Subway Solitude, new tune & Amplitube 2 test

[CarlosEduardo]

Hi, this is a new tune I am working, not finished yet.
The original idea born one year ago in Caracas subway station, I did listen in the distance some blues jazzy licks, it was coming from a friend mine, superb saxophone player . Jobless, he played for some coins, desperation... 2 hungry kids + an adorable wife. This is something usual now in our country.
I test Amplitube 2 here and just one guitar Fender Telecaster with Gibson 67 humbucker (neck) for 3 parts: 2 rhythm guitar with a lite acoustic feel ampless patch and the lead/solo with a simulation of Marshal JCM900 with a 4x10 open cabinet from a Fender Super Reverb 1967, mic is a Sennheiser Dynamic 441 (off axis pos). foot pedals: MXR compressor, Ibanez Tube Screamer TS-9.

Any feedback, opinions are welcome. :AOK


subway solitude (http://www.sitiopro.com/music/subwaysolitude.mp3)

__________________________________________________ _______
www.jazzpick.net/music (http://www.jazzpick.net/music)

[Gravity]

Sounds great so far! I really dig the tones you'r getting and the soinc fidelity is awesome. A couple of comments that I'm hearing on first listen. I LOVE that deep sub bass, however I'm finding that there's just a little too much going on below 40-50Hz. It sounds great on my rig, but even with the conservative level on my sub, I can tell it's going to get big and overpowering at higher volumes. I might throw a 12 or 18dB/oct hi pass on at around 45Hz.

Second comment is that I love the lead guitar, I'd just like to hear a bit more of it. It sounds a bit buried in the mix. Bring it out a little and it would really sing!

This is of course MHO. Otherwise I really dig the track! You managed to catch the vibe of the last train in a quiet subway station. Subways have a special place in my heart, and this captured that feeling perfectly!

[Sub-D]

Beautifully writen, recorded and played!
loved it.....
I am with Gravity about subways, they have such a vibe
because of the sound, I dig when you are far away from
a musician and can't quite hear the instrument playing,
just the reverberation and as you get closer it comes into
focus, sometimes what I imagine as be-bop sax turns out
to be bach on a cello or visa versa. Cool work dude......
thanks for the post......

[CarlosEduardo]

Sounds great so far! I really dig the tones you'r getting and the soinc fidelity is awesome. A couple of comments that I'm hearing on first listen. I LOVE that deep sub bass, however I'm finding that there's just a little too much going on below 40-50Hz. It sounds great on my rig, but even with the conservative level on my sub, I can tell it's going to get big and overpowering at higher volumes. I might throw a 12 or 18dB/oct hi pass on at around 45Hz.

Second comment is that I love the lead guitar, I'd just like to hear a bit more of it. It sounds a bit buried in the mix. Bring it out a little and it would really sing!

This is of course MHO. Otherwise I really dig the track! You managed to catch the vibe of the last train in a quiet subway station. Subways have a special place in my heart, and this captured that feeling perfectly!


So many thanks Gravity..I did a fix mix try around your valious comments, the sub bass was my main concern, it did appear as a subbass-up component of Spectralive, a mastering enhancer plugin, since I only have a pair of mid/near field studio monitor there is sometimes a bit hard to perceive sub bottoms frequencies. Also on lead guitar I did some tweaks, mainly boosting a bit on 2.5/3 khz range and I work the stereo field because maybe I did render it with excesive spk cabinet air from Amplitube 2 which caused much room size and stereo separation..that 'buried' in the mix feel you mention. Thank you again Gravity....and yes, I understand that particular feel emanating from subways... :AOK

[johnfindlay]

Hey loved it man! Just sheer enJoyment!

JF

[Normster]

Superb, Carlos. I don't know if you remixed since Gravity's post, but I thought the guitar a a tiny bit hot in the mix. (I guess you can't please everyone, eh? LOL)

It was so cool to close my eyes and just take the emotional journey. However, the transition at 2:30 made me open my eyes and say, "what happened?"

Thanks so much for sharing!!!

[Antero]

Bandwidth exceeded. :(

[journo]

Hi Carlos,

For selfish reasons I wish you would post more often. But then again your posts are always worth waiting for. This piece being no exception.

I do however think that the Marshall isn't quite the right kind of overdrive for this beautiful tune. A smoother OD would have been my preference. Then the reverb settings for the lead guitar (most pronounced when most distorted) made it sound like it was recorded in another setting than the rest of the tune. These are just my personal opinions and does not detract from your beautiful playing and the inherent beauty of the tune.

Cheers,

Mats N

[Woodyworld]

Love it Carlos. Beautiful feel.

Great to hear your posts again, I really missed them, but always worth the wait.

[cmacalpine]

Carlos:

I loved it and the choice of the Marshall OD. It added the right edge and color for this beautiful piece of music.

[HarryJ]

Always a pleasure to hear your stuff Carlos.
Some flavors here that I don't recall hearing in past posts.
silky smooth

HJ

[refin]

Great playing and composition,Carlos....tone is oh so sweet!

