Musicians Collaboration Studio

Virtual Music Studio => Finished Works => Topic started by: CurtisDowney66 on September 03, 2006, 04:05:16 PM

Title: No More Runnin' Scared
Post by: CurtisDowney66 on September 03, 2006, 04:05:16 PM
(**EDIT**
I have added another mix that is EQed a bit different with a file Nick gave me.  Let me know which one you think is better. )

This song is dedicated to Mike, my brother, who recently passed away. Mike's birth mother died suddenly when he was 9 years old, from a brain anurism. He was very close to her and never really got over her loss. My mother and Mike's dad married when Mike was 10 1/2 and I was 2 1/2, and we were raised with our 2 sisters as full brothers and sisters.

After Mike died, and I heard Dave's music, I started writing these lyrics then I asked my mother for some lyric ideas; Mike always seemed happiest when he was riding his motorcycle so we used that in the song.  Hope you enjoy it. 

Thanks to Dave and Ken for some great performances.

Lyrics by Curtis Downey and C.R. Downey
All Vocals, Backing Vocals, Mix, and Master by Curtis Downey
All Guitars and music by Dave Patterson
Drums by Ken Grover


No More Runnin' Scared
V1
Fourty two, walkin' in disguise
afraid to trust, afraid to show your eyes
chasin' dreams, dreams you couldn't find
almost there, but two steps behind

Chorus 1
Now you're gone
you don't have to hide
you're in your mother's arms where it's ok to cry
you never have to be afraid, while you're there
you know you're safe, no more runnin' scared

V2
Wanting free, a place to feel alive
an open road, a place for you're last ride
to feel the breeze, burdens swept aside
mind at ease, racin' towards the light

Chorus 2
You made a choice
a new highway to ride
straight to your mother's arms where it's ok to cry
you never have to be afraid, now you are there
you know you're safe, no more runnin' scared.

Bridge
Your mother died, when you were very young
and the pain, couldn't be undone

you always felt alone
and you were always on the run

Chorus 2
You made a choice
a new highway to ride
straight to your mother's arms where it's ok to cry
you never have to be afraid, now you're there
you know you're safe, no more runnin' scared.


Title: Re: No More Runnin' Scared
Post by: NickT on September 03, 2006, 07:06:47 PM
Very well done curtis.

I really enjoyed it!

Just for kicks, pop this filter in har-bal.

Nice job,

Nick
Title: Re: No More Runnin' Scared
Post by: CurtisDowney66 on September 03, 2006, 07:48:11 PM
Thanks Nick.  I tried to put the filter in, but it won't load, don't know what the deal is.  Did you save it right?  Can you try again?
Curtis
Title: Re: No More Runnin' Scared
Post by: NickT on September 03, 2006, 08:42:07 PM
It's a Har-Bal 2.2 filter.

Did you do the upgrade yet?

Nick
Title: Re: No More Runnin' Scared
Post by: DoozerDan on September 03, 2006, 10:25:31 PM
This is a lovely song :) I love songs with meaning.
Title: Re: No More Runnin' Scared
Post by: CurtisDowney66 on September 03, 2006, 11:16:22 PM
Thanks Dan, and Nick, I only have an unregistered 1.5 version :'(
Title: Re: No More Runnin' Scared
Post by: Sharpola on September 04, 2006, 12:14:46 AM
I'm currently trying to figure out A.A.M.S (auto audio mastering system)
is Har-bal any different?

Ray

Heartfelt song BTW!

Ray
Title: Re: No More Runnin' Scared
Post by: NickT on September 04, 2006, 12:17:32 AM
Curtis,

I still have version 1.51.

I opened it in there and here is the anl file.
Title: Re: No More Runnin' Scared
Post by: NickT on September 04, 2006, 12:24:43 AM
Ray,

Check out Har-bal here:

http://www.har-bal.com/

It's more of an eq I use to check for balance before I mutiband and limit.

