Could use some advice on this return Blues posting

[playagibson]

I got a return on this one Bluze Cruze. I'm curious to know what strikes you immediately as being too synth sounding and how
you would change it to sound more organic.

Rich.
Title: Bluze Cruze

Status: Forward Return

Reasons not Forwarded:
Not Master/Broadcast Quality
Vocal Performance
Instrumental Performance
Recording


Stylistically Off Target
Music
Lyrics
Other

cool playing but the sonics of the bass, drums & keys is a bit too synth sounding.

[burpo]

Screener is on crack.

[playagibson]

Thanks Burpo,

I'm not suggesting any incompetence. I just want to get better at the production end to make midi tracks sound more organic.
In a perfect world, I would have recorded these tracks in a pro studio with a live band, but I'm in the spare bedroom with a computer and a ton of plugins .
So I need to get better at using what I have.

Rich.

[BruceBrown]

Rich,
Which blues listing was it for? It was marked stylistically off target.
Without knowing the listing it's hard to offer an opinion.
I will say I thought your guitar tone was very nice, sounded nice and fat like the neck pickup on a Strat.
Had a Texas blues tone to me.
I don't know if you own a bass, but playing a real bass could solve a syth bass sound problem. I got a cheapo that works fine.
I always hesitate to say anything negative, because I want to be as encouraging as possible, but I did hear one thing.
The song had an overall minor tonality and twice you played a riff all us gtr players use that 5 and major 3rd walk down pattern.
It kind of threw me for a loop Because I thought I was hearing a tune in Em.
Hope this helps and I hope it does not offend, because I'm a fan of your tracks.
Later
Bruce

[playagibson]

Thanks Bruce,
I actually played the bass. It's a cheap fender vibe. I used amplitube. I was trying to get it close to a grainy fender p.
I'll be the first to admit the bass needs work. I tried to keep it simple and in the pocket.
Thanks for the input on the guitar run . I'm going to listen to it again and try to fix that issue.
I also purchased some new bass plugins so I'll redo the bass parts.
When you get too involved in your own songs you sometimes don't hear the obvious.

Here's the listing ; Y111114BL

BLUES SONGS and INSTRUMENTALS a la the full range from Muddy Waters to Stevie Ray Vaughn, etc. needed by an Independent Online Music Production Library for Film and TV licensing opportunities. The main ingredient needed is the bluesy guitar energy and sound that will help add a raw and gritty atmosphere to a scene. Your songs and/or tracks will be used to set a location, evoke an emotion, etc., so keep that in mind when pitching. And watch out for ultra-busy lead lines that could conflict with dialogue. Broadcast Quality is needed (excellent sounding home recordings are fine.) Instrumental demo presentation must be top-notch! Please submit one to three songs and/or instrumentals online or per CD, include lyrics. All submissions will be screened by the owner of the company on a YES/NO BASIS - NO CRITIQUES FROM TAXI - and must be received no later than Monday, November 14, 2011. TAXI #Y111114BL

[stephencollins]

Nice vibe. Could be my ears, but there is a hiss/hum sound in the background of the track that makes the overall sound less clear. I don't mean that it has to be clear, clean sound, but it could also be just too much going on in the track. For me, blues is where "less is more" really works. I really like the lead guitar sound. I think that was right on for the listing.
Steve

[NYWest]

Hey Rich...

It IS cool playing! Nice Axe work...

To my ears...
Although its all good. It sounds like your 'Playin' the blues...rather than 'Feelin' the blues.
Sometimes a return or feedback can give you the needed ammunition to fire back blues phrasing,
that makes them 'FEEL' exactly what you're telliing, yelling, weeping, from your soul thru your guitar.
Maybe? Slow down the tempo a little and let your axe tell us how that return made you feel.
All improvising (less is more) nothing pre-worked out, your 1st take will probably be your best so make sure tape
is rollin'.
Really liked your other songs, too.
Good Luck!

All the Best...
Billy

[playagibson]

Hey Rich...

It IS cool playing! Nice Axe work...

To my ears...
Although its all good. It sounds like your 'Playin' the blues...rather than 'Feelin' the blues.
Sometimes a return or feedback can give you the needed ammunition to fire back blues phrasing,
that makes them 'FEEL' exactly what you're telliing, yelling, weeping, from your soul thru your guitar.
Maybe? Slow down the tempo a little and let your axe tell us how that return made you feel.
All improvising (less is more) nothing pre-worked out, your 1st take will probably be your best so make sure tape
is rollin'.
Really liked your other songs, too.
Good Luck!

All the Best...
Billy

Thanks Billy !
I know what your talking about. I was trying to avoid the standard twelve bar sound, even though I love it.
I'm gonna give it another shot with a more traditional sound. and tempo.

[playagibson]

Nice vibe. Could be my ears, but there is a hiss/hum sound in the background of the track that makes the overall sound less clear. I don't mean that it has to be clear, clean sound, but it could also be just too much going on in the track. For me, blues is where "less is more" really works. I really like the lead guitar sound. I think that was right on for the listing.
Steve

Yes Steve, that was some hiss you heard. To get that sound I had to crank up the saturation on the guitar track.
I also compressed the mix pretty hard which isn't the normal thing to do with blues. I just kind of went for it.
That could also explain why the screener felt it was too synth sounding.

[treesbygb]

Hi Rich,
I'm listening to this on a laptop, so can't really comment on production, but I would agree with Billy, in that the music is very competently played, but somehow doesn't have enough feeling. It may sound a little synthetic, because it's like a a collection of blues, licks, looped into a song, rather than a musical journey. It lacks an edgy vibe.
Unlike Moore Blues, which has much more depth to it, going to comment on that one now.
I listened because I really like your stuff, by the way!
Gary