PPT mouthpieces
PPT mouthpieces
PPT mouthpieces
PPT mouthpieces

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BOTM Jan 2016- BOTM- When Sunny Gets Blue

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OK I managed to get Audacity working so here it is with default settings, warts and all:
https://soundcloud.com/qwales%2Fwhen-sunny-gets-blue
View: https://soundcloud.com/qwales/when-sunny-gets-blue
I wouldn't say I was proud of it, best of a bad bunch really but I feel a certain urgency in getting something out there and breaking my duck.

I'd still love to know how you get those Smokey reverb settings added, if anyone can point me in the right direction? I didn't get anywhere with the default offerings. Also seemed like it added it to the backing and not my sound??
 
I'd still love to know how you get those Smokey reverb settings added, if anyone can point me in the right direction? I didn't get anywhere with the default offerings. Also seemed like it added it to the backing and not my sound??
Read more…
If you just select the track you want reverb applied to it should only do that.
 
The last time this tune was ballad of the month I tried to play it on the taragoto. This time I made it easier on myself and chose my alto. I am still trying to get used to my new Vandoren V16 A9 short chamber.

https://soundcloud.com/jbtsax%2Fwhen-sunny-gets-blue-final-1

Any comments from the Cafe "illuminati" on the sound of the mouthpiece, mic placement, recording mix, etc. would be most appreciated.
 
jbtsax said:
The last time this tune was ballad of the month I tried to play it on the taragoto. This time I made it easier on myself and chose my alto. I am still trying to get used to my new Vandoren V16 A9 short chamber.

https://soundcloud.com/jbtsax%2Fwhen-sunny-gets-blue-final-1

Any comments from the Cafe "illuminati" on the sound of the mouthpiece, mic placement, recording mix, etc. would be most appreciated.
Read more…
Gorgeous playing as always, jbt! I hesitate to comment (being a humble Cafe "penlight on low batteries") but regarding the mix, I feel the sax part could use a touch more 'presence' in relation to the piano/bass track. This is largely a question of taste but I have the impression that I'm standing 5 metres away from the piano while the sax player is playing some 30 metres further away. The piano and bass have a clear, open sound while the sax sound is more 'closed'. This might be what you want or not. it might also be just the effect of reverb, I'm not sure.

You might want to try giving the sax track a touch more gain and using equalization to open up the sax sound. I've not done this myself, but you could also experiment with the reverb (% high and low tones). Perhaps reducing the reverb % on the high tones would give a more open sound.

I'll be interesting to read the feedback that the real "illuminati" give!🙂
 
I get the impression that you're fighting the mouthpiece at the start and struggling a little with pitching. It gets less obvious as the piece progresses. I'm a great believer in picking a mouthpiece that suits what you've got. I'm not a fighter. Having said that you're getting a very modern sound that is very pleasing to the ear that may be worth persisting with if it starts to feel a little easier. Sound and balance sound good. I get very confused with my recording set up. Further back seems to sound closer but still further back picks up too much of the room. All we can do is experiment.
 
jbtsax said:
The last time this tune was ballad of the month I tried to play it on the taragoto. This time I made it easier on myself and chose my alto. I am still trying to get used to my new Vandoren V16 A9 short chamber.

https://soundcloud.com/jbtsax%2Fwhen-sunny-gets-blue-final-1

Any comments from the Cafe "illuminati" on the sound of the mouthpiece, mic placement, recording mix, etc. would be most appreciated.
Read more…

I'm about as far from the illuminati as you can get, but I do have ears. 😀 I would like to hear the sax higher in the mix.
 
Speaking as a founder member of the Ignarii @jbtsax just listened to your post and your earlier one of Emily again. I agree with @Colin the Bear sounds like you're struggling with this piece, I've no idea what sound you have in your head that you want to achieve, I'll just say I loved your sound on Emily and if it were me I'd bin this MP and stick with the Emily piece.
 
Last edited:
Thanks all for the very astute comments. Let me share a bit of background so you can know where I am trying to go with my "sound". As my avatar attests, I have been very comfortable with a Desmond-like sound over the years. It seems to be a good fit.

However, I am getting more and more opportunities to play alto in local big bands and the "Desmond-like" sound doesn't work as well for section playing or soloing. Hence I am working toward a sound with more presence and edge. And yes the new mouthpiece with its very open tip is taking some getting used to.

I will experiment with putting the sax more "up front" in the mix. Thanks for that observation.
 
jbtsax said:
The last time this tune was ballad of the month I tried to play it on the taragoto. This time I made it easier on myself and chose my alto. I am still trying to get used to my new Vandoren V16 A9 short chamber.

https://soundcloud.com/jbtsax%2Fwhen-sunny-gets-blue-final-1

Any comments from the Cafe "illuminati" on the sound of the mouthpiece, mic placement, recording mix, etc. would be most appreciated.
Read more…
Wow!! I don't hear any struggling! Wonderfully gentle and relaxed sound but still bright.
 
Personally I don't like the sax to dominate the recording. I spend a lot of time getting the backing track just the way I want it. Some of the arrangements are worth listening to on their own. I like to hear the sax right in there not layered on top. It also depends what the listener is playing the track on and how loud. Sometimes a track sounds great played at low volume on pc speakers. Stick it through the hi fi at a high volume and all the gremlins appear.

As far as the mouthpiece goes. If you feel you're making progress in the direction you want to go, stick with it. I only mentioned it because you asked and I do like your "Desmond" sound..
 
In response to @Alice. The word struggling was probably inappropriate, playing @jbtsax as always top notch but the control of tone, articulation and personal inflexion is not consistant throughout the recording. As @Colin the Bear says as it progresses, @jbtsax is finding his 'voice' with the new MP probably relaxes into it and settles. I like either of @jbtsax 's voices but prefer him in Desmond mode.
 
Some very nice versions posted already in this thread 🙂.

I did post two quick and dirty versions of this song in the Oct 2014 BOTM thread. I've always found it difficult to play a well constructed solo over the chords. So I tried it again in my recording attempts of this months!

Did make the backing of Chris a bit slower, didn't find the fast tempo very appropriate for the song. Don't think the new result is much better, but that's also linked to my zero study time (you can't expect too much if you don't have the time to do the hard work)!

Here is my new track:

- 'When Sunny Gets Blue' (Florida no USA 10* - Plasticover 2) - Jan 2016:
When Sunny Gets Blue (FL no USA 10* - PL2) 2016 by mrpeebee

And here (for comparison) the links to my two old versions recorded in Oct 2014:

- 'When Sunny Gets Blue' (Florida no USA 10* - Plasticover 2) - piano:
When Sunny Gets Blue (FL no USA 10* - PL2 - piano) by mrpeebee

- 'When Sunny Gets Blue' (Florida no USA 10* - Plasticover 2) - organ:
When Sunny Gets Blue (FL no USA 10* - PL2 - organ) by mrpeebee
 

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