Well like I said, we've got an actual engineer coming tomorrow to help with the mixing crap. I'm a total amateur audio engineer and basically just got these tracks to a listenable state, I in no way maximized their potential.
OK, I am a fan of both the new tracks- but a much bigger fan of Wild Rover than Assurance. I think the- I don't know- earthier (I guess) the tone, the more I like it.
Okay, here is a finalized and mastered version of Black Velvet Band. Let me know what you think, as compared to the original linked in the OP. This new mix was done without any of our input, so it has an unbiased perspective and centers more around the harmonica than the violin, which is good because we already have plenty of violin on our CD.
Okay, I uploaded the master to the same page as the originals, it's labeled (master). There's a huge difference in quality. I'll never upload any audio to Xanga again. One thing you'll note is that we've re-recorded the chorus vocals so they actually line up now.
Okay, The Kesh Jig master has also been uploaded. Those are the only two I have for now, but our engineer is purportedly done with more than just those.
The reverb he's using is miles better than what I used.
Alright, that's definitely better- the Black Velvet Band master certainly sounds brighter. I think it narrowly edges out the original.
As for the Kesh Jig master, I definitely still prefer the original. In an instrumental piece like that, the engineering becomes really apparent, and I would think that's the last thing you want in a folk music album. I just feel like the master took a significant amount of life out of the original.
It's more restrained. Also, it sounds like it's sort coming from far away. I liked that in the original it sounded like I was three feet away from you guys playing. (sorry I don't know any audio engineering terms)
Okay, maybe the violin needs more presence, or the whole thing does? It does sort of sound like it's all blending together.
And Black Velvet is okay? It is more harmonica-centered now, but I think that's appropriate enough considering how much violin we have on the disc already.
Sounds very authentic Josh. Felt like being in a pub with a hammer built wooden stage. Fantastic recording.
Though, I always have at least 1 nitpick The violin at 1:48 sounded clean and plain. If you added vibrato to that part that would likely take care of the plain-ness of the lick.
And while she has a beautiful voice, she doesn't seem to fit with the ruggedness of the guys voice, with harmonica. Its very textured, and her voices is silky smooth.
Thats probably just my personal preference. But I loved it! Hope you put more up!
Okay, I just fixed what I could in time for release on St. Patrick's Day. Thanks for the feedback you guys, I'm finally done with this thing. I bought the mechanical licenses for the 3 songs that are actually copyrighted and sent off for the production through Discmakers, and I'll have them on the 10th. I'll post more then.
some of the vocal harmonies sound off somehow. i don't know if it's pitch or timing, or maybe even just a volume balance. the lyrics get a bit muddy and hard to discern is i guess what it seems like. I know so little about recording vocals, i've got nothing I can really add other than that. *shrug*
it's not taking away from the music much, just a sort of curiosity of the sound.
Were you listening to the master? I've only uploaded one song from it and a lot of things were fixed and mixed better on the mastered versions of these recordings.
I know nobody requested it but gosh darn it I've been working on this thing for almost a year and I want to share the excitement of opening up a box full of the first run of your music.
I won't actually post them here, just the links. They are too huge and I don't feel like getting infracted.
I have some video of a show we did not too long ago. We recently added two drummers to the group, so this isn't our newest new stuff, but it's new music if you've got an aching for new Irish stuff.
We're playing live for a benefit concert on Friday afternoon, I'll see if I can get somebody to video it so you guys can tell me what you think of our new drummers
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Tam I am depending on you
The quality sucks major major ass. Let me find another place to upload it.
edit: oh ok
The reverb he's using is miles better than what I used.
As for the Kesh Jig master, I definitely still prefer the original. In an instrumental piece like that, the engineering becomes really apparent, and I would think that's the last thing you want in a folk music album. I just feel like the master took a significant amount of life out of the original.
And Black Velvet is okay? It is more harmonica-centered now, but I think that's appropriate enough considering how much violin we have on the disc already.
Though, I always have at least 1 nitpick
And while she has a beautiful voice, she doesn't seem to fit with the ruggedness of the guys voice, with harmonica. Its very textured, and her voices is silky smooth.
Thats probably just my personal preference. But I loved it! Hope you put more up!
Thanks again!
some of the vocal harmonies sound off somehow. i don't know if it's pitch or timing, or maybe even just a volume balance. the lyrics get a bit muddy and hard to discern is i guess what it seems like. I know so little about recording vocals, i've got nothing I can really add other than that. *shrug*
it's not taking away from the music much, just a sort of curiosity of the sound.
I know nobody requested it but gosh darn it I've been working on this thing for almost a year and I want to share the excitement of opening up a box full of the first run of your music.
I won't actually post them here, just the links. They are too huge and I don't feel like getting infracted.
http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/rr218/joshofalltrades31/IMG_0637.jpg
Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee I just opened the box and there they are omigod
http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/rr218/joshofalltrades31/IMG_0636.jpg
Here's the front cover.
http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/rr218/joshofalltrades31/IMG_0638.jpg
This is what you see as soon as you open one up...
http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/rr218/joshofalltrades31/IMG_0639.jpg
And once you take the disc off, there's a super secret hidden picture underneath!
http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/rr218/joshofalltrades31/IMG_0640.jpg
The inside of the booklet, with my ugly mug on the right
http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/rr218/joshofalltrades31/IMG_0641.jpg
Here's the back, with the tracklist and a big green door that we liked, so we took a picture of it.
Apologies for the poor quality, I just took them on my crappy iPhone...
Also where can I bought you cd?
Thanks! Brohoof?
We're on iTunes, all you gotta do is look us up on there.
I forgot to tell you I bought the album!
I bought the album josh!
I bought it!
Thank you Tam you are super awesome!
Where did you buy it from?
Since we just added two drummers (a husband and wife), we'll probably record another one. And then I'll be back here asking for your ears again.