This is a song about a new relationship where he is head over heels in love and her not so much yet:) I was wondering if it needs some sort of percussion. Also I have this old age dry mouth click thing I would like to get rid of if anyone has ideas?
I used a swell setting on my amp to try to simulate strings? Not sure about that. Any comments greatly appreciated:)
Sincerely
Paul
This is coming along nicely! I really like the intimate feel of this one. I think percussion would only take away from that vibe. I do think this song is begging for more “strings” though. Maybe it’s because I’m picking up a bit of Beatles in this. Not sure. I’d just love to hear some violins/cellos on this one. My 2 cents 
I’d be willing to bet that someone here would contribute an orchestral track for you if you asked. That is, if you’re interested. Lol
Your two cents are money well spent:) I don’t use midi except drum loops in studio one, so yes I would have to collab for that. I grew up with the Beatles and may never be able to shake that influence. ha ha There might even be a program where I can play my guitar and get some strings sound. have to check into it. Thanks for your comments:)
Sincerely
Paul
Pretty song, Paul.
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Since it’s dry mouth, drinking water could help. Keep a water bottle close by when recording vocals, and hydrate well for several hours before that. If you take one or more medications, many of them can cause dry mouth, just FYI. Biotène is a product that is specially formulated to help with that, they have mouthwash, gum, and I think a few other products. You can also try eating some sour green apple before recording vocals. Some say it helps them. Certain foods, drinks (alcohol, sugar), and tobacco can also be culprits. Dairy causes mucus which can contribute. Some food hurt and some help, the list is long. You can also do some vocal exercises that work your “articulators” (lips, tongue, teeth) prior to recording. That gets the saliva moving rather than being stagnant, and may help with lubrication.
Wow Stan, lots of great ideas. I tried the biotene, but it didn’t seem to help. Now that you mention it, I will have to check my meds. I take a doily antihistamine and that might be a problem? Gotta try that sour green apple trick. I know it is more than just old age, because this was a problem many years before. thanks much and I’m glad you liked this little song:)
Sincerely
Paul
Yeah, I think those do dry the mouth. They quell the nose running from allergies, so it makes sense they would dry up other areas.
Lovely tune Paul. I love the unexpected major/minor chord transitions, and the melodic twists and turns.
I felt the biggest thing that needed improvement was the acoustic guitar tone. It’s a little muddy sounding, without much midrange definition. Often just experimenting with the mic positioning can make the biggest difference in acoustic guitar tone. Just try a few different positions, record them, play them back and compare them. Here’s an article that may be helpful: http://www.soundonsound.com/techniques/recording-acoustic-guitar
Another thing I’m hearing is quite a bit of boxy room tone on the vocals. These things can be remedied really easily by hanging some duvets or sleeping bags around you while singing to damp down room reflections. You can use the same technique to keep bad room reflections out of the acoustic guitar mic too. Here’s a little article about that too: http://www.soundonsound.com/sound-advice/q-how-do-set-acoustic-treatment-recording-vocals
Hi CRS Ask you just witnessed, I didn’t do anything to this song. I sat with my acoustic with a 414 in front of it and I sang thru a sure beta 58 A (I think) Lately I have been trying to use EQ to make my songs sound better, and quite frankly, It seems to take away from their originality. Being away from home, I only am doing this thru headphones. I will be home later next week and can’t wait to get my nearfields back:) I think I was too close with the mic trying not to get much of the vocal recorded. Those louder sounds tap were my headhone chord hitting the acoustic. ha ha I just can never just play the acoustic part and then add the vocal. My timing is always off. Especially with this one without even a click track. Can’t wait to read those articles you mentioned. I love learning, even at this age. Thanks for taking the time.
Sincerely
Paul
Hey Paul, nice job, great harmony, nice melody. I always wish that I do my bashing before Andrew so I don’t sound like an uneducated version of his bash, but I’ll keep this simple. The acoustic guitar has too much room ambiance in it in comparison to the vocals, making it sound a little distant in the recording. Since you mention it went straight into the mic, if there is no reverb on it, then you’ll need to find a couple of spots in the upper midrange to bring out and make it sound closer, which shouldn’t be too difficult.
As for the strings, if you can get your hands on a volume pedal you could do those swells to sound like a pedal steel guitar, which would compliment the song nicely. It would probably be two tracks, one with a higher inversion of the chords, probably spread pretty wide in the soundstage.
In terms of percussion, I agree that it probably doesn’t need much, if anything. At most a shaker way back in the mix.
Your voice sounds great on this one, just a small eq change as Andrew suggested. Nice job, hope to hear it again when you have a little time for polishing.
SB Great ideas. I think with a little concentration, I might be able to go back now next week and start the repair process. My wife didn’t like the “studio mess” so I got downgraded to an upstairs bedroom corner. It has carpeted floors, but no treatments of any kind. Might have to work on that. I don’t like the reverbs in studio one, so I will have to look elsewhere for something better. Most of the time I use a delay that says “sweeten the vocal” ha ha That’s how lame I mix:)
There was a time not long ago I decided that I had to get more modern at all costs. I recently decided, screw that, I am what I am. I will keep thinking up story lines and laying down tracks : ) Very kind of you to help.
Sincerely
Paul
hi there Paul,
just popping by (my life is a soap opera at the moment… chaotic…) and this song is a treasure. Now I see that you have some clever technical help already so I can indulge my favourite angle of simply enjoying the song. That chorus is spine-tingling… the sweetness of the harmony is just a delight. There is a magic to what you do, a sense of true melodic charm that is a rare thing.
Am off on a road trip down the country today to a funeral, with daughter and two small kids in the car… back in a few days…
Big grin when I see Emma. Sad you have to go to a funeral, but you have some time to gab with your daughter (children allowing) I know what you mean about drama. my daughter got a new puppy goldendoddle that is the sweetest dog I have been around. Well, I have been doing a little landscaping and ripped out two sago palm trees. She chewed on one of the tubers that popped out of the ground. I saw that she was shredding it, so I took it away. An hour later she was throwing up everywhere. longs story short, her chances were 50% and almost sure liver damage. Good news is she came home yesterday and they think she will be ok. One more blood test. Vet bill was $1,600…yikes. I am going back to Michigan next week. Can’t wait to get back in the studio again. This recording with cans is tough:) Thank you for you kind words. It means a lot to this old fart. The best to you and yours Emma.
Sincerely
Paul
@feaker
Hi Paul,
I’m back home again now… gawd, travelling long distances with a 7 year old and a 1 year old plus my daughter was um… well. It’s been a long week. Your puppy story sounds like something that could have happened to me… I’ve had an amazing sequence of quite large disasters lately, funny how life throws these curved balls sometimes. I’m really looking forward to catching up on some sleep and then writing down some ideas I’ve got racing eccentrically round in my head… 
Lovely to hear from you…
emma
I liked the electric guitar swells, but I think a little more would be good. For the 2nd verse it could help keep the song moving.
Hi Chandler Yes, the song doesn’t move very fast at all. Those swells are very difficult to work with. As you heard, the timing was not very good as it stands. You play the notes on the guitar and then just guess when they will record I agree that more is needed. Thanks for your take:)
Sincerely
Paul
I’m working on some stuff I recorded in my old house in the basement, and have to EQ the crap out of everything, if you get a very nice raw track down and don’t have to EQ, that’s obviously the way to go bro. It’s a nightmare lol