Skol303

[quote name='MiltyG565' timestamp='1353093379' post='1871662'] when is the closing date? next friday?[/quote] Yup. General consensus is that it's midnight on the 23rd. Late submissions are welcome but obviously have less opportunity to win votes, and you run the risk of turning into a pumpkin. Or something.

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1353076221' post='1871344'] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][size=4][color=#000000]My entry:[/color][/size][/font] [size=4][b][url="http://soundcloud.com/mark-68-2/d-a-de-los-muertos"]Dia De Los Muertos[/url][/b][/size] [size=4][font=arial, helvetica, sans-serif][color=#000000]I hope you enjoy it.[/color][/font][/size][/quote] Day of the Dead… like it! A nicely bangin' track that takes me back to good times spent on dancefloors during the early 90s. Well produced too - sounds great thru my cans and had our 18-month old dancing earlier when I blasted through the hi fi. Not the most scientific test of a mix, but he's normally a reliable barometer of a good tune Really reminds me of the classic Shiva Shanti LP. I've got a copy in my record boxes somewhere, but here's a YouTube link so you know what I'm on about: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_FGurjolu5w&feature=related

[quote name='arsenic' timestamp='1353071742' post='1871243']I use a desktop so no built in speakers... [/quote] Ah... no speakers at all is quite a problem! 'Least you get to play with a shiny new pair of KRKs when they arrive, hopefully sooner than later mate. PS: fellow Reason user here! Love it as a DAW. Not everyone's cup of tea but it suits my workflow perfectly, as you said yourself.

^ They say bad things come in... what is it, sixes in your case?! Sounds like you're having a proper 'mare of a week. Here's wishing you some positive karma and hoping that your KRK's come to the rescue this weekend. You could always try laying out your track using your computer's built-in speakers for the time being, then finishing it off once your monitors arrive? Not ideal but might be worth a go.

[quote name='MiltyG565' timestamp='1353056133' post='1870942'] oh f***! i just realised i have nothing to create a drum beat with other than apple loop...[/quote] Fear not, help is at hand! Reaper is a superb DAW with a generous (in fact unlimited) free trial that you could use to programme a beat using free VSTs: [url="http://www.reaper.fm/"]http://www.reaper.fm/[/url] You can download free drum loops under Creative Commons license from this site (a great resource IMO): [url="http://www.freesound.org/"]http://www.freesound.org/[/url] And if all else fails try this: [url="http://lmgtfy.com/?q=free+drum+loops"]http://lmgtfy.com/?q=free+drum+loops[/url]

[quote name='WalMan' timestamp='1353019697' post='1870715'] Bits just occasionally come to mind. Often when I'm in the shower strangely that leads to continued humming to myself until I can get out, dry, switch the Mac on and get the DAW running. By which time hopefully I still have that kernel bouncing around my skull, not dislodged by something else...[/quote] That made me laugh! A very familiar situation... the number of songs I've lost on the journey from taking a cr@p to booting up my computer is no joke [i][sorry guys, that's probably more info than you needed!][/i]

Hey Rob, Free music's always a winner with me I was getting shades of Can't Stop by the Chilli Peppers during the opening of 'Take Me Out' - in a good way. Nice track. Solid baseline, decent guitar chops and great vocal. Sounds like a full band at full tilt! I really like 'Burn Forever', particularly when the guitar kicks in. There's a slightly miss-timed kick right before the change around 1:14 or so - not a big deal at all, but thought I'd mention it with the intention of being helpful, rather than just a picky b*****d! Love how this track builds from start to finish - you do a good job of keeping the mix in check when it gets busy too. Very strong vocals on 'Right Where I Belong'. Nice drum work too. 'Over Me' is obviously the most raw of the bunch but I kinda like it because of that. Nice playing throughout and again, a strong vocal. Anyway, cheers for sharing mate. There's definitely a thread of continuity running through these tracks in that they fit together nicely. I'd be very happy with them myself. Great stuff! Paul

Wow! This is great, Mike. A stonkingly good band you've got here. Looks like a fantastic gig to be at. More please!

