While You're Here...

[rayc]

Hello Folks,
This is an attempt to get my brain around the workings of the site & BBS.
I'll make it worth my while.
I've had commentary about the bass lines in the track linked.
have a listen please and comment on any aspect that your brain tinkles out.
https://soundcloud.com/rayc/a-game-for-one-player
I don't see any specific vid or audio link helpers just the URL thing so hope I have this sorted enough to work.
Thanks in advance for your assistance.

[JD01]

Ray, maybe you could have the honour of starting The Tone Thread!

This is the best version of this track I've heard so far - doesn't have any of the clashy major/minor things going on. Its a bit more sparse and that's really good. (can I donate you a guitar solo?)

The bass tone - Is this through your BDI? - personally, I think its a bit low in the mix, but I also think its really trebly. I know you mentioned before that you like to have the presence up full on the BDI, this could be it. I just like to have a more rounded tone, maybe wipe of some of that presence and give it a bit more drive.

[ido1957]

First time hearing this one so no previous inklings...

Funny JDOD mentioned a major minor thing as I was thinking there is a couple of major/minor things that popped up.
i.e. I would do a minor here and there, BUT, if you play a 5th/power chord a certain way, without the note that determines major/minor, no issues.
For example, A Major has a C#, A Minor has a C. If you play a power chord (barre) with just AEA (mute the G B and E strings) the listener should be able to figure out what the mode is.
It can make it tricky to play solos when the expected chord is X but goes Y, as the scales are different and the transition has to be thought out carefully so it sounds like it follows the song correctly.
However, there are no rules in writing and so anything goes.

Bass is nicely defined, my headset is bass light but I thought it could be a little louder.
I'm a big fan of your bass tone so if it were me I wouldn't tweak it, just up the level a bit.

The two guitars are well arranged - I like the solid strokes on the left and the multiples from the right.
The feedback is very cool - definitely adds a sustain to the song that makes it rock on.

[rammer24]

I haven't heard other versions of this, but this is one of the best sounding mixes I've ever heard from you. Everything is clear and sounds good. Drums sound good. I like it.

[Greg_L]

I remember this one. I remember the major/minor thing.

I love the feedback and warbly sustain on that left guitar. Sounds Ron Asheton-ish. Good chicka-chicka on the guitars.

I think the tones are pretty scratchy, but in a way it sounds cool for the song. Very 60s garage rock-ish.

[rayc]

Thanks gents.
Oh, the sustained/feedback chords are power jobbies while the other side are open so there's a little tension between them when a 5th is overlays an open minor but as Ido says the brain usually accepts that.
The comment received elsewhere was about the bass runs and how they didn't conform, strictly, to the chords they were under. I know I didn't do the sharp, or whatever it was, under the Em.

[Armistice]

Sounds pretty good ray - I'm liking the feedbacky thing going on one of the guitars too - and I think the overall tone of the guitars sits with your general style - I'm assuming these are your BIAB drums?

I hear the minor / major thing but I don't mind it actually - little discordant but I think once you get a good vocal over the top, it'll all come together.

Needs words, obviously - what are you thinking?

[rayc]

David,
the lyrics are written BUT, as is usual, may be a little wordy.
Bubba was going to have a go at it but said he couldn't get his mojo working with it.
I did do a guide track for phrasing purposes but that may have put him off. I've since had a solo donated by JD01 which is cool. I suppose I ought to post that update. I'll do that this evening.
Here're the many words...
A game for one player

8 bar Intro then…

At the death of a word
That no one has said
A condemned man’s plea
His last meal been fed
An act of contrition
By sinners long gone
Words without meaning
That cannot be undone

Bottled tears of brothel queens
Finding love in magazines
Pornographic valentines
In games of love no one can play

In a tissue of lies
The truths still untold
Ten signs of longing
For a love now gone cold
Litany denial
In lies so long written
No easy comfort
For those that were smitten.

Bleeding jester’s morbid mirth
Death triumphant at each birth
Borrowed words of little worth
In games of love no one can play

Solo in verse

Newborn, stillborn bleeding heart
Morning: evening’s dying art
In all these we play no part
In games of love no one can play

The close of a sentence
Diagnosed in the dark
Comes to an end with
A punctuation mark
Cut open the morning
Tear into the light
Before it reveals
A swollen appetite

[rayc]

Dropbox is playing games - I think they've changed the way the PUBLIC folder works - I'll have to look into that.
I can't edit the original post to drop a new version in so here, folks, is the update with JD01 playing the guitar solo:
https://soundcloud.com/rayc/140117july16wsolo

[JD01]

You've mixed the solo in well ray, the guitarist seems like a self indulgent tosser though.

[ocnor]

I like the song. It has a nice vintage feel. I agree about some of the bass runs sounding a bit off. What I really noticed was that the kick and the bass don't mesh at all. The kick tone seems too tubby and dominating. Also the lead solo wasn't loud enough and had me straining to hear it.

[ido1957]

The solo is great but it's too low imho. I'm thinking the old adage where snare/lead vocal/lead solo, all have the same volume as they are sort if "spotlighting" in the song. I did like the tone/sustain of the lead though - suits the song well. I think the rhythms' tones are some of your best Ray, and again that feedback is pretty damn cool.

[rayc]

Ocnor & Ido,
Thanks. The levels are just arbitrary at present - I follow that same mix mantra Gerry & will do when there's a vocal.
Ocnor,
I can't do anything about the kick - it's a stereo drum file - I'll attempt a tweak but it won't be surgical.
Bass lines - I'll attempt another track and throw in the missing minor notes, (there's an Em & Bm in there that I just grace noted).
JD01,
I don't mind generous self indulgent tossers.

[JD01]

JD01,
I don't mind generous self indulgent tossers.

Was a pleasure, mate!

[Bubba]

Ah, is this the track you asked me about all that time ago? I like what you've done with it. It has your signature vibe, but everything's much clearer than usual.

I'm sorry I couldn't get started on it Ray - but I haven't been able to start on anything muscically for about three months. I've even got a terrific drum recording for a cover of the Pixies' "Gigantic" that I haven't been able to be bothered with for about the same period of time.

Those twats over at the other place flattened my mojo - that and some issues with a couple of free pugins from Soundtoys that worked fantastically to begin with, but then started with some really annoying licence validation problems that knackered up Reaper every time I tried to load a project that had any of those plugins on it. Bastard things!

Listened to it a second time and something is out of tune, most notably on the intro. I think the fact that the instruments all start at slightly different times doesn't help, either.

[paulman]

Somewhere about halfway through this I got it in my head that it could be an R.E.M. song, and now I just keep hearing Michael Stipe singing over it. It's crystal-clear, as usual, and I like the vibe, the mood.

[rayc]

I've retracked the bass to cover the minor chord runs - I hope -, to try to fit in with the drums better and, hopefully, have everything started together.
This 1st version is my usual signal chain

This second one has a different chug in the chorus compared to the others as well as being compressed on the way in.

Sorry, I've still not managed to sort out Dropbox's changed Public Folder stuff so soundclouds compression of a 320MP3 will have to suffice.

[WhiskeyJack]

Rayray. I like the 160117July16 mix the gooderest. Your bass sounds way better and glues the rest of that stuff together. This also has a really cool garage vibe to it. Love those guitar tones man. When do the words happen ?

[rayc]

Shannon, Ta for the compl. and commentary. Vox? When Michael Stipe or someone else offers to sing it I suppose.

[JD01]

Latest version sounds good, ray. Guitars are still a bit spikey, but that's cool in context.