SixStringSurfer
Joined: Sep 23, 2014
Posts: 1401
Memphis, TN
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Posted on Jun 20 2017 01:21 AM
Hey guys, it took me two days but I just finished my first recording. To be honest, I really have no idea what I am doing. Constructive criticism is more than welcome.
The website is in it's infancy stage and still needs a lot of work. As soon as our other guitar player completes his chemo treatment, we are going to take pictures and videos of us playing and post them to the site. I hope you guys like it!
Driptones.com
— MooreLoud.com - A tribute to Dick Dale. New Singles "Finish Line" and "Paradiso" on Bandcamp and website.
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shake_n_stomp
Joined: Jan 09, 2014
Posts: 615
Vancouver BC
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Posted on Jun 20 2017 01:55 AM
Reverb drippyness, tremolo wobbliness...nice stuff.
— Lorne
The Surf Shakers: https://www.facebook.com/TheSurfShakers
Vancouver BC Canada
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SixStringSurfer
Joined: Sep 23, 2014
Posts: 1401
Memphis, TN
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Posted on Jun 20 2017 02:01 PM
Thank you shake_n_stomp, I appreciate the kind words. There is still a ton of room for improvement. Personally, I don't like a lot of reverb while playing/recording tremolo because to me the effect gets lost (reverb on other audio tracks is fine, I am specifically referring to the tremolo guitar track). Having said that, the tremolo track is a little dry to my ears.
Obviously the drums and bass are missing, but I just don't have time to figure out how to add other instruments to the mix right now. I am just going to keep recording the lead, drip, and rhythm parts and hopefully I'll get better with time.
— MooreLoud.com - A tribute to Dick Dale. New Singles "Finish Line" and "Paradiso" on Bandcamp and website.
Last edited: Jun 20, 2017 19:03:47
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shake_n_stomp
Joined: Jan 09, 2014
Posts: 615
Vancouver BC
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Posted on Jun 20 2017 05:16 PM
Keep it up. Recording and layering instruments is satisfying and it is a learning experience. I get a deeper appreciation for how the elements add up to the final result. On those days down the road where nothing seems to be going right, listening back to those recordings can give us a bit of a boost. At least that's how it seems to work for me.
— Lorne
The Surf Shakers: https://www.facebook.com/TheSurfShakers
Vancouver BC Canada
Last edited: Jun 20, 2017 17:17:28
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Noel
Joined: Mar 15, 2011
Posts: 8528
Back in Piitsburgh, Pennsylvania, where I grew up.
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Posted on Jun 20 2017 06:13 PM
Lots of reverb? Check! Eerie tremolo? Check! For a while I thought you were starting Experiment in Terror, which is a fave of mine. It might be a tad bright, which may be why you're not happy with the mix of reverb and tremolo. I'd say you're off to a nice start. Keep at it, and I'm confident you'll be happy with the results.
— This is Noel. Reverb's at maximum an' I'm givin' 'er all she's got.
Last edited: Jun 20, 2017 18:13:36
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wfoguy
Joined: Dec 11, 2011
Posts: 2126
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Posted on Jun 20 2017 09:39 PM
Since when did "knowing what we're doing" impede learning?  Keep going. That was a good start.
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Badger
Joined: Nov 16, 2013
Posts: 4536
Wisconsin
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Posted on Jun 20 2017 10:58 PM
Yes, keep going! That's a cool intro to the init page on a website btw.
To my ear the tremelo track you mention being concerned with seems to be losing some of its bottom-end (fullness?) because the rate might be a tad off for the tempo; that is, it's almost like it's behind the beat a bit - during the period when the effect drops the volume it should be at least getting the full value of your chord strum. Just a thought. I record at home also, so WTH do I know? We do it, learn, rinse, repeat.
Keep truckin' - it can be really fun stuff. What's your recording setup?
— Wes
SoCal ex-pat with a snow shovel
DISCLAIMER: The above is opinion/suggestion only & should not be used for mission planning/navigation, tweaking of instruments, beverage selection, or wardrobe choices.
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SixStringSurfer
Joined: Sep 23, 2014
Posts: 1401
Memphis, TN
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Posted on Jun 21 2017 12:39 AM
Thanks so much for the feedback, I am taking notes on all the advice you guys are giving me. shake_n_stomp, always love your feedback. Noel, I agree it is a little bright. Maybe I will turn down the tone knob on the tank and also the treble on the amp a bit. I wanted to use a lot of treble for maximum drip.  Badger, what do you recommend I do to correct that issue? I definitely need to work on my timing. I knew I was struggling with it while I was recording. Thanks again for all the comments.
Oops, just noticed Badger asked about my setup. CP Jag with vintage '65 pickups, 12-52 strings, '63 Reverb unit (modified), Shure SM57 mic, '76 Princeton amp, SurfyTrem pedal, Focusrite Scarlett 2i2, external USB power supply, Audio-Technica ATH-M50x headphones, and for my DAW I use Mixcraft 8.
— MooreLoud.com - A tribute to Dick Dale. New Singles "Finish Line" and "Paradiso" on Bandcamp and website.
Last edited: Jun 21, 2017 13:28:49
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Clarry
Joined: Oct 01, 2014
Posts: 519
Streatham, London
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Posted on Jun 21 2017 04:36 AM
SixStringSurfer wrote:
I definitely need to work on my timing. I knew I was struggling with it while I was recording. Thanks again for all the comments.
Does your DAW allow you to add a click-track? I find that a great help using Audacity and just delete afterwards.
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Badger
Joined: Nov 16, 2013
Posts: 4536
Wisconsin
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Posted on Jun 21 2017 06:27 AM
SixStringSurfer wrote:
Badger, what do you recommend I do to correct that issue? I definitely need to work on my timing. I knew I was struggling with it while I was recording. Thanks again for all the comments.
