Fried ears....Can I borrow yours please??

[SteveJCurtis]

Hi all.
My ears have gone, so can you give me some mix advice and tell me if this track is a fit for this listing please?
( For info, I recently moved over from Windows laptop/Reaper to a second hand Mac/Logic X. Great fun! )

The track:
https://soundcloud.com/stevejcurtis/tophatz-fever

The listing:
TAXI #U160621CR
NEW LISTING -- CLASSIC ROCK-Style INSTRUMENTAL CUES are needed by a well-connected, Non-Exclusive Boutique Music Library that’s supplying music directly to the editors of an extremely popular Reality TV Show. This is their first round of Listing with TAXI, and we’re really excited to have them aboard! Please submit guitar riff-based, Mid-to-Up-Tempo Instrumental Cues that could be found on a playlist with legendary acts like (but not limited to) ZZ Top, Foghat, Ted Nugent, etc., etc., etc.

Thankyou guys and gals.
SJC

[jnmorrison]

Sounds great.
Well balanced, well played.

If I had to nit pick one thing - it would be the snare drum...sounds kinda like a wet rag is sitting on it. (not enough bright WHACK)

Overall impressions:
The transition in the middle down to the stripped acoustic section sounds out of place imho. (it kinda sounds like it comes from an entirely different song)
Stylistically I would list this as "Southern/Swamp Rock" rather than "Classic Rock". Mostly due to the twangy tone/vibe of that lead slide guitar(which I love).
HOWEVER - as the days go by the lines between those genres are getting more and more blurred anyway.

Love the guitar tone and playing. Simple, in the pocket, tasty and nothing too flashy/busy so as to keep the range open for dialogue in the overall mix.
Toms and kickdrum thick and chunky...sounds killer.
Bass keeps the groove super nicely, great tone and mix...beefy without being overpowering!

Good luck with it!
I'm sure someone will pick that up for sure!

Best,
Nick

[cassmcentee]

Awesome one Steve!
Sounds solid, love the warmth, dig the clarity on the High End!

Here are my 2 shillings...

The opening riff, I would love a "hold" between the two phrases
right now you riff down quickly into the second phrase so my ears don't get a moment to digest it.
The "hold" at the end of the second phrase brings you into the song perfectly!

The only other thing might be that the heaviest cymbal crashes are just a tad hot.

Wonderfuly mixed to my ears, I'm envious!!!
Cass

[funsongs]

Howdy... from old-guy ears in the Peanut Gallery.
Kudos for choosing that tempo/rhythm pattern - that seems to be working well.

However, I think it's the tone of the drums that aren't working - too much of a giveaway
that they're canned... and way too modern/contemporary for Classic Rock; imho.

If you can search for an overall drum sound - particularly the snare - that's big and boomy -
like a John Bonham sample; that might solve that issue.
Those tones that came from kits when guys took the front head off the kick, and bottom heads off of the toms...
something in that ballpark; in lieu of a live drummer, if you do not have that luxury at hand.

HTH, Amigo.

[SteveJCurtis]

Thanks very much indeed all for the great comments!
Here's another mix if you have the time....

https://soundcloud.com/stevejcurtis/tophatz-fever-mix-2

Nick: I took the acoustic out and replaced it with another electric part, and I changed the drums.
I am not good with drums, it seems to be a mysterious art to me!

Cass: I get where you're coming from with that "hold" idea but I didn't seem to get it right so am stuck with the original. I took the crash cymbals down a bit.

Peter: Yeah, I would have loved a "Bonzo" style/sound with this but I don't have access to a tame drummer in time for the pitch, and have flailed around in AD2 and used the kit you hear on mix 2. I always have probs with drums and low end. It's a learning curve in itself!


Thanks again and best to all,
SJC

[jnmorrison]

MUCH more cohesive now!

I still think the slide takes it into Southern Rock territory rather than straight ahead "classic rock".
But hell, as I said earlier Skynrd is Southern Rock as they come and they are considered Classic Rock now...so who knows?!!!

Good luck with it - it's a ROCKIN' peice!

N

[SteveJCurtis]

Nick, thanks a lot!
I am planning for a return & hoping for a forward. Just like with everything else
Cheers/SJC

[feaker66]

HI Steve Yes, this has got some nice snot in there. Love that guitar tone. It sounds live? Is everything panned down the middle? Seems like there needs to be a little separation? Might be just me. Second take is def better. That intro is killer, in fact I could hear a melody line in there Glad you got your apple straightened out

Sincerely

Paul

[SteveJCurtis]

Hi Paul. Thanks for the comments.
It's just my Jeff Beck Strat on the back two coils, straight into my Focusrite 2i2 and using the Logic Pro X Hot Tweed preset.
I actually copied the main riff onto a seperate track and panned them about 30% or so L & R.
I hoped it would make that "riff" guitar seem a bit thicker. That's why it sounds straight down the middle.
Maybe I shoulda stayed with one guitar! But I've pitched it now so a bit late I guess.
Usually I record the lead guitars through my mic'd up Fender Deluxe ( I normally put an SM57 on it) but I didn't have a lot of time with this one so stayed with the pre-set and guide guitar.
I'll let you know what happens.
Best
SJC