General Music Chat

Hi, Been a member of Bandmix for a few years now, and just found the forum today!

Thought I might as well plug my first guitar instrumental CD 'Renaissance' that was released in December 2011. Comprises 12 self-penned electro-acoustic guitar instrumentals.

There's track previews on my Bandmix profile and also full versions of 3 of the tracks on my website http://www.chrismooreacoustic.com

Cheers!

Edit 2nd May: also posted this on the UK topic section but with a bit of personal history added.

Welcome to the forums. I can't listen to your tunes right now as I'm at work (shhh), but curious to why you record finger-picked acoustic guitar as 'electro-acoustic'?
When I record acoustic (played with a pick/plectrum) I use mic and pickup and mix the two to get the best sound for the song.

HI GuitarmikeB, reason I just use the pickup is because I didn't/don't have a decent mic and no sound treatment in my studio.
I did originally intend to go into a professional studio to record the album, but decided to see if I could record the tracks myself using the pickup output. I already had a Fishman Aura unit to improve the 'quacky' pickup output, and iMac/LogicExpress.
I was happy with the home recorded result and to add a touch of professionalism I sent the tracks off for mastering.
All in all, as I say, very happy with the sound, and have had some great comments about it.

I'm busy at moment too, so I'l have a listen on your reverbnation page later today.
Cheers.
Chris

After some experimentation in my home studio - no sound treatment at all - I found the method that works for me is a condensor mix about 9-12" from the guitar combined with a Markley pickup that inserts into the soundhole. I then record the two on separate tracks. The pickup adds a litle more zing/bite into the sound, when mixed in at a lower volume.
When I record my Ibanez 12-string, I just use the built-in piezo pickup. Of course, this is all picked-style, although one song I did recently was fingerpicked lead acoustic part, 'Return to the Sea', you might have to hunt on my sites to find that one, think it might only be on youtube (?)
This was recorded the same way as oulined above.
My 6-string is a 73 Epiphone dreadnought with a nice rich sound - it can be loud and boomy, too, if not recorded correctly.

I've heard the Aura is good for returning the natural acoustic sound to an electric pickup acoustic.

Hi Mike, thanks for the recording info.
I admire your ability to compose so many different complete songs, nice one.
Found 'Return to the Sea' in amongst your youtube vids - nice bit of delicate geetar work in there.
Have you tried subtle use of compression on your guitar - it would give the melody line a bit more presence in the mix.

Re me using 'electro' - I wanted to add that word because even though the pickup on my Martin is piezo, I always make light use of effects like phase and reverb on all the tracks ie. it's not pure acoustic. But that's just me being finicky I suppose

Re the Aura unit - yep, I find it reduces the 'quackiness' dramatically, and puts back some of the more natural acoustic sound. I thought the Aura used digital samples blended in at first, but apparently it's not. It's a glorified complex EQ system - so I've read.

Thanks for listening and the comments! I think I did use some comp on that finger-picked guitar part, and do use it on other tracks as needed, but probably have not found just the right combination of settings - I've only been using Reaper and its plugins for about a year now, before that it was all on a stand-alone with preset fx patches.

Was listening to Orion, I like the piece and I would say it just needs a little less effect on the tracks. (I'm a texas feller and we believe the structure and gesture of such a piece can resonate very well on its own, if you let its presents come forward)


Also liked G1... Nice , relaxing tune... I get a pastoral vision from it. Could see it making to a social,nomathetic based statement...

Thanks for listening paperdog, and the comments

Yeah, Orion does have maybe a little too much effect on that one.

I do try to keep effects on all the album tracks to a minimum. But I wanted to create a fairly unique electro-acoustic sound on the album, which was a risky strategy I suppose, to offer a bit of variation for the listener.

I think I got away with it ...I've had some great comments about the sound.

Cheers
Chris

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http://www.chrismooreacoustic.com

Thanks for listening paperdog, and the comments

Yeah, Orion does have maybe a little too much effect on that one.

I do try to keep effects on all the album tracks to a minimum. But I wanted to create a fairly unique electro-acoustic sound on the album, which was a risky strategy I suppose, to offer a bit of variation for the listener.

I think I got away with it ...I've had some great comments about the sound.

Cheers
Chris

---------------------
http://www.chrismooreacoustic.com

Nothing wrong at all with the sound effect , Its all good...
I tend to focus toward a song's expressive requirements... which may or may not call on specific effects. For me, effects are more like the seasoning on a dish, rather than the dish itself. But... your dish is supurb, with all its effects

Great playing, but I'd like to hear the songs with no effects, think they would sound as good.

Hi GuitarMikeB, Re songs without effects, 'Sadie' and 'Rosewood' have virtually no effects on - they sound the most 'natural' on the album.
So those 2 will give you an idea of a non-effected sound.

All the other tracks have a phase effect added (I think it's called 'flange' these days), some only slightly.
And just one track 'Labyrinth' also has a mild echo repeat added.

Thanks again for the comments

Do you know why it's called flange? Before the electronic flangers, the engineer would press his thumb on the tape to get that effect.

Hi GuitarMikeB, Re songs without effects, 'Sadie' and 'Rosewood' have virtually no effects on - they sound the most 'natural' on the album.
So those 2 will give you an idea of a non-effected sound.

All the other tracks have a phase effect added (I think it's called 'flange' these days), some only slightly.
And just one track 'Labyrinth' also has a mild echo repeat added.

Thanks again for the comments

I'll give a listen to those songs when I get a chance - rather busy last night practicing the piano part for one of the Beatles tunes - never played it before on keys and there's a lot of those stinkin' black keys in the key of B!

rather busy last night practicing the piano part for one of the Beatles tunes - never played it before on keys and there's a lot of those stinkin' black keys in the key of B!

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GMB there's only 2 white keys, the E and B so just reverse the logic and then you've only got 2 white keys to think about instead of a load of 'stinkin' black ones.

That doesn't help at all! Actually 3 white keys - the A is there as a 7th (it's rock, who knows keys?!)