Feedback on My Band's Demo, Please....

[jive1]

My new band has finished it's demo to be used for booking. But before it goes "out", I'd love to get some feedback. Please be honest, my feelings won't get hurt.

http://www.kingcomfy.com/demo/comfyDemo2.mp3

[AlmightyPancake]

Sounds great to me.

[robd]

overall sounds good, at over 8 minutes a little long, I normally try to keep demo mixes 5 or under, 25 seconds or so of each song

I'd say take out panama - very weak compared to the rest of the songs

also there a mistake in the kiss song where your guys are going into the chorus (vocals are they keep on shouting...etc) - bass and guitar arent playing the same thing - again .... with the rest of the demo being strong I'd correct that or cut it out

[Rockmusician]

Music sounds good. Lead singer is a little flat.

[pocketgroove]

Overall, I think it sounds very good; much better than about 90% of the bands out there. However, I have a bit of an issue with the vocals. Something just doesn't sit well with me; maybe something with the dynamic of your singer's voice?

Otherwise, very good! Musically and production-wise, it sounds great.

[jive1]

Originally Posted by pocketgroove

Overall, I think it sounds very good; much better than about 90% of the bands out there. However, I have a bit of an issue with the vocals. Something just doesn't sit well with me; maybe something with the dynamic of your singer's voice?

Otherwise, very good! Musically and production-wise, it sounds great.

Thanks!

Actually there are 4 different singers on the demo.
The bassist (a fellow TBer) does RnR All Nite, White Wedding, Semi Charmed Life, Vertigo, and Living After Midnight.
The guitarist does Stray Cat Strut and Purple Rain
The multi-instrumentalist (me) does Panama and Boys of Summer
The drummer does Humpty Hump.

I imagine having 4 different singers would have differing dynamics.

[jive1]

Originally Posted by robd

overall sounds good, at over 8 minutes a little long, I normally try to keep demo mixes 5 or under, 25 seconds or so of each song

I agree. I need to chop it down. The longest song is Purple Rain, which is over 2 mins. I loved the solo so much, it was hard to cut it down, so I put it at the end so someone can end it early if they wish. Without it, the demo is about 6 minutes long.

I'd say take out panama - very weak compared to the rest of the songs

Aw....Man.....you had to pick my song.
But I agree, the song is not quite in my range. I'll either redo it, try a different key, or trash it.

also there a mistake in the kiss song where your guys are going into the chorus (vocals are they keep on shouting...etc) - bass and guitar arent playing the same thing - again .... with the rest of the demo being strong I'd correct that or cut it out

I must have overlooked it.

Thanks for the honest feedback!

[jive1]

Thanks for all the honest feedback so far. I really appreciate it.

Here's one that didn't make the cut. Maybe I can replace Panama with this one? http://www.kingcomfy.com/demo/allstar.mp3

[HeadyVan Halen]

Instrumentation was good but the phrasing of the vocals was 'suspect' I thought and flat in some places..The music on Panama was kick a$$..Song #3 was the strongest for me

[didgeribass]

Sounds decent!

IMHO,

1) it's a bit too long, and got too much material in it. People have short attention spans, especially the ones listening to demos I would leave the "weakest" parts (play- and/or soundwise) out.

2) Is it possible to adjust the balance of individual instruments on the recording? For my taste, the vocals sound a bit as if the singer was standing behind the band relative to where I am listening (vocals have a lot more reverb than the rest of the band), and not in front of it. As much as I love bass, I try to mix drums and bass "into the back", and the singer to the front. Soundwise, I think "Purple rain" (or whatever the last piece on the demo is called) sounds the best, with every instrument being more or less in its place.

Hope that helps. And sorry for my poor English

[KillianRussell]

Congrats on understanding, bar owners look for acts that taste good not acts with good taste !

By opening with "Semi-Charmed" a message is conveyed that yall are willing to play songs chicks dig, which looms large in drawing a crowd. (although I would fudge the bass up if I had the chance to play with the mix under the rump shakin' principle)


If I had to cut a song I'd slice "Boys of Summer"

If I was to shuffle the order I would keep "Semi-Charmed' as leadoff ,adhering to the chicks dig it equation, I would move the excellent "Humpty Dance" (great job yall !) into the first five.

Although I have no objections with your Stray Cat Strut I would exchange it in the order to highlight the very very stellar Purple Rain.

The vocals get lost in the Vertigo mix, however all is now lost because the intro is hot

[Floridabwoy]

First of all you guys can play. You can play all the notes. That is better than most bands.

I think the issue to me is with the production. It sounds like it is done on your PC. Which most recordings are, but they don't have to sound that way. Everyone recording does it different, and every producer has their own sound. This is what I would like to see, and this is just how I like my recordings so take it with a grain of salt.

