Convalesce - Roadblock

[Autumnwind]

Hello everyone from TH! I haven't really been in the other parts of the forums too much 'cause I've made "Self Expression" my home. I'm trying to go into other parts, but Self Expression is...home haha. I like to write out my problems and have people dissect them. SO, you might not know me all to well. But I like to sing + write Hip-hop. And my first album, sorta, is going to come out one day I'm working on it at the moment. I'm hoping to have about 6 - 10 songs to start off with.

The album I am working on will be called "Roadblock" basically setting the mood as a block. Weather being a writers block, or a real life road block that I really have a hard time getting past.

My style of hip-hop is different from a lot of others, it's not about shooting, or about gangs, of stuff like that. It's about life, perspectives, different people I meet, how I treat those people, and personal problems. Hopefully you develop a taste for it


I will update progress in this thread as I progress the album or mixtape.


(Btw HUGE thanks to QuantumModulus for taking this wonderful picture and letting me use it for the album cover. Thank you so much)

Songs

1.Encounter
(Almost done recording)

2. Too Late
(Almost done writing)

3. Strings
(Recorded)

4. PoW
(In early stages of recording)

5. In Progress
(Might finish "Devil" for this one)

6. In Progress
(Might finish "Music Man" for this one)

7. In Progress
(Just thought of an idea "My Daughter" )

8. In Progress
(Will see what comes up in the near future )

The whole theme of this album is hopefully just life. Just all the road-blocks I have encountered and moved along with. All the road-blocks I'm currently stuck in and all the road-blocks that will come up ahead in my life. Hopefully this appeals to more than just me as this whole album isn't about me either. IT's about the human race, every one of you, and how we can move on from every roadblock as long as we have each other.

I really hope this album is a hit to at least 1 person. If 1 set of ears are soothed by this album, or even 1 song, I'll know I've done my job.

I'll let y'all know when I will release it and it's going to be 100% free to everyone, but I'll give you guys each song as I make it instead of the whole album at once.

Thank you for reading, Teen Help Nation

[Bubbles37]

Wow, I would love to hear this album when you're done.

[Autumnwind]

Originally Posted by Bubbles37

Wow, I would love to hear this album when you're done.

It's not going to sound amazing, I have a really bad mic. But it's going to sound as good as it can be =p

It's something to get started for now

[Autumnwind]

Here are two songs I've recorded. Again they aren't the best quality (I am not using the best mic...in fact it's a computer mic.) Also, thanks to my mother, I'm getting strep throat. But I decided to use today to get as much recording as I can done.

I've tried mastering + mixing my voice with the music as much as I can trying to put the best quality of my voice out there, so I really hope it sounds listenable You have to start somewhere

Right now, I am saving up money for a professional microphone, I have one in mind and it's about 200$ I might go down to 100$ and find something that can suffice for now, though.

Well, enough rambling and more listen....y? Here are the two songs.

First one is "Strings" the lyrics are in the info.

Second one is "Late" the lyrics are in the info.

Let me know what you think, guys, and let me know what I can work on (other than get a better mic lol)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ROC04Lvavs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ROC04Lvavs

[BDF]

I find that whatever recording device you use is just as important, not just the microphone. Don't overlook that or you might end up a bit let down. FL studio is something I used in the past for direct recording with a laptop.

About mastering... I never figured out how to polish it. I hear people saying that it's only something that can be really done in a studio with professional gear. The general concept is of the beat and lyrics interfering and distorting each other is because too often the frequencies of both might be similar or even the same, or resonate with each other etc.. There are loads of sounds going on and it's just a very tough job "separate" them out on your own. I'd say it's a bit like trying to pick apart a mix of salt and sugar with bare hands. Some people somehow have a very "clean" voice that just cuts through the beat, and those need little mastering. I'd like to know how you get along with doing it though.

And your youtube videos are private. I can't see them. :/

[Autumnwind]

As of right now I have Audacity and FL Studio to record / clean up the audio as best as I can.

For another program, I'm using AAMS which automatically masters your lyrics, songs, and stuff to things you prefer. It does an amazing job. But I'm learning how to master on my own.

And yeah, a new mic would help miles though. The program recording is just as important if not more important, though.

one thing I've noticed though (novice mistake..lol) is I need to keep my mouth 4 inches away from the mic. So far, that advice has worked the most, as it doesn't sound as distorted, loud, and there is no "pop" when using sounds like "F" "P" "T" "D" and so on.

I'm learning more and more day by day, and it does help that I have an established rapper helping me, haha. I must say, I have it easier than most with the set-up. Not it's just the talent that has to shine through =p

[Jennifer]

good luck.

[Autumnwind]

Update: Right now I am recording part of "Daughter" which I have renamed to "Daddy's Little Girl" I'm recording the first and second verse along with the Chorus.

Also, Music man is going to have a collaboration with a friend of mine who is an acoustic guitar player / singer. It'l be seriously different but awesome.

Also the missing song will be named and written as "Blunts Objection"

I have also changed the order of the songs and this will be the final order.

Songs

1.Encounter
(Almost done recording)

2. Blunt Objection
(In early stages of writing)

3. Strings
(Recorded)

4. Music Man
(Currently writing with a Collaboration)

6. Devil
(Writing)

5. PoW
(Recording)

7. Daddy's Little Girl
(Finishing writing and in early stages of recording)

8. Late
(Recorded)

One problem I do have is "Strings" kind of messes up the flow of the whole mixtape as it is so sudden + short. So it might just be an extra track after "Late"

But here are the updates! And I will update when the next song which is recorded is up.

For now, listen to these (keep in thought, I'm thinking of re-recording both of these songs)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ROC04Lvavs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Fqgxqwa564

The videos below are songs I recorded like a year or so ago. that's why it's called - Rob instead of Convalesce. They were just off-projects and are no part of the mixtape.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KRjlO8ikrlg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJQohPmFU9k

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lbG9v...eature=related

Sadly these 3 have better voices than the first 2. Sadly. I had about a 150$ headset to work with instead of this 20$ headset haha.

WTB MY old headset, fml lol.

[Autumnwind]

Huge Update!

I'm actually getting a Microphone in a few days! (Thought I'd just cough up the cash and buy one around my price to get started.)

So as it is shipping to my house, I'm going to make my hole in a wall studio I'll be making. I can't wait, sooooo excited.

[BDF]

Usually all electronic goods and stuff like it are cheaper after Christmas during sales. Though I understand the irresistible urge in this case... lol.

About the distortion/"pop" noise when pronouncing consonants... there's an actual piece of equipment (I don't remember the name), that artists place in front on the mic, that "shields" it from those sharp sounds. If you watch some recording vids you might see what I mean. I suppose you could experiment with some other materials like even paper... I imagine one of those basket-woven type heat mats people use in the kitchen, with small air gaps in them might work... you know... improvise lol.