Critique wanted...

[kovacs]

Here is a track I wrote for this month's cover song contest over at kvr-vst.com. It is recorded in Live 4.0.4 via my PodXT. No effects or eq'ing used. The synth used is Image Line's Sytrus 1.2.

http://www.hypography.com/tracks/1104_k ... _a_sin.mp3

It's a "cover song" (well, cover rip-off fusion disco?) of Pet Shop Boy's It's a sin.

The solo is one take with some cutting and fusing to make it hang together.

I'd appreciate any comments!

[peeddrroo]

ok, i'll have a go.
first, you can turn the guitar down and compress it. it sounds really loud.
you should try to make the solo and background interact more.
and with all the gear you have (as stated in your signature), i would expect more different sounds, more things happening...
i don't know if you made first the solo then the arrangement or the other way around, but they don't seem to fit with each other. give it some air.
and your drum break is not punchy enough. make it grow, not fall.

conclusion: it needs more work young man!
keep going!

[spiderprod]

i agree with pedroo about the sound it need a bit of tweaking . i think you should add something to the middle part to make it more alive .
but i have to say it sound really good . i could really see the track in a tarantino movie .

good work , mtfswy

[kovacs]

Thanks for your comments! Much appreciated.

I wanted to put in a real break but the two-minute-limitation of the contest sort of made that difficult, but I agree that I could build upon the small break that is in there.

As for guitar volume I really have a problem with monitoring...I only own a cheap headset and PC speakers. A decent pair of monitors are next on my shopping list! Plus the only compression I own is the built-in Live ones (plus the ones in the PodXT). The lack of compression at least gives it a bit of live sound...

I didn't want to use a lot of sounds in this song because I wanted to keep it very simple. The original PSB song is loaded with FX and I tried to make it more jazzy and clean, I guess.

Again, thanks. I'm a sucker for feedback.

[Frank Schwinn]

Ok, here is my opinion,

Since the guitar is the most important element in your track, you should work on your playing to make the best performance possible.

In an instrumental the lead guitar should be very convincing and should transport emotions like a singer would.

So work on the sections that need reworking if you like.

Second, I think the drums need more variations. I find them too much loop-like. A nice tool to make variations on drumloops is the supa-trigger plugin by smart electronix (www.smartelectronix.com). Freeware!

For me the guitar is not too loud, I think the level is ok (like a voice).

And perhaps you could add some more sound textures on the synth-side!
(fx, sweeps, little hooks etc.)

Keep on doing!
(www.frankschwinn.com)

[kovacs]

Second, I think the drums need more variations. I find them too much loop-like.

Indeed. Apart from a few single hits here and there plus a couple of breakish loops, it is one single loop going on and on, so for variation i simply dropped it during the small "bridge" (which I basically had to cut out of the mix due to the time limit...bad excuse, I guess). I figured if PSB can get away with it then I most certainly can (but you guys caught me instantly).

Thanks for the freeware tip, I'll check it out!

I own BFD but I find that for tracks like this drum loops are easier to work with, if only to get a real drive into the song.

For me the guitar is not too loud, I think the level is ok (like a voice).

I also feel that way but it's good to hear other people's reactions.