Karaoke Forums

That's a good point of course Vicki.  I don't objectively know what I do out've habit (more or less of anymore) to be honest.  So many things appear to be happening simultaneously, and given my inability to hear how I sound at the present it's tough, hence the great aspect of Critique; This does appear to be easier, and I feel less restricted/constricted when singing in general, so that's likely what folks were talking about when the phrase "developing singing strength" came up..  Seems I have however (even this briefly after we'd discussed it), ALREADY forgotten the importance of "story telling", so that is something I can work on while enjoying the singing,  I suppose working on this need not detract from enjoyment aspects.

_________________
Northeast United States runner up for the "Singing Hall of Shame".

it shouldnt be a chore, you should automatically want the story to unfurl, that should be 2nd nature or that is what you should be attempting to achieve. I have always said I am a very average singer but I am a bloody good story teller and as such the odd timing issue or pitch problem is lessened in the listeners estimation

_________________
"Be who you are and say what you feel... Because those that matter... Don't mind...And those that mind... Don't matter."

by the Neo I'll go on loving you has to be one of the best renditions of that song/narrative that I have ever heard...every sing word told a story and the listener is totally enveloped and cushioned in the most gorgeous timbre. Utterly fabulous

_________________
"Be who you are and say what you feel... Because those that matter... Don't mind...And those that mind... Don't matter."

Let me head and try to listen to Neo's sub..

Been battling a nasty bug, yet ignoring it when possible.  Here I got caught in no mans land, a struggle between lyrical content meaning storyline,  and recalling the melodic line and how it made me feel when I was 16 years old when this song came out.. As a result, I ended up stuck somewhere in a confused area..

*Deleted, and redoing GL song*

_________________
Northeast United States runner up for the "Singing Hall of Shame".

Go on Loving you..
by Alan Jackson


Sounds VERY well done Neo, both technically, and in terms of you being a part of the song.. However, when I hear lyrics such as "Slip off your dress" it dawns on me that perhaps these are songs best critiqued by females because the song is a male singing to a female, and country is a TOUGH genre that I'm not too familiar with, VERY emotional in so many cases and I somewhat clam up when things become that real..  Excellent musicianship however.. I'm not too familiar with Alan Jackson being a Ct yankee..

I think this is what's impeding me too,  I'm afraid to express emotion singing.  At least too much.

_________________
Northeast United States runner up for the "Singing Hall of Shame".

ok Kappy in the first few bars I see on your face you read the song wrong
its not that sad a song
its actually ironical in my opinion. the guy in the song is actually gently taking the piss out of himself...its good natured...there is a gentleness. I think you have captured the gentleness and pensiveness, but looking at your face as you sang, your need to turn the corners of your mouth up...simply by doing that (old radio trick) you inject warmth into your voice and its the warmth only thats missing, you're pretty much on key and timing was fine too. Just needs to sound less like your life is flashing in front of your eyes as you stand on the roof of a very high building

_________________
"Be who you are and say what you feel... Because those that matter... Don't mind...And those that mind... Don't matter."

Oops.  I SURE DID read this wrong   I thought it was about unrequited love that is looked back retrospectively and although over it now, there was pain associated with a "Crush"... Fact is, I never bothered to listen to lyric flow... See,  it IS a good thing to see somebody on cam... Yeah,  I haven't a clue how to read poetry Vicki......


Again,  I judged the mood of the song ONLY by melodic content, at the expense of understanding the message..  I never listened for it.

_________________
Northeast United States runner up for the "Singing Hall of Shame".

I believe it is too Kappy but he isnt suicidal about it...just my take on the song...I have sung it myself and agonised over the bloody thing...it was what worked for me I guess

_________________
"Be who you are and say what you feel... Because those that matter... Don't mind...And those that mind... Don't matter."

I'm going to see if I can find Gordon Lightfoot someplace (on the Internet) explaining about this song !

(I'm in the GL Forums now.. I never realized most of his songs did have a hidden meaning, in fact some were antiwar songs, and some banned from radio in fact.. WOW... There's a book out "If you could read my mind" written by him).. This is getting interesting.  I never gave this a second thought.
apparently:
"Lightfoot has cited his divorce for inspiring the lyrics".


(I found a very interesting thread on this songs meaning, and posted it in the Music and Musician thread).

_________________
Northeast United States runner up for the "Singing Hall of Shame".

Gordon Lightfoot Remake..  If you could read my mind..

Goal.  Singing it more neutral since I'm not sure what feelings to exude...

http://www.singsnap.com/snap/watchandli ... /b61054d4f

Added Carefree Hghwy too
http://www.singsnap.com/snap/watchandli ... /be110203f

_________________
Northeast United States runner up for the "Singing Hall of Shame".

of the two GL the first is the better kappy, the 2nd attempt your mic is way too hot and although you have removed the sob from your voice you have also taken away the resonance and sustanance of notes.

_________________
"Be who you are and say what you feel... Because those that matter... Don't mind...And those that mind... Don't matter."

