Surf Rock ... Not recorded well enough.

[PeterD]

UGH!!

My "Cowell's" 1960's style surf rock song ...
First, the screener said it was a great tune with some cool ideas. However, it wasn't recorded well enough.

When I get into "classic mode" I immediately think LO FI and not contemporary clarity in the recording. Especially for something like this. Had I done so, I most certainly would have been flagged for it.

Damned if you do, damned if you don't ... MAN!!!
What are your thoughts?

Anyway, enough venting. Onto something better ...

[bamtone]

I hear ya Peter.
The mix feels good to me too.
But then again, I got a return too.
Keep at it!

[manninghollow]

I found after hearing some forwards from a surf listing a year or so ago, the screeners tended to lean toward indie rock sounding surf music. I thought your vintage mix NAILED surf music; much as it would have sounded on vinyl.

[CHuckmott]

My mix didn't sound clear enough on Waves Over Atlantis and was returned. Posting Peer TO Peer for suggestions on this one. Not at my recording computer but they may be referring to the reveb on the mix track.......

[PeterD]

Thanks for the lift Briand, Steve, and Chuck!!

I'm just bummed because I've had forwards a few years ago that sound like FECES when I listen to them next to my latest material. haha
I thought progress was supposed to make you better?????
haha!

[cardell]

I enjoyed that Peter but, to my ears the drum track let it down. What are you using?

Stuart

[PeterD]

Really Stuart??

If Anything, I thought there was a hum that appeared from time to time during the 4th measure during each of the main chord progression.

I used a jazz kit on my Korg Triton and played it manually to the metronome. Toms and Ride cymbals on their own tracks. No quantizing (a little sloppy in spots) but I thought that would add to the experience.

Thanks for listening and commenting

[andygabrys]

I enjoyed that Peter but, to my ears the drum track let it down. What are you using?

Stuart

the rest of the tune could work I agree.

the drums sound a little canned and from a different era.

namely the verb and tone of the snare. and the (almost) metal click of the kick drum.

your investment in some kind of drum software would change the vibe of your tracks 100% and give you much more current sounds. There are cheap options. EZ drummer is about $99. The EZ expansion kits go on sale several times a year for 50% off (usually $79 and on for $39.99).

Addictive drums is a little more but widely used here on the forum.

The Drum stuff from NI (abbey road) is a little more again, but they have kits, grooves, and mix presets in each package that relate to the age (i.e. 60's drums, 70's drums, Modern drummer etc.)

like try to imagine what kind of drums would be played on a classic recording? I dunno, Slingerland, Ludwig, Rogers? something like that. probably a kick with some bottom, but not likely much click. that stuff can be had easily in the new drum plugins. And then ambience? probably played in a good size room, but unlikely you would find specific artificial ambiences on the different kick pieces. Maybe some plate or spring verb over the whole kit to mix it in with the rest of the band.

NOTE: about this listing. It wanted songs or instrumentals. Crawdaddy got one through with a classic beach kind of song.

both of my instrumentals in the surf rock set on my soundcloud were returned. Seems like everyone else's instrumentals were returned too (that posted anyways). on to the next one.

[cardell]

your investment in some kind of drum software would change the vibe of your tracks 100% and give you much more current sounds.

Yes!

Addictive drums is a little more but widely used here on the forum.

I find that Addictive Drums sounds great straight out of the box (it's what I used on the surf rock tune on my Taxi page).

Stuart

[manninghollow]

Ditto on Addictive Drums. Great program,especially the vintage stuff. I like it better than Abby Road drums. Drum sounds in the 60's were all over the place in quality. I think everybody was experimenting, just like we do when we create stuff for a lot of these listings.