One thing might be to adjust the trem controls to cut back the Intensity a bit so your guitar signal never really fully gets dropped away. And then play with the Rate a bit, maybe slow it down a tad so the full chord itself gets the benefit of a complete swell after you strummed it. The main thing, as you noted, is just to practice over your own drip track till you have it cold; so that you're a tad ahead in starting and the chord's finish is on the beat. If you can't add a click track (good idea Clarry), then that drip part is your click-track. (I have good-natured hate of click-tracks )
Anyone who's recorded anything has likely been where you are so just keep at it; when you're comfortable with it, anyone could start that drip part and you'd be able to jump in with the chords. Delighted you're on your way.
Also, best wishes to your other guitar player. 
— Wes
SoCal ex-pat with a snow shovel
DISCLAIMER: The above is opinion/suggestion only & should not be used for mission planning/navigation, tweaking of instruments, beverage selection, or wardrobe choices.
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SixStringSurfer
Joined: Sep 23, 2014
Posts: 1401
Memphis, TN
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Posted on Jun 21 2017 01:36 PM
Hey guys, my DAW does have a metronome. Is that the same thing as a click track? To be honest, I don't like using it while playing as it really distracts me. However, I may just have to suck it up and turn it on as I am sure it will help out with my timing issues.
Badger, you are spot on about the tremolo being too intense. I am using the SurfyTrem pedal, and I noticed the Brownface tremolo doesn't get as intense as the blackface. That is the reason I turned it all the way to the max on this recording. I will turn the intensity down and also adjust the speed as well. That really makes sense, thanks for clarifying that for me.
— MooreLoud.com - A tribute to Dick Dale. New Singles "Finish Line" and "Paradiso" on Bandcamp and website.
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shake_n_stomp
Joined: Jan 09, 2014
Posts: 615
Vancouver BC
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Posted on Jun 21 2017 01:46 PM
SixStringSurfer wrote:
Hey guys, my DAW does have a metronome. Is that the same thing as a click track? To be honest, I don't like using it while playing as it really distracts me. However, I may just have to suck it up and turn it on as I am sure it will help out with my timing issues.
yep, using the metronome in your recording software is the same as a click.
Playing to a metronome, drummer, or click for me is preferable because I know that the end results will be tighter...getting everything in the pocket gives the tune more power and polish. Unless your intent is to play something in free time because the finished product is more about that kind of vibe. Just my humble opinion.
edit: playing to a metronome helps musicians of all levels. My rhythm playing keeps improving as I play with clicks, metronomes or (tight) drummers.
— Lorne
The Surf Shakers: https://www.facebook.com/TheSurfShakers
Vancouver BC Canada
Last edited: Jun 21, 2017 13:48:31
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Ariel
Joined: Aug 29, 2009
Posts: 1556
Israel
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Posted on Jun 21 2017 01:51 PM
Heavy drip, SixStringSurfer! Sound great.
[Here's a great little tool that converts your taps to BPM, calculating an average, so the end result is very accurate.
Sync that to the tremolo by ear, and then feed your click.
Another method would be to measure the region between the tremolo peaks in your DAW.
Last edited: Jun 21, 2017 15:45:03
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Badger
Joined: Nov 16, 2013
Posts: 4536
Wisconsin
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Posted on Jun 21 2017 02:10 PM
Ariel wrote:
Heavy drip, SixStringSurfer!
Here's a great little tool that converts your taps to BPM, calculating an average, so the end result is very accurate.
Sync that to the tremolo by ear, and then feed your click.
Another method would be to measure the region between the tremolo peaks in your DAW.
 I use a different one but that's a great idea. I do that when I'm really curious about the actual "book" tempo of a song, and sometimes in this style there are so many things going on faster than a 1/4 note that a song can seem different tempo than it really is.
— Wes
SoCal ex-pat with a snow shovel
DISCLAIMER: The above is opinion/suggestion only & should not be used for mission planning/navigation, tweaking of instruments, beverage selection, or wardrobe choices.
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SixStringSurfer
Joined: Sep 23, 2014
Posts: 1401
Memphis, TN
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Posted on Jun 21 2017 03:56 PM
Well, it looks like I am going to start using a metronome! Thanks for the compliment, Ariel. I will check out that tool you posted a link to.
— MooreLoud.com - A tribute to Dick Dale. New Singles "Finish Line" and "Paradiso" on Bandcamp and website.
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ncgalt1984
Joined: Nov 27, 2013
Posts: 235
Greenville, NC
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Posted on Jun 21 2017 06:37 PM
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SixStringSurfer
Joined: Sep 23, 2014
Posts: 1401
Memphis, TN
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Posted on Jun 21 2017 10:14 PM
Thank you, ncgalt1984. 
— MooreLoud.com - A tribute to Dick Dale. New Singles "Finish Line" and "Paradiso" on Bandcamp and website.
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Gilette
Joined: May 04, 2014
Posts: 734
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Posted on Jun 22 2017 06:39 AM
Sounds fine to me! Bookmarked.
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CrazyAces
Joined: Jul 31, 2012
Posts: 4052
Nashville, TN.
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Posted on Jun 22 2017 08:09 AM
I think that sounds very good for a first recording, well done!
The critiques and suggestions given so far are insightful and align with any advice I might give but man...keep at it.
You're much more on track (no pun intended)than most people's first attempts.
Great job.
Cheers,
Jeff
— http://www.facebook.com/CrazyAcesMusic
http://www.youtube.com/user/crazyacesrock
http://www.reverbnation.com/crazyacesmusic
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