a fan of my voice doesn't mean I should give up. Because I'm NOT.

I listened to your friend and she's really good. One of these days I'll get my voice that soulful and edgy too. Just give me some time here. If you heard how my voice sounded about six months ago, you'll see how much I've progressed. Where are your vocal tracks on your profile? Can you sing Rich? I'll show you Rich, one of these days soon, I'll win you over and show you I can do this! LOL

R&B Thanks for your possitive comments. I appreciate them. I don't have anything that can give me any reverb or echo right now. You have suggestions for me? Right now I'm using a Tube MP Studio pre-amp and a Peavy mic. Regular PC sound card and the Total Recorder recording software. I've tried Audacity but I really don't know how to use it that well. If any of you would like, I could email you my recordings and maybe you could add the effects that I need to make it sound better.

Plus, when I'm recording I have my headphones on and the music is as loud as my ears can handle. So I can't play it that loud. I'm not working in a professional studio here. But my plan is to get a professional demo done next year.

Tracy

tn,
Yeah cp was kinda mean, huh? Seemed like he enjoyed it . . .
ANYway . . .
If it's an MP3, with 2 tracks - you're in business.
Sure; email the song, & I'll re-mix it for you.
.
I'm hoping you have the song on one track, and your voice on the other - that's how the MP3 sounded.
.
Send me each track separately, if you can. The song on one track, your voice on the other.
Or if you can't do that - just email it to me, and I'll see what I can do for you.
alancbradley@hotmail.com.
That is - if Bandmix doesn't erase the email address.
Alan

T, you seem to have added some fullness to your voice. You still need to work on intonation. You're not hitting a lot of notes spot-on. Tonal quality generally sounds pretty good when you hit the notes accurately.

Some notes are so far off I suspect my Voice Tweaker software would have difficulty analyzing them correctly. Others are just a little flat.

Thanks Dave for the comments. I think alot of my pitch problems stem from me not singing my vowels correctly yet. My teacher is starting to work with me on style now. So, that will come in time. But at least I know I've progressed some.

Alan, I emailed you the sound file. If you can't decipher through it, that's ok. I'm going to talk to people about recording equipment and stuff. I'm bound and determined that I'm going to get my vocals down on tape the way I want them to sound! LOL

Thanks again,

Tracy

T, maybe you have the music to loud in your head phones or not loud enough when recording. If too loud it will make you sing flat or sharp. If too low you can't hear the notes you need to sing against. Also if you can't hear your voice that well when recording that may be a problem as well. Try turning down the bass in your phones a bit too.

RB wrote
"In the Pretenders version, she probably sang 3 times louder. That means you'll have to play the song 3 - 4 times louder when recording."

No no... You don't have to play the music in your phones that loud! More things are in play than just volume. Type of mic she used, room where it was recorded, BIG money production/mix down.
The main thing is to make sure you can hear the music and your self clearly. If it's too loud your ears will play tricks on you.

Also.. I don't hear Ann Wilson or Pat Benatar in your voice... Sorry.

Good Luck, Alan

" I feel my voice has gotten really strong and am ready to form a band to play local gigs in Utah."

"My voice is a blend of Ann Wilson and Pat Benatar."


Sorry Tracy.

I've always been one of those self-deprecating musician types myself, and so when I read something like the above, and I click on a sound file, I expect to hear something powerful.

sorry.
I should probably stay out of the critiquing buisiness end of this thread.
Rich

ps. I do sing, but am mainly an instrumentalist.

Hi Tracy!! Got your message....

First let me say that you have improved -- alot!!

But, I agree -- you still have some issues with pitch --
I was thinking a possibilty of tone deafness..... but when I read your comments, it seems your aware that your pitch is off - so, if you can hear it, then that wouldn't be the case.....

Are you still doing your vocal lessons via telephone???
I don't care what anyone says - I still feel you should have a teacher that is right there with you....
Maybe right off, you can't tell that you're hitting the notes sharp or flat -
If someone was there -- they would be able to tell you -- and help you to train yourself and your ear.....

I understand about the recording probs.... I've been dealing with them myself for awhile now...
On this recording... your vox are way too loud -- How close are you standing to the microphone?? It almost sounds like your "eating" it at times... do you know about microphone technique?? It's really fairly common sense -- the louder you are -- the further back your mouth should be away from the mic -- the softer the closer -- but you really shouldn't have your lips right on the mic unless you're practically whispering. It sounds like you have pretty good projection with your voice --
I remember in another thread a few months back - you and everyone were arguing over breathing --
Learning to breathe is VERY IMPORTANT!! It helps tremendously -- and learning that you MUST use your diaphram (sp?).....
When you have the technique down... you have complete control --
phrasing, projection, and it even helps to improve pitch and tonality....

