Based on the songs on the Soundclick list - 1) how many tracks should be on it? 2) Which tracks should definitely be on it or off of it? 3) Which tracks could be on with more tweaking?

I don't know if anyone else actually has a CD for sale, but how many songs would you put on?

Presently, I'm working on putting some tracks up of my old band and trying to remaster (sort of) songs from 4-track tapes and have approximately four unfinished songs that need work.

Dig!

My vote definitely goes to The Velvet Promise vocal and instrumentals versions.

thanks, psyko. Anyone else care to respond?

(sound of crickets chirping)

anyone?

Bueller?

ummm...ok...

Are we talking "re-record these songs for a CD release" or are we talking "arrange some of these songs into a finished CD"?

Just curious. On lots of these songs, there's things I would suggest to re-do, or to finish, before declaring them CD material - but then, go check out half the indie stuff out there, and hey, this stuff is already as good.

I just hit the "play all" link so I'm going thru them as they play, in reverse no less, which is a good line up so far ("The Best Tonight" is a great CD opener, in my pinion... has the playful "you didn't expect THIS shit" feel to it". HOWEVER, roll back your dependency on vocal treatments - echoes/choruses (chorii?) in particular. Your voice is solid enough to stop hiding behind all that icing.

Okay the next two - "I Know" and "Blood Spilt" - move them farther back into the CD. Too depressing to come off withight away. On I Know - there's a vocal passage where you go high on the voice - re-do it - it's got a little [i]lookin for that note[/] issue going on.

NRA Fight Song - I'd say make it the second song, re-do the right-channel guitar with about half the distortion and chorus.

Okay, so, you've got the goofy Dre3000 intro song and the rawker, so I'd say follow THAT with a coolio laid back groove song... like JAZZ MUSINGS. The bass in there sounds sloppy in spots, not sure why.

Then bump it up with Untitled69, but figure out how to remove the super loud high-end. Maybe it's all the reverb, not sure. In some spots, it works, in others, it doesnt.

SO you've gone from NRA to Jazz Musing to Untitled69. NOW bring in the slowed down depressing tunes, back to back.

THEN play the Aliens song. Put So Good In Blue last. It's got a good "outtro" vibe to it.

I'm not entirely sure about the last two - maybe swap them. I dunno. They both have the slow groovy kind of vibe.

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I would say the biggest problem you've got in putting all these songs onto a CD is that over half of them are slower tempo songs, so you run the risk of putting out a boring record... boring to the uninitiated - i.e., somebody listens to it for the first time, looking for the catchy hook tune (or two). So, I'd say maybe do another bouncy instrumental, or what the hey, just throw together a remix of one of the slower ones with a break-beat remix in there; SOMETHING to pull the listener's attention a little more... if you have a collection of primarily slow songs, (IN MY OPINION) the listener will give the CD a once-thru and then pass the disc off as a slow-depressing collection of songs (all the minor key stuff says "depressing", even if you're singing about winning the lottery and putting the coals to Carmen Electra).

Hope this helped. It's all good stuff that just needs more polish.

I'm going through the same dilemma now. I've got a collection of songs, and I just don't have the motivation to go back and re-record or refine the songs.

only put like 8 song on it definitley. Dont put filler in it. Just wont do.

Put YOUR BEST AND MOST CATCHIEST songs on it.

Thanks, Otan, PP4. There are actually some of the more upbeat numbers that I have that aren't on Soundclick. I'd really like to re-record most of it with a band of good musicians. There's a lot of vox that I'd like to do again, also. And all the reverb is supposed to make my voice sound better, hehehehe. I'd like to find someone that actually knows how to mix and eq things properly and I'm sure it would sound a lot better, too. The main thing that I wanted to know is how many songs to put on a CD (that I could sell in a coffee shop or at gigs, etc.) and which songs are good songs that people would like. If you think a song has really good potential, but I really missed the boat somewhere, just let me know! I'm just finishing up some songs that were recorded a while ago with a live band. I did very minimal overdubs and redid the vocals on my Zoom. There's a couple more to do then I'll put them up on Soundclick under the band's name. I'm currently working with a new group, but, if we ever play out somewhere, maybe I could sell this CD there. Dig it!

How are you coming with the Zoom? I'm still discovering stuff on mine (uhh, when I have the TIME). I'm still not 100% thrilled with the drum sounds, but I've got two other drum machines to put to work.

As far as mixing/mastering the thing, ALWAYS try to stick to the "less is more" - set the effects the way you like, and then roll them back 50% from that. (at least for the first few hundred times you mix down). You'll discover that you can get away with a lot less chorus and reverb than you're used to using.

Ditto with fiddling with the EQ. I avoid touching the eqs at all once I've recorded a track... quality in, quality out. Get it right going into the box and you won't have eq nightmares after the fact.

Lastly, don't be afraid to use the stereo spectrum, and how. I used to be of the school of "pan everything in the center, you never know how it will be heard in the end", but, if somebody's checking your song out on a mono am-radio speaker, they're already used to hearing half of the song, so, screw em. USE the stereo spectrum, put guitars over there and over there, vocals left and right, but try to keep the bass in the center, ditto with the drums, unless you're going for a nutty mix, a la Prince's "Love or $".

I agree with PP4 - 8 songs. As you write new tunes, add individual tunes to the disc when you feel like, as a hidden bonus track. (IF you're burning them 1 by 1 at home). It makes each new series more collectible.

my 5 cents.

Yep, Otan, I know what you mean. I read that instruction manual for about 2 minutes then threw it somewhere. I should learn how to bounce tracks and do alternate takes and stuff. I never even programmed the drum tracks on any songs. I like just plugging in, making it sound ok, then hitting record!