"Testing the Waters" by Mike Huntingford

[Mike Huntingford]

Here is an older piece I did quite some time ago.  I am uploading it now just because I think it is a cheerful piece and I would like to bring smiles.

Please enjoy,

Comments on mix welcomed.

Mike

[Ferryman_1957]

Very nice Mike, a nice laid back groove and some really nice melodies going on here. Very relaxing as the sum shines through my window this morning.

Mix sounds pretty good to me. Only minor thing I would say is just watch the top end of some of the drums, as some of the snare sounds cut through the mix quite a lot. But I am listening on studio monitors with my hearing aids in (which means I hear the high frequencies better than most normal humans would.... ), so it may not be apparent to most people....

[Greeny (No longer active)]

Very nice - jazzy, light, and breezy. Sounds pretty good on my headphones, but the ride(?) cymbal in the left ear is quite loud and distracts a bit from all the sweet melody going down the middle.

[Mike_S]

Yeah nice Mike... cool tune... just bring down the drums a little maybe as it's a delicate / gentle tune, but other than that, lovely piece bringing happy vibes.

Mike

[Mike Huntingford]

Hi guys, I see what you mean.  Unfortunately I have lost the original DAW recording so I cannot go into the project but I can master the mp3.  I will give it a go and repost for your approval.

Mike

[Ella]

Wonderful tune! Love it. Sade-style vocals would fit to this perfectly.

[AndyR]

Yep, what Ella says ^

Cool groove, loving the piano sound. I probably wouldn't have wondered about the drums and the ride until others mentioned it... but after reading that and listening again... yep, I agree... I think... BUT, even if you could get at the mix again, you might actually lose something by lowering the drums...

I've been finding that a lot recently - on playback during tracking everything is groovy, then I come to mix properly and it's "oh NO I recorded it too slow" or "where has the groove gone" ...  and it was becuase I turned something down because it was offending me soundwise...

In the old days I was always having trouble with continually turning everything up... nowadays (happened lots over the weekend) I'm turning stuff down and I end up with... nothing! (Vocals too loud, ok, now drums too loud, ok, guitars, yuk, turn them down, wow! that bass is loud, etc... I end up with the same thing I started out with but loads quieter!!)

Like they said in Spinal Tap: "such a fine line..."

Yep, on a third listen to this - I like the drums as it is.

[Johnbee]

Oh yeah!  This is NICE!  Lovely smooth jazz feel.  Calms the savage beast for sure.  I'm thinking along the lines of Grusin/Ritenour.

  John B

[Mike Huntingford]

Yep, what Ella says ^

Cool groove, loving the piano sound. I probably wouldn't have wondered about the drums and the ride until others mentioned it... but after reading that and listening again... yep, I agree... I think... BUT, even if you could get at the mix again, you might actually lose something by lowering the drums...

I've been finding that a lot recently - on playback during tracking everything is groovy, then I come to mix properly and it's "oh NO I recorded it too slow" or "where has the groove gone" ...  and it was becuase I turned something down because it was offending me soundwise...

In the old days I was always having trouble with continually turning everything up... nowadays (happened lots over the weekend) I'm turning stuff down and I end up with... nothing! (Vocals too loud, ok, now drums too loud, ok, guitars, yuk, turn them down, wow! that bass is loud, etc... I end up with the same thing I started out with but loads quieter!!)

Like they said in Spinal Tap: "such a fine line..."

Yep, on a third listen to this - I like the drums as it is.

Thank you so much Sir - also happy you enjoyed the piece.  Trying to modify by mp3 only does have an overall impact on the sound of the song.

Mike

[Redler]

This sounds wonderful! Yes, would be perfect track for Sade!