Dust in the Wind

[gno]

I recorded this song last weekend. Thanks to this forum I am finally able to sing this song.

http://soundclick.com/share?songid=9375888

[kalapoka]

Hey Geno! really good work there...to my ears the track sounded professional and your voice was spot on, all the good things happening, no pitch issues, only one note, a high one, seemed like a bit strained. Also one thing i noticed was the music was a bit too loud for your voice to be heard nicely, esp towards the end of the track where more instruments come in. otherwise really really good stuff.

Also, must compliment on your acoustic guitar tone/recording. very crisp and sweet. what are you using (guitar & recording gear)

last question, what method of voice lessons are you using?

rock on mate!

(I haven't visited soundclick in sooooo long!)

[analog]

Wow. Amazing job Geno!

[ronws]

Great job, Geno. I like the way you harmonized on chorus. And you sang it the way I normally sing it. I had to change that somewhat when I was recording for here. I really like the tone on your voice. It seemed made for this song or vice versa, this song was writtten for your type of voice.

[gno]

kalapoka - Thanks for your comments. Yes there is one note that is constricted - a D5 right before the instrumental break - I wonder if that's the same note you are referring to. The first take was improvised -

I didn't practice it. I subsequently recorded two more "takes" of the phrase - without constriction. But I liked the feel of my first attempt so I just kept it.

On the guitar - I'm using a Godin acoustic electric - recording direct and dry. I'm using PodFarm 2 as a plugin and Perfect space reverb. My DAW is Sonar.

analog - Thanks!

ronws - Thank you - I liked your version too.

Geno

[VideoHere]

nice job on he kansas!!!...not an easy one to stay free in the throat while doing.

[Olem]

Great singing and great recording sound quality. I didn´t react to anything that sounded strange or misplaced, i just listened and enjoyed. It was so good that i actually could buy it if it was out on a record store. Keep up the good work!

[gno]

VIDEOHERE and Olem - thank you for listening and commenting.

[Rick Jones]

Wow Geno, I love your vibrato, seems effortless for you too!

Very impressive!

[chele1000]

Great job as usual Geno. For a song like that, if there are a couple of notes that are causing a bit of trouble, you can relax them, make them lighter and therefore deliver them better. The context of the song will allow it. Great playing too!

cheers..

[mvrasseli]

I think your voice technic is better than Steve's technic but I'm a fan of Kansas and I have in my mind the Walsh's interpretation of this song from "Point of Know Return" and Steve's voice sound like it's a softly and weak voice dislike your interpretation that's more loud. Anyway it's a style question and You're a amazing singer and the audio sounded very professional. For those who are looking for free VST reverb I think freeverb is a good choice but it doesn't have a good GUI. I'd say that the better free reverb you can find is EpicVerb, It has a nice GUI and a lot of presets I use in most of my records, It's a VST plugin.

Have you a great Rock'n Roll day!

[gno]

Rick - thank you!

Michele - thanks - yes - there were a couple of phrases that were a little constricted on my first takes. I went back the next day and re-recorded some. These additional takes were more relaxed for sure, but didn't match the "emotion" of the first, so I just left the originals. Are there notes/phrases in particular that you think I should re-do? I'll for sure do it. I redid some of my Carry On My Wayward Son on your recommendations, and it came out great.

mvrasseli - Thank you for the compliment. I'm also a huge Kansas and Steve Walsh fan - and I love Steve's tone and interpretation especially on the original recordings and the live recordings back in the 70's.

[ronws]

I'll chime in again. I think you did a great job and I can't think of anything for you to improve upon. I know from personal experience when someone thought I was straining and I wasn't it was crying timbre. So, if you felt a strain at one point, you would know that best and can change to performance to suit yourself. To borrow from the indefatiguable wisdom of Robert Lunte, why push through a passagio when you can go around it. That is, if a particular note is in your passagio, either go into head voice earlier and have no passagio, or go totally into head voice on that note and avoid the passagio altogether. More often than not, most audiences will be impressed because you "went higher."

Again, a job well done.

And yes, I noticed that you liked my version. It would make me proud if me having the cajones to do it inspired you to do the song. "If Ron can do it, surely I can." That's a perfectly fine sentiment, en mi Librio.

[gno]

Thanks Ron. It's funny because I had been working on this song for a few months and planned on recording sometime in the future. But when you posted Dust in the wind you did push me to record it. I was like "what am I waiting for - just do it!" I'm on a Kansas thing. Before Dust in the Wind I did Carry On My Wayward son http://soundclick.com/share?songid=8878823

And now I am working on The Wall.

[ronws]

I could swear I heard you do "Carry on Wayward Son" before but I like your version of that one, too.