1. Try taking some of the width out of the vocals. Or just change the verb. Just like keeping the kick and the bass off each other, you have to keep the verbs off each other. It sounds like you have a lot of width on the vox and then you have a lot of verb on the final mix. It makes the whole recording sound too soft. Double the vox if you need them to sound thicker. Make sure the vocals and bass are centered.

2. The recording execution you guys do very well. However, I think all the levels need to come up in your mix, a and then bring the post volume down. It sounds too clean. Try doing your mix and then running through a the PSP Vintage Warmer VST (recommended) or another tube compressor that you have on your DAW. This will compress and make that mastered sparkle or shimmer.

3. Where's the kick. Seriously, where is it.




This is how I run my signal chains.

Drums. Compress the wholly hell out of them. Then EQ them. Make sure you bump for the kick and high hat to taste. When the kick isn't right, the whole recording sounds off. A touch of reverb if there isn't natural reverb from the room mic on another channel. If your reverb has a lo cut. Do it. That way the kick is in your face centered and fat. If you cant get the kick right. Double the drums, and eq everything but the kick out. Eq the kick on the double. (aka. layering the kick) This also gives you a separate level for the kick so you can bring up the kick and keep the lows a little in the back. However in live recordings you are usually doing the opposite and trying to take the kick out some.

Bass. Light to medium compression. Eq to taste. Maybe a touch of tube gain through VST if it is too clean. No verb. I want it right there in the center with the kick.

Guitars. Usually some verb and a lot of width. Here is where I want the most depth. I usually don't touch the Eq if I don't need to. Maybe roll them off if they are stepping all over the bass. I really want the guitars to sound natural and tubey, not like they are thru a digital stomp box.

Lastly VOX. Ok your going to hate this. But there is a free VST called GSNAP that was made to emulate the TPain sound, but it is a really nice soft auto tune when you turn the quickness down. I always autotune the singer. I am not working with Celiene Dion's, or Mariah Carey's. Autotune -> Compress and Eq to taste. Then add your verb.

Then do your mixdown.
Usually drums are a little louder than bass. Guitar a little quieter than Vox.

On the POST put a little verb, just so everything sounds smooth but not soft. After that put the PSP Vintage Warmer on the and listen to the track. EQ/GAIN/COMPRESS. Adjust your mixdown if you need to.

Export the track.



Seriously, the PSP Vintage Warmer is like the VT Bass of computer recording. It is a multi-tool that will do wonder's for your mix.
PSPaudioware.com - high quality audio processors and effects plug-ins in AudioUnit, RTAS and VST format for Mac and PC


You should also read this book.
Amazon.com: Behind the Glass - Top Record Producers Tell How They Craft the Hits (Softcover) (9780879306144): Howard Massey: Books

It is seriously a MUST for anyone doing home/small studio recording. Everyone does it differently. Did you know Alanis Morrisette's Jagged Little Pill was the first home studio recorded album that got to number one? It changed the music business.

http://www.gvst.co.uk/gsnap.htm

I felt like writing this morning. : )

[jive1]

Originally Posted by Floridabwoy

First of all you guys can play. You can play all the notes. That is better than most bands.

I think the issue to me is with the production. It sounds like it is done on your PC. Which most recordings are, but they don't have to sound that way. Everyone recording does it different, and every producer has their own sound. This is what I would like to see, and this is just how I like my recordings so take it with a grain of salt.............................................. ..I felt like writing this morning. : )

Thanks for all the input. Very helpful. I will probably use some of it, but not all of it.

It was done on a PC using Sonar and an NRV-10.

In this case, it's a demo. And I consider demos to be throwaway products. People will listen to it once or twice, and then tossed out. If it were a release, I would be much more meticulous in production. My main focus is the performance, moreso than the production.

I did do a final mix compression, but I will try out the Vintage Warmer.

Is there much difference if you put autotune before or after the compressor?


Thanks for your feedback. It was very helpful. Even if I don't use all of it for this demo, I'm going to file it away for the future. I'm at least going to tinker with it when I have time.

[Floridabwoy]

yeah.. I thought about it as a demo, but I still want to put out the best product I can even to club owners.

[KillianRussell]

As it stands now, the demo shows a club owner
A) the dudes have skills
B) the are not likely to play any 17 minute club emptying Robin Trower tunes


Authors note: Please understand this is no hate on Trower, simply a statement related to what most club owners are looking for.... in fact the Trower vocalist James Dewar was beyond bad ass....ya dig ?

[robd]

Originally Posted by jive1

The longest song is Purple Rain, which is over 2 mins. I loved the solo so much, it was hard to cut it down, so I put it at the end so someone can end it early if they wish.

Always leave them wanting more.....