So the version I deleted was better than the remake ?  Interesting.  Oh Well,  I haven't a clue

_________________
Northeast United States runner up for the "Singing Hall of Shame".

This doesn't sound too bad to me.  Yet I can't tell..  What I think I did with this, might not have been what I did with this, and my imagination might be hearing this as opposed to an objective ear.

http://www.singsnap.com/snap/watchandli ... y/b6ad1f63

_________________
Northeast United States runner up for the "Singing Hall of Shame".

Steven, I think you did a good job singing this one, but frankly I can't tell for sure either due to the mix. I have a request. Redo singing this same song without the effects and with a higher vocal level in the mix.

I wish I could recommend a specific reverb setting to use with your Alesis mixer, but without getting my hands on one it's hard to say for sure which settings sound good. If you do need some reverb, maybe try just a little basic small or medium sized room reverb (nothing exotic for now) and make sure you're getting a high percentage of the dry signal. The setting you are using here doesn't really suit the GL song IMO.

I agree with Odie, Steven. A nice room reverb will give you a warm intimate sound and with your vocal more forward in the mix... it will allow us to give you more accurate feedback.  :hug:

I also agree 100% with Lena  

Thanks much all !

 I agree, relistened on my laptop, and can't hear me...  Just got back from a few chores, I redid the song several times btw following that attempt, but didn't want to bombard anyone... "room reverb" it'll be tomorrow. I'd do it now but a neighbor stated today {out've the side of his mouth) "So, you got a microphone"..., I  Asked if I was distrubing him, he stated, "not at all, just busting your chops", but I think this 3:30 AM singing might be disturbing some of the neighbors who keep bizarre hours and work during the day.  Thanks much Odie, Lena, and Neo... I agree different reverb...  Here are the other attempts I did following the softer attempt..

I kept these hidden or private in Singsnap so folks don't think I'm hogging the G. Lightfoot page..Are either of these better ? or is the reverb and volume still an issue ?


2ns posted attempt
http://www.singsnap.com/snap/watchandli ... /be10fb53b


3rd posted attempt
http://www.singsnap.com/snap/watchandli ... /bf129f27b

Please let me know if 2 or 3 are better, if neither is, that's cool too.  Easy song to redo with the room reverb as both Odie and Lena mentioned !!!

It's easier for me to determine my volume is way off when I switch away from my desktop system which has 6 speakers and a subwoofer

_________________
Northeast United States runner up for the "Singing Hall of Shame".

btw as a few of you suggested I made tapes of my singing from the first week I started in November on K-solo, to present, I really CAN hear a difference when lined up, and I feel more comfortable now that I've learned to get out of my "nasal voice" somewhat,  yet it's still a problem..  I now realize sniveling wimp-sound headvoice CAN be overcome by singing from the torso, as opposed to the sinuses... Thanks for all support to date !  Never thought I could get around wimp-voice at all... Still have leaps and bounds to go ! Another funny thing,  this singing stuff clears my sinuses too !!!  also gets more air into me which I need !  Seems like it's almost a breathing exercize !

OK.  retrying with room verb #17 on Alesis mixer.. I have 9 choices of room verb.

_________________
Northeast United States runner up for the "Singing Hall of Shame".

remake different room reverb, with less intensity... (2nd try)
http://www.singsnap.com/snap/watchandli ... /c411058cb

K.  will redo tomorrow and tweak this, thanks again all !  MUCH appreciated, Tweaking reverb is a new thing for me too... Given all these choices MUCH to learn about this mixing end too



Thanks MUCH Odie.  This is an area where I'm really lost, (or should I say never bothered to listen attentively)  can't tell you folks -yet again- how helpful these aspects are to me, and how helpful the honesty is !!!! ..

Odie, I have alot of reverberation options on this USB-8... Hall-9 presets-----room-9 presets---Chamber---9 presets, than delay-flange-chorus, etc, 20 options of multi, and I tend to crank up whatever feature I'm using at the time *which is the WRONG thing to do I'm sure*... Dry meaning keep level control and post control down ?

This is an easy song for "soundcheck" purposes btw.. Not a long song, not a tough song, and it's not a bad means of gauging fx and mix..

_________________
Northeast United States runner up for the "Singing Hall of Shame".

Steven, this mix is an improvement over the first recording that you posted of this song. But for some reason the vocal on this latest recording still sounds too remote -- as if the recording mic is several feet away from you. Obviously from viewing the video, you're within an inch or two of the mic so that isn't the cause. Try using a medium sized Room setting, but don't have the effects level up much at all. You still need more vocal volume with more of a straight, dry, unaffected vocal signal. To me on this song you just need enough reverb to make your voice blend in with the backing track. You really don't want any listening distractions caused by effects.  Here's a link to GL's version just for reference.
http://download.yousendit.com/6F689AA8544EE513
On his version you can't even hear much reverb being used at all on the vocal -- just enough to make it blend smoothly.

It's good to get creative with mixes at times, but on this style of song the mix should be pretty simple and straight forward IMO.

Also I wouldn't monitor or mix your recordings on a six speaker system. The vocal is liable to become too diffused between all the speakers and it makes it difficult to judge how it will sound when listened to by others. In your laptop settings I would turn off the center and surround speakers and listen only through the two front speakers w/sub or use your headphones.