Mahesh

You're welcome!

I'm a huge fan of the many wonderful free vst plugins out there. I always keep an eye out for it and it shows in my Youtube suggestions. Here's a video I'd saved recently to check out some of these cool plugins. Thought I'd share it with you. Let me know if you happen to use it already or decide to use any of them. I'll be playing around with some of them over the week.

Hey @Daltrey01, Welcome aboard! Feel free to post your Spotify link along with your lyrics. Though I must say Youtube or Soundcloud embeds - if you include either link, they will automatically get embedded into your post and be playable with the post here. This usually gets more plays or listens. Regardless, feel free to post your Spotify link. I'd be happy to check it out. Do read this topic to get a little more understanding with the Critique board: Feel free to create a new topic with your song name. When you do, I shall have this post removed or moved to an appropriate board for archiving. Much thanks!

Hello Katrina! Welcome to Songstuff. We appreciate you taking this step. I'm absolute crap with time mgmt too and try my best to keep a hold on the leash. I look forward to seeing some of that singer-songwriter flare of yours on here. Please do feel free to look around and post some of your work when you find the time! (you'll generally have context for that board pinned at the top as a topic which should help) Best regards, Mahesh

Hey @GregB, It’s been a while since I’ve used Studio One but I know exactly what you’re talking about. Hopefully another Studio One user like @john can help shed some more light into this issue. Also, I’m mentioning this only because I’ve done this tiny silly mistake before. Sometimes, I’d have a track armed and it’d be showing levels associated with the realtime signal levels being captured by the input device instead of de-arming it and having it show the meter reading of the recorded wave form. 😅 I’ve learnt better to now to always have a separate channel set up purely for recording while keeping the main channels de-armed & no inputs selected where I do the actual processing and production work.

I find this self judgement plague me at times when I am recording. The opportunity to be able to retake and ‘get it better’ puts me on this road to perfection at times. It simply wastes time. I do feel like I function with better focus on stage. There’s something about the adrenaline of being put on a spot paired with the athletic challenge to get the performance in the way you are envisioning in the moment. But most of the time, if I’m writing a song whether with a guitar or on a DAW, I allow the creative side take more control of the moment. I am not trying to find the perfect line or melody but instead trying to best emulate what I’m ‘feeling’. It involves a bit of spontaneous improvisation and a bit of decision making with the ears. I find this a better approach because it draws less importance to being perfect or getting a certain destination but instead shoves you back into the creative process to make more such decisions. Anyways, I would say that it is a double edged sword. Self critique in particular needs to balanced and nourishing instead of demotivating and self deprecating.

This is a WEALTH of information in understanding vocal expression to the level of naturalizing it to use! I respect your commitment & dedication to the curiosity of music. Cheers to you @VoiceEx. Though I do tend to indulge myself in similar 'over-killed' but immensely interesting pursuits, I've gained some new ideas to think of today because of you.

So frikkin true! I feel there's an underlying belief in many that the experience they already have in using their voice (ie., most of the sounds they produce when they speak their language) is most of what the voice can do. People who are goofy and mimic and imitate various sounds are so much more open toexploring their natural capabilities. This can be so very useful for a singer! Looking forward to hearing that clip Greg! I hear you BIG TIME!

I'm very much of the same opinion, @john! How the voice as a musical instrument is designed to work is the same for the general population with a human anatomy ie., the underlying physics that's enabling sound production. Just the technical capabilities, dimensions and applications of this instrument change across things like body type, understanding, language, musical tradition, emotional interpretation & so on. This has led me to understand that there's room for learning, building & honing an underlying vocal technique(the way in which the voice works) that is capable of supporting a wide free range of diverse applications like different languages, styles, emotions, whatever the ears are capable of catching and choosing. Regardless of whether you wanna take the car to the park or over a ramp, the way the car works and how you operate it stays the same! And this how is exactly where my focus lies; in those small but fundamental commonalities in how the voice works. By teaching my students how to look at their voice just as another instrument with volume, pitch, tone & expression being their 'controls', they are better able to connect with their voices regardless of language or musical direction. You've raised some insightful thoughts and agree with you! Thanks for the comment bud. Some may find this unusual maybe but I find this to be the most straightforward, objective way to offer vocal technique instruction & training that can cater to everybody!

The corridors and the dungeons, both!

I primarily write & perform in English but as a session vocalist, I do sing in regional languages for local films and occasional ads. Earlier, I would think that my skills in one language doesn't necessarily translate to another. But in the past few years, those thoughts have been changing. Do you prepare your voice differently when you're singing in two different languages? How so? Are there different exercises or a different thought processes you choose to pursue while in such a circumstance? Would love to hear your thoughts!

