Chris S.'s Music Theory Journey, for Gab's Army |
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...the thing is, I need you to start progressing faster then ever, but to achieve that I need your help:
* Don't know where to start? Just pm me and we will sort it out directly, I am online every day.
* Join My Army. Sounds aggressive? It is! We can study anything from the most fearsome picking techniques to bombastic songwriting. A medal of honor awaits the brave. Seriously, this is an opportunity for you to get a personalised learning experience...what are you waiting for?!
* Join my next video chat! GMC startpage holds a video chat schedule. We always cover a lot of ground and have fun. Remember that you don't need any previous knowledge, and you can be passive in the chat.
* Jam with me - you will find active collabs here.
* Post a topic on this board, guitar related or not - doesn't matter! You will find that chatting with instructors boosts your motivation to practice.
* You haven't missed my latest video lessons, have you?
* Finally I want to tell you a secret. Nah I changed my mind - pm me instead ;)
Chris S.'s Music Theory Journey, for Gab's Army |
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Feb 24 2016, 02:38 PM |
Hi mate, all great stuff here!
The sneak peak is VERY promising!! The singer sings really well, I like his voice and the melody is epic! Great job! Can't wait to hear the whole song. About the audio samples, I think that this new samples are getting better. I like the first combination (-JCM800 with tubescreamer ), but you should try with less distortion and recording your guitar twice, and panning it in the mix. You can listen to isolated guitars from albums to see how they are usually eq and that amount of drive used: -------------------- My lessons
Do you need a Guitar Plan? Join Gab's Army Check my band:Cirse Check my soundcloud:Soundcloud Please subscribe to my:Youtube Channel |
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Feb 24 2016, 07:28 PM |
Is it normal for two different amps to be used between the rhythm and lead guitar - or do producers generally use the same amp for both for consistency?
Because I've been working on blending a Mesa profile for rhythm and a JCM800 profile for lead: Both guitars together, then the Mesa by itself, then the JCM800 by itself, then both together again https://soundcloud.com/stortzmusic/11-rack-tone-test-jcm800-and-mesa-boogie-pair I dialed back the gain a good amount - I'm not sure if it's still too heavy though. This post has been edited by Chris S.: Feb 24 2016, 09:37 PM |
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Feb 25 2016, 01:46 PM |
Hi Chris, this is getting better!
Producer usually try every combination possible to get the tone that they are looking for. I recommend you to see the classic albums series documentaries, for example the one about Nevermind where I remember Butch Vig talking about combining amps to get the sound he was looking for. I think that you could try with less drive, and also adjusting the EQ of Mesa Boogie with is a bit "bassy". Try lowering bass or maybe adding mids / highs. -------------------- My lessons
Do you need a Guitar Plan? Join Gab's Army Check my band:Cirse Check my soundcloud:Soundcloud Please subscribe to my:Youtube Channel |
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Feb 27 2016, 01:10 AM |
Hey Gab - I've been experimenting with double tracking the rhythm and lead's to help getting a wider sound as well:
https://soundcloud.com/stortzmusic/you-dont-own-me-rough-draft I didn't EQ the mix, I just panned and level so there is probably more high end than needed - what do you think of this? This is also another idea I am working on, the intro will be completely different but I'm happy with the riffs. I even have some lyrics: Chorus You - don't own me; Can't control me; Never loved me It's over, over this time |
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Feb 27 2016, 04:15 PM |
Wou! Those guitars are getting heavy!! Well done mate! I like how your guitars are sounding now. I think that bass and drums require some attention.
I recommend you to check some isolate bass for nu metal bands like Papa Roach, or even Korn to hear how drive is used to give a special color to the bass track. Try this unit as an example: https://www.tseaudio.com/software/tseBOD Drums need some special work. You can experiment with Kick and Snare EQ, compression and reverb (only for snare not kick), and also take care of those overhead that are too loud. This is very promising, keep on the great job! -------------------- My lessons
Do you need a Guitar Plan? Join Gab's Army Check my band:Cirse Check my soundcloud:Soundcloud Please subscribe to my:Youtube Channel |
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Mar 2 2016, 09:07 PM |
Thanks for the pointers man! I'll definitely work more on the bass (I didn't spend any time of the drums).
Also, latest sneak peak for Goodbye! https://soundcloud.com/stortzmusic/goodbye-sneak-peak-2 The song will be part of a GoFundMe campaign linked directly to the American Society for Suicide Prevention - anyone who donates to them will get the song for free and if we reach a target goal (not set yet) the song will be free for everyone! I'm pretty much a nobody in the music world hehe, so I don't expect a lot of donations or a high goal to be reached but I'm just glad to be using music for a good cause! |
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Mar 3 2016, 01:55 PM |
Wou! Those are great news mate! Congrats! It's very good for you as a musicians, it will bring a lot of promotion, and you'll be helping for a nice campaign. Everything is so great.
And the new sample is very promising. Keep working! -------------------- My lessons
Do you need a Guitar Plan? Join Gab's Army Check my band:Cirse Check my soundcloud:Soundcloud Please subscribe to my:Youtube Channel |
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Mar 4 2016, 05:49 PM |
Hi Chris! Thanks for your words! I think that it's possible. Please remind me the next week and we'll try to arrange it!
