If you're the pee-on-a-hydrant type, mention what songs you're working on here.
Suggest you apply heavy compression to the whispering voice and knock a hole in the spectrum of the rest of the music to let it come through better because I really can't hear 90% of what it is saying. Other than that, lovin' it.
Yeah I noticed that too even though the actual volume on the track was louder than other tracks.
Tailoring the sound has always been one of my weak areas. If you have suggestions about components and settings, let me know.
That's why you want compression. Normally, the human voice has a very wide dynamic range and I think whispers are even worse. The air pops and sibilants spike your VU meter while the other 80% are so soft as to not be heard. Send me a 10- or 20-second clip of vocal and I'll see if I can recommend some settings.
I decided to give it a try based on your suggestions.
I added Major compression to the vocal track.
I also route everything else to a submix and applied and EQ and dropped 1K and 2K bands since that seemed to be where the vocals were (makes sense). I actually did go back an re-record some of the vocal bits because the volume was so variable to try to get something a bit more even.
In any case reference the URL in >>9 and let me know if that works better for you.
Yup, you got it now. And, yes, a properly loose-but-tense Zappa style on the guitar is to be commended. Props.
It's damned good.
Incidentally, "Pay Her No Mind" is linked on the MP3 page. We can link this song and "Schroedinger's Car" whenever you're ready, too.
Dammit, I remember posting something somewhere that was suggested dialogue to use as an inter-track background conversation that would weave in and out of the music for Bad Coelacanth. It was pseudo-pepperpot stuff. But I don't remember what it was, or where I posted it.
I think it is in my LJ. Or your LJ.
I will take a look for it. However in this case I was thinking of something a bit more contextual to give hint to the inner thoughts of the narrator.
I have a new version of http://www.spaceroom.org/music/Interrobang/YouLookLikeANiceGulliblePerson.mp3"
It now has the walk in and out in addition to a whole new voice track. I will leave it as a surprise but it adds a whole new dimension to the track, however it is related to >>17.
The balance was tricky so let me know if anything sounds out of whack.
Is there a way to move your vocals forward in the mix? Sometimes, the background conversation isn't in the background.
Pretty good, otherwise. Let me know which version is final, and I'll put it on the podcast.
I had a feeling that the background conversation was a bit strong. I will work on the polish a bit more.
It hasn't been very active, but we have a "new songs podcast".
http://blog.myspace.com/blog/rss.cfm?friendID=53752171
Whenever we finish and upload a song, I blog it on MySpace. People can subscribe to that URL and get the latest Interrobang Cartel songs as they appear.
Charlie, are you still tinkering with "Schrödinger's Car"? Or is it defined to be done?
I think I can declare it as complete, since there has been no further suggestions. So let's move it up! I will post an entry on my LJ page. Do you want the honor of the IBC LJ post since it is your song?
It's not my song, it's my lyrics. You're the one who breathed life into them.
Then I shall announce!
Just a reminder that my start on a new version of Rock In My Shoe is still hanging out there looking for a female vocalist. See details at http://community.livejournal.com/interrocartel/45221.html
Announcing my intention of converting JWGH's short-short story "Plastic Fantastic" (http://jwgh.livejournal.com/361908.html) into an illbient piece. As a first step, here's his voice recording re-EQ'd and compressed: http://majorzed.files-upload.com/206399/PlasticFantastic_Vocal_1.mp3.html
If Jake gets my email, then he should soon be listening to Mix 4 of "Plastic Fantastic - A Technopeasant Musical". Then we'll figure out how to release it.
Read about the release of "Plastic Fantastic - A Technopeasant Musical" here: http://majorzed.livejournal.com/36559.html
Not looking for help, just FYI. "Welcome to the Procedure". Some of it may sound familiar. Read more at http://majorzed.livejournal.com/46646.html
From a recent conversation in alt.religion.kibology, a new song named "Too Drunk to Fsck." It seems to coming out like a ZZ-Top song, (old style). Not that that is bad thing...