I learn things from you. You work on a song until the recording is polished and seamless. Whereas I picked up the nearest beater of a guitar and everything is rough and raw, quite minimal.

[VideoHere]

I think your voice technic is better than Steve's technic but I'm a fan of Kansas and I have in my mind the Walsh's interpretation of this song from "Point of Know Return" and Steve's voice sound like it's a softly and weak voice dislike your interpretation that's more loud. Anyway it's a style question and You're a amazing singer and the audio sounded very professional. For those who are looking for free VST reverb I think freeverb is a good choice but it doesn't have a good GUI. I'd say that the better free reverb you can find is EpicVerb, It has a nice GUI and a lot of presets I use in most of my records, It's a VST plugin.

Have you a great Rock'n Roll day!

you know sometimes as a vocalist i actually like a strained effect. even some of walsh's live "dusts" are a little strained...let's hear for straining!!! (lol!!!!!)

[VideoHere]

I think your voice technic is better than Steve's technic but I'm a fan of Kansas and I have in my mind the Walsh's interpretation of this song from "Point of Know Return" and Steve's voice sound like it's a softly and weak voice dislike your interpretation that's more loud. Anyway it's a style question and You're a amazing singer and the audio sounded very professional. For those who are looking for free VST reverb I think freeverb is a good choice but it doesn't have a good GUI. I'd say that the better free reverb you can find is EpicVerb, It has a nice GUI and a lot of presets I use in most of my records, It's a VST plugin.

Have you a great Rock'n Roll day!

you know sometimes as a vocalist i actually like a strained effect. even some of walsh's live "dusts" are a little strained...let's hear for straining!!! (lol!!!!!)

[chele1000]

hey gang,

I didn't say anything about strain. What I hear is a bit of extra "weight" in some places which in turn makes the notes come out louder. If that particular part of the song requires it, then it sounds appropriate. If not, it sounds out of place. Some people make think it sounds strained....but in my opinion, Geno doesn't. He has great tone and great technique. Maybe it would just be a question feeling it a bit more...getting more into the moment of it. Stop concentrating on the "sound" of it and just deliver it. The audience pics up on the energy, feeling and emotion being carried out. Like when we are talking, certain words will be softer, louder, emotional, phrased together...or not for emphasis. So is the same when we sing. How would you SAY it to get your point across? Then sing it that way.

Then, of course, comes the style and if it's a rock song, how much grit or "distortion" as some people here call it, do you want to apply. Some parts have rocker screams to make it more interesting.

Crooners have a different approach to get their point across.

Technique is important but not everything! I use the comparison of Ann Wilson of Heart and Celine Dion. Both great singers with very different approach. One has "heart" (pardon the pun) for a million years and the other has technique for a million years. I personally love Ann Wilson's approach/attack because it's full of feeling and when she sings it's like she picks you up and takes you with her. Just my opinion of course. She maybe doesn't have Celine's technical ability but she gives you goose bumps when you see her live.

Anyway...I digress....lol.

Just try to remember what song your singing and the message it has and try and convey that as best as you can. That's what we do as singers! :)

[gno]

Thanks Michele. I truly felt the song all the way through. I snuck a few moments away before getting my kids ready for bed to record the vocals and the moment was right. I was very inspired but I didn't have time to do a bunch of takes or think about technique. The next day I went down and recorded some more - thinking more technique, but it didn't sound right.

When I record I also am wearing my sound engineer hat watching the meters and thinking about the production which I admit is a little distracting.

If I get a chance I'll record another version - maybe a little lighter and I'll concentrate more on the conveying the message. Right now I'm working on "The Wall" which is another great emotional song - I will definitely keep your comments in mind while I record that one. Thank you

Geno

[chele1000]

please understand that I am not critiquing you. You are an awesome talent! Keep up the great work. You make a CD or a single on iTunes and I'll buy it.

[VideoHere]

hey gang,

I didn't say anything about strain. What I hear is a bit of extra "weight" in some places which in turn makes the notes come out louder. If that particular part of the song requires it, then it sounds appropriate. If not, it sounds out of place. Some people make think it sounds strained....but in my opinion, Geno doesn't. He has great tone and great technique. Maybe it would just be a question feeling it a bit more...getting more into the moment of it. Stop concentrating on the "sound" of it and just deliver it. The audience pics up on the energy, feeling and emotion being carried out. Like when we are talking, certain words will be softer, louder, emotional, phrased together...or not for emphasis. So is the same when we sing. How would you SAY it to get your point across? Then sing it that way.

Then, of course, comes the style and if it's a rock song, how much grit or "distortion" as some people here call it, do you want to apply. Some parts have rocker screams to make it more interesting.

Crooners have a different approach to get their point across.

