Looking for feedback on our first music video

[JNav]

Hey guys/gals,

I promise I am not spamming here, i posted in shameless self promo first, I guess this would have been the right/better place to post for feedback rather than just plugging.

Anyways, if you have a minute can you watch this video and give some feedback on the song and video, artist, songwriting, etc.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKG325wNb5s

Thank you all!
- J

[EricB]

The main suggestion I have is for the drums. The sound a bit 'midi,' and the groove is stiff. That and the instruments sound like they are in different rooms. Check your Eq's and reverb's mostly to try and fix that.

[Piewackit1]

Video is really good. Very professional. Couple of things I noticed. Would rather see you playing an electric guitar during the chorus...as it's an electric I hear. Maybe splitting hairs...but doesn't look right to me.

As for the drum comment from EricB, I have to agree with him. Groove is a bit stiff.


Your video tells your song's story really well...which is what you want. I think it's a great job.

[mikeymike2000]

Hi there, J

Welcome.

Definitely different from the norm here (with the video aspect)

I am going to echo what the previous comments said but first, overall great job! Making a decent track is hard enough then adding video to it makes it at least twice as hard.

OK, so a few things I would like to point out....

Like the others have said it is kinda strange to see you playing an acoustic in the video and only hearing an electric guitar in the audio. I did not hear any acoustic anywhere but I was trying to take it all in at one shot.

The overall mix seems really tight, as in there is not much air in there. I think the MIDI drum comment may be because of everything sonicly seems pretty mushed. - With a little panning and some EQ you can open this sucker up to fill out the space more evenly.

I had a few other things jump out at me I want to point out. When the drums come in around 0:30 I played that part 3-4 times to see if it was a streaming issue or if it was in the track. It sounds like it is in the track and for me, it is rather abrupt with the syncopation.

The other thing that jumped out at me was the bridge. I understand the un-easy emotional effect you are going for but for me it was a little out of place compared to the rest of the song. Also the drum beat in the bridge really lost me. I like the idea of it but maybe went a little too far?

Anyway, just wanted to offer some things you may consider looking into. Hope you don't take it the wrong way. There is so much good in this already.

[Vthov]

Cool song. On the video, I think you have some great shots.... but some of the B roll footage seems like they aren't as nice as your main shots. The shot of him standing against the wall during golden hour looks nice but in terms of the his performance, he seems a little stiff and awkward like he's trying not to move his head and mess up the shot, b ut it looks unnatural. In all the other shots he is more fluid and it looks great. Also in that same shot I think you should've left the glasses off for continuity or shown him putting them on.... but it seems like they just appeared out of no where and it distracted me a little bit. Lastly I think the video would look better without the green screen shot. It's not as good as the other shot's you've got there. I've shot a couple of music videos as the artist so I know how awkward it can feel lip-syncing and trying to transfer stage presence to the camera... I have failed and nailed it.... lol you just have to be vigilant about making sure everything looks natural, even if it means redoing or getting rid of a great shot.


Now for the song, I think that the vocals are too harsh in the beginning, it sounds like the vocalist is trying to hard. It works when the instrumentation comes in and the track is fuller, but when it breaks down, his attacks should be softer and more natural sounding. That's just my opinion though. All in all, I think you did a good job on the video and song, but those were the things that stuck out to me as a distraction. Peace!

[VanderBoegh]

I really liked it, Steve! Good work. Pretty big undertaking, no doubt. The only criticism I could offer would be the same thing the other guys have already said... the acoustic guitar doesn't fit. But since it's probably impossible to go back and re-shoot & re-edit, just let 'er be. Although it does seem a bit odd, it still gets the point across. I really like the "chopping" motion across your neck at the end. Ouch! Denied!!!

~~Matt

[JNav]

Thank u all for the comments! I had a hard time finding my login and only saw the other section I had posted this.

Anyways, I must admit the downside to rushing something just to put it out. Yes ur comments are all on point for the most part and taken note of for sure!

The video was a last minute thing, he flew into town for a gig and I told him we r doing this now since I didn't know when he could come back into town. So some of that other footage was actually taken (including the wall/performance scene) without my "directing". So yes I see the stiffness in his performance.

The mix was not finished but needed to be turned in to meet a deadline. The finished mix will be better, I promise that! It will be posted here hopefully when the EP finally gets finished

Anyhow, thx for the comments peeps! They did not go unnoticed!

- J

[deantaylor]

Nice. I like it.

The woman did a real good job.

I felt the same as Mike about the bridge .. "The other thing that jumped out at me was the bridge. I understand the un-easy emotional effect you are going for but for me it was a little out of place compared to the rest of the song."

[DanLuedke]

Nice job on a big project! I don't have anything to add to the advice but wanted say I love how the mood of the video changes at the bridge with the mood of the song. Also, good timing on posting a video here - soundcloud seems to be down and this is the only thread I can listen to.

-Dan

[CHuckmott]

Saying it's shot already so the track is done already........otherwise, I would vary the melody up in the verse a bit, and if you don't mind my saying, if possible, do some pitch correction in the vocal particularly in the chorus. I think part of the issue with the drums is that the bass needs to come up and spend sme time with a good ala comparing the bass from it to what you have. I might suggest Walk from the Foo Fighters, or any of their heavy pop modern stuff. Because the part is kind of repeating, you may want to throw in some other things (synth stabs, lead lick?) to vary the interest a bit. A build from verse to chorus might be helpful as well. You might cringe at the example but listen to maybe Kelly Clarkson Stronger to hear the variation form verse to chorus. One thing I am noticing more and more is the playing on these sorts of tracks are very basic in the verses and more active in the chorus, for example, maybe during the verses it is just the kick, then the chorus part comes in and full on kit with eight notes on the guitars.....Anyway, Hope this helps .