They all sound pretty much faultless to me, Bilbo. I know you mention in the track notes that the execution isn't perfect, but I certainly didn't notice any bloopers (although my ears aren't so well trained). Really tight outfit you've got here; great playing all round. Love the bass - of course! - and a nicely rich tone too. Production-wise they sound great. Played loud it's as though you're performing in the same room. Really dig the bass solo in Low Men Dancing, which is probably my favourite of the bunch. Likewise you play a nice run towards the end of Caustic. Very nice work.

[quote name='Lord Sausage' timestamp='1353009838' post='1870546']So are people judging this on the composition quality or mix quality or both. I thought it was just the composition.[/quote] I think it's ultimately down to the discretion of the listener. For me, a good mix is one I tend not to notice, so it doesn't distract from the song itself. But ultimately I think composition quality trumps mix quality. I mean, a good song tends to shine thru no matter how badly it's recorded, within reason of course. Personally, I find these challenges quite hard to judge! There are always lots of entries that I like and lots of different styles too, which mixes things up a bit. Not that I'd want it any other way. I tend to place less emphasis on how accurately the song reflects the theme of the month - so long as it's not way off the radar, that's fine by me. My method for judging basically involves trying to listen to all the tracks in one sitting - taking brief notes on each (yeah, I'm that sad!) - then I go off and do something else for a while... whichever track ends up getting stuck in my head afterwards normally gets the vote. At least that's how I've approached the previous months challenges. But like I said, everyone probably has their own way of reaching a decision. There's no right or wrong to it. [quote name='MiltyG565' timestamp='1353012764' post='1870593']How do you guys right music? i'm having awful trouble here. Edit- WRITE* er-durrrr! [/quote] Honestly, I have no idea! I certainly have no kind of standard 'method' that I'm aware of. I tend to get a melody, lyric or bassline rattling around in my head. If so, I'll try to capture it in the instant by humming it into my phone. And things just sort of take shape from there. Production wise I always start by arranging the drums and bass - just a habit from my experience of dance music I guess - then add vocals and keep building it up layer by layer from there. If you're stuck, maybe take some time out and listen to a bunch of music from the genre you're working with? Or just go do something else, let your brain switch off and see if something emerges from your subconscious. Usually works for me!

I was thinking EXACTLY the same thing whilst watching it! [i]"You'll have your eye out with that if you're not careful..."[/i]

[quote name='Stephen Houghton' timestamp='1352977375' post='1869967'] Can anyone recommend a pair that I dont need to re-morgage to buy, but do the job well?[/quote] No probs. You'll find everyone has their own favourite when it comes to 'phones - here's mine: http://www.amazon.co.uk/AKG-K240-MKII-Circumaural-Headphones/dp/B0016MNBAM/ref=sr_1_14?ie=UTF8&qid=1352978676&sr=8-14 I find these give a very flat and accurate sound for the price. Ultimately though, I strongly recommend visiting your local retailer and trying them out in-store (then buying online if you can find them cheaper). How well they fit your bonce can be a big issue!

[quote name='lowdown' timestamp='1352974230' post='1869899'] Not sure why i am on that list, unless someone has kindly composed on my behalf - I have been to busy to start anything......... Garry [/quote] You been sleep recording again Garry?? That snoring could do with a dose of high-pass to get rid of the rumble

[quote name='51m0n' timestamp='1352973058' post='1869886']Can I suggest we use something like a K-Meter across the stereo master out to get a maximum level of 0dB at K14?[/quote] Never heard of K-Metering (although I've heard of Bob Katz), but I'll read the article you linked to and learn more about it - see, I'm learning new stuff already! I pretty much exclusively use Propellerhead Reason as my DAW, which although now features its own brand of plug-in (called Rack Extensions) still doesn't act as a VST host. No matter - that's my problem not yours, so I'll have to find a way around it. I do have a copy of Reaper and Voxengo SPAN (which I use as freq analyser on final mixes), so I guess I could render mixes and check them using SPAN until I hit the golden 0db at K14 (have no idea what that means at present, but I'll find out ). I also have this which might be of use in this context - I dunno? [url="http://shop.propellerheads.se/product/flower-audio-loudness-meter/"]http://shop.propelle...loudness-meter/[/url] Anyway, leave it with me and I'll do some recce to get my head around it.

