Re: New tune . Your opinions please .

Bluesplayer wrote:
> http://www.4shared.com/file/55374900/ff25a1d0/the_huns_Art_Geordie.html?dirPwdVerified=8692a899
>
First impressions based on a single listening

o Its a very "War of the Worlds" style intro (nice), but the speech is
too far back compared to SFX and gets lost, particularly towards the end
of that section.
o The link between the end of the spoken intro and the music needs
tightening up. For instance, slide the end of the vocals up so that as
the narrator says "for the right to rule the world", the flute (or
whatever instrument it is) is already fading up and the cymbal swell
comes straight in as soon as he's finished. This might be a little too
tight, but try it...
o The stereo image is somewhat lopsided when the music starts - off to
the left
o Drums need some work. Snare and kick sound thin and gutless, and the
snare sounds somewhat distant - try the New York compression trick on
the snare and bit of bass lift on the kick.
o As for the arrangement, the keyboard sound conflicts with the lead
guitar sound. They're both trying to occupy the same frequency range
and this is difficult to listen to. Either pan then further apart or
select a new sample for the keys (both would be good)
o The guitar riff at around 3:30 needs to be brought forward a bit - its
lost in general melee
o There is not much use of panning to structure the sound - most of the
instruments are piled up on or near the centre. Try spreading things
out a some more, say guitar left and keyboard right for instance.
o There's a nice break at around 4:00 and suddenly you've remebered to
use stereo! This jumps out at you because up until that point, you
haven't made much use of the stereo field.
o Do you have a bass guitarist playing? If so, I could hardly hear
him/her at all. (If not, why not!!)
o The vocalist is good, but he needs to be brought forward if you want
to place any emphasis on the lyrics. You need to decide if this song
has a singer accompanying the band (which is what you currently have) or
a band accompanying the singer (which is what I would prefer - but then
its not my song...)
o What happened at the end? The song looses its momentum and just
fizzles out. This needs some work because it lets down an otherwise
good track.

Overall, I think you've got some good material to work with here, it
just needs some polishing. Personally, I'd start with the drums and
bass, get them sorted out. Then add in the keyboards - playing a
simplified arrangement if possible and not using a sample that conflicts
with the lead guitar(s). Then add your lead guitars. Finally set the
vocals front and centre. Try listening to your mix in mono as well, see
if anything jumps forward. If it does, then you need to adjust its
level and/or panning.

Remember, Good Mono Is Better Than Bad Stereo.

£0.025 (tuppence ha'penny)

Chris W

--
The voice of ignorance speaks loud and long,
But the words of the wise are quiet and few.
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