Pops'n'crackles aaarrrgghhhhhhh

[SillyOctpuss]

After weeks of working on this problem I think I've finally cracked it. I've promised in a few threads to upload some sound clips of various pedals and every single time I've tried to record anything on my new laptop there have been horrendous pops and crackles over ever bloody recording. I've gone over settings in Reaper, my interface, driver settings, I've shut down my wifi, turned off all other processes and even gone back to my old interface. I think I've finally cracked it now though so stuck a quick demo down and created a new soundcloud account for here to see if it works.

If anyone can listen to this and tell me if the quality is ok on their speakers I'd appreciate it. There are two tracks mixed together, both were played on my strat with my laird of tone pedal in the effects loop of my helix.

Cheers

https://soundcloud.com/user-45390730-129135678%2Fplease-god-dont-let-there-be-popsncracks

 

[Harry Klippton]

Sounds good to me. Nice playing too!

 

[Paradox916]

I like how you use delay in your phrasing, digging that kind of ambient driven sound... sounds good buddy!

 

[SillyOctpuss]

Thanks gents I can start doing some shootouts between parts and pedal clips that i promised I'd do months ago.

 

[caiofilipini]

I think I've finally cracked it now though so stuck a quick demo down and created a new soundcloud account for here to see if it works.

Out of curiosity, what was the issue?

 

[SillyOctpuss]

Out of curiosity, what was the issue?

Seems to have been an issue with the clock settings between my hx stomp and reaper. Now that my helix is set as master and my daw is the slave I'm not getting any weird artifacts in my recordings.

 

[Brett]

Sounds good to me! The composition isn't so bad either...

 

[Stickman393]

I thought this was going to be about getting old...

 

[SillyOctpuss]

I thought this was going to be about getting old...

That's the pops, crackles and farts thread. It was supposed to here already but can't manage the stairs anymore so now it's taking a nap. It'll be here when it gets here.

 

[Chuck D. Bones]

Sounds great, like the layering.
Is the distortion deliberate, or is the record channel overloading?

 

[SillyOctpuss]

Sounds great, like the layering.
Is the distortion deliberate, or is the record channel overloading?

No that's deliberate. I like the semi broken effect you get.

 

[SillyOctpuss]

Well after nearly a year of not having time or anywhere to actually record music or build pedals ( A separate post will follow on this later today... It's been an interesting year).

I've actually finished a piece of music i didn't even follow my usual process of

A - Starts working on a new track
B - Hey this is pretty good
C - Hmm this is ok
D - Actually this is pretty shit
E - Man I'm pretty shit
F - Deletes track and walks away

Now we're finally in a new place (again more on this later) I've actually managed to stick with a piece of music and get it in a state I can almost call a song. I recorded a rough and ready take last night so I can start working on drums, bass, vocals etc.

To celebrate actually being able to finish something I thought I'd share so here's the initial take if anyone would like to hear it. I'd recommend decent speakers or headphones as the volumes pretty low.

https://soundcloud.com/user-45390730-129135678%2Frhythmic-tele-jam%2Fs-wlie5Xia26J

 

[Harry Klippton]

Nice playing there

 

[SillyOctpuss]

Nice playing there

Thank you very much. It's nice to be working on some tunes again finally.

 

[HamishR]

Very cool! If you're interested in a little critique I shall add something here. If not - read no further!

I like it but find it's perhaps a little busy for too long. I think a break-down where everything is sparser would be good maybe around 2/3 the way through, a bit like what you do at the end but maybe even more minimal and with a different sort of modulation, or some weird noise or something perhaps? Maybe some bigger reverb in the sparser bits? It's hard for it not to sound busy with so much delay.

Really glad you didn't add searing lead guitar over it. That would have killed it for me. Too Gear Page.

I would also have liked to hear the stereo field involved somehow.

Lastly, the drums are very low in the mix. Excellent stuff!

 

[SillyOctpuss]

Very cool! If you're interested in a little critique I shall add something here. If not - read no further!

Yes please. Critiques are always very welcome.

I like it but find it's perhaps a little busy for too long. I think a break-down where everything is sparser would be good maybe around 2/3 the way through, a bit like what you do at the end but maybe even more minimal and with a different sort of modulation, or some weird noise or something perhaps? Maybe some bigger reverb in the sparser bits? It's hard for it not to sound busy with so much delay.

Agreed. This was a one guitar, one take 'live' recording so I could A - Get an idea of structure and B - Have something to send over to friends ahead of getting together to jam it out with bass and drums. The finished track should be a bit less busy with more space. I really like the idea of weird noise and a different modulation though.

Really glad you didn't add searing lead guitar over it. That would have killed it for me. Too Gear Page.

So you're saying I should put down the leather trousers and cancel the helicopter I booked to fly over the church? . I love a solo as much as the next dude but I want more of a Stone Roses, dance, prodigy vibe off this when it's finished (I think). It'll be interesting to see what the finished article is like when it has bass, drums, vocals and the other lads have had some input into it. I always enjoy listening to my original demos of tracks then the finished songs. They're usually really different.

Lastly, the drums are very low in the mix. Excellent stuff!

But there isn't any drums on it yet?

Thanks for the input. If there's an appetite from anyone I can update this thread with another version in a few weeks after I get together with the other guys and get their input (along with bass, drums and fingers crossed some vocals)?

 

[HamishR]

The drum comment was tongue in cheek. Ok, now I know how you intend to use the recording it all makes sense - it's what I do when I have a band to play with. Although I would generally play just a verse or two, a middle 8 if there was one, a chorus maybe - just the bones of the song. Because I was lazy.

Don't cancel the chopper though. I LOVE going up in choppers! I used to do it for work but now drones have taken over much of that work. I hate drones...

 

[HamishR]

Thank you for being open to suggestions! I'm usually scared to do that.

 

[SillyOctpuss]

Don't cancel the chopper though. I LOVE going up in choppers! I used to do it for work but now drones have taken over much of that work. I hate drones...

Oh the jealousy strikes and strikes hard. I've never been in a helicopter. I'd love to go up in one. I've also never had one fly overhead while I play a guitar solo... Or even fly overhead while I just played the guitar.



I'm not giving up the leather trousers though! I don't care what Mrs Octpuss says. She can pry them from my cold dead corpse.

 

[SillyOctpuss]

Thank you for being open to suggestions! I'm usually scared to do that.

No thanks for making some it's genuinely appreciated. I'd always rather have some genuine constructive criticism or feedback rather than tumbleweeds.