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Embarressed of your own music

Printed From: Progarchives.com
Category: Other music related lounges
Forum Name: Music and Musicians Exchange
Forum Description: Talk with and get feedback from other musicians on the site
URL: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=38248
Printed Date: November 29 2024 at 21:28
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 11.01 - http://www.webwizforums.com


Topic: Embarressed of your own music
Posted By: Ahmadbarqawi
Subject: Embarressed of your own music
Date Posted: May 23 2007 at 06:30

Well i recorded some demos using my acoustic guitar & a microphone (i sold my electric guitar due to dire financial situation)...

 
& the thing is that i'm actually a bit embarrassed to share these tracks because i know the quality is not acceptable (although my friend heard it & he thought it was pretty good)

 

Does anyone else have this problem & how do I overcome it.

 

 

 

 

 

 



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{Flashlights shade shrunken views
Of a red demon’s foxtrot in brews
Guns & flowers crown morning news
Panic-stricken guilt now ensues}



Replies:
Posted By: chopper
Date Posted: May 23 2007 at 08:08

Yes, I had the same problem when I did a bit of home recording (many years ago). My main problem was with my "singing" (and I use the term loosely). The only way around it for me was to either (a) record instrumentals or (b) put the tape on and leave the room quickly.



Posted By: Certif1ed
Date Posted: May 23 2007 at 08:14
A cheap way of getting great results is Line 6's TonePort UX2.
 
Plug it into your PC, dial up an amp (vocal or clean guitar - or even both), then record the part(s) straight into the supplied DAW software.
 
The sound will be fantastic (but I can't promise that the performance will be Wink).
 
(cheap plug time)
 
Click the link below my flashing logo, and use the password ProgArchives to listen to some music I created using Line6 gear - or go to http://www.myspace.com/Certif1ed - http://www.myspace.com/Certif1ed
 
 
 
No... I don't work for Line6 LOL


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The important thing is not to stop questioning.


Posted By: Ahmadbarqawi
Date Posted: May 23 2007 at 08:22
Originally posted by chopper chopper wrote:

Yes, I had the same problem when I did a bit of home recording (many years ago). My main problem was with my "singing" (and I use the term loosely). The only way around it for me was to either (a) record instrumentals or (b) put the tape on and leave the room quickly.

 
loooool.... well i already do instrumentals.... so i guess plan B is more like it


-------------
{Flashlights shade shrunken views
Of a red demon’s foxtrot in brews
Guns & flowers crown morning news
Panic-stricken guilt now ensues}


Posted By: Zitro
Date Posted: May 24 2007 at 09:46
My singing is just awful!! I have to do instrumentals as well.

A few times, I'm a bit embarrased and sometimes I'm proud. Depends on the quality of the songs.


Posted By: Ahmadbarqawi
Date Posted: May 24 2007 at 09:53

yea but that's exactly what i'm talking about

 

for example i think that my music is good (not technical though) & listen to it all the time & i know that i can't be objective since these songs are mine, on the other hand i'm too embarrassed to let someone else hear it in order to get an unbiased opinion....

 
that's the problem im having
 



-------------
{Flashlights shade shrunken views
Of a red demon’s foxtrot in brews
Guns & flowers crown morning news
Panic-stricken guilt now ensues}


Posted By: The Bard
Date Posted: May 24 2007 at 10:06
my band had that problem.  we recorded our first song in my living room.  wow the quality was so sh*tty... but we kinda sucked it up and put it on our website.  we called it low-fi and tried to explain to people it was just the recording, and you have to appreciate it as if you were there live.
 
im sure if you like it then people with similar tastes will like it too and maybe be able to give constructive criticism.  if they completely bash it then thats just thier opinion and it cant be that bad if you like it.


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Let the music be your master.


Posted By: Ahmadbarqawi
Date Posted: May 24 2007 at 10:10
Originally posted by The Bard The Bard wrote:

im sure if you like it then people with similar tastes will like it too and maybe be able to give constructive criticism.  if they completely bash it then thats just thier opinion and it cant be that bad if you like it.
 
you're right i guess Confused


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{Flashlights shade shrunken views
Of a red demon’s foxtrot in brews
Guns & flowers crown morning news
Panic-stricken guilt now ensues}


Posted By: StarsongAgeless
Date Posted: May 30 2007 at 14:18
Oooh.. I know how that feels!  I don't have much advice to give you at the moment, except that as you get better at recording and mixing (and pump more money into your setup) it will improve... I know there are other forum members much better at this than I am!

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Check out the http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_topics.asp?FID=71 - Unsigned Bands section!
"Like the time I ran away, and turned around and you were standing close to me." Yes' Awaken


Posted By: randyhiatt
Date Posted: June 01 2007 at 18:15
Not to plug a Mac but..... Garage Band (free) can help the recording thing quite a bit as it has all the effects and sound generators you could want.
 
The key is getting a good recording level (hot but never over the red line) and work it up from there.  Very few musicians are good engineers so give yourself a break, it takes time, practice and lots of rough re-mixes to polish up a piece.  Listen to it on different systems so you can make the needed adjustments.  Comming back after a day or so (with clean ears) will reveal what needs the work, make small tweaks and re-mix.
 
Get a home recording book and learn a few tricks too, or ask a friend to allow you to watch their process and steal ideas like mad!
 
 
 
 


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Randy


Posted By: Passionist
Date Posted: June 01 2007 at 18:38
Well there's no reason to be ashamed of the quality of the recording. I myself record my music with my nylon guitar and my flute, using only a headset-microphone in front of them. But the only thing it doesn't seem to get in is my singing. No matter how loud I yell, it sound like whisper, and like sh*t, and I'm pretty ashamed of it :P


Posted By: purplepiper
Date Posted: June 20 2007 at 16:23
just practice a lot untill you can sound good in any situation! Don't record something unless you've practiced it to death. Also, specializing in improv (like myself) can help in those sticky situations where you're loosing it...

