Stormy sings

[StormBlaze 992]

Hi guys. My old thread of this is kinda out dated and burried and just full of my poor grade videos and song covers that have been hidden or what etc. I dont like them LOL! So here is a more updated and "modern" version of that old thread. Trying to keep it exciting. 

So some of you know I sing. I do mostly song covers, including MLP songs. Usually I do these with my partner Denz (super talented guitarist and music wiz), but I do also do collabs with some of my music friends around too. I just want to share with you some of my best and newest stuff! 

 

 

Only one here is an original song - collab with Four Strings. 

Now I am open to singing for original songs and I am also working on my very first song, with help from Denz, as I have the voice, but not really much in the way of knowing how to write a song! So hopefully I can share that with you guys soon!

In fact this weekend, I am on stage as backing singer for Tennyson's Twin (UK acoustic, folk) for 2 gigs and I hope we will have some videos to show you afterwards. I am the official backing singer. So because of this I am a little swamped (as well as UK ponycon) so if anyone wants to collab with me or has a request, please let me know. I am likely to be able to do these from November (after ukponycon).

In the works:

- Midnight In Me (with Denz)

- Try Everything ( with Regdeh)

- What can I do for You (with Steely Hooves)

- Own original song (with Denz) 

[Courageous Thunder Dash 7,824]

Ok

They all are ok listens. However, you were flat on some of your notes. Make sure you have enough air to sustain the note and make sure your posture allows for optimum airflow. For your original, you needed to sing a little louder. It felt like you didn't have enough power, which is why some of your notes were flat in pitch. 

All in all, good tracks but watch the power of your notes so you could always hit them on pitch. 

[StormBlaze 992]

28 minutes ago, C. Thunder Dash said:

Ok

They all are ok listens. However, you were flat on some of your notes. Make sure you have enough air to sustain the note and make sure your posture allows for optimum airflow. For your original, you needed to sing a little louder. It felt like you didn't have enough power, which is why some of your notes were flat in pitch. 

All in all, good tracks but watch the power of your notes so you could always hit them on pitch. 

i get a few comments saying they think im holding back on power, but i really dont feel it O.o also my posture is utterly buggered so i dunno if that affects that or if i'll ever get over that.  You're the first one to tell me im flat, like ever =/ 

Denz does all my mixing and editing and hasnt pointed out any flat notes, he's really good at pin pointing flaws, or ive never really noticed myself. so im a little taken back by such comment 

[Courageous Thunder Dash 7,824]

1 hour ago, StormBlaze said:

i get a few comments saying they think im holding back on power, but i really dont feel it O.o also my posture is utterly buggered so i dunno if that affects that or if i'll ever get over that.  You're the first one to tell me im flat, like ever =/ 

Denz does all my mixing and editing and hasnt pointed out any flat notes, he's really good at pin pointing flaws, or ive never really noticed myself. so im a little taken back by such comment 

 I have perfect pitch...so I can tell if someone is sharp, flat or perfectly on key. I do feel like you're holding back on power. When you do, you constrict your muscles in your chest, which results in straining and straining can lead to a voice crack. Also, as I said, posture is super important because bad posture leads to less air flow, which less air can actually hurt your vocal cords because if you push so hard...like I said before. 

[StormBlaze 992]

19 hours ago, C. Thunder Dash said:

 I have perfect pitch...so I can tell if someone is sharp, flat or perfectly on key. I do feel like you're holding back on power. When you do, you constrict your muscles in your chest, which results in straining and straining can lead to a voice crack. Also, as I said, posture is super important because bad posture leads to less air flow, which less air can actually hurt your vocal cords because if you push so hard...like I said before. 

Denz has asked which song/where do you think I sound flat? He wants to run it by his software to check. He showed me last night how he uses his music software (not sure what tbh, not my department heh) and it tells you if the key and pitch is on or not. He normally uses it for his own vocals, but has told me and shown me that he doesn't have to touch my vocals in adjusting pitch. So we're both wondering where you think its off for wip notes. 

[Courageous Thunder Dash 7,824]

2 hours ago, StormBlaze said:

Denz has asked which song/where do you think I sound flat? He wants to run it by his software to check. He showed me last night how he uses his music software (not sure what tbh, not my department heh) and it tells you if the key and pitch is on or not. He normally uses it for his own vocals, but has told me and shown me that he doesn't have to touch my vocals in adjusting pitch. So we're both wondering where you think its off for wip notes. 

There were multiple spots on all songs, mainly when you sing softer, sing higher or slide from one note to another. 

[MangoFoalix 24,957]

From what I think about uour covers there sees to be something off. On your first video that you posted, you sounded slightly out of key; when it comes to the overall sound of your voice you have a nice understanding on how high and low you sing. Justvthe thing that irks me most is that the vocals seem to not fit the instrumental. They both seem like two separate audio tracks that merged together in an uncanny way. This isn't just you though since I see it happen with a lot of fandom covers. Personally, I think the overall mix of the covers need work since they sound muddy to me.

If you need me to explain anymore points on what I said; feel free to ask me to elaborate.

[pegapony 193]

In my opinion music is art, and in art you can do whatever you like as long as you are happy with the result.

The only thing I can say is that the mastering/mixing may need some final touch to get a bigger sound.

I liked it a lot...

[StormBlaze 992]

Can you guys point out which need mixing more? 

Its a number of different people doing the mixes 

[pegapony 193]

7 hours ago, StormBlaze said:

Can you guys point out which need mixing more? 

