Steve's music

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Parsifal

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Steve's music
« on: February 08, 2009, 04:43:23 AM »
FES, I present to you a solo in a very Latin style. As a perfectionist, it bothers me to upload something that has been so viciously destroyed by the Audacity recovery tool - it probably doesn't really sound as bad as it seems to me, but that's only because of the great things I had in mind for it before it lost that potential. It would bother me even more to have nothing to show for the jam session earlier, so here you are, choose your preferred codec and enjoy:

Ogg Vorbis
MP3

I'm on keyboard, and my friend Russell plays drums.
« Last Edit: February 08, 2009, 04:46:08 AM by Robosteve »
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Robbyj

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Re: Steve's music
« Reply #1 on: February 08, 2009, 06:18:49 AM »
Hey, I'm glad you aren't on fire.
Why justify an illegitimate attack with a legitimate response?

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Sexual Harassment Panda

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Re: Steve's music
« Reply #2 on: February 08, 2009, 06:29:15 AM »
It was ok. The beginning was a bit jumpy, but then it got better as you progress through the song.
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Re: Steve's music
« Reply #3 on: February 08, 2009, 10:48:26 AM »
Interesting, that wasn't bad at all.

And you all know I'm biased.  I was kind of expecting to be a dick to you about it, Robo, but it was pretty decent.
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Proleg

Re: Steve's music
« Reply #4 on: February 08, 2009, 11:41:08 AM »
Do you take requests?

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Parsifal

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Re: Steve's music
« Reply #5 on: February 08, 2009, 11:43:23 AM »
Do you take requests?

That all depends what you have in mind, and if Russell is fine with playing whatever it is.
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Re: Steve's music
« Reply #6 on: February 08, 2009, 02:00:55 PM »
Hey, Steve,

As a "latin" hybrid myself and an appreciater of the Sonic Arts, that Piece seemed pretty good. 

Unfortunately, my Muses only feed me Art of a visual nature.

My only request, as a fellow perfectionist, is to keep at it.

And always remember, "Jazz is not dead; It just smells funny."
 believe that; the Earth is flat until such time as I stand within the Space Station and personally see that it is a Globe.
or that the Earth is a sphere until such time as I stand upon the Icewall and personally see that it is a Flat Disk.

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Proleg

Re: Steve's music
« Reply #7 on: February 08, 2009, 02:04:47 PM »
Do you take requests?

That all depends what you have in mind, and if Russell is fine with playing whatever it is.
L'Internationale.

Re: Steve's music
« Reply #8 on: February 08, 2009, 03:26:11 PM »
As mentioned the beginning was sort of 'meh', but after that it wasn't a bad listen.

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Parsifal

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Re: Steve's music
« Reply #9 on: February 22, 2009, 09:32:31 AM »
Here it is, the first properly mixed recording I've posted on here. The first track was constructed from part of a jam, while for the second we were actually trying to record a tune.

Track listing

1. Thoroughly Unamused (Son of Orange County) [7:23] (Frank Zappa)
2. Buns [2:45] (Steven McDonald)

Credits

Steven McDonald - keyboards and bass guitar
Russell Brown - drums

Editing and mixing by Steven McDonald, using Audacity 1.3.5-beta. Tagged using Ex Falso.

Download

Ogg Vorbis (oggenc -q 5)
http://www.sendspace.com/file/6bsrfy

MP3 (lame -V 2 --resample 48000 -p --strictly-enforce-ISO --clipdetect)
http://www.sendspace.com/file/3ozdjh
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Johannes

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Re: Steve's music
« Reply #10 on: February 24, 2009, 01:29:43 PM »
at times it seems a little kid is just hitting the keyboard randomly.

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Crudblud

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Re: Steve's music
« Reply #11 on: February 24, 2009, 01:37:51 PM »
at times it seems a little kid is just hitting the keyboard randomly.
And that necessarily makes bad music?

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Raist

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Re: Steve's music
« Reply #12 on: February 24, 2009, 01:51:52 PM »
It's elevator music, not bad, just nothing i'd actively listen to.

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Parsifal

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Re: Steve's music
« Reply #13 on: February 26, 2009, 01:44:49 PM »
at times it seems a little kid is just hitting the keyboard randomly.

I eagerly await your seven minute improvisation on your instrument of choice.
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Soze

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Re: Steve's music
« Reply #14 on: April 24, 2009, 11:47:21 PM »
Here's something I wrote yesterday: http://www.sendspace.com/file/n2n0qu

It's got several mistakes and bad edits, as playing something you've only just written in 7/8 can be tricky.
Post it again when you fix them.  ;)

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Parsifal

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Re: Steve's music
« Reply #15 on: April 25, 2009, 01:48:56 AM »
Post it again when you fix them.  ;)

Alright, well here's a better one (different tune): http://www.sendspace.com/file/ovhuo0

I play everything except drums on it; it's probably the best sounding recording I've ever made. I'll be including this recording on the EP I'm hoping to make, though probably with a more polished mix, and I may or may not retake the guitar (haven't decided on that yet).