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for those about to prog, we salute you.


Posted By: thellama73
Date Posted: June 20 2007 at 16:51
I think most composers feel somewhat embarrassed by their music at times, even when the quality is good. It's just a self conscious insecurity thing that we humans tend to have. The more you hear yourself, the better you'll feel about it, probably.

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Posted By: rileydog22
Date Posted: June 20 2007 at 16:54
Kraftwerk seems to be doing everything it can to eliminate the period of their history before Autobahn.  I don't know if this is out of embarrassment or maintainance of their image, though.  

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Posted By: Ahmadbarqawi
Date Posted: June 21 2007 at 01:50
Originally posted by purplepiper purplepiper wrote:

just practice a lot untill you can sound good in any situation! Don't record something unless you've practiced it to death. Also, specializing in improv (like myself) can help in those sticky situations where you're loosing it...
 
well the thing is that everytime i hear something that i've recorded.... i know that there's something missing & that i can do better than that, then i get frustrated & move on to another song where the same thing happens


-------------
{Flashlights shade shrunken views
Of a red demon’s foxtrot in brews
Guns & flowers crown morning news
Panic-stricken guilt now ensues}


Posted By: ailgun
Date Posted: June 21 2007 at 07:02
I remember myself being ashamed of my lyrics :D Some of my friends were really shocked because of my lyrics. So its allways interesting to sing with lyrics I wrote to my friends nowadays. But before I was emberassed.

And an advice.

FINISH WHAT YOU HAVE STARTED. Even it was not a satisfactory...

Even many succesfull musicians usually think they are not good songwriters. So let people decide wheter it is good or bad. Just have records you can rely on. Good or bad.

Atay


Posted By: Eetu Pellonpaa
Date Posted: June 21 2007 at 07:33
I think Klaus Schulze said that "To be an artist you have to be an egoist.". Maybe this is partially true, and one shouldn't be ashamed of his/her own works. But ofcourse there should be a quality control when doing an album, or when giving a concert or an exhibition. Too hard self-criticism then makes it impossible to advance as an artists, as you see all of your works too poor.


Posted By: Ahmadbarqawi
Date Posted: June 21 2007 at 07:36
Originally posted by Eetu Pellonpää Eetu Pellonpää wrote:

I think Klaus Schulze said that "To be an artist you have to be an egoist.". Maybe this is partially true, and one shouldn't be ashamed of his/her own works. But ofcourse there should be a quality control when doing an album, or when giving a concert or an exhibition. Too hard self-criticism then makes it impossible to advance as an artists, as you see all of your works too poor.
 
very true


-------------
{Flashlights shade shrunken views
Of a red demon’s foxtrot in brews
Guns & flowers crown morning news
Panic-stricken guilt now ensues}


Posted By: Bastille Dude
Date Posted: June 21 2007 at 12:59
Originally posted by Ahmadbarqawi Ahmadbarqawi wrote:

Well i recorded some demos using my acoustic guitar & a microphone (i sold my electric guitar due to dire financial situation)...

 
& the thing is that i'm actually a bit embarrassed to share these tracks because i know the quality is not acceptable (although my friend heard it & he thought it was pretty good)

 

Does anyone else have this problem & how do I overcome it.



Ah yes, I am my own worst critic. If you want a good free PC based recording platform, check out Audacity, It works great and has a multitude of free plug-ins. You can record straight into your soundcard but it helps to have some sort of mixer like an old 4 track cassette recorder or similar. Best is using an M-Box if you have the money.



http://audacity.sourceforge.net/ - http://audacity.sourceforge.net/

 

 

 

 

 

 



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DEATH TO FALSE PROG!


Posted By: thellama73
Date Posted: June 21 2007 at 13:07
Audacity is an amazing little program considering that it's free. It runs on Macs too.

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Posted By: Leningrad
Date Posted: June 21 2007 at 13:47
Hmm... I can never, ever get the tracks to sync up perfectly in Audacity.


Posted By: Bastille Dude
Date Posted: June 21 2007 at 16:51
Originally posted by Chameleon Chameleon wrote:

Hmm... I can never, ever get the tracks to sync up perfectly in Audacity.


It takes a little tweaking, But you have to use the time shift button.


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DEATH TO FALSE PROG!


Posted By: Bastille Dude
Date Posted: June 21 2007 at 16:53
Originally posted by thellama73 thellama73 wrote:

Audacity is an amazing little program considering that it's free. It runs on Macs too.


Yeah it is pretty sweet for being totally free.


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DEATH TO FALSE PROG!


Posted By: RaúlGuate
Date Posted: June 21 2007 at 17:20
Originally posted by Ahmadbarqawi Ahmadbarqawi wrote:

Well i recorded some demos using my acoustic guitar & a microphone (i sold my electric guitar due to dire financial situation)...

 
& the thing is that i'm actually a bit embarrassed to share these tracks because i know the quality is not acceptable (although my friend heard it & he thought it was pretty good)

 

Does anyone else have this problem & how do I overcome it.

 

 

 

 

 

 



I had the exact same problem as you, but it was 2 to 4 years ago.
I started recording on tape. You know, the worst quality ever!  Also my voice was totally untrained so it sucked. I did that for about one year, recording something like 6 songs.
Then I teamed up with a friend who plays keys and we recorded on a PC our only composition. It was instrumental.
Nowadays I just feel kind of proud but mostly laugh at my early recordings.

What I did to overcome that is:
- got in a band, played with as many people as I could.
- stopped singing for a while, tried to find singer.
- practicing until I could play the whole songs live and then recording them.




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