Ooooh this is exciting! All the very best @VoiceEx! Looking forward to it!

My answer would be "NO" as well. As for the reasoning, it's multiple things. For starters, I started my music career when I was a teenager. My idea of a music career then was quite grand and idealistic; which is far from what I believe now as to what my career as a musician needs to be. Besides that, I would blame it to real world circumstances such as survival & financial dependencies, limited access to studio environments and such. I would more so blame it on myself. I think in many ways, I've stopped myself from achieving things that simply could have been if I was better prepared, patient & level-headed when I needed to be; instead of rushing it. But it's opened me up to a huge learning process where I'm getting better each time I release something. Even if I have not achieved things that I thought of achieving then, I've still learnt an invaluable and irreplaceable amount of knowledge & experience in music & in life which I cannot trade for anything in this world. On that note, I wonder if I'd ever feel like I've achieved everything that I wanted to. Even if I did, I'm not sure if that'd make me happy. Cuz you know, the highway ride seems a lot more exciting than the destination. At least for now

Always on the quest to be better than where you are today - that is a wise path in learning! Appreciate your motivations and for your involvement here! Welcome to Songstuff

I’ve been getting ready to use the black and green screens for the Songstuff Vocal Coaching Academy work that I’ve been working on. Somethings to keep in mind Lighting - if there’s a gradient to the green because of shadows, it’s gonna affect the end result. Good lighting is key. You could make do with at least two to three spot lights with portable stands. Creases - having a lot of folds and creases on the green screen an affect the end product too. So keeping it well ironed and folded when not in use can be helpful.

Welcome aboard James!

Adding two modern guitarists who I really enjoy watching them play! Mateus Asato Ichika Nito

Welcome aboard George! Glad to have your thoughts and ideas on here!

I hear you there! Welcome back RESROCKS

I must say before answering to this topic, I haven't released a LOT of music like some of the other posters here. Just FYI. Speaking objectively from a career-life POV, I've two songs that come to mind. Fading Colours (2020) When it comes to numbers & metrics, I guess this song would be the most successful. I released it during the pandemic. It wasn't a release like my earlier ones that was studio produced & worked on for months & years. It was an acoustic ballad with subtle strings & piano that I recorded with my dying Macbook Pro 2012 before it actually did. Funny how that happens. Sleep (unreleased, partially released, 2016) This is the most popular song as far as my career is concerned and the most consequential in terms of what it meant for my career's growth. In 2015/16, I performed a lullaby I'd recently written called Sleep in a friend's gathering. Someone recorded the video of it and it went locally viral on Facebook. This opened up great opportunities & connections that has allowed me to sustain myself as a full time professional indie musician today. Funnily enough, it wasn't even an actual release but a random recording captured on a phone. I have released multiple versions of the song since then but haven't yet settled on an official version. This one's a live version on Sofar Sounds This is an early version of it with string arrangements: No surprises to me that this song is also the most collaborated on. I've performed this song with over 15 guest artists in different forms over the time of its existence. From fellow band members to once in a life time opportunity with Jazz legends - this song has seen many things with me. Cuz of which I'm grateful and also why I think it is worthy of being included here. Interesting topic John!

Everybody's got a different voice. Everybody's looking for something different out of their voice. And so, I was wondering.. what's been your biggest struggle or challenge as a singer that you've been trying to or been meaning to solve?

High - Blushing Satellite

I totally get what you mean. But one maybe surprised how a bad open mic can be just the perfect circumstance for a good musician to make a big impression with a story, a personality, or a song or two that describes both! Having said that, it'd still depend on the right kinda venue, the right audiences (besides the excited, nervous or desperate participants), and most importantly - the right time slot 😄

This was me when I was 20!

Sounds beautiful John. I can totally hear this one in a very Beatles-y production. And the topic is so very relevant to our times, I feel like this could be a good pick for releasing as a stand alone single. Are you planning of some sort of a bridge for this? Cuz it'd be interesting to see a glimmer of hope appear somewhere just before going - nope, on your knees. lol I had a gig over the weekend after 2 years in Bangalore. Interesting how much of a shock it can be to your body and mind when you've not had such a long and exhausting day outdoors in a while due to the pandemic. I'm recovering from feeling pretty exhausted and sore thru the week. I did start writing a Tiny Tune, I should revisit and finish the idea!