As far as singing your vowels correctly -- What type of vocal exersizes do you do?? Ya know, your whole body is your instrument when you're a vocalist -- It probably wouldn't hurt to do some physical warm ups before singing -- to get your blood flowing and muscles loosened up -- It can hinder a performance alot if you're tense - not relaxed -- your throat will tighten up on you --

If you message me with your address - I can mail you some sheets on such things... some warm up exersizes for your body as well as your throat....
some of them may seem strange (ie: sticking your tongue out ...)-- But Trust me -- they work!! A singing professional gave these sheets to me -

Before you go into a vocal session... ALWAYS fill your lungs with air before you begin...
Breathe in though your nose and out through your mouth.. (very important) --
Take long deep breaths in through the nose and slowly blow out through your mouth slowly -- Do this 3 times and completely fill your lungs up when breathing in --

A vocal exersize to help with vowels is this:

ME, MAY, MA, MO, MOO

Using a piano - or something to help you start with your pitch - (generally start with the key of C, but you can start lower or higher )
Sing out ME - MAY - MA - MO - MOO in a 4/4 tempo --
on the MOO hold the "OO" and when beginning the next count of 4 - step up the note 1/2 ..... sing the phrase again -- step up another half - etc...
Once you've reached the highest note you can reach - when beginning the next 4 count, drop your note to the octave you started in and hold for 4. Then begin again -- Do it at least twice!!
You can do this exersize as much as you'd like! Really concentrate on your pitch -- a pitch pipe is the best thing to use if you don't have a piano, or keyboard..... you can check your pitch along the way if you feel you may be off.... And hit those problemed notes by concentrating on matching the note with the pitch pipe or whatever!

Hope this helps -- But keep it up -- cuz you are improving!! Practice makes perfect!!

TN, when I made the comment about turning up the volume, I wasn't thinking 'headphones.'
I was thinking Loudspeakers - veru 'loud' speakers. It's different singing with and without headphones . . .
When using 'phones,' you get most of your your own voice not through your outer ears, but conducted from your throat through your skull into your inner ear - it sounds completely different . . .
. . . but you already know that. Still . . .

Tania, I do have a teacher that I train with every week and she does go over all that you talked about. I swear, it's not my voice that is the problem, it's the ability, or lack of, of recording that I have. I don't have the levels adjusted right and, yes, my mic is turned up too loud. I'll get it right guys. I just need to learn how to record better. I won't post any more sound files on here until I can record the way it needs to be to get my voice sounding it's best.

Thanks for the compliments Tania, I'm glad that you CAN hear that I've improved.

Until later,

Tracy

P.S. I DO sound like Ann and Pat on my good vocal days when I'm practicing in my room. I just can't get it down on tape so all can hear it. When I do, you'll see what I mean.

What kind of mic are you using?
Most pro singers have slight compession applied to the mic before it goes to tape. Some won't record with out it. It helps keep things in place a bit and fattens up the vocals as well. Mic technique is still a big factor.
MIX magazine covers recording vocals alot. Great info! Check it out sometime.

Yur welcome Tracy!!

Just keep practicing hun -- you'll get it!
Glad to hear you have someone right there working with you!!

That's GREAT news!!!

When you get some new stuff posted again... let me know!! Would love to hear it!! As I said - you have improved alot!!

Have a great week hun!!

Hi Tracy, to evaluate your style which is still waiting to materialize; i'll instead give examples of what i hear.
To start, my only gig right now is in Church (electric Bass) we have a female singer that has great intonation (pitch) and a very pretty voice, she is also our soloist on the female side; her style though, is really being a choir based singer. She doesn't possess the passion in her voice to really "belt out" a song, to me it's odd seeing someone that good to not be able to "bring it" so to speak.
You on the other hand are learning the mechanics of vocals and thats a good thing, what no teacher can give you is your passion...ever heard the phrase "with fiery passion" in reference to vocals? the singer feels what is sung and leaves the listener knowing that the singer felt it...that comes from within and is yours and yours alone; it's something no one can ever take away from you, yet it's also something no one can give you. It's also something that a $ 1.00 microphone from a discount store can't hide or ruin...when passion's there you can't EQ it out.
Everything above is what i hear in you (or don't hear in this case) it sounds like you're standing there with your hands in your pockets wishing the recording would hurry up and get over with while rolling your eyes. Thats the vision that got conjured up for me while listening; it sounds bland, like you're bored. I hope this is helpful and not hurtful to you, i for one would like to hear you in the future and say "DAMN!!!, now thats what i'm talkin' bout".
If you haven't or don't listen to old jazz singers such as Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald or even the more recent Diana Krall...they possess that certain something and that something is passion. Even singing a slow ballad they make you feel it.
Lady Rocker on here as witnessed has it.