My Voice, Auto-Tuned

[jchitty]

I'm wondering if anyone could take the time to listen to my voice (you don't even have to listen to the whole tune) and tell me if you think I could do my own demoes just to pitch to artists. I ask this because I've always hired female vocalists to do my songs. I've heard that some people just don't like the sound of their own voices, I am one. But with a little auto-tuning, I might can get away with it. Not too long ago, I got a critique on my vocals, and I scored an 8 which is a pretty good score. And the critique was very favorable about my vocals.Yeah, hehe, I know some people have told me my voice is good, but I'd be curious to see how you feel about Auto-tune because that is what I'd use if I did my own demoes...plus, this is a professionally produced demo of me singing in a small studio. If could sing more on my demoes, those savings would add up. I love to have professionally done demoes in Nashville, but costs can be expensive, and I'd like to save that for very special stuff. Here's a link to my TAXI page...the song is called "Stumble On Through This World." http://www.taximusic.com/hosting/home.p ... d=2572Here is the critique I got on the song as well. It doesn't show the scores (got mostly 8's though) but it does show the comments. For some reason, when you cut and paste a critique here, it doesn't show the scores. Also, 'well recorded' was checked off instead of things like 'too distorted.' It didn't get a foward 'coz they felt the hook wasn't strong enough. Of course, the point is not whether it didn't get a foward, just whether I can go with my vocals or not. I would have posted this is Peer to Peer, but it's not really a request for a song critique. TAXI MemberName janet chitty Listing # S070723AA Title: Stumble On Through This World N/A 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 (10=best) Music Lyrics Marketability Arrangement Production Engineering Musicianship Lead Vocal Vocals here are engaging, and a bit haunting. Grabs the listener, and pulls her/him in. Verses do work well. Some of the simple lines used can provoke thought for the listener. Release to the choruses is subtle, but does work. For me, the hook is OK but can be stronger. The opening 2 lines work, but there can be a stronger close here (instead of repeating lines 1-2 again). Status: Forward Return Style On target for this listing Hard to classify Not close enough to what listing asked for Not "current" sounding Style not consistent enough from song to song for an artist pitchAAA Singer songwriterOverall CommentsHello Janet-Thanks for the chance to listen and for me to review your song for this listing. I really like the mood that you create with the vocals and melody working together. A bit haunting as well as engaging. Nice! Verse lines do work well, and while simple (in a good way) they do cause us (as listeners) to ponder. The set up and release to this chorus is subtle, but it does work. Actual hook is OK, but I feel that it can be stronger. Perhaps added lines (3-4 as concluding lines?) can help to add a bit more depth. This song is close, no doubt. My thoughts here are that the hook can have more of a payoff instead of "repeating" lines 1-2. Sound Quality Well-recorded Not great, but clean enough for this listing Too much distortion Drums/percussion sound stiff and/or mechanical Instrumentation sounds too synthetic (see below)SolidThe main reason(s) you were or were not forwarded for this listing is:Vocals, song structure, and use of melody all work well in this idea. Verse lines set the scenes and do provoke thought. Actual hook is OK, but I feel, can be made stronger with a bit of re-tooling. Listener ID # 169

[jchitty]

Aug 17, 2008, 11:56am, matthoggard wrote:Hey Janet,I could barely detect any auto-tuning. You have a pretty voice but as I was told on my "hey Bartender" demo by one of our members. "You have the voice, OWN the song." I hear your style trying to break out. Get up in that booth or wherever you record and absolutely OWN the track. I feel you are holding back a little.Your melody is beautiful. Your voice has great timbre with just a little "twang" that makes it unique. With some more confidence you could be getting paid to sing demos or even get that elusive artist deal.I personally like your voice alot!!Matt.Thanks, Matt. Oh, I agree with you....I always worry about the range my voice can sing in, and it does cause me to hold back. I gotta work on that!

