TAXI.com

First off I want you all to know that I am not complaining about this return. This is a failure that I want to learn from but I need some help. Here is the link to the song.

https://soundcloud.com/bob-lograsso/dice-no-mas

Here is the short critique..."The piece features nice melodic lines, but the recording could use an authentic rhythmic feel and less of a programmed sound for this type of vintage bossa pitch."

I understand the critique and who knows maybe doing Latin music is not up my alley or in my wheelhouse but I seem to be nailing it on the guitar side. My question is what can I do to make my drums sound more real? The loops I used are not a problem and they are recorded professionally. BFD core refill for Reason. How can I make drums sound more real? Also percussive too. I heard some things on Taxi TV the other day that were not real sounding but they got a forward. I don't want to continue making the same mistakes over and over. Should I go back and correct or just move on to the next challenge? I don't want to waste my time. Can I get some help folks? Thanks for you support. Btw here is the other Latin piece that was returned because of recording.

https://soundcloud.com/bob-lograsso/heart-of-havana

Really need some help. Plz.

Thanks for the call today Bob!
I just listened to both tunes...
Beautiful Tunes, Superb Musicianship!

I had to crank up the volume on my monitors to really hear both the songs clearly
(check out some forum posts on Broadcast Quality Levels) sorry I don't have time to chase down any links...
I would follow the advice given by Andy Gabrys

re: Dice no Mas (great!)
Something sounds funny regarding a flamming (?) cymbal splashes and open hihats that introduces a HighZ wash
Could be over-compressed on the overheads/virtual overheads
The closed hihat was a little high in volume for my liking, but not all that much
It had to be the splashes that turned the screener off
All the other percussion sounds great

re: Heart of Havana (great!)
The entire track has a HighZ hiss/room noise
Listen to the fade out at the end, it is really prominent there
Gotta figure out how to lose that!

These would be my starting points.

Thx Robert and Catherine. I appreciate the input. Very kind words from you all. Now i think i should possibly record the guitars on Heart of Havana again. And i Guess i need to ré mix the drums on Dice No Mas. Based on What you are telling me i should not give up on these songs. Thats very encouraging. Thank you so much.

Definitely work on them, they aren't that far away from being great!

fwiw: 2 cents re drum tracks on the first tune:
not only do I agree with other comments about the splash cymbals, but the whole drumming approach strikes me as just a little too buzy... where some restraint, pull back, on the rush to provide so many fills might feel a bit more grounded.

"If the notes are silver, the spaces are golden" I once heard someone say.
Let it breathe some more... by doing less.

It wouldn't hurt, either (imho) to bring the pocket-setter (the snare) up and forward in the mix.

hth, cheers.
Peter

fwiw: re 2nd song... couldn't immediately find a perfect 'ala' for drum tracks...
but your tune sounds in the neighborhood of Jesse Cook-style.
Just food for thought. Your guitar chops are awesome.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BV1OWF85IHQ

Cheers.
Peter

Hi Bob,

Screener 319 is a very tough nut to crack (check out the review corner on: anybody get a forward for D140505JZ?) That said, Heart of Havana is not a bossa by any shape or form, but nice try. Regarding Dios no Mas, you were right in there. If it were I, I'd pull back the entire drum mix and don't listen to Peter (sorry, bro') about the snare-- the snare is a minor part of that sound (except for the cross stick).

I'd throw in a LIVE shaker to give it more humanity, and you'd have it. If misery loves company, all 3 of my submissions were rejected, too-- and for valid reasons.

Best,
Niall