Update 01/04/04...wwww.keyboardcity.net

Ketron SD1 + Zoom 1044 HDR . Take Care .

Dan O'Neil in Baltimore






[This message has been edited by DanO1 (edited 01-04-2004).]

Dan,
OK....I'll go easy

Shorline was my favorite of the lot.

Here's some of my thoughts especially on Shorline....concentrate on the mix a bit more to get everything it's right space in the mix. With Shorline the vocals are barely audible. I try to visualize a band on stage with all the different instruments and what would I be hearing if I had the best seats in the house. How strong would one instrument be to the others etc. Look for a balance that is pleasing to the ear with nothing getting lost or nothing jumping in your face either.

The other thing..... I know Andrea likes to do the zips too.....honestly I find them annoying....and I think that will keep some from d/l'n if you put up your own site, you might consider just putting up shorter mp3's, so one can just click and listen rather than having to unzip and deal with all the winzip stuff and then delete the file afterward. If someone asks for the full version, you can always zip it to them.

Overall not bad, 1st Attempt very 50's rock & roll, mystery a more modern rock piece, again Shoreline more to my liking.
jam on,
Terry

[This message has been edited by trtjazz (edited 12-06-2002).]

Sounds like you've been having fun DanO.
I like "Get It" and "First Attempt" Cool backing vocal parts. The drums really kick. I assume that this is all SD-1?
Bill

All SD1 .


Terry ,
I agree the vocals should be up more in shoreline . I added a nice string ensemble the other day to this song .It makes a hugh difference . Oh ....I also have added some arpegiated string parts as well to help the pace . I also made asjustments on how I sing the 11st phrase . Thanks for your insight .

I left the mp3 handling up to my friend siggi . I had no control over wheather they were zipped or not .


Bill ,
All SD1 . Could you here the techno riff I placed behind the main beat of the song ?

I made it a little more pronouced and also blended the vocal harmony parts as well .

dan

Danny Boy !
Great songs, but turn up the mic ! Your vocals are buried, my friend.

I have remixed the songs with more volumne on the vocals . Still a learning process .

dano

Dan,
"Mystery" has a 70's influence that I associate with a Brian Auger song called "Whenever you're ready". Do you know the tune?

Dan,
I am listening to your songs right now.
"First attempt": nice funky feeling; I like the brass and the organs.
"Get it": again another funky number, but the sound is more contemporary and the recording quality is better (more high frequencies). Nice effect on the voice; I like also the background metallic synth sound. Very nice electric guitar solo towards the end.
"Mystery": beautiful swirling synth sound; very nice electric guitar. You definitely like funky tunes, don't you? The bass does not sound part of the style: did you play it live? The synthy sound going up and down is maybe too loud in the mix. I can definitely understand here why you are always talking of the SD1 wha guitar effect: very nice.
"Shoreline": another favorite SD1 topic of yours: the Tribal Age style; well, that's an original way to put it at work (I have often wondered how to use it). Nice chorus, which makes a pleasant contrast with the verse.
"Spirit": echoes from the 60's here? CSN&Y maybe? Very nice anyway. Beautiful voices.
Congratulations: keep'em coming.

Sorry UD ....never heard of Brian Auger . Dan

Thanks dreamer . I added a string ensemble line to shoreline right near the end pf the song . I am also experimenting with an arpegiated string part from the baroque style to add a little pace to the song .
The words of the song are my favorite , especially , "looking at your child , a story untold" . I did remix an acoustic guitar strum into the tribal age style . I also experimented with a solid body guitar riff , but liked the acoustic sound better .

Acoustic guitar from 8beat4 .

I added another tune called "touched" . Listen for the guitar "wha" .

Oh ...and yes ....I like funky stuff .

BTW ..I use the wha wha effect because the rock guitars on the SD1 are a little to be desired without it . I hope Ketron makes some changes with the rock guitars with 4.0.

Dreamer , have you tried any of the new styles for SD1 ? Dan

Dan,
I have tried all the XD9/3 styles; which styles are you referring to?