Also, it doesn't have a title yet. I've told Russell (who plays drums) that he can name this one, so I'm waiting for him to get back to me on that. The file is called "disco.mp3" because it's really the only song we play with a disco feel to it.
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cmdshft

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Re: Steve's music
« Reply #16 on: April 25, 2009, 06:23:07 AM »
Post it again when you fix them.  ;)

Alright, well here's a better one (different tune): http://www.sendspace.com/file/ovhuo0

I play everything except drums on it; it's probably the best sounding recording I've ever made. I'll be including this recording on the EP I'm hoping to make, though probably with a more polished mix, and I may or may not retake the guitar (haven't decided on that yet).

Also, it doesn't have a title yet. I've told Russell (who plays drums) that he can name this one, so I'm waiting for him to get back to me on that. The file is called "disco.mp3" because it's really the only song we play with a disco feel to it.

I've never heard a disco song that had actual drums in it. All disco songs are completely synthesized as far as I have ever heard. Also, The White Stripes are old news, tell Russell to get a real drum set. It sounds like he's pounding away at two pots and a cymbal.

Re: Steve's music
« Reply #17 on: April 25, 2009, 06:24:41 AM »
at times it seems a little kid is just hitting the keyboard randomly.

+1

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Parsifal

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Re: Steve's music
« Reply #18 on: April 25, 2009, 06:27:15 AM »
I've never heard a disco song that had actual drums in it. All disco songs are completely synthesized as far as I have ever heard. Also, The White Stripes are old news, tell Russell to get a real drum set. It sounds like he's pounding away at two pots and a cymbal.

It's the best we can do for now, neither of us really has the money for anything better. It may be the recording and not the actual drums though, I only have a stereo sound card so we can only have one mic on the drums and one on the keyboard when we record. Either way, I should be able to improve the sound with some EQ in the final mix.

The main issue with those drums is that the bass drum doesn't have enough... well, bass to it. The two bass guitars on that track should make up for that, though.
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cmdshft

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Re: Steve's music
« Reply #19 on: April 25, 2009, 06:32:07 AM »
I've never heard a disco song that had actual drums in it. All disco songs are completely synthesized as far as I have ever heard. Also, The White Stripes are old news, tell Russell to get a real drum set. It sounds like he's pounding away at two pots and a cymbal.

It's the best we can do for now, neither of us really has the money for anything better. It may be the recording and not the actual drums though, I only have a stereo sound card so we can only have one mic on the drums and one on the keyboard when we record. Either way, I should be able to improve the sound with some EQ in the final mix.

The main issue with those drums is that the bass drum doesn't have enough... well, bass to it. The two bass guitars on that track should make up for that, though.

You need to record one track at a time and then overlay them. That's how you're supposed to do it, anyway. The only reason the big bands don't do it that way is because their studio equipment are more than capable of recording more than one input and mixing them live.

I definitely recommend getting a new drum set. I heard little bass with that (as you mentioned), but honestly the bass guitars didn't make up for it at all. For a demo, It's ok, but if you're seriously thinking of putting out an EP with this, don't.

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Parsifal

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Re: Steve's music
« Reply #20 on: April 25, 2009, 06:35:47 AM »
You need to record one track at a time and then overlay them. That's how you're supposed to do it, anyway. The only reason the big bands don't do it that way is because their studio equipment are more than capable of recording more than one input and mixing them live.

I definitely recommend getting a new drum set. I heard little bass with that (as you mentioned), but honestly the bass guitars didn't make up for it at all. For a demo, It's ok, but if you're seriously thinking of putting out an EP with this, don't.

We've experimented with various different recording techniques, and this gets by far the best sound for the kind of stuff we play. Our music generally has a very big improvisational component to it, and recording one track at a time will take away much of the interaction between the musicians that gives the actual playing its quality. I don't see the point of having great quality audio if the actual playing is mediocre.

Also, that mix had absolutely no EQ or anything on it, I simply set the volume and pan levels to make it listenable as a demo track. It will probably sound better after I add some EQ, reverb and such, which I would do before putting it on an EP.
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Re: Steve's music
« Reply #21 on: April 25, 2009, 10:36:31 AM »
Is this actual recording or a program?
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Parsifal

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Re: Steve's music
« Reply #22 on: April 25, 2009, 10:39:48 AM »
Is this actual recording or a program?

Actual recording, why?
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Re: Steve's music
« Reply #23 on: April 25, 2009, 10:43:16 AM »
I was just curious.
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Parsifal

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Re: Steve's music
« Reply #24 on: April 25, 2009, 11:39:33 AM »
Since Hara likes to whine about the quality of the recording, here's the result of half an hour or so fucking around in Ardour. I'd still say this is far from being a final mix, but it sounds a lot better than the one I linked to before (same piece, just a better mix):

http://www.sendspace.com/file/n5u464
I'm going to side with the white supremacists.