-------------------- My lessons
Do you need a Guitar Plan? Join Gab's Army Check my band:Cirse Check my soundcloud:Soundcloud Please subscribe to my:Youtube Channel |
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Mar 7 2016, 02:31 AM |
Thanks! I will surely remind you
And without further adue: https://m.soundcloud.com/stortzmusic/goodbye-demo Still some touching up to do but this is pretty much the song - I hope you enjoy it This post has been edited by Chris S.: Mar 7 2016, 02:32 AM |
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Mar 7 2016, 04:45 PM |
Mate! I have to congrats you and that amazing lady for the killer track that you've created! I think that the song is brilliant, very deep, and sad... I really get the feeling... and the singer is fantastic, his vocal "colour" is very nice to hear, and when she goes up it so expressive! and keeps sounding nice and warm.
I think that you can still work on the mix. The use of reverb for vocals could be better, guitars less "high" (deeper guitars) and also take care of that crash cymbal that is played on the right channel which is not very natural (at least control the eq or it). Fantastic work!! -------------------- My lessons
Do you need a Guitar Plan? Join Gab's Army Check my band:Cirse Check my soundcloud:Soundcloud Please subscribe to my:Youtube Channel |
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Mar 8 2016, 02:57 AM |
Mate! I have to congrats you and that amazing lady for the killer track that you've created! I think that the song is brilliant, very deep, and sad... I really get the feeling... and the singer is fantastic, his vocal "colour" is very nice to hear, and when she goes up it so expressive! and keeps sounding nice and warm. I think that you can still work on the mix. The use of reverb for vocals could be better, guitars less "high" (deeper guitars) and also take care of that crash cymbal that is played on the right channel which is not very natural (at least control the eq or it). Fantastic work!! Thank you so much for your kind words, as well as all the help you continue to give me; I couldn't do it without you, man! As far as the mix, how do you feel about this one - I feel a little more confident with this one. I think some of her words are a bit harsh in volume in some spots and I will be spending some time of the Volume automation: https://soundcloud.com/stortzmusic/goodbye-demo-1 Appreciate the second set of ears This post has been edited by Chris S.: Mar 8 2016, 03:01 AM |
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Mar 8 2016, 02:25 PM |
Hi Chris,
It's true that there are some words that could sound louder, are you compressing the vocal track? Maybe you can try with more compression. I'm still not convinced of the vocal ambience. I would try with any other reverb, are you using "plate" type. Also, using delay will make the ambience sound more "pro". Check out this track: -------------------- My lessons
Do you need a Guitar Plan? Join Gab's Army Check my band:Cirse Check my soundcloud:Soundcloud Please subscribe to my:Youtube Channel |
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Mar 8 2016, 08:05 PM |
Thanks for the isolated vocals - they really were helpful!
I ditched Altiverb - and am now running Reaper's built in Reverb, but then following it up with a TAL-Reverb-II plate plugin to add character since Reaper's reverb alone is pretty generic. Comparing Amy Lee's vocals to Ashley's - I noticed that my wet signals were way too high and the reverb was overpowering. I also was only using a Vocal Slapback effect for delay, so I made the delay time longer to make the repeats more noticeable. I also noticed that the studio must have used a little too much auto-tune/pitch correction - if you listen closely between 0:55 and 0:56 when she says "be" you can here the pitch shift, is there anyway to correct this in my DAW since I obviously can't have the vocals redone without hiring her again? https://soundcloud.com/stortzmusic/goodbye-isolated-vocals Thanks ALSO: I am using compression but probably totally wrong - I really am clueless with compression and how to use it, so I basically just move dials until I here a difference. Here is a screenshot of my compressor settings for the vocals: This post has been edited by Chris S.: Mar 8 2016, 08:23 PM |
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Mar 9 2016, 02:23 PM |
This is much better!! Now that the ambiance is better I've noticed that the EQ of your vocal track has more mids than Amy Lee's track. This can be related to the mic choice, but I want to be sure that you are not adding too much the frequencies between 1.0 to 2.5. This frequencies are very important for the voice but if you enhance them too much, you can get a "radio effect" sound. I feel that your track has some radio feel so maybe you can experiment a bit with EQ now. Adding more bass / highs or lowering some mid frequencies.
In other words try to get a more balanced EQ as it happens with Evanescence's track. -------------------- My lessons
Do you need a Guitar Plan? Join Gab's Army Check my band:Cirse Check my soundcloud:Soundcloud Please subscribe to my:Youtube Channel |
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Mar 11 2016, 02:31 PM |
Thanks Gab, I've been out for a few days with a stomach virus
I will return to the mix once I am feeling better. Any update on the DVD, my friend? |
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Mar 11 2016, 02:50 PM |
Thanks Gab, I've been out for a few days with a stomach virus I will return to the mix once I am feeling better. Any update on the DVD, my friend? Hi Chris! Thanks for the update! I'll have news today, please write me a PM tomorrow to send you details! -------------------- My lessons
Do you need a Guitar Plan? Join Gab's Army Check my band:Cirse Check my soundcloud:Soundcloud Please subscribe to my:Youtube Channel |
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Mar 16 2016, 02:34 PM |
Hi Chris! I'm happy of reading this post. You won't never regret this great decision you took. Your plan is not only you following you dream, I think it's reasonable and totally doable.
I'll be here always ready to check your progress and song analysis. -------------------- My lessons
Do you need a Guitar Plan? Join Gab's Army Check my band:Cirse Check my soundcloud:Soundcloud Please subscribe to my:Youtube Channel |
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