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Fastlicks · Posted: Sat Jul 15, 2006 11:18 pm Post subject: Rough rhythm track

Well, here's one of the things I've been working on. It's the demented rebirth of a lydian jam I used to do with my band "Anti-matter" back around '88 - '89 There are no recorded guitars yet, as I'm still searching for the right tone, but the rhythm guitar part is already a known factor, and will be recorded by tomorrow.

There's already a fair amount of work into this even at this rough stage, but it's coming together. Gathering samples and editing them, programming the drums and fills, placing the samples at the right time to work with the music while running the guitar part in my head during the rhythm track playback, learning bit by bit how to do some basic things with all this software, etc.

I've been trying a heavily distorted amp with the guitar volume knob turned down a lot to get a slightly distorted, yet semi-clean tone that I can then turn up to transition into heavy, but it's not working out the way I have it sounding in my mind. I'm gonna' try a warm, clean tone mainly, and will experiment with a distorted double low in the mix. Got that idea from a Vai interview where he mentioned how he got the main rhythm tone for "Skyscraper". Then, to get into heaviness, there will be a seperate track that fades in at the right time. I hope it works out at least somewhat the way I'd like.

The more I learn about what I need to know about recording, mixing, and mastering, the more I realize how much I don't have a fucking clue about. I can't even describe in this post what I don't know. No wonder the top studios can get away with charging $250 an hour. They know how to make shit sound good.

That being said... I present to you, ladies and germs, the basic rhythm track to "Attack of the Lydian Cows".

Enjoy! And remember, you heard it here first at HPG... lol.

Edit: From 1:32 to 2:10 (for now) is where the supposedly crazy-ass lydian solo goes.
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WhyteChocolate · Posted: Sun Jul 16, 2006 11:54 pm Post subject:

hahaha A sample from "Night of the Living Dead"... cool!

Man, just make a scratch track for the guitar, and give us something more than a bunch a Eb's. Wink

Seriously, though, the production sounds pretty good. Mind describing the process you went through? Did you use Fruity Loops or did ya forego it?
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Fastlicks · Posted: Mon Jul 17, 2006 1:50 am Post subject:

Hahaha... thanks, man. BTW, what's an Eb? Is it similar to a pound of bacon? Wink

The main guitar is almost there. The part's already worked out and all (as of '88... lol), just trying to get a sound I'm at least more happy with. I don't know how to bring out the guitar sounds I have floating around in my head, but in the interest of getting this recording done, I'm gonna' slap on the rhythm part and work out some licks for a solo.

I used FL for the cow intro (which was actually done as two programmed beat patterns) and the drums, but everything else is being done in Sonar, including the later cow samples. The way it's all being done is really haphazard, but it's making me laugh while I'm doing it, so I'm having fun. But next recording will definitely have more method behind the madness.

As far as foregoing FL, the jury's still out. It's probably got some utility for certain things I might want to do, but for the most part, it's driven me nuts just to do the simplest shit at times. I'm really surprised at certain things it's lacking, and not finding it to be the most awesome music tool in the world for my particular needs. If it turns out I like Sonar's sequencing better, FL's out the window... unless I become Jagray full time. Then me and my dawgs will kick da beatz wit da Frooty jump off.

Anyway, guitar parts for Lydian Cows are coming soon!
_________________

I lick, therefore I am.

"They come here to see him go crazy or something. They don't realize there's notes involved."

Fastlicks · Posted: Wed Jul 19, 2006 3:01 am Post subject:

Well, we got rhythm guitar parts. Here's how the main idea of the song goes. The old mp3 has been removed and replaced by this...

Attack of the Lydian Cows - redux 1
_________________

I lick, therefore I am.

"They come here to see him go crazy or something. They don't realize there's notes involved."

WhyteChocolate · Posted: Thu Jul 20, 2006 1:02 am Post subject:

Very cool! What amp sims did you end up using?
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Fastlicks · Posted: Thu Jul 20, 2006 4:16 am Post subject:

Why thank ya', sir!

The clean - Roland Jazz Chorus, drive and bass all the way up, with some chorus, verb, delay, and compression. It's about 70% of the way to sounding how it should. Still needs experimenting. Something still not as warm and lush as I want while remaining clean.

The dirty - Dual Rectifier for the doubled rhythms, which are panned hard left and right. Just a little compression on those.

The filthy - I'm forgetting already, but I believe I used the JCM800, and a touch of verb, delay, and compression.

For bass, I used the 80's model with silvercones, which would probably be the GK800.

Part of my many engineering problems is that I don't know how to use compression correctly. It's a whole little world unto itself. Anyway, it's coming along bit by bit. I'm not going to post tons of re-do's so as to prevent people from getting sick of it.
_________________

I lick, therefore I am.

"They come here to see him go crazy or something. They don't realize there's notes involved."

Bimmerboy · Posted: Thu Jul 27, 2006 12:19 pm Post subject:

The cows have not gone away, they're just grazing for a minute. Doing more work on this tomorrow and over the weekend. I'd like to have a finished thing (or reasonable facsimile) by Sunday evening. Been a fairly busy week.
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WhyteChocolate · Posted: Sun Jul 19, 2009 9:24 pm Post subject:

Angry Angus · GRRRRRR!!! Joined: 28 Nov 2009 Posts: 27

Wow, as Dr. Evil would say, I't like cows with frickin' lasers. Very appropriate Fastlicks!!! Cracking Up

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Bimmerboy · Posted: Tue Jul 27, 2010 4:34 am Post subject:

Are you calling me a cow? Wink

Well, MOO YOU, buddy!!! You're gonna' find me eating your lawn one day with a 150 milliwatt frickin' laser beam attached to my frickin' head!
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I'm an excellent driver... Of course I don't have my underwear. I'm definitely not wearing my underwear