Totally amateur recordings thread

[Altitude]

This one is a re-recording of a demo I originally did in 1989. Best with headphones. All GarageBand; the bass tracks are played and the rest is programmed.

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[One Way]

My buddy Dave is getting married next month and he will sing this song to his bride at their wedding using our recording as a backing track (a version with lead vocal missing). Fingers crossed he gets all the way through the song without becoming overcome with emotion. I don't think I could do it without choking up!!

 

[Crater]

Don't let it put you to sleep... I can't help but think I have subconsciously copied an existing work or mashed-up snippets of existing work, so if anyone knows of music that sounds suspiciously similar, let me know.

Instrumentation: Ukulele, string synths, electric piano and electric bass.

 

[Joe Nerve]

Not sure how I missed posting this one, which is my favorite...

Its all done in my bedroom. Drums are from a Roland drum machine, bass is actually a Stingray (though I used another bass in the vid for a few reasons), guitar I'm pretty sure is an SX strat, and its recorded with Cubase.

The video is just 2 musician friends who agreed to help out in another friend's basement.

 

[bholder]

Not sure how I missed posting this one, which is my favorite...

Its all done in my bedroom. Drums are from a Roland drum machine, bass is actually a Stingray (though I used another bass in the vid for a few reasons), guitar I'm pretty sure is an SX strat, and its recorded with Cubase.

The video is just 2 musician friends who agreed to help out in another friend's basement.

That's great stuff! Looks and sounds more professional than a basement video.

 

[The Owl]

A little something involving a lady and her pet leopard in late 60's London

 

[bholder]

My latest Stick practice:
with synth whistle:

with synth sitar:

 

[bholder]

More stick practice. Coming along very slowly. Still cheating and multitracking instead of playing both hands at once (well, I practice that, but won't inflict it on anyone just yet. )

 

[NSJB]

I've been back to recording in my spare time and I thought I'd drop in here for advice. I know this is the "amateur" recordings thread, but there are some pretty talented people here who I think could probably help out. I've never really recorded a song that absolutely needs vocals (I'd figure out some other instrumentation or just drop the project), but I've finished recording the attached song and it just needs vocals. There is not much other instrumentation that would work that I have on hand. With that said, I haven't really written a vocal melody part before, and I'd really appreciate advice on writing one.

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[bholder]

I've been back to recording in my spare time and I thought I'd drop in here for advice. I know this is the "amateur" recordings thread, but there are some pretty talented people here who I think could probably help out. I've never really recorded a song that absolutely needs vocals (I'd figure out some other instrumentation or just drop the project), but I've finished recording the attached song and it just needs vocals. There is not much other instrumentation that would work that I have on hand. With that said, I haven't really written a vocal melody part before, and I'd really appreciate advice on writing one.

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In my mind's ear, I could hear something like a sax solo over that instead of vocals, but essentially the same problem (other than lyrics). A good singing melody line (whatever instrument) isn't a trivial thing, even a simple one. (Edit: I'm reminded of a David Gilmour interview where he said in essence that he had to put more effort into coming up with a good guitar solo melody than the entire rest of the tune - often singing it to himself first then transcribing onto the guitar.)

 

[bholder]

Received a GK-3 recently and mounted it on my Carvin Holdsworth Fatboy, played around a little with GR-55 patches, here's the Celesta patch plus the Music Box voice and some fx, me fingerpicking "As Tears Go By". My playing sure needs work, but the GR-55 is tracking better on the guitar (which I can at least kind play already) than on the Stick.

 

[NSJB]

In my mind's ear, I could hear something like a sax solo over that instead of vocals, but essentially the same problem (other than lyrics). A good singing melody line (whatever instrument) isn't a trivial thing, even a simple one. (Edit: I'm reminded of a David Gilmour interview where he said in essence that he had to put more effort into coming up with a good guitar solo melody than the entire rest of the tune - often singing it to himself first then transcribing onto the guitar.)

Hey bholder, I appreciate the paraphrased Gilmour quote. I think I might try transcribing something that way. Just try to riff against the counter melody by humming a line and transcribing. Also, a saxophone would work well, but midi saxophone only sounds "okay" on Logic (which I'm using as my DAW) in my opinion. I just don't think it sounds great in a lead context. Unfortunately, the only saxophone players I know are very knowledgeable professionals who I don't really want to bother to work on something I do in my spare time. Thanks again for the advice!

 

[ObsessiveArcher]

We are self recording, mixing and mastering our first EP. Here's the intro and first song: Discovery - Maiden Voyage

 

[Platano Muse]

I've been multi-tracking for a bit, always learning something new. It's original stuff with some vibes borrowed here and there. Primarily guitar, though I started laying my own bass tracks around 7 to 8 years ago --> Vazquez

 

[bholder]

A little Wednesday morning wailing....

 

[bholder]

Since these have been such huge hits...

 

[FilterFunk]

I've been revisiting some of my old tunes, and decided to re-record this one; it's an instrumental with elements of funk and rock:
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[FilterFunk]

I composed this instrumental back in the mid-'80s, when poppin', lockin' and breakin' were blowin' up. I re-recorded it two years ago. My bass lines usually have a lot of variety, but this one consists of just one synth bass note played along with the kick drum for the entire song. It's all about the dance! I call it "Release the Genie."

 

[Bboopbennie]

1976- Donna Summer cover. She was so hot in many ways-

 

[bholder]

Some guitar practice:



Using Roland GR-55 synth: