napoleonboot

I just updated the mix, it wasn't quite final.

I am singing in tenor range for this, I couldn't have done that a couple of years ago, this whole song would have been too high for me (especially the harmony vocals). My singing technique has definitely changed.

All vocals by me. Created with my friends on www.musicianscollaboration.com.

As usual, constructive criticism is welcome. :

A new song "Silk Sheets" with my singing (and mixing).

It's a departure from my usual genres (prof rock, theatrical), sort of contemporary celtic pop.

As usual, constructive criticism is welcome.

thanks!

Many thanks all.

I'm working on a mumford and sons/travelling wilburys style original number next. :)

Phil gets a very think sound, I was trying to imitate it in my mix, but backed off a bit. I dont think he double tracked it, rather think his engineer uses a mix of chorus (always good for thickening a voice) and delay and reverb, but I don't know for sure.

Harmonic exciters are a bit like fancy EQ'as which add musically meaningful harmonics (overtone) to a track, and do some other adjustments to make it sound better. such as shifting some frequencies in time slightly and compressing it a bit (often compressing different frequencies ranges differently). They can make tracks come to life and sound better.

The most famous exciter is the Aphex Aural Exciter, which was originally expensive piece of studio hardware, and was an industry standard in top studios.

Old fashioned recording to tape used to make tracks sound "warmer", again adding harmonics and also compressing things slightly, but not as cleverly as exciters do (you hear the phrase "tape saturation"). Tube pre-amps also did something similar (you sometimes hear the phrase "tube warmth")

Nowadays there are plug-ins for recording software which do these things, and most mastering tools have something along these lines built in as part of what they do.

Here are some of my favourite free VST plug-ins for this stuff, google for them to find out more:

to add to single tracks:

* Ferric TDS

* Tessla SE Pro

* Tessla SE

* ThrillseekerVBL

* ThrillseekerXTC

* Baxxspander

for mastering whole mixes:

* MHORSE P3

* Limiter No. 6

* T-Sledge

* endorphin

LOL! - I do know a lot of the chords, as I am a guitarist as well a singer. Sadly, I'm not the guy mentioned in the Dire Straits song though. :D

Thanks for listening and commenting Bzean123 I relistened a few times trying to hear the end-of-line let-ups you mentioned, but I'm not really hearing it except in maybe maybe just a couple of places?

For the interest of those of you into mixing:

It took me while to get the right sound in the mix for the vocals, as I wanted it reminiscent of the original. After much messing around and experimentation, I ended with this chain on the vocal: EQ -> dynamic compression -> saturation/exciter -> light echo (on strange fractions of beat) -> chorus -> delay (on whole beats) -> reverb

For saturation/exciter I used "Ferric TDS" free VST plug-in. Final mastering was done using the marvellous free "MHorse P3" mastering toolkit, another free VST plug-in (I am a cheapskate).

A cover version of the the song Land Of Confusion, originally by Genesis from their 1986 album Invisible Touch.

Created from the ground up, instruments by my friend Justin Elliott, vocals by me!

Constructive criticism is welcome. :)

An original number "Hey Mr Wind" - this time in my theatrical comfort zone. This is maybe not the final mix.

All vocals by me, including backup vox. Also whistling and tap dancing!

This isn't the first time I've whistled on a song, but it's my first time for tap dancing. I cheated by putting my shoes on my hands and kneeling down to do it. I hope that doesn't spoil the illusion.

As usual constructive criticism is welcome :)

Owen - thanks for your comments, you are right about the over-heavy articulation. I'll work on that.

It wasn't very physically demanding, certainly compared to when I sand it a year ago, so maybe I'm naturally heavy!

The screams were timed in the same place as where Rob did them, I cant take any credit. It's a great song :)

Thanks for your positive words Ron

You have hit the nail on the head about performance. Robert's expressiveness has helped inspire me, more so than his teachings on vocal technique, and is one of the things that have helped me get confidence for songs such as these (in the last year):

Also, I have a good network on online collaborators (songwriters, musicians, producers) and it becomes virtuous circle: the better I do this stuff, the more invites I get when they have more theatrical songs that need vocals.

I think these more theatrical songs are "my thing".

Many thanks or listening and commenting Laura.

You hit the nail on the head, yes I am pushing it a loss less now than before, and also breathing more correctly (from the abdomen).

I will work on support for the high notes, they are the bit I was least happy with.

I use vowel modification but I was conscious of overdoing it, can you you give me a time reference where I have done that? maybe its my black country accent trying to creep through!

George

A little over a year ago, a few of the regulars here tried out a song Robert Lunte had written and recorded called "Souls Of Silence". I was one of those that tried it, with a distinctly lacklustre outcome. In the year that has passed since, I have had some voice coaching, and worked very hard on technical aspects of my singing, as well as delivery and performance. I have also written and recorded a load of songs in the gap and done a couple of stints in local community musical theatre.

So.. I thought I'd give another go. It's not an easy song on any count: dynamics, pitch, tempo etc. , but I'm reasonably happy with the outcome this time.

As usual, constructive criticism is welcome. What do I need to work on, for this song or in general?

For reference here is the original (Robert singing):

https://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=156006021177854

Me singing a duet with young lady called Zia SaiMuffin (that's her stage name), of the Disney song "Can You Feel The Love Tonight"... in German!

Zia posted on this site in "vocalist wanted" to find someone to do this duet. Zia is German, although she also speaks English. She did an album of Disney covers for her mum's Birthday.

My German speaking wasn't too bad 20 years ago, as I used visit there often with my work, and my wife speaks it fluently.

It's in the key of Rock!

It was the same key as the original. Usually Maiden play in E or thereabouts.

No.. seriously Tony will answer, I just sang it , he did the hard work - LOL!.

Thanks Tony. I was very pleased with how this went. Very theatrical, which I think is my forte.

I have done that before, and the guys here spotted it, like I could with you.

It definitely comes through as diminished confidence and attack.

Nice clean voice. You should maybe lock onto the beat more, you sound a little disconnected at times.

It does sound to me like you are taking it easy, and maybe reading the words from paper. Learn the song, and go for it!

Owen talks about some exercises, and they're good. There are lots out there and some will do more for you than others, but it changes person-to-person, a vocal coach would help.

Also, really try to be expressive, sound like you are really into the song, the audience will get it!.

I worked on exercises like singing quiet/loud, angry/sad, soft/shouty. I was dull when I started singing seriously 5 years ago, but in terms of expressive I sang this just under a year ago:

Owen had it mostly. Also, all you are doing is in chest voice, you need to stretch your range a bit to develop. I agree you should get a singing teacher, or take Robert Lunte's course.

how much reverb you need depends on how much was in your recording environment

The backing is in stereo, but your vocals is only on the left channel, as Igor said.

Good vocals by the way!

George

Russian is a great language for Heavy Metal.

I cant understand a word, but the words have some great sounds you really get your teeth into.

Great singing Jugulator, I love it! :)

Hahaha! the whole idea of correcting your pronunciation on this is really funny and a bit forlorn, Klause Meine sings with a Geman accent, which is at least as strong than the Russian accent you sing with!

Your pronunciation is just fine - at least a 'correct' as the original. Take it from a me.. a Brit who sings with American musicians all the time.

As usual constructive criticism is welcome.

I did vocals and mix. My friend Tony did guitars and all other instrumentation.

The original track was from the Blaze Bayley era in 1998, from the Ed Hunter album, and video game. I added my own vocal harmony line, there wasn't one in the original.