NOOB HOME RECORDING (011) PLASTIC FLOWERS RAW VOCAL MIX

After completing the levels-only mix I went through the POD Farm vocal presets and found one that had a clean reverb effect. I stuck with my plan to record wet so that I didn't have to fiddle with the dry track during mixing.

I recorded one track for the main vocal first. Then another performance track doubling the chorus parts only.  I did one rough pass to include the main vocals to the levels-only mix. When I was happy with it, I proceeded to do the back up vocals. I used the same POD Farm vocal preset but adjusted the reverb module to increase the depth and make the back up vocals sound farther from the main vocal. I duplicated the back up vocals and panned them left and right.

Here's a clip.

Levels-and-Panning-Only Rough Mix including Vocals

So far so good :)

I'll let it stew for a bit to give my ear a rest and listen to it a few more times. Then I'll make a final decision whether to proceed with the mixing segment.

See the Plastic Flowers NHR String

NOOB HOME RECORDING (010) PLASTIC FLOWERS ROUGH INSTRUMENTAL MIX

After recording the basic parts, Guitar, Bass and Drums, I did an initial "levels and panning only" mix to get a rough idea of the final product and also to make it sound somewhat pleasing when I start laying down vocals. I think it improves my performance when the music sounds good, at least in my ears.

The tracks I ended up with are:

Dave Grohl at SXSW

Awe inspiring keynote speech by Dave Grohl at the 2013 SXSW.

Read and watch the entire speech.

Sweet!

NOOB HOME RECORDING (009): PLASTIC FLOWERS BASS GUITAR

I think the easiest part to play on this song is the bass guitar. I tried to do it as close to how our original bass player did it. Just simple but melodic.

I used the Eighties bass module in POD Farm but left the Brite Room reverb module in place. My thinking is that since I used it on the guitar and the drums also had some room reverb within BFD Eco, the bass should be in the same "room" to make the sound cohesive.

Here's how it sounds...


Plastic Flowers Bass Clip

On the next post, I will share the rough instrumental mix. Stay tuned.

Next: NHR - #010, Plastic Flowers Bass Guitar

See the Plastic Flowers NHR String

NOOB HOME RECORDING (008): PLASTIC FLOWERS MAIN GUITAR

Back in December (2012) I finally managed to record the main guitar and bass parts of Plastic Flowers.

First thing was selecting the effect. When we played it live back in the 90s, I used a chorus pedal that fed into an amp with reverb that gave me a shimmery, watery effect. On POD Farm, I got close using a vocal preset called Verb Vocal which comprised of the Console preamp and Brite Room reverb modules. I then swapped the Console Preamp with the Class A-30 Top Boost amp.

 I then tweaked some of the amp and reverb unit to taste.

Here's what it sounds like.

Main Chorus Guitar

Next: NHR - #009, Plastic Flowers Bass Guitar

See the Plastic Flowers NHR String