Technique is important but not everything! I use the comparison of Ann Wilson of Heart and Celine Dion. Both great singers with very different approach. One has "heart" (pardon the pun) for a million years and the other has technique for a million years. I personally love Ann Wilson's approach/attack because it's full of feeling and when she sings it's like she picks you up and takes you with her. Just my opinion of course. She maybe doesn't have Celine's technical ability but she gives you goose bumps when you see her live.

Anyway...I digress....lol.

Just try to remember what song your singing and the message it has and try and convey that as best as you can. That's what we do as singers!

waaaaaaaait a minute my friends !!!!!

what i said about straining was an isolated statement not meant for anyone's particular vocals or comments....i was just being seriocomical in that i happen to like that sound in general.

geno, i didn't mean at all to imply you were straining and michelle nooooo offence intended....no criticism either intended..that's not my style.......

okey doke?

[gno]

No Problem whatsoever. I appreciate all the feedback from fellow singers/musicians. I'm here to learn and this forum has helped me.

[ronws]

And now you've seen an example of what I see. This is a critique section. Put something here and someone will find something to critique. We're not allowed one perfect example. Your recording was fine and everything came together and it also shows the hard work you put into it. You have more skills than just singing and playing guitar. Skills I'm learning to pick up by fiddling with the stuff in audacity. How to make software compensate for a crappy mic, etc.

I've quit posting submissions. Not because I am afraid of criticism nor do I think all of my stuff is above and beyond reproach. Nothing like that at all. But a person thought I was showcasing, said I was off ( pitchy) much of the time, without mentioning specific instances, and that I posted way too much, in so many words. And chose a thread for a recording that was relatively free of problems to make these criticisms. I still learned from those comments in areas in which I can improve. But, needless to say, I don't wish to be a burden. I still work on stuff, I just won't be posting it here, as I think I have worn out my welcome. If I think it has worked out fairly well, I will post in the main site, under my profile. Not because I think it is perfect but I haven't worn out my welcome, there.

Even the pros we admire and aspire to perform don't have everything perfect. For example, I received on criticism of going into head voice too much and too soon, which may be a defect of the mic I use. Anyway, Geoff Tate stays in head voice for "I don't believe in love" for pretty much most of the song. No criticism there. But he and the band have "Operation: Mindcrime" and I have a 1 ton chain hoist for setting electrical distribution gear.

I totally agree with the comment about Anne Wilson singing with heart, pardoning the pun. And Celine Dion sings with as much heart, in a different style.

Sometimes, you do everything right and you and others will just have to accept that you got one right and life will go on.

[VideoHere]

And now you've seen an example of what I see. This is a critique section. Put something here and someone will find something to critique. We're not allowed one perfect example. Your recording was fine and everything came together and it also shows the hard work you put into it. You have more skills than just singing and playing guitar. Skills I'm learning to pick up by fiddling with the stuff in audacity. How to make software compensate for a crappy mic, etc.

I've quit posting submissions. Not because I am afraid of criticism nor do I think all of my stuff is above and beyond reproach. Nothing like that at all. But a person thought I was showcasing, said I was off ( pitchy) much of the time, without mentioning specific instances, and that I posted way too much, in so many words. And chose a thread for a recording that was relatively free of problems to make these criticisms. I still learned from those comments in areas in which I can improve. But, needless to say, I don't wish to be a burden. I still work on stuff, I just won't be posting it here, as I think I have worn out my welcome. If I think it has worked out fairly well, I will post in the main site, under my profile. Not because I think it is perfect but I haven't worn out my welcome, there.

Even the pros we admire and aspire to perform don't have everything perfect. For example, I received on criticism of going into head voice too much and too soon, which may be a defect of the mic I use. Anyway, Geoff Tate stays in head voice for "I don't believe in love" for pretty much most of the song. No criticism there. But he and the band have "Operation: Mindcrime" and I have a 1 ton chain hoist for setting electrical distribution gear.

I totally agree with the comment about Anne Wilson singing with heart, pardoning the pun. And Celine Dion sings with as much heart, in a different style.

Sometimes, you do everything right and you and others will just have to accept that you got one right and life will go on.

ron,

relax!

first off you're not a burden to anyone. your trivia section was a joy to read and you are a major contributor to the forum.

(i mean after all....who the hell writes more than you!(lol))

but buddy, you have to realize, if a singer willingly asks to have his singing critiqued, then he or she has to willing to hear whatever is said.

it's a choice, a choice that you made.....no one forced you to do this. me personally? i'm not inclined to do this unless i've really got it seriously right. just keep workiing hard and try to have fun too.

[VideoHere]

No Problem whatsoever. I appreciate all the feedback from fellow singers/musicians. I'm here to learn and this forum has helped me.

whew!!! okay...michelle are we okay now?