SUMMARY: Provide a decent multitrack mixes of songs from the Sun 6/7 rehearsal. The method was: get a good mix of a clip of Black Beans (which has backing vocals) and stick with that mix except when noted as that simulates being unable to change the mix during a performance with no sound-man.

Zip file with all the MP3s:

OVERALL ISSUES:

1 – Was Glen’s voice having a bad night? High notes thruout sound scratchy. Ramping up reverb helped some with vocal scratchiness but I had to turn down Rohn’s vocal reverb to keep the drums having way too much reverb (and being even more too louder). Also a bunch of drums were bleeding into Glen’s vocal mic making the drums (when Glen’s reverb was ramped) have too much reverb. EQUIPMENT TO DO: Try turning Glen’s mic further away from the drums.

2 – Since we don’t have a sound man every instrument and voice has to adjust its volume to match the song and where we are in the song. My bass’s volume knob being bad (again) is a separate but related equipment problem. EQUIPMENT TO DO: 1 Have Doug mitigate bass volume problems using amp knobs. 2 get the bass amp volume knob fixed right. Not sure when to start that.

3 – Having Rohn’s mic pick up a bunch of drums adds too much reverb to the drum sound and also will make the drums uncontrollably loud in a performance. EQUIPMENT TO DO: Have Rohn switch to a hypercardiod mic.

4 – Doesn’t show up on the recordings, but Glen’s guitar setup was having a noise problem.

5 – Not for Shooters, but have better guitar sound (e.g. right amount of distortion, etc.) is a big opportunity for improvement.

ABOUT THE MIX (DIFFERENT VERSIONS OF THE SAME BLACK BEANS CLIP):

Isolated drums and drum vocal mic (do you like the drum recording sound)?

Full mix used for all songs except where noted:

BACKING VOCALS PRACTICE MP3s

I’ll have a single page for this someday and will also have a single MP3 for Rohn with all his parts and for Doug will all his parts to allow convenient practicing.

Baby I’m The Greatest: Oh, Baby, Baby…

INDIVIDUAL SONGS:

Funk 49 – POSITIVE: followed the form. Likable rock song even with the opportunities for improvement. OPPORTUNITIES: Doug vocals way too hot a little pitchy (THE BIGGEST PROBLEM). He (other recordings) often needs help finding the right first not pitch. Guitar sound is much too thin. Bass not loud enough. Drums have opportunity to be tighter. Same thing with guitar. Lead falsetto vocals are an issue.

Love Cries Mercy – POSITIVE: followed the form with no clams. Likable song even with the opportunities for improvement. OPPORTUNITIES: guitar clam in intro. Guitar (to Doug) seems too thin on intro when everyone is playing. Bass is tentative (more reps needed. Could be homework). Lead vocals are too loud (but not grossly). 2nd verse “Love cries mercy” lead vocals are pitchy. Bridge first phrase is also pitchy. Entry to guitar solo… was that the right form (number of beats). Guitar is again way too thin on the solo. Guitar clam at start of ending bridge.

Jesus Give Me Strength – POSITIVE: catchy tempo and riffs. Likable even though its a rock song. OPPORTUNITIES: Drums over power the bridge. Glen blows the form badly. Guitar sound and off notes at the end. Missing scratch sound before the intro and after the outro.

Alright Ok – POSITIVE: Mix is good. Likable song. Followed the form. OPPORTUNITIES: bad guitar on the intro. Add some backing vocals even if its just singing the melody. Guitar solo start lots of bad notes (actually most of the solo). Guitar solo sound could be better.

Talk To Much – POSITIVE: Likable, clever song that isn’t rock. Followed the form. OPPORTUNITIES: Intro including vamp need work. Lead vocals are most a bit too loud. Bass bridge walk downs and up (sitting out would work). Chuck’s harmonies would help (after Shooters). ISSUE: replace with something else. Drums are a too big in the mix.

I’ll Be Alright Someday – POSITIVE: no a 70s rock song. OPPORTUNITIES: Mix (where did the guitar go? Should be louder to match vocals. Also, Doug’s bass volume knob is broken AGAIN). Backing vocals are badly in need of work. Better after second verse but too loud. Falsetto vocals aren’t working as well as desired. ISSUE: replace with something else?

Black Beans – POSITIVE: cute intro and idea . Backing vocals volume good on intro. Nice slide guitar solo and guitar sound. OPPORTUNITIES: Rohn’s voice sounds better on the bassie low pitch “black beans” when on pitch. Lyric mistake first verse (food instead of rice). Rohn needs to learn the lyrics and should sing it straight. Backing vocals are often too loud. Needs more repetitions.

Get Around You – POSITIVE: cute lyrics. OPPORTUNITIES: Its gotta be tight to be good. Not tight (maybe multiple more repetitions paying attention to rhythmic tightness would help). Not even close to Vadim’s Friends playing blues. Doug’s vocals are too loud. Rohn’s backing vocals are inconsistent. Guitar solo is uninspired (see issue about boring blues) ISSUE: Boring blues song musically. I’d give this lower priority as its just not tight.

Master Plan – POSITIVE: likable instrumental sound. OPPORTUNITIES: Drums trying and not achieving some fills. Rohn should self-evaluate. Drums too loud in many places. Bass mostly not loud enough (almost missing). We all have to learn to adjust volume since we won’t have sound many. Guitar solo starts well but loses its way about 3/4s the way thru. Glen’s vocals are not likable when scratchy on high notes. Should we double him when he sounds like that. Check the Black Beans clip and you’ll hear a lot of reverb on Glen’s vocals.

Normal reverb (Take 1):

With heavy reverb (also from Take 2).