A selection of 80 styles were made available for sale by Ketron .
dan

[This message has been edited by DanO1 (edited 12-08-2002).]

DanO,
Just had a listen to Spirit somehow I missed it before. I like this tune, but more so then CSN&Y as Andrea suggests, I get a Moody Blues feeling more. Try spending a bit more time on the mix though in the mastering portion of the mixdown and try to get everything in it's own space in the mix and another suggestion might be to not strive to fill every space in the mix, often times what you don't play is more important than what you do play.
jam on,
Terry

Terry ....I added TOUCHED to the selection .


I am getting better with mixing . It could be better . I'll should have my final , final recordings done by the end of the year . dan

Dan,
Touched is my favorite of all. I like the style you've done it in and the progression.

Now with help in mind and only my opinion, let me share some ideas with you if I might.

The melodies of all of the tunes seem a bit too similar to me, try diversifying your melodies a bit more. You use a somewhat predictable pattern on where you voice is going in each of them and where you are going to sustain the notes.

The recording of the styles seems to be recorded a bit shallow, meaning they don't seem to have alot of depth to them. Try a bit less reverb, a bit more bass on some of the instruments, with a bit more treble on others. Try panning the instruments a bit left and right as opposed to center, that will place the instrumentsin different places in the mix and add some depth.

A fill and or a music bridge here or there will add some variety to the tunes.

Bring your vocals up a bit more in the mix too.

Anyway, just some ideas, but if you like them the way they are, that's cool too.
jam on,
Terry

Terry ,
Every song is a work in progress and I agree with most of what your saying . The production aspect is what I'm learning the most about . One keyboard , a hard disk recorder and a guy with some music ideas .

I am happy that I got this far .

One attempt to make some difference was to add the techno groove on 'get it right'.

I am going to add some string parts to 'shoreline' . Build more at the end.

On mystery ...I want to blend the harmony's a little more and use a softer synth sound .

I am having fun . Going to play games with the kids ! dan

Hey Dan, I just listened to your tunes again after your latest remix, and appreciate being able to make out the lyrics more clearly now (Spirit, etc), though I still think it still need to come even further forward, especially on 'Shoreline'. Your lyrics deliver some very powerful personal messages so make sure they STAND OUT CLEARLY. I especially like 'Touched' because I remembered you saying that it's a tribute to your marriage. Nice groove and vocal backup overdubs. Great SD1 B3 organ sound. Dan, I like how you take 70's & 80's grooves and incorporate them into your original music.

Dan, you've composed some nice tunes. You're a talented musician, but I think you could quickly improve your vocals even more with a couple of lessons from a good vocal coach, who could show you some simple 'pop/rock' vocal tricks which I believe would take your songs to new heights. Just my thoughts.

Btw: Are you performing out anywhere these days? Dan, Thanks for sharing. I hope I have the opportunity to get a copy of your completed CD release.

Happy holidays,

Scott

Thanks Scott .
I am stuck in the 70's + 80's .

I completely understand what your saying about vocals . I have had some vocal training in the past , but Rosanne Barr has not been returning my calls .
In reality I think alot of it has to do with how I'm recording . I have done better vocals in a real studio !

It's all a work in progress . I am happy that everyone who has posted took the time to listen . Thanks .

I hope more people tune in . Dan

Terry ,

I have new recordings coming up influenced by your feedback . I be back in a few days.

Dano

Dan,
I look forward to hearing your new work.
jam on,
Terry

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http://imjazzed.homestead.com/Index.html

Hey dan...have you recorded any new Tunes on the Sd-1 or?

Thanks for asking Donny . I will be recording again . I do think the demo's on my website are recorded differently than the mp3s orignally posted on this thread in 2002 . www.keyboardcity.net under SD1

Looking for blues ? Listen to 1st attempt

Soothing music ? "shoreline"

funky ? de ja vu

Have another listen ..........

[This message has been edited by DanO1 (edited 01-04-2004).]

Ok Dan....I'l check it out asap...

Jam On!!