Tool fans? I need some constructive criticism.

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ctoddrun

ctoddrun

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We're a new band. Drummer and I have played together for a while, but the bass and singer have only been with us for six and five rehearsals, respectively.


When I ask my nonmuso friends about what they think, they dont know what to listen for so all I hear is, "sounds good to me".

I just wanted to see if I could get some feedback on what YOU hear.


Thanks for your time!
 
guitar sound needs to be a little thicker to nail the sound, but still pretty good! what? no grudge? shame on you :D
 
Yeah, the guitars need to be a little thicker and it sounds a bit too scooped; it lacks that attack and crunch in the mids. The bass is lacking some attack too. Overall really good though. Plus some of what I mentioned may have been lost in the recording.
 
We dont get to rehearse again for three weeks, but The Grudge is on the list for when we do.

We still have to work out Eulogy and Lateralus, so it might not be too smart adding another new one, but as infrequent as we get to practice, its just the way it is.


I wonder how I can thicken my guitar sound?


I mean, besides adding a second amp. I already lug enough shit around.
 
ctoddrun":10whl5p3 said:
We dont get to rehearse again for three weeks, but The Grudge is on the list for when we do.

We still have to work out Eulogy and Lateralus, so it might not be too smart adding another new one, but as infrequent as we get to practice, its just the way it is.


I wonder how I can thicken my guitar sound?


I mean, besides adding a second amp. I already lug enough shit around.
Click to expand...

what amp do you use?
 
Herbert on the third channel all night long.

Gain set at about 10:30.
 
Guitar's sounding very good. Bass needs a bit more work but pretty good.

:yes:

Drums are cool, but good session pros I know are all 'Danny Carey - WTF' - your drummer is aiming for the master! It's the little extras that are hard to add, and IMO will always be missing from covers. Still, I can tell that you two have been playing together because you've got it locked pretty well down and the vibe is good which is the main thing.

Good work, nice tone. :thumbsup:

As for vocals. Eeerrrmmm... just a personal thing, really, which is why I've never tried Tool covers period (fooled around with 46&2, Sober, and a couple of others, nowhere near a 'play in front of others' standard). I'm certainly not knocking your singer but the only person who can whine like Maynard is Maynard..!! Anything else doesn't sound quite right to these somewhat jaded ears.

(note: I've owned Aenima since day zero and seen Tool live what... 13 times or so so I'm a bit of an anally retentive fanatic!! Along with Faith No More I rate Tool as pretty much uncoverable :doh: )

:lol: :LOL:
 
Thanks for the details, Hairy. I really appreciate it.



As far as the mix goes, its one condenser mic into a Minidisc recorder set in the middle of the room.

It is what it is.
 
ctoddrun":2k38lru2 said:
Herbert on the third channel all night long.

Gain set at about 10:30.
Click to expand...

woah! in that case, just a better mix.
 
Not bad. I think that your singer copped Maynard pretty well actually. A pretty similar tibre to their voice. My one comment is his rhythm, he seems to be behind the music. Otherwise, you guys sound pretty good.
 
Yeah, I've heard his behind-the-beat vocals and have commented to him on it.


He hadnt been in a band for six or more years prior to singing for us, so he gets a bit of a pass.

Not to mention, he more than makes up for it by his KNOWING the songs... I mean, he still needs lyrics on occasion, but he knows the whispers, noises, inflections, etc. better than anyone I've met, so that goes a LONG way in my book.


I just bought one of these for him to use.

http://www.tc-helicon.com/Default.asp?Id=10409


It seems as if that pedal is going to solve a LOT of problems for us... live effect switching with delays, the bullhorn sounds, the distortion, the AM radio sounding stuff (like at the beginning of Stinkfist)...

I'll record again the next time and if it comes out at all, I'll share it to see what sort of improvements a few more weeks (of individual) practice and some vocal effects will yeild.


I'll also work on my tones more. I might use an effect to "thicken" my main tone up... I dont know if I can find something that'll do it, but I dont mind the search.


By the way, does anyone know what sort of synth sound is being triggered in The Grudge? I have a way to trigger samples as I play, but am clueless as to where to find that "wwWHOOooowww" sound.
 
I honestly think switching to the second channel on plus mode will get you the thicker sound. The third channle is much more scooped sounding and tailored to cut through for leads. Try it by recording a comparison. :rock:
 
Skirmish":2myftvro said:
I honestly think switching to the second channel on plus mode will get you the thicker sound. The third channle is much more scooped sounding and tailored to cut through for leads. Try it by recording a comparison. :rock:
Click to expand...

This is true. Channel two is definitely thicker than three.
 
defpearlpilot":14xrs31j said:
Skirmish":14xrs31j said:
I honestly think switching to the second channel on plus mode will get you the thicker sound. The third channle is much more scooped sounding and tailored to cut through for leads. Try it by recording a comparison. :rock:
Click to expand...

This is true. Channel two is definitely thicker than three.
Click to expand...

+1


Your singer is definitely not comfortable with the key you play in, you should tune your instruments to his voice. What tunning you play?


PS: Tool with no Sober??
 
As far as how many tracks we recorded with? Umm... none... err... ONE.

Just one mic in the center of the room. The idea was not to present the recording as a "hey look how great this band sounds", its only for us to listen back and critique where the trouble spots are. Its not about pristine recording.


I'll give the second channel a try. I had it set up on the third from way back because before we decided to Tool-out, we only played a few of their songs with a bunch of other tunes. I dedicated channel 2 to the "lighter" rock tunes we were doing.

Channel 2+, no problem. I wonder how much gain I'll need to dial in to get in the Tool zone on that channel?

I worry about diming the gain then losing any sort of "definition" due to all of the distortion. I'll give it a try and see this weekend.


Oh.

And we just tuned to standard 440 in dropped D. I'm not too interested in tuning down. I mean, in two or three months (or whenever we get ready for stage) we HAVE to, then I guess we will. I think a lot of it has to do with he's still not really HEARING the band, he's still listening to himself sing. That should work itself out with some more practice, I think.
 
nbarts":r42jfm33 said:
PS: Tool with no Sober??
Click to expand...



We have Sober in the mix. I mean, its the easiest song they do, but truthfully, its only there for filler.

I'm anxious to get enough songs down to where we DONT have to play it.

Yawn.


The Grudge is proving to be a bit of a challenge (timing wise...).

After we get that one down, we're going to move on to Right In Two.

It'll be like, couple skate time, with a nice ballad.

:rock:
 
And we just tuned to standard 440 in dropped D. I'm not too interested in tuning down. I mean, in two or three months (or whenever we get ready for stage) we HAVE to, then I guess we will. I think a lot of it has to do with he's still not really HEARING the band, he's still listening to himself sing. That should work itself out with some more practice, I think.
Click to expand...

I don't know how it is from where he is standing, but if I was hearing what I hear in this clip I wouldn't be able to stay in tune mainly because your guitars are not loud enough in the mix.
 
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