[ernstinen]

Chits! Great demo. Your voice sounds really great, and authentic in the style.Two comments: 1.) There is a lot of sibilance on the "Sss's" of the vocals. I don't know a lot about auto-tune, but could that contribute to it!? 2.) Your demo could have a lot more motion and dynamics if you'd used a "real" drummer. Those HAVE to be samples, right? --- If not, NEVERMIND! A good drummer in L.A. would do that track for $100-$200. I'm sure you could find someone with the right feel for less than that in your area.BTW, great guitar playing and feel in your recording!Ern

[jchitty]

Wow, I seriously thought I'd never get comments like these. I thought y'all might say my voice was adequate, but this is above and beyond what I expected. I might start just doing some folk acoustic demos with my voice...I like the fact that some of you folks said my voice was authentic. I also looked at some of your suggestions, Ern's and Bill's for improving upon the production and vocals. Thanks for that. Ern, I'll take your suggestions to heart concerning the drummer. I actually co-wrote this with my music teacher...he's playing the guitar in these piece (he has a studio). Yes, those are drum samples....we could always ship this piece out to add the real drums as you say. I don't know if Auto-tune contributed to the 'sss' noice, I don't think it did, but you never know. I could ask my guitar teacher who engineered the piece. By the way, his name is Rob Gannon, and he's an excellent player...I have to give him a plug, hehe.Bill G....man, you have always encouraged me....I really appreciate it.Steven, you're right, I am a bit reserved singing here...next time, I could blow it out. Cyndy, you are so sweet, who knows, maybe in the future we could sing a duo, but it will take me some time to gain confidence to do something like that. And finally, Gongchime, you made my day! Joni Mitchell is my favorite songwriter!

[liamkelly]

Chits That's a good vocal. Very cool If you can replicate this at home, for sure you can sing your own demos to for specific pitches IMO I couldn't really detect the Autotune either. Good tune too Liam

[devin]

I liked it Chits! It's a nice song, played and sung really well...slightly reminds me of something Fleetwood Mac would have done (which I love).I'm sorry I don't enough experience to comment on if it's acceptable for an artist pitch...someday we'll both be experts on what it takes for that Until then, definetly keep working on your own vocals...for this song it's dang near perfect!

[jchitty]

Liam, I always look for your posts on the board...you are just so kind. Thanks for the nice words. My guitar teacher who engineered this piece was very careful with the Autotune using it only when very necessary....if you're not careful as you know, you could end up sounding synthetic. Hey, Devin...wow, Fleetwood Mac....I wouldn't have thought of that, but that's a compliment. You once asked me to sing on a Patsy Cline tune, but I just don't have that much confidence in my vocals for something like that...but I'm working on it. But let's get real...Patsy was one of a kind...not even the best singers in Nashville can pull her off, hehe. I'll settle for just doin' the demo work.

[suzdoyle]

Hi Janet;I think your voice is wonderful. Two suggestions:1. Don't hide behind too much reverb ! Let it enhance, rather than obscure your singing.2. Step fully into who you (and your voice) are. Imagine yourself 10 times bigger than you are as you step up to the mic. And, think about the story you want to tell by singing your song. The most effective singers aren't necessarily those with the best technique or the most training -- they are the ones who are most themselves (Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, Wynona, Louis Armstrong, Joni Mitchell come to mind) and who have a unique character and presence that is conveyed.Using our voices can be downright scary and vulnerable -- but, oh, when we step fully into them -- it opens something beyond mere music within us.Bravo! on stepping into claiming your voice! ,Suz

[jchitty]

Wow, Gongchime and Suz...thanks so much for the kind comments. I just love Joni Mitchell. But I love country music as well, (the old traditional country the best) and that's probably played a lot into who I am as far as my voice goes...which is kind of quirky, I guess. I'd spend hours listening to Joni when I was growing up....my "Hissing Of Summer Lawns" album is so scratched now, it's unplayable. Suz, gotcha on the reverb. I also like your advice about imagining myself as 10 times bigger....and yes, I do feel downright vunerable singing. I'll try to step into it all though. Thanks for your wonderfully encouraging words!BTW, love the hat, Gong.

[jchitty]

Hey, thanks, Wig. I'm not very technical....my friend Rob did the engineering as you know, but I always thought my vocals got lost in the mix. I've been told to turn them up before. I'll speak to Rob about it. Yeah, I'd sing a duet with you....but I'll always have that twang. Mark, thanks for your vote of confidence. I'll admit I don't even think of myself as a singer, and I've never wanted to be one. But in real world time, people are telling me I have some sort of quirky appeal. My voice sounds a little better in person. I'm older though, so I don't wanna start a career as a singer, but I'd sing if it would get my songs noticed. Nita (Squids) and I have talked about driving to Nashville...she wants to sing at the Bluebird Cafe. I'm not ready for that, but she's thinking it would be cool. We'll see...I'd rather sing on the sidewalk first....get my feet wet a little at a time.