Sorry Curtis for the hijack!  ::)

Nick
Title: Re: No More Runnin' Scared
Post by: CurtisDowney66 on September 04, 2006, 01:53:20 AM
Thanks Ray, and thanks again Nick.  No problem for the hijack, Har-Bal is a great tool, I just need more time with it to figure it all out.
I added another link to the first post with the EQed track done using the file Nick gave me.  Let me know if it sounds better now.
Curtis
Title: Re: No More Runnin' Scared
Post by: Studioplayer on September 04, 2006, 06:22:19 PM
Thanks for the replies guys  :)

I listened to both mixes and I think the first is the best by far. The eq'ed one sounds really thin. Sounds like it's on am radio. It seems to take out all the good frequencies. Takes out all the beef. That's a technical word. LOL. I didn't even have to listen to it more than 20 seconds to see the huge difference.

I think all these tools that we have for mastering and mixing are great in some respects but I personally believe in the end we need to let our ears do the mixing. I'm starting to see everyone relying on plugin's more and more. Like Izotope Ozone and others. They're pretty good but I think in many times they get way over used. It's nice to get that full stereo sound as long as your not compromising the good frequencies. Get the initial sounds down right when recording and then only later do some light eq'ing, compressing etc. Anyways that just my 2 cents. I'll take the first mix over the second any day.  >:D

Dave

Good song btw. Really enjoy listening to this one and I'm happy to help make something of meaning. Hope it serves your brother and family well.   :)

OK Lets make another !!!  8)


Title: Re: No More Runnin' Scared
Post by: NickT on September 04, 2006, 06:42:58 PM
I forgot they added an "air" setting to 2.2 that I used locally. So I guess the anl will only get you in the ballpark. Plus don't forget that eq curve was from a mastered mix...not the original.

I don't think it sounds like an AM radio. But I could be wrong...it's been about 30 years since I've heard one!  :o

Many mixes by us amateurs are to heavy in the bass and to shrill in the highs. Har-Bal is not a magic plugin. It's just an EQ. You adjust the EQ by sight and by ear. You can "see" if there is too much energy in the low end. Much of the pro-sumer hardware will mask that problem or not re-create it at all.

Curtis, I think your mix sounds good.

Just my $ .02.

Nick
Title: Re: No More Runnin' Scared
Post by: Studioplayer on September 04, 2006, 07:27:16 PM
Quote from: NickT on September 04, 2006, 06:42:58 PM
I forgot they added an "air" setting to 2.2 that I used locally. So I guess the anl will only get you in the ballpark. Plus don't forget that eq curve was from a mastered mix...not the original.

I don't think it sounds like an AM radio. But I could be wrong...it's been about 30 years since I've heard one!  :o

Many mixes by us amateurs are to heavy in the bass and to shrill in the highs. Har-Bal is not a magic plugin. It's just an EQ. You adjust the EQ by sight and by ear. You can "see" if there is too much energy in the low end. Much of the pro-sumer hardware will mask that problem or not re-create it at all.

Curtis, I think your mix sounds good.

Just my $ .02.

Nick


LOL I was just about to take back some of my intial quote.  >:D  After much listening, back to back, there's some good quality's to the eq mix. The first mix is still heavy on the bass. The second mix brightens it up and and gives it more clarity. There may be just a bit too much air but not bad. I'm actually starting to lean towards the second mix now. I think what I meant about am radio was there's a slight hollowness to it. It seems to take out some of the warmth. A little less and it would be perfect.

I think !! haha  ;D 

I'll shut up now  :-X
Title: Re: No More Runnin' Scared
Post by: Paulo on September 04, 2006, 07:56:20 PM
Nice tune guys  ;)
Title: Re: No More Runnin' Scared
Post by: NickT on September 04, 2006, 09:34:26 PM
Quote
LOL I was just about to take back some of my intial quote.    After much listening, back to back, there's some good quality's to the eq mix. The first mix is still heavy on the bass. The second mix brightens it up and and gives it more clarity. There may be just a bit too much air but not bad. I'm actually starting to lean towards the second mix now. I think what I meant about am radio was there's a slight hollowness to it. It seems to take out some of the warmth. A little less and it would be perfect.

I think !! haha   

I'll shut up now   
Posted on: Today at 06:42:58 PMPosted by: NickT 

Dave,

I was not mad....just giving a little back in jest about the radio!  ;D

What some find warm...others find muddy. And what some find shrill, others find clarity. It is a ll about who is listening and on what system. When I balance an eq, I am looking for a mix that will play great on all systems. I know I can make it sound good on my system, but will it sound good in the car or on pc speakers or an iPod?

