General Music Chat

I think all people playing guitar have the tendency to dirty it up too much for some reason, I know Ive been guilty of it over and over.

When I record at home I listen thru the monitors, and when I record at our bassist studio I use the headphones, but I ussually take a few minutes and dial in the amp before we start, and ask our bassist for what he thinks.

I tend to turn my guitar volume down slightly for rythyms, I like a really sharp amp sound, but then kinda of roll it off a bit.

Jimmy makes a good point thou. Rythym tracks cut the distortion, it gets all those harmonics going that you dont really hear when you track going that take away from the heaviness of the guitar.

I listened again and I really like that singers voice, he really puts the lyrics across well.

Mike, regarding using headphones, I always track in the control room, that way I can hear the music through the studio monitors, not some crappy phone speakers. I can still see the drummer through the window, and if we really know the parts there's not much of a need to see each other (usually, there's always exceptions). But as a rule I try to record rhythm parts cleaner than I might play them live. You can always dirty them up afterwards.

yeah, it's helpful to see the other musicians but by no means necessary. when we recorded our PLANET JAZZ album we tracked live and we were all in different rooms/areas w zero eye contact. there was only one tune we did a second take on....and then ended up using the first take cos it had better energy.

i absolutely HATE tracking w headphones and almost always have been able to plead, beg, insist, and weasel my way into the control booth to trk while listening thru the studio monitors.

Planet, the thing Ive found with headphones is that it makes you tighter.

We used to practice using headphones, I used a preamp straight in the board, and it really helped us get the really fast passages tightened up.

Ive been recording again with my old Roland Recorder and Ive been using the amp simulators in that thing, its so easy versus micing and amp. My old POD PRO preamp, I hooked it to our pa a few years ago and really dialed it in, and when I use it for recording I have some settings that go from mild to wild. Oddly when recording songs Ive found that the milder settings distortion wise seem to have the most clarity.

But different strokes for different folks, whatever works and makes someone comfortable is the way to go.

@ Mike Talbot .. at least you are getting feedback, I basically got the silent treatment, and took that as a positive from this bunch.. a bunch that do not even realize the beauty in Kenny G music.. I have come to the conclusion it is best not to have people here judge music, since if they hate Kenny G then they are definitely biased...

I have found that when recording guitar with distortion: "less is more". For whatever reason, you need less dialed in than what you like to hear live. And this does not matter whether you are listening to the actual amp being mic-ed, or listening to headphones or monitors from what is being tracked.

Dane - there were quite a few comments on the last song you posted! Some days people here have the time to listen and comment, somtimes not. And, sometimes, people will not comment on a style/type of tune that is not their genre.

I dont know where everyone gets Johnny Cash out of it but what I hear
is Morrison. The writing style and the vocal interpretation say DOORS to me.
I would have liked to hear some guitar sound changes within the song.
Different, interesting and not boring.[/b]

Probably my fault, I hear a young Johnny, not the older style we're all used to.

@ Mike Talbot .. at least you are getting feedback, I basically got the silent treatment, and took that as a positive from this bunch.. a bunch that do not even realize the beauty in Kenny G music.. I have come to the conclusion it is best not to have people here judge music, since if they hate Kenny G then they are definitely biased...

Dane I know you are a good person. You seem to go from one extreme to the other no middle ground. I have been busy with family, work and 2 bands. Sorry I missed your thread. I'll go back and give it a listen.

Jeff, you are one of the few who did take your time to review it.. and I thank you, not thanking you for your comments, but thanking you for taking the time..

Jeff, you are one of the few who did take your time to review it.. and I thank you, not thanking you for your comments, but thanking you for taking the time..

Dane I know I posted something about your song...did you not see it?

@ Mike Talbot .. at least you are getting feedback, I basically got the silent treatment, and took that as a positive from this bunch.. a bunch that do not even realize the beauty in Kenny G music.. I have come to the conclusion it is best not to have people here judge music, since if they hate Kenny G then they are definitely biased...

dane, obviously i've been to hasty in writing off kenny g's music. i promise to give it another go. so which of his works are you most impressed with? which (albums) do i feel i should start with?

which pieces do you find to be most moving...perhaps i can bring them up youtube.

Like the idea but the execution was less than stellar.

The drummer was the biggest problem, imo.

MT -

I seriously love songs that tell a story... honestly, doesn't even really have to make sense... I just think that sh*t's fun.
I actually like his voice too... it's warm and interesting.
As far as the song... I feel like some parts are sluggish... tempo-wise.
I liked the guitar and the bass... maybe have the guitars recorded separately twice... pan one left and one right... give it more dynamic.
I think the weakest point on the track is the drummer... he jut doesn't sound confident at all. I think this song could seriously crunch if he believed in what he was doing and laid into his kit a little. Tell him he won't hurt it lol.
Overall, I actually dig it quite a bit.

- Litost

@ Mike Talbot .. at least you are getting feedback, I basically got the silent treatment, and took that as a positive from this bunch.. a bunch that do not even realize the beauty in Kenny G music.. I have come to the conclusion it is best not to have people here judge music, since if they hate Kenny G then they are definitely biased...

dane, obviously i've been to hasty in writing off kenny g's music. i promise to give it another go. so which of his works are you most impressed with? which (albums) do i feel i should start with?

which pieces do you find to be most moving...perhaps i can bring them up youtube.

I just wanted to make the point that Mike Talbot should not take too much in account as far as getting a fair judgemental opinion of his tune he has posted here, because although Kenny G sells millions of records (and somebody has to like his music or he would not be selling so many records) he has been pretty much discredited here on BandMix, which goes against the general consensus that he is in demand for a reason, and that reason is because many enjoy his music.. I would hate for Mike Talbot to get saddened by critiques that go against convention

Dane WTF are you talking about?

There was a pretty good discusion going til you chimed in about Kenny G and then there went the neighborhood.