Tomcat funk version 2

[Glenn Mitchell]

I took an existing song and tweaked the tracks in Audacity.
I added a couple of solos and a funk riff.
Some may recognize the original posted over at the BR Collab.
It was a great learning exercise.

[launched]

I really liked this song to begin with - Very pro and polished playing. Hats off to a great mix. The vox were not overpowering and the stereo separation/instrument isolation is perfect. Excellent production job all around. This is a song that you really notice when it stops playing - A groove that could go on for ten minutes and then some.

The solos you added could come up just a little bit - I'm thinking the same level as the vox, but it's all arbitrary in the end I guess. You mixed everything else so well, maybe that's how I noticed.

An awesome tune, Glenn!!

Peace,

Mark

[Bluesberry]

That is just deadly.  Really cool song.  It has a real late nite vibe here.  Reminds me of a old Roy Buchannan song from the 70's.

[Glenn Mitchell]

Thanks guys.
I'm really having a fun time with the new Audacity (V1.3.10-beta)
Some very nice improvements.
They now have a forum for questions so there will be less guessing too
http://forum.audacityteam.org/
I'm at the very beginning of learning about the tools but I love knowing there is potential for me to make much more pro results.
It's an exciting hobby. I'm going to remix all my songs eventually.
I would love it if we could start a "Mix Masters" forum here for those who are into more than the MBR's presets. IOW discussions on sound engineering.
The MBR is quite tweakable but I'll bet very few get into it until they know more about the theory.

[Satchwood]

Great driving song & lyrics!!! Super mix Glen - lots of cool instruments and just luv the echo on your voice!!!  Did you do all the fx with that new version of Audacity?

[OsCKilO]

Holy Smokes Glen!!

This is Studio stuff!!!!!

Awesome!!!

A Mixmasters Section Would be great! I Would love to know how you did this!!!

[Glenn Mitchell]

Thanks
Yes I added the echo in Audacity.
Tho I did the whole vocal track, (And a bit overdone) it was easy in Audacity to just hit sections for FX - example I did the guitar solo only. the contrast is more effective.
The main techniques I have recently learned were:
1. Filters for Unmasking- reducing overlapping (redundant) frequencies.
Example- once they are played together, the bass's higher frequencies and the guitars lower freq's overlap and just add noise making them both indistinct. I cut the uppers on the bass (Low pass filter) and the lowers on the guitar (High pass filter).
This really clears them up and you can hear them as individual instruments better.
2. Compression. -Reduces the peaks that limit the volume and brings up the quieter passages.
3. Ducking. - reducing volume on background instruments while more lead instruments or vox are occurring. This is like playing quietly while the vocalist is singing and then bringing levels back up in between. It means they are not competing or "shouting down" the others so the overall volume can be reduced yet remain clear.
I did this manually before I found out there is a plugin tool for it in the new version.
4. EQ'ing for quality and further unmasking. Brighten up dull sounds and cut booming.
5. Mix in Mono- using the above tools you should be able to hear the parts distinctly in mono, it just get better once you start to pan and you don't need to pan as much making it more natural.
That's all I've been learning so far and I need to become more subtle with the tools (Takes a lot of practice) but I'm excited about how effective they can be.

[Tangled Wires]

Great stuff Glenn, really enjoyed this one. Your production is top class as always, and thanks for the tips and techniques you have given here in that respect

[Gritter]

Damn fine stuff...so groovy baby.

BUMP-a-FIED!!!!!

[Bluesberry]

Nice one Sandy, you are on a bumping mission tonight.  Great to hear classics like this.  Still reminds me of Roy Buchannan