[vladorg]

Great tune Carlos and as usual incredible playing from you.The tones are nice indeed but I wished they could be a little more dynamic.

Vlad

[CarlosEduardo]

ohhiii! long time without check Thanks all for nice comments!


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www.carlosarellano.com/music (http://www.carlosarellano.com/music)

http://www.sitiopro.com/music/subwaysolitude.mp3

[lowendgenerator]

I dig that song! The lead phrasing was way cool. I want to play like that some day. Great transition from piece to piece, it flowed well. I heard it move seamlessly from jazz into a blistering rock solo and back. I forgot all about the subway after that. :D I should also comment on the tone, since I have A2 and really enjoy tweaking it. The sounds were great, I kept asking myself what you added to that more agressive section. Vibe action? Sounds fantastic.

Really makes me want to practice.

[CarlosEduardo]

I dig that song! The lead phrasing was way cool. I want to play like that some day. Great transition from piece to piece, it flowed well. I heard it move seamlessly from jazz into a blistering rock solo and back. I forgot all about the subway after that. :D I should also comment on the tone, since I have A2 and really enjoy tweaking it. The sounds were great, I kept asking myself what you added to that more agressive section. Vibe action? Sounds fantastic.

Really makes me want to practice.

Thank you lowendgenerator for nice comments :AOK , I think have to finish this tune and record it complete since now is more a AT2 demo. BTW if you want check, some minutes ago I did upload and replace the old with a new mix version (http://www.carlosarellano.com/music/01.SONGS/subwaysolitude.mp3)where lead guitar now got more spacial air, warm tone, less reverb and mid high frequencies. About tweaking, if you are interested this link will let you download some of my AT2 patchs:

http://www.sitiopro.com/music/AT2patchsbyCEA.zip
http://www.sitiopro.com/music/subwaysolitude.at2p

Feel free of customize it, since maybe there is excessive reverb at some patchs, but it should work as a reference about my personal tone from AT2.

subway solitude new mix (http://www.carlosarellano.com/music/01.SONGS/subwaysolitude.mp3)
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www.carlosarellano.com/music (http://www.carlosarellano.com/music)

Carlos Eduardo Arellano - j & f guitar from Venezuela

[Frank Axtell]

My dear friend Carlos,
That was an excellent display of guitar soloing at it's best. Beautiful ideas so well phrased. You timing and execution are superb. I loved your choice of very warm guitar tones. Keep up the good work my friend. Todo esta bien chevere! :) Que Dios te bendida!
Frank Axtell

[Texsunburst59]

Never heard you're playing before,but you're tune is one of the best tone and riff wise I've heard to date. I've heard most everyone on this board. There are alot of talented guys here,but you're ability to hold back and play for the song and cut loose just enough to impact the song just right really shows you know how to dynamically work the tune. I think if alot of the talent around here would work a tune like this instead of wanking and just showing off their riffs, the tunes would work better. I'd really like to hear more of your stuff on the board. I think what helps is your mix of influences with the latin music upbringing. Great work.:AOK

[garyh]

Love it Carlos as with all your stuff; but I agree with Journo that the OD was a little too aggressive for the tune. Just my taste; others would probably disagree.

[sethmeister]

Nice playing and the amp sim sounds a lot better than I'd expect!

[Wheels]

Hi, this is a new tune I am working, not finished yet.
The original idea born one year ago in Caracas subway station, I did listen in the distance some blues jazzy licks, it was coming from a friend mine, superb saxophone player . Jobless, he played for some coins, desperation... 2 hungry kids + an adorable wife. This is something usual now in our country.
I test Amplitube 2 here and just one guitar Fender Telecaster with Gibson 67 humbucker (neck) for 3 parts: 2 rhythm guitar with a lite acoustic feel ampless patch and the lead/solo with a simulation of Marshal JCM900 with a 4x10 open cabinet from a Fender Super Reverb 1967, mic is a Sennheiser Dynamic 441 (off axis pos). foot pedals: MXR compressor, Ibanez Tube Screamer TS-9.

Any feedback, opinions are welcome. :AOK


subway solitude (http://www.sitiopro.com/music/subwaysolitude.mp3)

__________________________________________________ _______
www.jazzpick.net/music (http://www.jazzpick.net/music)

Carlos,

Thanks for posting. Very sweet sounding tune, great feel, great playing..I'll be searching for more of your posts.

I hope your saxophone friend is faring well.

Cheers,

Wheels

[Cary Chilton]

Carlos couldn't have made it MORE dynamic... I don't have his upgraded version of amplitube, but I can say that amplitube is pretty lifeless.... However, this upgraded Amplitube 2.0 has some nice tones!!! I wish my Ampltube LE get somewhere these tones otherwise I need to be planning about buying a pod xt... As in my eruption, it sounds as if I used a compressor.... I didn't. Amplitube is that compressed sounding...

[Priestunes]

Dang that was nice. I liked when you fired it up. Some superbly slick playing!
:AOK:AOK:AOK

[Ed DeGenaro]

As usually great playing!!!!!