It's all good! You guys did a great job on a really great tune!

Nick
Title: Re: No More Runnin' Scared
Post by: CurtisDowney66 on September 04, 2006, 11:23:24 PM
Well, as always I apreciate all the help I can get on my mixes, it's mostly the mastering part I struggle with sometimes.  I am working on a CD project, actually a couple of them, one that is more of a country type thing, and one that will include this song.  I have 6 songs completed that will go with this song already, I have been fiddling with all the unmastered mixes, trying to come up with a "uniform" balance from song to song.  Kinda tricky, but I think I am finally having some breakthroughs, with much trial and error.  This mix, as other mixes I do will certainly sound a bit different once they are put in with the other songs, so as to keep the same general tone.  So, no mix I do is set in stone, until it is printed ;).
Curtis
Title: Re: No More Runnin' Scared
Post by: Studioplayer on September 04, 2006, 11:40:54 PM
Quote from: NickT on September 04, 2006, 09:34:26 PM

I was not mad....just giving a little back in jest about the radio!  ;D

I know Nick. Sure didn't take it that way.  ;D You get use to hearing the song a certain way and as things get tweaked more and more the changes become quite noticable. You guys including Curtis manage to master the tracks way better than I ever could. That's an area I have a LOT to learn about. It's really cool when we actually speak up about our mixes rather than just say something like "that's great". It's through feedback that we can learn. On that note Curtis, the more I listen the 2nd does tone down some of the heavy bass and add some more clarity which may be good but in the end do as you feel. I think it's a good song no matter what. This is just the fine details.

Hey Nick, If ya have nothing better to do  ::) it would be cool to hear a 'quick' Har-Bal master just to see how you feel it should sound. It would be a good learning comparison.  >:D
Title: Re: No More Runnin' Scared
Post by: CurtisDowney66 on September 04, 2006, 11:52:04 PM
Here is the current master I am working on.  It changed some, because I was trying to find a balance from song to song on the CD I am working on.  I think this mix is somewhere in between the other 2.
Curtis
Title: Re: No More Runnin' Scared
Post by: Studioplayer on September 05, 2006, 04:27:36 AM
Wow. What a big difference again. This is like comparing apples to oranges. Curtis, go with the final master that fits your album. Your last one is even brighter. Less on the lows. I think I still like the first #3 that you posted. The only thing that I would do is eq some more of the low end out but I really like how that sounds on my setup. I also have a bunch of songs that I'd like to put together as an album. A mix of different songs. So when it comes time to putting that together I will have to try to equalize them all so there's some consistency. I think in the end it's a matter of choice. This is pretty cool to see the different takes on how it should sound in the end. It's the same with professional studio's. The master is different depending on the studio. There is that perfect balance. Some people have the ears for it and they get paid the big bucks as well. For me any of these final takes is amazing enough. Not bad for home recording.  8)

Dave
Title: Re: No More Runnin' Scared
Post by: CurtisDowney66 on September 05, 2006, 11:12:23 AM
Yeh, I agree, there are many ways to do it depending on taste, and how it fits in with other songs.  It is always interesting to try different EQ's just to see the difference.  I am done with it for now, but now there are 3 masters to choose from.  And yeh, home recording is great ain't it 8)
Title: Re: No More Runnin' Scared
Post by: NickT on September 06, 2006, 02:10:43 PM
Curtis,

I moved RunningScared4.mp3 to your 1st post so all three masters are there.

Dave- I cleaned up the Runnin' Scared thread in Studio A. I left one mix with the thread. That's is what I like to do. Remove all auditions and temp mixes and leave one good mix for someone to listen to while they read the thread.

Thanks guys. You all did a great job on this collab!

NickT
Title: Re: No More Runnin' Scared
Post by: Studioplayer on September 06, 2006, 02:14:42 PM
Who's Steve???  :o LOL
Title: Re: No More Runnin' Scared
Post by: NickT on September 06, 2006, 02:16:42 PM
 :-[

Sorry Dave....where did you see Steve? I don't see Steve.  ::)

Nick
Title: Re: No More Runnin' Scared
Post by: r4m on September 06, 2006, 07:46:44 PM
Cool tune! Good performances by all! ;) Nice job on vox Curtis!