Sam Stone cover

[darkvalley1]

Hi all
I'd appreciate any comments on this

http://soundcloud.com/darkvalley/sam-stone-1

Particularly what you thinks of the dynamics of it. I've been trying to get some expression into my playing but feel I am struggling with it and don't really know what to do about it. To me it feels a bit flat, not musically as such, more expressively, if that makes any sense.
Thanks for listening
regards
Finbarr

[delaorden9]

Originally Posted by darkvalley1

Hi all

..... To me it feels a bit flat, not musically as such, more expressively, if that makes any sense.
Thanks for listening
regards
Finbarr

hi @darkvalley1 well, to me sounds very good, not flat at all..... I only wish a little bit louder but this is not an issue

Well done man

[Bob1131]

I think you play and sing very expressively and I enjoyed listening to your performance. I think the recording sounds a bit flat and is very low volume. How are you recording? That is, what is your recording set up and chain?

From a recording perspective, just increasing the volume might reveal more tone and definition, and a touch of reverb might accentuate the dynamics.

[darkvalley1]

Hiya
Thanks for the replies.
I agree it is very low volume but don't know why.
I'm using a Samson Gtrack usb microphone and audacity software, which I have just downloaded. I started the software and pressed record, exported as a wav file and then use another piece of software to convert the file to mp3. Low volume was there in audacity.
I'm playing and singing into the microphone at the same time so don't know if this is effecting it.
I'll try playing around with it this evening and see if i can get the recording louder.
I'll have to look up reverb on google as I don't know what this is or how to apply it
regards
Finbarr

[delaorden9]

Originally Posted by darkvalley1

Hiya
Thanks for the replies.
I agree it is very low volume but don't know why.
I'm using a Samson Gtrack usb microphone and audacity software, which I have just downloaded. I started the software and pressed record, exported as a wav file and then use another piece of software to convert the file to mp3. Low volume was there in audacity.
I'm playing and singing into the microphone at the same time so don't know if this is effecting it.
I'll try playing around with it this evening and see if i can get the recording louder.
I'll have to look up reverb on google as I don't know what this is or how to apply it
regards
Finbarr

Try this in Audacity:

After importing your file go to effects; click in "normalize" and see if the the wave or spectrum of your song "grows". Or else try "amplify" but careful for not clipping ( is when your volume exceeds and distort)

Reverb is an Vst plugin which gives the song, let's say, more room and space.
The right amount depends on your taste. BUT in Audacity this is not very handy.
I would recommend you to strat looking for another DAW such as Reaper and getting to know it. It's easy and you can try it for 60 days in full.

Thanks!

[membler]

I love your rendition of this great John Prine song. Nice finger picking.
I read once that John wrote this without a guitar while delivering mail when he was working for the postal service.

[valleyguy]

Nice guitar work, good timing, nice picking. I think, though your singing is very nice, you should enunciate your words more clearly, especially the ends of words, clip them off more clearly.

Otherwise, ncie job.

[darkvalley1]

Thanks everybody for your comments.

Valleyguy, Interesting observation and very useful for me. I come from a place in Ireland call Cavan and we have a very broad accent, where we flatten out our words and run them into each other. So I think this may be what you are picking up on, and something for me to work on in future. I find it interesting as I feel I am one of those people who tend to imitate the accent of the person whose version of the song I am covering. You should here me covering a Bob Marley song in my best Jamaican accent!!

Regards
Finbarr

[Warren Gilmour]

I'm not familiar with the song but that was a real good listen all the way through...well done man!
IMO there's nothing wrong at all with your expression....I really like the raspy tone in your voice.
Only thing I could suggest it what valleyguy said is to enunciate a little better

[ukejon]

I'm Jon Prown and I love John Prine! Great rendition of one of his best tune (your voice is perfect for the song).

[el_kabong]

Finbarr - Nice job that...your voice seems well suited to John Prine's songs, which could keep you busy for a while. Cheers.