If I had the ability, I'd do it as sort of funk/soul number, but among other things, I'm lacking female backup singers.
Here is the rough draft version:
http://www.spaceroom.org/music/Interrobang/TooDrunkToFsck.mp3
Sounds great! But you might want to change to a different pronunciation for fsck. Not because I have any attachment to another pronunciation, but because "fsuck" is pretty much indistinguishable from "suck". "Fusck" might be a better choice, because it suggests other words without sounding too much like any other word.
I sent an email with a link to give him a preview. He liked it alot though he would prefer fusk and lusk as pronunciations, so I am going to take another stab at the vocals.
On a tangential note, does anyone have any suggestion for bring the vocals out in the mix? Even when the volume is strong on the meter they often get buried. I am sure that compression and EQ'ing are the answer but I don't have a good feel for the settings.
Him, meaning Adam Funk. I wish there was a way to edit posts.
Definitely nailed the ZZTop guitar sound!
Major Zed will have to give you more info, because I haven't tried it... but I remember him mentioning "cutting a hole" in the frequency range of the vocals.
A revised version is available now.
http://www.spaceroom.org/music/Interrobang/TooDrunkToFsck.mp3
I re-recorded the vocals, bass guitar and lead section guitar.
The vocals should be a bit more up front now too, as least they were on my couple of systems.
I listened to the last version for awhile and was not happy with it. The vocals were wobbly in an unpleasant way in the chorus and the timing on the lead was jarring. So yet another version is released. While it has its inherent flaws it is something I can live with. See the URL above for the link.
I'm considering, maybe, perhaps, taking a stab at "Walking With Woodlice". That's still unrecorded, right?
(Because it'd be nice to finish up the Tribute Album, but all the other unrecorded stuff is supposed to be in styles of bands I either don't know or don't think I could emulate.)
No, I am considering maybe taking a stab at "Walking With Woodlice". Basil can just sod off.
Given my previous puffery, I suppose I should try "Washing Crystal Balls"...
Yeah, "Walking With Woodlice" and "Washing Crystal Balls" are unrecorded. I'm glad Zed's considering doing the latter, because I think the lyrics actually kind of suck, but might be saved by a really talented composer/arranger. I thought "How To Be A Texas Ranger" was a really flimsy piece of crap when I wrote it, but then Casey recorded it, and I thought "DAMN, this sounds great! This is now my favorite song!"
Where are the lyrics? I couldn't find them.
There's a (slow) temporary wiki containing all the lyrics here:
http://www.interrobangcartel.com/ibcwiki.html
But it's probably easier to read it here in the LJ community:
http://community.livejournal.com/interrocartel/2242.html#cutid2
Not bad - I can hear Bowie singing that. Mind if I change 'em?
I was thinking of working on my song idea about falling for dead authors, but I haven't been getting anything done lately. We'll see.
Although I did think up and intro for it the other night.
Go ahead, but you should probably label alternate lyrics as "Washing Crystal Balls (II)" or something like that.
I did deliberately pattern parts of the lyrics after a couple Bowie songs, just to force it to have a Bowie feel. I won't tell you which songs, or where, because I don't want to influence your choice of melody.
I would be more inclined to modify the lyrics a bit rather than replace them; but one never knows where that will end (ask Doctroid)...
>>47 I hear you. I feel much the same way about "Planting Geraniums"...
Although I have to disagree about your "Texas Ranger" lyrics: They're good!
>>49 There's also this: http://web.archive.org/web/20060206235406/http://interrobangcartel.com/
Hah! I Didn't think archive.org would have squirreled that away, because it was delivered by CGI. Good!
Hey! I just looked back at Casey's post from 2003 where he explained what the Tribute Album was all about, and he said it was RECORDED IN 2008!
By my count that's 7 songs left to do in 4.5 months. Yikes!