Re: Steve's music
« Reply #25 on: April 25, 2009, 11:45:54 AM »
I've never heard a disco song that had actual drums in it. All disco songs are completely synthesized as far as I have ever heard. Also, The White Stripes are old news, tell Russell to get a real drum set. It sounds like he's pounding away at two pots and a cymbal.

It's the best we can do for now, neither of us really has the money for anything better. It may be the recording and not the actual drums though, I only have a stereo sound card so we can only have one mic on the drums and one on the keyboard when we record. Either way, I should be able to improve the sound with some EQ in the final mix.

The main issue with those drums is that the bass drum doesn't have enough... well, bass to it. The two bass guitars on that track should make up for that, though.

You need to record one track at a time and then overlay them. That's how you're supposed to do it, anyway. The only reason the big bands don't do it that way is because their studio equipment are more than capable of recording more than one input and mixing them live.

I definitely recommend getting a new drum set. I heard little bass with that (as you mentioned), but honestly the bass guitars didn't make up for it at all. For a demo, It's ok, but if you're seriously thinking of putting out an EP with this, don't.

Actually, it goes a bit beyond that...  I've recorded with 5 or 6 bands over the years, and the more anal retentive of the sound engineers will record four separate tracks in four separate runs just to get the trap set.  One run/track for the snare, kick, cymbals, and toms, respectively.  Most just do the kick on the separate run, as it resonates through the set more than the others.

One of the groups' guitarist played a MIDI guitar, and fed each string to a separate track in the sequencer/controller on its way to the master mix.

As to the lack of bass from the set, it could well be the microphone.  Condensers and vocal mics do a poor job of capturing anything below 150-250 cycles or so.  Kick mics are engineered to perform well at these frequencies.

I personally use three mics to track my favorite doumbek and most of my djimbes, a kick mic on a kick stand below for the bass, a snare mic for the sharp, upper register notes, and a SM57 for the finger pats, slides, and rim taps.

Oh, and demos are designed to show what you can do - if any deficiencies in musicianship or work ethic are apparent in the recording, you may as well burn it as give it to someone in the business.  This stuff is fine for friends, but don't distribute anything less than perfection unless you want to close doors early.
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Parsifal

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Re: Steve's music
« Reply #26 on: April 25, 2009, 12:10:59 PM »
Oh, and demos are designed to show what you can do - if any deficiencies in musicianship or work ethic are apparent in the recording, you may as well burn it as give it to someone in the business.  This stuff is fine for friends, but don't distribute anything less than perfection unless you want to close doors early.

I do have a tendency to want to show off what I've created before I've put in the work necessary to make it a finished product. However, mixes like all those I've posted in this thread thus far would never be considered by myself for release on an EP or an album. I have the highest standards for my own work, and when I create a finished product I like to think that I've done it as best I can with what I have to work with. Currently, what I have to work with is a two-channel sound card (although I can theoretically record four channels by using my external USB sound card in conjunction with my internal one, now that I have JACK and Ardour working), a drummer who plays in another band and so is very rarely available to play, and my own musical creativity both in playing and in mixing down in Ardour.
I'm going to side with the white supremacists.

Re: Steve's music
« Reply #27 on: April 25, 2009, 03:21:56 PM »
Oh, and demos are designed to show what you can do - if any deficiencies in musicianship or work ethic are apparent in the recording, you may as well burn it as give it to someone in the business.  This stuff is fine for friends, but don't distribute anything less than perfection unless you want to close doors early.

I do have a tendency to want to show off what I've created before I've put in the work necessary to make it a finished product. However, mixes like all those I've posted in this thread thus far would never be considered by myself for release on an EP or an album. I have the highest standards for my own work, and when I create a finished product I like to think that I've done it as best I can with what I have to work with. Currently, what I have to work with is a two-channel sound card (although I can theoretically record four channels by using my external USB sound card in conjunction with my internal one, now that I have JACK and Ardour working), a drummer who plays in another band and so is very rarely available to play, and my own musical creativity both in playing and in mixing down in Ardour.

My admittedly unsolicited advice is to seek out and befriend other musicians - ones with jobs that pay in actual cash money, who have some good equipment - and make music with them.  Or, pilfer Reason from the interwebs and eliminate the whole instruments/recording/other band members thing.  While it pains me, I'm actually trying to help here, having been a broke musician with crap gear.  You've seen my setup now, right?  I have young musicians (my brother is 22 and into music) over to lay down tracks all the time.  Some of them are even assholes, and I let them in anyway.

As a bigot, however, you'd not be welcome in my home.
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Wendy

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Re: Steve's music
« Reply #28 on: April 25, 2009, 03:27:18 PM »
I will not listen to Steve's music, because it is not metal. Does this make me a metalhead?
Here's an explanation for ya. Lurk moar. Every single point you brought up has been posted, reposted, debated and debunked. There is a search function on this forum, and it is very easy to use.

Re: Steve's music
« Reply #29 on: April 25, 2009, 05:19:48 PM »
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