I'm finally starting to record some music in Linux, after a couple of false starts. I'm still fairly new at using Ardour, and I'm only using the plugins that came with the distro so far as I need some practice with using it, but I've recorded a song. It's a rough mix (I don't even have any vocals recorded yet), but let me know what to improve with the production. Thanks.
tkmusic wrote: ↑Wed Aug 02, 2023 2:32 amI'm finally starting to record some music in Linux, after a couple of false starts. I'm still fairly new at using Ardour, and I'm only using the plugins that came with the distro so far as I need some practice with using it, but I've recorded a song. It's a rough mix (I don't even have any vocals recorded yet), but let me know what to improve with the production. Thanks.
I know how it feels making progress. But please keep in mind that your listeners' time is as valuable as yours, so you should give your best and complete your production before you ask for feedback.
Seems to require a login - never seen that before with dropbox, so not going there 
tkmusic wrote: ↑Wed Aug 02, 2023 2:32 amI'm finally starting to record some music in Linux, after a couple of false starts. I'm still fairly new at using Ardour, and I'm only using the plugins that came with the distro so far as I need some practice with using it, but I've recorded a song. It's a rough mix (I don't even have any vocals recorded yet), but let me know what to improve with the production. Thanks.
The high pitched organ sounds like a dentist's drill (or is that my tinnitus?). Drums are too monotonous. Certainly has potential though.
I have a class where the final project is a demonstration of a hardware/software package. I was planning on recording vocals during that presentation, but I wanted the rest of the song to sound up to snuff before I walk in the door. I have to get this finished before next week Wednesday.
Must be the EQ in the higher ranges causing that. I'll bring the levels down. Thanks.
Don't know why it's doing that. Dropbox has been doing all sorts of bizarre updates lately.
EDIT: I've done some work with the production, namely the EQ with the acoustic guitar/organ.
OK. Got this one.
The synth sound needs to have a much 'thicker' sound.
Snare is too prominent.
Otherwise it shows promise.
My favorite part is the keyboard runs up and down when the electric guitar comes in, it gave me a feeling of terror punk, or maybe cabaret-ish, like a Doors song 
As an opportunity for improvement of the production, I instantly "heard" the stereo trick for the guitar: you record the same part twice, pan one to the left and other to the right, it creates a great stereo width (a poorman's way of doing it, if you don't want/can't record the part a second time, is copy pasting it and moving that copy 20ms left or right. It increases width, although not as much as the real method).
Speaking of that guitar, I think something's wrong with the sound; I'm guessing it's not totally there with the tuning, or maybe there's some sloppiness in the playing (open strings accidentally played, garbled strumming?)
I would also start the fade out at the end earlier, to let the sound fade as the riff repeats and repeats... It would give a total feeling of "80s cassette", but I don't know if that's what you're looking for...
All in all I think it's a nice instrumental tune, I'm curious about in which direction you want to take the vocals...
Nachei wrote: ↑Sat Aug 05, 2023 7:12 pmMy favorite part is the keyboard runs up and down when the electric guitar comes in, it gave me a feeling of terror punk, or maybe cabaret-ish, like a Doors song
As an opportunity for improvement of the production, I instantly "heard" the stereo trick for the guitar: you record the same part twice, pan one to the left and other to the right, it creates a great stereo width (a poorman's way of doing it, if you don't want/can't record the part a second time, is copy pasting it and moving that copy 20ms left or right. It increases width, although not as much as the real method).
Speaking of that guitar, I think something's wrong with the sound; I'm guessing it's not totally there with the tuning, or maybe there's some sloppiness in the playing (open strings accidentally played, garbled strumming?)
I would also start the fade out at the end earlier, to let the sound fade as the riff repeats and repeats... It would give a total feeling of "80s cassette", but I don't know if that's what you're looking for...
All in all I think it's a nice instrumental tune, I'm curious about in which direction you want to take the vocals...
There's going to be vocals added later. That's why the fade out is so long: the chorus repeats near the end. I have a class where the final presentation is about how to use a hardware/software package. I elected to show off how to use a DAW, so I've been teaching myself how to use Ardour 6 over the past few months since I'm still fairly new to Linux and Linux audio. As part of the presentation, I plan on showing how plug-ins and effects, EQ, multi-tracking, and finally recording works, and I'll be recording vocals then.
Took your advice and adjusted accordingly. I lowered the snare volume, adjusted some EQ slightly on the drum track, plus did some EQ work with the keyboard (namely, added a bit more gain to the bass and mid end, tried to lower the higher end). This is what I've got so far.
Yes definitely better
So due to some technical difficulties, I was not able to record the vocals live in the class like I said I was going to. However, I was able to figure out what went wrong once I got home (apparently the engine I/O settings changed and Ardour wasn't recognizing my AudioBox input, but I was able to restore it to what it was) and I was able to record some vocals. This is still technically incomplete as there are some backing vocal tracks I haven't recorded yet, but it's still closer to done than it was the last time I posted. I'm not sure on how the vocal track sounds though, as even though I messed with EQ, compression, and effect settings and tried several different configurations for a while, something still seems like it needs work. Let me know how it sounds.