There was too much ambiance and room sound

[Ironbarkbob]

First Off I just want to sate that I am here to learn and not criticize.
Does any one know how I can correct this problem.
I'm certain it will have to be a soft remedy as I cant change my recording locating.
I defiantly don't expect a forward on every thing I put submit but do want to know how to fix what I'm doing wrong.
I also suspect that many listing may get too submissions when only a certain amount can be selected.

All comments appreciated and thanks in advance.
Rob.

My baby https://soundcloud.com/ironbarkbob/my-baby
Needed you to long https://soundcloud.com/ironbarkbob/need ... rt-stanley

"These tracks sounded very live. There was too much ambiance and room sound. This listing needs tracks with more clarity and punch overall.

S150403DJ

ORIGINAL, DIXIELAND JAZZ SONGS with Male or Female Vocals are needed by a very successful Music Licensing Company that offers both EXCLUSIVE and NON-EXCLUSIVE deals. Please submit lively, Mid-to-Up-Tempo Songs in the general stylistic wheelhouse of acts like Steamboat Willie, Dukes of Dixieland, Firehouse Five Plus Two, etc., etc., etc. Give them top-notch, emotionally upbeat songs with an expressive vocal performance and instruments that sound like the real deal. Authenticity will serve you well for this pitch. Although universal lyrics probably aren't AS critical for this listing as many others, you'd still be smart to avoid references to specific names, dates, times, brands, and profanity. Please, do NOT copy or rip off the referenced artists in any way, shape, or form. Use them only as a guide for feel, tone, and overall vibe. Broadcast Quality is needed (great sounding home recordings are fine). You must own or control 100% of your Master and Copyright. This Company offers both EXCLUSIVE and NON-EXCLUSIVE deals. The specific deal points will be negotiated on a Song-by-Song basis directly with the Library. Please submit one to three Songs online or per CD, include lyrics. All submissions will be screened and critiqued by TAXI and must be received no later than Friday, April 3, 2015. TAXI #S150403DJ

[Russell Landwehr]

Wow... good stuff composition and performance wise.

Was this a live band recorded all at once? Did you use any Effects in the mix?

[Ironbarkbob]

Wow... good stuff composition and performance wise.

Was this a live band recorded all at once? Did you use any Effects in the mix?

The backing was composed with software program so I cant take any credit for the backing
other than the chord progression and the other two program's I have to take the tracks through
to get what I'm after.
I have added small amount of effects on them otherwise they are not too bad out of the box.

As for my vocals I use a 4 channel Behringer henx Qx1202 Multi Fx processor .
I mix everything in reaper and add a small amount fx from that also.
I run my recorded vocals through Audacity for compression normalizing and eq.
I try to keep every thing as simple as possible.
I hope this info helps.
Thanks for your Russell comments you have been a great help to me in the past.
P.S. Love to have areal band on stand by

[Gypsygal]

Wow, great song ! Your vocals are an amazing cross between Ian Tyson and Elvis , very nice !
Re the mix, Just on first listen, I'd say you might consider cutting back the overall reverb on the vocals
just a tad, I mean leave a little, but dry it up just a tad.....and perhaps use volume automation on the
backing track to let the backing breathe a little bit more, keeping it all very subtle of course, but
in relation to the vocals you could sculpt the backing track just a little bit, aiming to give the vocals more room in the mix
- for example, there are a couple
spots where the vocals kind of get buried - these are minor points, just tweakings really. This way the
vocals could "sit" better into the mix.

I think you needn't change much, but the above would just give it a little more expression and cohesion.

That'll be 2 cents please

Cheers, diane

[Ironbarkbob]

Wow, great song ! Your vocals are an amazing cross between Ian Tyson and Elvis , very nice !
Re the mix, Just on first listen, I'd say you might consider cutting back the overall reverb on the vocals
just a tad, I mean leave a little, but dry it up just a tad.....and perhaps use volume automation on the
backing track to let the backing breathe a little bit more, keeping it all very subtle of course, but
in relation to the vocals you could sculpt the backing track just a little bit, aiming to give the vocals more room in the mix
- for example, there are a couple
spots where the vocals kind of get buried - these are minor points, just tweakings really. This way the
vocals could "sit" better into the mix.

I think you needn't change much, but the above would just give it a little more expression and cohesion.

That'll be 2 cents please

Cheers, diane

Thank you Gypsygal.

Many thanks for your help.
I will play around with mix a little more.
Rob.

[andygabrys]

I think Diane and Russell pointed to the points of the mix to check out.

I found the tunes very ambient, and it was pretty obvious to me that part of it was the reverb on the vocal, and then the reverb on the track itself. It didn't sound like it was recorded in a huge room with ambient mics, it sounded like close mic'd recordings with extra reverb added. The vocal was the biggest thing to work on. It can be almost dry and it would be fine.

Bob - if you got in the habit of referencing some of the suggestions for the sound, you might get closer with your mixes more of the time.

Here's something to listen to:

Check out these artists on Youtube or Spotify (if its available in Aus): Steamboat Willie, Dukes of Dixieland, Firehouse Five Plus Two

Now figure out which tracks are live recordings, and which ones are studio recordings. Listen to the amount of relative ambience that the band has and that the vocal has. If you can approximate that feel, you will have much more success in getting more tunes through.

Btw - if you are doing production in a DAW, there is a plugin called Magic AB that allows you to listen to your mix (with mastering plugins on if desired) and then flip to your reference mix with one click and I have found it invaluable for referencing quickly. Referencing keeps me close to target. If I don't reference i fool myself with what I think is close. https://www.samplemagic.com/details/184/magic-ab

[Ironbarkbob]

I think Diane and Russell pointed to the points of the mix to check out.

I found the tunes very ambient, and it was pretty obvious to me that part of it was the reverb on the vocal, and then the reverb on the track itself. It didn't sound like it was recorded in a huge room with ambient mics, it sounded like close mic'd recordings with extra reverb added. The vocal was the biggest thing to work on. It can be almost dry and it would be fine.

Bob - if you got in the habit of referencing some of the suggestions for the sound, you might get closer with your mixes more of the time.

Here's something to listen to:

Check out these artists on Youtube or Spotify (if its available in Aus): Steamboat Willie, Dukes of Dixieland, Firehouse Five Plus Two

Now figure out which tracks are live recordings, and which ones are studio recordings. Listen to the amount of relative ambience that the band has and that the vocal has. If you can approximate that feel, you will have much more success in getting more tunes through.

Btw - if you are doing production in a DAW, there is a plugin called Magic AB that allows you to listen to your mix (with mastering plugins on if desired) and then flip to your reference mix with one click and I have found it invaluable for referencing quickly. Referencing keeps me close to target. If I don't reference i fool myself with what I think is close. https://www.samplemagic.com/details/184/magic-ab

Hello Andy.
Many thanks for your in depth reply.
Now you pointed out the reverb issue I can hear it my self.
Great thing about taxi is the great learning curve.
I followed all the links you posted.
I appreciate the time you have taken with me to help me out.
You are truly a real pro.
I will keep referring back to your post and links, you work has such clarity and quality in your works.
Many thanks.
Rob.