Many of you will no doubt hate this as being not real music. And that's all fair and good. But it's currently making my teeth rattle and I'm digging it http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=miRXrfaQrOs

Sounds great! Everything seems tightly played and produced. I think the vocals could be slightly more prominent, but I'm listening on headphones and certainly not the voice of experience you should be listening too… so take that with a pinch of salt. In all, a worthy EP. I'd be well chuffed with it. If you're ever playing Manchester way then give me a shout; more than happy to support fellow Northerners

Just downloading the stems now... had a quick listen and they all sound very workable - but not without some challenges! All good though. January deadline suits me as busy with composition challenge at the moment and then likely travelling and/or drunk over Christmas (but obviously not combining the two). Should be fun. And I'm hoping to learn a bunch of new stuff too

Nice one Si! Great to see this up and running. Should create even more interest in the Recording forum too. Count me in

[quote name='LukeFRC' timestamp='1352900795' post='1869053'] cheers... I seem to not be working this week so inbetween the job apps I may try and write the first thing in 4 years eek[/quote] Go for it Luke! And anyone else who's interested, for that matter. There's still time to put something together. I've recorded mine and am now trying to make the mix sound ok... never as easy as I'd like it to be!

[quote name='paulflan0151' timestamp='1352905435' post='1869189'] I should be going to the North West guitar show too. It's in haydock race course on the 19th of May. It's a bigger better show so if you cant make the merseyside one go to that one. Well worth a look. [/quote] Cheers Paul, I've just put it in my [size=6]diary[/size]... [size=5]diary[/size]... diary...

Cheers Paul. I live in Manchester so I'll check the diary at home and see if I can make it over for this. Sounds good.

[quote name='51m0n' timestamp='1352895740' post='1868916'] Does Soundcloud store full on wavs then? [/quote] I'm fairly certain it does. I've shared wavs via SoundCloud and they always download as the full, original files (big numbers of Megabytes!). Might be worth doing a quick test to double-check.

[quote name='charic' timestamp='1352894522' post='1868881'] Just remember you can't remove effects that are recorded on [/quote] Very good point! Means I'll have to spend some time tweaking settings beforehand... YES, I genuinely love tweaking and geeking, so that's all good

[quote name='LukeFRC' timestamp='1352893707' post='1868863'] when's the closing date? is it the end of the month?[/quote] I think we 'officially' have until midnight on the 23rd to get our entries in. Although latecomers are normally welcome as Nige said above (just means you have less time to rack up votes). ^^ PS Nige: nice tip on helping to set up the mix while recording, rather than leaving it all until afterwards. I always record bone dry with no processing, but I'm going to try your approach next time. Makes sense.

^ Cheers for the insight, Si & Nige. Very interesting to read. Really like the idea of slicing up mono vocals and panning them - I'm going to try that myself sometime. And that drum work you describe on Little Toy Soldiers made my head hurt! Wow. I've never thought of running that kind of automation on drums - I always just set up one chain of FX on drums for each track and that's it. I'm currently working on the mix of this month's BC composition challenge, so I'm going to have a go at something like this myself - I can see how this could be a great help in busy mixes. Anyway, thanks again Si. Always good to peer into the workings of your mind! I've bought a copy of You Look So Good Tonight - couldn't get the song out of my head after hearing it - and it's already been added to my mix reference library, which is my own personal hall of fame! (no cash prize for that unfortunately). I'll be picking up the rest of the album shortly. Superb. You should be rightly proud of it