Entourage Paul Tucci
EntourageForum Replies Created
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Jesse, I applied a +8.83 dB shelf with the +6 db point at 2500 Hz across the entire track. It works wonders for the vocal but when I listen to the track without the HF shelf me thinks that the instruments work better without the shelf because the contrast of music to vocal / background to foreground is tonally more interesting. The HF shelf on the vocal pushes it into the foreground, into our attention while the music recedes slightly. That would negate the “need” for any ducker to my ear. Funny how the right tool in the right place prevents using yet another tool. Simplicity is good. With the HF shelf engaged, the high hat percussion at the ending jumped way too far forward so definitely just think of brightening the vocal. I did like the guitar much better with the HF shelf and I reacted to the pace of the guitar positively. Slow, methodical, discretely placed. If it were early in the process of this piece I would try forgoing the synth, which is way “busy” and using the guitar and maybe a slow moving pad or strings as the propulsion mechanism. The open space the guitars provide compliment the vocal more so than the density of the synth. I love that section of the song. All that said, these are only my observations. I throw them into the ring because you asked. Like I said to Dana, I have a lot of stories, some of them are even true. 🤠 I have a lot of opinions also, some will ring true, others fall by the wayside for more important reasons than my viewpoint. I do thoroughly enjoy the exploration. PT
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Hey Jesse, Interesting, and in a good way. Firstly, I checked your waveform stats in my waveform stat checker. -14 LUFS, True Peaks of -.5 db. All good stuff. I do think the track is tonally a little dark to support the very personal, spoken word eeriness with a positive message. The intimacy of the vocal delivery is paramount to the effectiveness of the piece. We’re listening , but we might be halfway inside your head. I trust my headphones, Audio-Technica 70s with Sonarworks correction to flat phase, linear, but with the consequent latency which is a non factor for playback purposes. That said, I found a big improvement in the presentation when I put a sizable HF shelf on. All the intimate sibilance popped out, including the doubled vocals out on the sides. Now we’re definitely listening to you from inside your head. I would try cutting the intro (without vocal) and the space between the first and second verse in half. Undoubtedly, I can be accused of brevity and getting to the point in my silly songs so I have a prejudice. It may make your piece less radio friendly because of the time, but focus and concentrate your intent. Do you have any ducking tools to suppress the instruments when, and only when, the spoken word is in play and only in the frequency range where they overlap? The spoken word is the star but still connected to the support instrumentation. I think as is, the darkness slightly shadows the word. Keep churnin the stuff out! PT
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Jesse,
Congrats. You completed your vision of this piece of art. Let’s not forget how much effort, time, and angst go into the creation process. Or is that just me?
PT
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Stuart,
New member in the group so I’m just getting my first listen to your piece. Without question its my favorite piece of music I’ve heard here. Moody, dark, powerful, dynamic, emotionally powerful, and mesmerizing. It’s got a float-y feel but simultaneously so solidly grounded in a groove. Love it.
PT
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That must explain why I was looking at the tail end of the camera’s viewpoint the entire time.
Take two.
PT
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This ought to make it easier to dissect the music. Unlike Nate’s luscious composition, I favor the simplicity. KB bass, AC Gt, and the El Gt. The KB bass is possibly the culprit but it is an interesting twist.
PT
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Dana,
I’ll take “groovy.” That sounds complimentary to me, thank you very much. That Santana inspired playing is not from me. I can only take credit for giving the guitar player a direction to short for and I think he nailed the feel. My music playing prowess peaked a long time ago when I was the drummer for the Hall & Oates road crew band. The actual musical director, who played guitar with us in the crew band said to me one day “You’re the worst drummer we’ve ever had in the road crew band BUT I love playing with you!” He’s dead now and I take it as a compliment to this day.
That story is true in case you were wondering. 😉
I’m gonna dig into that brief section where it sound major / minor conflicted to you and have to learn the re-pitch part of RIP-X.
I’m feeling more confident in my mastering chops nowadays compared to when many of these “songs” were taking shape. I’d take comments along those lines anytime.
Appreciate the effort you put in to us here in the community.
PT
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“Out of pocket?” That’s Gen Z talk. Not groovy.
Thank you for posting the isolated tracks. I think I can tell why the timing of the snare / tambo catches my ear. The pre-delay on the snare verb seems to blossom on the second part of the tambo hit and it just stretches out the pocket. Love it!
PT
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Stuart,
There’s some nice trickery going on that I want to borrow, if I may. Early in the piece the snare drum almost has two voices. It’s extremely catchy and propulsive. On the two it has a dry as hell tambo or small cymbal playing with it, except not simultaneously. It’s sitting so deep on the backside that it reminds me of Levon Helm. I can’t quite count it as the “and” after 2. What’s the magic of that timing?
PT
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It’s even more muscular now.
Are you familiar with the band Sneeky Little Devil on YouTube? Dude is an excellent audio orator (on Kush After Hours You Tube also) and sly with his music production. You might draw something from him too.
PT
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The knee is getting looser, the prescibed pharmaceuticals more effective, and the dreams just flat out wackier. Appreciate the well wishes!
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I think I’m understanding the phrase “write about what you know” better at this point in my life than earlier. The conviction is deeper.
PT
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You calling Stuart and I “old?”
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Being a grey haired boomer with a new knee, hence my absence from the meetup, the idea of sych music is unclear to me. Do tell.
Dana might could do a little info blurb that would many of us could learn from.
PT
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I watched the Meet Up replay the other day and thought of how much I loved being in the Hawaiian islands way back when. Snorkeling with a friend and she pointed my attention that away to a damn turtle the size of a small VW. There’s otherworldly beauty to be seen just lifting your face out of the water or back into the water.
Thanks for the good word, I seem to have found a better audience here at Mix Protege than amongst my production buddies.
PT