Cover Challenge #15 - brought to you by the letter "B"

Habanero · July 2021

Bezzer said:

Habanero said:

I find the hardest thing about vocals is trying to do your own backing. It normally requires a few takes to get the lead vocals done, and then when I try the backing it sounds too similar.

Little alter boy, or similar! I use the formant shifter on that to change the shape of my voice on backing vocals. Doesn’t change what I’ve sung but makes me sound sort of like a different person.

Does sound a bit shit on its own but blended with a few others it’s pretty passable. If used delicately.

I've tried pitch shifting with variable success. I wrote one song called "Tony" which was about Tony Soprano. When a friend heard it he actually liked that the chorus backing sounded like a group of mob wiseguys.

poopot · July 2021

Habanero said:

Bezzer said:

Habanero said:

I find the hardest thing about vocals is trying to do your own backing. It normally requires a few takes to get the lead vocals done, and then when I try the backing it sounds too similar.

Little alter boy, or similar! I use the formant shifter on that to change the shape of my voice on backing vocals. Doesn’t change what I’ve sung but makes me sound sort of like a different person.

Does sound a bit shit on its own but blended with a few others it’s pretty passable. If used delicately.

I've tried pitch shifting with variable success. I wrote one song called "Tony" which was about Tony Soprano. When a friend heard it he actually liked that the chorus backing sounded like a group of mob wiseguys.

An other (and poss more effective) way…

slow the playback down so it’s a semi tone lower… record your bv’s and then playback at normal speed.

Will sound like someone else on the bv’s without being too chipmonk

Bezzer · July 2021

Yeah pitch shifting will just lead you into a world of frustration. And never sounds very clean past a tone or so.

Formant shifting is different though, it doesn’t change the pitch, it’s adjusts the timbre of the voice so you can make it sound distinct … not like “you again”.
if it’s the pitch you struggle with I recommend working it out on guitar / piano / harp whatever and recording a harmony to your vocal then using that as a reference when singing. Sometimes it’s a lot easier singing along to a line than trying to remember it.

Snap · July 2021

I'll be using little alter boy this time. Taken me a while to get to grips with what it can do. Another effect I like to use is The Mouth, though needs a bit of a light touch as it can sound too weird. Good if mixed in gently.

Not only do I struggle with the actual singing, but also with the placement in the mix. Especially if the instrumental track is quite full and complex. Ah, yep, like this track I'm doing!

Got plenty of time anyway

Springywheel · July 2021

In addition to LAB, I guess you could also add modulation fx to the backing vocals to change their character - chorus, phaser, filters etc. mix them in low, so they’re not too prominent, but it’s obvious you’ve taken them out when muted. Try a Leslie speaker emulation as well.

IMC1980 · July 2021

Habanero said:

I find the hardest thing about vocals is trying to do your own backing. It normally requires a few takes to get the lead vocals done, and then when I try the backing it sounds too similar.

Little alter boy, or similar! I use the formant shifter on that to change the shape of my voice on backing vocals. Doesn’t change what I’ve sung but makes me sound sort of like a different person.

Does sound a bit shit on its own but blended with a few others it’s pretty passable. If used delicately.

Some pretty aggressive EQing can help; low pass or high pass much further than you normally would or do the telephone band trick. Little Alterboy is also good, delays with different settings to the main vocal can add variety.

Bezzer · July 2021

Mine has reached the stage where its "call it finished or work on it forever" so ... I've sent it in.

Bit different for me, there's sod all guitar on it

Hope some of you like my version of this "fucking terrible song"

poopot · July 2021

@Bezzer in the playlist

https://soundcloud.com/thefretboard/sets/cover-challenge-15

Springywheel · July 2021

I actually prefer your cover to the original....sounds better with piano/orchestral sounds vs the cheesy synths.

Bezzer · July 2021

@Springywheel wow, thank you! I wasn’t sure if it was a bit too much but I’m pretty happy with it.

Habanero · July 2021

@Bezzer ;I agree with Springywheel. I still don’t get the lyrics, but that’s not your fault

IMC1980 · July 2021

Fucking epic @Bezzer!

poopot · July 2021

IMC1980 said:

Fucking epic @Bezzer!

Agree… maybe start thinking of a song beginning with “C”

Bezzer · July 2021

Thank you all! Thank you very much!

stratman3142 · August 2021

Sent mine in.

poopot · August 2021

stratman3142 said:

Sent mine in.

3 in the playlist now, Anymore on the way?

https://soundcloud.com/thefretboard/sets/cover-challenge-15

Snap · August 2021

yes, I've got one not far off done/

Habanero · August 2021

Sent one in. It's a bit mad, but I've had fun doing it!

poopot · August 2021

Habanero said:

Sent one in. It's a bit mad, but I've had fun doing it!

Got it… will upload in the morning now…

Getting away from that, I just stood at the back, shouted everyone attack and nowt happened! Dog looked startled tho’

poopot · August 2021

@Habanero in the playlist:

https://soundcloud.com/thefretboard/sets/cover-challenge-15

Habanero · August 2021

I just noticed that "The Lost Boys" is currently available on iPlayer for the next few days...

Bezzer · August 2021

Habanero said:

I just noticed that "The Lost Boys" is currently available on iPlayer for the next few days...

Then everyone should get on that shizzle!

Snap · September 2021

Sent in my effort. Barrel of A Gun. I just couldn't get on with Beauty Has Her Way, and I tried!!

stratman3142 · September 2021

Snap said:

Sent in my effort. Barrel of A Gun. I just couldn't get on with Beauty Has Her Way, and I tried!!

That's been sent to me so I'll add it to the playlist for @poopot ;

poopot · September 2021

stratman3142 said:

Snap said:

Sent in my effort. Barrel of A Gun. I just couldn't get on with Beauty Has Her Way, and I tried!!

That's been sent to me so I'll add it to the playlist for @poopot ;

Ha… was sitting here wondering where it was

Snap · September 2021

sorry chaps! autofill on the address I bet.
Thanks

stratman3142 · September 2021

poopot said:

stratman3142 said:

Snap said:

Sent in my effort. Barrel of A Gun. I just couldn't get on with Beauty Has Her Way, and I tried!!

That's been sent to me so I'll add it to the playlist for @poopot ;

Ha… was sitting here wondering where it was

It's in the playlist now.

IMC1980 · September 2021

Snap said:

Sent in my effort. Barrel of A Gun. I just couldn't get on with Beauty Has Her Way, and I tried!!

I like it! No entry from me this time, been busy with other stuff.

Bezzer · September 2021

Snap said:

Sent in my effort. Barrel of A Gun. I just couldn't get on with Beauty Has Her Way

My man, that is just awesome! Fantastic job, I’d forgotten how good a song that was.

Snap · September 2021

Thanks fellas. It's one of my favourite DM tracks, shame the rest of the album isn't as good!!
Tbh. I found it quite tricky to sing, and I naively thought it would be easy. It's got a very distinct meter to the vocal and I struggled with the phrasing. Not too bad in the end, but I did so many takes over about 6 months. In the end I just thought well that will have to do.
Then the whole palaver of mixing vocals full stop which I never ever find easy. Instrumentals are so much easier!!

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Cover Challenge #15 - brought to you by the letter "B"

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