Its a number of different people doing the mixes 

At work now, but promise to take a deep listening later and then come back, btw I love what you do !

[pegapony 193]

Sorry for taking time, ordinary life is taking all my time right now, I´l be back....soon.

[pegapony 193]

This is not easy, because I hate to criticize art. The songs and the lyrics are great and I like them all a lot !

You have a nice voice and it is perfect for the songs.

 

The audio production, ok after some listening I suggest this :

Hex Girl : Spread and pan the guitars of the different tracks to get a fatter sound.

 

Lunas Future : Piano sound is a little bit cheesy sounding (like a GM midi thing), Overall mix sounds ok. The vocals are a little bit "in your face" and could be more integrated with inst. tracks. with compressing and effects, EQ.

 

Head in the clouds : same as for Hex Girl

 

My past is not Today : Great track, that needs a little bit more in the effects department and layering/paning of synth sounds. Lover the Snare a bit or change it to a snare with less pitch.  And same here, integrate the vocals more into the inst tracks (compressor/limiter some eq in the middle freq).

 

Normaly when I do a mixdown, I take a sample of the final mix, and try to listen to it in different locations

In the car and on other equipment and then takes some mental notes of what to re-do. It can be, to much reverb, to much or less bass. Some instruments to loud.

This takes most of the time before the production is "ready to go".

Most important, give it time. Do the recordings and all backing, then make a rough mix. Do something else, grab a beer, go away, anything.

Then later come back with a fresh mind and ears and make the post production.

And of course I don´t do this always (as you can hear on my recordings) I don´t practice what I preach.

 

I think YouTube is full of tutorials of mixing tracks, but I go the oldscool way from the past ages with analog recording and then transform them to the digital world of today. So don´t use individual reverbs or overall effects in the plugins if possible, It´s better to use buses and effect send channels in the mixer, and then add the same reverb to all instruments to not get the "muddy" sound if different effects are used. This is an art, maybe somepony can explain it better.

 

 

Would it be possible to get the tracks for ex. My past is not Today ? To try too do a post production on, just for fun.

 

BTW Sorry for the long delay, before answering you StormBlaze

 

 

 

Edited October 11, 2017 by pegapony

[StormBlaze 992]

21 hours ago, pegapony said:

This is not easy, because I hate to criticize art. The songs and the lyrics are great and I like them all a lot !

You have a nice voice and it is perfect for the songs.

 

The audio production, ok after some listening I suggest this :

Hex Girl : Spread and pan the guitars of the different tracks to get a fatter sound.

 

Lunas Future : Piano sound is a little bit cheesy sounding (like a GM midi thing), Overall mix sounds ok. The vocals are a little bit "in your face" and could be more integrated with inst. tracks. with compressing and effects, EQ.

 

Head in the clouds : same as for Hex Girl

 

My past is not Today : Great track, that needs a little bit more in the effects department and layering/paning of synth sounds. Lover the Snare a bit or change it to a snare with less pitch.  And same here, integrate the vocals more into the inst tracks (compressor/limiter some eq in the middle freq).

 

Normaly when I do a mixdown, I take a sample of the final mix, and try to listen to it in different locations

In the car and on other equipment and then takes some mental notes of what to re-do. It can be, to much reverb, to much or less bass. Some instruments to loud.

This takes most of the time before the production is "ready to go".

Most important, give it time. Do the recordings and all backing, then make a rough mix. Do something else, grab a beer, go away, anything.

Then later come back with a fresh mind and ears and make the post production.

And of course I don´t do this always (as you can hear on my recordings) I don´t practice what I preach.

 

I think YouTube is full of tutorials of mixing tracks, but I go the oldscool way from the past ages with analog recording and then transform them to the digital world of today. So don´t use individual reverbs or overall effects in the plugins if possible, It´s better to use buses and effect send channels in the mixer, and then add the same reverb to all instruments to not get the "muddy" sound if different effects are used. This is an art, maybe somepony can explain it better.

 

 

Would it be possible to get the tracks for ex. My past is not Today ? To try too do a post production on, just for fun.

 

BTW Sorry for the long delay, before answering you StormBlaze

 

 

 

righty ho, so first off I just want to note that 2 of the tracks are out of my control on mixing fully - Thinking about Soarin and My Past is not today. My Past is not today is actually a case of singing from someone's kareoke track (credited in the video descrip), Denz mixed my vocals for it, but because its not really a track you can easily pull apart, its probably stands out as my vocals being laid on top of it. 

For the other tracks mentioned, he has assured me that he does do everything youve mentioned and suggested, but its a case of different kit settings and each to their own on hearing it. Same goes for previous comments in this thread. He's aware of whats been pointed out, but please be aware he is no amateur, contrary to what you guys think, Ive never seen anyone so obsessed with getting his tracks on point before.  

 

What im a little disappointed in is that I kinda wanted feedback on my singing as opposed to how the tracks are done. I want to work with more musicians in this fandom, but im still a nobody. 

[pegapony 193]

Sorry I don´t want to disappoint anypony, ever..... I´m a kind being.

I´m mostly making instrumental tracks as you can hear from my posts, so that´s why the production is my thing.

I want to work together too with musicians in this fandom, But I don´t know with what. I can act as an producer of others material and sound pony, that´s my thing.

Lyrics and singing is not my strong part here. (ok I have done it too, just not good at it)

And StormBlaze you are not a "nobody" I like your voice and songs.

I´m a nobody... blankflank pony in this FAD.