I'm working with a young lady from Germany, on one of her songs. We're exploring some lead instruments.

I did the drums (played on my V-drums into sonar and using Hypersonic 2 GM Kit), the acoustic gtr, and the violin is mine via Kontakt. We'll probably change the ending, so it's not so abrubt. Having a ton of fun with this. Have a listen...

http://dc368.4shared.com/img/632138...3Ftsid_3D20110609-124543-2a0cb3d4/preview.mp3

 

Great feel and atmosphere of the song itself,but:

-why not recording a real acoustic guitar for the song, these samples sound lifeless.
-try using a professional drum sampler instead of this Hypersonic kit
-the vocal melody seems to me a bit monotonous, maybe it makes sense to add more backing vocals
-the arrangement needs more instruments to make the song sound fuller, string section should fit there

Well,that's all *yes*

 

-I would welcome you playing acoustic if you want to.
-I kinda like hypersonic drums. It will be helped in the mix when we get to final. Yes we are working on instrumentation.
-She just posted some new takes with some variation on the melody, so that part we were already hip to. I have been thinking some choral oohs and ahhhs. She's already doing 3 part harmonies, but maybe we can come up with some call and response. I've been picturing some.

Thanks for the feedback.

 

Unfortunately, I don't play guitar at all, but you still have to do something with this part , so if you don't find a guitar player, you can still achieve natural sounding (MusicLab Real Guitar 2 for example).

 

Musiclab Real Guitar 2 is exactly what you are hearing. It's what I used. I might be able to help it with some FX in the final. Thank you...

 

Oops... I thought it was a guitar patch from Hypersonic..

 

No the drums are a GM patch from hypersonic. The acoustic could use some help too. You are not wrong about that. There's a lot that can be done in the final stages. There's nothing that competes with a real guitarist, but RealGuitar 2 does a decent job in it's absence. I'm hoping to help a lot of things about this in the final mix. I don't disagree with pretty much everything you've said. Some of these things we've already addressed (her and I are working via my googlesite). Some of these things I cannot disagree with you about, and hope to address them in the final mix/mastering phaze. We are working on instrumentation. The vast majority of what you've said I agree with, and am working on it. Thank you for your observations!

 

Also even if I don't agree with you, I like to hear what you are thinking. of course we won't agree on many things, but I am greatful for your feedback none the less! If you make sense (and you do), I probably will not disagree with you. Some of it is a matter of taste and some will be helped later, in the process. I actually like a lot of the hypersonic patches. Not their guitar, but a lot of the others are ok. I've been working with kontakt a lot lately. Maybe I will try some of these pro sample kits even though I don't dislike hypersonic. Kontakt libraries are hard to beat). Thanks again my friend!

 

Looking forward to hearing the final result..Please let me know when you finish this production.
BTW, Hypersonic 2 is a great all-in-one solution, I agree with that, but sometimes it feels like "too sweet" for me

 

Well it's like anything. Some of it is great, and some not so great. The day I stop learning from others is the day they put me in the ground. I have to be open to it to do that, and I am. We help each other. Lots of times i am way too close to the process to be objective. So if I hear these things from you it makes me sit back and take a closer look where maybe I wasn't earlier. That sort of thing is invaluable. I appreciate Saint setting this up where we can exchange ideas and observations. I hope to continue improving my process by listening and considering people like yourself! Very cool!

 

Hi,

I could try to record the acoustic guitar part for you.
Just would need a lead sheet with the chords, the midi file, and a mixdown of the song without the guitar track.

I would also advise you to use other sounds for the drums. Maybe you are used very much to this Hypersonic, and that's why you think it sounds good, but it really doesn't, compared to modern standards.

 

Chords<--Chords

I will make a minus gtr mix, and link to it.

I don't have any midi file for the gtr. Only this chord sheet.

These drums don't sound too bad, and they will sound better before I am done. You are listening to an "in process" track. Thanks.

 

Don't be offended, you wanted to hear opinions.
Of course it's in process, but the sounds are how they are, they will not change over night.

Why you don't have the midi-file, I thought you recorded this?

 

I used the pattern mode of Real Guitar 2. That means I hit a key on the keyboard, and it played the pattern in the chord. If you are going to play it why would you need the midi file?

I am not offended. I just don't agree that the drums sound bad. Don't be offended if I don't agree. I've been a drummer for 35 years and I know what drums sound like. These are not bad. Just because I don't dislike these drums, doesn't mean I am offended.

 

OK let's agree that we are both not offended

The Midi-File would have just been useful to have a look at the pattern.
No problem, I can try it also without, but then the result will probably differ from the pattern a bit.

 

Yes there is room to change the pattern a little. In general it'll be picked during the verse, and strummed during the chorus.

It'll probably be tomorrow before I can render this as I am not where the file is saved. Thanks.

 

My general idea (although you're still on the "work in progress" path):

- If Gulliver provides you a real guitar track, it would be better (or the best, I think); if this won't be possible, i suggest Virtual Guitarist. It's a "one key" vst too, but the samples of the chords are more realistic then Real Guitar 2 (that gives is best on arpeggios)
- for the drums, I prefer to use Session Drummer (expecially the third edition); some kits have a realistic sound

At the end, the "taste" of the sound, is what makes the difference between many releases; I think that there aren't right opinion or wrong opinion.
The nice thing of this forum is to make them meet and melt together...

Nice job, Kooper

 

I may try some Kontakt driven drum libraries, but I am not unhappy with Hypersonic. I have not tried any kontakt libraries with my V-drum triggers. One of the reasons I use Hypersonic 2 is that I like the drums. They are warmer than like say for instance the general midi plugin that comes with Sonar. I've actually had other people tell me they like the Steinberg drums I'm using, so yes it's a matter of taste. This track has a ways to go yet. The author has been quite happy with how the song has morphed.

I do have a copy of virtual guitarist. Thanks for reminding me that I need to go and make a mix for him to try his guitar against. I got busy with other things. I'll stop what I was doing and go make a mix right now. Thanks.

 

Uploaded two files for you:

Mix with no gtr

Real Gtr 2 track for reference


Thanks.